Chapter 78

Chapter 78: Winemaking

Meng Yang knew this was a golden opportunity. She bowed slightly and said, “Madam, these past few days, the Hotpot Shop has been doing exceedingly well. After careful accounting, the daily net profit reaches nearly a hundred taels.”

“What?” Madam Cui blinked in disbelief. “A hundred taels in one day?”

Qi Shu Xian and Duke Qi both looked at her in surprise.

Meng Yang went on, her voice steady and clear. “Also, I’ve looked into the various wines sold in Capital City recently. Though there are many kinds, none possess a strong enough flavor. I happen to know a method to brew wine with a purer and richer taste…”

Madam Cui, however, showed little interest. “Since the Hotpot Shop is profitable, just manage it well. Don’t go stirring up anything else…”

“Mother,” Qi Shu Xian interjected, sensing the opportunity, “you’re a woman, so you might not understand how alluring good wine is to men. Just take the Third Prince, for example—he recently offered several hundred taels to win a single fine flask.”

“That’s true,” Duke Qi agreed. “Many old families in the Southern Lands built their fortunes on wine.”

“But wine…” Madam Cui frowned, doubtful. “Don’t most families keep their winemaking methods secret? Are you really able to brew it?”

It wasn’t that she didn’t understand; she simply didn’t believe it. In her heart, she still looked down on Meng Yang, a mere farmer’s daughter.

Meng Yang responded softly, “I have already brewed some, though it’s not yet ready for mass production. If Lord Duke, the Heir, and Madam are willing, would you care to sample it?” She turned at once and instructed Qing Xing to bring it.

Soon after, a small flask of clear wine was placed before them.

Duke Qi brought it to his nose. The scent was indeed pleasant, but he remained cautious. Not knowing the wine’s origins, he wouldn’t taste it himself, nor would he let Qi Shu Xian take the risk. Instead, he poured a small amount into a cup and handed it to Sun Feng.

Though Sun Feng was a servant, he’d traveled widely with Duke Qi and had seen much.

He took a small sip—and his eyes lit up. “What kind of wine is this? I’ve never tasted it before, but I daresay it’s even better than the best-selling winter brew!”

“Truly?” Duke Qi’s brows lifted in surprise. That this farmer’s daughter could really have such talent?

Seeing Sun Feng unharmed, Duke Qi brought the cup to his own lips and sipped. The moment it touched his tongue, his face brightened. “Excellent! Rich, mellow, yet clean!”

Qi Shu Xian, too, followed suit and drank half a cup.

Just as his father had said, the taste was indeed remarkable.

Not only that—even the color was clearer and whiter than the usual wine found on the market!

“Good! Good!” Duke Qi could no longer hide his excitement.

He had never cared much for the affairs of the household, yet now, looking at Meng Yang, his eyes held a new light. “You may focus fully on your winemaking. If you need anything, speak to Shu Xian directly.”

If Meng Yang truly could craft wine with a richer taste, how could the profit stop at a mere hundred taels?

When that day came, perhaps their Duke’s household might rise to become one of the great families of the realm.

Duke Qi was in excellent spirits.

Even the gloom that had long shadowed Qi Shu Xian due to Huan Zhu began to lift.

Lately, he’d been forced to sell off properties, but buyers saw his desperation and kept their offers painfully low. Naturally, he refused.

But if Meng Yang’s wine could bring wealth, then such petty concerns would vanish. A man’s strength should be spent on officialdom, not on fretting over a few silver ingots.

Pity that Sheng Zhi Wan, his rightful wife, failed to understand this. Just for some silver, she’d quarreled with him and his mother until now. It was jealousy, plain and simple.

[So be it. Since that’s her choice, let her see for herself—without her, Meng Yang, though just a peasant girl, has managed the Duke’s household far better than she ever did.]

And with Child in her belly no less.

Still, he warned gently, “You are with Child. Don’t overexert yourself.”

Meng Yang’s eyes turned red with emotion. “I understand. Just this word of concern from the Heir is enough to satisfy me.”

Qi Shu Xian nodded, once again marveling at how thoughtful and gentle Meng Yang was—a true partner in life.

[If only Sheng Zhi Wan had even half her grace.]

With the support of Duke Qi and Madam Cui, Meng Yang devoted herself entirely to her winemaking over the following days.

Qi Shu Xian took the first opportunity to present the wine she brewed to the Third Prince.

The Third Prince was indeed fond of wine. With just one sip, he sensed something extraordinary.

In the Sheng Kingdom, most wine was brewed roughly from grain. The process was long, the result often impure, and flavor varied depending on environment.

But the wine Qi Shu Xian offered poured clear and pale as water, yet its taste was no less potent than aged brew—piercingly strong, with a heat that burned the throat.

When he learned it came from a certain “Lady Meng” brought back from Cangnan by Qi Shu Xian, his interest grew.

“A woman with such skill?” the Third Prince mused aloud. “Not long ago, I heard tales of her valor on the battlefield. And now she crafts fine wine? I’ve also heard this new Hotpot Shop in the city is her idea?”

“It is,” Qi Shu Xian confirmed.

“She’s a rare one,” the prince smiled. “Truly intriguing. They say fate chooses its day—why wait another? Today, I’ll host everyone at that Hotpot Shop for a taste. Shu Xian, can you ask this Lady Meng to meet me there?”