Taohuaxi

Chapter 16 Blind Selection of Tribute Tea

Wu Bi asked cautiously: "May I ask the officer, what is it?"

The official raised his hands and said, "Lord Liang, please invite all the tea merchants in Jianghuai to go to the official residence to discuss matters."

I thought for a while and followed the official out.

Wu Bi worriedly asked: "Second Young Mistress, will everything be okay?"

I shook my head at him and told him to keep an eye on the cabinet.

After a while, I arrived at the official residence.

I walked into the house and saw that the two rows of tables and chairs were full of people, and a man in official robes was sitting in the middle.The man had a long face and bright eyes.

I saluted and sat down in the empty space.

The man in official robes looked around and said meaningfully: "You are all well-known local businessmen, each with your own strengths. However, I am working for Your Majesty and I cannot be biased. It is really difficult."

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone present started whispering.

The room was in chaos for a while.

They all thought that Lord Liang would pay more attention to them if they gave them gifts.However, if everyone gives away, there will be no distinction between high and low.

For merchants, being selected as a tribute tea not only brings unlimited glory, but also means that they can withdraw money from the Ministry of Household Affairs every year, and their business is guaranteed.Therefore, merchants are very concerned about it.

Plan and then move.

I stood up slowly and said, "Reporting to your lord, the common woman has a way to help you select the tribute tea as soon as possible. And no one will say that your lord is partial."

He glanced at me: "Oh? Tell me."

Everyone looked at me and I raised my voice, "Why don't you let me have a blind audition?"

"Blind selection?"

"Yes. Put the tea from each family in the same container and place it in front of your eyes. Your Majesty doesn't know which family the tea is from, but only chooses the best one based on its shape, color and taste. This can be said to be fair and just. .”

The man in official robes pondered for a while and nodded with a smile: "Very good. I couldn't help but think of an ancient incident. In the third year of Chunhua, Emperor Taizong of the Song Dynasty, Chen Jing, the eunuch, wrote a letter suggesting that the method of anonymity be used in the imperial examination, and he got Adopted by Emperor Taizong of the Song Dynasty. Since then, the naming method has been followed to this day. Blind selection of tribute tea is similar to the naming method of the imperial examination."

He looked at me and said, "Which family is this lady the head of?"

I leaned over and said, "Sir, the commoner woman is the second daughter-in-law of the Cheng family. When my mother-in-law is ill, the commoner woman takes care of the housework."

"Cheng family?" The man in official robe seemed to think of something, and asked the person next to him: "Is this the family that will be the official residence in the past few days?"

The person next to him said: "Yes, sir. Only the Cheng family will have an official residence in the future."

The man in official robes smiled and said loudly: "On the eighth day of this month, at the Yangzhou government office, I will have a public tea tasting. All merchants, please go back and prepare yourself."

"Yes."

Everyone said in unison.

No one expected such a result.

It is rare for the Eight Immortals to cross the sea, each showing his magical powers and working hard on his own tea.

I returned to the cabinet, and Wu Bi came to greet me. I told him what happened today, and he pondered: "Second Young Madam, our tea is mainly Anhui tea. The best is Qingming or after rain, whichever is fresher and moister. In winter, I'm afraid it's not the best time. If we compete with other companies, we have no chance of winning."

The young man poured a cup of tea and handed it to me. I looked at the green tea in the cup.

Outside the door, the faint fragrance of wintersweet comes.

Wu Bi said: "When I was young, I went to the Huizhou tea garden with my second master. I heard from the craftsmen there that there is a craft called scenting. The tea attracts the fragrance of flowers and enhances the taste of the tea. Would you like to try it, second young master?"

In this season, the best flower in season is the plum.

Introducing plum blossoms into tea and adding fragrance, the tea can obtain the charm of plum bones.

I thought carefully about the situation of meeting Mr. Liang today.

His clothes, his conversation, his expression...

I nodded, then shook my head: "No, tea attracts the fragrance of flowers, and the fragrance of flowers will cover the fragrance of tea. And today Mr. Liang announced the rules of the blind selection in public. In order to make their own tea stand out, the other merchants will definitely find ways to make the tea more special." Fragrant'. If we do this, we will be following what others say. Why not, do the opposite."

"Doing the opposite?" Wu Bi asked puzzledly.

I asked: "Of all the teas on our cabinet, which one is the most bitter?"

Wu Bi thought for a while and said: "The Maofeng tea from Yishan has a slightly bitter taste. But if it is the most bitter, it must be the Lingxian bitter tea. However, this tea is specially prepared for the men who work hard on the dock, and it is cheap. , It’s really hard to be elegant.”

"Pour a cup." I ordered.

"Yes..." Wu Bi went over doubtfully, and after a moment, brought a cup of tea.

I took it, smelled it, closed my eyes, and seemed to see deep forests, dense trees, crisscrossing streams, and clouds and mist.After taking a sip, the bitterness is like a spiritual little snake, coiling on the tip of the tongue, and if you don't pay attention, it will jump to the heart.His whole body was shaking with pain.

"That's it." I said.

"Ah?" Wu Bi was shocked.He couldn't believe that I would pin the future of Cheng's Tea on this little-known bitter tea.

I said firmly: "Just it. On the day of Laba, I will send it there."

"Yes." Wu Bi said helplessly.

I stood behind the counter and silently drank the bitter tea in the cup.

When others abandon me, I take it; when others take it, I give it away.

Whether this move is correct depends on Laba.

Just as I was about to go back home, I saw the third lady coming over with a smile on her face: "Second sister-in-law!" I said softly: "Qingshi, seeing you smiling so happily, is there anything happy about it?"

She whispered in my ear mysteriously: "Mom promised me."

"Ok?"

"A few days ago, for Mrs. Qin's birthday, I called my second sister-in-law to go with me. The second sister-in-law was busy with things on the cabinet and had no time, so it was just my mother and I. The second sister-in-law didn't know that Mrs. Qin liked the peony painting. It’s amazing. He praised me so much at the banquet that I didn’t even know what to say..."

She said shyly: "Mrs. Qin even asked Brother Mingxu to sit next to me... Second sister-in-law, do you think Mrs. Qin's move was intended to be a marriage match?"

I said: "In terms of family background and appearance, they are a good match. Can Mrs. Qin mention it explicitly?"

"Oh! I just didn't say it clearly! I thought that this layer of window paper would have to be broken after all. I begged my mother to remind Mrs. Qin. My mother always disagreed at first. I said it every day, but it was said The old man said that she has moved. Let’s go today.”

She looked at me, a little expectantly, but also a little worried.

Before leaving, You turned to me and said, "Second sister-in-law, don't let He Hua close the door tonight. I'll go to your room to talk."

I smiled and nodded.

In the evening, I was sitting at my desk painting a snow scene when the third lady walked in in a daze.

There seemed to be a layer of frost on her face.

I stood up hurriedly, touched her hand and said, "Qingshi, why are your hands so cold? Hehua, go get the hand stove and warm it up for the third lady."

He Hua agreed and brought the hand stove.I stuffed it into Miss Third's hand, and it took a long time before it started to feel warm.

She leaned on my shoulder and started crying: "Second sister-in-law, Mrs. Qin originally agreed and said that she would come to propose marriage on a certain day. But... But Brother Mingxu refused. He said, he said, he already has someone he likes. , they have the same temperament and have experienced life and death together, but the woman is now very far away. He is waiting for her. A gentleman keeps his promise and does not dare to change his mind... It is clearly an excuse! How could such a thing happen? I have no influence at all. I don’t know...where can I put my face in front of so many people..."

I gently stroked her back and comforted her: "In the Qing Dynasty, there were many good men in the world. You are still in the boudoir, so you have many opportunities."

She shook her head desperately and just cried.

Tired of crying, he lay on my couch and fell asleep.

Laba arrived in a blink of an eye.

Outside the Yangzhou government office, there were crowds of people watching the excitement.

Mr. Liang stood at the entrance of the yamen, with dozens of identical white porcelain jars placed in front of him.

I waited on one side with the merchants nearby.

Mr. Liang looked at each one carefully.

A group of women came and served tea.

Mr. Liang said a few words to the clerk every time he took a sip, and the clerk wrote them down one by one.

Finally, after drinking a cup, he frowned: "Whose family sent this tea?"

An official on duty checked it over and said, "Sir, it was sent by the Cheng family."

"Send the people from the Cheng family over here," he said solemnly.

I quickly stepped forward, leaned over and said, "Sir, what's wrong with this tea?"

"Why do you bring such bitter tea?"

"Sir, it is easy to be fragrant but difficult to wake up."

He was stunned for a moment, then sat down, smiled, and pointed at the tea ceremony: "All the teas today are comparing their fragrance. However, the essence of tea is bitter. Even if there is sweetness, it will only come after a thousand turns. , instead of coming all at once. Your family is extremely miserable, but you have to find another way. As you said, it is easy to be fragrant, but difficult to be sober. It is rare for you to have this kind of sobriety. I also hope that I will always stay sober. I hope that everyone in the court will be happy. Can wake up."

He clapped his hands, and several officials brought up several trays with all kinds of precious jewelry on them.Each copy was marked with the words: when, where and who gave it.

"This is the gift you gave me, take it all back." He waved his hand.

The merchants looked at each other.

My guess was correct, he was an upright official.His back was a bit stooped, obviously caused by working at his desk for a long time.Moreover, it is impossible for a corrupt official to have such magnanimous eyes.

"The Cheng family is the only merchant who does not give me gifts. Today, the Cheng family's tea is also the only tea without added spices. The act of covering up flaws is itself a flaw. I choose the Cheng family tea as a tribute tea. Can you please Have any objections?" Master Liang asked.

In the crowd, Wu Bi looked at me excitedly.

No one present dared to speak.

The matter was settled like this.

When I returned home, the old lady personally greeted me in the courtyard.

"Sang Yu, thank you for your help. Huai'er is not at home, thank you..."

She held my hand.

I hurriedly said: "As for mother, it is only the daughter-in-law's duty."

Just as he was talking, the boy outside the door came in with a letter: "Second Young Mistress, a letter from Jizhou."

Jizhou is where the eldest young master and his wife are located.

"Is it written to my mother?" I asked.

"No, it says on it that the second young lady will sign it personally." The boy replied.

I took it and opened it. Halfway through the long letter, my heart stopped.

(End of this chapter)