The Daily Life of Farming and Raising Children in Ancient Mountain Residences

Chapter 184: Brewing Wine

After getting some rest, Sang Luo had Shen An pack bananas, fresh grapes, and hawthorns into baskets to be taken up to Shen Jin and his brothers for a taste. She wasn’t worried about the meat and dried goods; Shen Lie would definitely take Shen Jin out next time, and there would be arrangements made then.

Shen An and Shen Ning had already eaten, preparing meals only for their older brother and sister-in-law. The siblings sampled all the various fruits with contented expressions.

Looking at the basket full of wild fruits, the siblings were excited about the outside world. Hearing about plans to build a transfer station and a safe zone for drying and smoking meat, Shen An became enthusiastic. He sat down at the table with Shen Lie, who was still eating, and proposed, “Big Brother, take me along too. I can alternate with Xiao Jin, and we’ll gather more mountain goods. Just be a bit careful on the way. I’m good at climbing trees and archery, probably not worse than Xiao Jin.”

He couldn’t promise to be better, but he wasn’t worse either. Before entering the mountains, he had put in a lot of effort. After entering, he focused on reading and used to play with everyone when there was space in the valley.

Shen Lie considered this and found it feasible. They would continue pushing towards the Zhou family’s direction. The route there was relatively safe, but they needed to find a central point for a safe zone in the latter part of the journey. The un-cleared section of the road required extra caution. Xiao An was clever and should be able to handle it.

Moreover, he couldn’t just leave Shen An in the valley indefinitely to take care of Xiao Jin, especially since Shen An had spent time learning useful skills that shouldn’t go to waste.

At ten years old, Shen An was already a year older than Xiao Jin.

He nodded and said, “Alright, then we’ll set off together the day after tomorrow.”

Shen An was so happy that he nearly jumped up.

Sang Luo also smiled. Although going out was tiring, it was really quite enjoyable. Being stuck in the valley for years was comfortable but also confining. It was refreshing to get out, and it was the same for her.

Another point was that although Sang Luo didn’t know Shen Lie’s current thoughts, she was on the same page as him. While she wanted Shen An and Shen Ning to learn literacy and arithmetic, this era didn’t have the imperial examinations. The real skills for survival in this world’s lower class were learned from practical experiences like those Shen Lie could provide. Reading was good, but practical skills were also essential.

Though Shen Jin was pitiable and deserved help, Shen An and Shen Ning were the ones who had supported each other since Sang Luo arrived in this world. It wasn’t possible to focus all resources and energy on Shen Jin just because he was pitiful.

Even though Shen An didn’t intend to compete with others, he was eager to leave the valley, learn practical skills, and contribute to the family. It was genuinely good to see Sang Luo’s support and Shen Lie’s agreement, which made her happy.

Shen Ning, who was close to Sang Luo, came over and asked, “Sister-in-law, were you very tired after so many days outside? Did you encounter any danger? I noticed we have a few more wolf skins.”

Talking about this, Sang Luo’s eyes brightened. “One of them was hunted by me. Even though I was close when I shot, practice with the bow is indeed useful. Don’t slack off; once things are safer outside, you can go into the mountains with your big brother too. The most important thing is to have the ability to protect yourself when necessary.”

For young women, especially in an ancient era with poor public security, having self-defense skills was crucial.

Shen Ning’s eyes sparkled with excitement, and she asked about the details. The two of them chatted and laughed, making the atmosphere lively.

After dinner, Shen An quickly cleared the dishes and took them to wash.

Sang Luo stayed busy, asking Shen Lie to fetch two buckets of water. She patted Shen Ning and said, “Sister-in-law will teach you how to make something new.”

At the mention of making something new, even Shen An, who had just walked a few steps away with his bowl, stopped and turned to Sang Luo. “Sister-in-law, what delicious thing are we making?”

Sang Luo laughed and said, “Grape wine. It takes a long time to ferment, so you won’t be able to taste it today.”

In the past few days outside the mountains, they had dried at least thirty pounds of grapes, filling a small bag. If Shen Lie managed to pick more, they would have even more. So today, Sang Luo decided not to dry the large basket of grapes but to make some wine instead.

Shen An and Shen Ning didn’t quite understand yet. Shen Lie, who was preparing to fetch water, was stunned and looked at Sang Luo with surprise. “Making wine?”

Even though Shen Lie had limited experience, he knew that the recipe for making wine was a valuable asset. If anyone knew about it, they would hold on to it tightly.

He cleared his throat, lowered his voice slightly, and said, “You should keep this recipe to yourself.”

Shen Ning realized from her brother’s comment that making wine wasn’t as simple as she initially thought. She looked at Sang Luo and said, “Sister-in-law, maybe I won’t learn this after all? Let me know if you need help with fetching water or anything else. Once everything is done, you can close the door and do your work. I’ll go play with Xiao Jin for a while.”

Seeing their reaction, Sang Luo smiled and said, “Well, you don’t need to avoid it. Learning a bit isn’t a problem, just don’t mention it outside.”

Sang Luo was cautious about outsiders but didn’t feel the need to hide things from these three siblings. Despite the thousands of years of historical gap, the ancient techniques she knew weren’t necessarily unfamiliar to her, and she had a lot of knowledge that the ancients didn’t have. If she wanted to keep something secret, she would, but she didn’t see the need to hide every little detail from these siblings. She had taught Shen Ning a lot already; one more thing wouldn’t hurt.

Shen Ning was still focused on how valuable the recipe was and looked towards Shen Lie.

Seeing the siblings’ reactions as if they had been burned, Sang Luo laughed and said, “Alright, if things outside calm down, if I were to make a living with this recipe, I couldn’t possibly do it alone. I’ve taught you tofu and other things; this is no different. If you really care, remember the recipe is mine. Don’t use it for profit without my permission, and don’t let it slip to outsiders.”

Her words made Shen An and Shen Ning, who had been working hard, laugh. The younger siblings replied in unison, “Of course.”

Shen Lie’s heart felt like it was gently nudged.

What he heard wasn’t just about the recipe but about the future—his and Sang Luo’s future, and the future of Shen An and Shen Ning.

As Sang Luo spoke, she might not have paid much attention, but Shen Lie’s heart raced uncontrollably, filled with a joyful, bubbling excitement. It was soft, light, and fluttering, emerging from his heart in tiny bursts.

He smiled, and his eyes twinkled. He no longer cared about the ongoing discussion and lifted a bucket, saying, “I’ll go fetch the water.”

After he left, Shen An glanced towards the entrance of the cave. He blinked, wondering if his brother was smiling. Was he that happy about Sister-in-law teaching them to make wine?

—

Shen An quickly finished washing the dishes, and Shen Lie returned with two large buckets of water.

The siblings were much more focused on the wine-making process than Sang Luo. After asking what materials were needed, they brought the water, clay pots, and drying racks into the cave, lit two oil lamps, and locked the door from the inside.

Mountain grapes were ideal for making wine. The white layer on the surface was wild yeast, which allowed for natural fermentation without added yeast. In commercial winemaking, grapes from vineyards that haven’t been treated with fertilizers or pesticides aren’t washed before fermentation to preserve the natural yeast.

The grapes they collected in this ancient mountain were also free from pesticides, but to ensure quality, Sang Luo had Shen Lie bring in water for a simple rinse. This would help retain as much yeast as possible while washing away some of the surface dust.

When Shen Ning finished washing the grapes, she discovered that the bottom of the basket was lined with leaves. When she realized what kind of leaves they were, she almost jumped for joy. “Sister-in-law, did you also pick fairy tree leaves?”

Shen Lie was taken aback, and Shen Ning quickly whispered to her brother, “These are the leaves used for making fairy tofu.”

Her eyes were sparkling as she continued washing the grapes, asking, “Sister-in-law, are you making fairy tofu tonight?”

Sang Luo smiled and said, “I brought them back to satisfy your cravings. Once you finish washing the grapes, you can go ahead and make it.”

“Are there no other tasks?” Shen Ning asked.

“No, these grapes need to dry before they can be used.” As she spoke, she signaled Shen Lie, “Help me take out the large basket and line it with a clean cloth.”

The large round basket, usually stored on a shelf in the room, was taken out and placed on the drying rack. They spread the clean cloth over it and placed the washed grapes evenly on top.

Meanwhile, Shen An and Shen Ning busied themselves with making fairy tofu.

They had made it in large quantities last year and were very skilled at it, so there was no need for Sang Luo to do it herself.

While waiting for the fairy tofu to set, the family of four didn’t waste the oil lamps. Each person took a small stone tablet and practiced writing together at a table.

Shen Lie watched Shen An’s progress. Shen An had already mastered the entire “Thousand Word Classic,” which made Shen Lie quite envious, as he had barely learned a hundred Words.

Sang Luo noticed this too and asked about the progress.

Shen An was about to respond, “I’ve learned the ‘Thousand Word Classic’ and can write it now. Sister-in-law, Yun Zheng said I can copy the ‘Jijiupian’ next. I’ll prepare the bamboo slips and copy it when I have time.”

He then asked Shen Lie, “Brother, should I copy a version for you too?”

Shen Lie instinctively looked at Sang Luo. He clearly preferred the copy Sang Luo would make over the one Shen An would.

Sang Luo caught his gaze and understood. She smiled and said, “Alright, since you’ll only be home for a day, I have time. I’ll make two sets of bamboo slips. I’ll copy the one for your brother, and you can copy your own.”

Shen Lie was already smiling even as he practiced his writing.

Shen An was taken aback. Sister-in-law was going to make a copy for him too? Her handwriting was much nicer than his. Although he hadn’t dared to ask earlier, he now tentatively said, “Sister-in-law, could you help me with my copy as well? Your handwriting is beautiful.”

Shen Lie, who had been smiling, suddenly looked up. “You’ve been learning to read and write for almost a year now. You should copy it yourself. If you’re worried about writing poorly, you can have Sister-in-law make a copy for me first. Practice on the stone tablets, and once you’re better, use a brush to write on the bamboo slips. You need pressure to improve your writing.”

He spoke smoothly, and Sang Luo looked at him and smiled, “Your brother is right.”

Shen An finally understood and looked at his brother with a dazed expression.

Shen Lie didn’t feel embarrassed. “Practice writing well.”

Shen Ning couldn’t help but laugh quietly.

The temperature in the valley was lower than outside, and it was even cooler in the cave. The family enjoyed the first batch of fairy tofu for the year. For Shen Lie, who was trying it for the first time, it was particularly fresh. However, influenced by Sang Luo, they knew it wasn’t good to eat too much before bed. They had a small taste and saved the rest for the next day.

After staying in the small cave for a few days, they had washed up and gone to bed. Sang Luo was okay but felt a bit unaccustomed, occasionally thinking about the past few days. Shen Lie, however, found it difficult. Even though they were close, the proximity felt distant because they had been even closer before. After several tosses and turns, it took him nearly half an hour to fall asleep.

—

Early the next morning, Sang Luo got up and soaked a few pieces of wood ear mushrooms. After soaking the beans for the porridge, her first task was to set aside a clean clay jar. She boiled water to disinfect it and, after it cooled, began the winemaking process.

Making wine isn’t actually very difficult when broken down, but without someone to teach you, it can be hard to figure out on your own, especially the small details that often determine success or failure.

Sang Luo did not hold back any secrets; she explained to the three siblings all the important points about making wine.

In fact, if there were rock candy, adding it would result in sweet red wine with a sweet taste and excellent flavor. Of course, it’s also fine without sugar, which would make dry red wine. Both have their merits.

Since the fresh grapes she brought back weren’t particularly abundant and there weren’t enough jars at home, the amount of wine produced was limited. She only used her hands to crush the grapes, so she didn’t involve the siblings in the process, only guiding them throughout.

But watching the process was very relaxing; Shen Ning’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

She was eager to try making it herself next time.

The process was relatively easy, and the wine was soon ready. The jar was sealed and stored on a shelf: “The cave is cool. We’ll check it again in over half a month.”

Once everything was done, she opened the door to move the drying rack and basket outside. This was both for practical use and to avoid crowding the space inside the cave.

She prepared a small pot of eight-treasure porridge and made more than ten very thin flatbreads using some flour. Outside, she picked some vegetables and sliced the soaked wood ear mushrooms to make vegetable rolls. She called Shen An to wash and dry the grilling stone, and asked Shen Ning to fetch some sheep’s milk.

This stuff was nutritious. For herself, Shen An, and Shen Ning, who were all growing, Sang Luo was generous with her own well-being in the valley.

As for Shen Lie, he was tall enough that Sang Luo often had to look up to speak to him. The milk was shared between the two families, and occasionally given to neighbors. With two lambs to care for, the milk was precious and shouldn’t be wasted. It was tough to look up all the time.

However, before Shen Ning could go, Qin Fangniang had already left. She overheard and smiled, telling Shen Ning not to go; she would bring it back shortly.

A small jar of sheep’s milk, after boiling for more than ten minutes, was finally brought up. Even without tea leaves or almonds, and with the vinegar already used up, it couldn’t completely get rid of the gamey taste, but with such good stuff, who would mind the taste?

Sang Luo had Shen Ning watch the porridge while she looked at the ripe bananas at home. She thought it best to conserve staple foods, so she tried making banana muffins. It was quite a bit of work, trying to bake them on a stone slab. After making a few misshapen ones, the later ones turned out decently.

—

Using three bananas, one egg, and two small spoons of flour, Sang Luo made a plate of over a dozen banana muffins. She tasted one of the less attractive ones and found it sweet with a lovely banana fragrance, which paired well with the sheep’s milk.

The experiment was a success and saved a portion of staple food.

She then oiled the stone slab and cooked the vegetable rolls, which had thin, crisp skins and golden brown surfaces. The breakfast was now complete.

She asked Shen An and Shen Ning to pour a bowl of sheep’s milk, cut a bowl of fairy tofu, and take three pieces of banana muffins up to Shen Jin and his brothers. She also sent a bowl of fairy tofu to the Chen family. The family was ready to start their meal.

Chen Dashan had seen Sang Luo cooking something on the stone slab earlier. Before the Shen family started their meal, he came over to take a look. The table was set with a jar of steaming sheep’s milk, a bowl of hot eight-treasure porridge, two kinds of cakes he’d never seen before but looked delicious, and a beautifully arranged dish of what his mother called fairy tofu.

The Shen family’s food always managed to lift one’s spirits at first glance—both visually appealing and extremely appetizing. How did they do it?

Although he was incredibly tempted, he managed to keep his craving to himself.

Sang Luo and Shen Ning came in with bowls and chopsticks and saw this scene. Having seen Chen Dashan like this often, Sang Luo smiled and said, “Why don’t you join us here?”

Chen Dashan surprisingly shook his head and said, “Sister-in-law, no need to trouble yourself. I just wanted to discuss something with you. If I get a wife in the future, could you teach her how to cook?”

Sang Luo didn’t think much of it and replied with a smile, “Sure, it’s no trouble at all.”

Just then, Shen Lie, who had returned from outside, was surprised by Chen Dashan’s request.

After Chen Dashan left, Sang Luo asked Shen Lie, “Why were you staring at him?”

“Strange,” Shen Lie replied. “He used to always say he wanted a wife who could cook, and now he’s asking you to teach his future wife. Where is his future wife?”

Sang Luo paused while serving the porridge, her mind suddenly recalling someone.

Her eyes widened.

She thought, could there be someone?

Brother Zhou, how old is she this year? She seems slightly shorter than Sang Luo. Well, she’s grown a bit in the past six months and is now at least over 1.6 meters tall. If Brother Zhou didn’t eat well when she was younger, she might also be around sixteen.

Considering that ancient people usually married at fifteen or sixteen, and Chen Dashan is two years older than Shen Lie, with Mrs. Chen and Aunt Youtian often mentioning how chaotic the world has become, delaying his marriage, she began to suspect she might have figured it out.

Seeing her expression, Shen Lie asked, “What’s wrong?”

Not wanting to reveal her thoughts, Sang Luo shook her head with a smile, “Nothing, just time to eat.”

Chen Dashan and Brother Zhou seemed like a good match, despite her initial thought that sixteen was a bit young for marriage. Most importantly, it was clear that Chen Dashan was interested.

Sang Luo smiled, enjoying not just the delicious breakfast but also the lively atmosphere it brought.

—

Author’s Note:

① Information about winemaking was sourced from online materials.