Chapter 58 Brewing Wine

  Fat chapter, seeking pink, subscription, recommendation, and various votes.

  With the help of Zhang Qingnian and others, there were more than enough people to make wine. Lian Shouxin, Zhang Qingnian, Wang Shi, Wu Lang, Lian Zhier and Caiyun all took a car into the mountains to pick grapes, among them Zhang Qingnian and Wu Lang also had to hurry back by car to deliver the grapes. Picking grapes didn't require any special skills, Lian Zhier just reminded them that the picked grapes only needed to be rinsed in the creek water, and the layer of white frost on the grapes must not be washed away.

  Lian Shouxin, Zhang Qingnian and others set off by car. Lian Man'er brought a small follower, Xiao Qi, and both of them wore straw hats as they headed towards the neighboring Zhaojia Village.

  Zhaojia Village and Sanshilipu are not far apart, with the two villages' lands adjacent to each other. Now that the crops in the fields have all been harvested, from the head of Sanshilipu Village, one can see Zhaojia Village's village at a glance. Lian Wan'er took a shortcut and walked directly through the small path in the field, arriving at Zhaojia Village in about an hour.

  Zhao Liansheng's home was located at the head of the village, and outside his house, a large area of empty space was enclosed by a low wall. Inside were placed many large and small jars, pots, and vats. His family was the only one within a hundred miles that knew this craft. The water vats used by nearby families, the pickled vegetable jars, and even the wine jars were almost all made by his family.

  Lian Menger was planning to make wine from grapes and had been inquiring about where to buy a vat. Later, when she came out to dig wild vegetables, she specifically came here to take a look. At that time, she had already set her sights on the twenty-liter, wide-mouthed vats made by Zhao Liansheng's family, which also had lids and could be sealed with mud, making them very suitable for pickling vegetables or brewing wine. Coincidentally, this was originally an order from a winery that they no longer wanted. The Zhao family was worried about how to get rid of so many vats. Lian Menger came over and offered to buy them, saying she could sell them to her for ten cents each.

  "I want fifty jars first, and I want them today. This is the deposit." Lian Man'er took out her purse and pulled out two strings of 200 coins as a deposit.

  At that time, Zhao Liansheng saw that Lian Muer was just a child and didn't take it very seriously. Today, seeing Lian Muer open her mouth to ask for fifty jars, and even gave the deposit so readily, he was overjoyed beyond expectation.

  "Alright, I'll drive over and give it to you right away."

  Zhao Liansheng was willing to deliver the goods, so Lian'er was naturally happy and watched as Zhao Liansheng brought his two sons. First, they loaded twenty-five jars onto the cart, tied them up securely, and then Lian'er and Xiao Qi followed the cart back home.

  Because the west half of the courtyard now belongs to her family, where the wine jars are placed. The grapevine has also been selected, just under the south window of her house's west wing. Originally, it was planted with a few bean frames, which had just been pulled up. When Lianpao returned with the cart, Zhang Qingshan had already flattened the ground again, and Zhao Liansheng took his son to unload all the jars and go back to pull the second cart.

  These jars are all new. But Lian Man'er still felt that they needed to be washed before she could feel at ease.

  Lian Man'er and Xiao Qi washed a bucket of water, scrubbing the inside and outside of the jar clean. Coincidentally, Zhao Liansheng gave her a small jar of high-gluten sorghum liquor because she bought so much. Lian Man'er cut a piece of white cotton cloth she had previously bought from town, dipped it in the sorghum liquor, and wiped down both the inside and outside of the jar's lid.

  The most important thing for brewing is clean equipment, and using high-proof liquor to disinfect is the best.

  Fifty jars, Zhao Liansheng's family sent them over in two trips. Lian'er settled the remaining three hundred coins with him. At this time, Lian Shouxin and Zhang Qingnian also brought back the first batch of wild grapes.

  The wild grapes were transported back in a bamboo basket, and after arriving, they were first placed on the side to build a scaffold with high corn stalks. After checking the vines, it was found that all the grapes were carefully selected and picked, and the white frost on them was still there, which made her very satisfied. After the water content of the grapes had dried, the grapes were then plucked one by one, crushed and put into a dry and disinfected wine jar. Each wine jar could not be filled to the brim, leaving enough space for the grapes to ferment.

  Lian Wan'er reassigned the personnel, and Wu Lang and Lian Zhier returned to help. Only Lian Shouxin, Zhang Qingnian, Wang Shi, and Caiyun were responsible for picking grapes and transporting them back home.

  Because this process also needs to be absolutely clean, Lian Wan washed her hands again and again, and then disinfected them with high-gluten sorghum liquor before letting people touch the grapes.

  Zhang Qing Shan and Li also came out to help. With more people, the work went faster, and these people were all used to farm work, so they didn't slack off. By the time it was almost dark, they had already finished processing thirty jars of grapes. Lian Man felt that her hands were going numb, and there were still some grapes that had been transported back, so she simply left them out to dry, waiting to continue processing them tomorrow.

  "How many grapes are still left on the mountain that haven't been transported back?"

  "Tomorrow afternoon, they can all be picked back, it's just that this pot may not be enough."

  "How many more jars will it take?" asked Lian Man Er.

  Lian Shouxin estimated, "About twenty more jars."

  The more grapes the better, add more jars and even the vines are willing.

  "I'll go to Zhaojia Village again and let them send twenty more jars tomorrow morning," said Lian Man Er.

  "I'll go, I'll run quickly." said Gorō. He indeed ran off and came back running, saying that after telling the Zhao family, they agreed to send twenty more jars early tomorrow morning.

  Dinner was prepared by Zhou Shi at the request of Lao Yezi, and Zhang Qingshan was invited to come over with his family. After some polite refusals, Lao Yezi insisted, and they eventually agreed. The dinner was not as sumptuous as lunch, with a main dish of chicken stewed with potatoes and eggplant, the chicken cooked to perfection. This time, He Shi, Zhao Shi, and several children also set up another table to eat together. Lian Man'er noticed that He Shi's face had been dark all along, so she knew that this chicken must have been killed by her at noon, but before it could be eaten, Zhou Shi had confiscated it.

  At dinner time, Lian Shouyi asked Lian Shouxin, "What have you been busy with this afternoon?"

  They just separated from the family, and Lian Wan'er brought back so many jars. Where did this money come from? Lian Shouyi didn't dare ask directly, so he had to ask in a roundabout way.

  "The kids want to brew a few jars of wine, I think it's fine. Every year in our house, we also have to brew a few jars." Zhang Qing Shan said with a smile.

  Zhang Qingshan took over the conversation, and everyone knew that when they divided the family property, Lian Shouxin didn't get any money. Lian Shouyi suspected that Zhang Qingshan had put up the money, so he couldn't ask again. Zhang Qingshan changed the subject, diverting attention away from this matter.

  After all, they had split the family, and on the second day, Lian Shouxin's family started their own fire. Lian Man'er and Lian Zhi'er got up early, cut a chicken in half, simmered a thick soup, cooked a thick rice porridge with the soup, steamed a large bamboo basket of white noodles mixed with millet flour buns, accompanied by a large plate of stir-fried chicken meat and sour beans, and two dishes of pickled vegetables.

  Everyone ate their fill. As soon as it dawned, they went to work according to the division of labor yesterday. Zhao Lian Sheng's family quickly sent another twenty wine jars, selling seventy jars at once, and the silver was all settled immediately. Lian Mianer is now a big customer. Zhao Lian Sheng also gave Lian Mianer two small jars, one five kilograms and one ten kilograms, and told Lian Mianer that in the future, whatever he needs to buy from him, the price can be negotiated. Lian Mianer praised Zhao's family for being good at doing business. Zhang Shi looked at the two small jars and said that they would be useful for pickling eggs and salted vegetables in the future.

  Lian Shouxin estimated that with just one morning's effort, they could transport all the wild grapes from the mountain back. Zhang Qingnian said he wanted to help them finish their tasks before returning. Lian Shouxin felt that it was autumn harvest time and the Zhang family had a lot on their plate, so he didn't agree, saying that he would only help transport the grapes back and then let the Zhang family's people return.

  Lian Man'er knew that without the Zhang family's horse cart and some extra help, it would be impossible for their small household to transport all these jars of wine using only their own wooden cart. It would probably take four or five days to finish the job. She was delighted and grateful, so early in the morning she discussed with Mrs. Zhang, took out her own private money, went to the butcher's shop in town to buy a few pounds of meat, planning to make pork-filled buns for lunch.

  Pork was bought back and washed clean, and the skin was peeled off first. The hair on the surface was cleaned with fire, cut into small pieces, and a large pot of meat skin soup was simmered in the early morning. It was left to cool in a small basin until it solidified into aspic. White flour and fermented dough were also placed in a basin to rise.

  As the sun was approaching noon, Lian Miao went to the backyard garden and cut a big basket of leeks. Yesterday, when they divided the house, Old Man Lian said that this season, the vegetables in both front and back gardens could be eaten by the Lian family as they pleased. After cleaning and chopping the leeks, she finely chopped the fatty meat into minced meat, stir-fried it in a large iron pot until it was cooked, then chopped the frozen pork skin into small pieces and mixed it with the minced meat and leeks to make a meat filling.

  Using leeks as filling has an advantage, because the leek itself is flavorful and does not require additional seasonings. Lian Panna added more scallions and spices when stewing the pork skin jelly, so only salt was needed, and no other seasonings were required. Li Shi and Lian Panna worked together to make the filling in the house, while Zhang Shi got up to help. Lian Zhi started burning fire outside, using new soybean oil to pan-fry the cakes, and Lian Panna added some chicken oil to it. As soon as the oil was hot, a tempting aroma wafted out, and when the filling cakes were cooked, the aroma became even more enticing.

  Li helped finish making the pancakes and then took out a cloth package from her bosom, inside which were a string of copper coins and two silver ingots, and handed it over to Zhang.

  "You've separated and are living alone, how can you make ends meet without a single penny? Take this money and use it to get by." Li said to Zhang, "I came specifically to see you this time. If I had known you two were separating, I would have brought more money."

  Zhang refused to accept it.

  "Mother, I'm a married-out daughter, how can I always let Father and Mother support me?"

  "Once you're married and out the door, she's not my daughter anymore?" Li forced the money into Zhang's bosom. "You take good care of it, buy whatever you need to, don't be stingy with using it. If you're struggling financially, send me a message."

  "Mother, I don't want this money," said Zhang.

  "Here, consider it the money we owe you for the bottom of the pot. Don't worry about your brother and sister-in-law, they all know, and even mentioned it to me early this morning." said Li.

  The two girls pushed and shoved each other for a while, but Zhang Shi had no choice but to accept it.

  Li went out to relieve himself, and Lian'er saw Zhang staring blankly at the money in his hand, so she went over and wrapped it all up.

  "Mother, let's take this money first. When we have more money later, we'll be even more filial to Grandpa and Grandma, they will be happy." said Lian Man Er.

  Zhang smiled and said, "You're quite eloquent."

  "I'm not just talking about it." Lian Man'er said, "Mother, you're not convenient either, so let me take care of this money first."

  Mrs. Zhang suddenly realized that these days, it can be said that Lian Man'er has been in charge all along. During Mrs. Zhang's momentary daze, Lian Man'er had already put the money into the cabinet and even added a lock outside.

  "Everything is under your control, are you still worried that I will squander this money?" Zhang Shi said helplessly.

  Zhang Qingnian and Lian Shouxin pulled in the last cart of wild grapes, Zhang Qingnian smiled and said they had good fortune again.

  The pancake is almost done, and Lian Miao borrowed a pot from Lian Shouli's side to stir-fry a potato shreds dish, a meat strips and bean sprouts dish, and also made a cucumber slices and egg soup.

  At mealtime, Zhang Qing-shan and Lian Shou-xin went upstairs and invited Old Master Lian to come over and eat together.

  Because there were still dozens of miles to hurry, after dinner, Zhang Qingnian had the car ready to leave. Zhang Qingshan had already instructed what he wanted to instruct Lian Shouxin, and then pulled Lian's hand, saying goodbye to his elder brother, while walking out and talking.

  Mr. Li couldn't bear to part with Mr. Zhang, and holding onto Mr. Zhang's hand, he naturally had many words of advice to impart.

  "Daughter, what else are you worried about? Your sister is a good person with a good fate. Look at these children, they're all grown up and one is more capable than the other. Your sister's good days are ahead." Wang said with a smile.

  Lian Man'er called Yun to one side and handed her a basket.

  "What is it?" asked Caiyun.

  In the basket, a layer of sorghum leaves was laid at the bottom, on top of which was placed a package of pine nut sugar and more than ten pieces of stuffed pancakes wrapped in oil paper. Just now when they were having lunch, several members of Zhang's family all praised the deliciousness of the stuffed pancakes, and even Man Er had thought that her family didn't have anything good to give as gifts, so she intentionally made a few more pancakes while cooking them, planning to bring some back for Cai Yun to eat. The package of pine nut sugar was also bought by her when she went to buy meat in the morning, with the intention of bringing it back home for the several younger siblings who didn't come to eat.

  "Alas, what's the point? I won't take it." Cai Yun said, looking at the things in the basket and declining.

  "Don't be polite, just take it." Lian Man'er smiled.

  Cai Yun also had a straightforward temperament and knew that Lin Dan was sincere, so she no longer declined.

  After sending away Zhang Qing Shan and his family, Lian Man Er didn't rest either, immediately starting work. The whole family finished processing the remaining wild grapes, and it was almost dark. Seventy jars were used up, and there were still some wild grapes left, so Lian Man Er simply used those two small jars as well.

  Looking at the neatly arranged jars, and then touching their own sore arms and hands, everyone's face broke out in smiles.

  For dinner, they ate the leftover pancakes, and after finishing their meal, the whole family lay down on the kang early.

  "Man Er, can wine be brewed like this?" Lian Shou Xin asked.

  "It's still early," said Lian Man'er. Wild grape wine needs to go through several fermentations and filtrations, at least two months' time.

  "Man Er, this brewing method isn't difficult either, Second Aunt and them should have learned it by now." Lian Zhier suddenly said.

  In the afternoon, Lian Man Er and others were working when Lao Ye Zi, Zhou Shi, Lian Shou Ren, Lian Ji Zu, and the couple from the second house with their children all came to take a look. Lian Shou Yi and He Shi even asked this and that, and even wanted to try it personally, but was firmly refused by Lian Man Er.

  She understood Lian Yuer's concern.

  "It's not that easy," said Lian Man'er. There was a crucial step in brewing wine that she hadn't told anyone about. If Zhang Qing Shan and the others wanted to brew it too, they would tell her. At that time, she could still tell them about this crucial step, and it wouldn't be too late. But if someone wanted to steal the technique and secretly brew it themselves, then she wouldn't be responsible for the consequences.

  The whole family was tired and after a few words, they all fell asleep soundly.

  She fell asleep until midnight and suddenly woke up.

  "It seems like there's some movement outside."