"Cheeky, it’s not that I’m being stingy—I really don’t have any right now! If you don’t believe me, you and Sun Qian can come back to the store and see for yourselves. Try and find some then!" Sun Qian had only managed a few words before Cheeky snatched the phone away and launched into a full-on barrage against Shen Yibin. He was demanding more wine, no matter what, and it was giving Shen Yibin a massive headache. "It’ll be a while before there’s a new batch. Once it’s brewed, I’ll mail it to you, how about that?"
"Alright, alright. If Bin says he doesn’t have any, then he really doesn’t. Stop bothering him." Even Sun Qian couldn’t take it anymore and pulled the phone away from Cheeky. "Sorry about that, Bin. You know how Cheeky can be... a bit of a nag."
"It’s fine." ’I’ve been tortured by Cheeky before, so of course I know how it is.’ Just as he was about to say more, he saw another call coming in from Sylvie. "Uh, Sylvie’s called a few times. Let me see what she wants. We’ll talk on WeChat in a bit."
"Don’t you dare give the wine to her—" As Shen Yibin hung up, he faintly heard Cheeky shouting on the other end. That guy... he’d disown Sylvie for a chance at Monkey Wine.
’Sylvie couldn’t be calling about this too, could she?’ he wondered as he pressed the answer button. Sure enough, just as Shen Yibin expected, after lavishing praise on the wondrous Monkey Wine and describing her parents’ reaction to it, Sylvie shyly made a request to buy some. Shen Yibin gave her the same answer as before: it wasn’t that he was unwilling to part with any, but there was simply no stock left in the store.
Sylvie was much more composed than Cheeky. She merely expressed her disappointment, then pleaded with Shen Yibin to notify her the moment the next batch of Monkey Wine was ready. She would have staff from the Sokovian embassy in China personally travel to Yunzhong City to retrieve the wine and immediately fly back to Sokovia. It would be faster that way.
’Whoa, what a production! It’s practically a state affair just to get some wine. You nobles are so extravagant!’ Shen Yibin was at a loss for words.
He hadn’t even finished his call with Sylvie when another came in from Sakai Kaori. This girl was far more polite, but her craving for Monkey Wine was just as intense as Sun Qian’s and Sylvie’s. She sent Shen Yibin a video of Egg dancing and made a proposal: she would personally visit Yunzhong City with Egg before the next batch of wine was brewed. For one, it would be a chance to catch up. For two, it was, of course, for the Monkey Wine. Waiting in Shen Yibin’s shop was the surest way to get the first taste, right?
"Bin, I’ve spoken with Mr. Cha and Mr. Xiong in the past, and they both said they’d never tasted Monkey Wine. They only imagined what it was like based on ancient texts and the Huanzhu Master’s descriptions. I can’t believe you actually have such a wonderful wine here. It’s fulfilled a childhood dream of mine!" The Mr. Cha and Mr. Xiong that Director Kong mentioned were Jin Yong and Gulong. He had associated with these two wuxia masters and maintained a relatively close relationship with them.
"Well, once the next batch is ready, I’ll give you an extra bottle. Could I trouble you to pass it along to Mr. Cha? I’m just not sure if Mr. Cha can still drink at his age." Shen Yibin had also grown up reading the novels of these two masters. It was just a shame that Mr. Xiong had already passed away, a fact that filled him with some regret.
"Aren’t you afraid I’ll keep it for myself? Honestly, I’m worried I won’t be able to control myself when the time comes!" Director Kong said, half-joking. He wouldn’t actually keep it for himself, but personally delivering it to Mr. Cha and getting to share a drink was a definite possibility. After a few more words, they arranged a time to meet in Shanghai, and then Director Kong brought up another matter. "By the way, John Farrell, the owner of the Hollywood special effects company doing the post-production for *Panda Hero*, plans to visit you in Yunzhong City in a while. I’m afraid I’ll have to trouble you to pick him up then."
For his own amusement, Director Kong hadn’t told John Farrell that the wine was brewed by monkeys. He wondered what his reaction would be when he found out. After getting a clearer picture of the man, Shen Yibin agreed without hesitation. He, too, was curious to know what kind of review the Monkey Wine would receive from a top international wine master.
「A few days later」
John Farrell, having finished his business in Shanghai, eagerly boarded a flight to Yunzhong City. When he boarded the plane and walked to his seat, he froze for a moment. ’What in the world? Why is there a raccoon sitting next to me? Uh, no, wait, this animal seems a little different from a raccoon. It’s much fatter.’
"Sir, please don’t worry. Egg is a very gentle animal. He isn’t aggressive, and he’s had all his vaccinations, so he poses no risk to you," Sakai Kaori explained in English as she stood up. Her family’s Shrine was quite influential in Japan, and since this happened to be a flight with a Japanese airline, getting a seat for Egg hadn’t been difficult.
"He looks very cute. What kind of animal is he?" After the initial surprise, John Farrell had already adjusted. ’After all,’ he thought, ’if a panda can be a movie star, what’s the big deal about an animal flying on a plane?’
"Lord Egg is a Raccoon Cat. He is the deity worshiped by our Honjin Raccoon Shrine," Sakai Kaori explained earnestly.
"Honjin Raccoon Shrine?" John Farrell repeated the mouthful of a name, and he seemed to recall something. "The sake your Shrine brews is quite good. I’ve had it a few times."
"Eh? Sir, you are...?" Sakai Kaori was surprised. She never expected to meet a foreigner on a plane who had tried her family’s sake. She was suddenly quite curious.
"I’m the owner of a Hollywood special effects company, but of course, the title I’m most proud of is international wine master," John Farrell said, pulling out his business card and handing it to her.
"It’s a pleasure to meet you! I actually brought some of our family’s sake with me this time. I’ll give you a bottle after we land!" Sakai Kaori was delighted that their sake had earned the approval of a master.
"Normally, I would be overjoyed, but on this trip to Yunzhong City, I have a very specific goal." Compared to the Monkey Wine, the Kaori Family’s sake was nothing special.
The two of them chatted pleasantly on the plane, discussing all sorts of things related to wine. Time flew by, and soon the plane landed at Yunzhong City Airport. Sakai Kaori, Egg, and John Farrell all disembarked together.
When they reached the exit, they saw a panda standing up ahead holding a sign, drawing stares from everyone around them. Egg saw Hah’Er and immediately scampered over, but Sakai Kaori’s gaze was drawn to the name on the sign. ’Hey, the sign seems to be for this Mr. John Farrell.’
John Farrell’s face was a mask of bewilderment. He had been to many countries, but this was the first time he’d ever been greeted by a panda.