“Weren’t you all just calling each other by titles? One called Mr. Brooks, another Mr. Foster, the tall one is Deputy Smith, the short one is Secretary Thompson, and then there are two drivers, Little Foster and Big Thompson... Didn’t they all call you Mr. Thompson?” James Brooks said with a smile. Except for not remembering English words and math formulas, he was especially sharp at remembering dishes and people.

“Hehe... You really have a good memory. Let’s get acquainted, my name is Olivia Thompson, a reporter from the City Dayuan Daily!” Olivia Thompson handed James Brooks a business card, confidently extending her hand.

“Hey, hey... I don’t need an introduction, right! James Brooks, ‘Jian’ as in simple, ‘Fan’ as in extraordinary! ...Wow, Miss Thompson, your surname is great, same as the Chairman’s.” James Brooks smiled as he took the business card, glanced at it, and carefully tucked it into his breast pocket. Somewhat flattered, he gently shook Mr. Thompson’s soft, delicate hand—so fair and smooth that he felt a jolt like an electric shock. Luckily, the current wasn’t too strong, and he managed not to fall! But his face turned red again, as if a bit shy!

Olivia Thompson was amused and laughed again! She found this sunny boy from a small county quite interesting!

Her radiant smile was utterly charming, making James Brooks’s heart beat wildly! The smile was beautiful, but could there be a hidden agenda? She’s a reporter—do reporters have connections with the police station? Is she here to scare me? Why does she want to know me? Could it be that she’s attracted by my dashing looks?

“Miss Thompson, you... why did you come back again? Are you here to interview me or to report on the First Pot of Wulong?”

Seeing that Mr. Thompson didn’t look like she was here to interrogate him, James Brooks teased her a bit more in his tone.

Olivia Thompson smiled gently and said graciously, “Hehe... neither, I just want to ask you something!”

“No problem, go ahead!”

“The liquor in your shop just now was corn liquor, right? ...The best corn liquor in Wulong County is called Furong Corn Yellow. My father asked me to bring a few bottles back this time. Can I buy this liquor in the county? I wanted to ask an expert like you, so I don’t waste my time running around.” Mr. Thompson explained her purpose.

“You... you actually know Furong Corn Yellow? Then do you know this little ditty: ‘A wondrous fragrance comes from the maple forest hills, as if a fairy brings nectar; a thousand distillations and a hundred refinings with clear spring water, Furong Distillery’s Corn Yellow!’” James Brooks was surprised, a bit taken aback, and then recited a few lines with a playful smile.

Hearing these lines, Olivia Thompson was both surprised and delighted: “Wow!? You... you know these lines too? My dad always recites them!”

“Hehe... Miss Thompson, the corn yellow we served at the table just now is from Furong Distillery in Fenglin Town! The owner of Furong Distillery is surnamed Jian, named Robert Brooks! Didn’t your father mention it?” James Brooks said proudly, watching the beautiful woman’s eyes widen in surprise, her joy making her look even more attractive.

“It’s your family’s?” Olivia Thompson understood.

“Yes, Robert Brooks is my grandfather! This distillery has over a hundred years of history. It was originally called Fenglin Distillery, and the owner’s surname was Liu. It was closed for a while during the Cultural Revolution, then reopened in the late seventies, and it’s been almost thirty years now! My grandmother’s name is Liu Furong, and my grandfather named the distillery after her. That’s the legendary Furong Distillery—a refined name, golden color, sweet and mellow taste, but the price is low. Unfortunately, the production isn’t large. At the First Pot, all the Furong Corn Yellow we sell is our own product!” James Brooks said with a smile, not without pride. When Grandpa married into the Liu family, the century-old distillery took on the Jian surname—this was the Jian family’s most successful marriage alliance.

The beauty clapped her hands in delight: “That’s wonderful! I was worried I wouldn’t have time to go to Fenglin Town. This saves me a lot of trouble.”

James Brooks said eagerly, “Miss Thompson, just tell me how much you want, and I’ll get it for you right away! There are twelve wine jars in the backyard, and half of them are still full.”

“Oh, no, no, I’m going to the countryside now and might stay in Wulong County for a few days. It’s enough to know you have it here. I’ll come by when I’m heading back.” The pretty reporter politely declined.

“No problem, you’re welcome anytime!”

“Well, goodbye then, Younger Brooks, hehe... People in Wulong County are really nice!”

The dishes were delicious, and James Brooks’s hospitality and explanations were so attentive that Mr. Thompson seemed very happy as well. She smiled and said goodbye to James Brooks, and this time, the car really left. It turned out to be a false alarm.

After that fleeting encounter, everything returned to normal.

Watching the car drive away, James Brooks smiled and shook his head, feeling a bit of loss—not the kind of loss when a beauty glances back at you, but when she doesn’t.

In the shop, his cousin Emily saw it wasn’t about settling scores and breathed a long sigh of relief, feeling quite lucky. It was already past three o’clock; David Brooks and William Brooks started clearing the tables and sweeping the floor. Emily carried a stack of bowls to the kitchen, and soon the clattering of pots and pans could be heard. After washing and drying them, she began preparing dinner. At this time, James Brooks could finally relax, scooping a few of his favorite dishes into a big coarse porcelain bowl and squatting in the backyard for a quick meal.