Glory

"How many apprentices are there in total?"

"Each master has three slots for taking on apprentices, so there are thirty-nine in total."

"Then have each send two over and keep one for themselves. They can then recruit new apprentices," Ye Yaming said.

"But you must make it clear to them beforehand. If they're disobedient or perform poorly, I will send them back. No amount of pleading will change that," Ye Yaming warned preemptively.

"Additionally, the yield of Pre-Qingming Tea is low, so just my father and I will handle the roasting. This year, we'll focus only on premium tea, not quantity. These apprentices will only observe and familiarize themselves with the tea-making process, practicing with other leaves. They won't start making tea until the Pre-Rain season. You should consider whether to clarify this with them in advance."

They currently only had a few hundred mu of tea gardens, and a few hundred mu in this era was entirely incomparable to a few hundred mu in modern times.

These tea trees were either arbor or small arbor varieties, with large plants occupying extensive space but yielding few tea buds. Even harvesting across several hundred mu would produce only a modest amount of tea leaves.

This was the debut year for Dragon Well Tea, and it had to make a spectacular splash. Limited quantity, high price, and exceptional flavor would be the selling points. Scarcity marketing was the best strategy.

Premium tea was inherently a luxury. Whether Dragon Well Tea could win the favor and adoration of the powerful elites in the capital hinged entirely on its taste.

Thus, Ye Yaming preferred to work harder herself to ensure this batch of Pre-Qingming Tea was perfectly roasted. If Ye Hongsheng's tea-roasting skills fell short, she would roast alone, producing as much as she could.

As for the Dragon Well Tea that Ye Hongsheng might roast from the remaining leaves with less-than-ideal flavor, she absolutely would not allow it to hit the market—at most, the Ye family would drink it themselves.

Of course, if Ye Hongsheng could produce tea with flavor as excellent as hers, that would be the best outcome.

"Alright, we'll do as you say," Ye Chongming stood up. "I'll handle this matter for you. You just focus on making tea with your father."

"Oh, one more thing," he added, about to leave but remembering another point. "Should we inform Young Masters Lu and Qi about this?"

It had been agreed earlier that the Ye family's tea gardens, tea factory, tea houses, and tea shops were their own assets, not part of the collaboration. However, with the tea house in Huizhou, this now specifically referred to "the tea gardens, tea factory, tea houses, and tea shops within Lin'an City."

Therefore, producing new tea was inherently the Ye family's own affair. If the collaborative partners wished to use this tea, as with Osmanthus Tea, they would need to pay Ye Yaming a substantial sum to purchase the tea formula. But that was for the future; this year, it was certainly too late, and they would have to wait until the Ye family trained their tea-making masters.

However, the recent collaboration had been very smooth. Since this matter concerned future transactions, Ye Chongming felt it was necessary to notify the two young masters.

Ye Yaming thought for a moment, then portioned the tea she had just roasted into two small jars.

The yield from one batch was limited; she needed to keep some for Ye Hongsheng to compare with his own roasted tea, and Ye Chongming likely wanted to take some back to share with Old Madam Ye and Ye Hongrong. Thus, each jar contained only about three or four liang.

Ye Chongming asked, "One jar for Young Master Lu and one for Qi Gongzi?"

"No," Ye Yaming said, "one jar for Young Masters Lu and Qi, and one for Master Zhineng.""Right, right, we should first send some to Master Zhineng to taste," Ye Chongming nodded repeatedly.

But looking at the two tea jars and the small amount left: "Isn't this too little? Should you fry another batch?"

He turned to look at his second son, his eyes filled with regret. The only fresh tea leaves had been wasted by this fellow.

"Small portions enhance the flavor. Scarcity makes it more precious," Ye Yaming said. "Let my father practice more. He'll need to guide the apprentices later anyway."

Ye Chongming thought it made sense.

A bunch of rough men—if his granddaughter had to guide them personally, even teaching them hand by hand, it would be too much of a disadvantage. Better to let the second son instruct them.

Thinking this, he had no objections. He summoned Laonu and Zan'er, instructing them to each take a manor guard down the mountain and deliver the tea to Master Zhineng and Young Master Lu in Ye Yaming's name.

He knew that Master Zhineng would prefer receiving tea from Ye Yaming or Ye Hongsheng rather than from himself.

At Chongshan Temple, Master Zhineng was receiving guests.

If Ye Hongsheng were here, he would recognize the visitors as his acquaintances—Fan Yu, the Imperial Consort who had vigorously promoted tea sets for the capital's Gathering Fragrance Pavilion, along with his wife Princess Yuning, and the renowned painter Tan Xuan.

They weren't the only ones who had come to Lin'an; the entire group of friends who had gathered at the princess's residence for tea and conversation had all arrived.

Wealthy and leisured, after reading The Classic of Tea, they had decided to visit Lin'an in spring to witness tea picking and processing, having made arrangements with Ye Hongsheng to come.

Upon arriving in Lin'an, it was essential to pay respects to Master Zhineng first. Knowing the master disliked social formalities, Fan Yu came only with Princess Yuning and Tan Xuan.

Painting and calligraphy being interconnected, Tan Xuan's temperament suited Master Zhineng's tastes, and the two conversed delightfully. Master Zhineng occasionally engaged Fan Yu and the other junior in casual conversation. The four sat around the stove, brewing tea and warming wine, enjoying a harmonious atmosphere.

"Master, Third Miss Ye has sent someone, saying she's delivering a newly made tea for you," Jingchen announced.

"Oh?" Master Zhineng was delighted and quickly said, "Bring him in at once."

Master Zhineng was always composed. Fan Yu had visited him many times but had never seen him so visibly pleased. He couldn't help but wonder who this "Third Miss Ye" was.

She must be a young girl, right? How did Master Zhineng come to associate with a young girl?

The surname Ye—could it be Ye Hongsheng's family?

Thinking this, he voiced his question.

"Haha, exactly. This Third Miss is Ye Hongsheng's eldest daughter. The child's talent for tea making surpasses even her father's. Weren't you just saying how much you liked those tea sets and greatly admired the one who proposed the theory of tea arrangement? The one who proposed the tea arrangement theory is this Third Miss Ye."

Master Zhineng pointed to the book Tea Arrangement, which they had just discussed and which Fan Yu and Tan Xuan treasured: "This book was written by that child."

When Ye Yaming presented The Classic of Tea, she candidly told Master Zhineng about receiving tea knowledge in a dream.

Far from looking down on her, Master Zhineng held her in even higher regard—among all the people in the world, only Ye Yaming had received divine favor. Didn't that signify her extraordinary origins?

Moreover, Ye Yaming insisted on attributing The Classic of Tea to Lu Yu and forbade spreading the word that she was the author, which made Master Zhineng appreciate her all the more for her rare humility.How many in this world are mere seekers of fame and reputation. It is truly rare for Ye Yaming to remain steadfast in her original aspirations, unswayed by the temptations of fame and fortune.

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