Chapter Seventeen: The Winery

The entire street behind the Su residence belongs to the Su family. For Su Chen, arranging things here is quite convenient, though it is admittedly not the most discreet location.

Currently, Su Chen is in need of capital, yet he cannot ask his sister, nor can he turn to Li Chengqian—neither of them likely has much money to spare. He has no choice but to rely on his own devices. His medical clinic is his calling card, but he cannot rely on it alone to generate significant wealth; he must find other ways. Before he can develop the weaponry he has in mind, Su Chen brought Cheng Chumo to this location with a specific purpose in mind.

"Chumo, you heard me right. I intend to use this place for brewing spirits. Don't underestimate it; this liquor will surely be something you’ve never tasted before," Su Chen explained.

But how could Cheng Chumo believe him? He had been thinking lately that his friend had changed, but it seems he hasn't; he likely just has his eyes on the Cheng family’s tavern.

"Little Chen, tell me the truth. Have you set your sights on our Cheng family tavern?" Cheng Yaojin owns a tavern in Chang'an. While it isn't the largest in the city, its scale is quite respectable.

"How could that be? I don't want your family's tavern; I just want to cooperate with it." Su Chen doesn't want the business itself; he only needs a distribution channel.

Cheng Chumo understood now. Logically, this wasn't a big deal, and he could certainly help Su Chen. However, Su Chen’s liquor hadn't even been produced yet, and whether it would turn out well was another matter entirely—it could hardly compare to the work of those who had been brewing for centuries.

"Little Chen, it’s not that I want to lecture you, but there’s no need for this. Just focus on your medical clinic. How much money can selling liquor really make? It’s not even as valuable as your medicine," Cheng Chumo remarked, feeling that brewing was a waste of time and energy. Having previously called Su Chen "brother," he now addressed him simply as "Little Chen" regarding this matter.

But how could Cheng Chumo know that the liquor Su Chen intended to produce was high-proof, differing vastly from the alcohol of the current era?

"Rest assured, Chumo. Just talk to your father and secure me a spot. I will set the price of the liquor myself. You have nothing to worry about—if it doesn't sell, you lose nothing, and if it does, I’ll give you ten percent of the profits."

Su Chen felt that ten percent was quite generous, but Cheng Chumo was unimpressed. To them, ten percent of the profit from a catty of wine was negligible.

Seeing Su Chen’s persistence, Cheng Chumo nodded. He would need to speak with Cheng Yaojin, but since it was just a matter of space, he felt his father would not refuse. "Fine. I’ll speak to my father when I return. But Little Chen, you must keep your focus on the clinic; don't let these trivial pursuits distract you from your true calling."

After Cheng Chumo left, a smile finally appeared on Su Chen’s face. "Soon, the fragrance of this liquor will fill all of Chang'an. This will be our first pot of gold. Once I have this money in hand, developing weapons will be easy."

Money makes the world go 'round. He had the craftsmen, but not a suitable location. He felt this place was too close to home; if his weapon research caused any commotion, everyone in his household would find out. He needed to raise funds first so he could secure a location outside the city walls, which would be far safer.

The craftsmen reported for duty. Some were from the imperial palace, others were hand-picked by Li Chengqian, and all were highly reliable.

"Master, are we really brewing liquor here?" the craftsmen asked, looking at one another. In their eyes, brewing was a task for common farmers; as skilled craftsmen, they felt overqualified. However, being of lower status, they had to obey Su Chen.

"That's right. This place is in your hands for the next few days. Keep a close watch; this first batch of liquor is crucial." Su Chen spoke with such gravity that the craftsmen took him seriously. Since their master valued it so highly, they would naturally serve him well.

"Don't worry, we will watch it day and night. There won't be any problems." Even though the craftsmen felt the facility was modest compared to the palace or the Crown Prince’s residence, Su Chen showed no airs and was completely different from their previous masters, making them eager to work for him.

Seeing their enthusiasm, Su Chen was pleased. "Do good work for me, and if you need anything, just ask. I value craftsmen above all else. Just follow my instructions to the letter."

Su Chen had some silver brought over. In those days, silver was a precious commodity, and he was generous, giving the craftsmen money for their relocation and telling them to bring their families. The craftsmen were delighted.

Su Chen spent the night teaching them his methods. This brewing technique was different from anything else; he instructed them to forget everything they knew and follow only his process. "This technique must not be spread to outsiders. I trust you can manage that."

Su Chen looked at them with a stern gaze, and the craftsmen nodded repeatedly. They understood; regardless of the money, if this secret leaked, it could cost them their heads. Having served in the palace and the Crown Prince’s household, they understood the stakes better than anyone.

"Rest assured, young master, we understand."

With the arrangements finalized, Su Chen spent the night at the residence. The next morning, he headed to the clinic, having instructed his staff to notify him the moment the brew was ready.

Upon arriving at the clinic, Song Laosan was already waiting outside. The moment he saw Su Chen, he knelt and began kowtowing repeatedly.

"Get up, Song Laosan! What are you doing?" Su Chen hurried forward to help him up.

It turned out that after taking two of Su Chen’s "Angong Niuhuang Pills," Song Laosan’s father had recovered, a feat everyone found miraculous. Knowing he owed Su Chen his father’s life and not knowing how to repay him, Song Laosan had come to show his gratitude.