Reborn in a small mountain village in 1991

Chapter 89 How's this wine?

Uncle Xu is a carpenter. Although he has a skill, his family's standard of living is not very good.

Firstly, villagers cherish their belongings and often use a table or stool for several years or even more than ten years, so not many people come to him to order furniture.

Secondly, the village is poor, and not many people ask Uncle Xu to do their work. Only when a family in the village is having a wedding will they ask Uncle Xu to make a set of cabinets in advance to make a good impression.

As for the "big job" I received recently, it was because a family in town was having a wedding and had heard that Uncle Xu was skilled and his prices were fair, so they specially asked him to make a set of tables and chairs, as well as a cabinet and a bed.

So during this time, Uncle Xu has been busy making these things. Small items can be assembled at home and then taken over, but large items like wardrobes and beds can only be made at home, with each part made separately, and then taken to the buyer for assembly.

When Xu Chunsheng found his uncle Xu working in the main room, he saw him holding a piece of coarse sandpaper and sanding the edge of a piece of wood.

"Uncle, why are you all alone today?"

Hearing Xu Chunsheng's voice, Uncle Xu stopped what he was doing and looked up at him.

"They're rushing around today, so I'll let them go. Once the edges and corners are sanded clean, we can start painting and varnishing. It won't make a difference if we do it in a day."

After saying that, Uncle Xu asked Xu Chunsheng:

"Didn't you go to sell alcohol today? How did it go?"

Xu Chunsheng shook his head and then told his uncle again what he had told his family that day.

"...So I'd like to trouble you, Uncle, to make me a folding table. It looks much better (more formal) than a table on the ground, so it looks like I'm doing business."

Uncle Xu nodded, put down his work, and stood up to pick out wood for Xu Chunsheng:

"Then I'll make you a long table, so you can put more things on it."

Xu Chunsheng quickly said:

"Uncle, this isn't urgent. I just wanted to let you know. Why don't you finish your current work first? These things seem to be due soon, don't you?"

Uncle Xu had already walked towards the house next door. He waved his hand with his back to Xu Chunsheng, saying:

"Those aren't in a hurry. I originally gave them a day off today, and I wanted to take a break too, but it was too hot, and I had nothing to do, so I dragged them out to linger a bit."

After hearing what his uncle said, Xu Chunsheng stopped being polite and followed his uncle to watch him select timber.

Uncle Xu pulled out two fir planks from a pile of timber, tapped the planks with his fingers to check for dampness, and after selecting them, he said to Xu Chunsheng:

"Do you remember a few years ago when I asked you to learn a trade from me? You worked for two days, got blisters on your hands, and refused to do it anymore?"

"After you got home, your old man chased after you and beat you up. The sound of you screaming and crying was so loud that the whole village was afraid to hear it, hahahahaha."

In the midst of Uncle Xu's hearty laughter, Xu Chunsheng seemed to see that morning again:

"Erwa, hurry up and go to your uncle's place. Learn a skill so you can find a job in town in a few days."

Xu Chunsheng couldn't remember how he answered that morning.

I can vaguely recall myself at eleven or twelve, during my rebellious phase, declaring, "I quit! I'd rather starve than shave wood shavings!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than his own father treated him to a meal of "pan-fried chicken with bamboo shoots".

I only remember that little "Laozi" was chased all over the hillside, crying and screaming for his parents.

Deeply buried memories flashed through his mind, and Xu Chunsheng couldn't help but smile:

"Haha, Uncle, you still remember? Back then I was too young to understand, I didn't realize you were doing it for my own good."

The uncle handed Xu Chunsheng a board:

"You were young then, and not many kids could endure such hardship. Besides, if you really learned a trade from me, it might really hold you back."

"Take this board over first, and I'll find a few sticks suitable for making legs."

Xu Chunsheng held the board with a relaxed smile on his face. Wasn't the reason he could do it again to change these things?

Xu Chunsheng was still lost in his memories when he heard shouts from outside:

"Master Xu, Master Xu, he's not home."

As the two were working hard, a man's voice came from outside.

"Come in and rest quickly, the sun is too strong outside."

Uncle Xu put down his work, opened the door to the main room, and called for the people outside to come in.

"Brother Liu, sister-in-law, why did you decide to come here under such a hot sun? It's so hot!"

After saying that, he called into the house again, asking Aunt Xu to pour two bowls of tea.

The couple surnamed Liu are the family whose furniture Uncle Qingxu helped make.

"Master Xu, we've come today to ask you to make another pair of bedside tables, painted red, for a more festive look."

Uncle Xu was naturally delighted with the business that came to him, and readily agreed:

"Okay, how about making one with a drawer and one door?"

The couple nodded:

"That's exactly how it should be. My son specifically told me that the pull tab should have a brass buckle, and the height should be about right..."

After they finished explaining their requirements, Uncle Xu found a pen, wrote down the gist of the requirements, and then repeated them to them.

The deal is basically settled.

"Brother Liu, sister-in-law, when are you getting married? There will definitely be plenty of drinks then."

Uncle Xu pointed to Xu Chunsheng sitting to the side and said:

"This is my eldest nephew, Xu Chunsheng. He also sells liquor, all homemade pure corn liquor. Wait a moment, I'll go get some for you to try."

Without waiting for their refusal, he went inside to get the new wine that Xu Chunsheng had sent him a couple of days ago.

The couple were easy to talk to. When they saw someone going to get the wine, they turned their attention to Xu Chunsheng.

Xu Chunsheng didn't show any timidity and generously introduced his homemade wine to them.

However, the two seemed not to be listening carefully to his introduction; instead, they were looking at Xu Chunsheng with curious eyes.

"You're Xu Chunsheng, the one who sold Ophiopogon japonicus this year, right? I only heard that you built a pig farm later, but I didn't know you were also brewing wine."

Before Xu Chunsheng could answer, his "spokesperson" hurriedly replied:

"It's him! Let me tell you, my nephew is quick-witted and hardworking..."

His aunt kept praising Xu Chunsheng, making him a little embarrassed.

"Come on, have a taste."

Uncle Xu handed each of them a small cup.

The two were not very interested at first, thinking that the homemade wine brewed in the village couldn't possibly taste very good.

What the two didn't know was that Xu Chunsheng's brewing master came from a large winery.

So, when the two of them received the wine, they were stunned by the smell before they even tasted it.

"Is this the kind of pub you'd find in a village?"