Chapter 39: Land-Based Equity and Cooperative Management

Usually, Cheng Yaojin could finish an entire jar of wine in one go, downing ten catties without so much as a blink.

Today, however, was entirely different.

Cheng Yaojin had only taken a large gulp, yet he felt the intoxicating rush hit him instantly. Even so, he managed to keep his wits about him. Anyone with a lesser tolerance would have been flat on the floor after such a hearty draught of this high-proof spirit.

"Exquisite wine! Exquisite wine! I truly never imagined such a treasure, worth more than a thousand pieces of gold, could exist!"

Cheng Yaojin’s eyes gleamed as if he had stumbled upon a priceless artifact. The drink had taken his breath away, forcing him to pause and catch his breath for a moment before he could steady himself.

Su Chen and Cheng Chumuo had entered the room, while Old Song and the other distillery workers stood behind them with their heads bowed. Old Song was still harboring doubts; he couldn't fathom Su Chen’s intentions. The distillery had only just begun operations, and now it seemed they were to cease production and dismantle the entire facility. He and the other craftsmen couldn't understand why, especially when something this good, capable of generating a fortune every single day, was right in front of them. If they were allowed to operate properly, this fine liquor would surely spread throughout the entire Great Tang within a year or less. But as a mere craftsman, Old Song had no say in the matter.

"Since you enjoy it so much, Uncle Cheng, please take the remaining jars with you. We are about to dismantle this place, and you may never get to drink it again."

When Cheng Chumuo had walked in, he found it odd that the workers had stopped their tasks and some machines had already been taken apart. He had intended to ask Su Chen about it once his father left, but he hadn't expected Su Chen to bring it up himself. So, they really were stopping production.

This revelation startled Cheng Yaojin. If these few jars were all that remained, and this boy Su Chen was actually shutting everything down, then it was all over.

"My dear nephew, why are you doing this? Didn't you just finish brewing it? How can you stop production on such a fine wine?"

Cheng Yaojin’s mind was filled with questions. With such a wonderful product right in front of them, why halt the workers now? This liquor had already gained fame in Chang'an after just one day, especially after Fang Xuanling’s tasting, and many were already lining up at his tavern to place orders. Having tasted it himself, Cheng Yaojin couldn't forget the flavor; he knew he wouldn't be able to stomach any other wine from now on. He wanted Su Chen to continue brewing—no, to increase production.

"Alas, Uncle Cheng, I have my own hardships. Brewing this 'Taibai Drunk' was merely to secure our first pot of gold. We need this space for other, more important projects, and since I have no other location, I have no choice but to dismantle this workshop."

Su Chen spoke with an air of helplessness. He lacked the space to expand, and since this area was required for other endeavors, it could no longer serve as a distillery.

Old Song, listening from behind, finally understood that there was a greater purpose at play. Su Chen had limited resources at his disposal, and since this was the only space he could repurpose, it had to be cleared for the next project.

The more Su Chen explained, the more anxious Cheng Yaojin became. To dismantle a profitable distillery over such a trivial lack of space? Cheng Yaojin certainly wasn't a commoner—he owned plenty of land outside the city. Besides, Su Chen had already earned thousands of taels of silver in a single day; he could easily buy a massive plot of land outside Chang'an.

"Nephew, what are you saying? How can you shut down the distillery for such a minor issue? If you have no place, tell me! I’ll make the call right now—I have a large plot of land outside the city, and it’s yours."

Cheng Yaojin, caught up in the moment, impulsively offered Su Chen a vast stretch of his own land outside the city walls. He told him he could build whatever he pleased there. That way, Su Chen could continue his work, and the production of the liquor would not have to cease.

Su Chen felt a twinge of embarrassment, though in his heart, he had already calculated every step.

Cheng Chumuo sensed his father might be falling for a ruse, but he knew better than to intervene at such a moment.

"I appreciate your kindness, Uncle Cheng, but I cannot accept such a gift without earning it. I cannot simply take your property for nothing," Su Chen said, shaking his head.

He couldn't just take it for free. Besides, he knew that land well—it was close to Chang'an and a prime location. It would be perfect for building workshops, and even better for the secret manufacture of weaponry. Su Chen had been eyeing that location for a long time, and he had managed to coax Cheng Yaojin into offering it voluntarily.

"What are you talking about? I, Cheng Yaojin, can afford it! If you need it, take it. Aren't we business partners now? I’ll take ten percent of the profits from the wine you sell—isn't that enough?"

Cheng Yaojin’s intent was clear: all future 'Taibai Drunk' was to be sold exclusively through his channels. He clearly didn't intend to let Su Chen sell it anywhere else. Even with just a ten percent cut, Cheng Yaojin stood to make a fortune.

"Uncle Cheng is right. This will be a joint venture. From now on, the 'Taibai Drunk' will be a partnership between us. Ten percent isn't enough, though—let’s make it a thirty-seventy split, with you taking thirty percent."

Su Chen had long wanted to drag Cheng Yaojin into this. Only by making him a partner in the business would he ensure that no one else dared to covet it. He was generous with the thirty-percent stake; given that each jar of 'Taibai Drunk' sold for a hundred taels, Cheng Yaojin would pocket thirty taels from every single jar.