During the meeting, Lai's mother was right next to Fan Jinglan. With Lai's mother watching, Fan Jinglan didn't dare to say it directly, even though she wanted to join the brewing experiment.

After the meeting, Luo Jingyan discussed some things with the brigade leader, so much so that by the time she left Yangguchang, all the commune members had already left.

When she was halfway there, she saw Fan Jinglan coming towards her. Fan Jinglan walked straight towards her and called out, "Luo Zhiqing."

Luo Jingyan stopped and waited for Fan Jinglan to walk to her side.

Two months later, Fan Jinglan looked noticeably more haggard than before. She was thin and frail, around thirty years old, with a sallow complexion, gaunt cheeks, sunken eye sockets, and some bruises on the corner of her left eye, which she didn't know who in the Lai family had hit her with.

Fan Jinglan said, "Luo Zhiqing, I am the daughter-in-law of the Lai family. You have been to the Lai family before, so you should recognize me."

"I recognize you, sister-in-law. What do you need me for?"

“Luo, you know what happened in our family before. My father-in-law and mother-in-law were unwilling to submit to the brigade leader, so they refused to participate in this collective winery. But I want to participate. I only represent myself and it has nothing to do with them.”

You know our family situation. I've had enough of serving that crazy Lai Chunming. When he goes crazy, he hits and curses me. His family also bullies me. I've thought about divorcing Lai Chunming, but my family owes his family money. If we don't pay that money back, I'll have to continue being Lai Chunming's wife. No, not as a wife, but as a slave to the Lai family.

But my family is very poor and can't afford it at all, so I have to find a way myself. I'll save some from my food rations and give it to the team so I can participate, okay?

Luo Jingyan felt sorry for Fan Jinglan's plight. Lai Chunming had committed many evils. Before he went mad, he harmed others and mistreated his own wife, yet he lived a life of luxury. Even after he went mad, someone still took good care of him, which was indeed a blessing for him, while Fan Jinglan suffered greatly.

"I'm only in charge of the technical aspects. As for your desire to join on your own, you'll have to talk to the captain about that. How about this, I'll go with you to the captain and have a proper talk with him."

"Thank you, Luo Zhiqing."

They went to the brigade leader's house together. The brigade leader had learned about Fan Jinglan's situation. He did not exclude Fan Jinglan because of the Lai family. He immediately agreed that she could join. Fan Jinglan was very grateful.

"Thank you, Captain Uncle, thank you, Luo Zhiqing."

The next day, the captain arranged for people to clean up the old distillery and asked Zhang Laibao to repair any damaged tools. If the damage was particularly severe, they were to be made anew.

Those members who agreed to conduct the brewing experiment also handed over the sweet sorghum needed for brewing as promised.

Uncle Li arrived at the distillery carrying a bag of sorghum. When he saw Luo Jingyan, he still had a sour face and said to her, "Little educated youth, I've come to deliver the sorghum myself. I'll come again on the day the liquor is made. You're young and impetuous. If you get blamed by everyone, let's see how you'll turn back."

If an educated youth is targeted by the entire village, it becomes extremely difficult for her to stay in the village any longer.

Luo Jingyan smiled at him and said, "This is my own business, so you don't need to worry about it, Uncle Jiu. I think that on that day, the villagers will not only not complain about me, but will also praise me."

Uncle Li pursed his lips, looking incredibly arrogant: "Let me tell you, I won't praise you no matter who else does."

He left the sorghum behind, shook his head, and walked away: "A naive young girl, she doesn't know the immensity of the world."

For a period of time afterward, Luo Jingyan spent her time in the winery.

Baijiu (Chinese liquor) is divided into three types: light aroma, strong aroma, and sauce aroma.

The light aroma requires the shortest brewing time, generally seven days to half a month, while the strong aroma requires one to two months, and the soy sauce aroma requires two to three months, or even half a year.

Considering the current situation, Luo Jingyan knew that the villagers certainly hoped to see results quickly and earn money in the shortest possible time.

Light-aroma baijiu has a shorter brewing cycle, which means it is relatively cheaper. As for the price, it is more affordable and easier to sell. Therefore, Luo Jingyan chose to brew light-aroma baijiu.

Of course, the quality of light-aroma baijiu is slightly inferior to the other two types. Luo Jingyan would not reveal her trump card. The brewing techniques she provided to the team were only a superficial understanding of her brewing skills. If classified into levels, beginner, intermediate, and advanced, the technique currently being used is beginner.

Ten days later, the experimental results came out. The captain smelled the mellow aroma of the wine in the wooden barrel and couldn't help but rub his hands together.

Few men dislike drinking, especially the rough, unrefined men from rural areas.

"Uncle Captain, why don't you try it first and see how it tastes?"

The captain scooped up a small half-spoonful with a wooden spoon, tasted it, and immediately felt as if he had discovered a new continent. It was even better than the liquor he had drunk before.

"Young Master Luo, this is wonderful! This is the best liquor I've ever tasted. Most people in our village used to brew their own liquor, but it was only good enough for our own consumption and not presentable enough for formal occasions. Even Uncle Jiu's liquor couldn't compare to the liquor sold at the supply and marketing cooperative." The brigade leader couldn't hide his excitement: "Young Master Luo, it seems that the brigade won't have to sell its sorghum to others this year."

After the liquor is brewed, it must be tasted by the entire village. Since everyone has different tastes, it is impossible to please everyone. As long as most people think it is good after tasting it, it means that it is a success.

However, the captain was very confident about this.

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