My Apocalypse System Arrives 10 Years Early

Chapter 106: Chapter 99: Brewing Spirit Wine, Making Gourd Ladles

Li Xiang only fenced in his backyard, not his front yard. It wasn’t the type of courtyard that completely encloses the house, because he was only trying to keep out wild boars and other dangerous animals that might come down from the back mountain.

Although most of the wild boars had been dealt with this year, they reproduced at an astonishing rate and had few natural predators. He estimated their numbers would surge again next year.

This meant his front yard remained open. If a wild boar showed up, he could simply get inside and shut the door.

In rural areas, it wasn’t a good idea to fence in the front. If you did, no one would come by to visit. Li Xiang’s house was already remote and far from the village center. If he fenced it in and closed the gate, who would come over for a chat? His grandmother would only get lonelier.

As it was, people still dropped by every now and then.

Li Xiang rode his three-wheeler into town, heading for the same time-honored distillery he’d visited before.

”Well, well, if it isn’t our county’s big celebrity?” the shop owner greeted him enthusiastically. He had also seen Li Xiang’s video of hunting wild boars. After all, the man had over two million fans. While they were spread across the country and even overseas, a good number of them were local. Even people who didn’t follow his account had seen the video or heard about him.

”It’s nothing, really,” Li Xiang said humbly with a wave of his hand, then started to look at the liquor.

He wanted to buy some better-quality liquor to make his Spirit Wine and some regular Snake Wine. The high-proof distilled liquor he’d bought here last time was excellent quality for the price.

The owner gave Li Xiang a tour, introducing each section with the pride of someone showing off their family heirlooms.

The last time Li Xiang had come, the owner hadn’t brought him inside. They had just chatted briefly in the street-facing shop before making the deal.

This time was different. The owner knew Li Xiang had money and was a major customer, so he led him directly into the distillery workshop out back.

In addition to the finished liquor, he showed him the raw material and brewing areas.

Li Xiang couldn’t help but praise him. ”You keep this place very clean.”

The owner puffed out his chest. ”Of course! I’ve been in this business for decades. My customers are all local folks and neighbors. Reputation is everything!”

Li Xiang nodded. ’It’s true.’ The workshop was small, but it had everything it needed. The sanitation standards were probably even better than many large-scale distilleries.

After the tour, the owner brought out some samples for Li Xiang to taste.

The liquor he sold was all 58% ABV. He had a standard version aged for two years, which cost 45 yuan per jin—the same kind Li Xiang had bought before.

Its taste was comparable to bottles sold on the market for two or three hundred yuan, which was one of the reasons Li Xiang had come back.

He also had a three-year vintage for 60 yuan per jin, a five-year for 100 yuan per jin, a ten-year for 180 yuan per jin, and a fifteen-year for 280 yuan per jin. The 45-yuan version was his usual bestseller.

The older the vintage, the smaller the stock. Of the fifteen-year, he only had three unopened jars left.

Li Xiang sampled each one. With the keen senses of an Extraordinary Being, he could tell the fifteen-year vintage was the best. It had the richest aroma and was mellow, full-bodied, and smooth, with a long, sweet aftertaste. The mouthfeel was substantial, elegant, and delicate—a truly outstanding flavor.

Li Xiang smiled. ”I’ll take the fifteen-year. All three unopened jars.”

The owner was overjoyed and immediately found someone to help Li Xiang load them onto his three-wheeler.

The owner carried one of the jars himself, saying cheerfully, ”If you have any issues with this liquor at home, just come back and see me anytime.” He spoke with great confidence. Since Li Xiang had only tasted samples and not the liquor from the sealed jars, the owner wanted to reassure his customer.

The three jars, each with a net weight of twenty jin, came to a total of 16,800 yuan. Li Xiang paid promptly, then went to a traditional Chinese medicine shop in town to have some herbs prescribed.