"When it comes to the use of molasses, making alcohol is actually a bit wasteful. It can be used to make wine. Many wineries in Xuwen use this."
Bei Wei said: "Xue Ziliang in my team can make a lot of foreign wine. He mentioned to me last time that the molasses from the sugar cane factory can be used to make rum -"
"This is good," Wen Tong said quickly, "rum has much more economic benefits than alcohol."
Bei Wei doesn’t think so: “Is alcohol more useful in industry?”
"Yes, but alcohol can be made from anything containing sugar and starch, but rum has to be made from molasses." Wen Tong said, "I have also thought about making wine from molasses, but I don't know how to start.
, it would be great if you have technical staff.”
Bei Wei said: "Then I will send him after I go back."
Chang Shide laughed and said: "Once rum comes out, it will not be a problem to sell it back to Europe. When I was talking to them, I heard that Cuba and Batavia were the main exporters of rum back then."
"What is saved after making rum from molasses can be used to refine other by-products." Wen Tong said, "It's better than making alcohol alone."
So the matter of planning to build a rum distillery in Xuwen was settled. After all, it was too inconvenient to transport the molasses to Lingao for processing.
In the evening, Wen Tong drafted a report to the Executive Committee, applied for a distiller, and temporarily seconded Xue Ziliang to the South China Sugar Factory to guide the work.
Several people who were excitedly talking about the utilization of sugar cane by-products did not realize how huge the impact of the commissioning of the South China Sugar Refinery was. In a sense, it even surpassed the various construction projects carried out by Chuanchuan Group in Lingao. This
It is a factory that is completely open to ordinary people in Ming Dynasty. The convenience, efficiency and low cost brought by mechanization and industrialized large-scale production have left a deep impression on everyone who comes into contact with this factory. And it brings
The consequences came to them sooner than anyone expected.
Hai'an Street, Sugar Industry Association Hall - Haiyi Hall.
This bluestone-built gatehouse with a rich Cantonese style occupies a prominent position on Hai'an Street. Hai'an Street is famous for its "Sweet Harbor", and it is this person who controls this "Sweet Harbor" and almost completely monopolizes the export of Leizhou sugar.
Most of the merchants in the guild hall are from the Chaozhou and Guangzhou areas of Guangdong. There are more than 20 sugar shops on the street, without exception. The geographical proximity and the connection of interests make the sugar merchants here very united.
, work together to safeguard this hard-won country.
Ever since the billowing black smoke came out of the chimneys of the South China Sugar Refinery, these sensitive businessmen seemed to have smelled a hint that society was about to change. They began to feel uneasy, in teahouses, restaurants, and in the counter rooms of every sugar store.
, there is always a whispering voice.
Everyone thinks what should be done, but no one knows what to do. Even those who are determined to cope with all changes by staying the same feel a little disappointed in their hearts. They always feel that someone should come out and confirm his countermeasures.
Now, the shopkeepers and directors of these sugar shops are gathered in the flower hall of this guild hall. This tall and bright hall is made of exquisite materials and fine workmanship. There is no second one in Leizhou Prefecture. Originally, every year
At this time, the shopkeepers gather here, drinking famous tea, eating delicious snacks, and sometimes there are singing girls singing softly, discussing the price of sugar this year. How much can many people get from their hard work and sweat for a year?
The reward is decided at such a gathering.
At this moment, a strange sense of panic filled the hall. Just like any usual gathering, six Eight Immortals tables were set up in the hall, filled with various side dishes, famous teas and wines. But today these are extremely important for food and daily life.
But no one who is fastidious has an appetite. The shopkeepers and stewards of each shop all sat silently. Some people moved their eyes quickly, as if they were calculating something, while others sat firmly on the Diaoyutai, looking calm. Some people suddenly stood up and said,
After walking a few steps, he sat down again, opened the Sichuan fan in his hand and fanned it vigorously.
"It's spring after all, so it's not that hot," said a fat man who couldn't stand the strong wind of the people around him.
"A hot heart can't cool down without fanning." The person fanning the fan looks younger.
"Hot shit, there are a lot of people selling candy at your place. Why are you so worried if you don't have any background?" the fat man said dissatisfied.
"It's quite a lot now, but what about in the future?" The person fanning the fan is the young owner of "Japanese Association". His family's candy shop is one of the ten largest candy shops on Hai'an Street.
"It won't be less in the future." The fat man still said calmly, "If he doesn't sell it to your business, he can sell it to my business. It's all the same price, what's the fuss?" The fat man is "Japanese"
The shopkeeper of "Yelai".
"I'm afraid of the South China Sugar Factory!" The young boss gulped, "Didn't you go see their factory? It would give you nightmares! That big iron roller would crush a person into pieces if he walked in!
And the chimney that emits fire at night and smoke during the day, like a ghost tree!"
The fat man said: "He makes sugar, we sell sugar. We don't care what he does. Besides, no matter how much sugar he makes, we still have to sell it. What are you afraid of? Besides, he makes too much sugar.
The price has dropped, which is a good thing for us——"
"It would be great if this really happened." The old man sitting next to him breathed a sigh of relief, "What if they also want to do business in the sugar store?"
"Isn't this impossible? Every other line is like a mountain -"
"It's hard to say." The old man sighed, "I heard that the bosses in South China are all from Guangzhou. How can they let this business go so easily if it is so profitable? What if they want to directly do the 'foreign village' business here?
Woolen cloth?"
This statement aroused a flurry of whispers, and then someone shouted to the person who had been sitting in the middle of the room attentively:
"Master Zhu, you are our backbone, come up with an idea and take care of this matter!"
The man known as Mr. Zhu is over 50 years old, with a short stature. There is no sense of decadence in his body, and he exudes a shrewd and capable spirit. His real name is Zhu An, and he is the third eldest son in his family. Everyone is
They called him "Zhu Sanye" respectfully, but concealed his real name. His family ran a "Riyicheng" sugar shop, and he owned more than ten large ships with more than 200 tons of sugar, specializing in transporting sugar goods for distribution to various places.
Since the profits from sugar are very considerable and it is easy to cash out, there is a group of pirates on the sea who hijack sugar ships. As the owner of a local sugar shop and a big ship owner, Zhu Sanye specially organized various sugar shops to jointly fund and set up a "
"Hai Yi Tang", a peer organization, negotiates the annual sugar price, and then allocates a sum of money from the profits according to the size of the industry, which is used to hand over to the government and entertain the powerful parties. In addition, many fugitive soldiers from the navy were recruited with a large sum of money.
Escorting on the ship, the number of lost sugar goods has been greatly reduced since then, and the nearby sea has become much calmer. This person is good at planning and courageous, and maintains good public and private aspects. He is very prestigious in the local area and is a leading figure here. Every family
Sugar Shop is even more cautious.
Mr. Zhu, who had not spoken since just now, finally spoke when someone asked him by name, "What's your idea? How can I have any ideas? This is a serious sugar cane farm, and the business of sugar factory is not illegal.
We won’t disturb the people. Why should we take care of it?”
Mr. Zhu picked up the teacup and took a sip: "Everyone, shopkeepers, I know what you are thinking: I am just afraid that someone else will have a lot of money and will squeeze us out and damage everyone's income."
Someone said: "I'm not afraid of this. I always feel that there is something wrong with the sugar produced by the Huanan factory!" He looked worried about the country and the people, "Now most of the sugarcane farmers in the county ask them to make sugar.
Haikang, there is also a boat coming from Suixi. If there is something fishy inside and the Leizhou Candy sign is damaged, we will not be able to eat this meal!"
"Not bad!" the young boss of "Rixiecheng" became energetic, "There must be something fishy about their sugar! I have also been to a sugar factory. There is always a certain number of how much sugar can be produced from one acre of sugar cane. Regardless of the skill of the master, in the end,
There’s always only a little less, so how come there’s so much more when you get to his house? How can there be so much more? It’s either adulterated or witchcraft!”
The word "witchcraft" startled everyone. It was said that the big iron roller was spinning very fast, and there was no cow in sight. The big iron roller did look a bit evil. After a while, the fat shopkeeper of "Riyue Lai" said: "No way.
Well, there is no such magic in the world."
"It's not magic. How did this candy appear out of thin air?"
"How did I know! If there is such a magic, I would also like to learn it!"
Mr. Zhu stopped the chatter and asked: "Have you checked all the candies you have received recently?"
Everyone said they had tested it, and there was nothing special about it. Since it was the first time this year that the Huanan Factory was boiling sugar, they paid special attention to the work. As long as the sugar was said to be boiled by the Huanan Factory, they would be carefully inspected. The results surprised them.
, the sugar that was delivered earlier is still very ordinary. In the past half month, the sugar from Huanan is much better than all other local sugar houses, especially the cleanliness is the difference between cloud and mud - it does not contain any impurities.
After listening to everyone's words, Mr. Zhu was silent for a long time. Seeing everyone looking at him, he said: "How the Huanan factory makes sugar is beyond our control, and there is no need to. I asked about it in the county.
He has nearly 3,000 acres of sugarcane fields in Xuwen and Haikang under his own name. Now he still has a lot of boiled shares, and he has at least 10,000 to 20,000 shi in hand." He changed the subject, "Why?
Didn’t you come to sell?”
"Yeah, we think it's strange too!" Everyone said at once. As long as they were not blind, everyone could tell that the Huanan Factory must be a big hoarder of sugar, and every family sent "outside" people.
The shopkeeper came to greet me and wanted to find out the meaning of this big deal. Unexpectedly, although the other party's words were very polite, he had no intention of selling at all.
"Other sugar houses under his family's name are also sending sugar to South China. It seems that they have no intention of selling it. Instead, they are hoarding goods to prepare for export."
"They have big ships, so maybe it's possible."
"It's hard to say——"
While they were discussing the instructions, a boy suddenly ran in and said something in Master Zhu’s ear. Master Zhu’s expression suddenly changed. He asked in a low voice: “Really?!”
"That's right, everyone in the county is talking about this. The locker room is almost finished and will be opened in the next few days." Although the boy's words were very soft, the people nearby still heard a little bit.
"What? It's..."
Zhu Sanye looked gloomy: "Sure enough, I told you right - the South China factory will open the scale in a few days!"
This news was like a drop of cold water poured into a frying pan, and the originally lifeless hall suddenly began to boil:
"What is this! It's so outrageous."
"If you want to eat this bowl of rice, you don't even have the etiquette to come and inform us. There are some lawless people in the Huanan factory!"
"Master Zhu, this is not possible. The candy in Leizhou has been underwritten by our 21 colleagues from Haiyi Tang for decades. If they break the rules, how can we still make a living in the world in the future?!"
"Yes, Mr. Zhu, please tell me something. We are twenty-one sugar shops. We have the money and the strength to contribute. We must not let this South China factory mess up our situation!"
The young master of "Japanese Association" waved his fan lightly and said proudly: "I wish you all the best, I have a way to keep it until they are injured."
"What method?"
"Huh, find a few ways to dump the body, and take the general manager to send it to his door in the middle of the night. Make an agreement with Mr. Li and Mr. Chen in the Yamen and wait for him early in the morning. If he doesn't report it to the official, he will be questioned on the spot."
If you are punished for the crime of "hiding a corpse," you have to take the shopkeeper inside. Get them into the yamen and use some money to make them suffer a little bit..."
"Don't show off this bad idea of yours!" Mr. Zhu shouted, "Do you think people come here empty-handed? Can you get the post praising the painting in the governor's office of Guangdong and Guangxi? When the time comes, once he takes out the post, let alone the county
Your Majesty, even Mr. Futai has to send you out politely."
Everyone was a little discouraged. The so-called bachelors are not all powerful. But ordinary people, unless it comes to the day of rebellion, are afraid of officials no matter what profession they are in. Not to mention the rich old people. What's more, the biggest official they can come into contact with is just
When the magistrate of Leizhou heard that the other party had connections in the governor's office of Guangdong and Guangxi, he felt a little timid, and his original enthusiasm for trying was reduced a lot.
"Besides, after this commotion, the feud with the South China Factory will be resolved! Do you know what else they can do in the future?" Zhu Sanye said, "This iron roller alone is not something that ordinary large households can purchase.
thing."
Everyone's eyes were fixed on Mr. Zhu, knowing that he had something in mind.
Zhu Sanye smiled: "We can only deal with this matter softly, not forcefully. In my opinion, it is best to find out their details first. What is their origin and who is their boss? In the Yamen of the Governor of Guangdong and Guangxi
What is the relationship between the praise paintings and them must be made clear."
"Third Master is right!" The fat shopkeeper of "Ri Yuelai" slapped the table, "If the power is great, we will go with the soft one; if the power is small, we will go with the big one. Am I right, Mr. Third?"
"It's almost the same." Zhu Sanye said vaguely, "If you know yourself and the enemy."
Some anxious people are already shouting: "Third Master, just tell me what to do!"