Glory

But why did he feel such anxious anticipation for the new tea Ye Yaming had mentioned? Was it because her performance yesterday had been so astonishing that it gave rise to unwarranted expectations?

Ye Chongming smiled self-deprecatingly and shook his head.

Even though he kept telling himself it was impossible, impossible... Before evening arrived, while the tea house still had a mess to deal with due to the trouble caused by Ye Hongrong and Ding Jian—staff needed investigating, positions required reshuffling, managers and assistants needed to be appeased... and so much remained unresolved—Ye Chongming found himself eagerly wanting to return home to see Ye Yaming's research results.

"Young Lady, the Old Master has returned. He summons you," a maidservant came to Ye Yaming's courtyard to relay the message.

"Alright, I'll go right away." Ye Yaming placed some Osmanthus Tea in a small porcelain caddy and led Bai Rui to the main courtyard.

"Ming'er is here? Sit, sit." Even the usually steady Ye Chongming showed unusual restlessness, earning him several glances from Old Mrs. Ye.

"How did it go? Any progress?" he asked.

Ye Yaming smiled, took out the white porcelain tea caddy she was holding, placed it on the table, and said, "I've made osmanthus honey before and have often wondered how to infuse floral fragrance into tea."

She looked at Ye Chongming seriously and continued, "Grandfather, you know tea leaves absorb scents most readily. It's easy to let tea leaves take on floral notes, but preserving that aroma is the real challenge. I thought perhaps lightly roasting them might help retain the fragrance longer? So today, I followed the method I've been pondering for the past six months and made this batch of tea. What do you think?"

Creating Osmanthus Tea in one go would seem unnatural, but attributing it to six months of contemplation made it less shocking.

Time was tight; she had to "develop" the Osmanthus Tea in the shortest time possible, or the osmanthus season would soon pass.

Ye Chongming reached for the white porcelain tea caddy, opened the lid, and before even bringing it close to his nose, caught a whiff of osmanthus fragrance.

Not just him—even Old Mrs. Ye, sitting beside him across a tea table, smelled it and exclaimed delightedly, "How fragrant."

Since Ye Yaming was a girl under Old Mrs. Ye's supervision and guidance, and her displayed talents held significant importance for the family, Ye Chongming intentionally let the Old Madam know to secure her and the second branch's status within the household.

Moreover, since Ye Yaming needed the support of the family's servants, which required Old Mrs. Ye's approval, Ye Chongming had already told her about Ye Yaming's performance the previous day and her intention to make Osmanthus Tea.

Now, smelling the fragrance, Old Mrs. Ye also grew expectant about the Osmanthus Tea.

As a woman, she loved floral scents best. If tea could carry the aroma of flowers, it would be even more perfect. Sharing this sentiment, she found it easier to understand Ye Yaming's ability to create Osmanthus Tea.

Ye Chongming raised his hand and instructed, "Boil water. I want to brew tea." He deeply regretted not believing Ye Yaming could produce the tea earlier, hence not having servants prepare boiled water and tea utensils in advance.

Fortunately, the Ye family never lacked various tea-brewing implements or skilled tea brewers. Servants quickly lit the small red clay stove in the corridor, and Ye Chongming's customary white porcelain tea set was brought forth.

"I'll brew it," Ye Yaming said, seating herself at the tea table. After glancing at the tea set on the table, she added, "Bring another teapot."The servant glanced at Ye Chongming and, seeing him nod, quickly brought over another white porcelain teapot.

Ye Yaming had already arranged the tea set. Once the water boiled, she first poured some into a porcelain pot, using the rest to warm the teapot and teacups.

After warming the tea set, the water temperature in the pot had dropped to around ninety degrees Celsius. Only then did she pour the water into the teapot to brew the tea.

She did not cover the teapot. As steam rose and misted in the air, the fragrance of osmanthus instantly filled the room.

"Oh, this is truly fragrant. I love the scent of osmanthus the most. Just this aroma alone would surely attract buyers," Old Mrs. Ye praised enthusiastically.

Ye Chongming nodded with a smile but remained silent. While the aroma was indeed pleasant, tea was ultimately meant to be tasted. If the flavor was poor or peculiar, it would not be considered a successful tea.

Ye Yaming smiled at Old Mrs. Ye without speaking. Estimating that the tea had reached its optimal flavor, she lifted the teapot and poured the brewed tea into the white porcelain pot that had previously held boiling water.

The timing for decanting tea depended on various factors such as the type of tea leaves, water temperature, amount of leaves used, and the brewing vessel—all judged by experience.

Skilled tea brewers had an impeccable grasp of these variables.

In her previous life, Ye Yaming had been by her grandfather's side since the age of ten, brewing tea for him. Her tea-brewing skills were beyond reproach, earning praise even from the most fastidious tea connoisseurs.

Only after pouring out all the tea did she set down the teapot. She then lifted the pot containing the brewed tea to fill the cups and stood up to serve them to the two.

Ye Chongming and Old Mrs. Ye found her brewing method unusual, seemingly more intricate, with water and tea being transferred back and forth between two pots. They found it quite peculiar.

However, they did not rush to ask questions. Instead, they first picked up their teacups.

Seeing the tea liquor was exceptionally clear, Ye Chongming nodded in approval.

Turbid tea liquor, unless caused by excessive tea fuzz or "cooling cloudiness," often indicated shortcomings in processing—over-drying during fixation, excessive rolling, or other steps leading to too many broken leaves.

Most teas required a clear liquor.

Now, this Osmanthus Tea had a rich aroma and a clear liquor, passing the first two tests.

Ye Chongming was mindful of his health and avoided overly hot tea. But eager to taste the tea, he blew hastily on the cup and took a small sip.

An intense fragrance immediately filled his mouth, different from the aroma he had inhaled—this was a true infusion into his heart and lungs, a delightful fragrance that evoked joy from within. It was as if the osmanthus scent drifting through the city had seeped into his very soul, making him want to exclaim, "Excellent!"

But before he could praise it, a refreshing, sweet taste surged across his tongue. After the invigorating freshness, saliva welled up beneath his tongue, leaving his entire mouth bathed in a sweet aftertaste.

The ever-present bitter, astringent, and stale flavors that usually lingered when drinking loose tea were entirely absent in this brew.

"Oh? Was this made from our family's loose tea?" he asked in surprise.

"Yes, there's no bitter or stale taste at all. The flavor is exceptionally good. I've never tasted such delicious tea," Old Mrs. Ye also remarked with astonishment.

"It is indeed our family's loose tea, the one you sent to me this morning," Ye Yaming replied."Could adding osmanthus really make the tea taste this good?" Ye Chongming asked.