plumnovel Chapter 45 Wang Zhihuan's Background
Chapter 45 Wang Zhihuan's Background
The seventh day of the fifth month in the ninth year of Zhenguan.
As dawn approached, the morning mist, like a thin veil, shrouded the village in a hazy stillness.
Wang Zhi was awakened by a series of rustling and gnawing sounds coming from beside his pillow.
He slowly opened his eyes, stared at the coarse linen bed curtains above his head, listened to the creaking sound for a while, and remained silent.
"Ah Huang".
He called out softly.
The big yellow dog lying on the edge of the bed immediately stopped what it was doing, tilted its head to look at him, still holding half of a chewed-up straw sandal in its mouth, and wagging its tail happily.
Its eyes were bright and sparkling, full of a "praise me" attitude, as if it had picked up some amazing treasure and was just waiting for its owner to do it for it.
"Those are my shoes," Wang Zhihuan sighed.
Ah Huang seemed to understand, but not quite. He obediently spat the tattered straw sandal next to his pillow, then leaned closer and gently rubbed his wet nose against the back of his hand.
Looking completely bewildered and innocent, she had no idea that she had done anything wrong.
Looking at the straw sandal that was now just a shoe upper and could no longer be worn, and then at the silly dog's obedient appearance, Wang Zhi felt amused and ultimately couldn't bear to say anything more to it.
He got up from the bed, slipped on his only intact shoe, and slowly walked to the kitchen to scoop up well water to wash his face.
The well water was icy cold, and when it splashed on my face, it dispelled the last bit of drowsiness, and I became completely awake.
Today marks the official opening of the winery he had been planning for over half a month.
Outsiders might just think he was trying to make a living and supplement his family income.
Only Wang Zhihuan himself knew the real reason: this distillery was not just for making a living, or rather, it was not just for making a living.
It has been more than ten days since the first batch of strong liquor was successfully distilled in the kitchen.
In the Tang Dynasty today, whether they were high-ranking officials or ordinary people, they drank nothing more than fermented cloudy wine or sweet wine.
The liquor is cloudy, weak, and tasteless. Apart from a slight sweetness, it has no other uses, let alone being used to clean wounds, disinfect, or prevent ulceration.
This is how people have drunk alcohol for thousands of years.
The difference between good and bad wine lies simply in the fact that superior wine is filtered until it is clear and transparent, while ordinary wine carries the aroma of lees and has a faint, slightly acidic aftertaste. However, in terms of the taste of the wine, they are largely the same.
Perhaps no one has ever imagined that alcohol could be purified through distillation to obtain something so clear, crisp, and robust.
The spirit he brewed was unique in the world, whether in its preparation method, taste, or practical use.
Once this gets out, it will be enough to shake up the streets of Chang'an, the pharmaceutical industry, and even the military.
The Cheng brothers had brought the trial-brewed wine back to the Duke of Lu's mansion, and Wang Zhi never asked what happened after that.
However, when Cheng Chumo came to the estate again later, he seemed a little embarrassed and vaguely mentioned that the wine had been taken by Master Cheng to entertain guests, and that several senior officials in the manor said it was a rare treat after drinking it.
Wang Zhihuan remained calm and didn't delve into the matter. He simply poured himself some cool tea, but he knew exactly what was going on.
This wine is too eye-catching; given his current situation, he absolutely cannot make a fuss about it.
He was originally a member of a collateral branch of the Wang family of Taiyuan, not a commoner, but this background was not a source of support, but rather a potential threat to his life.
In today's world, the "Five Surnames and Seven Clans" of old Shandong families have deep roots and are sometimes not even taken seriously by the imperial family.
The emperor was deeply wary of this, and after ascending the throne, he revised the "Clan Records" and forcibly placed the imperial family in the first rank in order to suppress the arrogance of the old clans.
Those newly risen nobles who followed the emperor in conquering the country, although they held great power in the court, mostly preferred to marry into the old families to improve their own social standing.
The relationship between imperial power, the old aristocracy, and the new elites is very delicate. Wang Zhihuan happens to be on the edge of this vortex.
The original owner of this body's parents were in their prime, but they died suddenly and mysteriously, leaving no trace.
The Taiyuan Wang clan, a top-tier aristocratic family, not only failed to send anyone to investigate thoroughly, but also suppressed the matter and forbade the entire clan from mentioning it again.
His uncles came to offer their condolences one after another, only saying that his parents had died in an accident, and that he should live his life in peace and not think too much about it. They said that the inside story should not be investigated.
The original owner was depressed and lived in constant fear, eventually dying in despair, which led to him transmigrating and taking over this body.
Whenever he recalls this moment, a faint chill would flash across Wang Zhihuan's eyes, gone in an instant.
Now that I have taken this body, I must settle this karmic debt.
The deaths of his parents were by no means accidental. However, the Wang clan of Taiyuan was powerful and deeply entrenched, and he, being alone, had no power to confront them.
That's why he deliberately concealed all his sharpness and pretended to be indifferent and detached from worldly affairs.
He deliberately moved to the outskirts of Chang'an, avoiding the troublesome place of Taiyuan, and came alone to the countryside of Lantian, where he lived a secluded life tending two hundred acres of good land.
He reduced rents for tenants, provided medical care for villagers, and distributed medicine to save lives. He did things in a low-key and unassuming manner, and gradually earned the reputation of "Little Philanthropist Wang".
He was not a bad person, but he was not a born bodhisattva either.
This is done to conceal one's strength, protect oneself, and win people's hearts, so that those who may be watching in the dark will completely lower their guard.
He was unwilling to be a victim of others' cruelty, so for now, he could only endure and lie low, living a peaceful life.
He had already chosen his ally—Cheng Yaojin, the Duke of Lu.
Firstly, the two young masters of the Cheng family took the initiative to come to our door. Perhaps this was fate, just as we had hoped.
Secondly, Cheng Yaojin was a trusted former official who had served the emperor since his founding, wielding real power and possessing a straightforward personality. He was not like those old Shandong families who valued lineage and had deep-rooted connections.
In a time when the emperor wanted to suppress the old aristocratic families, newly powerful figures like Cheng Yaojin were implicitly at odds with them.
Making connections with the Cheng family might be like finding a reliable backer, making those in the shadows more cautious and giving him time and leeway.
Cheng Yaojin needed something new and practical to solidify the emperor's favor and benefit his subordinates; he needed to leverage the Cheng family's power to protect himself and secure his position. Each side got what they needed, making them potential allies.
Although the Cheng family doesn't know his background, since it was his second son who came to them, they must hold onto this lead tightly.
To endure is not to resign oneself to fate. Blood feuds and family secrets are buried deep in the heart, and must never be revealed in the slightest until the time is right.
This newly built winery was his first step in establishing himself in the Tang Dynasty and planning for the future.
The copper stills, steamers, fermentation vats, and wine jars used for brewing wine accumulated more and more, filling the small kitchen to the brim, making it almost impossible to turn around.
The family's cats and dogs also often come to join in the fun. Gray Gray always likes to sneak into the kitchen and often knocks over the dishes.
Ah Huang was particularly fond of the fermented rice wine lees. He would plunge headfirst into the basin of fermented rice wine, getting his face covered in lees, and then run wildly around the yard. Hua Hua would chase after him, licking the lees, causing chaos every time.
This situation cannot continue indefinitely; building a dedicated brewing workshop is now imperative.