The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 753 - 752 Wild Tea

Chapter 753: Chapter 752 Wild Tea

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Song Chongjin didn’t look and slipped it into his pocket, then said, "At home, don’t push yourself too hard either. It’s great if you can dye the fabrics, but it’s okay if you can’t! Make sure your husband studies hard and strives to pass the graduate exam! So that you won’t have to work so hard in the future!"

In turn, Wang Yongzhu comforted him, "Don’t put so much pressure on yourself. It’d be great if you pass, but don’t worry if you don’t, you’re still young. We can take our time!"

Song Chongjin was touched, and found it even harder to leave, wishing he could pack up Wang Yongzhu and take her with him.

Still, he was rational enough to know that a brief separation now was worthwhile for a better future for Wang Yongzhu!

In the end, he couldn’t resist. In the alley next to the Escort Agency, while getting off the carriage to grab his luggage, he hugged Wang Yongzhu tightly and kissed her passionately twice before gritting his teeth, stepping off the carriage, and entering the Escort Agency without looking back.

He was afraid that if he turned around, he might never want to leave again.

After Song Chongjin entered the Escort Agency, Wang Yongzhu came back to her senses, touching her still-flushed cheeks and slightly swollen lips, and it took quite a while for the blush to fade.

Then she watched the Escort Agency for a good while before driving the carriage around and heading to Shopkeeper Wu’s general store.

Shopkeeper Wu just happened to be at the restaurant. Hearing the news, he hurried over.

Seeing that Wang Yongzhu had picked out some exotic items, he quickly instructed the shop assistant to pack them up and asked if there was anything else she needed.

Wang Yongzhu was direct, requesting several bolts of white unbleached cloth before intending to leave.

Having returned, and since Boss Zhang had someone bring a message last time, she certainly had to meet with him.

Shopkeeper Wu had someone deliver the letter to Ninth Young Master in the county town last night as soon as he got back. Since he hadn’t received a reply from Ninth Young Master, he didn’t dare make decisions on his own and personally saw Wang Yongzhu out.

Wang Yongzhu had already asked around. Because spring goods were in high demand, traders had come early this year and rented the house that Steward Guan had leased last year.

Guan Yifei had no choice but to find another courtyard in a slightly more remote location.

When Wang Yongzhu asked for directions and found the place, she just saw Guan Yifei at the courtyard gate.

He had set up a table at the gate with two shop assistants carrying a scale nearby, and several traders selling mountain goods had gathered around the table.

Wang Yongzhu waited for the sellers to leave before driving her carriage closer.

When Guan Yifei looked up and saw Wang Yongzhu, he immediately sported a smile and heaved a sigh of relief. Standing up,

"I was saying you should be coming over these days!" he instructed the shop assistant to lead the carriage into the courtyard to provide the mules with fodder and water, while inviting Wang Yongzhu inside to sit.

After taking their respective seats as host and guest and drinking a few sips of tea, Wang Yongzhu was surprised. The tea tasted bitter at first, but soon that bitterness turned into a faint sweetness that slid down her throat.

She couldn’t help but take another two sips, "This tea is good." Looking at the cup, she noticed the tea leaves weren’t of great quality; although the tea was a pale yellow, it was clear that the leaves weren’t processed by someone skilled at frying tea, but seemed to be haphazardly prepared.

Guan Yifei’s eyes lit up, his face expressing ’you really know your stuff’: "This tea is good, isn’t it! This is a great find I made this year, wild tea from the mountains, Pre-Ming Tea! It’s just a pity, though, that the leaves, despite being fine, were spoiled by the harvesters! The tea has lost four-fifths of its original flavor due to their handling—such a waste!"

As he spoke, he too cradled his teacup and took a sip, shaking his head in regret.

Wang Yongzhu’s interest was piqued, "This is wild tea from the mountains? Where did you collect it?"

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Guan Yifei did not keep things in suspense and explained the circumstances.

It turned out that the wild tea was part of the mountain goods sent by the Wang Family, and there wasn’t much of it—just one packet weighing less than half a pound.

At that time, he just sniffed it and found it decent enough, with a bit of a wild charm. After chewing it, he did feel the tea’s characteristic bitterness and aftertaste.

He then gave a tael of silver and casually asked where it came from.

Only then did he learn that it had been traded by the sharp-looking second son of the Wang Family for a packet of sugar dregs, which a little kid had stealthily taken from home in exchange for sugar treats.

Although he did not know what it was, he found the smell quite refreshing and invigorating, and having heard that it could be brewed into a drink, he decided to take it.

Guan Yifei, having dealt with mountain goods for many years and followed Boss Zhang on expeditions through the south for a long time, had seen his fair share of tea gardens and top-quality teas.

However, this wild tea, despite being treated so roughly, could still blend bitterness and a refreshing aftertaste together. After drinking it, one felt clear-headed and invigorated, not at all inferior to tribute teas.

He immediately took interest.

Boss Zhang’s business was growing larger, and to gain a foothold in the Capital City, he needed a flagship product that would come to people’s minds when they thought of him.

But in the Capital City, the businesses that could grow big were either longstanding reputable brands or those with backing. How could Boss Zhang find his place among them?

Guan Yifei was already a trusted aide of Boss Zhang and understood the challenges the boss was facing. After seeing this wild tea, he thought of an idea.

He sent half of the wild tea to Boss Zhang and recounted everything that had happened.

Before long, Boss Zhang personally sent a secret letter, saying he had had the wild tea appraised by the person in the Capital City who understood tea the best. They declared that it was an excellent tea, it was just a shame it was wasted due to unprofessional processing methods.

Boss Zhang, being a very perceptive person, knew this was a great opportunity to make his mark in the Capital City.

He immediately issued a strict order for Guan Yifei to locate the source of this wild tea, preferably to purchase it, and to see if it had a large yield. If possible, they could create a new type of tea.

Upon receiving the secret letter, Guan Yifei began making inquiries on all sides, but since he was unfamiliar with the area and given the scale of the matter, he dared not reveal anything to the Wang Family.

So he thought of going through Wang Yongzhu to find that wild tea again.

Of course, he made a promise that if Wang Yongzhu could help locate the source of the wild tea, he would be substantially rewarded! He also asked Wang Yongzhu to keep it a secret, not to broadcast it everywhere, lest everyone becomes aware of it.

He was at his wits’ end, as who would know whose family in the deep mountains had supplied it? If he were to approach the members of the Wang Family, it would be worse than seeking out Wang Yongzhu. Given Wang Yongzhu’s current status and for the sake of protecting Song Chongjin’s reputation, he wouldn’t leak any information.

It would be better to locate those people through Wang Yongzhu rather than directly contacting the Wang Family members.

After a moment of contemplation, Wang Yongzhu guessed Guan Yifei’s intentions. However, if she could really help Guan Yifei with this matter, the Wang Family’s mountain goods business would no longer have worries.

Wang Yongzhu’s heart stirred, and a faint idea formed in her mind.

She immediately asked Guan Yifei to be at ease, promising to inquire upon returning home.

Only then did Guan Yifei feel reassured enough to stand up and see Wang Yongzhu out. Just before leaving, he reluctantly packed another tael of the already scarce tea leaves for Wang Yongzhu, advising her with a pained expression, "Be sure to drink it sparingly. If we don’t find that wild tea, there will be none left for the future!"

Wang Yongzhu accepted the tea leaves with amusement and bid farewell.