Reborn in a small mountain village in 1991

Chapter 123 A Gift for Cheng Runshu

Xu Chunsheng then realized what was happening. After swallowing the food in his mouth, he put down his bowl and chopsticks, walked to the small table next to him, and picked up a small earthenware jar of jujube wine.

Then, he opened the lid, used the wine ladle to scoop some wine, and poured it into a clean porcelain wine glass.

The cup is the most common type, a small cup that is pure white inside and out, with a blue pattern around the outside.

After the wine was poured in, it began to take on a light amber color against the white glass.

At this moment, light shines in, and the wine illuminated by the light reflects a faint jujube-red hue.

After he put the lid back on the wine jar, he handed a glass to his eldest sister and Cheng Runshu, and left one for himself as well: "Come and have a taste. It's coarsely filtered wine, which is fine for drinking yourself, but it's probably not good enough to sell, because it's not clear enough."

Cheng Runshu took the wine glass, looked at the shimmering liquid inside, and exclaimed in amazement, "I didn't realize it when we were filtering it, but now I see how beautiful the color of this wine looks in a white glass."

Before the eldest sister could put down her chopsticks, she raised her wine glass with her left hand, took a small sip, let the wine swirl in her mouth, and then swallowed. She nodded and said, "It has a hint of the sweetness of jujubes, and it's not as harsh on the throat as baijiu. Runshu, you should try it too."

"Okay, Sister Chunhua!"

Cheng Runshu gently held the small wine glass in both hands, brought it to her lips, and took a small sip. After drinking it, her eyes began to sparkle: "It's sweet, but not cloying. If you taste it carefully, there seems to be a slight hint of fruitiness."

Seeing their reactions, Xu Chunsheng smiled and said, "It seems pretty good. You girls should like it. I'll try it too."

After saying that, Xu Chunsheng took a sip himself, tasted it in his mouth, and then swallowed it. He frowned slightly: "Sure enough, you can still taste some fruit residue in this coarsely filtered wine, but the flavor of jujube is still quite strong."

After finishing the wine in his glass, he rotated it at different angles: "It's still a bit numbing, and there are still some sediments clinging to the sides of the glass. Hopefully, the second filtration will be done well, and then these problems won't exist."

Instead of praising the success of his brew, Xu Chunsheng pointed out all the problems with the wine.

Cheng Runshu smiled and took another small sip, saying softly, "But it tastes great now too! It has a sweet fruity flavor at first, followed by a touch of fruity acidity and a hint of astringency. The texture is really rich."

Fruit wine that has been coarsely filtered and not allowed to stand will have a slight acidity from fermentation, as well as a bubbly feel from residual carbon dioxide, and a slightly astringent taste.

Therefore, Cheng Runshu was not wrong.

"And Chunsheng, this is your first time making fruit wine. It tastes so good on your first try. I think you are very good at making wine. Even some veteran craftsmen might not have tasted this good on their first try."

"Yeah, it tastes just like this on the first try, what more could you ask for?"

"Don't be so hard on yourself."

The eldest sister chimed in, agreeing with her.

She didn't taste any sourness, probably because she drank it quickly?

However, she felt that it was quite sweet, but not cloyingly so.

Xu Chunsheng poured some more wine for the two of them and said with a smile, "I misunderstood. As the winemaker, I should know best what this is supposed to taste like. Instead, you two are the ones trying to comfort me."

The older woman picked up a piece of food with her chopsticks, smiled, and said, "I was just telling the truth. If it didn't taste good, you wouldn't be able to sell any in two days. You'd be the one losing money. Why would I say nice things to make you happy?"

Cheng Runshu nodded in agreement: "What Sister Chunhua said is true, it's sweet, and it will taste even better after filtering it again."

"Okay, it will get better and better later. I'll invite you to try it again. Let's eat first, it's cold and the food will get cold quickly."

Xu Chunsheng added a spoonful of rice to each of their bowls and urged them to eat first, saying they could talk about other things after they finished eating.

After the meal, Cheng Runshu helped her older sister clean the table. She kept praising her sister's cooking and even asked her how she managed to keep the "Sichuan soup" from disintegrating: "Sister, how did you make this soup?"

"It's smooth and tender without melting in your mouth. Every time I make this dish, it's either too mushy or it falls apart when I overcook it. Can you teach me how?"

The older woman stacked several bowls together on a plate and casually said, "Actually, I can't really explain how to make it. I always make this dish by feeling."

"It's about four or five ounces of sliced ​​meat, one egg, and about the same amount of sweet potato starch. The sweet potato starch must be ground into a fine powder so that there won't be any lumps when you mix it, and the texture will be better."

"After the water boils, turn off the firewood and leave a small flame before adding the sliced ​​meat. After adding the meat, don't stir it right away. Cover the pot and simmer for a while until it sets. Then stir it slowly. This way, it won't fall apart when cooked."

Cheng Runshu wiped the table, a thoughtful expression on his face, and then nodded in reply, "That's probably because my fire was too high. Every time I put something in the pot, I couldn't help but stir it. It seems that no matter what you're cooking, you need skill."

"Okay, you can try it next time. You can just leave these bowls on the stove; I'll wash them later."

"Go play with Chunsheng for a while. There are only two or three bowls; you'll be done washing them quickly."

"Okay!"

Cheng Runshu knew his elder sister's temper, so he listened to her.

When Cheng Runshu found Xu Chunsheng, he was squatting next to the water tank washing the filter bag, with clean wooden ladle and sieve tools next to him.

Xu Chunsheng soaked the bag in a wooden basin filled with water, and repeatedly rubbed the cloth with his hands to clean the jujube pulp stuck to it little by little.

"Brother, let me help you flush the water."

Hearing her voice, Xu Chunsheng turned his head slightly to look at her: "You've just had lunch, so you can rest. I'll be clean in a bit."

"It'll wash faster with water, let's wash it clean together before we rest."

""

Cheng Runshu picked up the wooden ladle used for scooping water and scooped a ladleful of water from the water tank. He then slowly poured the water down the ladle, and Xu Chunsheng gently rubbed the filter bag with the water.

After all the utensils were washed, dried, and hung up to air dry, Xu Chunsheng took out a small hat from the house and handed it to Cheng Runshu.

Upon closer inspection, Cheng Runshu saw that it was a red corduroy short-brimmed bowler hat.

"Runshu, your aunt said your birthday is coming soon. This is a birthday gift I prepared for you. I hope you like it, and I also thank you for helping me so much before."

Cheng Runshu could tell that the hat in Xu Chunsheng's hand was the most fashionable hat at the time, which could only be bought in the county supply and marketing cooperative and the tailor shops in the market town.

Cheng Runshu had seen young girls in town wearing such hats for a long time and had liked them for a long time, but she had never seen them for sale in town. She never expected that Xu Chunsheng would prepare such a surprise for her.

Cheng Runshu took the hat and tilted it to her head. The narrow brim rested on her brow bone, making her face appear even smaller. The fine red vertical stripes made her skin look even whiter.

Cheng Runshu gently placed his hands on the brim of his hat, looking at Xu Chunsheng with a smile: "Brother Chunsheng, does it look good?"

Xu Chunsheng looked at it carefully: "It looks good. The boss told me this is the latest style. It looks great on you, and the red color suits you very well."

Upon hearing Xu Chunsheng's praise, Cheng Runshu unconsciously tightened his grip on the brim of his hat, and a faint blush crept onto his ears: "It looks good, that's good. I like it very much, thank you, brother."

"In winter, it's often windy, but with this hat, I don't have to worry about my head getting cold anymore."

Xu Chunsheng nodded, gently straightened the brim of her hat that she had pinched down, and said softly, "I'm glad you like it. If you wear it out on a market day, a lot of girls will envy you. You'll be the most stylish guy on the street."

"What's the coolest guy?"

"Well, that's what people in Guangdong like to say, it means they're complimenting your looks."

Xu Chunsheng coughed awkwardly, not realizing he had accidentally uttered a phrase from his past life that was used in internet slang.

"Yeah, my brother is the most handsome guy too."

The older sister, who was eavesdropping on the two talking from inside the house, muttered quietly, "These two are really going all out with giving away hats. The most handsome guy is actually quite something. I wonder where Erwa learned that from."

After reading with Xu Chunsheng for a while in the afternoon, Cheng Runshu said that it was time to go home: "Brother Chunsheng, it's getting late, I'll go home first. I'll come and help you next time you filter wine."

Xu Chunsheng put down the book in his hand, glanced at the clock on the cabinet, and saw that it was already 3:30. "Wait for me a moment, I'll put the book away and then take you home."

Cheng Runshu wanted to say that he could go back on his own, but he also wanted to spend more time alone with Xu Chunsheng. While he was still struggling with this, Xu Chunsheng had already finished putting the books away and came out.

"Runshu, let's go. I'll take you back. It's scary in the woods. It's not safe for you to go back alone."

After Xu Chunsheng finished speaking, he took out a small jar of jujube wine that he had portioned out at noon, put it in a plastic bag and carried it in his hand: "Take this wine back for your family to try. You should finish it as soon as possible, as this wine won't last more than a few days."

"Okay, thank you, brother."

Cheng Runshu followed Xu Chunsheng in small steps, got into the car and sat next to Xu Chunsheng.

Xu Chunsheng handed the bag in his hand to Cheng Runshu: "Runshu, you carry it. The road is very bumpy, and it's easy for it to be knocked over and broken if you put it in the back."

Cheng Runshu reached out and took the bag from him. Their hands inevitably touched, and for a moment when their fingertips touched, they both paused involuntarily.

"Hey, Runshu, your hands are a bit cold. Don't worry about looking pretty all the time. Wear more clothes. Being healthy is more important than anything else."

Cheng Runshu lowered her head slightly, the red brim of her hat concealing the shyness in her eyes: "Yes, I've got it. Next time I'll wear more layers and gloves so it won't be cold."

Xu Chunsheng stopped discussing the topic and called out to her, "Hold on tight, I'm about to start."

Cheng Runshu hugged the wine jar tightly with one hand and gripped the handle beside her with the other. She nodded heavily and said, "Okay! Hold on tight, we can go now."

When they were almost home, Xu Chunsheng saw a Santana sedan parked outside Cheng Runshu's house, blocking the intersection. Xu Chunsheng parked his tricycle behind the sedan and walked home with Cheng Runshu.

Before the two even entered the house, they had just reached the courtyard when they heard voices from inside: "Auntie, I've secured a job for Runshu. She'll be working as an accountant at a big factory in the city. They originally required a high school accounting degree, but it was only because my uncle is in charge there that I managed to get this opportunity for Runshu."

After the man finished speaking, Cheng's mother's happy voice came from inside the house: "Oh dear, this is really a lot of trouble for you. Runshu got her accounting certificate, but she was unwilling to listen to me and go try her luck at the county winery. She said she wanted to gain more experience before going."

"The factory in the city that you found for her is a rare opportunity, she'll definitely be willing to go."

Xu Chunsheng turned his head slightly and asked her in a low voice, "Are you going to the factory in the city?"

Cheng Runshu shook his head, saying somewhat defiantly, "I'm not going anywhere!"

After saying that, she grabbed Xu Chunsheng's clothes and shouted into the house as she went inside, "Mom! Why are you worrying so much? I told you I'm not going outside. I have my own plans."

Xu Chunsheng followed her lead into the house, where Cheng Runshu's parents and a young man were sitting.

The man's eyes lit up when he heard Cheng Runshu's voice, and he immediately stood up to greet her.

But before he could speak, he saw Cheng Runshu's hand tugging at Xu Chunsheng's clothes. He stared intently at Cheng Runshu's fair fingers, his face darkening instantly, feeling that Xu Chunsheng's clothes had soiled her hands.

Cheng Runshu seemed to sense the burning gaze and released his grip on Xu Chunsheng's clothes.

"Uncle and Aunt, I've brought Runshu back. You have guests, so I won't bother you any longer."

Cheng's mother said politely, "No, no, please sit and rest for a while. I'll go get you a bowl of hot water."

"Auntie's done being naughty. I have something to do later, so I have to go back first. You two continue chatting."

After Xu Chunsheng finished speaking, he turned and left the door, but did not notice that Cheng Runshu was following behind him.

After stepping out of the house, Cheng Runshu gently reached out and tugged at the back of Xu Chunsheng's clothes, directly exposing Xu Chunsheng's lie: "Brother, I know you're free this afternoon. Weren't you going to invite my parents to taste the wine? Why don't you listen to what they have to say before you leave?"

Cheng Runshu really didn't want to see the man inside, but he was her brother's friend. In the past, when she went to visit her brother, this man always made her unhappy, and she really disliked the way he spoke.

After saying that, Cheng Runshu ignored Xu Chunsheng's reaction and said to his parents who had chased after him, "Dad, Mom, Brother Chunsheng brought you some jujube wine that was filtered today. Please try it."

She put the wine jar back into Xu Chunsheng's hand and went inside to find a wine glass to pour herself some wine.

The man followed Cheng Runshu into the house, and Xu Chunsheng could vaguely hear them talking.

"Runshu, it's been so long since I've seen you. You've become even more beautiful. Is this hat new? It looks great on you."

Cheng Runshu sounded a little annoyed: "It was a gift from Brother Chunsheng, it must be really nice. What are you doing here? Don't you have anything to do?"

The man was speechless at the phrase "Brother Chunsheng bought it," so he had to change the subject: "I've found you a factory in the city. You can work there as an accountant. The salary and benefits are very good. This is an opportunity you won't get if you miss it."

Cheng Runshu pouted: "How good is the pay? You can go if you want, I'm not going."

The man was exasperated by Cheng Runshu's repeated denials: "Cheng Runshu!"

"I'm doing this for your own good! You'll regret it if you don't go!"