Chapter 98: Brewery Merger Plan

Jian Qiu put down the phone and pulled Zhou Andong toward the door: “The new liquor has been blended.”

Zhou Andong glanced at his hand gripped by Jian Qiu and muttered: “Again with the cheap favors.”

When they reached the second floor, someone suddenly appeared across the way, and Jian Qiu casually let go of his hand.

“Good evening, Director Jian!” The woman approaching was young, probably just assigned here earlier this year.

Jian Qiu gave a slight nod: “Hello!” They passed each other without stopping.

The girl turned back to look, a look of confusion on her face. Had they just been holding hands? Or was I imagining things?

The Technical Section was beside the distillation workshop, far from the factory office, tucked in the northwest corner next to the brewery’s grain warehouse, requiring a long detour. It was a two-story red-brick building: the second floor housed offices, the first floor was the lab, with a back door leading directly into the distillation workshop.

Zhou Andong and Jian Qiu entered the Technical Section lab, where a crowd had gathered, each holding a small wine glass, sipping and tasting.

“Director Jian and Zhou Andong have arrived,” one technician looked up and spotted them entering.

Gu Bing asked Zhou Andong: “Where were you? I’ve been looking for you everywhere.”

Zhou Andong said: “I went out to handle some business.”

Gu Bing pointed to three glasses on the table: “Taste these first. Which one tastes better?”

Zhou Andong nodded, picked up the first glass, took a small sip—smooth, light, refreshing—then swirled it on his tongue before swallowing. The aftertaste was sweet and clean, but short-lived, lacking the lasting flavor of high-quality sorghum.

“How is it?” Gu Bing asked Zhou Andong.

A white-haired elder nearby also watched Zhou Andong, his expression tense.

Zhou Andong didn’t answer Gu Bing. Instead, he said: “Bring me a glass of water.”

The moment he spoke, a technician handed him a bottle of water—clearly prepared in advance.

Zhou Andong rinsed his mouth, then picked up the second glass. The liquor burned on entry, hot and fierce in the throat, with a faint bitterness that didn’t dominate.

He rinsed again, then lifted the third glass. The moment it touched his lips, his eyes lit up. This one was smooth, mellow, sweet—no harshness, soft and rounded on the swallow, with a long, pleasant aftertaste.

“Excellent!” Zhou Andong held up the third glass: “This liquor is superb. It should be launched as our premium brand under the Blue Porcelain series.”

Then Zhou Andong picked up the first glass: “This one is light and clean, with a short aftertaste—perfect for young drinkers. Launch it as a small-bottle Youth Series. As for this second one, it’s too harsh for nationwide distribution. But keep it. We’ll roll it out in the Northeast when the time is right.”

“Clap, clap, clap…”

The Technical Section erupted in applause. Zhou Andong turned to the white-haired elder and said: “Master Man, you’ve worked hard.”

Man Hongshan was a veteran technician at the brewery, over sixty, having started as an apprentice at age twelve under an old master brewer, before liberation.

Though poorly educated, he had his own theories on traditional brewing methods and developed unique, vivid techniques for judging liquor quality by observing the bubbles—Big Clear Bubbles, Small Clear Bubbles, Fish-Eye Bubbles—and could analyze traditional processes using modern instrumentation.

This old man was a treasure to the brewery, but his blunt nature made him despise the petty scheming of Technical Section Chief Hou Guizhong, leading him to report him everywhere—until he was falsely accused and fired.

This time, Zhou Andong had sent Gu Bing to bring Man Hongshan back. Whether Hou Guizhong was angry? Zhou Andong didn’t give a damn. Let him sulk himself to death.

In truth, Zhou Andong was dissatisfied with nearly every leader in the brewery. All this effort? It was all for Gu Bing. Once you’ve used someone, you can’t just walk away—you’ve got to give them a ladder to climb.

Man Hongshan’s eyes turned red. He gripped Zhou Andong’s hand tightly, too moved to speak. He’d spent his whole life at the brewery, only to be fired with no benefits—those past years had been brutal. Luckily, his children were filial; though poor, they never let their parents lack food or clothing.

Zhou Andong said: “Master Man, you’re the brewery’s treasure. Stay here in peace. As long as Secretary Gu is in charge, no one will drive you out.”

Then Zhou Andong scanned the room: “Everyone’s worked hard these past weeks. On Secretary Gu’s behalf, I’m announcing: everyone involved in the new liquor development gets double salary and triple bonus this month.”

“Clap, clap, clap…”

The applause erupted again—louder than before. In all their years at the brewery, no one had ever received double pay and triple bonus, no matter how much they’d worked.

Gu Bing rolled his eyes at Zhou Andong: You’re using my name to buy favor? What the hell do you need to speak for me for?

Zhou Andong, Jian Qiu, and Gu Bing left the Technical Section and headed toward the factory office.

“When will the new liquor be launched?” Gu Bing asked.

Zhou Andong said: “Our current output is insufficient. Launch a new product now, and you’re asking to die faster?”

Gu Bing blinked: “Didn’t you say we needed to launch the new liquor ASAP?”

Zhou Andong replied: “I did—but only after we absorb the Jinli County Brewery.”

“What?” Gu Bing stared in shock: “You want to absorb Jinli County Brewery? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Didn’t I just tell you?” Zhou Andong pulled out a cigarette from his pocket, tossed one to Gu Bing, lit his own. “Jinli County Brewery’s been losing money for years. Go to the city tomorrow and propose absorbing and restructuring it. They’ll agree.”

Gu Bing nodded: “Alright. I’ll go to the city tomorrow.”

Zhou Andong paused, thinking: “Jinli County Brewery’s annual output is only seven hundred tons. Once we hit our growth phase, we’ll still outpace them. There are over ten small breweries in Jiangzhou’s counties and towns—add ours, total output exceeds sixty million tons. Go to the city tomorrow, hint to the leaders: within two years, we’ll absorb and restructure them all. Let them prepare.”

“Good!” Gu Bing replied.

That night, Jian Qiu treated Zhou Andong and Gu Bing to hot pot. After dinner, Gu Bing left alone. Zhou Andong was heading back to Tanghezi, so he hailed a taxi to drop Jian Qiu off first.

Jian Qiu went upstairs, grabbed a mop, marched into the kitchen, and without hesitation jabbed it into the lightbulb—CRACK—the bulb shattered. She stared at the broken glass and smiled smugly.

An Jing suddenly stepped out of the room, watching Jian Qiu still grinning, and asked confusedly: “Why did you break the bulb?”

Jian Qiu turned, walked out of the kitchen, and gave An Jing a withering look: “Mind your own business.”