Glory

Stir-frying tea relies entirely on intuition and experience. Previously, when everyone made steamed green tea, the difference wasn’t noticeable, but now the gap is clear.

"What about those who can’t manage it? They’ve learned the process of making Dragon Well Tea but can’t become tea masters for it. I’m afraid they might cause trouble later," Ye Chongming frowned.

"Additionally, more and more people are trying to uncover the method of making Dragon Well Tea through various means. The tea garden is becoming increasingly unsafe."

Since Dragon Well Tea hit the market, Ye Jia had been under immense pressure. The tea factory had already caught several people attempting to gather information during this period.

Once everyone realized that no one at the tea factory was making Dragon Well Tea, their attention would quickly shift to Ye Jia’s tea garden.

Although Ye Jia had already hired guards from a security company to patrol the area around the tea garden, Ye Chongming remained deeply concerned.

If Ye Yaming hadn’t been summoned down the mountain by Old Mrs. Ye, Ye Chongming would have gone up today to discuss this issue with her.

"Hold on for a while longer. I have a way to resolve the problem completely," Ye Yaming reassured him.

"Really? That’s wonderful," Ye Chongming’s frown eased, and a smile spread across his face.

"Send someone to deliver a message to Young Master Lu and Qi Gongzi. If they have time, I’d like them to come to Lin’an," Ye Yaming said.

"I’ll write a letter right away and have it delivered," Ye Chongming sat down at his desk and began writing. Once the letter was finished, he dispatched a messenger to the capital.

A master teaches the trade, but the apprentice’s skill is self-made. The apprentices on the mountain had all grasped the method, but to master the art of stir-frying tea, they needed to practice diligently and refine their techniques over time. With Ye Hongsheng overseeing things on the mountain, Ye Yaming was in no hurry to return.

She planned to rest properly at home for a day.

The next day, after a leisurely breakfast, just as she was about to head up the mountain, a servant came to report that Lu Guanyi and Qi Ji had arrived in Lin’an. They intended to return home to freshen up before visiting Ye Jia.

"Old Master Ye was worried you might have gone up the mountain, so he sent me to inform you first," the teahouse attendant said.

"Alright, I understand," Ye Yaming replied. She returned to her room, changed out of her riding attire, and said to Guan Ting, "We won’t be going up the mountain today. If you’d like to visit home, feel free to do so."

Guan Ting shook her head. "No, there’s nothing to go back for."

Her mother had passed away two years earlier, leaving only her and her father to rely on each other. When Ye Yaming came down the mountain, Guan Canghai had followed, and now both father and daughter were staying at Ye Jia.

After changing her clothes, Ye Yaming went to the outer courtyard.

By then, Ye Chongming had returned from the teahouse and said to Ye Yaming, "The manor guard sent to deliver the letter encountered Young Master Lu and Qi Gongzi on the way and returned with them."

As they spoke, Lu Guanyi and Qi Ji arrived.

After exchanging greetings with Ye Chongming, Qi Ji turned to Ye Yaming with a grin. "Congratulations, Miss Ye, on creating such an exceptional tea as Dragon Well Tea."

"Congratulations to you as well," Ye Yaming replied. "I invited you here today to discuss this matter. Dragon Well Tea is in high demand, and I plan to expand production. I wonder if you two gentlemen are interested in the tea-making method?"

Qi Ji’s eyes lit up immediately.

He glanced at Lu Guanyi.

Lu Guanyi smiled. "Of course, we’re interested."

"However, I must make it clear upfront—aside from you, I also intend to sell the tea formula to others."Ye Yaming spoke as she turned to Ye Chongming, "Grandfather, this is my solution. The method for making this tea is relatively simple. Rather than letting others scheme to steal it, even endangering the safety of my father and me, it's better to sell it outright."

She then turned to Lu Guanyi, "I would sell it to others for thirty to fifty thousand taels of silver, but for you, just ten thousand taels."

Before Lu Guanyi and Qi Ji could respond, Ye Chongming grew anxious, "Ming'er, Young Master Lu and Qi Gongzi are like family, so it's fine to discuss with them. But shouldn't we wait before selling to others? Our family is counting on making Dragon Well Tea into Tribute Tea."

At this, he looked at Lu Guanyi, "Young Master Lu, is there hope?" Lu Guanyi nodded, "There is great hope. The Emperor truly enjoys your tea."

Pressed tea, with its added borneol spice, often left one feeling heavy-headed and irritable after drinking. Coupled with the Emperor's advanced age and his preference for meat, he drank tea hoping to refresh his mind and aid digestion, but the pressed tea only made him more uncomfortable.

As for the previous loose tea, the Emperor always found it too bitter and astringent, disliking the poor taste.

When Dragon Well Tea was presented, its clear fragrance was overwhelming, the flavor refreshing and mellow. After drinking, it promoted salivation, with a distinct sweet aftertaste and a long-lasting finish. The Emperor took an immediate liking to it.

However, establishing a tea as Tribute Tea wasn't so straightforward. Officials from the Imperial Household Department had to be sent to inspect, ensuring the raw materials and production process were clean and hygienic, and the producers had clean family backgrounds. Moreover, both yield and quality needed to be stable, with a guaranteed supply each year.

They couldn't offer it one year and claim shortage the next. The Emperor wouldn't want to behead someone over a cup of tea and earn a reputation as a tyrant. Thus, the matter had to be handled cautiously.

If not for this reason, the Emperor might have immediately decreed Dragon Well Tea as Tribute Tea.

But these details weren't appropriate to share with the Ye family.

"You see, isn't that the case? We haven't yet secured the Tribute Tea status, and you're ready to sell the tea-making recipe for thirty or fifty thousand taels. What if someone else snatches the quota later?"

Seeing the old man's face flush with anxiety, Ye Yaming quickly reassured him, "Grandfather, don't worry. Not only has our Ye family already made a name for ourselves before the Emperor, making us the authentic source of Dragon Well Tea, but when it comes to tea-making techniques, who would teach others their dowry for personal use? Do you think I wouldn't hold something back? So rest assured, if Dragon Well Tea can become Tribute Tea, I guarantee it will be our Ye family, alright?"

"Really?"

"Really!"

Ye Chongming looked at Ye Yaming suspiciously, still somewhat unconvinced.

It wasn't that he was overly doubtful or that Ye Yaming was unreliable. After all, he came from a tea family himself; while not a master tea maker, he could certainly discern the tea-making process and judge the quality of the brew.

He had observed that the methods Ye Yaming taught her apprentices were identical to those she taught Ye Hongsheng, with no reservations. And among those apprentices, some occasionally excelled, producing a batch of tea that rivaled even Ye Hongsheng's or Ye Yaming's—like Zhao Daquan, for instance.

"Are you concerned because you see me teaching everyone the same way? That's because I haven't revealed my special techniques yet," Ye Yaming said with a laugh."Our Dragon Well Tea already surpasses other teas as it is now, so our ultimate techniques naturally won't be revealed yet. When others have learned our methods and start competing with us for Tribute Tea status, that's when I'll bring them out. Besides, it's easy to go from simple to luxurious but hard to go from luxurious to simple. The tea quality must improve gradually to keep earning the Emperor's continuous praise."

Ye Chongming's clouded eyes suddenly brightened: "Really? There are still ultimate techniques?"

"Of course," Ye Yaming said with a laugh. "When have you ever seen me do anything unreliable, blocking my own path for mere silver?"

Author's Note:

Seeking guaranteed monthly votes~

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