Chapter 438: Additional Steps
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Su Fengzhang and Su Wenxian were so excited they became misty-eyed. The father-son duo stared at the wine jar and sniffed it, unable to look away. It smelled even better than the wine they had drunk before.
Su Wenxian took a deep breath of the wine’s aroma and suddenly thought of something. “Right, we made fruit wine, too.”
The duo opened the fruit wine jar beside them and sniffed again. It smelled different from rice wine as it was sweeter.
Su Fengzhang enjoyed drinking wine and had drunk plenty of it before. As he smelled the fruit wine’s fragrance, he repeatedly exclaimed, “I’ve never seen or smelled wine like this. It smells fruity, but I wonder what it tastes like. It must be delicious.’
He and his son felt thirsty after taking in the fragrance and gulped their saliva despite themselves. They felt they were too greedy because the wine’s aroma was simply too enticing. The duo felt like they had not drunk for a long time.
Su Binglan laughed as she looked at her uncle and cousin. She understood them very well. Her father and three brothers would probably similarly react if they were here.
Very few ordinary families could afford wine in this era. Only those slightly better off would be willing to buy some during the holidays. Still, they could not buy good-quality wine as they could only afford those that could satisfy their cravings.
“Get a cup and drink some, Uncle Fengzhang and Cousin Wenxian,” Su Binglan said smilingly.
The duo could not wait to try the wine when they heard the young lady’s words. Meanwhile, Su Binglan felt her spiritual spring water would make the wine taste different.
‘The wine must be extra fragrant because of the spiritual spring water.’
Su Fengzhang and his son could not contain their excitement as they scooped some wine into their cups with a spoon before sipping it. They were amazed after taking just a sip.
Su Fengzhang lowered his head and looked at the wine, forgetting to move. He was in disbelief and needed to appreciate what he had just drunk.
‘I drank the wine we brewed ourselves.’
He did not know if it was a psychological effect, but he felt the wine’s fragrance and deliciousness. It was much better than the wine he had bought in the past.
“Father, why does it taste so good? Did we honestly just brew this?”
‘Is there something wrong here? I’m not hallucinating, right?’
Su Wenxian was too excited as he looked at his father with bright eyes. The corner of Su Fengzhang’s lips twitched, saying, “Son, you took the words right out of my mouth.”
Su Binglan looked at her uncle and cousin smilingly, then took a spoonful of wine to taste. She raised her brows and nodded despite herself. “Wow, it tastes excellent!”
‘It’s much better than the pot of wine a customer had gifted my father last time. Jin’an even said that the wine was of above-average quality. So that means the wine we brewed must be at least the same quality.’
Su Wenxian took a few more sips and said excitedly, “So, I was right. I did drink some good-quality wine. We brewed it ourselves, so we must be proud of it.”
He barely knew how to express his feelings. He now understood why his mother was so passionate about embroidering, as the items she made looked good and gave her a sense of accomplishment.
“Binglan?” Su Fengzhang asked, “Does this mean we can start selling our wine?”
Su Binglan answered, “We need to add a few more steps. After that, the wine will taste even better.”
‘Even better?’ Su Fengzhang was stunned.
‘I figured the wine is good enough, and I’m ecstatic about it, but Binglan says it can be even better. It’s too unreal.’
The duo had difficulty returning to their senses as they were too excited, and their minds went blank.
Su Binglan looked at the two but did not laugh. Instead, she asked directly, “Uncle Fengzhang, Cousin Wenxian, have you prepared the things I asked for the filtration and distillation?”
Su Fengzhang returned to his senses when he heard his niece’s question and said, “I’ve prepared everything as you requested, Binlan. I’ll go and get them.” “I’ll help,” Su Wenxian hurriedly said.
The father and son had placed the things in a storage room, and after taking them out, Su Binglan taught them how to filter and purify the wine.
The wine they had made was more mellow yet rich, and the duo watched Su Binglan’s actions earnestly. They also remembered every step and detail she told them to purify the wine they had brewed.
After a few more steps, the wine became more fragrant and mellow.
“Wow, that’s good!” Su Fengzhang and Su Wenxian could not describe their current feelings.
Su Binglan said, “Cousin Wenxian, take those small wine jars and pack them up. Then send one to Granduncle Su, Grandpa Su, and my family.”
The duo quickly went to take the jars, poured some wine into them, and sealed them. Su Fengzhang and Su Wenxian also gave some wine to Su Zhengde and Su Fengzhi.
Su Binglan could have given the wine to her father, but it was still the afternoon, and Su Fengmao was still at the tofu factory.
Su Binglan knew her family would drink that night, so she had to prepare good food. Her second brother was busy working in the herb field when she brought the wine home, and he could smell it.
“That smells like wine, Little Sister. Did you buy it?” Su Wenxiu was so excited that he followed the wine’s fragrance from the backyard to the living room.
He had not drunk for a long time, but doctors could not drink alcohol. That was the first rule his sister gave him when he became a doctor, and he knew about it.
‘I can at least smell it, right?’ He thought while smirking.
Su Binglan said, “This is the wine Uncle Fengzhang, Cousin Wenxian, and I brewed ourselves. It tastes better than the wine we buy outside.”
Su Wenxiu’s eyes widened in surprise. However, he remembered his sister saying she wanted to open a winery. He thought the winery should be ready by now.
He had been obsessed with medicine lately and had not bothered with what was happening around him. Moreover, Su Binglan was no longer giving consultations, as Su Wenxiu had taken over while his apprentices helped.
Of course, he was a bit slower when giving consultations, but his medical skills were excellent. He would only ask his sister for help if he faced a complex illness he could not treat.
Su Wenxiu had even healed Mr. Song’s severely injured foot and made a name for himself after the surgery. Everyone believed in his medical skills now. Plus, the medicines he prescribed his patients were highly effective.
Su Binglan looked at Su Wenxiu with a raised eyebrow. She asked, “Do you want to drink, too, Second Brother?”
Su Wenxiu noticed his sister’s sarcasm and quickly said, “I know the precautions you mentioned. As a doctor, I can no longer drink alcohol..”