Chapter 265: Do You Take Apprentices?
The next morning, Ning Xiyue quickly got herself ready, slung a cloth bag over her shoulder, and walked out lightly on her feet.
“Host, you’re not going to the captain’s house, nor to the brigade office. Where are you going? Weren’t you planning to ask the captain for the acceptance certificate for your second brother?”
The little turtle perched on her head looked ahead curiously, voicing its question.
Didn’t the two of them agree last night that the acceptance certificate from the Daliu team would be handled by the host, while Ning Qingyuan would take care of everything else? They’d split up the work. But now, although she’d said this morning she was going to the captain’s house, she clearly wasn’t heading that way.
“The bright days of early spring, when all life awakens—it’s also the perfect time for spring plowing. There are still two days before work starts. Shouldn’t I take advantage of this little bit of leisure to visit an old friend and have a few drinks together? It’ll be a good start to the year, and maybe we’ll stay peaceful and safe all year long.”
The most important thing was that people were easier to talk to over a drink. Aunt Yangliu loved her liquor; for her, wine was a powerful bargaining tool. And since her husband, the captain, often drank with her, he’d developed quite the fondness for alcohol as well.
Relationships need maintenance. Taking this chance to build some goodwill was essential—if she got along well with the team leader, the rest of the petty troublemakers would naturally stay away.
It was a plan that killed several birds with one stone—of course she was willing to do it.
“So you mean… you’re going to trade for some wine?” The turtle mulled it over and came to that conclusion.
“Correct. And we’re here.”
Ning Xiyue looked up toward the nearby gate, where the faded outline of a wine jar symbol could still be seen.
This household used to be a well-known winemaking family. They even had a shop in town, and their wine was famous among nearby brigades. Their sorghum wine and rice wine were especially popular—customers lined up endlessly to buy it.
The large brick house before her was built from the wealth earned back in those days.
Later, due to changes in circumstance, they stopped running their shop. Officially, they no longer brewed wine, but privately, they still made small batches—and would sometimes take processing fees for custom orders. Only a few close acquaintances and wine lovers knew about it.
Since they were the only family living at the edge of the village, with no close neighbors, it was easy for them to quietly brew wine and make a little side income.
Most of the wine drinkers in the brigade were elders or people of high status, so everyone just tacitly allowed this small “off-the-books” business to exist.
“This house brews the glutinous rice yellow wine that Aunt Yangliu loves most.” Ning Xiyue walked toward the gate in good spirits.
“Ding! Check-in point detected — Qianzhiwei Wine Workshop. Host must knock on the door to complete check-in. Proceed?”
“System, seriously? I was going to knock anyway. Is this your way of hinting that this check-in spot is special and I shouldn’t miss it?” Ning Xiyue teased, shrugging.
They could’ve just taken a snapshot of her knocking as the check-in pose—simple and efficient.
The little turtle chuckled, “Host, that’s exactly it. You haven’t checked in outside for a long time. You keep wasting your check-ins on pig feed—it’s such a waste of precious chances!”
It genuinely worried she’d ignore this opportunity. Lately, all her check-ins had been pig feed, pig feed, and more pig feed—utterly pointless.
“You ever think about how much those pigs of mine eat? Since I had them castrated, their appetites have exploded. They’ve really lived up to the saying, ‘turn grief into appetite.’ Lost one thing, so now they eat twice as much to make up for it! Of course I need to stock up.”
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to check in elsewhere; it was just that feeding those pigs was draining her resources.
Fortunately, the space’s robotic steward helped her manage the herd. She only needed to provide the feed to keep things running smoothly. Normally, she even muted the sound from the space—otherwise, she’d go crazy.
“Don’t worry, I’ll definitely check in today. It’s been ages. New year, new luck—the first spring check-in must be done!”
Ning Xiyue was quite satisfied with this location. She could already guess what kind of item she might receive—and she liked the sound of it. She wouldn’t miss this chance.
“System, get ready,” she said, taking a deep breath and walking up to the door. She knocked five times—lightly and quickly, just as they’d agreed.
In her mind, she commanded, “System, check in.”
“Check-in successful! You have obtained: one Winery Workshop. It has been placed in your space. Please check immediately.”
Ning Xiyue looked at the newly appeared winery in her space and groaned.
She didn’t even know how to brew wine! What was she supposed to do with a whole workshop? She could stare at it all day and not produce a single jug to share with Aunt Yangliu over drinks!
The only people who could teach her were the old master and his descendants living here.
If she wanted to use this new winery, and drink her own wine with friends someday, she’d have to learn the craft herself.
Her gaze firmed as she looked at the still-shut doors. The thought had taken root.
Creaaak—
The door opened. A head poked out, and when the man saw Ning Xiyue standing there, he broke into a big smile. Swinging the door wide, he greeted her eagerly.
“Sister Yue, you’re here! Please, come in—watch your step.” Zhang Jianguo bent forward servilely, grinning as he led her inside.
“Jianguo,” Ning Xiyue greeted with a nod.
“Sister Yue, I’ve been thinking about that wine you mentioned. The five jin of glutinous rice you gave me—I turned it all into wine. It came out to ten jin of yellow wine since I added little water, so it’s rich and sweet.”
As he led her toward the brewing room, Zhang Jianguo kept talking.
“You came just in time—it’s ready to drink! Fragrant and mellow. I even asked my grandpa to come out of retirement to make it. His craft is the best in the family—I can’t hold a candle to him. I promise you’ll want more after tasting it.”
“Thank you, Jianguo.” Ning Xiyue reached into her bag and handed him a jar of ointment. “Here’s the mosquito repellent you wanted—it’s ready.”
“Thank you, Sister Yue! Ever since your medicine helped me escape that black bear’s claws and saved my life, I’ve seen you as my blood sister. Don’t stand on ceremony with me—if you ever need anything, just ask. I’ll do it!”
Zhang Jianguo thumped his chest with confidence.
Ning Xiyue stopped and looked at him seriously. “Actually, there is something I’d like to trouble you with.”
“What is it? Just say it—I’ll do whatever I can!” he replied, thrilled at the chance to help.
“Do you take apprentices?” she asked sincerely.
“Huh?”
Zhang Jianguo blinked, then caught on, rubbing his nose awkwardly.
“I’m nowhere near good enough to take apprentices,” he said with an embarrassed laugh. “But if you want to learn brewing, I can teach you. We can study together—you don’t need to call me master. You’re my big sister, after all!
If you really want a formal teacher, though, you could apprentice under my grandpa. He’s a true brewmaster, taught countless students before. I can ask him—he’d probably be glad to take you.”
Ning Xiyue smiled and waved her hand.
“That won’t be necessary. I just suddenly had the thought—I’d like to learn a bit, maybe brew some medicinal wine later. I just need to pick up the basics from you.”
She shifted her cloth bag forward and patted it lightly. “As thanks, I can personally supply you with whatever medicine you need—like the ointment you just got, or any other common remedies.
If you’re okay with that, we can go ask your family for permission first. Once they agree to you teaching me, we can begin.”
She wanted to learn openly and properly, not sneak around stealing techniques.
Her conscience wouldn’t allow it otherwise. Living righteously brought peace of mind—and when one’s heart was at ease, even illness stayed away. That was better than any health tonic.
