Ge Hong was not as excited as everyone else about the successful development of the zombie antidote, appearing quite calm.
For him, refining the Elixir of Immortality was the ultimate goal, while other concoctions like aspirin, berberine, and artemisinin tablets were merely byproducts of the alchemy process.
Therefore, compared to the joyful expressions of the Gu family and the villagers, Ge Hong remained exceptionally serene, as if it were not a significant achievement.
Gu Qingcheng, seeing his composed demeanor, couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. To truly assess a person's successes and failures, one had to consider the long sweep of history.
A pharmaceutical genius like Ge Hong, if placed in modern times, would be a Nobel laureate, highly distinguished.
However, here, he was merely a standout Daoist priest Ge, and that too thanks to the Gu family's good judgment in utilizing his talents.
In the eyes of the common folk, Ge Hong would likely be seen as a somewhat eccentric Daoist.
The last time Ge Hong visited the Gu family, they had a seafood feast. This time, Gu Qingcheng intentionally changed the menu, having Mi Guo grill tomahawk steaks and serve a 10-liter barrel of self-brewed beer.
The beer was concocted by Gu Qingcheng and Hu Lanfang.
After the wheat harvest, they found themselves with ample leisure and stumbled upon instructional videos for homebrewing beer.
The process was a bit complex and time-consuming, but they had an abundance of time, so they patiently experimented.
First, they had to crush the malt for brewing, then place the crushed malt in an insulated container filled with hot water for about an hour to extract the malt sugars, a process called mashing.
Next, they boiled the malt sugar water and added hops at different stages, which were available at the Shan Mao supermarket.
After boiling, the malt sugar water was cooled, transferred to a fermenter, and yeast was added. This was halfway done, called primary fermentation.
After some time, the semi-finished beer was transferred to sealed oak barrels for secondary fermentation, followed by refrigeration for carbonation. This yielded their own well-flavored beer.
The beer had matured over these days, perfect for hosting Ge Hong. Gu Qingcheng twisted open the bung of an oak barrel, and a refreshing aroma of beer wafted out.
Ge Hong licked his lips and asked,
"What new kind of liquor is this?"
"Daoist Priest Ge, this beer is brewed from wheat. It greatly replenishes vital energy. Please, try some."
Gu Qingcheng cheerfully poured a bamboo cup full of beer and handed it to Ge Hong.
To make it even more refreshing, Gu Qingcheng added ice cubes to the beer. Ge Hong took it, downed it in one gulp, and felt a cool, invigorating sensation that dispelled the turbid qi in his chest. He exclaimed,
"Excellent, a fine brew! This old Daoist will not return home until he is thoroughly inebriated today!"
Mi Mi Guo set up the barbecue grill in the backyard downwind and patiently grilled the massive tomahawk steaks. The mountain breeze was incredibly pleasant.
The cattle and sheep at Gu Qingcheng's Shan Mao Farm had been harvested the previous day. As she was about to move them to the Phoenix Village ranch, the system suddenly asked if she required butchery services.
Gu Qingcheng inquired and discovered that the system could provide a series of services, including butchery and refrigeration. The beef and mutton processed by the system could meet the standards for fresh produce sales at the Shan Mao supermarket.
The system was quite secretive, not explaining things upfront.
Gu Qingcheng couldn't help but chuckle lightly.
If she moved the cattle and sheep to the ranch, she would have to explain to the ranch management why there were so many additional animals.
Now, being able to directly butcher, process, and freeze them beforehand, she was naturally willing.
Fortunately, the system's fees were not exorbitant, calculated per batch. A batch butchery service, whether it was 100 or 1000 heads, cost the same: 1000 thrill points.
After Gu Qingcheng cheerfully paid 1000 thrill points, the next time she entered the space, a large quantity of butchered and sorted meat was waiting in the storage cabinets.
Gu Qingcheng explored further and set up an automatic butchery function for mature cattle and sheep. Each time a batch of cattle or sheep matured, the system would automatically deduct 1000 thrill points, butcher, sort, and store them. This saved Gu Qingcheng a lot of trouble, allowing her to become a complete hands-off manager.
Gu Qingcheng took out this batch of beef and mutton and had Qin Yue distribute 5 catties of meat to each villager's home as the month's welfare benefit.
The villagers of Phoenix Village, who frequently received such generous welfare packages, were filled with gratitude.
The harshness of the outside world persisted. Even with their food and clothing needs met, they did not underestimate the welfare benefits provided by their village.
With meat, rice, and salt, Phoenix Village was like a golden signboard. Now, people outside knew that the residents of Phoenix Village lived a life akin to a paradise on earth, inspiring envy and a desire to become Phoenix Village residents.
Originally, the common people of the Great Zhou Dynasty felt that leaving their ancestral homeland was difficult and that ancestral worship must continue unbroken. However, now facing the crisis of starvation and death, survival was the immediate concern, and these matters could be considered later...
Gu Qingcheng cut into the grilled steak and ate it leisurely.
The cattle raised on the Shan Mao Farm indeed produced meat of superior quality, melting in the mouth with a rich flavor.
Ge Hong, having had three cups of beer, was slightly tipsy. He suddenly spoke,
"Hehua's cooking is indeed not as good as Young Master Mi Guo's, but she is capable of managing the household. Young Master Gu, I wish to marry her. What are your thoughts on this?"
"Ah? You want to marry Hehua? Our thoughts are not as important as Hehua's own consent. We cannot force her to agree."
Gu Qingcheng was somewhat surprised, not expecting Ge Hong to have marriage on his mind again.
"Naturally, I do not intend for you to force her. In fact, I have already spoken with her, and she has expressed her willingness to marry me."
Ge Hong took a large gulp of beer, saying contentedly, clearly displaying their affection.
Gu Zhaobei, however, felt a flush of embarrassment. Seeing the questioning looks from his wife and daughter, he was momentarily speechless.
He had no idea when Ge Hong and Hehua had developed romantic feelings under his nose. He had been so engrossed in his pharmaceutical work that he had no time for anything else.
He inwardly cursed, "This flirtatious Daoist!"
However, since Hehua herself agreed, he had nothing more to say.
Furthermore, considering practical factors, Hehua was not at a disadvantage. Daoist Priest Ge, with a little tidying up, was still a distinguished gentleman, capable of earning money and focused on his work.
Although Ge Hong had been married before, it was a proper marriage, and his wife had unfortunately passed away prematurely, leaving him to enjoy life alone.
Hehua was also a widow with a daughter. If she could marry Ge Hong, they could support each other through thick and thin, and it would be a good match.
"As long as Aunt Hehua agrees, I have no objections," Gu Qingcheng also stated her position.
Hu Lanfang, however, spoke in a serious tone, "If you wish to be together, you must formally register your marriage. You are both prominent figures in the village, and your every action has influence. You cannot simply live together casually without regard for propriety."