Highlight EP28-29: It’s so cool! Former colleagues no longer look down on Shande | The Litchi Road
disrupt the Office of Imperial Parks and force my colleague
to self-harm and kneel! Rise! All of you! Rise now. Liangyuan! Liangyuan! Congratulations! You’ve had a long day. Congratulations, Mr. Li! Congratulations! Mr. Li. Liangyuan! I’ve got news! Out. All of you. Close the door behind you. What’s wrong? Big news! What? Did something happen to the Leyou Garden’s old peony again? It’s Li Shande who once tended it! What happened? He truly met the Right Chancellor! Mr. Qu, don’t heed rumors. If he was able to meet
the Right Chancellor, I’d be able to meet His Majesty! But it’s true! Just now, Li Shande knelt in the palace corridor and risked his life
to stop the Right Chancellor! All passing officials saw it! It’s true! You mean the one who only talked to plants with the look of an unlucky wretch as if sorrow would ooze out of his body if you wrung him? He stopped the Right Chancellor? He’s gone mad! He’s a dark horse. My elder brother told me. He said and I quote, “Sir, please accept this strategy. I hope it brings harmony to your family and comfort to His Majesty.” Brilliant! He’s brilliant! The Right Chancellor’s bond
with Her Highness is tied to His Majesty’s favor. He came straight to the point that the Right Chancellor cares about! Mr. Qu, is this true? Absolutely! Who’d think Li Shande could flatter so skillfully? We pale in comparison! No. Wait! Now he has got support from the Right Chancellor, will he come back and settle scores with us? What do we do, everyone? We must think of a solution! Where’s Mr. Liu? Mr. Li! Where’s Mr. Liu? Mr. Li, you should’ve notified us of your visit so that we could greet you! Yes! Do you want some breakfast? No, thanks. Where’s Mr. Liu? If you need anything, we’re at your service! But… Speaking of which, you don’t need to come here tomorrow. What? Mr. Li! You were assigned to tend the peony that had pests. But that wasn’t my intent! I did something terrible. I am so sorry. I apologize! Mr. Li! No need for such action. Rise. I dare not. Rise! I dare not. You all just watch and do nothing? Rise! Mr. Li, when I lied that my brother was away, I hope it didn’t delay your task. I should have my lying mouth slapped! I deserve it! I wasn’t talking about the peony. Not the peony. Not the peony? Then it must be
about the imperial edict! Mr. Li! I did the amendment slip thing! But it was everyone’s idea! Mr. Li! Please punish me! I deserve the slaps! I heard noises from afar. Why are you all kneeling? Mr. Liu. Li Shande! How dare you disrupt the Office of Imperial Parks and force my colleague
to self-harm and kneel! Rise! All of you! Rise now. Mr. Liu, I need to discuss something. Discuss nothing! Get out now! The Minister of the Court of the National Granaries
will inspect the Office today. Or I’d report you
for disrupting my office! You will be clubbed! Sir… Mr. Liu! His strictness shows deep care for you, Mr. Li! He often tells us you’re the most capable official in our office! Yes! Now you serve as the Litchi Commissioner who is working for the Right Chancellor. Yes! The Right Chancellor. What is this now? I don’t have time for playacting today. Get out before offending the Minister! Do you hear me? Who wants to offend me? Sir, sorry we didn’t go out to greet you. Sir, you came to… Silence! Mr. Li! What are you doing here? Mr. Li is present, and you didn’t inform me? Now my appearance would seem abrupt! I was privileged to see you calmly addressing the Right Chancellor. We admire you profoundly! I knew you were extraordinary when you were working with me! You had inexhaustible energy when you just started
at the Court of the National Granaries. I told you to save strength for greater matters. See? Now you’ve triumphed! I had to transfer you against my will because I knew it’d help you become who you are today! Mr. Li, you came here for…? I seek Mr. Liu for discussion. Since you’re inspecting, I’ll wait. No! No! Naturally, your matters come first! Since you’re supervising the Office, I’ll take my leave. Go ahead, Mr. Li! Is this how you manage your office? Did I just say something I shouldn’t have? Um… May we discuss business now? Please rise! Just speak freely. Tomorrow, I’ll summon all chief officers
from the Bureau of Equipment and Bureau of Operations
of the Ministry of War, the Stables Office
of the Court of Imperial Stud, the nearby Pasture Supervisors, the Tax Bureau, Granaries Bureau,
and Treasury Bureau of the Ministry of Revenue,
and the Left Treasury Office of the Court of the Imperial Treasury to discuss the litchi transport. I wish to borrow the Office’s hall for the meeting. If you want to borrow from us, don’t just borrow the hall! Borrow our men too! Set aside your tasks today. Help Mr. Li summon
all the mentioned officers to our office tomorrow and await his command! Aye! I’m much obliged. You’re most welcome. Father. May I drink water? No. Water bloats the pastry, so you will feel too full to swallow more. Keep eating! I truly can’t eat more. Why did they deliver so much Jade Dew pastry today? No talking! Eat it! Perhaps it’s because I got a silver token today. You can give them a token
in exchange for pastries? More than pastries. Your father could want a house, or land! Someone would give it to him. Really? Stop chatting! Keep eating! It costs five wen per piece and gets stale tomorrow. Come on! Amita! Come on. Come on! Eat it! Is Mr. Li home? Who is it? Mr. Li. Madame Shiqi. I guess I’m too late. Seems you no longer need it. Madame Shiqi, I’ve obtained the approval. My deed is with you. Rest assured that I’ll repay. You won’t even let me in? I’m not welcome? You think I only brought pastries? I carry what you dream of every night. Get straight to the point, Ma’am. Why visit today? I envy your luck in marrying such a wealthy, powerful man. He’s not my husband. I told you last time. So do you still remember what you said then? You said I helped him when he was at his lowest. Now you’re under the patronage of the Right Chancellor. Don’t forget what I’ve done when you get to the top. I won’t forget. I still owe you money. Mr. Li, is this a joke? Truth is the debt note was eaten by mice. So there is no debt between us anymore, only friendship now. Take back the deed. I’ll leave your family to have some quality time. Farewell. Father, what did she mean? She returned something to us. Keep eating. [Office of Imperial Parks] Let Mr. Li pass first. Mr. Li! Mr. Li! Mr. Li! Mr. Li! Liangyuan. I heard yesterday, you… No time for pleasantries. Let’s get down to business. Mr. Li, after you. After you. Fine. The Tanzhou region has many waterways. The roads are often muddy. We can send laborers ahead and prepare materials
such as hay and lime to pave and harden the roads, which ensures smooth passage. I hail from Hengzhou, exactly the North
of the Mei Pass Circuit, which has a lot of rugged slopes. I suggest switching to mules here. Mules climb well. They seem slow, but they’re faster than horses there. For the winding paths at Dayu Mountains, we can hire agile slaves from Linyi to carry the urns straight through while riders wait
at the mountain pass, saving a lot of time. Good point. Changing riders and horses costs much time. We should set up
temporary courier stations every 60 li. It makes sure
the horses’ stamina is at its peak. We need to adapt to local conditions. Please note that. Gentlemen! The journey is over five thousand li with countless checkpoints. We should make
a special transit document, so they can tell at a glance that it is the litchi transport team. Good. So wise! We can make the transit document green. Notify all checkpoints in advance that green means immediate passage. – Yes!
– Good solution. A green passage saves half a day at least! The signing and sealing can be simplified, too. Prepare a seal to be carried along with litchis. You only need to stamp the documents. Note that! Brilliant! You’ve started without me. Am I late? Mr. Yu. Did the Right Chancellor approve your oversight role? Thank you for your concern. This time we will work together side by side. You aided me in crisis. I’ll never forget your support. No words can express my thanks to you. Let’s succeed together. Aye. Gentlemen. Take a seat. Perfect timing. We were pooling everyone’s wisdom. You have experience in transport. We need to pick your brain. I am just overseeing. I provide support when you ever need it. Mr. Li, you spent over a month in Lingnan on it. Now you’re the master of litchi transport. Gentlemen, just follow his requirements. Ignore me. Continue! Years ago, when we studied together, Mr. Li excelled in math. He passed the imperial exam. The pinnacle of other people’s lives was just the starting point of his life. Now he has scaled new heights! I believe the litchi transport will surely succeed under Mr. Yu’s leadership! Gentlemen, to us veterans, deeds trump words. A glance tells all. I deeply admire Mr. Li’s methods. His strategic brilliance devised this grand plan. I take my hat off to you! Yes! I meant to say Mr. Li managed to open up a litchi transport route! It was beyond imagination how he racked his brain to think outside the box and mobilize so many resources! It is not just a route. It’s paved with his sweat and toil! I propose we name it after him! Excellent! State your problems if there are any. Suggestions or remarks are welcome. But no flattery. Good. If there are no further questions, I’ll assign tasks to individuals involved. I have some blank documents here. The Bureau of Equipment, you will dispatch a great number of riders and liaise with land and water courier stations. Aye. The Stables Office and Pasture Supervisors nationwide will assign horses from the nearest courier stations. Aye. The Ministry of Revenue will coordinate local governments to deploy laborers
and conscripted aides. Aye. The Court of the Imperial Treasury… We take care of funds, supplies, and horse gear. Good. Now… But… What is it? The Office of Imperial Parks handles ice transport. Aye. Objections? None. None! None! No objection to costs? The costs this time will exceed the budget. Mr. Li was with the Office of Imperial Parks. Naturally, we will fully support him. Ice transport costs will be deducted from our funds. Aye. We can cover our costs too. We can advance the funds! Deduct it from our bureau. We can advance the funds too. The Left Treasury Office shall comply. Okay then. Gentlemen. Go back to work and get prepared. Everything needs to be ready
by the 19th day of the 5th month. Aye. Meeting adjourned. Liangyuan. Notes on strategies and supplementary information. Is there anything else? Mr. Yu. Here. Take a look. It’s okay. I’ll leave the preparation in your charge. I will take my leave. Mr. Yu. Mr. Li. With this transport plan, I could recalculate to reduce expenses somewhat. Mr. Li, we serve His Majesty. What matters is executing this task well and successfully. Everything else is trivial. Especially the budget, it must not be pared down
to the last coin. Remember, reporting less
and spending more is called overspending. Mr. Yu. Reporting more and spending less is called surplus. Overspending reflects incompetence while surplus demonstrates
great planning. Look, this litchi transport mission spans great distances with countless variables. If something goes wrong, a rigid budget invites overspending. And if we end up even a single guan short, should that money come from my purse or yours? Indeed. We must leave room for risk spillover. Mr. Yu, you are truly the expert. Then I’ll submit the figures
as they stand. No rush. Think it through. We can’t afford mistakes. A larger budget is necessary. Your camaraderie touches me. But I have to depart tomorrow. So, please return. Brilliant, brilliant. – Good.
– Wonderful. Congratulations. You’ve nailed the transport method. We once drank together in the past days. Now you swim
with the current of fortune. Your grand door’s yet to gleam
with fame. But the man is not the same. Liangyuan, where lies your original intent? Han. Take care. Mr. Li, you’re magnanimous. If you rise, do not forget us. – Exactly.
– Right. When you prosper, remember your old friends from the Office of Imperial Parks. – Indeed.
– Quite so. Liangyuan, don’t forget our years as classmates. Our bond is unbreakable. Yes, right. I’ve spent half my life in the Office of Imperial Parks. I know little of grand principles. But I know this much. Graft plum to peach,
and the fruit grows crisp. Graft apricot to peach,
and it swells large. Yet the peach remains a peach. Though I hold
the Right Chancellor’s silver token, I am still myself. Unchanged. So I cannot accept your gifts. Take them back. I truly cannot. Please return. Well… No wonder your father succeeds. Look at his integrity as an official. He truly hasn’t lost
his pure and innocent heart. – Indeed.
– Truly. Such nobility commands respect. No wonder the Right Chancellor
favors him. Sirs, please return. Well… Uh… Then we won’t disturb you any further. We won’t disturb you. We’ll take our leave. Let’s go. All right. Liangyuan, farewell. Farewell. Keep up! Coming. Let’s go. Mr. He, a tribute commissioner
in Lingnan reports that the Litchi Commissioner Li Shande has obtained
the Right Chancellor’s silver token. He’s on the way to Lingnan with Mr. Yu, the Litchi Overseer. And accompanying them is… Who else? Stop stammering. Amita, the Hu merchant representative personally appointed
by the Right Chancellor. No wonder we couldn’t find her at sea. We were working in the wrong direction! Li Shande’s scheme. He actually smuggled Amita into Chang’an? Both of you, get out. Aye. Aye. Mr. Zhao, there’s no need for theatrics here. We’ll address your matters later. Right now, the pressing issue is Amita. She had fled to Chang’an. She was already far away
from the trouble, why would she come back to Lingnan? Is she not afraid of death? Does this matter have anything to do
with the Right Chancellor? Sir, you are an imperial-appointed official. Even if Amita sows discord between you and the Right Chancellor, and he wants to punish you, he has to follow protocol. He would first have to
petition His Majesty to strip your rank, and then summon you
to the capital for trial. He wouldn’t just send
these few people over to lay charges against you. Besides, Lingnan is your territory. And now you hold the Military Fish Tally. Why should you be afraid of these few? In my opinion, the Right Chancellor likely has his eye on the profits
from the litchi transport. That’s why he sent Mr. Yu to oversee it. That Mr. Yu is infamous as the Turtle. He knows the tricks of corrupt officials better than we do. All corrupt officials are the same. They know when to turn a blind eye. Since the litchi transport is already a done deal, why not let Mr. Yu have his way? If we keep him satisfied, he might even
put in a good word for us with the Right Chancellor. If some rigid fool had been sent instead, and Amita managed to sow discord between them and us, who knows what chaos could follow? Anyway, calculate their arrival time and make proper arrangements. Aye. Mr. Li, why are you so gloomy when we’re nearly in Lingnan? The heat is worse than when I left. This place isn’t suited for ice storage. Once the litchi transport begins, this weather doesn’t bode well. I reviewed your plans earlier. On paper, they seemed harmless. But after this grueling journey, I see how difficult this task truly is. Still, Mr. Li, don’t worry. We’re here on the Right Chancellor’s orders. If we work together, nothing is impossible. The Inspector’s Office can handle the operational matters. I’d be grateful if they didn’t
cause any trouble. Mr. Li, do you have a grievance with them? Just a minor misunderstanding. Yes, just a… A minor misunderstanding. Now that I have
the Right Chancellor’s silver token and your support, they should cooperate. Once we reach Lingnan, we’ll have a proper talk with Mr. He. Welcome the Overseer
and the Litchi Commissioner to Lingnan! [Inspector’s Mansion] Is this Overseer Yu? Mr. Yu, your reputation precedes you. I didn’t expect you to be such a talented and promising young man. I heard you single-handedly managed the procurement for Her Highness’s birthday feast. Remarkable. Meeting you is the honor of a lifetime. Mr. He, I’ve heard so much about you. Once a maritime overlord, commanding the waves with your brethren. Now an official in Lingnan, sheltering its people. A legend indeed. Mr. He, I’ve long wished to visit. But duties kept me in the palace. Now that we’ve finally met, we must share a proper reunion. Mr. Yu, have we met before? Mr. He, your heart has always been
with Chang’an. Our paths may have crossed more than you realize. Perhaps we have met. Well, look, the moment I saw Mr. Yu, I felt an instant kinship as if we’d known each other before. Fate must have brought us together. Mr. Li. [Duke of Imperial Guardianship’s Token]
It is the silver token of the Right Chancellor. Mr. Li, as the ancients said, “A day apart feels like three autumns.” We haven’t seen each other for so long. How many autumns must that be? You’ve endured quite a journey. Inspector, thanks for your concern. Amita, ever since you left, I’ve been worrying about you every day. But now you’ve returned. I can finally feel at ease. Promise me you won’t wander so far again. Don’t worry, Father. I’m not leaving this time. Where’s Lan Yu? I wouldn’t trouble a mere servant. I let her go. Mr. He. Let’s welcome them inside. We have prepared a modest feast to welcome you. Yes, exactly. Upon hearing of your arrival, he rushed out in such haste. You must have witnessed Mr. He’s fervent hospitality. We can discuss the litchi transport over the meal. This year, Longdong
suffered a severe drought. His Majesty issued an austerity decree, ordering all officials to reduce expenditures. His Majesty shows empathy
towards the people and sets an example for the world. Even the construction
of Huaqing Hot Spring was halted. Would such extravagant hospitality betray His Majesty’s earnest intentions? Mr. Yu, you’re overstating it. Lingnan, nestled between mountains
and seas, abounds in fish and crabs. Seafood here is even cheaper than rice. These are really just some humble local dishes. As an official of the people, Mr. He serves His Majesty by hosting you well. No blame will fall upon Mr. He. Mr. He, please forgive me. I’ve always been impatient by nature. With Her Highness’s birthday
approaching, the first thing on my mind is to ensure the litchi transport is handled properly, smoothly,
and successfully. That’s only natural. Indeed. As the Overseer, my duty is to assist Mr. Li. Mr. Li, if you have any requests, why not bring them up now? Then I’ll just say it straight. The first day of the sixth month
is approaching. We must depart
by the 19th of the fifth month. Mr. He, please mobilize your officials to get prepared. Mr. He, what do you think? That’s right. Time waits for no one. Hear this, from today, all officials in Lingnan are at Mr. Li’s disposal. – Aye!
– Aye! By the way, Amita is the Hu merchant representative
appointed by the Right Chancellor. Amita, what are your plans for this trip? Mr. Yu, Amita is my adoptive daughter. She’s always been working for me. Having long resided in Lingnan, I’ve not only ensured timely tax deliveries
to the Court but also asked myself whether I could do more, lest I fail to live up to His Majesty and the Right Chancellor’s trust
in Lingnan. Thus, I had Amita take on this task, so we might devote ourselves fully to supporting the litchi transport. Indeed. My adoptive father
has always said he wants to sponsor the transport in the name of the Hu Merchants Guild to share His Majesty’s burdens and bring joy to Her Highness. Then I have to ask. Is the money from the Hu Merchants Guild to be invested or donated? The Hu Merchants Guild has been blessed by His Majesty’s grace
in Tang territory. Of course, the money is a donation. Wonderful. I hadn’t realized the Hu Merchants Guild was so generous. Mr. He, you contribute both funds and labor to the litchi transport. I can rest easy now. Mr. He, please forgive us. Mr. Li and Mr. Yu are weary from travel. Shall we reconvene another time? Mr. Yu, are you not going to have this meal? Don’t bother. Alright. Ah, I have a vacant house. Mr. Yu, why not lodge there and rest early? I have my own plans. Mr. Li, perhaps you’d take it? I’ll stay at the courier station. I’m used to staying there. Father, the Right Chancellor tasked me
with assisting Mr. Li. I’ll personally oversee every detail. I’ll join him at the courier station. Alright. Mr. Yu, then… Mr. He, farewell. Farewell. Yu Cheng’en is nothing but the Turtle. Just look at how he’s putting on an act, pretending to be an incorruptible and virtuous official. If anyone from the Inspector’s Mansion comes, refuse anything they offer. Understood. Petty bribes aren’t worth our attention. We’ll wait for the big fish to bite. This time, I’m not fishing. I’ll devour him alive. And there’s Li Shande, daring to act so officious in front of me. And Amita kept tricking me into paying up. Lingnan is my territory! How dare they! Zhao, remember, since they’ve spurned courtesy, let them handle the litchi transport, and I’ll do my job as Inspector. Let’s just leave each other alone. Today, I saw him being very respectful to you. Why would you want to “devour” him? An old grievance. Not worth mentioning. Amita and Li Shande are no real threat. But that Mr. Yu is another matter. His performance of integrity today was staged for Li Shande. Didn’t you hear Amita
deliberately mention the Guild’s donation? That was a reminder to Mr. Yu about the Guild’s substantial
financial resources. Eunuchs are all petty-minded. If we don’t satiate the Turtle, and he holds a grudge, he might say something
unfavorable for us to the Right Chancellor. That would be a great loss for us. But he is the Inspector of Gaozhou. And he’s served the Right Chancellor for years. If we do eliminate him, how do we explain it
to the Right Chancellor? He’s been acting like a king in Lingnan for too long. Digging up dirt on him won’t be hard. This is infuriating. I really feel like throwing them all into the river to feed the fish. Where are they staying? In a house in the west. It’s even better than the place we prepared for him. Seems like he has a big appetite. Zhao, remember, never let them think Lingnan is a lucrative target. Otherwise, how will we live our days? How will I plead poverty
to the Right Chancellor? Then our good days will be over. I noticed something subtle between Amita and He Youguang. Go and find out what exactly has happened between them. Mr. Li is back. Shande? You’re back. You’re back. I’m back. How’s Xiu? Taller? Sturdier? Did she miss me? So many questions at once. She’s taller. And yes, she missed you. This time, the litchis will reach Her Highness’s banquet
on schedule. Xiu won’t be orphaned. I also heard you secured
the Right Chancellor’s silver token. Here it is. I even sleep with it tied to me. Let me tell you, returning to Chang’an, the last thing I expected was to actually meet the Right Chancellor. The world calls him overbearing, but only he can suppress He Youguang and ensure
the litchi transport succeeds. I heard you requested someone
from the Right Chancellor. Mr. Yu? I recommended him. More help brings me closer to success. Right? The closer you are to success, the closer I am to death! I’ve been staying in Lingnan as the agent of the Right Chancellor for so long. I’ve survived so far by treading cautiously on thin ice. Not long ago, I ran into Zhao Xinmin at Konglang Agency. He nearly uncovered my identity. I was relieved no one exposed me. Then you just brought one of the Right Chancellor’s men straight from Chang’an to point me out! No. I didn’t see that coming. I… In Chang’an, I was consumed by the litchi task. Overwhelmed. It… It never occurred to me. I didn’t realize. Go to hell! You didn’t realize? A trip to Chang’an, and you can’t tell right
from wrong anymore? Who is Mr. Yu? The Right Chancellor’s lapdog! Are you his lapdog too? No, I’m not. But what choice did I have? I was given a doomed task. When I went back to Chang’an to handle this matter, no one helped me. So I had to
turn to the Right Chancellor. He gets things done. Listen, Li Shande, Anyone tied to the Right Chancellor dies. I’m going to bring him down! Let’s… Let’s not talk about this. No more arguing. We… I brought you flatbread. Here. No more fighting. I… You think a flatbread appeases me? I really didn’t see that coming. I demand a bag! Mark my words, I’ll bring down
the Right Chancellor. [Duke of Imperial Guardianship’s Token] Well, look. Mr. Li, we expected
your journey to Chang’an to be fraught with hardships, yet you return in splendid triumph. You only see the glory, not the suffering behind it. Elder Su, what brings you to the litchi orchard? Upon hearing of your return, I went to the courier station early
to wait for you only to find it empty. So, I ended up waiting here
for a stroke of luck. Since my return yesterday, I’ve been buried in chaos. We depart on the 19th
of the fifth month. Time is short, and the task is immense. I was just briefing over 20 officials on personnel arrangements. Tong, they may send helpers shortly. When they’re here, you need to explain to them in detail how to prune the branches, protect the fruit, harvest the bamboo, and load the urns. Why would those officials listen to me? From today, your litchi orchard is officially designated
as an imperial litchi orchard. You serve His Majesty now. No one dares to disobey you. See, I told you, Elder Su. A dog never forgets. How can you insult me? Don’t you always say, “A dog in prosperity does not forget its master”? “If we prosper,
let us not forget each other.” Let us not forget each other. But you still forgot my reminder. I heard you made Amita the representative of us Hu Merchants. Here’s the thing. After that incident with Amita and He Youguang, I petitioned the Right Chancellor to grant her this title to protect her. But Amita asked me to tell you that this is just a nominal title. Just a nominal title. Well, in today’s Chang’an parlance, she won’t be handling the actual operations of the litchi trade. You’re still in charge of everything here. Amita never shared your hardships, yet now you share
your prosperity with her. Your kindness knows no bounds. I’m left speechless and feel deeply ashamed. Since your arrival in Lingnan, we have relied on each other, Mr. Li. May we one day soar wing-to-wing, shoulder-to-shoulder, delivering fresh litchis to Chang’an together. One more thing, Elder Su. A palace eunuch, Attendant Yu, returned with me this time. Attendant Yu? Yes. He should now be called Overseer Yu. Overseer Yu? Yes. He used to be in charge of the transport
and procurement of goods in Chang’an. He’s very experienced. So if you have specific concerns, you may discuss them with him. Alright, good. But… But I remain uneasy. Better safe than sorry, you know. The commercial operations along the litchi transport route are all under my management. Does Mr. Yu know this? He does. I explained everything to him on the way. He even praised you as a leading figure in the industry and a friend of Tang. It seems Mr. Yu is also a good dog. May we all be good dogs, then! Ah, Mr. Li, you promised us fine wine from Chang’an. Where is it? I didn’t forget. Truly, I didn’t. But in Chang’an, I was buried in duties day and night. And the journey was so long. I feared it would spoil along the way. We gave you one simple task, and you still forgot. Your memory is worse than a sparrow’s. But… I did prepare grape wine for you at the courier station. I’ll fetch it shortly. Then we’ll call Li over and drink our fill! “Drink our fill” is also a Chang’an saying. I really did prepare grape wine. What happened to Li?