White tea legend

Chapter 220: Stealing from a Master is “Not Good”

On Taimu Mountain, the tea garden presents a busy scene.

The early spring sunshine gently shines on the lush tea trees, and the green tea leaves seem to be shining with green light under the sunlight.

In the tea garden, a group of tea farmers were bending down and busy, each holding a small basket in their hands, carefully picking the delicate buds, while listening to the man wearing a bamboo hat and a green gown explaining to them. The principle of "ten don't adopt".

This gentleman is Lu Yu.

Lu Yu said: "First of all, don't harvest on rainy days. Rainwater will add water to the tea leaves, causing the leaves to swell and be easily damaged. They are not easy to dry and will cause mold to form if left for a long time, which will affect the quality of the tea.

Secondly, Yang Qiang is not picked up. When the sunlight is strong, tea leaves tend to lose moisture and shrink, which affects the color and aroma of the finished tea.

Again, the leaves are not harvested due to pests and diseases. Leaves infested by pests will damage the quality of the tea and may harbor pest eggs and pathogens, so they should not be picked.

Fourth, don’t pick old leaves. The old leaves have a rough texture and a bitter taste, making them unsuitable for making tea.

Fifth, young shoots without stems should not be harvested. Young shoots with stems are difficult to roll and shape, and are not conducive to drying.

Sixth, do not pick a single leaf. A single leaf is immature, does not contain rich ingredients, and has a poor flavor.

Seventh, the flowers are not harvested. The essence of the bud or the open part of the flower has been consumed and its nutritional value is greatly reduced.

Eighth, be empty-minded and don’t collect anything. It refers to the poor growth of tea trees, with thin leaves and large gaps in the middle. The tea produced from these leaves has insufficient aroma.

Ninth, don’t pick the weeds. Tea trees that are surrounded by weeds receive uneven nutrients and the tea flavor is easily affected.

Tenth, animal infringement is prohibited. Tea leaves that have been eaten by birds or other animals are easily contaminated and should not be picked.

We tea people make tea based on the sky and the tea. These principles are based on respecting nature, respecting the weather, and respecting the tea ceremony. Only by following this method can you pick the best tea, allowing tea drinkers to savor life in the steaming water and appreciate the purity and harmony between heaven and earth. "

Lu Yu had a warm smile on his face. While strolling among the tea trees, he patiently taught the tea farmers the principle of "not picking anything" in a gentle but firm voice.

He was naturally handsome and elegant. Even if he wore a bamboo hat and dressed as a tea farmer, he could not hide his handsome appearance.

The good-looking tea man spoke in harmony with the weather, and the tea farmers were convinced from the bottom of their hearts.

The tea farmers stood or squatted, their movements gentle and meticulous. After listening to Lu Yu's words, they were more cautious every time they stretched out their hands, for fear of damaging the integrity of the tea leaves. Their eyes were focused, and they listened intently to Lu Yu's guidance, nodding from time to time to express understanding, or discussing certain details in a low voice.

In a corner of the tea garden, a figure was hiding furtively.

Xuanfeng's sharp eyes went over and pulled out the man.

Xuanfeng's actions alarmed Lu Yu and the tea farmers. Everyone gathered around, thinking that Xuanfeng had caught some tea thief.

I saw that the man's hair was gray, and his skin was carved into grooves by the wind and frost of the years, but his eyes were still bright.

Being caught by Xuanfeng as a thief, the old man looked a little embarrassed.

Seeing Lu Yu coming over, the old man crossed his arms and said, holding back his embarrassment and embarrassment, "I offended you, please forgive me."

With that said, he turned around and left.

The old man slipped away quickly and lightly, as if he was afraid of disturbing the ants on the ground. The corners of his clothes swayed gently in the wind, and he walked hurriedly, like a cunning old fox, familiar with every piece of land in the tea garden, avoiding all possible prying eyes. He quickly walked through the tea trees until he was hidden on the other side of the tea garden. The back gradually faded away, as if blending with the surrounding greenery, and finally disappeared into the faint fragrance of tea.

In the blink of an eye, it was gone.

"Hey, this old man came to steal a master, and ran away like that without explaining clearly?" Xuanfeng was not angry and wanted to chase after him, but Lu Yu waved his hand to stop him.

The tea farmers on the side talked a lot and told Lu Yu that they recognized this old man. He was a famous tea boss in Wanghaili named Wang Shanhe.

Unexpectedly, a person of such high status would actually commit such a sneaky act as stealing from his master. Everyone was surprised.

Wang Shanhe also felt extremely ashamed. He staggered down from the top of the mountain, with dust flying under his feet and the rising mountain fog behind him.

The sun was gradually rising, scorching the earth. His steps seemed particularly hurried, and the sweat on his forehead kept pouring out and dripping to the ground.

The thirst in his throat was so dry that it seemed to be on fire, making him eager to find a spring to quench his thirst.

At this moment, his eyes were attracted by a faint blue color halfway up the mountain.

It was a woman who was working hard in an open field. She was wearing a simple blue cloth dress, the hem of which swayed gently in the wind.

Her hands were covered with coarse cloth gloves and she was bent over working in the soil, surrounded by rows of freshly planted indigo plants.

These indigo plants are still small, and their tender green leaves are stained with dew, as if inlaid with countless transparent gems, shining softly under the sunlight.

The woman's movements were meticulous and focused. She carefully placed each bluegrass in the soil to ensure that they had enough space to grow.

Next to her stood a small wooden bucket filled with tea. The water was as calm as a mirror, reflecting the surrounding green and the blue of the sky.

This made Wang Shanhe even more thirsty, and he couldn't help but walked forward, expressed to the woman that he was thirsty, and asked for some water.

The woman raised her head and saw that it was Wang Shanhe, and couldn't help but smile.

She took off her coarse cloth gloves, scooped up a spoonful of tea with a wooden spoon and handed it to Wang Shanhe: "Boss Wang, why did you come up the mountain?"

"I'm going down the mountain." Wang Shanhe drank a spoonful of tea in one breath. He felt that it was refreshing and quenched his thirst, and his heart felt much cooler. Then he recalled the woman's words and said, "Does this lady recognize the old man?"

"Boss Wang, a noble man, forgets things a lot. Last year, you went to Lan Caitang to patronize my business and bought a lot of my blue dye products."

"Oh, Lan Gu."

"Yes, it's me. Boss Wang, what are you doing up the mountain?"

When asked by Lan Gu, how could Wang Shanhe dare to tell the truth? As one of the best tea bosses in Wanghai, it would be disgraceful for him to steal from his colleagues.

"Out in spring, the spring is beautiful, the flowers are blooming, the willows are hanging and green shadows are leisurely by the water, in this great spring, I go for a walk in the mountains..." Such lies made Wang Shanhe feel ashamed.

Lan Gu smiled and said without saying anything: "Boss Wang is so elegant. You are old and you don't have any followers by your side. The road down the mountain is difficult, so you should be more careful."

The intention of expelling guests is very obvious.

Wang Shanhe had no intention of leaving immediately, and enthusiastically helped Lan Gu become a matchmaker: "Lan Gu, you are in your twenties this year. Among the women in our Wanghai community, you are already very old. Looking at the entire Li Dynasty, There are not many women in their twenties who are still waiting for marriage. Women of your age are already mothers of several children..."

Lan Gu didn't feel embarrassed. Instead, she smiled openly. While putting on her cloth gloves and continuing to plant blueberries, she said, "Why, Boss Wang wants to help me be a matchmaker again?" Last time, Wang Shanhe and his old wife went to "Lancai Tang" "When I was buying blue-dyed cloth, I had already offered to help Lan Gu secure a match, but Lan Gu declined.

"My old wife's unfulfilled brother, my brother-in-law, my wife died three years ago and became a widower, and he has been single ever since. He is loyal and honest, and you are very capable, Aunt Lan. If you can help him fill a house, It's an excellent marriage. Don't blame him for being widowed, and don't blame him for your age..."

"Boss Wang, your business in the tea shop has been poor recently, so you want to make money as a matchmaker?"

Lan Gu wasn't angry either, she just smiled and asked, her hands working non-stop.

Wang Shanhe felt a little embarrassed, "Lan Gu, you have such a good character. You don't get angry even if you let me talk nonsense. My brother-in-law is not blessed to have such a good wife..."

"In fact, there are many paths in life, and marriage is not the only thing we can seek. If we are dedicated to our careers, we can also achieve a lifetime of achievements. Just like my farming here, and Boss Wang's tea business, each finds his own place and enjoys it."

Such bold words coming from a woman immediately made Wang Shanhe feel ashamed.

He handed over his hand to apologize to Lan Gu, and murmured to himself: "But business is not easy to achieve. The old man's tea shop business has been sluggish recently."

He said with a long sigh.

When "Xiangming Yaxu" first opened, it became popular due to the scented tea "Jasmine Dragon Pearl". Now it has developed the white tea production technology, and the white tea produced is very popular. Many old customers of Wangshanhe Tea Shop have gone to "Xiangming Yaxu" To place an order, tea merchants from all over the country even go to Wanghaili to negotiate orders.

The brand name "Changxi White Tea" is well-known far and wide, and it is unparalleled in the limelight. "Xiangming Yaxu" has sent a lot of money to Changxi County, thus promoting the economic prosperity of the county. Even the county magistrate regarded the owner of "Xiangming Yaxu" as a distinguished guest and treated him with great courtesy.

This made Wang Shanhe jump anxiously, and then he took the ill-advised move of "stealing the master".

"It's normal to do business in Hedong for thirty years and Hexi for thirty years. The most important thing is to compete openly and openly. It's not advisable to be sneaky."

Lan Gu gave Wang Shanhe a message.

Wang Shanhe's heart skipped a beat, yes, why would he want to steal his master? Why not just go and become a disciple in an honest way?

But colleagues are enemies, so are Lu Yu and his wife willing to teach each other their true skills? Teaching the apprentices will starve the master to death, not to mention that the Wang family tea shop and "Xiang Ming Yaxu" are still sworn enemies.

Wang Shanhe walked down the mountain absent-mindedly, passing by a thin line of sky, surrounded by cliffs and winding stone paths. In his daze, he stumbled and fell.

He wanted to call for help from heaven and earth, but the sky was far away, and the earth responded silently. He was tired and injured, and he passed out.

The sun was setting in the west, and the afterglow had dissipated. Wang Shanhe woke up in pain and looked up at the stars, only to realize that night had fallen.

At that time, he was lying alone on the cliff, surrounded by darkness, and the pain of the wound became more and more obvious, like a knife cutting and burning. Wang Shanhe leaned on the boulder, adjusted his breath and calmed his mind, let his body rest for a while, and then began to gather strength to call for help: "Is there anyone outside? Help!"

……

In the night, a young man came down from the top of the mountain.

With a heavy responsibility on his shoulders and a filial heart in mind, the young man went up the mountain alone early in the morning to collect medicine to save his critically ill father. The boy was sixteen or seventeen years old, still childish, determined to find medicine for his father, faltering in his steps but tireless in his heart.

When night fell, there was no result. The moon had not risen, the stars were scarce, the night was as dark as ink, and only the faint sound of wind could be heard in the silent mountains.

The young man had no choice but to go down the mountain and go home, planning to go up the mountain the next day to look for medicine for his father.

The young man dragged his tired steps down the mountain, passing through a dangerous line of sky. The cliffs on both sides stood tall, and the middle passage was narrow, just like the crack when the heaven and earth were first divided, allowing only one person to pass side by side.

It is not easy to cross a thin line of sky at night, but at this time there is no other way to go.

The young man had no choice but to cross this gap in the dark, when he suddenly heard a faint cry for help coming from below: "Help, kindhearted people, help me out!" Although the voice was weak, it was particularly clear in this silent valley.

The young man stamped his feet and listened carefully. After confirming that it was not an auditory hallucination, he hurriedly leaned over to find the source of the sound. I saw a narrow hole in the corner of the sky, and someone seemed to be trapped in it. The young man did not hesitate and jumped down into the hole. There seemed to be a person huddled here in the darkness. It was Wang Shanhe who had slipped and fallen.

"Little brother, help! I'm trapped here and can't move." Wang Shanhe groaned in pain.

The young man comforted him: "Don't be afraid, I will try my best to save you!" After saying that, the young man used all his strength to lift Wang Shanhe up and carefully pulled him out of the narrow hole.

It took a lot of effort to rescue Wang Shanhe from within the sky.

The moon came out, and the clear light spread over the mountains and plains.

"Uncle, how are you?"

"My leg must have been broken and I can't walk..."

The young man carried Wang Shanhe on his back without hesitation and wanted to send him down the mountain for medical treatment. Wang Shanhe said weakly on his back: "Little brother, your great kindness and kindness will be unforgettable in my lifetime."

The young man replied: "It's just your duty to rescue people in danger." After saying this, regardless of fatigue and weight, he slowly walked down the mountain trail with Wang Shanhe on his back.

The mountain road is rugged and the steps are difficult, but the young man is supported by the belief in saving people, and every step is determined and powerful.

Wang Shanhe sat on the boy's back, feeling the warmth and responsibility from a stranger, feeling both grateful and guilty.

Along the way, Wang Shanhe told the young man his name and where he lived. He also asked the young man about his origin, but the young man refused to tell him and said, "My father said you don't need to leave your name when doing good deeds."

After a long and arduous trek, the young man finally arrived at the foot of the mountain carrying Wang Shanhe on his back. Under Wang Shanhe's guidance, he sent Wang Shanhe to the Wang family.

The Wang family hadn't seen Wang Shanhe come back for a long time, and they thought he was staying at the teahouse tonight. When they saw that Wang Shanhe was suddenly seriously injured and was sent back by a young man, he immediately fell on his back.

Wang Shanhe's old wife Liu sent someone to invite the best doctor in Wanghai to come to her home to treat Wang Shanhe's leg injury.

By the time the doctor was able to reattach Wang Shanhe's broken leg, it was already dawn, and the young man who had rescued him had long since disappeared.

When the young man rushed back to his own home from Wang's house, the sky had already turned white, and the village called Tianzhu was bathed in the hazy morning light.

Tianzhu Village is located in the mountains, and the terrain is as hidden as a fairyland. To the east is a rolling sea of ​​green bamboo, and to the west is a steep and majestic mountain range. There is a crystal clear stream winding along the south side, and there are terraced fields on the north side, layer upon layer, alternating with yellow and green.

When the morning light first appeared and everything was silent, Tianzhu Village gradually revealed a peaceful and peaceful face.

The morning sun rises slowly from the east, and the golden light fills the mountains and rivers, dyeing every bamboo and every path with a gentle golden color.

The mist lingers on the top of the peaks, as if filled with fairy spirit, which makes people feel relaxed and happy.

The chirping of birds, accompanied by the gurgling of the stream, together compose a fresh and refined morning movement.

The young man walked tiredly towards his home. His home was already filled with smoke. It was because his mother had gotten up to cook breakfast.