When her family's distillery was being built, Song Anxin went to the county to solve the problem of sorghum supply for brewing. Song Anxin took Lin Fengshou straight to the county's largest grain store and explained their purpose to the manager.
The shopkeeper, still with a kind expression, looked somewhat troubled after hearing Song Anxin's words:
“Sorghum is a northern crop, and few people here buy it, so we don’t stock much. If you and my husband want to order such large quantities in the future, I can invite my husband to come and discuss it with you.”
Lin Fengshou said, "Then I'll have to trouble you, shopkeeper."
Song Anxin and Lin Fengshou waited for a while in a separate room behind the grain store, when a familiar middle-aged man walked in through the door.
Master Liu looked surprised: "What do you mean, it's my in-law, Madam Hui? Madam Hui, you can come to me directly if you need anything."
Song Anxin was also confused. How was she supposed to know that this grain shop belonged to the Liu family? Suddenly, it flashed through her mind: what was the shop called again? Liu's Grain Shop! And Manager Liu!? Song Anxin was speechless with herself. She was really smart all her life but made a fool of herself for once.
She stood up and said, "Master Liu, I never expected this grain shop to belong to your family."
Master Liu asked with a puzzled look, "Does Madam Hui want so much grain to brew wine?"
He couldn't think of any other reason why so much grain was needed besides brewing wine, but the decree granting authority to brew wine was a rare and precious commodity.
Song Anxin said frankly, "We are planning to open a winery. Master Liu, I wonder if you can supply us with large quantities of sorghum in the future?"
Master Liu was slightly surprised. His family had tried every means for generations and had only managed to obtain a permit to sell wine. He never expected that Lady Hui would obtain a permit to brew wine so soon after being conferred the title and enter the wine industry.
He said, “Madam Hui, you may be new to this wine business and not understand. Sorghum is a coarse grain from the north, and it doesn’t taste good. The wine made from it is also astringent. You should consider using other grains to make wine.”
Song Anxin smiled and said, "Thank you, Master Liu. I have my own way of brewing good wine from sorghum. You just need to supply me with the goods."
Master Liu immediately became interested. He knew about Madam Hui's culinary skills, and since Madam Hui said she could brew good wine from sorghum, she certainly wouldn't lie to him.
He said, "Then I'm really looking forward to Lady Hui's wine. However, most sorghum is only available in the north. Going to the north and back would require carrying so much cargo, and it would take almost two months to supply you."
Song Anxin waved her hand and said, "It's alright. My family's brewery is still under construction. I wonder if Master Liu will go there in person this time?"
Master Liu said, "This is the last shipment of goods before the end of the year. Now, with the addition of so much grain from Madam Hui, I must personally make the trip."
Song Anxin said, "I asked Manager Liu to keep an eye out for some crops or seeds that I haven't seen before, but I guess Manager Liu couldn't find them either. I wonder if you could keep an eye out for me while you're away, especially for those that you got from foreign merchants. If you come across them, could you please help me get them back?"
Although Master Liu was puzzled, he still said, "That's not a problem."
So Song Anxin signed a contract with him and paid a deposit of five hundred taels to Master Liu. It seems that her winery will not be able to start operations until after the New Year, which is a good opportunity to let the Kyoto region warm up the market for this sake.
Winter arrived quickly. It had been snowing for a day and a night in Linjia Village, and the snow only stopped today. A thick layer of snow had accumulated on the ground, and everything in the world was instantly covered in white. People and birds and beasts in the sky and on the ground all stopped walking, and even the land seemed to have entered a long slumber.
With only two weeks until the Lunar New Year, the academy had already started its winter break, and the temporary school at the Lin Family Village ancestral hall had also suspended classes. When Peng Tongsheng went home for the New Year, the villagers pooled together some money to give the village's only teacher a proper New Year. Song Anxin's family also contributed. Peng Tongsheng was so moved when he left that he cried his eyes out despite his advanced age.
Grandma Song and Song Anbang naturally came to stay with her as well. After all, her house now has a big yard, and it's almost Chinese New Year, so it's better to have a good time together. Grandma Song also likes it here, since her old best friend is here.
Since the provincial examination will be held in March next year after the New Year, Song Anbang studies hard in his room every day, and Lin Fenghe does the same. Fenghe said he wants to try the preliminary examination next year. Lin Fenghe has been studying for less than a year. Song Anbang told him not to put so much pressure on himself and to relax properly.
Compared to the third brother's diligence and hard work, the fourth brother seemed much lazier. As soon as Lin Fengyao had a holiday, he would play wildly with Lin Erxi and A Si, along with Dongzi and Xiaocao. Right now, they were building a snowman and having a snowball fight in the yard.
"Hahaha, Erxi, you're so weak!" Lin Fengyao accurately threw a snowball at Lin Erxi's head. The snowball scattered, covering Lin Erxi's head and face with snow. Unwilling to give up, she threw another one back. Lin Fengyao immediately ran away, shouting, "Can't hit me, can't hit me, hahaha..."
Lin Erxi shouted, "A-Si, let's throw him together! I don't believe he can dodge it!"
Lin Fengyao immediately shouted, "Ah, Anji, Angui... come help me!"
Of the five servants, Anfu, Anlu, and Anshou were the older ones, but they were all around sixteen or seventeen. Anji and Angui were only fourteen after the New Year, so they got along better with the younger ones.
Soon, several more people joined the battle. For some reason, Lin Fengyao used some means to drag Lin Fenghe into the battle as well. Song Anxin noticed that Lin Fenghe seemed to be quite extraordinary. He was agile and his moves were very accurate. How come he was different from the scholarly third brother in his mind? Song Anxin was immediately puzzled.
Soon the battlefield became one-sided. Lin Fenghe's precise throws and perfect dodges enraged the crowd, who began to surround and attack him. Lin Fenghe was no match for the overwhelming force and was quickly defeated.
"Haha, Third Brother, let's see how you hide now, you're surrounded!"
Song Anxin, forgetting her doubts, was itching to join in. Just then, Xiao Cao, who was building a snowman nearby, came over:
"Grandma, come build a snowman with us."
Song Anxin took it as an invitation to join the battle and immediately said:
"Joy and Worry, you two help Big and Little Grass build a snowman. Fenghe, your mother is here to save you!"
Song Anxin's tone was extremely excited. Heaven knows how a southerner like her could resist the urge to rush into such thick snow. Seeing the little ones having so much fun, she didn't care about her status as a woman anymore.
When Lin Fengyao and the others saw Song Anxin arrive, they immediately started laughing and joking around again.
Lin Erxi said arrogantly, "Second Aunt, don't blame me for bullying you, take this!"
Soon, Song Anxin taught them how to behave, and together with Lin Fengshou, they instantly crushed everyone.
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