Lu Ming

Chapter 611 Crowley's Fantasy Journey ([-])
Amid the elegant and melodious piano sound, Crowley held up a fork and swallowed a piece of bright red poultry: "The roast goose is delicious, and the music is also very nice. Your Excellency, is this an oriental harpsichord? What's the name of the music?" ?”

"It's an instrument called a piano, and this piece of music is "Fur Elise."

"Oh, Alice must be a beautiful girl and it's perfect for some opera. So, can I get a copy of the sheet music? Also, that might be an presumptuous request, I'd like to meet the master composer."

Li Hao shook his head with a smile: "Master Beethoven has passed away for many years, you can't see him. There is no problem with the score, I can give you a copy personally."

"Thank you for your generosity. You know, collecting sheet music is an occupational disease about my previous experience."

"Understood." Li Hao nodded: "You are a refined gentleman."

Crowley grinned and raised the glass filled with red liquid: "I'm glad to hear such beautiful music in the East, I feel like I'm back in my hometown. Let's salute the great Earl and the great music .”

The good lunch time lasted a long time.During this period, the host and the guest talked and talked, and the atmosphere was very good.In the end, when he was full with wine and food, Li Hao called someone to remove the table, and put some melons, fruits, tea, and food for digestion again.

Crowley had made sufficient mental preparations before coming here today, so he would take it easy this time, eat as much as he wanted, and drink as much as he wanted, and everything followed his master's rhythm.

Li Hao's side was also as stable as Mount Tai, and continued to chat with the guests after the meal.After a while like this, Li Hao clapped his hands after the red wine that both parties had drunk earlier said, "I invite you to drink tea."

Immediately afterwards, Li Hao added: "I know the taste of Europeans, today I invite you to have black tea."

Following the applause, two servants opened the door and walked in.

These two servants are very special, they not only have a western face, but also wear gorgeous court clothes.

"Wow." Crowley whispered.He was indeed a little surprised that he could see the court maid he was familiar with in the far east.

Taking a closer look, Crowley was relieved: the two maids were obviously of Liberian Peninsula descent, probably the same as his temporary servants in the business house, and they were also native Portuguese white girls recruited from Macau.

After the girl entered the door, she squatted down slightly to salute, then sat on the low stool in front of the coffee table and began to fiddle with the tea set in her hand.At this time, Crowley noticed the things in their hands.

These are two sets of tea sets with different textures.One set is a mahogany porcelain bowl, and the other is simply an all-ceramic utensil with bright and gorgeous red and gold colors, which matches the taste of Europeans.

Crowley is no stranger to this.In the past six months of "investigation" time, Crowley has visited many families of Ming people.This includes not only local officials, but also gentry and even civilians.

In these families, Crowley has seen all kinds of oriental traditional tea sets and tasted all kinds of tea.

However, at this time, the British guy was already muttering in his heart.He didn't think that with his current status, he could be treated so grandly by his master, even though he and Li Hao got along very well and were regarded as good friends—specially buying and training two white girls who can learn tea art to entertain him?

I didn't drink much red wine for lunch today, and Crowley's IQ is still online.

So since I am not qualified, there is something wrong with this kind of hospitality etiquette that goes beyond the norm.

Before Crowley could continue to think about it, after a series of dazzling and graceful operations, two maids brought over the brewed Kung Fu tea.

"Please." Li Hao signaled.

Crowley hastily imitated his master, picked up the teacup with one hand and touched it slightly, then drank the tea.

"Tea, please." After drinking one cup, Li Hao quickly motioned for a second cup.

If there are three cups, the first round of tea offerings is over.

"This tea is Lapsang souchong from Fujian." Putting down the teacup, Li Hao said slowly in English: "The tea art of these two girls is an improved version based on the traditional Chinese tea art."

Lifting Erlang's legs and leaning against the sofa behind him, Li Hao smiled and said casually: "Of course, this will be the only 'official' standard Kung Fu tea program in the future. Crowley, do you know what I mean?"

It is nothing more than another way of expressing power. How could Crowley, who was born as an aristocrat, not understand: "This can quickly settle disputes and determine authority."

"One more glass with milk." Li Hao motioned to the maid, while pointing at Crowley: "Hehe, I knew you understood."

Soon, milk tea was served in front of Crowley.

The clear tea I tasted in the first round was a teacup the size of a walnut, and there wasn't much tea in it.This time, he picked up a large cup of black tea with milk and sugar, and Crowley finished it quickly.

"How does the milk tea taste?"

As far as Crowley himself feels, black tea with milk and sugar seems to be more suitable for his own taste.He raised his thumb: "It tastes very good! It's a magical drink, as good as coffee!"

"Crowley, you have overlooked one of the greatest advantages of tea."

At this time, Li Hao's expression suddenly became a little serious: "For the European nobles who mainly eat meat and still eat boiled fruits, tea is the best drink, because it can help digest meat. This, yes Only refreshing coffee can’t compare.”

"This unique function represents infinite wealth behind it!"

Seeing Crowley's expression suddenly dull, the next moment, the meat came.Li Hao leaned forward, crossed his hands, and stared closely at Crowley's eyes: "Then, my friend, would you like to promote black tea, a beautiful commodity, to the European continent?"

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In fact, as early as 20 years before the appearance of the traveler, black tea had been distributed to Europe along with the merchant ships of the Dutch and the Frangians.

However, unlike porcelain, Europeans did not discover the beauty of the leaves of tea, a plant at first.So, along with other strange plants collected from all over the world, tea eventually appeared in Dutch pharmacies as a medicine.

This spontaneous slow spread of the market continued until decades later in 1662.

At that time, Princess Catherine of Portugal married King Charles II of England. Her dowry contained 221 pounds of Lapsang Souchong black tea and some exquisite Chinese tea sets.

After that, Catherine often held palace tea parties with noble women, and people finally realized the benefits of this magical plant.First, the aristocracy began to accept tea, and then the common people followed suit, and finally tea became popular throughout the European continent.

This trend lasted for a long time, and even continued to the Opium War hundreds of years later-tea became the fuse of the war.In the 5th century, British tea consumption accounted for [-]% of household income, and the Qing Dynasty had a large surplus in tea trade with Britain every year.

And in this plane, it is naturally impossible for the traverser to wait decades for Princess Catherine to get married.Travelers who have rich marketing experience in later generations have actually made various plans for the tea trade.

The main reason why the plan has not been launched is that no reliable dealer has been found.

Until half a year ago, Li Hao ran into Mr. Robert Crawley in Annan.So, the plan started slowly.

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"Ah!" Although there was a little speculation before, Crowley was still caught off guard when Li Hao made it clear: "Of course not. Ah no, I mean, I am willing to act as an agent for any of your products , not SORRY, dear, forgive me for being a little confused now. In fact, I don’t know much about tea as a commodity. Please forgive me, I mean, it may take me a while to investigate the market and make some preparations.”

Crowley's cramped performance was normal in Li Hao's eyes.To this day, no businessman can remain calm in front of the special agent given by the Ministry of Commerce, because everyone knows that there are infinite gold coins behind it.

"OKOK, I understand how you feel."

Li Hao stretched out his hand to press down, and said slowly: "My friend, please remain calm. You don't need to think more now. You just need to answer me whether you are willing to be the general agent of Dongfang Black Tea in Europe."

With just a few words, Crowley had already figured it out: the problem didn't lie in what the product was.With the amount of capital he currently owns, whether Li Hao gave him the agency rights of black tea or iron nails, or even the agency rights of a pile of garbage in the corner, he has no room for bargaining at all.

Crowley, who understood instantly, blushed, couldn't hide the excitement in his eyes, and said without hesitation: "My friend, I am very happy to promote this great commodity like black tea to Europe."

"very good."

Li Hao nodded, stood up, picked up the agency bronze medal that had been prepared from the desk beside him, and solemnly handed it over: "Mr. Robert Crawley, after a long period of investigation and contact, my colleagues and I It is unanimously determined that you are the person we are looking for. Now, on behalf of the Ministry of Commerce, I officially designate you as the general agent of Chinese black tea in Europe."

The grand and significant agency ceremony was completed in the handover.Mr. Crawley, the lucky guy who was hit on the head by a pie, could not have imagined at this moment that this seemingly inconspicuous commodity he represented would generate huge profits in the future, which would benefit himself and his family What an honor to bring.

Of course, tall buildings rise from the ground.It is only the first step for Mr. Crowley to obtain the qualification of black tea agent today.In this transaction, the only thing that the traverser is interested in is Mr. Crowley's aristocratic background and aristocratic cultivation - these basic abilities will help Mr. Crowley quickly break into the European high society in his black tea promotion career.

That is to say, Mr. Crowley is actually not a qualified agent now, at least not a qualified agent with future generations ability in the eyes of time travelers: Mr. Crowley lacks funds, lacks marketing experience and ideas, and most importantly Yes, he lacks relevant knowledge.

Then the next step, first of all, is the agent training provided by the manufacturer.

(End of this chapter)