Reborn in a small mountain village in 1991

Chapter 122 Why did you kick me?

After separating the pigs into pens, Xu Chunsheng carefully soaked the washed and dried wine jars in white wine before hanging them up to dry.

Once the wine jars are completely dry, the jujube wine will have finished fermenting, and filtration will be urgent. However, the tangerine wine is not yet ready for filtration, so today we will only filter the jujube wine.

The biggest difference between the two is that fermented jujube wine can be filtered after fermentation, while soaked tangerine wine must be soaked for 90 days before it can be filtered. Both types of wine need to be aged for two months and then sterilized before they can be sold.

Inside, although it was daytime, lights were still needed to enhance the lighting. The flickering light made even the strands of hair appear softer.

"Runshu, can you help me set up the filter bags? Make sure the filter bags are taut and without any creases or gaps, and then tie them securely to the rack."

"Brother Chunsheng, is this how you do it?"

Cheng Runshu stood next to the filter rack, stretched the filter bag open, trying to leave no wrinkles, and firmly fixed it to the bracket, paying special attention to the corners to ensure there were no gaps and no debris would fall out.

Cheng Runshu firmly placed the filter bag on the filter support, tightened the rope, and then asked Xu Chunsheng with a smile.

Xu Chunsheng arranged the ceramic jars under the wooden frame before getting up to check the filter bag again: "Yes, that's right, that's it. If it's not tied properly, some residue will fall in during filtration, and we'll have to do it all over again, which is too time-consuming."

He pulled the filter bag down twice to make sure it was secure before nodding in approval.

That filter bag was a filter bag made of medical degreased gauze that Xu Chunsheng bought and sewed tightly.

"Brother Chunsheng, what kind of cloth are you using? It feels softer than the gauze I usually use."

Taking advantage of the moment when Xu Chunsheng was checking, Cheng Runshu asked a question.

Xu Chunsheng ran his fingers along the edge of the bag, smoothing out any uneven areas and tightening it. Hearing her question, he explained carefully, "This is a filter bag made from medical degreased gauze that I bought from the pharmacy, layered together."

After saying that, Xu Chunsheng pulled over a piece of ordinary gauze draped over the rack and handed it to Cheng Runshu for comparison: "Ordinary gauze has a layer of grease, which feels stiff to the touch. When filtering, fruit pulp residue tends to stick to it, making the filtering speed slow and causing it to shed residue easily. But gauze that is not paper is different. It does not have an oil film, so the filtering is smoother and it is not easy to shed lint."

Cheng Runshu gently touched the gauze in her hand, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Xu Chunsheng: "Brother Chunsheng, you know so much! I never knew there were so many intricacies involved in just a filter bag. I learn so many new things every time I assist you."

After adjusting the bag, Xu Chunsheng turned to look at her. The light made him appear gentler. "You know a lot. I sometimes ask you for advice. By the way, I haven't returned the books I borrowed from you a while ago."

Cheng Runshu smiled and said, "Brother Chunsheng has never asked me any questions. You know so much. You'll have to teach me more new things in the future."

"Yes, I'll do it. Stand a little to the side, I'm going to scoop the fermented wine over."

After checking and confirming that everything was in order, Xu Chunsheng shook the frame to make sure it was stable before picking up the wooden ladle that had been scalded with boiling water and dried. He then turned around and scooped a spoonful of fermented mash from the fermentation vat.

He steadied his wrist and slowly poured the mash from the ladle into the filter bag, allowing the liquid to seep down naturally.

"Whoosh—whoosh!"

After the fermented mash was poured into the filter bag, the sweet aroma of ripe jujubes mixed with the fragrance of fermented wine wafted towards the two of them, instantly filling the entire room, and the air itself felt sweet.

Cheng Runshu looked into the bag and saw that the fine pieces of fruit pulp were caught in the filter bag, and the light amber-colored wine slowly dripped down below the bag and settled steadily into the earthenware jar.

Cheng Runshu subconsciously took a breath and couldn't help but say, "It smells so good."

Xu Chunsheng would come to check on the fermentation from time to time, and he had gotten used to the smell: "Only when the fermentation is in place will it have this aroma. You can taste it after the wine is filtered."

"However, the wine at this time is not as good as the aged wine. Try it fresh first."

Cheng Runshu smiled and agreed: "Okay, it already smells very good, it will definitely taste even better. I'm really looking forward to the taste after aging. You must buy me a bottle when it's ready, brother, so I can take it back for my parents to try."

"We siblings are talking about this, so just take two bottles back with you. It's something we made ourselves, so it only took a little effort."

Cheng Runshu's smiling face flashed with a hint of disappointment after hearing Xu Chunsheng say "brother and sister." He didn't even hear what Xu Chunsheng said after that, and just wanted to find something to do: "Then I'll get a chopstick and help stir it. This is filtering too slowly."

Cheng Runshu picked up a pair of clean, long bamboo chopsticks from the side and was about to stick them into the filter bag to start stirring.

Xu Chunsheng quickly grabbed her hand, stopping her movement: "No, you mustn't stir it with chopsticks, just let it flow slowly on its own."

Their eyes met unconsciously, and all they could hear were their breathing and the sound of water being slowly dripped into the earthenware jar.

This scene was witnessed by the eldest sister who was about to help. She glanced into the house, felt that she didn't need to help, and turned and left nonchalantly.

Cheng Runshu's hand, which was holding chopsticks, was stopped. Her ears turned slightly red, and she asked softly, "But it flows so slowly like this. Wouldn't making a couple of noises make it flow faster?"

Xu Chunsheng awkwardly released his grip and explained to Cheng Runshu, "Gauze can't completely block the fine bits of food. Having large pieces of fruit pulp underneath will prevent the fine bits from leaking through."

"If you stir them up, the tiny particles and foam will seep out, and the filtered wine will be cloudy. It won't clear up even after ten days or half a month, and it will also affect the taste."

Cheng Runshu put down his chopsticks and stood aside watching Xu Chunsheng's actions, watching him slowly and steadily filter the wine mash, ladle after ladle.

Cheng Runsheng watched for a while, then said softly, "Brother Chunsheng, your hands are so steady. These steps look simple, but I didn't expect them to be so slow."

Xu Chunsheng stared at the filter bag and replied calmly, "You can't rush the first distillation. If you finish it hastily and angrily, a lot of sediment will get into the first distillation, making it difficult to clarify later."

Xu Chunsheng continued scooping the fermented wine, his pace remaining neither too fast nor too slow.

After a while, the flow of the wine slowed down noticeably, and a thick layer of jujube pulp accumulated in the filter bag.

Xu Chunsheng then put down the wooden filter bag and turned to Cheng Runshu, saying, "Runshu, come and help me. Hold the filter bag and gently press it to squeeze out the remaining wine."

Cheng Runshu walked over and stood opposite Xu Chunsheng: "Just squeeze gently, right, Brother Chunsheng?"

"Hmm, cup the bottom of the bag with both hands, and slowly reduce the pressure, don't twist or wring it."

Xu Chunsheng gave a few simple tips, while he himself squeezed the filter bag, "Just use less force. It's better to waste a little more wine than to squeeze the sediment to the bottom."

Cheng Runshu did as Xu Chunsheng said, gently squeezing the filter bag with his fingers to let the remaining wine slowly seep out.

"Is this okay?" Cheng Runshu asked softly, afraid that if he spoke too loudly, he would unconsciously use too much force with his hands.

Xu Chunsheng felt the force coming from the other side and nodded slightly: "Yes, it's fine, no problem."

Working in perfect harmony, the two squeezed out the remaining wine from the filter bag. Seeing that the vat still contained more than half a vat of fermented grains, Cheng Runshu asked, "Shall we remove this filter bag and replace it with a new one?"

"No need, just pour out the residue, wash it clean, and you can continue using it."

Xu Chunsheng picked up the cloth bag and poured the waste into the wooden bucket that had been prepared beforehand.

Xu Chunsheng carried the empty cloth bag to the water tank, rinsed the remaining fruit pulp off the cloth with clean water, and said to Cheng Runshu who was following behind, "No need to replace it with a new one. This gauze is sturdy and washable. Just rinse it clean and stretch it back on the frame and you can continue using it. As long as it doesn't tear or get clogged, it can be reused repeatedly without any problem."

Cheng Runshu had no questions about why it was necessary to wash the product before using it directly.

The whole filtration process is just like grinding soybeans at home. Except for the slower speed and the different cloth used, everything else is pretty much the same. As long as you use gauze to filter, over time, the residue will always clog the pores. If you use it without cleaning it, the filtration speed will only get slower and slower, and eventually, the liquid will stop flowing out altogether.

Xu Chunsheng washed the gauze clean, wrung it out vigorously, and then went back to stretch the filter bag and tie it to the support.

"There isn't much fermented mash now, so one filter bag will suffice. If there's a lot of fermented mash, you'll need to filter it with several filter bags at the same time. The wine won't wait for you; if you leave the pulp in the jar for too long, it's easy for it to over-ferment."

Cheng Runshu listened attentively to his explanation without interrupting. He simply helped Xu Chunsheng by pressing down on the cloth bag. After finishing this, Cheng Runshu eagerly asked, "Brother Chunsheng, can I try? I promise to pour it slowly."

"Okay, give it a try, it's very simple."

Xu Chunsheng handed over the wooden ladle in his hand, and watched as Cheng Runshu imitated his earlier actions, scooping out a ladle of fermented mash from the fermentation vat and slowly pouring it into the filter bag.

With their combined efforts, the two vats of jujube wine were filtered. The filter bags have been removed and placed aside, ready to be washed later.

The earthenware jar was full of wine, slightly cloudy and not particularly clear.

Xu Chunsheng and Cheng Runshu each took a clean rag and carefully wiped away the wine stains that had fallen onto the earthenware jar.

As he wiped the fruit, Xu Chunsheng said, "Now that it's filtered, there's no need to worry about the jujubes spoiling if they soak for too long."

He took the double-layered cotton cloth and the earthenware jar lid that had been dried in advance, first covering the mouth of the earthenware jar with the cotton cloth, and then placing the diesel-coated wooden lid on top, leaving a small gap.

"Isn't the lid sealed tightly? I see other wine stores seal their bottles airtight."

"The freshly filtered wine cannot be sealed off, as it still has fermentation activity. Sealing it off will easily cause it to become stale and sour."

Cheng Runshu nodded, looking at the somewhat cloudy wine in the vat, and then asked, "Brother Chunsheng, this wine doesn't look clear enough. What should we do next?"

"Let it sit for three to five days until the lees settle, then separate the wine from the top and use egg whites to settle it a second time."

Seeing Cheng Runshu's puzzled expression, Xu Chunsheng explained carefully: "After three to five days, most of the coarse fiber and yeast mud will settle to the bottom. Then, carefully separate the wine from the top. This part of the wine will only contain a small amount of pectin and yeast. At this point, you can use egg whites for secondary clarification."

"What if we use egg whites directly instead of egg whites if it doesn't sink?"

"Egg white clarification is specifically for finishing the process; it can remove tiny impurities that are invisible to the naked eye," Xu Chunsheng said simply, pointing to the fine sediment floating in the vat. "It won't work now. There's a lot of coarse sediment in the wine, and it's still in a state of slight fermentation, so the wine is unstable. If you add egg white now, all the sediment, big and small, will be mixed together. The separated wine lees will be loose, and the egg white won't sink. In the end, it'll all be a waste of effort."

"I understand now. There are so many intricacies involved."

Cheng Runshu helped Xu Chunsheng push the wine jar to the corner. She looked at the jar of wine with anticipation in her voice: "I'm quite curious how you can separate the sediment after pouring in the egg white."

The eldest sister's voice came from outside: "Runshu, you'll have to come and see later. Come and eat now."

"Okay, coming right away."

Cheng Runshu stood up and said to Xu Chunsheng, who was tidying up the utensils, "Brother Chunsheng, let's go eat first. I'll wash these things for you later."

"You go first, I'll pack these up and carry them out to put them away, I'll be back in a bit."

"Then I'll collect it with you."

Cheng Runshu rolled up his sleeves and came over to help pack things up. Things that needed to be put back in their place were put back in their place, and things that needed to be washed were put into a basin to be taken out for washing later.

After the two finished tidying up, the food in the main room was already laid out, and the eldest sister was waiting for them to come and eat.

"Brother, where are Uncle and Aunt? Haven't they come back yet? I'll go call them for dinner."

Cheng Runshu had been there for quite a while today, and had only seen her eldest sister. She had assumed that her uncle and aunt had gone to the pig farm, which was why she hadn't seen them.

"No need to call them, they went to a 'preparatory meeting' today."

"Hmm? Is anyone in your village having a banquet recently?"

"Someone was celebrating a major birthday, so they went over."

Cheng Runshu understood and casually said with a smile, "No wonder I haven't seen Uncle and Aunt all morning. They were helping to discuss the banquet arrangements."

The eldest sister chimed in, "Yes, the village hasn't been lively for a long time. In previous years, even when it was Dasheng's birthday and the wedding of his wife, no one dared to hold a big celebration. But it's different now. The village cadres are busy leading everyone to engage in production, and everyone has some spare money. As long as we don't go to great lengths, it won't matter if the elders invite a couple more tables of people to celebrate Dasheng."

Cheng Runshu nodded. "That's true. Putting aside everything else, many families made a lot of money this year by digging up Ophiopogon japonicus."

"Your family often receives grain from the villagers and hires people to do the work. Everyone can find work without leaving the village, and you all deserve credit for taking the lead in this."

After Cheng Runshu finished speaking, she looked at Xu Chunsheng with a smile: "Is that so, brother?"

Seeing this, the older sister frantically shoveled rice into her bowl, while secretly glancing at the two of them.

Seeing that Xu Chunsheng didn't react, the older sister stretched out her leg and kicked him under the table.

"Huh? Why did you kick me?"

Xu Chunsheng looked up.

The eldest sister was exasperated: "What? Didn't you scoop out some jujube wine? Pour some for Runshu to try."

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