Chapter 30

"Grandpa, don't get too excited. The doctor said your blood pressure is high, and you shouldn't get agitated." Li Jingyi, to protect her father who was always causing trouble, stepped forward to take the bullet.

How could Gao Guoliang not be excited? The Xinghuacun Daqu produced by the local famous distillery before its restructuring was the last batch of liquor from over forty years ago. This was the kind of liquor that could be displayed in the Jiuhua Distillery Museum.

"Ha ha ha, Old Zhang was showing off a bottle of old Mingguang the other day. This will let him see something good."

Gao Guoliang was overjoyed. The liquor was genuine, and it was in excellent condition. "Xiaodong, where did you get this liquor?"

"A classmate gave it to me."

Li Dong thought to himself, he had bought it himself. "My classmate's family was once well-off. During the ten years of disaster, they received over ten thousand yuan in back pay. His elder bought all the liquor with it, saying he wanted to make up for the years without alcohol. For this, they even built a rather professional wine cellar."

"Unfortunately, the elder didn't get to drink much before he passed away. The wine cellar has been sealed ever since and was only opened a few days ago." Li Dong smiled. "He sent me two bottles of Xinghuacun Daqu from Chicheng."

"I don't know much about it, but my classmate said it was genuine, so I brought it for you to appraise." Li Dong wiped the sweat from his forehead, glad that his storytelling skills as a Chinese teacher were up to par.

"No wonder."

Gao Guoliang sighed. "You should thank your classmate later. This kind of liquor is hard to come by now. Even the distillery would want to collect it for their exhibition hall."

"Dad, what kind of liquor is this? It can be displayed in an exhibition hall?"

Gao Jia and Li Jingyi were confused. Was this really good liquor? It had no packaging, and the bottle looked quite shabby.

"You don't understand. If you take this to the Jiuhua Distillery, they would buy it for ten thousand yuan a bottle." Xinghuacun Daqu wasn't a famous brand, just a local distillery product that quickly underwent restructuring and changed its name. Not many people knew about it.

But for the distillery, it was a historical artifact, and it was not surprising that they would pay a high price for it.

"Ten thousand yuan a bottle?"

Not just Gao Jia and Li Jingyi, even Li Dong was surprised. So expensive, and he had bought it for 1.5 yuan a bottle. "Dad, my classmate said he has a few bottles of 1978 Gujing Gongjiu and might send them to me. How much is Gujing Gongjiu worth?"

"1978 Gujing, if it's genuine, would be around 35,000 yuan on the market."

Gao Guoliang explained. "1978 was a special year. The entire northern Anhui region suffered a severe drought, with over 75% of the farmland affected. Gujing didn't produce new liquor for several years after that, only resuming in the early 1980s."

"Does your classmate know much about liquor?"

Li Dong thought, not really. He knew a bit about Moutai, which was definitely expensive back then. "He just got back from abroad and might not know as much as I do."

"That makes sense."

Gao Guoliang said with a hint of regret. "Gujing is too expensive, but there's still Xinghuacun Daqu. You can help me contact your classmate. The market price for this liquor is around 3,000 yuan a bottle."

"Let's not talk about that. I'm happy today, let's have a few drinks."

"Sure."

"Drink this?"

Li Dong pointed to the Xinghuacun Daqu, but Gao Guoliang hugged it tightly. "What are you dreaming about? We'll drink 1978 Gujing." He carefully placed the Xinghuacun Daqu in his wine cabinet.

Gao Jia and Li Jingyi were stunned. This liquor was indeed a treasure.

Li Jingyi observed her father. Not only had his physique improved, but his flattery skills had also gotten better. And his appraisal skills had improved too. In just half a year of running the farm, he could distinguish between wild and non-wild produce and had even managed to get such rare liquor.

"Dad, you're amazing."

Li Jingyi felt proud of her father's growth. "Without Mom and me around to supervise you, you've actually grown. It's unbelievable."

Li Dong was speechless. "I've learned to be independent. Is that okay?"

"Sure, I'll tell Mom later."

Li Jingyi nodded with a hint of pride, which made Li Dong tap her on the head. His daughter was too smart, and he thought it might be better to knock some sense into her. After all, she had never needed his help with her studies, which was both a blessing and a curse.

This made Li Dong feel like a failure as a father, especially since he was a teacher and couldn't even help his daughter with her homework. He had protested, but his daughter and wife had ganged up on him.

"Tell, tell."

Li Dong was helpless. He was a bit afraid of Gao Lan, even though they were divorced. "How's Mom doing at work?"

"Pretty good, just busy, you know."

Li Jingyi didn't act like an eleven-year-old, which made Li Dong feel helpless.

"And you, do you stay home alone after school?"

"Sure, the homework is pretty easy."

Li Jingyi took the fruit Gao Jia offered. "Thanks, Auntie. Dad, do you want some?"

"I'm good."

Li Dong had wanted to show concern for his daughter, but the conversation had shifted to him.

"Without me around to supervise you, you don't skip breakfast, do you?"

"How could I? Your dad is doing great. My cooking skills have improved a lot. I'm doing fine."

"Really? Mom told me your farm is about to go bankrupt."

Li Jingyi rolled her eyes. "But Dad, don't worry, I'll take care of you." She patted her backpack, hinting that her recent bonus had increased. Li Dong looked at Gao Jia for confirmation.

"Her last semester's bonus was nearly ten thousand yuan."

"This little miser, she promised to treat us to a big meal, but ended up taking us to a buffet that cost only 200 yuan."

Gao Jia patted Li Jingyi, who leaned on her aunt. "That's because Dad quit his job in a fit of anger and opened a farm in the countryside, which is about to go bankrupt. I have to take care of him. I'm helpless too."

Li Dong, who was drinking tea, spat it out. "I don't need you to take care of me. I'm living a great life in the countryside. Besides, my farm is doing well. It might turn a profit by the end of the year."

Gao Jia and even his ex-mother-in-law, Zhang Fengqin, shook their heads. "Xiaodong, it's normal to have ups and downs in business. Don't stress too much."

With everyone saying this, Li Dong felt a bit pressured. He regretted coming.

"Ha ha ha."

"Seriously, brother-in-law, our team is planning a team-building event at the end of the month. I'll suggest we go to your farm."

Gao Jia worked at the tax bureau and had some influence. This was a way to help him get more customers. "Sure, call me when you're ready. I'll make sure everything is perfect and everyone has a great time."

"I'll take you up on that."

"Your brother-in-law wouldn't joke about this. I guarantee everyone will have a great time and want to come back."

Li Dong patted his chest, confident that the food and drinks would be excellent. He could use some wild game from 1978, organic vegetables, and fish from the reservoir. Han Weiguo's cooking skills would definitely impress the girls.

As for activities, Li Dong frowned. The farm didn't have much to offer. Vegetable picking and fishing might not appeal to the mostly female tax bureau staff. But he had made a promise, so he had to make it work.

"What are you talking about? Jiajia, come help me."

Zhang Fengqin called Gao Jia to help, while Gao Guoliang called his drinking buddies to show off his Xinghuacun Daqu. In the living room, only Li Dong and Li Jingyi were left. Li Jingyi leaned on Li Feng. "Dad, my birthday is coming up. Don't forget."

"Don't worry, I won't forget my treasure's birthday."

Li Dong patted Li Jingyi's head. "What do you want for your birthday? Lego, Barbie dolls?"

"Dad, I liked those when I was little. I don't like them anymore."

"Then what do you want?"

"That's for you to figure out." Li Jingyi sat up. "Come on, Dad, I believe you can guess."

"No tablets or phones."

Gao Lan would never agree to that, and Li Dong would be in trouble if he bought them.

"I know."

Li Jingyi rolled her eyes. "Dad, if I don't like the birthday gift, I won't accept it."

"Got it."

Really, a kid who doesn't like toys. What's the world coming to? He might as well buy a set of five-year college entrance exam practice books and three-year simulation tests.

After drinking a few cups with Gao Guoliang, Li Dong sent Li Jingyi to school and then went to the bus stop with Gao Jia. "See you, brother-in-law."

After seeing Li Feng off, Gao Jia immediately texted her sister. "Sis, guess who this is?"

Gao Lan was puzzled by the familiar back in the photo but couldn't place it. "Are you dating someone?"

"No, sis, it's your husband."

Gao Jia sent another photo of Li Dong's face. "Cai Cai told me, Mom, you're about to lose Dad."

"Cai Cai said Dad is now handsome, fit, and looks ten years younger. He's sure to attract young girls. She told me to take action or you might lose your husband." Gao Jia laughed at her own message.

What a cheeky kid, but her brother-in-law had indeed changed, almost unrecognizable. Gao Jia recounted the day's events to Gao Lan. "Are you sure he's not lying?"

"I asked Dad, and the fish is genuinely wild, and the liquor is genuine."

Gao Lan was skeptical. This sudden change seemed impossible. "He has a temper. He deserved the divorce. Let him stay in the countryside."

"Still, he's the father of your child. I'll ask Cai Cai tonight to make sure he's not on the wrong path."

Li Dong took the bus back to Hanjiavillage, rested for a while, and then went to the farm with a basket to feed the turtles, which he hadn't done in days.

"Hey, this turtle heard the noise and came over. Come here."

Li Dong found it interesting and tapped the glass. The turtle crawled over and looked at him, surprising Li Dong. "Try this." He tapped the other side, and the turtle crawled over again. Li Dong became intrigued and decided to take this special turtle out of the tank and put it on the ground.

After a few tries, it seemed the turtle had some intelligence. "Is this really happening?" Li Dong discovered that the turtle could understand some of his commands, but other turtles couldn't.

"What's going on? Could it be that this turtle's intelligence has been enhanced by time travel?"

Li Dong was excited. If true, he could train more turtles to be intelligent. This could be fun. He didn't notice that the special turtle was following his footsteps.

"Could other animals be like this turtle?"

Li Dong slapped his forehead. It was possible, and he had to try.