"Speaking of the use of sugar rice. [Read full text] In fact, making alcohol is a bit wasteful. It can be used to make wine. Many wineries here 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 sugar from the sugar cane factory can be used to make rum -"
"This is good," Wen Tong said quickly, "Rum's economic benefits are much greater than alcohol."
Bei Wei didn't think so: "Is alcohol more useful in industry?"
"Yes, but alcohol can be made from anything containing sugar and starch, but rum requires sugar." Wen Tong said, "I have thought about making wine from sugar, 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 smiled 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 sugar 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 sugar mi 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.
The few people who were excitedly talking about the utilization of sugarcane 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 is a factory that is completely open to ordinary people in Ming Dynasty. The convenience, efficiency and low cost brought about by mechanized and industrialized large-scale production have left a deep impression on everyone who comes into contact with this factory. And the consequences it brought came to them faster than anyone expected.
Hai'an Street. Sugar Industry Association Hall - Haiyi Hall.
This bluestone-built gatehouse and rich Cantonese style building occupies a prominent position on Hai'an Street. Hai'an Street is famous for its "Sweet Harbor", and those who control this "Sweet Harbor" and almost completely monopolize the export of Leizhou sugar are the merchants in this guild hall. Most of them are from Chaozhou and Guangzhou areas in Guangdong. There are more than 20 sugar shops on the street, without exception. The geographical proximity and the connection of interests have made the sugar merchants here very united and jointly safeguard this hard-won territory.
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 of imminent changes in society. They began to feel uneasy. In teahouses, restaurants, and in the counter rooms of every sugar shop, there were always whispers.
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 other one like it in Leizhou Prefecture. Originally, at this time of year, the shopkeepers would gather here to drink famous tea, eat delicious food, and sometimes there would be singing girls singing softly. Discussing the price of sugar this year. How many people will be rewarded for their hard work and sweat for a year 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 fine wines. But today, none of these people who are very particular about their diet and daily life have an appetite. The shopkeepers and stewards of each shop were sitting silently. Some were moving their eyes rapidly, as if they were calculating something, while others were sitting firmly on the Diaoyutai, looking calm and calm. Someone suddenly stood up, walked a few steps, 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.
"The heart is hot and cannot be cooled 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 was the young master of "Japanese Association". His candy shop is one of the ten largest candy shops on Hai'an Street.
"There will be no 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 market, what's the fuss?" The fat man is "Japanese" The shopkeeper of "Yue Lai".
"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 glows with fire at night and smoke during the day, like a ghost tree!"
The fat man said: "He makes sugar and 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 aside let out a long breath, "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 be so profitable? What if they want to directly do the 'foreign village' business here? Woolen cloth?"
This statement caused 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 who was called Third Master Zhu was over fifty years old, with a short stature. There was no trace of decadence from alcohol, sex, or wealth in his body, and he exuded a shrewd and capable spirit. His real name is Zhu An, and he is the third oldest child in his family. Everyone respectfully addresses him as "Master Zhu," but his real name is hidden. His family runs a "Riyicheng" sugar store, with more than a dozen large ships worth more than 200 tons, specializing in carrying sugar goods for distribution to various places. Since sugar profits are very substantial, cashing out is easy. There is a group of pirates on the sea who hijack sugar ships. Zhu Sanye, as the owner of a local sugar shop and a big ship owner, specially organized various sugar shops to jointly fund and establish a "Hai Yi Tang" peer organization to discuss the annual sugar price, and then use the profits to determine the size of each shop. Allocate a sum of money to hand over the government and entertain the powerful parties. In addition, many fugitive soldiers from the navy were recruited with a heavy sum of money to escort the ship. Since then, the number of lost sugar goods has been greatly reduced, and the nearby sea has become much calmer. This person is resourceful and courageous, maintains well both public and private aspects, is very prestigious in the local area, and is a leading figure here. All sugar shops are even more cautious.
Mr. Zhu, who had never spoken since just now, finally spoke when someone asked him by name, "What's your idea? How can I have any ideas? I'm a serious sugar cane farm and sugar factory business. It's not against the law. We will not disturb the people. Why should we take care of it?"
Third Master Zhu picked up the tea cup and took a sip: "Masters, 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 profits."
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. There are also boats coming from Haikang and 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 is always only less, but how come there is so much more when we get to his house? So much more? It’s either adulterated or witchcraft!”
The word "witchcraft" startled everyone. Speaking of which, the big iron roller that turned very fast and didn't see a cow did look a bit evil. After a long while, the fat shopkeeper of "Ri Yuelai" said: "No way, there is no such magic in the world."
"It's not a witchcraft. 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!"
Zhu Sanye stopped Cao Cao. Just ask: "Have you checked all the candies you have received recently?"
Everyone said they had tried 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 result surprised them. The candy delivered earlier was very ordinary. In the past half month, the candy in South China was much better than that of all other local sugar houses, especially the cleanliness. Contains any impurities.
After listening to everyone's words, Mr. Zhu concentrated for a while and said nothing. Seeing everyone looking at him, he said: "How the Huanan Factory makes sugar is beyond our control, and there is no need to. I have asked about it in the county, and he has nearly three dozen companies under his name in Xuwen and Haikang. There are thousands of acres of sugar cane fields, and now there are so many people who are boiling and sharing, and I have at least ten or twenty thousand shi of goods on hand." He changed the subject, "Why haven't you seen anyone selling it?"
"Yes, we find it strange too!" Everyone said in various directions. As long as they are not blind, anyone can see that the South China Factory is definitely a big sugar hoarder. Each shop has sent shopkeepers who are "outside" to greet them and want to find out the meaning of this big deal. Unexpectedly, although the other party's words are Very polite, but not at all interested in selling.
"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?!"
"Yes, everyone in the county is talking about it. The locker room is almost finished and will be opened in a 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 splash of cold water 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 okay. This candy from Leizhou has been sold by twenty-one of our Haiyi Tang colleagues for decades. If they break the rules, how can we still make a living in the world in the future?!"
"Yes, Master 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 "Rixiecheng" 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 corpse, and take the general manager to send it to his door in the middle of the night. Make an agreement with Li and 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 your bad idea!" Zhu Sanye 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 he takes out the post, let alone the county Master, even Mr. Futai has to send you out politely."
Everyone was a little discouraged. The so-called bachelors are not all powerful. Ordinary people, unless they rebel, are afraid of officials in any profession. Not to mention the rich Laocai. What's more, the biggest official they could come into contact with was the prefect of Leizhou. When they heard that the other party had connections in the governor's office of Guangdong and Guangxi, they felt a little timid, and their original enthusiasm for trying had dropped a lot.
"Besides, after such a commotion, the feud with the South China Factory will be resolved! Do you know what else they can do next?" Mr. Zhu 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 The relationship between the praise paintings and them needs to 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, "Know yourself and know the enemy."
Some anxious people are already shouting: "Third Master, please tell me what to do!" (!)! ~!
