Chapter Thirty-Nine: The Useful Little Attendant

Having successfully constructed the distiller and produced distilled spirits, Wei Renshi was in high spirits. There were still several acres of land at home, which had already been cultivated by Zheng, the village chief, and his men. Land was not scarce in the village, so Wei Renshi acquired an unwanted plot of barren ground from Zheng at little cost. He hired a few laborers to clear the weeds and stones over two days, and after a few more days of leveling, the place was ready for someone to build the workshop.

Old Sun was well experienced in such matters and oversaw the work there. With Old Sun involved, the issue of hiring distillers was resolved. The Jiao Family Spice Shop had opened for business; Wei Renshi merely observed from outside that day and did not reveal himself.

Old Wang, however, genuinely went to show support and praise, immediately placing a sizable order for condiments. The fame of these condiments had already spread throughout Fuchang after Old Wang was defeated in the contest, so many people visited on opening day. Some cooks from local eateries also came, each taking some to try back at their kitchens.

Jiao Haiqing proved adept at business. On opening day, he set up tables outside the shop and prepared a variety of dishes, allowing people to taste both versions—with and without the new condiments—to showcase their merits.

Since there were both expensive and affordable options, many who didn’t mind spending ten coins or so bought some to try at home. As Wei Renshi had said, he no longer concerned himself with the other matters, awaiting only his share of the profits.

After all, the official contract bore the government’s seal in black and white, so there was no worry that the Jiao family would default. The spice business was managed by the Jiao family, the distillery was being built under Old Sun’s supervision, and the grain for brewing was secured by Sun Youqing through their usual channels.

When all was tallied, Wei Renshi found he had nothing left to do. This feeling was the most delightful of all!

The weather grew hotter—though it was only April, people began to sweat just from walking. Perhaps this was what they called “April’s summer.”

“Xi’er, do you know what wall frost is?” Wei Renshi asked, fanning himself with a large leaf picked from the roadside.

“I don’t know!” Xi’er mimicked him, fanning herself with a big leaf, and replied.

Wei Renshi sighed and strode toward Li He’s house.

Upon arriving at Li He’s door, he knocked. The gatekeeper recognized him and let him in immediately. In the courtyard, Li He was likely in his study, nowhere to be seen. Instead, Li Rong was in the yard.

“Master Wei, are you here to see my master? He’s in the study,” Li Rong said upon seeing Wei Renshi.

Wei Renshi shook his head. “Today, I’m here to see you.”

“See me?” Li Rong was taken aback. “What’s the matter?”

“Li Rong, do you know where I can get wall frost?” Wei Renshi asked.

“Master Wei, what do you need wall frost for? Are you planning to become an alchemist, like those Daoists?” Li Rong exclaimed in surprise.

He really does know! This boy is quite useful!

“I’ll give you some money. Help me buy wall frost. How about it?” Wei Renshi pulled out a handful of copper coins. “Whatever’s left is yours!”

Li Rong’s eyes lit up. “I’ll have to ask my master first!”

“Go ahead, I’ll explain to your master myself,” Wei Renshi said.

Li Rong shook his head and ran to the study door, calling inside, “Master, Master Wei is here and wants me to run an errand to buy something. Is that all right?”

No sooner had he finished speaking than Li He opened the door and said, “Go on, then.”

Li Rong readily agreed, took the coins from Wei Renshi, and darted off, disappearing in a flash.

“What did you send him to buy?” Li He leaned against the doorframe and asked.

“Something to make ice,” Wei Renshi replied. “These past days, I’ve been thinking over a problem, wracking my brains. When you came by the other day, your words reminded me, and I’ve found a solution. I’ll make ice as a thank-you.”

“You can really wring ice out?” Li He straightened in surprise.

Wei Renshi was puzzled. “Wring ice out?”

“Didn’t you mention wringing something the other day?” Li He said.

Wei Renshi then understood and laughed. “It’s not that. You’ll see soon. Making ice is easy.”

The two chatted for a bit, and before they felt much time had passed, Li Rong returned with a bag of goods.

“So fast?” Wei Renshi was surprised; he’d expected it to take at least half a day.

“There’s a Daoist in the next village, and his alchemy workshop has wall frost,” Li Rong explained.

Wei Renshi had learned the method for making ice from the village elders. Back when he had nothing to do and was reading novels, he’d noticed that the protagonists in those time-travel stories made ice using saltpeter. One day, he mentioned it to an old village man near the school, who confirmed it was real and even demonstrated it for him.

The wall frost Li Rong brought was saltpeter.

“Do you have any copper basins?” Wei Renshi looked around. “Copper is faster than wood.”

“Yes,” Li He nodded. “Li Rong, fetch them.”

“We need two copper basins—one as large as possible, the other just an ordinary size,” Wei Renshi instructed Li Rong.

Li Rong dashed off and soon returned, dragging two basins, one very large and one of regular size.

Wei Renshi pointed at the basins. “Where’s the water bucket? Put the smaller basin inside the bigger one, then fill both with water.”

“Right away!” Li Rong placed the smaller basin inside the larger and fetched the bucket, pouring water into both basins.

Once the water was ready, Wei Renshi took the cloth bag, submerged its mouth in the large basin, and released the saltpeter into the water with a splash.

Immediately, the water in the large basin reacted violently, rolling and bubbling as if boiling, with startling pops erupting from within.

Wei Renshi pressed the rim of the smaller basin, keeping it steady so its water wouldn’t spill. After some time, when the water calmed, he let go and allowed the small basin to float in the large one.

The commotion drew the Li family out. Even Lady Li came, asking, “Changji, Renshi, what are you doing here?”

“Mother, Renshi is making ice,” Li He replied.

“Making ice?” Lady Li was startled. Curious, she came closer to watch.

Before long, under the gaze of the gathered family, white patterns of ice began to form on the surface of the water in the large basin. Soon, the entire surface was covered, and the water in the floating small basin started to coalesce into a clear block.

Li He glanced around, then carefully touched the water in the small basin, immediately gasping at the chill. “So cold! This... this really is ice! Renshi, how did you do it? In such hot weather, you’ve turned water in a copper basin into ice before our eyes!”

Lady Li was equally astonished, pointing at the ice. “Is this magic? How can ice appear out of nowhere in the heat of summer?!”

(Recommendation: For those interested in the Qin Dynasty setting, try “Qin Farmer” by Corn Kernel Pip. Synopsis: Reborn as a small farmer in Qin, facing the earth with his back to the sky, Zhang Peng is unwilling to resign himself. At this time, the First Emperor is in his prime, Liu and Xiang have yet to rise, and the future holds boundless possibilities. He’s about to give a grand speech, when a hired hand beside him throws down the hoe and says, “If you gain wealth and power, don’t forget me!”)