Chapter 491: Chapter 491: Second Brother Gu is a Hot Commodity
"Si, this is a passion fruit wine I brewed myself. It’s good for your health, so please, everyone, have as much as you’d like."
Gu Jiaojiao lied without missing a beat. This was indeed passion fruit wine, and it had indeed been brewed.
But she hadn’t been the one to brew it; it was from the stock in her personal dimension.
Elder Si was stunned with joy, thrilled by Gu Jiaojiao’s familiar address. In his excitement, he blurted out what he was thinking.
He said sheepishly, "I only drank that other wine out of pique. I had no idea Jiaojiao had been so thoughtful as to prepare passion fruit wine."
"Oh, you," Grandma Si said, also overjoyed. "You’re just a stubborn old coot. Jiaojiao is a Divine Doctor; why would she ever do anything to harm us?"
"Hah, we old folks love to have a little drink now and then, so Jiaojiao brewed a lot of grape wine and other fruit wines for us,"
Elder Geng boasted smugly. Because of his son and grandson’s connection to her, Gu Jiaojiao had indeed given him many different kinds of fruit wine.
Elder Si and Grandma Si: ’...’ ’Did he really have to twist the knife like that?!’
"Si, Madam Si, Li, I’ll give you all some fruit wine later, too. I have passion fruit wine, kiwi wine, grape wine, mulberry wine..."
"Jiaojiao, we’d like to buy a bit of each flavor, if we may?"
"Jiaojiao, I want to try them all!" Mr. Li and the Si couple exclaimed in unison.
"In that case, I’ll give you a jar of each flavor. Each jar is about five jin," Gu Jiaojiao said magnanimously.
’She was very glad she’d emptied out that department store’s food warehouse back then. It didn’t just have rice and oil, but also cigarettes and liquor.’
’She had sold or given away most of the rice and oil to the border troops, so there was little left.’
’But it was still enough to feed the Su and Gu families for ten years. Besides, her dimension had a preservation function, so nothing would spoil even after a decade.’
’As for the liquor, it was too expensive to sell in large quantities, so she had gradually given some of it away to the old sirs.’
’But they never took advantage of her, always trading items of equivalent value in return, so it was basically like she’d sold it anyway.’
’She hadn’t touched the cigarettes much yet, only taking a little out when it was necessary to give them as gifts.’
That was why Gu Jiaojiao could so grandly offer to give the wine away—she knew they wouldn’t take advantage of her generosity.
"Jiaojiao, a five-jin jar of each flavor... let’s not even get into the others."
"Just the passion fruit alone—it’s a perennial herb that’s notoriously difficult to cultivate in our country."
Mr. Li had no other hobbies besides his love for drinking. But for the past two years, he had been in terrible discomfort from being poisoned and had given up his beloved alcohol.
Now, to suddenly have a wine that was actually good for his health—one he could sip every day—felt more blissful than the life of an Immortal.
"It is indeed difficult to cultivate. I’m currently researching how to grow various fruits on a large scale. I’ve already planted some in my own yard.
"Passion fruit contains as many as 165 different compounds, 17 amino acids, and active ingredients that fight cancer.
"It can prevent cellular aging and carcinogenesis, and it has anti-aging and beautifying effects.
"The fruit also contains multiple vitamins, which can lower blood lipids, prevent arteriosclerosis, and reduce blood pressure.
"Passion fruit also has a complex effect on the central nervous system and can help calm the nerves.
"It soothes anxiety, tension, depression, and headaches caused by nervous strain.
"The brewing method for passion fruit wine not only preserves the original nutrients of the passion fruit,
"but the resulting wine is mellow and rich with a unique flavor. It’s also beneficial for the lungs and digestion, tonifies the kidneys, replenishes vital energy, and supports the spleen and stomach.
"Furthermore, it can moisturize and beautify the skin. Long-term consumption can enhance one’s appearance, invigorate circulation, strengthen the body, and combat aging.
"Additionally, home-brewed fruit wine has no toxic side effects, but for it to be beneficial to your health, you shouldn’t drink it in excess."
A smile played on Gu Jiaojiao’s lips and in her eyes, and her voice was crisp and pleasant. Her stunning looks, combined with her unique aura,
left the old sirs staring in a daze. They had seen countless beauties in their lifetimes, but truly none could compare to their sworn little sister.
At such a young age, she remained perfectly calm and composed in the presence of old battlefield veterans like them.
Mr. Han and Elder Geng were unrefined men. They knew that any gift from Gu Jiaojiao would be extraordinary, but they never imagined it would be *this* extraordinary.
The most moved person in the private room was Grandpa Gu. He drank the fruit wine every day, yet he never knew just how precious it was.
"Jiaojiao, if you have any more fruit wine on hand, I want to buy some too."
"Yes, we also want to buy some to serve to guests back home."
Old Sir Han and the others looked at Gu Jiaojiao with eager eyes. The several jars of fruit wine she had given them last time...
...they couldn’t even bear to drink themselves, let alone serve to guests.
"Buy it? Why would you buy it? You’re all my big brothers. When you run out, just ask me for more. Besides, Shu Ci and Geng Haoyi bought a large truck for long-haul deliveries.
"Sometimes they pass through small towns where the fruit can’t be sold because of poor transportation, so they buy it very cheaply.
"And all the physical labor of brewing is done by those big guys. I just tell them what to do."
Gu Jiaojiao spouted nonsense with a completely straight face, explaining the origin of the fruit.
In truth, Geng Haoyi and the others had only ever hauled one large truckload of grapes from the border. Grape wine was especially easy to make.
"Good, good! In that case, I won’t be so stingy anymore. I’ll drink three liang with every meal, and when I run out, I’ll ask you for more," Old Mu said happily.
The other old sirs nodded in agreement, all secretly thinking about which of their old cronies they could show off to.
Elder Geng was filled with regret. If he had known his grandson had a hand in this, he would have started showing it off much earlier.
’No wonder Jiaojiao never accepted his money. But he wouldn’t drink her wine for free, either. He would find other ways to compensate her.’
"Jiaojiao, dear, how old is your second brother? He’s in his twenties, right? That young man has a very bright future. I think he’d make a great grandson-in-law."
Grandma Si still had several granddaughters who needed to be matched with partners. She had been so focused on her husband’s health that she had neglected them.
That’s why Little Eight was going crazy trying to find a husband!
"Madam Si, don’t you go trying to snatch him from me! I have several granddaughters who would be a good match for Gu Er, too. Jiaojiao, you’ve met them. Take your pick."
"Oh my, how could I have forgotten? I have a few granddaughters myself!"
Gu Jiaojiao had no idea what was going through Grandma Si’s mind, but she knew her second brother was indeed a great catch.
She said with a grin, "My dear big brothers, you should have said something sooner! My second brother has already caught the eye of Vice Director Li’s daughter from the Civil Affairs Bureau."
"My future second sister-in-law’s name is Li Xiulan. My parents are looking for a matchmaker to formally propose the marriage, but I don’t know..."
"That’s my cousin’s son! Xiulan is my cousin’s granddaughter. Leave the matchmaking to me."
Mr. Li happily interrupted Gu Jiaojiao. Even though he hadn’t managed to snag Gu Er as a husband for his own granddaughter, having him as a grandnephew-in-law was pretty good too.
After laughing heartily to himself, Mr. Li continued, "I’ll take Gu Er to my nephew’s house to propose the marriage later today."
The other old sirs: ’...’ ’Does he have to be in such a rush?!’
"Great! It just so happens my grandpa and parents are here today." Gu Jiaojiao hadn’t expected her second brother to be such a hot commodity.
