Transmigrating to the Qi Family - Chapter 149

“My Lord, we find tea trees on several of the surrounding mountains, both large and small. The locals likely don’t know what they are, so no one has touched them,” reports the guard sent by Pei Che to investigate.

Pei Che nods, indicating he understands. It makes sense that the locals wouldn’t recognize tea trees. After all, tea isn’t something ordinary people typically drink, and those who can afford tea wouldn’t bother climbing the mountains to find it. Even if they did, not everyone knows what a tea tree looks like.

In recent years, the imperial court has strictly regulated the export of salt, iron, and tea, while domestic sales have been somewhat more lenient. Salt is essential to people’s livelihood, and only salt merchants with imperial permits are allowed to sell it; private salt trade is forbidden under penalty of death. As for iron, unless large quantities are involved, the authorities usually ignore it, occasionally checking blacksmith shops’ transaction records. Tea, however, is largely unrestricted; whether state-owned or privately managed, as long as taxes are paid and the tea doesn’t leave the country, there are no major restrictions.

However, despite the limited restrictions on tea trade, not many people actually go into this business. Initially, some try to establish tea plantations with great enthusiasm, but most end up going bankrupt. Tea cultivation is too unpredictable, and ordinary people don’t dare take the risk.

But Pei Che has no such concerns. As the prefect, he controls the surrounding mountains, which belong to the imperial court, so he doesn’t need to pay for any lease. At worst, he’ll lose some time and effort. But if he succeeds, it will provide the people of Cangzhou with a new livelihood skill. Overall, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.

Jiang Miao, after learning of Pei Che’s determination, also sets his worries aside. At worst, he’ll lose some money. They’re both so young—why worry about not being able to earn more in the future?

Encouraged by Jiang Miao’s support, Pei Che begins organizing manpower to cultivate the mountain land once he confirms that the mountains around Cangzhou are suitable for tea trees.

The workers are local residents of Cangzhou fulfilling their corvée duties. In previous years, their tasks mostly involve dredging rivers, reinforcing city walls, or repairing official roads, often far from home. This year, when they hear they can work close to their village on the nearby mountains, everyone is in good spirits. Working close to home means they don’t have to worry about basic needs and are safe from bullying by others.

Soon, the counties under Cangzhou’s jurisdiction mobilize their people to clear the mountain land. Gradually, terraced fields begin to take shape, wrapping around the mountains.

Some people are puzzled: “What is the prefect thinking? Even if he clears the land on the mountain, what will he do with it? Can he plant rice or other grains up there?”

“I doubt it,” another replies. “But that’s not our problem. In the end, he’ll be the one to deal with the mess if it fails.”

There are plenty of similar conversations, and even though Pei Che isn’t actively seeking out opinions, the comments still reach his ears. Despite the general skepticism, Pei Che remains enthusiastic. Over the past few days, he’s been taking people to inspect the progress of land clearing in several counties around the area.

While land development in Cangzhou is in full swing, over in Liangjing, many people receive Cangzhou specialties from Jiang Miao.

When the Jiang family’s small shop receives two large jars, they initially think Jiang Miao is hinting that they could start selling wine. Soon, Tang Lin notices the note attached to the jars.

“The boss says this is called canned bayberry. Once opened, it needs to be eaten quickly. He also mentioned that if there’s an odd smell, we shouldn’t eat it.”

“Canned bayberry?” Li Ping murmurs. He knows about bayberry, though he’s never tasted it. He understands it’s some kind of fruit, but he has no idea what “canned” means.

“If you’re curious, let’s open it and find out.” Tang Lin, eager to try it, grabs a small knife from the kitchen and pries off the wooden stopper with a pop. As the air escapes, a sour-sweet aroma fills the room, making everyone’s mouths water.

Li Ping grabs a wooden ladle used for scooping wine, dips it into the jar, and stirs. He ladles out a spoonful, revealing several large, round, red fruits floating in a bright red liquid. The fruits look beautiful, just like the bayberry Jiang Miao described.

“Do you think it’s still good?” Tang Lin asks, eager to taste. He sniffs deeply and notices nothing but the enticing sweet-sour scent.

Li Ping frowns slightly, dips a finger into the juice on the spoon, and tastes it. After savoring it for a moment, his frown eases.

“It’s fine; we can eat it.” With that, he pours the juice and a few bayberry into a small bowl, ladling in more until the bowl is full.

“Xiaoyu, come try this!” Li Ping calls Jiang Yu over, and the young couple sits together, taking turns spooning the sweet and tangy canned bayberries, finding them sweeter than honey.

Tang Lin, being single, can’t help but feel a bit envious watching the couple, so he channels his frustration into his appetite, taking a big bite of his own bowl of canned bayberries. The juice is sweet and tangy, while the bayberry fruit itself has mellowed to a pure sweetness without any cloying aftertaste. Even someone who doesn’t normally enjoy sweets would find it hard to resist going back for another bite after tasting this.

The shop’s staff shares one jar among themselves, setting aside the other carefully to enjoy later.

Unlike the cautious approach others took, the people in the Feng household open all three jars they receive right away. With so many family members, even three jars only allow a bowl per person.

Old Master Feng holds his bowl of canned bayberries with a nostalgic look in his eyes. He recalls his youth, before he traveled to the capital for the imperial exams, back when he was just an ordinary scholar from a small town in the south. There was a bayberry tree in front of his house back then. The fruit was small and sour—not as delicious as what he is eating now—but it’s one of the few treats he remembers fondly.

While others enjoy the preserves, feeling either surprised or nostalgic, Grandmother Pei refuses to even open hers. She glares at the jar as if she can see Pei Che through it.

“Madam, this is a heartfelt gift from the young master. Are you really not going to try it?” Nanny Gao urges her.

“Hmph, his gift? That handwriting on the label is clearly his wife’s! I bet he’s already forgotten about his grandmother!” Grandmother Pei is both upset and a bit hurt.

Nanny Gao says, “But Madam, you were the one who told the young master not to write to you, so how could he have forgotten you now?” They have been master and servant for many years, and their bond has long transcended mere duty. Her madam could live without anyone else but her, so Nanny Gao isn’t afraid of her at all.

Grandmother Pei is at a loss for words. “…And yet, when does he ever listen? I only mentioned it offhand, and he actually took it seriously?”

Nanny Gao holds back a smile. After all that fuss, her madam is now claiming it was just an offhand remark. It’s clear she regrets it and is now looking for a way out.

“Well, actually, it’s not like the young master has completely stopped writing. It’s just that you ordered me not to bring any news of him to you.”

“… Then what are you waiting for? Bring it here at once!”

After enjoying her madam’s embarrassed look long enough, Nanny Gao finally turns to fetch the two letters Pei Che has sent.

Grandmother Pei snatches the letters eagerly, tearing them open without a trace of the anger she had displayed earlier.