Era: Starting with the struggle to refuse being taken advantage of

Instead of directly telling Liu Dajun his tasting results, Wang Chengpeng opened the jar of wine he had brewed, scooped out a small half bowl, and handed it to Liu Dajun so he could taste it and compare.

Without comparison, it's impossible to easily perceive the difference in quality. Moreover, only by letting Liu Dajun experience it for himself can he learn more.

Without hesitation, Liu Dajun immediately began to taste the sweet beet wine he had brewed, as requested by Wang Chengpeng.

After taking a sip, he quickly tasted the flavor of the beet wine, which was quite different from other wines. It had a unique sweetness and a refreshing herbal scent, and the taste was quite good.

However, it was precisely this wine, which was clearly of decent quality, that made Liu Dajun frown.
Not afraid of not knowing the goods, but afraid of comparing goods.

Liu Dajun savored the lingering taste in his mouth, his brows furrowing slightly.

He thought to himself that his homemade beet wine was alright on its own, with a mellow and sweet taste, but the finish was a bit thin, like an unfinished country tune.

However, compared to the previous samples, it immediately paled in comparison—that batch of wine was like amber with a lustrous sheen, smooth and silky on the palate, with a long and sweet aftertaste, and a lingering aftertaste with hints of caramel and candied orange peel.

He sighed and removed the mud seal from another jar of wine brewed by Wang Chengpeng.

Sure enough, the aroma of wine wafted out as soon as the clay seal was broken.
Like a spring breeze rustling through wheat fields, layers of sweet aroma are wrapped with just the right amount of acidity, and even the suspended foam is as delicate as snow, swirling lightly at the mouth of the jar.

Liu Dajun picked up the wine bowl, the amber-colored liquid rippling slightly in the rough porcelain bowl, reflecting the candlelight and gleaming with a honey-like luster.

He took a small sip, and the moment the wine touched his tongue, the unique sweetness of beets bloomed in his mouth like morning dew, yet it was supported by just the right amount of acidity, making it not at all cloying.

As the liquor glides down your throat, it has a silky smoothness that seems to soothe all roughness.

In the base notes, the earthy richness of ripe beetroot gradually emerges, mixed with a faint caramel aroma and a subtle fruity fragrance, like a sun-dried beet field in autumn, warm and bountiful.

What's even more wonderful is the aftertaste—long after swallowing, a faint honey fragrance lingers on the tip of the tongue, while a refreshing coolness rises in the throat, like drinking a ladle of mountain spring water, the lingering aftertaste so long that one can't help but squint their eyes.

Wang Chengpeng unconsciously took another sip, and this time, he detected an even more subtle flavor:

A faint scent of tender bamboo, like the finishing touch, makes the wine even more complex and sophisticated.

When he was observing it before, he thought it was just an impurity that Wang Chengpeng had accidentally mixed in, but he never expected it to have such a crucial role.

"This is what real wine should be like..."

Liu Dajun sighed contentedly, the shimmering light and shadow of the wine in the bowl reflected in his eyes, like a bowl of flowing sunset.

Who would have thought that the nectar brewed from beet pulp would be more mellow than many grain liquors, with a long-lasting yet gentle aftertaste, making it impossible to stop drinking it.

This deliciousness completely overturned his years of experience in winemaking.
This made him feel a sense of awe and reverence for Wang Chengpeng, who was standing in front of him.

Shaking his head in frustration, Liu Dajun sighed and said:
"Technician Wang, your wine is so good, I can't even come close to it."

"I've tasted several high-end wines before, and while your beetroot wine is still somewhat lacking, it has a completely different flavor that makes up for it, making it almost as good as it could be."

"It's ridiculous that I was thinking about innovation. If I could learn this brewing skill, not only would I be set for life, but as long as this skill is not lost, I'm afraid I won't have to worry for the next few generations."

Hearing Liu Dajun's praise of Wang Chengpeng, Chen Xiaohu clicked his tongue in amazement:
"Master, your description is a bit too exaggerated."

"Technician Wang is indeed skilled, but he's still young. How could he possibly have such exaggerated abilities?"

“Those famous wines are all made with techniques passed down through generations, even dozens of generations. Technician Wang is so young, how can he have skills comparable to theirs?”

Liu Dajun glared at Chen Xiaohu with disappointment and made up his mind to replace this disobedient apprentice when he had time.

He had finally managed to find a powerful patron who was both capable and willing to teach him. If Chen Xiaohu's questioning angered Wang Chengpeng, he would truly be devastated.

Thinking this, he scooped up a bowl of wine and handed it over, then loudly reprimanded Chen Xiaohu:
"Shut up, drink it well, savor it, this is a rare opportunity."

Seeing Liu Dajun look at him again, Wang Chengpeng coughed lightly and said:
"It's not that I'm unwilling to teach, but the art of winemaking is such that a slight difference can lead to a huge error, so you need to gain your own understanding."

"And actually, your wine isn't as bad as you think. With just distillation and purification, you can easily get a wine with a more mellow taste."

At this point, Wang Chengpeng asked another question:
"There should be equipment for distilling and purifying spirits here, right?"

Slapping his forehead, Liu Dajun realized he had fallen into a trap.

It is extremely difficult to brew fine wine in one step, which is why China has passed down its traditions for so many years and has developed countless methods to improve the quality of alcoholic beverages.

Wang Chengpeng is right. His beet wine is indeed of average quality, but its quality can be improved through distillation and purification.

As a brewery that is crucial to the future of Dapeng Sugar Factory, Wang Yong naturally wouldn't cut corners, and the equipment for distilling liquor was certainly present.

However, because Liu Dajun has never had confidence in the wine he brewed, he has not yet used it.

It's alright, this very distillery, which has been prepared for so long, is welcoming two extremely important guests today.

Looking at the distillation equipment displayed in the distillation room, Wang Chengpeng nodded in satisfaction and said:
"These devices are really good. With them, I'm confident I can refine even better wine."

"Since we each have a jar of wine, let's refine it together, see what each other's skills are like, and improve together."

As soon as he finished speaking, Wang Chengpeng arrived at the nearest distillation equipment.

Because the beet pulp needs to be sterilized at high temperatures, the brewery always has hot water on hand, so there's no need to rush to prepare hot water on the spot.

After filling an extra bottle with beet wine and setting it aside, and filtering the rest of the beet wine, Wang Chengpeng began distilling it.

As the mixture is heated to a high temperature, the alcohol, which has a lower boiling point, begins to vaporize and flow through the pipe to the other side.
Eventually, upon contact with the cold bottle walls, it gradually liquefied, transforming into a bottle of distilled liquor.

As time went on, more and more spirits were distilled from the bottle, eventually accumulating into a large bottle of distilled spirits.

Wang Chengpeng carefully held the bottle of distilled liquor in his palm and examined it closely in the sunlight streaming through the window.

The wine swayed gently in the glass bottle, refracting an amber halo, so pure that it was without a trace of impurity.

He gently fanned himself with his hand, trying to direct the aroma of the distilled spirit toward his location.

In an instant, a clear and mellow aroma of wine wafted out.
This aroma is more intense than the previous beetroot wine, but it lacks the slightly sour scent from fermentation.

He took a small enamel cup and slowly poured half a cup of distilled liquor into it.

The wine flowed like a clear spring, creating delicate ripples in the glass.

He lowered his head and sniffed lightly. The distinctive sweetness of beets mixed with the crispness of alcohol filled his nostrils, with a faint hint of caramel. "Give it a try..."

The excellent performance of the distilled spirits also inspired Wang Chengpeng to give it a try, and he immediately took a sip.

The moment the liquor enters the mouth, the tip of the tongue first feels a gentle sweetness, followed by the warmth of the alcohol slowly spreading in the mouth, but it is not harsh on the throat; instead, it slides down the throat like a warm current.

After swallowing, a faint sweetness lingers on the lips and teeth, with a long aftertaste and no astringency of the original wine.

"Sure enough, the flavor has improved a lot after distillation." He nodded in satisfaction, then poured a small cup and handed it to Liu Dajun beside him, "You should try some too."

Liu Dajun took the cup, drank it all in one gulp, and his eyes immediately lit up:
"It's smoother than before, and the aroma is purer!"

"Distillation is indeed a good method. I hope my wine will be even better after distillation."

Wang Chengpeng smiled slightly as he looked at the gradually gathering distilled liquor on Liu Dajun's side and said:
"Will do."

"However, you can't rely entirely on distillation to purify the wine. If the original beet wine is not good, even after multiple distillations, you won't get a good wine."

After giving Liu Dajun his instructions, Wang Chengpeng stopped being distracted and continued making the distilled spirits.

He had to carefully maintain the temperature in the pot, because if the temperature changed, the distilled product might not be the spirit he wanted.

Distillation is an extremely slow process. Even though Wang Chengpeng only distilled a small jar of wine, it still took him half a day.

However, looking at the seven or eight bottles of wine placed beside him, Wang Chengpeng showed a gratified smile.

These wines can not only be brought over to share with Xia Mingyue, but also some can be given to parents.

On such a cold day, drinking a little alcohol can not only warm you up, but also provide some nourishment.

However, drinking should be done in moderation. Drinking too much is not only harmful to your health, but it can also easily lead to mistakes.

A few years ago, Wang Chengpeng had heard of a drunkard who, after drinking too much, lost his footing and fell into a river, losing his life.

Before leaving, Wang Chengpeng asked Liu Dajun, who was focused on distilling spirits:
"Master Liu, can I take this wine with me?"

Liu Dajun brews more than just one jar of liquor, and naturally, he needs to spend even more time distilling it.

Faced with Wang Chengpeng's question, Liu Dajun answered without hesitation:

"Technician Wang, you must be joking with me. You can naturally take the wine you brewed yourself."

After a pause, Liu Dajun added:
"These aren't wine, but research materials that Technician Wang needs."

"If you feel it's not enough, you can come back anytime to get some more."

Liu Dajun was more than happy for Wang Chengpeng to come every day, so that he could endlessly fleece Wang Chengpeng.

Unfortunately, his plan was destined to fail, as Wang Chengpeng didn't have time to come to the winery every day to instruct Liu Dajun on brewing techniques.

Moreover, the guidance he had given Liu Dajun these few times was enough to benefit him for a lifetime, and there was no need to continue to instill more knowledge in him.

Back home, Wang Chengpeng placed the wine bottle, which he had been covering with his cotton-padded coat, on the table and shouted:

"Zhu Hong, I've put some wine on the table. When my parents come back, please tell them that they can just open it if they want some."

"I'm going out to run some errands and may be back quite late. Keep an eye on the house and don't let any bad guys break in."

In the last battle with the wolf pack, Wang Chengpeng's old bicycle was completely destroyed.

In addition, he has been busy with the college entrance examination recently, so he hasn't had time to go to the state-run store to buy a bicycle.

Fortunately, Wang Chengpeng's family assets are quite substantial, and he also owns a bicycle, so he doesn't have to worry about transportation.

After all, her parents live close to their workplace, and Wang Meiyan is still on winter vacation, so the second bicycle is just sitting idle.

With three bottles of liquor in his bicycle basket, Wang Chengpeng slowly rode his bicycle toward the center of Wangjia Village.

It's not the busy farming season now, so most people are staying at home. Plus, it's freezing cold, so you can hardly see anyone on the dirt roads in the village.

After riding for more than ten minutes, Wang Chengpeng arrived at the courtyard where Xia Mingyue lived.

After parking his bicycle, he leisurely knocked on Xia Mingyue's door:
"Xia, the educated youth, is me."

Almost the instant Wang Chengpeng introduced himself, the tightly closed door creaked open.

As the door opened, Xia Mingyue's delicate face appeared, and she said with delight:
"Comrade Wang, you've finally arrived! I've been waiting for you for quite some time."

"Come in, come in and sit down, and try my cooking."

“I’ve been living alone these past few days, and I’ve improved my cooking skills. They should be better than when you last came.”

At this point, Xia Mingyue seemed to remember something and explained:
"Drinking can lead to trouble, so I didn't prepare any alcohol this time."

"Comrade Wang, please eat more."

"Now that you mention it, it seems I haven't heard those wolves howling for a while since you drove them away last time. I suppose they've learned their lesson and know that Wangjia Village isn't a place where they can run wild."

Upon hearing Xia Mingyue's words, Wang Chengpeng's movement of taking the wine from the car pocket paused.

Shaking the glass bottle in his hand, Wang Chengpeng said somewhat awkwardly:

"Since Xia Zhiqing doesn't plan to drink, then let's just pretend I didn't bring any."

"I originally planned to share the joy of making this wine with Xia, the educated youth..."

Seeing Wang Chengpeng's awkward appearance, Xia Mingyue couldn't help but laugh.

Her eyebrows were curved, her lips were slightly upturned, and shallow dimples appeared on her fair cheeks, like ripples on a lake in spring, bright and vivid.

The setting sun shone through the door frame onto her face, making her smile even more radiant, and the surrounding air seemed to be warmed by it.

“Since we’ve already brought it, let’s drink it together,” she winked, her tone light. “It’s too much trouble to take it back.” (End of Chapter)