The funny counterattack of traveling through time and space and becoming a vicious female supporting

Chapter 211: Deep into the Brewery

After the first round of probing, Gu Yichen and his three siblings clearly had the upper hand, while Feng Jingsu and his three companions seemed somewhat surprised that they hadn't obtained the expected information. However, Feng Jingsu and his followers were clearly not going to give up, and they continued to follow Gu Yichen and his three siblings into the production plant.

As soon as I entered the factory, I was greeted by a wave of heat, the air thick with the aroma of grains and fruits. Before me were neatly arranged rows of stoves, upon which sat iron pots of varying sizes, boiling or frying, the hissing of steam and the occasional rustling of food creating a bustling atmosphere. The distinguished guests, Feng Jingsu, Wen Yuan, and Feng Xinying, exchanged glances, their eyes filled with confusion and curiosity.

Seeing this, Gu Yichen smiled slightly, appearing very confident: "The raw materials here are usually grains, such as wheat, barley and rice, or fruits, such as grapes, apples and pears, which are all high-quality choices for fermentation." There was a hint of guidance in his tone, as if he wanted to answer everyone's doubts one by one.

"The raw materials are ground and mixed with water to form a paste, which is the first step in fermentation," Gu Yichen continued, his eyes gleaming with passion and expertise. "The paste is then placed in a sealed container to allow naturally occurring yeast to ferment. During this process, alcohol and other byproducts are gradually formed."

Feng Jingsu frowned slightly, as if he felt that Gu Yichen's introduction was not deep enough, so he interrupted and asked, "How long does this fermentation process take? Is it possible that this process will affect the quality of the final wine?"

Gu Yichen thought for a moment and then replied, "Generally speaking, the fermentation time is between half a month, depending on the raw materials and the environment. As for the quality of the wine, the temperature, climate conditions, and the yeast strain used will all affect the final result. This is also a factor we pay special attention to when developing new wine varieties."

"It seems that you are quite knowledgeable about this area." Feng Jingsu showed approval on his face, thinking secretly in his heart that Gu Yichen and his two siblings were indeed passionate about this business and seemed to be preparing for more business opportunities.

Wen Yuan looked around and saw the workers bustling about, seemingly trained soldiers. A thought struck him, recalling his observations in the alcohol processing workshop. He asked, "Are the workers here also transferred from the army? Judging by their movements, they're clearly not ordinary farmers."

Gu Yichen nodded, a hint of pride on his face: "Yes, these are the soldiers in Prince Jing'an's army who were slightly injured. They chose to work here after retiring."

Feng Xinying listened attentively, thinking to herself: Prince Jing'an is indeed behind all this. At this moment, she couldn't help but become even more curious about the Shen family's true intentions. Were they helping Prince Jing'an come to the south to investigate the true strength of the Prince of Zhennan?

Seeing that the guests seemed to be fascinated by everything in the factory, Gu Yichen decided to continue leading them to a deeper understanding of the process. As they delved deeper, more details and information would gradually be revealed.

Gu Yichen led everyone into the most secretive process of making wine cakes. The air was filled with the rich aroma of grains, accompanied by a slightly moist scent, allowing people to experience the unique charm of the winemaking process. Wine cakes play a vital role in brewing alcohol. Many ancient winemaking techniques use wine cakes to ensure successful fermentation.

"The first step in making wine cakes is selecting high-quality grains, such as rice or wheat," Gu Yichen explained as he walked, his voice brimming with confidence. "The grains are cooked, cooled to the desired temperature, and then mixed with a specific mold. This process, called koji making, requires cultivation in a warm and humid environment to ensure the mold can grow well."

He pointed to the workers making koji nearby and continued, "After mixing the cultivated mold with other ingredients, it is placed in a suitable place for initial fermentation, and eventually a wine cake is formed."

Feng Jingsu and Wen Yuan exchanged glances of surprise, their eyes etched with a touch of respect for Gu Yichen and his workshop. Feng Xinying raised an eyebrow, musing to herself, "Gu Yichen's winery is truly unique. It's not just a simple business, but one steeped in profound culture and craftsmanship."

Gu Yichen paused, motioning for everyone to observe carefully. Workers pressed the fermented material into square cakes. As the pressing process progressed, a crisp, clanging sound could be heard, as if the winemakers were pouring their heart and soul into each cake.

"The dried wine cake needs to be stored in a cool, dry place for use in future winemaking processes," Gu Yichen added, his eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. "The quality of the wine cake directly affects the taste and flavor of the final wine, so we pay special attention to every step."

"Winemakers once said that the wine cake is the soul of winemaking." Gu Yichen's tone revealed a hint of admiration, "Without the wine cake, there is no soul."

After listening to his introduction, everyone was captivated by the craftsmanship, as if they could sense the winemaker's ingenuity. Gu Yichen's words not only deepened their understanding of the winery, but also made them realize the countless wisdom and heritage hidden behind everything they saw.