Zhang Shi's eyes gleamed, and he led the fat man to a quiet room, pulling out a chair for him to sit down.
"I still don't know your name?"
The fat man looked flattered and then replied timidly.
"Reporting to Boss Zhang Shi, my name is Mao Tai. In the real world, my family runs a winery. My grandfather and father are both hereditary craftsmen who are proficient in brewing techniques. I grew up surrounded by them, and I have long since memorized those manufacturing processes."
Zhang Shiqiang suppressed the urge to laugh out loud and put on a dignified appearance.
"As you know, a sea station is being built on the island, and the bar is in need of manpower. I don't care about your past, but as long as you do a good job of brewing, I won't treat you unfairly."
Upon hearing this, Mao Tai knelt down on one knee like a soldier and shouted loudly, "I am willing to die for my lord."
Zhang Shi didn't understand what he was up to either. Perhaps he had learned this kind of rhetoric from spending a lot of time with the soldiers, but he didn't say anything more and instead helped him up.
"Alright, let's get started now without further ado."
After saying that, Zhang Shi pulled him to Lao Bai and obtained some raw materials according to Mao Tai's requirements. The materials were diverse, including corn, wheat, rice, and various berries. Seeing that Mao Tai had selected so many kinds of materials, Zhang Shi asked curiously, "What are you going to do with this? As far as I know, baijiu doesn't need so many raw materials, does it?"
Mao Tai respectfully bowed to Zhang Shi, then calmly replied.
"My lord, to meet the bar's needs, I plan to brew spirits, beer, and fruit wine at the same time. After all, a wider variety of drinks will attract more customers, won't it?"
Zhang Shi nodded, deciding to follow Mao Tai throughout the entire process. Firstly, he wanted to learn the whole winemaking process by staying by Mao Tai's side so he could try brewing wine himself in the future and avoid being held back by his connections. Secondly, Mao Tai was, after all, an outsider, and there was a grudge between him and the Dragon Tiger Alliance, so he was worried that Mao Tai might secretly tamper with the wine.
Mao Tai began preparing for the brewing process, first selecting the ingredients for the liquor—peas, corn, and wheat. He carefully washed these three grains, placed them in a large pot, added an appropriate amount of water, and then brought it to a boil over high heat. As the steam rose, the entire room gradually filled with the aroma of the grains.
Zhang Shi watched with great interest, occasionally asking questions, which Mao Tai patiently answered one by one. He explained that the purpose of steaming was to soften the grains and release their starch, preparing them for subsequent fermentation.
After steaming, Mao Tai removed the grains and let them cool to a suitable temperature. Next, he began making yeast, a fermentation agent rich in microorganisms that has a crucial impact on the flavor of baijiu. Mao Tai first ground the three types of grains in different proportions on a millstone, then added water, stirred, and placed them in a box, repeatedly patting them before placing them in a steamer to cultivate.
With the speed-up provided by the farmer module, the cultivation process, which would normally take several days, was completed in just an hour or two. Mao Tai then evenly sprinkled the cultivated yeast onto the grains and gently stirred it to ensure thorough mixing.
“Next comes the fermentation process,” Mao Tai said, pointing to a large wooden barrel next to him. “We need to put these mixtures into the barrel, seal them, and let the microorganisms ferment inside. This process would normally take nearly a month, but here, I estimate that the first batch of finished products can be brewed by tomorrow morning at the latest.”
Zhang Shi nodded, indicating that he understood. He noticed that Mao Tai paid great attention to detail throughout the entire process, meticulously handling everything from washing and steaming the grains to adding the yeast. This gave him even greater trust in Mao Tai's professional abilities.
Meanwhile, Mao Tai also began preparing the ingredients for brewing beer. He mixed rice and malt together and steamed them as well. However, unlike baijiu (Chinese liquor), beer brewing requires the addition of hops to enhance flavor and aroma. For this purpose, Zhang Shi specifically spent a high price to acquire them at the trading market, ultimately entrusting someone to trade them from overseas regions.
While Mao was busy, Zhang Shi was not idle either. He carefully observed each step and tried to memorize the whole process. He knew that this was a rare learning opportunity for him.
As time went on, the liquor and beer in the wooden barrels began to emit enticing aromas. Mao Tai would occasionally open the barrels to check the fermentation process and adjust the temperature and humidity.
Finally, Mao Tai began brewing fruit wine. He first removed the seeds from a bunch of grapes, heated and dried them, then soaked the resulting simple raisins in a bottle with purified water and sealed it. Every now and then, he would open the bottle to release the gas. This process took more than an hour, and he finally succeeded in obtaining a batch of yeast.
Next, he selected various berries, crushed them, added appropriate amounts of sugar and yeast, and then placed them in another wooden barrel for fermentation. The fermentation time for fruit wine is similar to that for spirits, requiring only one night's rest. As for beer, the fermentation time is longer, with a real-world fermentation cycle of one and a half to three months. On the island, it could be brewed as early as tomorrow afternoon.
With that, the brewing of the three types of wine was successfully completed, and it was already late at night. Zhang Shi summoned the soldiers on duty and instructed them to guard the brewing room well, and that no one except him was allowed to approach it at will.
After arranging for the soldiers to guard the area, Zhang Shi did not leave the brewing room immediately. Instead, he turned to Mao Tai and said, "Thank you for your hard work today, Mao Tai. Your professional skills have impressed me. I believe that with you joining the bar, business will definitely flourish."
Mao Tai smiled modestly and said, "You flatter me, my lord. It is my honor to serve you. I am willing to do anything to improve the bar's business."
Zhang Shi patted Mao Tai on the shoulder and said, "I've already asked Lao Bai to arrange new accommodations for you. Have a good rest tonight. Tomorrow we'll test the quality of the drinks. If there are no problems, we'll start mass production. Once everything is on track, I plan to hand over the bar to you to manage."
Mao Tai was stunned for a moment, then a glint flashed in his eyes. He had obviously not expected Zhang Shi to trust and value him so much. He immediately said excitedly, "Please rest assured, Lord, I will definitely not let you down. I will continue to work hard to produce higher quality wine and contribute to the development of our island."
Zhang Shi smiled calmly. The entire brewing room was filled with a lively atmosphere. It was hard to tell who was making empty promises or who was just giving each other the runaround. In any case, both of them were very satisfied.
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