xymnovel Chapter 30 Brewing Experiments
Chapter 30 Brewing Experiments
Two days passed in the blink of an eye, and Cheng Chuliang arrived alone on horseback, carrying two large bags of goods on his back.
Upon entering the courtyard, I placed the bundle on the stone table and untied it, revealing neatly arranged copper pieces and straight bamboo tubes.
"Brother Wang, I went to several shops before I found the bamboo tubes you wanted. They are all the same thickness, with a dense texture and not a single crack."
He wiped his sweat. "The copper pot is still being rushed by the craftsman. My brother is personally overseeing it. He said the joints must be perfectly sealed to prevent air leakage, otherwise the wine will escape and we won't be able to make good wine. We'll have to wait a few more days. I'll deliver it all at once when it's finished."
Wang Zhihuan picked up the bamboo tube and examined it closely. The material and shape were impeccable, and he accepted it with satisfaction. He then turned around and brought out a dish of homemade pickles, and poured Cheng Chuliang a bowl of cold tea.
Cheng Chuliang tilted his head back and drank half a bowl, then looked around the yard and said in a low voice, "I haven't been here for a few days. Your cats look quite plump. They've not just gotten fat, they look like they're blessed."
"Feed them regularly every day, and they will naturally grow healthily and steadily."
"Cats and dogs are like people; only those with a peaceful and blessed nature can be so gentle and rounded," Cheng Chuliang said earnestly.
Wang Zhihuan smiled faintly and did not offer any further explanation.
Cheng Chuliang rested for a moment, then took out a paper package from his pocket and pushed it over: "This is a traditional sweet cake from an old brand in the East Market. It's hard to buy even with long queues. It's still warm. Try it."
"Why bother spending money?"
"My brother told my father when he got home that your farm is quiet and elegant, but you don't have many snacks to offer guests, only tea. I thought it wouldn't be good to come empty-handed, so I brought some with me."
Wang Zhi picked up a piece of sugar cake and took a bite. The crust was flaky and soft, and the brown sugar filling was sweet but not cloying—the taste was truly superb. After eating two pieces, he looked at Cheng Chuliang and said softly, "Thank you for your thoughtfulness."
Three days later, Cheng Chumo personally visited, carrying the custom-made copper pot on horseback.
The copper pot is slightly shallower than the ordinary iron pot, with thick walls and a lid that fits tightly without any gaps.
The pot lid has two holes with copper tubes of different thicknesses inserted into them. The joints have been repeatedly hammered and reinforced, and copper hoops have been added to lock the edges. The workmanship is exceptionally fine.
Cheng Chumo carefully placed the copper pot down. Instead of discussing the utensils, he rubbed his hands together somewhat awkwardly, looking a little guilty. "Brother Wang, there's something we've been keeping from each other, and I realize it's really inappropriate."
Wang Zhi wiped the cloth in his hands and looked up at him quietly.
"Chu Liang and I are not ordinary scholars traveling around," Cheng Chumo said frankly. "My father is Duke Cheng Yaojin of Lu. When I first visited, I did not take the initiative to reveal my family background. It was not because I intended to deceive him. My father instructed me that when making friends, one should look at their character and temperament first. Don't use your family background to intimidate people from the beginning, otherwise it will make your friends feel constrained and lose the original intention of making friends."
Cheng Chuliang quickly nodded in agreement: "Yes, yes, yes! It was all my father's idea. My brother has been holding it in for several days, feeling that it wouldn't be honest to keep it from you, so he came here today to apologize."
Cheng Chumo immediately clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, saying, "It was our brothers' fault for deliberately concealing this earlier. If Brother Wang is bothered by it, please just say so."
Wang Zhihuan remained calm, showing no surprise whatsoever. Upon first seeing the two men's names, he guessed they were Cheng Yaojin's sons, a fact clearly recorded in historical texts.
The other party was unwilling to rely on their family background to climb the social ladder and treated him with humility and sincerity, so he refrained from pointing it out. Now, their initiative to be frank is truly commendable.
He put down the cloth and smiled calmly: "I thought it was something important. The most important thing in friendship is mutual understanding; names and family backgrounds are all meaningless."
Whether you are commoner scholars or sons of dukes, once you enter my courtyard, you will be my confidants and friends.
When you asked for water, I gave it to you; now that you've gone to great lengths to provide me with supplies, I accept it without hesitation. Why should we concern ourselves with social status or background?
Upon hearing this, Cheng Chumo felt relieved, and the frown between his brows disappeared completely.
Cheng Chuliang, being straightforward, immediately laughed and said, "I knew Brother Wang was magnanimous and didn't care about these formalities at all! My brother was just worrying unnecessarily, rehearsing his apologies in front of the wall at home!"
"Shut up!" Cheng Chumo glared at him, looking slightly embarrassed.
Wang Zhihuan smiled and pushed over a stone bench: "Sit down and talk. Since this is the Duke of Lu's mansion, the tribute wine you brought last time was rather mediocre."
Cheng Chumo sat down, shook his head, and sighed softly: "The good wines you can find in Chang'an are just so-so. My father was a lifelong wine lover and tasted all sorts of wines, including wines from the Western Regions, Persian Sanle wine, and Xinfeng wine. He would only comment 'not bad' on most of them."
"good?"
"It's easy to eat, but it has no highlights and is just bland and tasteless."
As he spoke, he took the oil paper package off the horse's back. Inside was a large piece of braised beef shank, with firm texture and an enticing reddish-brown color.
Wang Zhihuan's gaze paused slightly. The Tang Dynasty strictly prohibited the private slaughter of oxen for plowing; violations were severely punished, and beef was practically unheard of in ordinary markets.
Cheng Chumo understood his expression and lowered his voice to explain, "Brother Wang, don't worry, it wasn't slaughtered privately. This ox accidentally fell and broke its bones, dying on the spot. My father passed by and thought it was a waste to throw it away, so he brought it back to the manor and cooked it. It's not against the law."
Cheng Chuliang quickly chimed in, "That's right! Every few days, cows in our household fall to their deaths. There's plenty of beef, so just eat as much as you like. I'll bring you more when you're done."
Cheng Chumo added without changing his expression, "It's within reason and doesn't violate any rules."
Wang Zhi couldn't help but chuckle, pointing at the beef and jokingly saying, "It seems the beef from the Duke of Lu's mansion that 'fell to its death' is of exceptionally high quality."
"Of course, they were selected," Cheng Chumo replied seriously.
Cheng Chuliang was already craving it: "This is the chef's specialty. He specially added Sichuan peppercorns to enhance the aroma. You should try it."
Wang Zhihuan picked up a slice and put it in his mouth. The beef shank was braised until tender and flavorful, with the tendons and meat blending together softly and tenderly. The salty and savory flavor was coated with a numbing sensation, and the more he chewed, the richer and more mellow it became. He couldn't help but nod in praise: "The chef of your household is indeed top-notch in his skills."
He then picked up the copper pot and tested the lid's fit; it was perfectly sealed and leak-proof, which pleased him greatly. He turned and went inside, bringing out a jar of freshly fermented, yet-to-be-distilled rice wine.
"This is my first batch of rice wine, it hasn't been purified yet. Please try the base first."
Cheng Chumo opened the mud seal and poured a bowl full. The wine was slightly cloudy, with a rich and mellow rice aroma. It was smooth and soft on the palate, a world apart from the sour and bland turbid wines on the market.
He finished the bowl, a glint of insight flashing in his eyes: "This texture, and it's only a semi-finished product?"
"It's not even a semi-finished product; it's just fermented grain mash."
Cheng Chumo looked at the empty bowl, then at Wang Zhihuan, and said earnestly, "If the owner of Chang'an Winery heard what Brother Wang said, he would probably be so ashamed that he would close down."
A day later, Cheng Chuliang delivered another custom-made cedar wood steamer.
Made from solid wood without paint, it has a faint woody scent, smooth edges, and is tightly bound with hemp rope at the joints, demonstrating solid and reliable workmanship.
The brewing equipment, spring water, and yeast were all prepared; everything was ready, and all that remained was for the start of the process.
The moon shone brightly that night. Wang Zhihuan sat alone under the jujube tree, using the moonlight to organize his thoughts on the yeast recipe and review the brewing process passed down from his maternal grandfather in his mind:
Soaking rice, steaming rice, cooling, mixing with yeast, putting it into vat, saccharification, fermentation, distillation—every detail and temperature control is firmly memorized.