Chapter 43 – Blended Liquor
Fang Ji’an saw the bait, and he also saw the fishing line held in the Japanese merchant’s hand. After hesitating several times, he still didn’t bite.
But his entire fortune was already involved, and the other side wasn’t worried that he could escape.
At night, Ito came again to visit alone. He lingered in front of the Fang residence for a long time before finally stepping inside.
In the following days, Manager Sun brought a few unfamiliar people to the Fang residence, making frequent visits.
*
Heihe Distillery.
The summer in the northern lands was short. After the peak of summer, several rains fell, and by early August it had already started to cool.
Bai Rongjiu had stayed here for several days with his men, sampling the new batches of wine brewed by Fang Yurou.
Besides the first batch of delivered liquor, some of the liquor was sent to the provincial capital. The remaining wooden crates contained medicinal alcohol.
Following Lord Bai Jiu’s instructions, Fang Yurou specially ordered a batch of clear glass bottles. Regardless of craftsmanship, they had to be crystal clear. Once filled, she placed them carefully inside. She had brewed for many years, but this was the first time making something for Western medicine. She worried something might go wrong and, as soon as Lord Bai Jiu arrived, she couldn’t wait to bring him a sample.
Bai Rongjiu was inspecting the machines in the factory, talking to the German engineer. Xie Jing followed behind, holding a thin cloak.
Fang Yurou stood a short distance away, waiting. Though busy in the factory, she rarely spoke with foreigners. Seeing Lord Bai Jiu occupied, she waved Xie Jing over and smiled as she spoke: “Little Xie, long time no see. I thought Lord Bai Jiu had really sent you off to the clan school to study. I heard they hired a foreign teacher?”
Xie Jing replied, “Yes, an English teacher sent from the provincial government. A few students are very capable and stayed for extra lessons.”
Fang Yurou said, “Oh, that’s rare. Didn’t you follow along to study a bit more?”
Xie Jing said, “I audited for a few days but didn’t understand much.”
Fang Yurou covered her mouth with a handkerchief, smiling softly: “I think you learn more by staying with Lord Bai Jiu.” She paused, then whispered, “I heard Lord Bai Jiu is going to the provincial capital. How long this time?”
Xie Jing said, “Not decided yet. Maybe he’ll return in a few days.”
As they spoke, the German engineer walked by, smiling broadly. Passing by, he even tipped his hat and bowed to Fang Yurou. She was startled, stepping back two paces.
Bai Rongjiu said from behind, “No worries. He’s joking with you.”
Fang Yurou, having worked in the distillery for years, was more straightforward than other women who stayed home managing the household. She laughed: “I’m just not used to it. Seeing his blue eyes suddenly makes my heart flutter.” She stepped forward and had someone bring a tray with several bottles of liquor. At the edge was a glass bottle with a large belly and narrow mouth, sealed with soft rubber.
“Lord Bai Jiu, as per your instructions, this month’s liquor has been packed and sent to the cargo ship. This is the second batch of liquor ready for brewing, and also the medicinal alcohol you requested.”
Bai Rongjiu picked up the medicinal alcohol, opened it, and smelled it. Examining the color, he said to her: “Send two bottles to Dr. Lin. He’s a Western doctor and should know this. If he approves, then pack the rest for the provincial capital.”
Fang Yurou realized there was a Western doctor available and agreed, calling a worker to deliver them.
When the worker carried the two bottles of medicinal alcohol, the floor was slippery. He turned with the bottles but almost fell. Xie Jing, quick and alert, steadied the bottles and the man.
Fang Yurou scolded the worker: “Be more careful! Always so clumsy!”
Xie Jing said, “I’ll take him to the door.”
Fang Yurou agreed, then asked Lord Bai Jiu: “It’s crowded and the floor is slippery. Why not go to the second-floor office to rest?”
Bai Rongjiu said, “It’s fine, I’m checking the machines.” His gaze fell on the tray, and he asked, “Is this newly brewed liquor?”
“Yes,” Fang Yurou knew he was pressed for time. She poured four or five small cups, neatly lined up. “Lord Bai Jiu, please try. These include the new formula.”
Bai Rongjiu picked up the first cup, sniffed it, and took a small sip. It was the usual Heihe Distillery quality—premium ingredients and spring water, aroma rich and pure, smooth to the taste, with a sweet finish. The remaining cups were slightly different in texture but equally aromatic, with a unique lingering flavor—the signature of the Fang family’s secret, non-transmissible recipe. The last cup hit strong immediately upon tasting.
Fang Yurou asked, “Lord Bai Jiu, how is the liquor?”
Bai Rongjiu swallowed slowly: “Whisky. Not brewed, distilled. Western recipes differ from ours, taste is acceptable.”
Fang Yurou said, “This is the Sun family’s liquor.”
“The Sun family of Changshan Distillery?”
“Yes. The Sun family is interesting. Knowing they can’t compete in Chinese-style liquor, they switched to Western-style liquor. Manager Sun recently brought in Japanese machines, perhaps realizing he couldn’t compete, so tried a new route. Not bad.”
“Probably not that simple.”
Fang Yurou smiled: “Yes, nothing escapes you. Recently, Manager Sun brought many people, claiming an industry discussion meeting. They came to see the workshop; I let them inspect the machines as per your instructions. Manager Sun wasn’t satisfied and even peeked at our fermentation jars, as if wanting to brew step by step. I wouldn’t lose out, so our master brewers visited his factory as a ‘tour.’ Guess what? Sun’s Japanese machines are similar to ours but mostly distillation equipment making ‘whisky.’ The procedure is simple. Our master brewers saw it once and memorized it. So we learned it.”
Bai Rongjiu, a businessman, was not a brewing expert, only asked if extra guards were needed.
“You sent enough people. The distillery is like iron now; outsiders can’t enter easily,” Fang Yurou explained. “Lord Bai Jiu, don’t worry. Brewing in the north isn’t new for the Fang family. Even if they replicate exactly, they can’t reproduce my flavor.”
“Why?”
“Because of the yeast starter.”
Fang Yurou’s greatest asset was her yeast starter.
Western liquors don’t ferment but rely on mixing and distilling. Chinese liquor requires a starter. This not only improves flavor but speeds brewing. Northern distilleries know this. Recipes differ slightly; main ingredients are grain, yeast starter, and water. Simple, but the starter is crucial.
Fang Yurou’s starter was family heirloom, carefully refined over years, with herbs added subtly—undetectable in taste but giving a unique aroma. This secret technique created the distillery’s signature flavor, unmatched in the three northern provinces.
Manager Sun tried various ruses to see it but only saw surface details. Not only that, but their master brewers learned a trick from it.
Fang Yurou said: “Sun tried to intimidate me with complex processes, aging, etc. Our master brewers immediately saw the essence. Back at our factory, they adapted it with their own method. I tasted it—good, though I only know northern liquors, not Western. Lord Bai Jiu, you can judge.” She poured half a small cup and handed it over. “You’ve traveled far and wide, and the provincial governor’s father enjoys liquor. We only brew; quality is judged by outsiders.”
Humbly spoken, Lord Bai Jiu tasted it and nodded: “Indeed good. Vintage and color fine, still needs fine-tuning.”
“Yes. The Sun family’s bottle was amber and clear.”
“What about the beer we discussed last time?”
“Going smoothly. Lord Bai Jiu, perhaps we can inspect it together?”
“Good.”
Xie Jing sent the worker off, carefully watching the two bottles of medicinal alcohol being taken. He then ran back to the factory.
After searching, he couldn’t find Lord Bai Jiu. Asking around, he finally found someone informed: “Lord Bai Jiu? He just went with Manager Fang to taste liquor. Truly a man of great tolerance, sharp tongue. Even our master brewers were impressed. Now he’s tasting the beer’s raw brew.”
Xie Jing’s heart sank: “He drank beer again?”
“Yes. A large glass. Little Xie, you didn’t see earlier—when tasting liquor, cups were small and varied. Any ordinary person would be drunk; Lord Bai Jiu finishes and can still read the foreign writing on the machines.”
Xie Jing immediately went to find him.
The factory was large with many machines. He finally found Lord Bai Jiu in a corner between a machine and a brick wall.
Lord Bai Jiu was reading the foreign text on the machines, standing steadily, using one hand on a vat of liquor for support.
Xie Jing approached quietly, calling softly.
Lord Bai Jiu looked at him without speaking.
Xie Jing grabbed his hand, attempting to guide him upstairs, but Lord Bai Jiu’s feet felt like lead. Instead, he pulled Xie Jing toward him, frowning: “You said go upstairs, why aren’t we moving?”
Xie Jing: “…Master?”
Lord Bai Jiu frowned, moving his hand but still held Xie Jing firmly. He looked down at the wrist he held, unable to understand why his thoughts and actions contradicted each other.
Xie Jing struggled, but Lord Bai Jiu’s strength prevailed, unmoving. He realized: the master was truly drunk.
Lord Bai Jiu stood quietly in a white robe, hair slightly drooping over long lashes, high nose, thin lips pressed.
Xie Jing supported him; Lord Bai Jiu observed, then slowly released the hand resting on the waist, placing it on Xie Jing’s shoulder. Unexpectedly heavy, it slipped to his waist as he staggered to sit on the ground.
Xie Jing called out and shielded him: “Master? Wake up. I’ll help you upstairs to rest.”
Lord Bai Jiu sat, eyes half-closed, voice calm: “Alright.”
Yet he still clutched Xie Jing’s waist, hand firm, unmoving.
Lord Bai Jiu puzzled: “Why aren’t we going?”
Xie Jing could only laugh and cry; he was shorter and weaker than Lord Bai Jiu, unable to drag him.
The Bai family’s Lord Bai Jiu was exceptional but could not drink mixed liquor. He could handle several jin of Chinese liquor, but even a small mix would not do. This was a secret Xie Jing learned after years of service.
Once, during Mid-Autumn, Lord Bai Jiu unknowingly drank mixed liquor. He appeared calm, yet behaved unusually, reciting poems, playing the harmonica under a spruce tree. The melody lingered, warm in the ears.
The moonlight of that night was forgotten; only the figure beneath the spruce remained.
—A noble gentleman, pure and clear as the moon.
Outside, footsteps approached, calling Xie Jing.
Xie Jing asked, “What is it?”
A voice replied, “Manager Fang wants to speak about preparations for upcoming travel.”
Xie Jing: “Have her talk to Zhang Huwei. He knows everything.”
The man said, “Alright! Why is Little Xie here alone? Need help?”
Xie Jing waved him off, across the machines: “No need. I’m checking equipment myself.”
The man agreed and left.
Xie Jing rested his hands on his waist, lightly pressing the arms holding him. The thin cloak covered Lord Bai Jiu, who sat on the ground leaning against him, eyes closed, resting.
