Chapter 223
The location for the distillery has finally been decided, and the newly built cattle pen of the Hu family is intended for use next spring.
His parents originally planned to raise a few more sheep inside, so the house was built exceptionally large.
Moreover, the location was well chosen, close to the river. There were also two small huts next to it, which the Hu family used for storing grain; they were also newly built.
When Fan Xiaoxiao went in, she could still smell the fresh scent of wood.
However, since cowsheds were originally only for livestock, their insulation was naturally not as good as that of houses where people lived.
Fan Xiaoxiao and the young men worked hard for a while before finally managing to tidy up the cattle pen and create the basic shape of a winery.
With the local issues resolved, the remaining tasks are calculating the required production quantity, managing personnel, and allocating tasks.
Renle has already shipped the first batch of beer to Chang'an, and they expect to hear feedback in the next couple of days. However, Fan Xiaoxiao is confident in her brewing skills, after all, she personally witnessed Renle finish three whole bottles and take several more with him. So what they need to do now is store up their stock, because when Xiao Hei returns, they'll probably have to spend quite a bit more.
The production of pale ale was mainly divided by Fan Xiaoxiao into brewing and packaging processes. The packaging process was further divided into bottle making and cork making.
It seems that Master Lu has been busy with something important for Gu Zhongtai lately, so Fan Xiaoxiao has been personally handling the bottle making.
Now that we've hired more people and are producing more beer, the packaging naturally needs to keep up as well.
Package……
Fan Xiaoxiao was somewhat perplexed. She wasn't particularly worried about the recipe being leaked, especially since pale ale requires precise control over temperature and other details during the brewing process.
But at the beginning, her biggest worry was whether her glass bottle making technique would be stolen.
After all, this thing is not difficult to make, and just as Chief Fu said, glass was not a cheap thing in the Zhou Dynasty.
If someone were to steal this skill, it wouldn't be long before they learned it too.
If Tianshan Town were to mass-produce glass bottles, her gimmick would be reduced by half. After all, a large part of the price of products sold to high-ranking officials and nobles depends on such details.
Thinking about this gave her a headache. The demand was increasing, and she couldn't keep relying on herself to do it all. Even if she could produce the required quantity, her plans would be disrupted.
"Oh no, what do we do now..."
Gu Zhongtai leaned against the window, and seeing her looking worried as she slumped over the low table, he got up and walked over to her.
"Since you're so worried, why not just become master and disciple?"
"Becoming master and disciple!?"
Fan Xiaoxiao was taken aback; she had never imagined it could be done this way. Right, the Zhou Dynasty emphasized the proper etiquette between master and disciple.
The master here is like a father figure. A disciple would value the craft of their sect more than their own life. If she could take on a disciple, the problem of the glass bottle leaking would be solved!
But Fan Xiaoxiao's joy didn't last long. As soon as she made the request to Village Chief Fu, a hint of hesitation appeared on his face. She was all too familiar with the old man's tendency to hold back his words.
"Village chief, do you have some other ideas? Just say it. You know the princess is in a hurry for what she wants. We shouldn't drag things out over such a small matter."
"Well, since Miss Xiao puts it that way, then I'll be frank."
With a slightly embarrassed expression, Village Chief Fu stroked his beard and hesitated before expressing his concerns.
“My wife’s method is certainly good, but you are a woman. And I remember you haven’t reached the age of marriage yet. Putting aside whether the young men in the village will accept you as an apprentice, even if they do, I am worried…”
"I'm worried... I'm worried they won't submit to you..."
The village chief stammered out the last few words.
As he spoke, he kept an eye on Fan Xiaoxiao's expression. After all, Fan Xiaoxiao was now their boss, and if he spoke too harshly, he was likely to offend her.
Moreover, in his eyes, Fan Xiaoxiao was indeed much stronger than ordinary boys.
However, none of these conditions allowed her to successfully take on apprentices; after all, she was a woman. The men of Ginkgo Village had long disliked women nagging and making decisions at home.
Although the village chief didn't quite agree with this habit, he couldn't force others to disagree.
Fan Xiaoxiao's face darkened upon hearing his words.
Having been here for so long, she had almost forgotten that this place was not only a cannibalistic era, but also a place where male chauvinism existed, where women were expected to be devoted wives and mothers, and where other bad customs persisted.
She pursed her lips, still somewhat unwilling to give up, and went to ask Hu San and the others again.
But this time, even Hu San shook his head at Fan Xiaoxiao.
“Miss Xiao, it’s a good thing that you’re willing to teach everyone how to make glass. But the premise is that you’re only teaching women. You mean you’re going to teach us… Hehehe, it’s not that I don’t want to learn. It’s just that if I learn from you, my wife at home will laugh at me for being a spineless coward…”
Upon hearing this, Fan Xiaoxiao practically rolled her eyes to the heavens.
If he said he was learning things from her, his wife would laugh at him for being a spineless coward. What's wrong with her? Isn't glassmaking a profitable craft? Does she think she can turn down money?
Besides, what's wrong with being a woman! What's wrong with not having reached the age of marriage yet! She's only a year or two away from that age! Her mental age is about the same as all of them!
Moreover, these bastards were ruthless when they were making money, but now that it's time to learn something, they're all stammering and running away faster than rabbits, as if they're afraid of losing their manly spirit.
Fan Xiaoxiao was so annoyed by this group that she immediately decided to recruit some female apprentices.
However, the results were not ideal. The women here were either stopped by their husbands' families or strictly disciplined by their mothers-in-law.
Nothing worked here, nothing worked there, and it seemed like Fan Xiaoxiao's path with the glass bottle was about to end. Just then, Village Chief Fu jumped out and gave her another idea.
"Lady Xiao, why not teach a man first, and then have him teach the others?"
As the saying goes, "If the mountain won't come to me, I'll go to the mountain." What Village Chief Fu said certainly makes some sense. In order to realize her plan as soon as possible, Fan Xiaoxiao had to bow to the hardships of life, no matter how unwilling she was.
However, she hadn't found a suitable person to learn glassmaking. Tiger Three had been ruled out, and Uncle Wang was busy tending the barbecue stall. As for Master Lu, he already knew how, but he hadn't had time lately. Little Black was away on a trip, and the Ghost Doctor wasn't home either.
That leaves only Gu Zhongtai...
(End of this chapter)
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