Four days passed.
A faint aroma of wine now emanated from the wooden bucket in the cattle shed.
"Brother Mu, just one sip."
"Wait a little longer."
If time permitted, Xu Mu would have gladly waited a few more days for full fermentation. Only then would the corn wine, after distillation, be at its most refreshing. But in his current situation, lingering too long was clearly unwise.
"Si Hu, build an earthen stove!"
Fermentation done, distillation—the real centerpiece—was next. Though confused, Si Hu didn't hesitate, quickly piling up an earthen stove and hauling over armfuls of firewood.
Taking a deep breath, Xu Mu mentally mapped out the distillation process, arranging the bucket and jars swiftly, then inserting pre-cut reed stems into small holes.
"Si Hu, light the fire."
Flames soon crackled in the stove. Before long, the courtyard filled with a rich, mellow fragrance, making Si Hu lick his lips repeatedly.
"Brother Mu, where's this wine smell coming from? It's amazing."
Amazing, indeed—and potent. 可惜 in this era, with grain scarce, it was rarely used for winemaking. Most wines came from coarse grains, yielding low quantities. Twenty catties of corn, after fermentation and distillation, would produce no more than two or three catties of fine wine.
"Brother Mu, let me taste it."
Xu Mu smiled, ladling a spoonful and offering it to Si Hu. Si Hu gulped it down eagerly, his face flushing red as he nearly danced with delight.
"Brother Mu, this wine's so strong!"
Xu Mu took a sip too. It fell short of modern distilled spirits, but for this era, it was a major breakthrough.
"Si Hu, get some jars to store the wine." Xu Mu exhaled deeply—step one of his private wine venture, at last, a success.
"Xu Lang, dinner's ready." Jiang Caiwei emerged, calling softly.
Xu Mu paused, realizing dusk had fallen. He'd planned to take the wine to market, but that would have to wait until tomorrow.
A cool evening breeze rose. Pulling his robe tighter, Xu Mu started toward the house, then froze abruptly. He turned to the courtyard gate—five or six figures stood there.
Leading them was a richly dressed old woman, shelling melon seeds with a faint smile. Behind her stood five men in tight-fitting clothes, clearly bodyguards.
"I've heard—Brother Mu's been acting odd lately, too lazy even to kidnap girls."
From the original owner's memories, this was Madame Sha, Wangzhou's biggest human trafficker. She'd collaborated with Lame Ma, having thugs kidnap refugee girls to sell to brothels or as lowly concubines to wealthy families.
Jiang Caiwei, who'd stepped out, paled at the sight of Madame Sha, shrinking trembling behind the door.
"Madame Sha overstates it." Xu Mu forced a smile. "All Wangzhou knows I'm a coward. A full meal a day is enough for me."
"Brother Mu still doesn't get it." Madame Sha clapped her hands, smoothing her bright silk skirt as she sat on a wooden chair. "I'm confused—days have passed, and you haven't sold your wife."
Xu Mu frowned. "Why would I sell her?"
"Are you stupid or pretending? Look around—every thug in Wangzhou sells their wife! Divorce her, sell the servant wife, free up the hardship registration, and in a few days, there'll be another deal worth several taels."
"Besides, your little servant wife owes fifteen taels. If you don't sell her, will you pay the debt?"
Xu Mu froze, glancing back to find Jiang Caiwei hanging her head, her thin frame shaking harder in the cold wind.
"Don't look. I wouldn't lie—her old man was a consumptive before he died. Just medicine alone cost three or four taels." Madame Sha withdrew her hands into her sleeves, speaking amusedly.
Xu Mu stood silent. He guessed Jiang Caiwei owed at most a few taels, but in this predatory age, usury ran rampant.
Behind the door, Jiang Caiwei's eyes were red, her hands trembling.
"X-Xu Lang, I-I—"
"Be quiet. Go inside."
With hundreds of thousands of refugees, Wangzhou's underworld had found new opportunities.
"Brother Mu, we're half-acquainted. Write the divorce papers, step aside, and I'll take this wench. No trouble for you."
Xu Mu didn't move. Si Hu, sensing trouble, hurried to his side.
"I see—I see. Could it be... our Brother Mu's grown soft? Can't bear to part with her?" The five guards behind Madame Sha, clutching cudgels, laughed loudly.
The laughter pierced the house like scalding needles. Sitting on the bed, Jiang Caiwei shook with despair. She looked through the wooden window at the figure blocking the door, guilt weighing on her.
Reaching into her bosom, she counted the nineteen coins she hadn't given him, over and over, before placing them carefully on the table. Packing her only two old dresses, she stood, pinching her arm until it hurt to steady her steps.
She'd read books, knew the world was indifferent, fate a venomous snake always at one's heels. A bitter smile crossed her face as she clutched her bundle, stepping trembling from the door.
The evening wind was cold, seeping into every inch of her skin.
"Her debt—I'll pay it. Madame Sha can come collect in three days."
Jiang Caiwei stopped, then squatted by the doorpost, burying her face in her arms and sobbing like a child.