roccoschili Chapter 49 The Sizi is drooling
Chapter 49 The Sizi is drooling
Li Zhi was gentle and insightful, with a clear and composed mind. Every word and action of hers was captivating. This gentle and beautiful woman had already quietly taken up residence in his heart, and he had developed feelings of love for her.
His utilitarianism was for self-preservation and survival, while his deep admiration stemmed from genuine affection. The intertwining of these two factors made his feelings for this noblewoman increasingly profound and delicate.
Therefore, in his daily speech and behavior, he would always subconsciously restrain his rough and uncouth manner, deliberately showcasing his knowledge and revealing his unique insights.
When discussing world affairs and people's livelihoods, one can subtly reveal a compassionate heart for the common people and a heart full of sympathy for humanity. One does not seek to curry favor, but simply wishes to quietly display one's own breadth of mind and talent, leaving an excellent impression on the other party.
As for that little girl, she's even more lovable; who could resist such a soft and adorable cutie?
At this moment, Xiao Sizi skipped and hopped closely behind Li Zhi. When passing by the jujube tree, he did not forget to bend down and touch the docile Ah Huang.
On the west side of the backyard, the winery stands right next to the chicken coop. A thin layer of moisture condenses on the blue brick walls, and all the doors and windows are open, with a rich aroma continuously wafting out.
Chang Le stopped at the door and looked up: pine firewood was burning fiercely in the stove, steam was rising from the copper pot, and clear wine was slowly dripping down the bamboo tube into the earthenware jar.
Wang Zhihuan squatted in front of the stove, gently poking at the firewood with a fire poker in his hand. His profile was illuminated by the flickering firelight, creating a serene and tranquil scene.
"Young Master Wang," Chang Le called softly, bowing slightly. The steamy atmosphere in the tavern made her cheeks blush slightly, and the hem of her silk skirt swayed gently by the door frame, making her look graceful and charming.
Wang Zhihuan turned his head at the sound and saw the beautiful woman at the door. A gentle smile unconsciously appeared on his lips.
A fleeting, almost imperceptible tenderness crossed his eyes, revealing both heartfelt joy and a thoughtful composure.
He put down the fire poker, stood up, and gently brushed the dust off his clothes: "Madam Li has come from afar. I just saw magpies chirping incessantly in the jujube tree. It turns out we have a distinguished guest at our door."
"Brother! Handsome brother!" Si Zi peeked out from behind Chang Le and darted into the wine shop. She was about to get closer to the copper pot to take a closer look when Wang Zhihuan grabbed her by the back of her collar and gently turned her around.
"Little Sizi." He squatted down, resting his hands on his knees, his eyes full of laughter, but his tone was somewhat serious, "Didn't your older sister teach you? You're not allowed to run around near the stove fire. If you get burned by boiling water and charcoal, you'll be crying later."
"Sizi won't cry!" the little girl protested softly, tilting her head back, but obediently taking two steps back. She then tugged at Wang Zhihuan's sleeve, her eyes full of curiosity. "Brother, look! This bamboo pipe is constantly leaking water, is it leaking?"
Chang Le looked in that direction and saw that one end of the bamboo tube was connected to the copper pot, and the other end was hanging over the rim of the earthenware jar, with clear wine flowing slowly and continuously.
She moved forward, her gaze slowly sweeping over the entire distillation apparatus, secretly marveling at it.
The last time I came here, the distillery was just an empty space. In just half a month, it has been completely built and the equipment is arranged in an orderly manner.
"This is called brewing wine." Wang Zhihuan pointed to the bamboo tube and then gestured to the copper pot, patiently explaining, "The pot contains fermented mash. After boiling, the wine vapor rises and flows through the bamboo tube, where it is cooled and condensed into fine wine."
"Is that glutinous rice cooking in the pot?" Si Zi stood on tiptoe and peered intently into the pot.
"It's fermented glutinous rice."
"What is fermentation?"
"It's about letting the glutinous rice have a good sleep. After it wakes up, it will develop a wine-like aroma and become a fine wine."
"Rice needs to sleep too?" Si Zi tilted her head and pondered for a while, then suddenly realized, her eyes sparkling. "I get it! Brother means that rice dreams when it sleeps, and when it wakes up, it turns into fragrant wine!"
Wang Zhi couldn't help but chuckle softly, reaching out to gently ruffle her hair: "Pretty much, that's the idea."
He turned around, took a small wine cup from the stove, poured in the freshly brewed second batch of wine, and handed it to Chang Le.
The wine in the cup is clear and bright, with a mellow and gentle aroma, carrying a faint sweetness of rice, which is refreshing and delightful.
"Madam Li, this is the second brew, with a milder alcohol content and a smooth, sweet aftertaste. Since it's freshly brewed today, why not have a taste?"
Chang Le raised her hand to take the wine cup, first bringing it close to her nose to sniff. The fragrance was even gentler than the one she smelled in the courtyard, with a sweet aroma lingering around her nose, elegant and pleasant.
She lowered her head slightly and took a small sip of the wine. The sweet taste first washed over her tongue, followed by a warm sensation that flowed slowly down her throat and spread throughout her body, leaving her feeling warm and comfortable.
"I never knew wine could taste so mellow." She looked down at the remaining wine in her cup, her voice soft and filled with a sense of wonder. "I've only ever seen people raise their glasses and drink at my father's banquets before. Those strong liquors were spicy and harsh, pungent and hard to swallow. I never imagined that wine could be so mellow and smooth."
She took another small sip, gently set down the wine cup, and her eyes gleamed with amazement: "It is indeed a fine wine, with a unique taste and a lingering aftertaste."
"This wine has very little aftereffect; a couple of sips won't hurt. But it is still wine, so don't overindulge."
Wang Zhihuan took the wine cup and put it back on the stove. He turned around and adjusted the water temperature in the condenser, saying casually, "This second batch of wine was specially brewed for your mother."
It has a mild, non-irritating effect, a smooth and mellow taste, and when warmed before drinking, it can warm the body, dispel cold, and soothe and regulate the body, making it more refreshing and nourishing than ordinary herbal teas.
Chang Le stood quietly in the winery, watching the young man in a blue robe adding firewood to the stove.
The firelight illuminated his handsome profile, and fine beads of sweat glistened on his forehead. Though dressed in simple clothes, he exuded a composed demeanor.
She raised her hand to wipe the thin layer of sweat from her forehead, her gaze falling on the neatly stacked wine jars in the corner. She asked softly, "Did you learn such exquisite brewing skills, Mr. Wang, through trial and error?"
I guess so.
Wang Zhihuan put down the fire poker, slowly stood up, and spoke calmly and peacefully, his words subtly revealing his experience and perspective.
"The art of brewing wine is actually not mysterious at all. It is simply to steam the grains, extract the essence of the grains with yeast, and then purify them by distillation."
The principles of the world are inherently static, but the ways of the heart and mind are dynamic. With more experimentation and reflection, over time, as your skills improve, you will naturally be able to brew fine wine.
At this point, his tone softened slightly, subtly revealing a sense of compassion for the people's livelihood. When talking about the hardships faced by rural people, his words were filled with sympathy and kindness, quietly showcasing his magnanimity.
He spoke casually, but Chang Le held the still-warm wine cup, his heart churning with turmoil.