Reborn in a small mountain village in 1991

Chapter 68 Disinfection of the Pigsty

Learning the craft of winemaking is indeed a joyful thing for the Xu family.

Because it not only brings in additional income, but also provides a better way to manage the pig farm.

Looking at the separately packaged first and last bottles of wine, Xu Chunsheng asked Tang Yongnian for his opinion:

"Uncle, I'd like to use the first and last bottles of wine to clean the pigsty. Is that alright with you? Sprinkling quicklime is cheap, but I'm worried the pigs might eat it."

Tang Yongnian was taken aback when he heard Xu Chunsheng's idea; he hadn't expected this young man to think of such a thing.

"Your idea is quite practical; 75% alcohol is the most effective for sterilization and disinfection."

"One jin of the first liquor requires five jin of water, and the last liquor only requires two jin of water. This ratio is about right."

Tang Yongnian, a long-time employee of the distillery, could readily tell them the alcohol content.

Using alcohol to clean the pigsty can eliminate odors and kill insects and bacteria.

Firstly, the strong flavor of the liquor can mask the stench of pig manure when sprinkled into the pigpen, and it also carries away the odor as it evaporates.

Secondly, it can kill a large portion of the bacteria that breed in the pig farm, kill the insect eggs hidden in the crevices, and incidentally reduce the number of flies and mosquitoes.

Most importantly, it reduces the breeding of mosquitoes and bacteria, making pigs less prone to illness.

After listening to Tang Yongnian's suggested proportions, Xu Chunsheng also had his own ideas:

After we finish drinking today, we'll dilute this with water and spray the pigsty with a sprayer. When we've accumulated enough later, we'll "splurge" on a full wash.

These days, everyone in the village knows that alcohol can kill bacteria and remove odors, but no one can say for sure how much is most effective.

Besides, no one would be willing to use alcohol to clean the pigsty; at most, they would just rinse it with water a few more times.

Xu Chunsheng has now learned a brewing technique. He uses his own grains to brew wine. He sells the good wine and uses the inferior wine to sterilize the pig farm. He doesn't feel bad about using it.

In Xu Chunsheng's family, this grain was first used to brew wine, then used to feed pigs. He "died" in his house, so he lived a very exciting life without wasting a single grain.

After sending Tang Yongnian home, Xu Chunsheng planned to buy a new tin sprayer from town to clean the pigsty.

A household sprayer that has been used to spray pesticides should absolutely not be used in a pig farm.

As Xu Chunsheng was asking about the sprayer, he heard someone calling his name:

"Brother Chunsheng, you've come to buy something?"

Xu Chunsheng looked in the direction of the voice and saw Cheng Runshu.

She wore a light pink polyester shirt with blue skinny flared pants, which made her legs look straight and long. Two black braids hung down in front of her chest, rising and falling.

She stood a short distance away, carrying half a basket of things she had just picked out, and looked at Xu Chunsheng with a slight smile.

Xu Chunsheng laughed:

"Yes, I'm here to buy a sprayer. Have you chosen your items yet?"

Cheng Runshu slowly walked over, asking with some curiosity:

"What do you need a sprayer for?"

It's no wonder Cheng Runshu was curious; it was almost July, and by then the weeds in the fields had been mostly cleared, so there was no need to use a sprayer for pesticides.

Xu Chunsheng picked up the sprayer in front of him:

"It's for use at the pig farm. By the way, has your pig farm loan been approved yet?"

Speaking of pig farms, Xu Chunsheng remembered that Cheng Runshu had asked him about these things before, which is why he asked this question.

Cheng Runshu said with relief:

"Luckily, my brother explained things to me in detail beforehand, which saved us from taking many detours."

"My dad and some of my uncles said they would thank you properly in the future and treat you to a meal."

"It's just that there are many people going through these procedures now, so the approval time is longer, and it may not be completed until the second half of the year."

The two chatted as they went to pay the bill, and Xu Chunsheng also paid for Cheng Runshu's bill.

This made Cheng Runshu feel awkward, and a faint blush rose to his face:

"Brother, how could I let you come?"

"It's nothing. You've helped us so much before, and even gave us a puppy. This is just a small token of my appreciation, so please don't refuse."

Cheng Runshu then stopped talking and followed Xu Chunsheng out.

Xu Chunsheng put the sprayer into the truck bed and asked:

Are you going to buy anything else?

"It's already been purchased."

"Okay, get in, I'll take you home."

Xu Chunsheng originally wanted Cheng Runshu to sit in the back of the truck, where there was more room.

However, since Cheng Runshu had already sat down next to him, Xu Chunsheng felt awkward asking her to go to the back. He could only instruct her:

"Hold on tight, the road is rough and very shaky."

His reply was a sweet, clear voice: "Okay, brother."

And the warm breath, unique to young girls, brushed against Xu Chunsheng's cheek, making him inexplicably uncomfortable.

After dropping Cheng Runshu off at home, Xu Chunsheng sat there for a while. Cheng's parents were exceptionally hospitable and even wanted him to stay for dinner.

Xu Chunsheng declined for a long time before finally getting them to let him leave.

"Uncle and Auntie, I won't stay for lunch. I still have to clean the pig farm this afternoon."

Only then did Mr. and Mrs. Cheng relent, and they said with a smile:

"Then you must come visit next time. Runshu doesn't have many friends."

Xu Chunsheng also said politely:

"Okay, when you go to your aunt's house, please come and visit us too."

After exchanging a few more polite words, Xu Chunsheng was able to leave the Cheng family smoothly.

It was almost five o'clock when Xu Chunsheng arrived at the pig farm. His father and eldest sister were diligently cleaning the pigsty.

"What happened that kept you waiting? Why are you so late?"

Xu Chunsheng put down the sprayer and saw that the pigsty had already been cleaned, except for the passageway.

He didn't intend to interfere with rinsing the corridor. He asked for water and rinsed the sprayer two or three times before taking out today's second-batch wine and pouring it into the sprayer.

While working, he recounted his encounter with Cheng Runshu.

Upon hearing this, the eldest sister raised an eyebrow at Xu Chunsheng, said nothing, and continued to sweep the floor with the bamboo broom.

Mr. Xu carried water and rinsed the sewage in front, while his eldest sister took a broom and swept the sewage to the drain.

The pigsty, which had been cleaned long ago, was almost dry by now.

Xu Chunsheng carried the sprayer on his back, pressed the air pump, and sprayed each pigpen one by one, paying special attention to the corners and hard-to-reach areas, where he carefully sprayed the nozzle directly.

As Xu Chunsheng sprayed the mixed liquor, the pigs in the pigpen followed him, sniffing the ground and licking it every now and then.

This is also why Xu Chunsheng was unwilling to use quicklime, as some pigs might accidentally ingest it. With the current method, these concerns are eliminated.

After everything was finished, it gradually got dark.

Xu Chunsheng turned on the light and looked at the piglets in the pen, which had grown a lot. The fast-growing ones looked to be over 100 pounds, while the smaller ones weighed 80 or 90 pounds. He was filled with anticipation.

The older sister sighed beside him:

"You look great, don't you! Our lives will only get better and better."