Chapter 55

A new sign was hung outside the teahouse. Literate folks were reading aloud, “Pearl milk tea? Hah! How can pearls be made into milk and tea? These things don’t even go together!”

Sister-in-law Lu shouted loudly, “Fresh arrival today—limited pearl milk tea!”

As soon as she finished speaking, the street-goers rushed over in a frenzy. The line stretched all the way to the corner of the marketplace.

The Li mother and daughter stared curiously at the sign and exchanged glances. When it came to tea, Mother Li knew it best. She quickly stepped forward but was stopped.

“Get to the back of the line!” someone said with a glance.

Mother Li clutched her sleeve nervously. If the tea Xiao Wanling sold turned out to be the Li family’s secret recipe, it would prove she was a “Li” by blood—meaning the shops should also belong to the Li family!

Li Mo looked at her mother, guessing what she was thinking, and her heart began to race.

Someone in front bought a pearl milk tea, inhaling the rich aroma of tea mixed with milk. He felt the eight wens were well spent.

Sipping slowly from a bamboo tube, the blend of milk and tea was perfectly harmonious. Then he bit into the chewy, bouncy black pearls.

“So this is pearl milk tea!” he exclaimed.

He nodded enthusiastically. “Marvelous!”

This man was none other than the white-haired elder who had previously scoffed at the teahouse—Chancellor Fu.

He strode up to the front of the line and said, “I didn’t buy enough earlier. Give me two more!”

Sister-in-law Lu replied politely, “Sir, it’s one per person due to limited stock. The line is long, so it’s limited to keep it fair.”

Chancellor Fu was furious. “What? A tea shop that refuses to sell more tea?”

This was the first time he’d seen a business refuse to make money. This little teahouse was outrageous!

Xiao Wanling explained, “If the people in front buy too many, those in the back won’t get any. No one wants to leave empty-handed.”

People in line chimed in, “Yeah! Don’t you know how rare milk is?”

“Everyone should get a taste. Don’t be so greedy!”

Being called greedy over a cup of milk tea made Chancellor Fu fume. He stomped back to the end of the line. He figured, if this next tea isn’t good, I won’t hold back my complaints!

People around him, noticing how mad he was, stepped back to give him space. When he finally reached the counter again, he waved his wide sleeves. “One of everything!”

Xiao Wanling looked at him and asked, “Are you sure? We have five kinds of tea today.”

He placed his coin pouch on the table. “I’ll buy!”

People in line whispered, “So generous!”

“Must be rich!”

Others behind him started shouting, “I thought it was one per person?!”

Xiao Wanling clarified, “One of each kind is allowed.”

One man clapped his hands. “Why didn’t you say so earlier? I wouldn’t have queued up so many times!” Everyone laughed.

Chancellor Fu received his four tea varieties—red date longan ginger tea, barley tea, snow fungus soup, and sweet tofu pudding—plus a smooth bamboo spoon to scoop the tofu.

He gave a cold “hmph,” rolled up his wide sleeves, and went to the snack stall. He ordered one of everything and sat down to eat.

He took a sip of the tofu pudding—smooth, tender, it slid right down his throat. He sampled the barley tea—it had a unique, roasted grain aroma. The snow fungus soup was sweet and thick, perfect for those with weak teeth.

The red date, longan, and ginger tea was piping hot and smelled divine. Then he took a bite of the puffed rice candy—crispy and fragrant.

Just moments ago, this old man had been furious. Now he said nothing, carefully wrapped his unfinished snacks in oiled paper, and turned to leave.

Xiao Wanling watched his back and wondered if he’d come to cause trouble.

Chancellor Fu climbed into a carriage and told his servant to go buy a pearl milk tea. Holding the teas and snacks, he went to visit an old friend—Master Zhi, head of the Imperial Weaving Bureau and a man dripping with wealth.

Master Zhi, seeing him arrive, smiled curiously. “What wind blew you in today?”

Wasn’t he supposed to be in the capital? What was he doing here? Surely not here just for a visit?

Chancellor Fu said, “I brought you something good!”

He placed five bamboo tubes and a bundle of snacks on the table. It looked quite shabby.

Master Zhi glanced at the offerings. “You don’t need to bring gifts to be welcome here.”

Chancellor Fu looked a bit embarrassed. “Don’t be fooled by the plain packaging; just try it and you’ll see.”

Seeing how anxious he looked, Master Zhi examined them closely. Weren’t these the same tea and snacks sold at the Ruyi Pavilion?

He took a bite of the puffed rice candy and fell silent. Then another, chewing slowly.

Chancellor Fu’s whiskers twitched. “Well?”

Master Zhi picked up a bamboo tube and sipped the snow fungus soup—it was perfectly sweet and smooth.

Chancellor Fu saw him eating without speaking. “Well? Say something!”

After finishing all the teas, Master Zhi finally said, “The tea has no bitterness, just a rich aroma. The milk and tea balance beautifully. And that tofu pudding—it’s unbelievably silky. Wonderful! As for the cost, leave it to me. I’ll cover everything!”

Chancellor Fu chuckled. “I didn’t even ask yet, and you already agreed!”

News had already spread to Jin City. The court and palace were strapped for cash, as wars, palace renovations, and all of it left massive holes in the treasury.

Chancellor Fu took his old friend to meet Xiao Wanling.

Seeing their grand robes and refined hair ornaments, Xiao Wanling could tell these weren’t ordinary men. She quickly smoothed her clothes, bowed politely, and led them to the back courtyard of the eatery.

The spicy, mouthwatering scent in the air made Chancellor Fu’s stomach rumble. “No need to pretend anymore.”

He thought, I’ve observed you for over ten days. When I heard the Ruyi Pavilion’s recipes came from Madam Xiao, I didn’t believe it at first.

Xiao Wanling blinked, then smiled and sat down. “So, what can I help you two with?”

Chancellor Fu said, “Open a shop!”

Xiao Wanling asked, “To sell what?”

“Buns and pastries sold separately. You come up with the ideas,” he replied.

Xiao Wanling raised an eyebrow. “You’re paying me to open a shop?” Was there really such a good thing in the world? She couldn’t help wondering if they were trying to scam her.

Chancellor Fu waved his hand. “Bring me a hotpot!”

The ignored Master Zhi looked between them and muttered, “That’s it? That’s your whole conversation?”

Chancellor Fu pointed at him. “We’re both investing and splitting the profits!”

Okay, so it was a real deal. Xiao Wanling straightened up. “How will the profits be divided?”

Master Zhi was stunned. Is this how you negotiate a partnership? Don’t you want to double-check anything first?

Chancellor Fu said, “The more we earn, the better. If people see we’re making money, other merchants will want in!”

Master Zhi gave a bitter laugh. Like me, for example.

So what am I even here for? Some friend he is…

Xiao Wanling made a condition. “I’ll agree, but we must prioritize hiring local village women.”

She brought out brush and paper and drafted the contract on the spot. Master Zhi watched her use a twig as a pen—how clever. This woman had some creativity.

The hotpot table was specially made. The dual-flavored pot was already boiling, surrounded by plates of vegetables, chicken, duck, fish, meatballs, tofu, and more.

Cheng Qiao’er poured tea and taught them to dip the meats and veggies into the pot to cook. Dipping sauces were available but had to pay extra!

Master Zhi said, “Two servings, please!”

The two old friends dug in heartily, too busy eating to talk, sweating from the spiciness, and exclaiming how satisfying it was.

After their hotpot feast, Chancellor Fu waved his hand outside the eatery. An oxcart loaded with bricks and roof tiles appeared, and masons started building walls. No one stopped them.

Xiao Wanling finally realized—this old man had planned everything in advance.

They built two rows of storefronts right at the fork between the tea fields and mulberry grove—on the road to Qishan Village.

When Shen Qing returned from town and saw the transformed marketplace, he asked, “What happened here?”

Thinking of how the Prince of Jin had personally told him to help Xiao Wanling, he put two and two together.

Not only were there storefronts, but also housing—it looked like a mini-town.

Xiao Wanling said, “Someone’s investing in shops!”

Shen Qing thought of the Prince of Jin. He pulled out a lavender hairpin adorned with pearls and placed it in Xiao Wanling’s hair, tightened her cloak, and asked, “Cold?”

Xiao Wanling replied, “Not cold. Have I gained weight again?” She felt like Shen Qing was always buying her new clothes.

He held her hand, it wasn’t too cold, and said, “It’s the baby growing.”

She wasn’t fat at all. She was just right.

Shen Qing asked, “How many days left?”

“Almost a month until New Year,” Xiao Wanling said.

He lifted her onto the horse and led it home.

Chancellor Fu appeared and shouted, “You’re just leaving like that?”

Someone’s offering you money to open a shop, and you’re not even curious?

Xiao Wanling didn’t even turn around. “Not interested.”

From Shen Qing’s reaction, she could guess he already knew. It was probably the Prince of Jin’s arrangement.

Chancellor Fu was so mad his beard flared. She’s really bold. Aren’t you afraid the prince will think you’re not doing your job properly?

He stayed behind to eat and drink with his friend, and the two of them lost track of time.

Two days after the shops were built, they opened for business. The two old men ate their way from one end of the street to the other. The villagers became quite familiar with them.

Aunt Wu joked, “Whose grandpa’s wandered off? Does anyone recognize them?”

Everyone shook their heads and said in unison, “Not from our village!”

Eventually, the families of the two men tracked them down to the marketplace. Chancellor Fu grabbed his grandson and took him on a food tour. The poor kid forgot all about his original mission.

Master Zhi followed suit, eating and drinking with his own grandson in tow and having the time of his life.

Their families, seeing they didn’t return, started to panic. Nearly the entire clan set out to search for them. Especially the Fu family; they hurried to Jin City and then to Qishan Village. After a bumpy journey, they had hotpot together, and all their frustration melted away.

The whole family ate and drank together. If it weren’t for ancestral rites back home, Chancellor Fu might have celebrated New Year’s right here.

Chancellor Fu said, “Let’s buy a bit of everything to take back for the old ancestors to try!”

After they finally left, Aunt Wu, Cheng Qiao’er, Gu Yaofang, and others stood in front of Shen Qing and asked, “Were they imperial officials?”

They sure looked more like retired nobles enjoying themselves.

Shen Qing said, “Yes.” He had seen their young masters at the Prince of Jin’s residence.

Aunt Wu swallowed hard. Just days ago, she’d joked about them being senile old men who’d wandered off. Thankfully, they didn’t punish her.

Sister-in-law Lu’s eyes sparkled. “I’ve made it! I personally served tea to imperial ministers!”

Shen Qing announced, “All the new shops are hiring women!” This was an assignment from Xiao Wanling and the two ministers.

Sister-in-law Lu rushed over, pressed her finger in red ink, and stamped her fingerprint on the paper. Then she let out a long sigh of relief.

She counted on her fingers. “A hundred cents a day, how much is that in a year? Is there really work every season?”

Cheng Qiao’er said, “It’s true. We all owe Madam Xiao our thanks.”

The women gathered, excitedly imagining making endless money throughout the year.

Lu Dahai came over and told Sister-in-law Lu, “We haven’t even bought our New Year’s goods yet!”

Her good mood vanished. “Then go collect the debts we’re owed. I’m busy!”

With New Year’s coming up, she didn’t want any more headaches. No need to bother Director Xiao—think of a way yourself!

Notes:

• • Chancellor Fu (傅丞相): A senior court official with a temper and a fondness for food. He becomes a surprising business partner to Xiao Wanling.

• • Master Zhi (織大人): Head of the Imperial Weaving Bureau (織造司), an incredibly wealthy official.