"Sister, why haven't His Highness the Second Prince and his entourage arrived yet?"
Li Youran lifted the curtain of the carriage and looked out the window, just in time to see the coroner directing several yamen runners to carry a stretcher away in a hurry.
"The appointed time should have come, but perhaps something has delayed it."
As the Second Prince's wife spoke, she lowered the curtains again. The scene was too heartbreaking to bear; it was better not to see it.
"If they do not arrive by this afternoon, the magistrate will be sent with troops to fetch them."
The Second Prince's wife was already uneasy when she learned that His Highness the Second Prince and his entourage had not arrived.
But she kept her composure, because if she lost her composure, her subordinates would probably be even more panicked than she was, so she remained patient.
"Second Prince's Consort, Princess Jiaxin, we have arrived at our destination."
Just then, the carriage suddenly stopped. The county magistrate bowed and greeted Li Youran and the Second Prince from outside the carriage.
The brewery was larger than Li Youran had imagined. As soon as he entered the courtyard, more than thirty craftsmen knelt on the ground to greet him.
"With the pandemic so severe, are you still brewing wine?"
"The Second Prince's Consort is asking questions; answer quickly."
The county magistrate, fearing that the craftsman might offend the important person by being inarticulate, hurriedly offered a suggestion.
"In reply to the Second Prince's Consort, we dare not stop, for fear of ruining the wine cellar."
An older craftsman stepped forward, knelt on the ground, and spoke.
"The Zhao family's wine cellar has never stopped operating for 130 years."
The person kneeling on the ground who answered was named Zhao Lei, the head of the Zhao family. For eight generations, the Zhao family had all been brewing craftsmen.
"Master Zhao, could you take me to see your strongest liquor?"
Upon hearing Li Youran's words, Zhao Lei hurriedly led the way, guiding Li Youran and her group toward the house on the east side.
"Princess, please look at the foam on the surface of this wine. It has a spicy taste and is the signature product of our Zhao family."
Li Youran looked down at the wine in the bowl and saw that there was indeed much less foam on the surface than in ordinary wine, which showed that the Zhao family was indeed skilled at brewing wine.
"I wonder if there's anything wrong with this wine?"
Zhao Lei saw Li Youran take a sip of wine and show a slightly disappointed expression.
Speaking of Zhao's wine, it is the most famous wine in Liaocheng, and it is even well-known outside of Liaocheng. However, this young princess was dissatisfied with the wine from the start.
As a distinguished guest from the capital, someone who had seen the world, Zhao Lei was eager to know Li Youran's opinion on the wine.
"The wine is good, but unfortunately the alcohol content is too low, it's not spicy enough, and it can't be used for disinfection."
When Zhao Lei and the others heard Li Youran mention the word "disinfection," they didn't know what it meant, so they asked her in confusion.
"Sow seeds and they will grow into fruit. The epidemic also has its roots, and disinfection is the seed to eliminate the epidemic."
Li Youran didn't know how to explain the word "disinfection," so she forced an explanation, which unexpectedly made it easy for people to understand.
"Princess, do you mean this liquor can fight the epidemic?"
The magistrate was surprised that the young princess had such talent and a way to solve problems in Liaocheng. He was very excited and said this.
"It's not that baijiu can eliminate the disease itself, but rather that baijiu can eliminate the seeds of plague floating on objects in the air, thus preventing the spread of the plague."
The magistrate was not disappointed when he heard Li Youran's words; he was still very excited.
It's important to understand that this epidemic spreads very quickly, so slowing down the spread of rumors about it would be ideal.
“Princess, there are no fewer than dozens of wineries of all sizes in Liaocheng. I’m immediately calling on skilled craftsmen to come together and find a way to brew high-proof liquor.”
The magistrate spoke excitedly to Li Youran.
"No need, just use the people from Zhao's Winery."
Zhao Lei, who was kneeling, was suddenly stunned. Although it was a good opportunity to show his skills, he would definitely be punished if he failed to brew high-proof liquor.
"Master Zhao, there's no need to worry. I have my own way, but you must do as I say."
Just when Zhao Lei was feeling uneasy and didn't know what to do, Li Youran's words suddenly pulled him out of the abyss.
"I will follow the princess's arrangements."
After Zhao Lei finished speaking, he knelt down and kowtowed. The thirty-odd craftsmen behind him also hurriedly followed suit and kowtowed.
"This matter is confidential. I request that the magistrate send someone to guard outside Zhao's winery."
"Please rest assured, Princess, even a bird will not be allowed into the Zhao family's wine shop."
In this era that values craftsmanship and tradition, the magistrate naturally knew just how precious Li Youran's craft was, so he hurriedly sent people to guard outside the Zhao family's winery to prevent anyone from spying on it.
At the same time, Li Youran also made a three-point agreement with the people of Zhao's Winery, giving them two options.
First, keep it a secret; the method taught by Li Youran can only be used ten years later. Second, follow her and brew wine for her.
Seeing their hesitation, Li Youran didn't ask them to make a choice immediately. Instead, she gave them time to give her a reply after the pandemic ended.
Zhao Lei and his group were stunned after hearing Li Youran's description.
"Master Zhao, please rest assured about the sealing and temperature control. I have conducted multiple tests to ensure there are no problems. Please take care of all the workers and work hard together to fight the epidemic."
Li Youran said to Zhao Lei with a smile.
She knew that most of these elderly craftsmen had a sense of pride, and that she, being so young, might not gain the approval of Zhao Lei and his group. They were only obeying his orders because of the pressure of his status.
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