Chapter 7: Why not indulge in a drunken revelry

After having dinner and drinking with Xiuxiu, he asked her to put the lamb bones from lunch into the large pot to cook. Xu Ping felt a bit dizzy, so he went to bed early to rest

Xiu Xiu fell silent for a moment and quietly said, "I just have never eaten lamb."

In the courtyard, Xu Ping had a large pot simmering with wine, so he had someone fetch another large pot from the kitchen, which he set up in the courtyard. He chopped the lamb into large pieces and boiled them in the pot. Xu Ping instructed Xiu Xiu to collect the leftover lamb bones, intending to boil them into lamb soup for the next morning.

As for selling liquor to other places, there is no need to think about it; that would be smuggling. Although it is not like the founding period when smuggling liquor could lead to death, Xu Ping would not seek such trouble for himself. At this time, there are two official liquor establishments in Zhongmu, which are state-run taverns, located in Wansheng Town and the county seat of Zhongmu. Not to mention the county seat, Wansheng Town is garrisoned by a large army; these two major markets are monopolized by the government, and infringing upon their interests would only bring trouble upon oneself.

Xu Chang smiled and said, "Da Lang, you can speak now if you have anything to say."

After everyone had their fill of food and drink, Xu Ping called a few who were still sober, such as Gao Daqian and Sun Qilang, to accompany Xu Chang to survey the land. He intended to request the management rights of this estate from his parents, and he could not do so without proper evidence.

After bidding farewell to Xu Chang and Zhuang Ke, Xu Ping returned to his own courtyard

He himself did not drink much; firstly, his tolerance for alcohol is not high, and secondly, the freshly distilled liquor has a rather strong flavor, which he cannot afford to enjoy

Xu Ping said: "What more is there to think about? It's such a simple matter! Even when frying wine, there is wine sweat; if one cannot distill any wine, that would indeed be strange! Why bother asking about this?"

Xu Ping secretly sighed. When Xu Chang mentioned it, he felt a moment of excitement, as many successful individuals who had traversed different realms made their first fortune through distilled liquor, not to mention that he was an expert in this field. However, upon further reflection, he realized that this method was of no use to him. Ultimately, the crux of the matter is that in the Song Dynasty, liquor is a monopoly! How severe is this monopoly? In the words of the Song people, it means that the court extracts wealth from the people without leaving any surplus; there is no way for you to profit from it! Ultimately, the crux of the matter is that in the Song Dynasty, liquor is a monopoly! How severe is this monopoly? In the words of the Song people, it means that the court extracts wealth from the people without leaving any surplus; there is no way for you to profit from it!

Xu Ping laughed and said: "Since we are not going out to sell, why bother with so much? Just go ahead and slaughter!"

A group of guests began to make a commotion together

After all is said and done, in my Song Dynasty, the most reliable way to make money and become prosperous is still to earn a living from the land. And what Xu Ping excels at is precisely farming.

This night was deeply restful, filled with continuous pleasant dreams, where the identity from a past life intertwined wonderfully with this estate, dreaming of him creating a marvelous model farm in this world

This farmland spans over ten miles in circumference, yet it is predominantly wasteland, interspersed with ponds and marshes, and salt flats are widespread. According to his previous life’s description, it is severely salinized and alkalized, with very little arable land cultivated.

Long ago, some villagers brought various seasonings such as salt, spices, and coriander. They often hunted game in the surrounding areas and had all these items prepared themselves

People in the Song Dynasty generally did not have lunch, having only breakfast and dinner, while those in the city might indulge in late-night snacks if the mood struck them. As for the rural folk, they would retire early once the sun had set

The profit in business primarily comes from the processes of procurement and sales, both of which are precisely constrained. The profits derived from brewing must all come from one's own household. The Xu family operates a tavern in Baisha Town, and according to the Song people, it is referred to as a "buying stake"; the stake is not in the tavern itself, but in the surrounding market. Within the confines of Baisha Town, theirs is the only legally operating establishment, while all others brewing and selling liquor are acting unlawfully. Furthermore, regarding income, as a licensed liquor dealer, there is a fixed annual liquor tax. Not to mention, there is also a set quantity of high-priced liquor ingredients that must be purchased from the government, and this quantity far exceeds market demand. How could there possibly be any loophole left for private brewing?

However, what he just said is because lamb is currently the most popular type of meat. There are many reasons for this phenomenon, and it is difficult to clarify them. However, do not assume that pork is cheap; in fact, it is similar to later periods, with pork being only cheaper than lamb.

After turning it over, Xu Ping picked up a bowl, only to find that all the guests in the village were staring at him eagerly

Xu Ping smiled and whispered to Xiu Xiu: "This Gao Daquan is in the same line of work as your family, having learned the craft from the Cattle and Sheep Department. What are you afraid of?"

Gao Dazhong volunteered, saying: "I have learned these skills specifically from my brother."

Gao Dazai drank a bowl, his eyes shining brightly, and he swaggered up to Xu Ping, exclaiming: "Young sir, this wine is powerful and its flavor is rich and fragrant, far better than the taste of that wine sweat! Coming to work at your estate is truly a blessing earned from a past life!"

Xu Ping had a pen and was drawing circles on the paper, sketching out the general terrain of Tianzhuang, and then carefully illustrating the flow direction of the Nan River, indicating where channels and ditches needed to be dug, first creating a rough outline

What should I say? Xu Ping was momentarily taken aback. He originally had nothing to say; he was merely caught up in the moment and wanted to join in the fun. In his previous life, he had this habit of either conducting experiments or going out to the countryside for inspections. After a long day of work, he would invite the laborers to a small shop on the street, where they would enjoy inexpensive wine and generous portions of meat, celebrating with a lively meal. Their department had limited funding, and this was the only level of gathering they could afford. His original intention was to celebrate having planted a small plot of peanuts today. Although the yield was not much, he still wanted to follow the usual practice and had no other thoughts.

Xu Chang sighed: "Da Lang, with your delicate mind, you must have learned to be bad in the city of Tokyo before! From now on, with you in charge of this estate, it is bound to prosper! I dare to ask, have you ever considered that the method of distilling liquor is a way to generate wealth? The lees are not worth much, and using them to distill liquor saves a considerable amount on the raw materials!"

Xu Ping was taken aback; most of these villagers belonged to the category of refugees, having no permanent property and no families. They sought only to indulge in good food and drink, acting capriciously, and to them, committing murder and arson did not seem like a significant matter. Especially that Gao Daqian, Xu Ping recalled that Yuncheng in Jizhou was indeed the old stronghold of Liangshan Marsh. Although it was not yet that era, and history was not like that of "Water Margin," which was more based on the Yang Yao uprising, it could be imagined that the local customs there must be quite fierce.

Sun Qilang bit into a piece of lamb and exclaimed loudly: "Young master, if we could have such fine wine and large pieces of meat to eat every day, not to mention working hard for you, we would even be willing to commit murder and arson for you!"

He dared not ask Xiuxiu if she had eaten pork again, lest it cause embarrassment

After a while, Xu Ping raised his head and said to Xu Chang: "Do not mention this again in the future. The brewed wine should only be consumed at the estate, and any excess should be stored. The court has strict regulations regarding the taxation of wine and vinegar, and this is under the emperor's feet; it is not a matter to be taken lightly"

Having roughly finished the work in the fields, it was already evening. Upon returning to the residence, I found that most of the guests were still inside, completely intoxicated and in a state of disarray.

Let me speak frankly, Xu Ping thought for a moment and said loudly: "I am originally a wayward young man from the city of Tokyo, where I used to engage in horse racing and dog fighting. Due to an unexpected incident at home, I have come to this estate to make a living with all of you on this piece of land. It is often said that without experiencing hardships and the difficulties of the world, one cannot truly grow. After my family went through this calamity, I have come to a realization. From now on, I will turn over a new leaf and only seek to make a living here. This estate is vast and flat, but it is sandy and lacks soil, making it somewhat barren. Two years ago, my father purchased it for two thousand guan, and we have not seen a single cent of profit since. Continuing like this, my family will not be able to sustain itself. From now on, I hope that all of you will join me in working together to unearth gold and silver from this land, and surely there will be benefits for all of you!"

Seeing Xiuxiu with her eyes closed, I deliberately teased her: "You raise sheep at home, don't tell me you've never seen a sheep being slaughtered. If you say you've never even eaten lamb, I certainly won't believe you."

To the northeast of the village lies Baisha Town, which is ten li away. Five li to the north is the Jinshui River, the source of water for Bianliang City, which is heavily guarded by the court, making it unwise to consider drawing water from there. A river flows from the west side of the village, turning southward and eventually merging into the Jinshui River; this is the Nanhe. This river originates from the marshes connected to the Ming Sheng Pushe Dam in Zhengzhou, with abundant water flow, and almost entirely located within the village. If utilized properly, this estate holds great potential.

In a short while, Gao Daqian had slaughtered the fat sheep cleanly

Xu Ping forced a smile and said, "Since you put it that way, as long as you follow me in the future, there will be benefits you never imagined!"

Xiu Xiu was still there, eagerly waiting. Upon seeing Xu Ping, she hurriedly asked him: "Have you had dinner yet, sir? I still have two buns left from the kitchen"

Xiu Xiu dared not see the blood, letting out a low cry as she turned her head away

Xu Ping understood that her exaggeration was not entirely accurate; the court was not so inhumane. Depending on the type of livestock being raised, there are statutory losses each year, and if more lambs are born, there are rewards. However, with such regulations in place, it is uncertain how much of this will actually reach the lowest-level herders.

Old Lady Hong ultimately did not dare to confront Xu Ping to the death; shortly after, someone sent a sheep over. She had already made her stance clear and could not truly provoke Xu Ping, making it impossible to handle the situation.

The coarse porcelain bowls brought from the kitchen were lined up on the ground, and Xu Ping personally held the wine jar to fill the bowls with the steamed wine

Having spoken, he raised the large bowl and took a sip of wine: "Let us drink together!"

Xu Chang shook his head and said nothing more

At this time, there were already two jars of wine, and Xu Ping ordered the slaughtering of a sheep

In less than an hour, the aroma of meat wafted from the pot, and several jars of wine were also steamed to perfection over there

Xu Ping thought to himself: "Your brothers include shepherds, sheep appraisers, and butchers, forming a complete chain. My village also has sheep, but I cannot let this fellow get involved, otherwise, I do not know when they will be sold off."

Seeing that everyone was already in disarray, Xu Chang came over and pulled Xu Ping aside, speaking in a low voice: "Dalang, how did you come up with the method of steaming the wine?"

The crowd erupted in cheers, and together they raised their bowls to take a big sip before all went to share the meat

He heard that Xiuxiu had never eaten lamb, so he cooked it and let her cut a large piece of good meat to set aside for the two of them to eat. After a busy day today, he was in a great mood and felt inspired.

As the crowd clamored and drank in unison, some with weaker constitutions collapsed to the ground. This was high-proof liquor, and those accustomed to yellow wine could hardly withstand such potency

Gao Dazai approached the sheep, struck a pose, and suddenly bent down to grab the front and back legs of the sheep. The sheep let out a "meh" and was lifted up by him

Xu Ping was taken aback and suddenly remembered that lamb is not cheap nowadays, so it is normal for Xiu Xiu's family to be unable to afford it. Those who weave cannot afford clothes, and those who farm cannot fill their stomachs; isn't this the norm in history? Why should those who raise sheep be able to afford lamb?

Zhuang Ke had already brought the knife, Gao Daqian held the knife in his hand, grabbed the goat by the horns and dragged it to the wall, exerted force with his hand, lifted its head, and struck down with one blow

Xu Ping lowered his head in contemplation: "Allow me to think for a moment"

Xiu Xiu said: "In my family, we only raise sheep, and if one dies, we have to compensate a lot of money"

Xu Ping said: "Bring it over, and also cut a plate of the leftover lamb from noon, and bring me a bowl of wine. Tonight, let us indulge in a drunken revelry!"

Although everyone appears to be agreeable, their true thoughts are quite different. Especially after he just had a quarrel with Granny Hong, it is inevitable that these people harbor unusual thoughts, believing that they need to win them over to oppose Granny Hong. Xu Chang has managed the estate for several years and has had a good relationship with these tenants; suddenly introducing a new woman, everyone naturally feels uncomfortable.

After weighing it in his hands, Gao Daduan threw the sheep onto the ground and said to Xu Ping, "Sir, this sheep is quite fat; it must weigh more than 40 jin of meat!"

Hastily, he said: "Seventh Brother, please refrain from speaking such rebellious words in the future to avoid causing trouble. As long as everyone works hard, wine and meat are nothing to worry about"