roccoschili Chapter 46 The Winery is Completed
Chapter 46 The Winery is Completed
Wang Zhi also chose to locate the winery next to the vegetable garden on the west side of the backyard, right next to the chicken coop, and moved all the vegetables that were originally planted on the ground to another place.
Wang Zhi also took the unburnt charcoal from the stove and drew a sketch on a wooden board.
The locations of the stove, fermentation tank, condensation area, and wine cellar are simply marked, and the layout of each place is far ahead of its time.
It should be noted that most of the wineries in the Tang Dynasty today were crude and rudimentary, lacking temperature control and condensation systems.
The fermentation process is completely haphazard, and the resulting wine can easily turn sour; the outcome, good or bad, depends entirely on the timing.
But the distillery he designed had a series of interconnected processes, including ventilation, moisture control, temperature control, fermentation, and distillation, with meticulous procedures.
It can be described as a uniquely well-organized winery in the world; this is the power of knowledge.
Compared to those crude works from the common people, it is simply worlds apart.
Even the materials for building the workshop were carefully prepared by Wang Zhihuan.
The bricks were bought from Li Laosan's earthen kiln in the village. Li Laosan's brick-making skills are among the best in Lantian County.
Upon hearing that he wanted to build a distillery, they not only voluntarily reduced the price by 20%, but also gave him two truckloads of gravel to use for the foundation.
The beams were straight old pine trees that the tenant farmer, Old Zhang, personally selected by leading his men into the mountains. They were dried for more than half a month until they were completely dry before they dared to use them.
The high-quality cedar wood steamer was made from aged cedar wood that Cheng Chumo specially sourced from a timber shop in Chang'an. The wood is warm and smooth, and the grains will not pick up any off-flavors when steamed.
As for manpower, he doesn't need to worry about it at all.
Old Zhang from the village took the initiative to supervise the work, and led seven or eight tenant farmers from the village to help with hoeing, tamping, building walls, and raising beams.
Most of these villagers and tenants had benefited from his kindness.
As soon as he arrived, he reduced the land rent by two levels. He also didn't charge his neighbors a penny when they were sick. He even taught them new farming methods, which increased the grain production of every household, and their lives gradually improved.
At that time, the people were simple and honest, and they all remembered his kindness. Now that they had the opportunity to repay him, they worked even harder than when they were building their own houses, and dared not slack off at all.
When the foundation was being laid, even the village boy Gou Dan brought a group of kids to help. Unfortunately, they were too young and clumsy. They would fall over while carrying a brick, and they fell three times in a row, even breaking two bricks.
Old Zhang was both angry and amused. He grabbed the boy by the back of his collar and placed him on the edge of the field. He scolded him softly for a moment, then turned around and carried the blue bricks himself, working tirelessly back and forth until the bricks were stacked neatly.
Wang Zhihuan squatted under the jujube tree, watching the group of simple and honest villagers busy at work, with a gentle smile on his face, but he knew very well what was going on in his heart.
This popular support was one of the bargaining chips he used to protect himself amidst the undercurrents of powerful families.
He has been in the Tang Dynasty for more than half a year. He went from being all alone to having fields and a courtyard, with honest villagers following him. He seems to have settled down and is actually still in the midst of undercurrents. He never dares to be careless in the slightest.
Today is the final touches for the distillery. Once the cellar where the wine is stored is sealed, the job will be done.
The cellar was expanded from the small cellar used for previous tastings; it was three feet deep and square.
The bottom of the cellar was covered with soft yellow sand, and the four earthen walls were tamped down firmly.
The top is covered with thick wooden boards and dry straw to keep it warm and dry, which helps maintain a constant temperature inside the cellar year-round.
The environment is crucial for storing wine; if the temperature is too high, the aroma of the wine will dissipate easily and the wine will turn sour.
If the temperature is too low, the wine will taste harsh. No winery in the Tang Dynasty could achieve such a strict method of wine storage.
Wang Zhihuan personally inspected the cellar to make sure every part was secure before wiping the dirt off his hands.
On the other side, Old Zhang led the tenants to clean the distillery inside and out until it was spotless, even cleaning the dust from the cracks between the bricks.
The newly built blue brick stove is straight and level, with the stove opening facing south, ensuring good ventilation and a stable fire temperature.
The fermentation vats were neatly arranged in a row, with clean coarse cloth covering the mouths of the vats and pebbles used to press the edges down.
The copper still used for distillation is placed steadily in the center of the stove, and the bamboo tube for condensation is connected tightly at the right angle so that not a single drop of liquor will spill out when collecting it.
The wine jars placed in the corner are all sturdy and durable old kiln products, with excellent sealing, making them ideal for storing wine.
"Master, the distillery is finally finished! From now on, things will look brighter for our estate!"
Old Zhang stood in front of the distillery, leaning on his broom, his wrinkles smoothing out, his face full of joy.
He didn't understand the complex winemaking techniques, but he knew that everything the owner did was for the good of everyone.
When the distillery opens for business, it will prioritize the villagers when purchasing grain and hiring people, thus creating another livelihood for the villagers.
In the hearts of the villagers, this distillery may be another hope for the whole village.
Wang Zhihuan nodded slightly and said gently, "After the brewing begins, we will select a few hardworking villagers to help."
Moving grain, tending the fire, and doing odd jobs—all these require manpower. Rest assured about wages; they will all be paid at market rates, and there will be no delays.
Upon hearing this, Old Zhang was overjoyed and didn't know what to do. He hurriedly recommended Gou Dan's father and Li Laosan's son, both of whom were hardworking and poor families in the village. Wang Zhihuan agreed to both.
Old Zhang was overjoyed and thanked them repeatedly before leading the villagers home for dinner.
Wang Zhi also inspected the distillery inside and out by himself one last time, making sure that no procedures or equipment had been overlooked before he was completely at ease.
Although the winery was not large, it was fully equipped with everything he needed, and every part of it reflected his hard work. It was the foundation upon which he made his living in the Tang Dynasty.
Grey sneaked into the distillery, squatted on the windowsill, and stared curiously at the gleaming bronze still.
Hua Hua took small steps, pacing back and forth between the fermentation vats like a little supervisor;
Ah Huang obediently lay down at the entrance of the winery, quietly guarding him, its tail gently sweeping the ground.
Sunlight streamed through the windowpanes into the workshop, creating a warm and peaceful atmosphere.
Wang Zhi leaned against the door, a slight smile playing on his lips, but he had already made his plans.
This is a rare and exquisite wine that others would consider theirs to be theirs to keep to themselves, but they also wouldn't easily share it with others.
The strategy of feigning indifference to lure the prey is necessary to demonstrate the value of a rare commodity.
As the saying goes, a business that's rushed is not a good business; this has been the mindset of most people throughout history.
The same applies to befriending the Cheng family: be neither humble nor arrogant, and demonstrate your own value so that you are not looked down upon.
Afterwards, both parties get what they need, gather together for mutual benefit, interact with each other based on feelings, and treat each other with sincerity. Only such a relationship can last.
They befriended Cheng Yaojin, a former official who had served the emperor and held military power but was not involved in family feuds, as a source of support.
Perhaps this was one of the biggest reasons why he was able to fight against the Wang family of Taiyuan, find out the cause of his parents' deaths, and protect himself.
Just then, the sound of rapid hoofbeats came from outside the courtyard gate. Two horses were galloping very fast, and it was clear from their voices that they were the Cheng brothers.
Sure enough, before the courtyard gate even opened, Cheng Chuliang's booming voice rang out, full of urgency: "Brother Wang! We're here! The distillery is officially open today, surely we can start brewing new wine now!"
No sooner had he finished speaking than the courtyard gate was pushed open.