Pillar of the State Lv Hou was surprised to learn that the two were acquainted, but quickly regained his composure. After inviting Jiu Zizai to take a seat, his trusted aide summoned the store staff from below to serve the pre-prepared wine and dishes one by one.
A plate of fresh fruits, rose-gold kumquats, fragrant medicinal grapes, sugar-frosted peach pieces, and various other preserves was laid out, followed by sixteen dishes in total—eight cold and eight hot. While they were not rare delicacies, they were thoughtfully prepared with rich flavors.
Lv Hou poured himself a cup of wine and said to Wang Anfeng:
"Rest assured, those three young ladies are in the side hall, with exactly the same food as ours, not a bit less."
Only then did Wang Anfeng feel slightly relieved. As the wine flowed for three rounds, the two elderly men, both with white hair and brows, merely chatted about random matters.
