Early the next morning, Ji Xinhe got up before dawn. It was still pitch black outside when she surreptitiously carried out a large basin of grapes from the house.
These grapes were precious, all purchased at a high price from the fruit shop, costing six silver pieces a pound. They were off-season fruits, sourced from a cooperative fruit shop, grown in a greenhouse, thus the high price for the basin.
For that reason, grape wine in winter was sold at even a higher price.
Ji Dong was also busy hauling out a large vat.
Their movements were conspicuous, and the upstairs household was always attentive. The moment they heard noises, Lady Ding and Ji Dashan climbed off their beds. Without tidying up properly, they quietly ran over, peeking into their small courtyard from outside the mud wall.
Ji Xinhe pretended she had not noticed them. Looking at Ji Dong, she said, "Outsiders often think making grape wine is challenging. In reality, it is very simple. It’s just that nobody knows how. That’s why we can make money from it!"
While talking, she started to work meticulously.
Without seeming intentional, she described the entire process of making grape wine.
"Wash the grapes thoroughly; they need to be clean. Not even the tiniest bit of dirt should remain. Then the grapes can be used for wine. Crush them and toss them into the vat. Add a little rice wine - not too much - about one-tenth would suffice. Seal it and store for about ten days, and it’s ready. If you want to speed up the brewing process, like we do now due to time constraints, you can brew it in a high-temperature environment - the higher, the better! Even though that shortens the brewing time, the grape wine produced is more mellow."
While chattering non-stop, Ji Xinhe was still washing the grapes, appearing very professional.
Ji Dong nodded, "I learned this secret recipe a long time ago. No need for you to remind me. Don’t worry. Xiao Bei will be waking up soon. You should take him to school first. I can handle the grape wine by myself."
Ji Xinhe smiled sweetly, "Okay! I’ll ask Hong Qin if she’s going to the morning market today."
Having said that, she walked towards the courtyard. When she got there, Ji Dashan and Lady Ding were nowhere to be seen.
Probably after hearing her secret recipe, they had already run off to report to the Wang Family.
Before making her way back, Ji Xinhe specifically looked over at the main room, ensuring nobody was there.
Ji Dong asked anxiously, "Have they left?"
Ji Xinhe hummed lightly, casually picked up a grape, and fed it into her mouth, "Of course they’re rushing off. After discovering such an excellent opportunity to get rich, they probably can’t wait a moment longer, eager to make a fortune."
"Is it okay for us to do this? Wouldn’t the Wang Family..." Ji Dong said.
"The Wang Family? Big brother, are you really believing in their tall tales? Do you think the Wang Family is indebted to us and are benevolent? A genuine benefactor would never resort to devious tactics like this. If you compete with me honestly in business, I’m not afraid of you. However, if you start to go behind my back, it becomes too much of a loss. And besides, not a single word that the couple say can be trusted. The deceitful nature of the Wang Family can be seen through this incident!" Ji Xinhe said coldly, "If they really did not covet, they would not have sent Ji Dashan and Lady Ding to steal secrets."
Following some consideration, Ji Dong agreed, "Alright, we inherited the surname Ji and do not truly understand the affairs of our mother. Indeed, we shouldn’t believe others so easily."
"Our mother owed nothing to anyone. Even if they received a reward in the form of silver from their family back then, it was what she rightfully earned from her hard work. How come it has now turned into their favor? Plus, the money the Wang Family gave Ji Dashan was recompense for the favor Ji Dashan did for them, so why should we owe them gratitude? As harsh as it may sound, the Wang Family has absolutely nothing to do with us!"
Previously, because of her mother, Ji Xinhe had accepted the so-called "debt of gratitude" in silence. Now that she’s observing the Wang Family’s true character, she can’t help but feel blinded.
"Alright, let’s live our lives well. If anyone goes against us, we cannot forgive them lightly!" Ji Dong agreed to this bold approach to life.
Ji Xinhe laughed cunningly, "I’m really looking forward to what happens next."
The entire manufacturing process was a fabrication. Grapes initially should not be cleaned too thoroughly, as it was feared that the white frost on the skin may damage the fermentation. What should have been added wasn’t rice wine but white sugar. If the wine is made without white sugar, it will easily spoil or deteriorate. Not to mention, the optimum temperature for grape wine fermentation is between twenty and thirty degrees. If the temperature is higher, it will spoil. Her suggestion that a higher temperature is better was only to expedite the spoiling of their grape wine.
Let’s wait and see the show!
----
Wang Family.
Ji Dashan excitedly shared the grape wine manufacturing instructions truthfully.
Master Wang, usually grim, finally broke into a smile of relief, "Really?"
"I’ve seen her make it with my own eyes! It must be true!" Ji Dashan said more excitedly.
In fact, he hadn’t seen it personally. He had only seen Ji Xinhe washing the grapes. But since Ji Xinhe had spoken about her grape wine manufacturing method, did he need to continue observing?
Master Wang thrilled, yelled, "Great! Wonderful! Steward!"
"I’m here!"
"Send someone post-haste to the capital city, instructing the winery there to immediately start producing grape wine. Oh! And inform the Palace, tell them the Wang Family can now provide grape wine. The Palace has been a business partner of ours for over ten years. Once they find out we now have grape wine, they probably won’t cooperate with the other wineries. This business, we must grab!" Master Wang said excitedly.
"Yes! I will go arrange it right away!"
The steward left, and only then did Lady Ding step forward, a greedy look on her face, "Master Wang, we’ve made significant contributions. Master Wang must not reward us lightly. The five hundred pieces of silver is somewhat too little, isn’t it? Couldn’t it be increased a little?" 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺
Master Wang was in high spirits and without missing a beat said, "Go straight to the accounting room and take eight hundred pieces!"
Lady Ding and Ji Dashan turned ecstatic at once, almost jumping with joy. They thanked Master Wang, "Oh, yes, yes, thank you, Master Wang!"
Master Wang chuckled silently to himself, finding them ignorant. If they knew, they would realize that the idea of grape wine alone is worth eight thousand silver bucks. Just this initial business deal with the Palace could already earn him so much money, and that’s not even counting the collaborations in the future.
Of course, for the Wang Family at the moment, money is secondary. The key is to show the Palace their strength and importance so that the Emperor does not forget or neglect them.
It appears that with the help of this grape wine, the Wang Family’s resurgence and regaining the emperor’s grace isn’t far off! Master Wang thought excitedly.
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