Glory

In the late spring and early summer, at the hour of Xu, the sky was already pitch black. The manor behind the Ye family's Tea Factory was enveloped in silence, with most people having fallen into a deep slumber.

A young man around twenty years old, carrying a bundle of items, groped his way through the darkness to a large gate. He gently knocked and called out softly, "Da Bo, Da Bo..."

"Who is it?" Cao Dazhu asked through the window.

"It's me, Xiao Wu."

Recognizing his nephew's voice, Cao Dazhu threw on his clothes and went out to open the door.

"What are you doing here so late instead of sleeping?" Cao Dazhu asked as he let Cao Wu inside.

"Hehe, let's talk inside, let's talk inside," Cao Wu said with a grin.

Once they entered the room, Cao Wu placed the items in his hand on the table and said to Cao Dazhu, "This is a small token of filial respect from Xiao Wu to you, Da Bo."

Cao Dazhu glanced at the items and saw two pieces of meat, two packages of pastries, and a bottle of wine. He couldn't help but eye Cao Wu suspiciously. "Where did you get the money for this?"

"I've saved up a bit over the years. I thought since it's been a long time since I last saw you, I'd come visit."

Cao Dazhu naturally didn't believe him. "What are you up to? Spit it out. Otherwise, I won't dare accept your gifts."

"Da Bo, what are you saying? My father passed away early, and it's always been you looking out for me. Now that I'm all grown up, isn't it only right that I buy some nice things to show my filial respect?" Cao Wu replied.

Cao Dazhu's wife, Liu Shi, entered the room at that moment and, hearing this, pursed her lips disdainfully.

She said coolly, "Xiao Wu, if you have something to say, you'd better say it quickly. Your Da Bo is exhausted from work and has to wake up early tomorrow. If you finish your business, he can rest sooner. That would be the real way to show your filial respect."

Seeing that his aunt had finished serving tea and sat down without any intention of leaving, Cao Wu cursed inwardly. He had no choice but to say to Cao Dazhu, "Da Bo, I heard the Tea Factory is hiring. You see, I'm already in my twenties, and I don't have a decent job. I can't earn enough to marry a wife, and I've caused you no end of worry. This time, could you recommend me for a try?"

"I promise you, if I get into the Tea Factory, I'll work hard and won't disgrace you."

Liu Shi was somewhat moved by this.

Cao Dazhu's father had been an old-timer at the Ye family's Tea Factory, so the entire Cao family were considered Manor serfs of the Ye family, bound by lifelong contracts. Not only did they have no freedom themselves, but their children were also born into servitude.

Although they were Manor serfs, the Ye family did not take responsibility for feeding everyone. Once the children grew up, they had to find work for themselves in the Ye family's tea houses, Tea Houses, Tea Factories, or even Tea Gardens and Manors. If they couldn't find work and had no income, the Ye family wouldn't care if they starved to death.

Of course, the Ye family was vast and prosperous, with a constant need for workers everywhere. As long as one was honest and hardworking, they could always find a job. Even if the pay wasn't much, it was enough to scrape by.

The Ye family was benevolent and did not mistreat their servants.

Of the three Cao brothers, the second had not survived, and the third had died of illness when Cao Wu was seven years old. The third brother's widow was left to raise two daughters and a son alone. Over the years, Cao Dazhu had frequently helped them out.

Now that Cao Wu's two older sisters were married off, if Cao Wu could get into the Tea Factory, the third branch would no longer need assistance, and the main branch would have an easier time.

"No," Cao Dazhu refused outright. "You can't handle it."

Over the years, he had swallowed his pride more than once to beg the Housekeeper to find work for Cao Wu. But Cao Wu always found the work too tiring and was sent back after a short time.The tea factory was such an important place—how could it possibly hire someone like Cao Wu?

A flicker of resentment flashed in Cao Wu's eyes, but he quickly concealed it.

He put on a dejected expression and said gloomily, "Uncle, I know I've been idle these past two years and have disappointed you. But isn't that because I never had the chance to enter the tea factory? Eldest Brother is your son, so it's only natural for him to inherit your trade. If the tea factory had remained as it was before, without hiring so many new people, I wouldn't have come to beg you for help."

"But now, Second Master has successfully produced Dragon Well Tea, and Third Young Lady has made Osmanthus Tea. I've heard that Jasmine Tea will be next, and the tea factory is in need of manpower everywhere. Just a while ago, they hired a batch of people, and I've heard they're about to hire again. Uncle, can't you give your nephew a helping hand?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Shi was moved and glanced at her husband.

"Where did you hear all this?" Cao Dazhu asked.

"Everyone is talking about it," Cao Wu replied.

Cao Dazhu fell silent.

Some time ago, his eldest son, who was his apprentice, had been selected to go up the mountain to learn how to make Dragon Well Tea. The tea factory had indeed hired a batch of people to fill the vacancies left by them. As for Third Young Lady planning to make Jasmine Tea and the tea factory hiring again, he had only heard about it that very afternoon. He hadn't expected the news to spread so quickly.

Thinking about his nephew's situation, he finally gritted his teeth and said, "Alright then. But let me be clear—if you continue as before, shirking hard work and indulging in laziness, and end up being punished or dismissed by the Housekeeper, I won't lift a finger to help you. Don't expect me to swallow my pride and beg for favors on your behalf. And I won't bother with you anymore in the future."

"Uncle, don't worry. Your nephew was young and foolish before. Now, I understand the importance of working hard." Cao Wu lowered his head, feigning embarrassment. "The main thing is, I'm grown now and thinking about earning money to marry a wife."

"If that's the case, then nothing could be better." Cao Dazhu nodded slightly. "But words are empty—I'll judge you by your actions from now on."

"Then, Uncle, you should rest early. I won't disturb you any longer." Cao Wu exchanged a few polite words with Liu Shi before rising to leave.

Liu Shi went to bolt the door and, upon returning, said to Cao Dazhu, "Let's hope that boy will do his job properly."

The couple had two sons. The eldest followed Cao Dazhu to learn tea-making, while the second, who was quick with words, worked as an attendant in a tea house. They had not been without concern for Cao Wu, but this nephew had been spoiled by his mother and older sister. He had grand ambitions but little ability, couldn't endure hardship, and was disliked wherever he worked, never lasting long.

That was why, when the tea factory was hiring, Cao Dazhu hadn't considered recommending his nephew.

But now that his nephew claimed to want to improve himself, Cao Dazhu went to see the Housekeeper the next day. He exhausted all his persuasive words and sacrificed a lifetime's worth of dignity before the Housekeeper finally agreed to put in a good word for Cao Wu.

However, the Housekeeper added, "You know how important the tea factory is—everyone there is carefully selected. My agreement alone isn't enough. It still needs Old Master Ye and Second Master's approval."

Cao Dazhu nodded repeatedly. "I know, I know. But Second Master has been managing the tea factory all these years. As long as you, Steward Cai, give your approval, Second Master won't object."

The tea factory originally had Manager Zhang Zhongkun and Housekeeper Wu Qingping in charge. But when over twenty people were transferred to the tea garden to learn how to make Dragon Well Tea, Ye Hongsheng couldn't both teach tea-making and handle personnel management, so he transferred Zhang Zhongkun over.As for Wu Qingping, Ye Hongrong felt that Zhou Xiang alone was insufficient in Huizhou, so he transferred him there.