Glory

Ye Yaming gave an apologetic smile and asked, "What about the funds we're short of..."

"Hmph, that old fellow initially only mentioned preparing a grand gift for you, not a word about lending us money. It was only after I analyzed the pros and cons with him that he agreed to provide an interest-free loan."

Though Ye Chongming said this, there was a smile on his face, clearly indicating his conversation with Mei Zhonglin had gone quite smoothly.

"Tomorrow morning I'll send someone to the tea house to bring back all the loose tea, then purchase osmanthus flowers. You can start making tea with the available ingredients. I'll arrange for others to buy more tea and gather osmanthus. Use whatever ingredients we have to make as much tea as possible."

He then sighed regretfully, "It's a pity we can't retrieve the loose tea from the capital in time, otherwise we'd have several hundred more jin of loose tea to use."

The Ye family's tea leaves were exceptionally particular about quality. Even though these loose tea ingredients weren't the finest—often using summer and autumn harvests—they were still superior to ordinary loose tea available elsewhere. Moreover, being at cost price, they were considerably cheaper.

Other tea merchants' loose tea varied in quality, making pricing difficult after being processed into Osmanthus Tea.

But now they had to rush production during the osmanthus blooming season—there simply wasn't time to fetch the loose tea from the capital.

Understanding his concern, Ye Yaming said, "I'll use our highest quality loose tea to make premium Osmanthus Tea for you to gift to Master Zhineng or Master Wu and others. This batch will be for gifts only, not for sale. For the remaining tea, I'll sort it into high, medium, and low grades based on quality. You can set prices accordingly when selling—no need for overly detailed distinctions."

Ye Chongming had the same thought and nodded approvingly. "You're very thoughtful. Alright, we'll proceed this way."

Though aware that Ye Chongming was experienced and didn't need reminders, Ye Yaming couldn't resist adding, "When buying loose tea and collecting osmanthus, don't use our family's name. Have others make the purchases indirectly."

Ye Chongming inwardly marveled at his third granddaughter's thorough consideration.

He nodded, "Don't worry, I won't draw any attention."

"Grandfather has been in business his whole life—of course you'd think of such things. I'm just stating the obvious," Ye Yaming said with a laugh.

Ye Chongming sighed, "I'm getting old, and these years of smooth sailing have made me less meticulous than you. Ming'er, speak your mind freely. Don't worry that I won't listen or that I'll be displeased. Without you, our family would truly be in trouble this time. The consequences would have been hard to predict."

Recalling how they might have failed to see through Meng Chengwei—allowing him to befriend Ye Jiaxing and then offer help when the Ye family faced difficulties—Ye Chongming shuddered. The family would have regarded him as a benefactor, deepened their relationship, possibly sought ways to repay him, and ultimately been led into ruin.

"I'm just glad you don't blame me. Sometimes I speak bluntly out of urgency, and regret it afterward. Those things didn't need to be said by me—Grandfather would have surely realized them anyway," Ye Yaming replied.

Accustomed to giving orders in her modern life without needing to phrase things delicately when dealing with subordinates, she now found herself in ancient times as someone's granddaughter, in an era that strictly emphasized hierarchy and etiquette. Her directness sometimes felt inappropriate.

Ye Chongming waved his hand, "I truly don't think you speak improperly. Don't overthink it."Problem after problem weighed heavily on him, and his heart burned with anxiety. Ye Yaming's excellent suggestions were like a timely rain—how could he possibly nitpick about such things? It was her half-revealed, half-concealed manner of speaking that truly vexed him.

Seeing that Ye Chongming genuinely didn't mind, Ye Yaming felt compelled to add, "We must act quickly in purchasing tea and gathering osmanthus. Making Osmanthus Tea requires fresh osmanthus flowers—once the blooming season passes, it will be impossible to produce."

Ye Chongming nodded. "Agreed."

He then asked, "How many people do you need? Should we go to the Tea House?"

"No need. We can do it right in my courtyard. With the six maids and matrons from my courtyard, plus the six from my mother's courtyard, twelve people should suffice."

Yin Shi's courtyard had eight maids and matrons.

By leaving two personal maids to attend to her, Ye Yaming could mobilize six. It was likely that Yin Shi strongly supported her daughter's endeavor to make Osmanthus Tea. "If it truly isn't enough, there are also maids and matrons in Yin'er's courtyard. When the time comes, I'll have my mother and Yin'er supervise them in selecting osmanthus flowers and roasting the tea. As for the crucial scenting process, I will handle it with Granny Cai, Bai Rui, and four other maids."

Observing how methodically Ye Yaming had arranged everything, and noting that she wisely entrusted the key steps to her own courtyard staff to prevent leaks from too many mouths, Ye Chongming grew increasingly impressed. He marveled at how such a young girl could be so meticulous and thorough in her planning, recognizing her as a rare talent. Yet, this only deepened his sense of regret.

The next day, Old Madam Ye instructed all the maids and matrons to gather osmanthus flowers, clean them, and deliver them to Ye Yaming's courtyard. Ye Chongming also sent someone from the Tea House to deliver Loose tea, along with some tea-making tools.

Simultaneously, he took a roundabout approach: he had trusted acquaintances help collect osmanthus flowers and dispatched unfamiliar Pages and servants, disguised, to purchase Loose tea from other tea merchants.

Ye Yaming then led the maids and matrons in tea production within her courtyard.

Old Madam Ye sent Granny Yu to guard the gate and handle logistical tasks, occasionally delivering snacks and tea to Ye Yaming and the others.

"Have you found out yet? What is that girl Ming tinkering with in her courtyard with all those maids and matrons? Don't tell me it's really just osmanthus honey," Tao Shi asked her maid, Ling'er.

Doing it for one day was one thing, but continuing today, even bringing in osmanthus from outside and working behind closed doors in the courtyard—making osmanthus honey wouldn't require that much osmanthus or such secrecy, would it? Besides, there was also the tea.

While these items were brought in discreetly, they couldn't escape the notice of Tao Shi, who managed half the household affairs. However, she didn't know exactly what was being delivered to Ye Yaming's courtyard. The tight concealment only fueled her curiosity.

"I haven't found out. Granny Yu is stationed near the third young lady's courtyard gate. Anyone not from the second branch is questioned if they pass by," Ling'er replied.

Tao Shi frowned.

If she had initially suspected the second branch of some mischief, she now dismissed that thought.

Granny Yu was Old Madam Ye's confidante, answering only to her, and her status far surpassed that of other servants. Not to mention Yin Shi and Ye Yaming, even Tao Shi herself couldn't command Granny Yu without Old Madam Ye's express orders.

Now, with Ye Yaming having Granny Yu guard her door, it was clear that her activities weren't just the second branch's affair but concerned the entire Ye Jia.

Recalling how Old Madam Ye had ordered servants from various courtyards to gather osmanthus for Ye Yaming, and the continuous stream of deliveries to her courtyard, Tao Shi began to form a vague suspicion.Probably because Second Master had newly developed some tea, worried that it might be leaked by the Tea House staff, and the difficulty wasn't too great, so he simply had it done in the second household with Ye Yaming leading the maids and servants.