Glory

There was only one road from Lin'an City up the mountain. Ye Chongming, wary of Meng Chengwei's schemes, had long ago sent word to the family running the roadside tea shack at the mountain's base.

The old man Wang and his family, who operated the tea shack, also owned a tea garden on the mountain. However, with many mouths to feed and limited tea land, they had cleverly opened this shack to serve tea and provide rest for traveling tea merchants and tea-picking laborers. Old Man Wang was acquainted with Ye Chongming and shared a rather close friendship.

Meng Chengwei, distrustful of Meng Liang's capabilities, dispatched his own confidant Liu Qilin to the mountains.

Liu Qilin knew these villagers were familiar with the Ye family. As a stranger, if he went into the village to speak ill of the Ye family, he would surely be driven out with clubs.

So he decided to start with the tea shack.

Whether a humble tea shack or an elegant tea house, such places were hubs for spreading gossip. Once the Ye family's affairs became known at the tea shack, every estate holder on the mountain would hear of it.

Thus, dressed in silk robes to appear wealthy and accompanied by two attendants, Liu arrived at the tea shack. Another man disguised as a tea merchant's housekeeper had already arrived.

Pretending to be strangers who both hailed from the capital, they struck up a casual conversation that eventually turned to the latest news in Lin'an City.

"Word has spread throughout the city: the Ye family's tea silver was robbed, and they recently suffered heavy losses in a business deal. Now they can't come up with the funds to reserve tea leaves."

They dared not mention the Ye family's illicit tea because Ding Jian had been captured. If this matter escalated and investigations deepened, Meng Chengwei himself would not escape implication.

Therefore, Liu Qilin and his companion avoided speaking of it.

At this point, Liu Qilin suddenly seemed to have an idea and asked Wang Youcai, Old Man Wang's son, "By the way, which estate holders here have reserved their tea for the Ye family? Given their current troubles, you haven't committed your tea to them or signed contracts yet, have you?"

Wang Youcai exchanged a glance with his wife, Madam Wang, feigning great surprise. "Really? But... but we've already signed a contract with them," he told Liu Qilin.

Adopting an anxious expression, he turned to his wife. "What should we do?"

Madam Wang suggested, "Why not send Dali down the mountain to inquire? If this is true, we should notify others so they can prepare early."

"Good, good," Wang Youcai said, tossing down his rag and bowing to Liu Qilin. "Thank you for the warning, sir."

He then called out loudly, "Dali! Dali!"

A sturdy young man in his twenties rushed in, asking in a deep voice, "Dad, what is it?"

"Go down the mountain and find out about the Ye family's situation," Wang Youcai instructed carefully.

Wang Dali agreed, untied the donkey tethered nearby, and rode off down the mountain.

Liu Qilin and his companion exchanged looks. Setting down his tea bowl, Liu said, "Take your time resting, brother. I'll be on my way."

"I've rested enough too," his companion replied, standing up. The two groups left the tea shack together.

They weren't worried about the tea shack owners making inquiries. In the city, Meng Liang had been effective, hiring a group of troublemakers to spread rumors far and wide. If the shopkeepers went into town, they would undoubtedly hear about the Ye family's downfall.

Meanwhile, Wang Dali descended the mountain and headed straight to Gathered Fragrance Tea House, reporting everything to Ye Chongming.

Ye Chongming smiled and asked, "Weren't you afraid what he said might be true?""How is that possible?" Wang Dali munched on the snacks brought by the attendant, speaking bluntly, "My father said your Ye family has substantial financial resources. Even if the rumor about your tea silver being robbed isn't true, just selling one of your shops in Lin'an City or the capital would be enough to prepay the tea silver for all the estate holders on our entire mountain. Issuing those tea tokens is just you doing a favor for Baofeng Bank."

Perhaps feeling parched from eating, he picked up the teacup beside him and drained it in one gulp, wiping his mouth before continuing, "Besides, the bank owner isn't foolish. If your family were truly in decline, he wouldn't partner with you to issue any 'tea tokens'." Ye Chongming couldn't help but laugh, reaching out to ruffle Wang Dali's head. "You're quite clever, kid."

"Really? My parents are always calling me stupid," Wang Dali complained.

"Then would you like to come work as an attendant in my teahouse?" Ye Chongming asked.

The Wang family had helped him greatly this time, so it was only right to repay them somehow. He had previously thought Wang Dali somewhat simple-minded, but hearing him speak now, the boy seemed quite sharp—perfect for training as an attendant.

Attendants in Lin'an City's teahouses earned decent wages, certainly better than what Wang Youcai made running his small tea stall. More importantly, the job involved interacting with many people, providing excellent experience. Besides, Wang Youcai and his wife could manage the stall perfectly well without Wang Dali's help.

Young people always yearned for bustling places, and Wang Dali's eyes lit up immediately. "Am I capable enough?"

"I'll have someone mentor you. Give it a try first," Ye Chongming said cautiously, not wanting to make promises he couldn't keep. Being a teahouse attendant required not only physical stamina and agility but also sharp observation and tactful speech. A single misstep—scalding a customer or offending someone with careless words—could bring disaster to the establishment, so not everyone was suited for the role.

"Discuss it with your parents the day after tomorrow. Have your father bring you to the teahouse to see me," Ye Chongming instructed. "I need to step out now. Take your time with the snacks—there's plenty. Bring some back for your grandparents and parents when you leave."

"Alright," Wang Dali replied obediently, continuing to eat the pastries.

Once outside, Ye Chongming's expression turned cold.

"Manager Lin, go to my home and fetch Jiaxing. Take him up the mountain with you to explain the situation to everyone and prevent panic. Tell the estate holders that if they help our Ye family through this crisis by not cashing in their tea tokens at the bank, I'll add an extra hundred wen in interest for every tael of tea tokens when we redeem them next spring."

"Yes," Lin Zhensheng acknowledged.

"Take extra guards from the security company with you," Ye Chongming added.

Lin Zhensheng, fully aware of the injuries suffered by Ye Hongchang and Ye Jiaxing, took every precaution. He first went to the security company to hire guards, then to the Ye residence to collect Ye Jiaxing before heading up the mountain together.

...

The rumors spread by Meng Chengwei targeted only the teahouse patrons. These customers were wealthy and leisurely; even if they gossiped, such talk wouldn't easily reach the Song family.

To plant a seed, Ye Yaming had Xia Momo make another trip, deliberately ensuring Xiao Xiang overheard the gossip.

Thus, after buying vinegar, Xiao Xiang rushed back and reported to Yu Shi—who was instructing the cook on preparing the Mid-Autumn Festival dinner—that the Ye family's tea silver had been robbed, Master Ye was seriously injured, and the Ye family was facing bankruptcy.That's right, the rumor spread far and wide until it became "The Ye Family is going bankrupt."

Upon hearing this, Yu Shi was overjoyed, clapping her hands and exclaiming, "Ah, heaven truly blesses us! Let's see if they still dare to look down on others. No, I must burn an incense stick for my husband."

With that, she hurried to the family shrine and lit an incense stick for her husband.

Xiao Xiang couldn't help but curl her lip in disdain.