Chapter 72: Mixed Drinks

"Clap!" Ning Yongqiang slapped his hand down hard and exclaimed, "That's right, it's five!" Qin Mute nodded with delight, deeply impressed by his master.

"Drink up! Drink up!" Ning Yongqiang was more excited than anyone else present, pointing at Zhao Han and his companions, urging them on.

Xu Mo smiled and asked, "Young Master Zhao, do you have anything to say? Is my answer correct?"

Zhao Han desperately wanted to deny that Xu Mo had answered correctly, but could only stammer, "You... you must have heard this riddle before, otherwise how... how could you answer so quickly?"

Frustrated, Zhao Han could barely get the words out.

Xu Mo replied, "Young Master Zhao, whether I've heard this riddle before is irrelevant. What matters is that I've answered it, so it's your turn to drink!"

With that, Xu Mo turned to Qin Mute. "Mute, call someone in so I can ask what wines they have."

"Yes, Master!" Qin Mute responded cheerily and strode out of the room.

Soon, Qin Mute returned with a brothel steward.

"Gentlemen, what can I do for you?" The steward bowed and smiled broadly.

Xu Mo asked, "What wines do you have here?"

The steward replied, "Sir, we have Nine-Brewed Fine Wine, Northern Frontier Spirits, Four Joys Wine, as well as Western Grape Wine..."

"Wait, you have Western Grape Wine?" Xu Mo was a little surprised.

The steward nodded. "Yes, sir. Our Western Grape Wine just arrived from the western regions a few days ago. It's in high demand, so if you'd like some, you'd better order quickly before it's gone."

"Very well, bring us the Western Grape Wine," Xu Mo decided.

Seeing Xu Mo order the grape wine, Zhao Han immediately relaxed, for he had tasted it before and knew it went down easily.

"Right away, sir! Please wait a moment!" The steward responded and was about to fetch the wine.

Xu Mo stopped him, "Wait, I'm not done yet!"

The steward immediately returned.

Xu Mo asked Ning Yongqiang, "Young Master Ning, that Northern Frontier Spirits he mentioned—is it very strong?"

He had picked it precisely because the name suggested it was a strong liquor.

Ning Yongqiang nodded, "That's right, Northern Frontier Spirits is the strongest among the lot. Too much of it burns your throat!"

Xu Mo nodded and told the steward, "Then bring some of that as well! And bring some extra bowls... That will do. Off you go!"

He gestured, and the steward hurried out.

Zhao Han frowned slightly and asked, "Mr. Xu, what do you mean by this? Are you asking us to drink two kinds of wine?"

Xu Mo countered, "Young Master Zhao, is that a problem? We only agreed to three bowls as a penalty, but we never said we couldn't mix two kinds of wine, did we?"

"You... you..." Zhao Han was momentarily speechless.

Li Changsi couldn't help but interject, "Mr. Xu, as the saying goes, one shouldn't mix drinks. Isn't this a bit..."

"A bit what?" Xu Mo interrupted bluntly. "If mixing drinks was off-limits, you should have said so earlier! Isn't it a bit too late to complain now?"

He then let out a cold laugh. "Ha! If you can't play the game, just admit it. Don't make excuses."

Li Changsi was left with nothing to say. On reflection, he could only blame himself for not considering that Xu Mo might mix the drinks.

Resigned, Li Changsi said, "Young Master Zhao, Mr. Xu is right. Let's accept the outcome like gentlemen."

With that, he glanced at Wu Boyi.

Wu Boyi wanted to protest, but seeing that Li Changsi had already conceded, he could only swallow his words, shaking his head with a quiet sigh.

Before long, the steward returned with grape wine and Northern Frontier Spirits.

Ning Yongqiang, eager for the spectacle, stood up at once. "Mr. Xu, let me help pour the wine."

Xu Mo reminded him, "Young Master Ning, make it half and half—don't favor one wine over the other."

"Don't worry, I know what to do!" Ning Yongqiang replied cheerfully.

He then poured three bowls of mixed wine for Zhao Han, Li Changsi, and Wu Boyi.

The three of them stared at the concoction, their brows furrowing.

Xu Mo smiled at them and gestured, "Young Master Zhao, Young Master Li, Young Master Wu, don't just stare at it—please, go ahead!"

Ning Yongqiang echoed him, "Yes, gentlemen, bottoms up!"

Wu Boyi shot a resentful glance at Zhao Han, thinking, "Look at the mess your riddle got us into—serves you right!"

Zhao Han returned an indignant glare, as if to say, "If you're so capable, why didn't you come up with a riddle yourself?"

As the two exchanged glances, Li Changsi had already picked up his bowl and started drinking in large gulps.

Within moments, he had finished one bowl, then quickly drained the second and third without pause.

Xu Mo and Ning Yongqiang clapped in unison, both praising, "Impressive capacity! Very impressive!"

With Li Changsi having set the pace, Zhao Han and Wu Boyi had no choice but to follow suit.

"Gulp, gulp, gulp..."

It wasn't long before their bowls, too, were empty.

Xu Mo applauded once more, smiling as he said, "Truly, you gentlemen hold your drink well. I am in awe!"

His words were clearly a taunt, instantly fueling Zhao Han's ire.

Refusing to back down, Zhao Han declared, "Xu Mo, don't get cocky—this is only the beginning! Listen to my next riddle!"

"What? Another one?" Xu Mo feigned surprise. "Young Master Zhao, your face is already flushed. You shouldn't drink any more."

Zhao Han protested loudly, "Who says I can't drink? My face always turns red when I drink! Besides, who's to say who'll be drinking next!"

Wu Boyi, a bit worried, asked, "Zhao Han, what kind of riddle are you planning this time? Can you tell me first? Don't make it as easy as the last one."

"Wu Boyi, have you any right to call my riddle easy?"

Having just downed three bowls of mixed wine, Zhao Han was feeling the effects, and responded with disdain, "Then why did it take you half an hour to solve?"

"Who... who took half an hour? Don't talk nonsense!" Wu Boyi snapped, his pride wounded.

Xu Mo and Ning Yongqiang watched their squabble with amusement.

Unable to bear it, Li Changsi raised his hands to quiet them. "Enough, both of you! We're here to enjoy ourselves, not to quarrel."

"He started it!" Zhao Han grumbled.

"Your riddle was too simple," Wu Boyi retorted.

Li Changsi could only roll his eyes at them, and finally the room quieted.

After a brief pause, Zhao Han looked at Li Changsi and Wu Boyi and asked, "How about the age riddle?"

Wu Boyi immediately looked to Li Changsi, who considered for a moment, then nodded.

"Go on, go on," Wu Boyi said impatiently.

Face flushed, Zhao Han looked at Xu Mo. "Mr. Xu, the last riddle was deliberately simple, but this one is different!"

Xu Mo nodded, "Very well, I'm listening..."

Zhao Han took a moment to compose himself, then began, "Listen! The father's and mother's ages together add up to fifty-four. The father's and son's ages together total thirty-seven. The mother's and son's ages together make thirty-three..."

"Now, tell me—how old are the father, mother, and son, respectively?"