Transmigrating to the Qi Family - Chapter 168

“Boss, someone just delivered a letter.”

“Bring it here; let me take a look.” The Hu merchant, sipping tea with other traveling merchants, takes the red invitation. Upon opening it, he sees that it is an invitation to gather at Mingzheng Pavilion in the afternoon. The signature at the bottom is none other than Pei Che, the Prefect of Cangzhou.

The moment they see the signature, everyone understands that this is not an invitation they can refuse. After all, they are currently on Pei Che’s turf. Ignoring the invitation would be incredibly disrespectful.

“Where is this Mingzheng Pavilion?” someone asks.

The Hu merchant hesitates for a moment, about to suggest sending someone to inquire, when the person sitting across from him suddenly says, “Isn’t there something written on the back of the invitation? I vaguely saw the words ‘Mingzheng Pavilion.'”

Hearing this, the Hu merchant flips the invitation over. Sure enough, the words “Mingzheng Pavilion” are written on the back, along with the address. It seems the sender has considered that the recipients might be unfamiliar with the location and provides a helpful reminder. This thoughtful gesture is quite innovative—no one has ever done this before.

Aside from the Hu merchant’s group, another group of people is staying at the Fulai Inn. These individuals are tall and rugged, resembling those from further north. They are bold and hearty, their deep laughter occasionally echoing across the rooms.

The Hu merchant sends someone to inquire and learns that they, too, have received an invitation from the Prefect. This brings a sense of relief but also a tinge of wariness. They have come to Cangzhou for one reason: Cangzhou Green. The tea samples that Steward Xu displays—each grade—are all superior to what they have purchased in the past after traveling long distances to the south.

…

For small merchant caravans like theirs, doing business is often fraught with difficulties. When they travel far to negotiate deals, they are rarely taken seriously. The prices offered are typically inflated, and the quality is often the leftover inferior goods that large caravans reject.

Just as they leave Liangjing this time, they notice a large sign hanging outside a roadside inn. The sign boldly reads, “Tea for Sale.” These three ordinary words pique their interest, and they instinctively stop their horses to investigate, entering the inn to discuss the matter with the shopkeeper.

Once inside, they learn that the sign is hung there by a guest who has paid for the privilege.

This sparks their curiosity about this guest. After all, tea is a luxury item, and the tea plantation owners in the south are famously arrogant. They always act as though they are doing buyers a favor, their noses perpetually in the air.

For the plantation owners, selling tea is never an issue. Since it’s a seller’s market, why not adopt a loftier attitude? So what if the buyers come from the capital? If you want to purchase their tea, you have to humble yourself.

After explaining their purpose, they are invited into a private room.

Inside, someone is brewing tea. The room is filled with a faint tea fragrance, and the tea in the pot is clear and green, clearly indicating its high quality. Seeing them enter, the host gestures for them to sit down and taste the tea.

Having been in the tea trade for years, they are well-versed in tea culture. It is immediately apparent that the host’s tea-brewing skills are not particularly refined. The water temperature used is not ideal, revealing that this person is new to the trade.

However, this only serves to highlight the tea’s exceptional quality. If an amateur can brew tea this good, imagine how it would taste in the hands of an expert.

A glimmer of eagerness appears in the Hu merchant’s eyes. Yet, as a seasoned businessman, he knows better than to show his emotions. Any visible enthusiasm will cost him the upper hand. So, he simply lifts the cup quietly without saying a word.

The true essence of tea lies in its taste. No matter how visually appealing or fragrant it may be, if the flavor disappoints, all else is in vain.

As soon as the tea touches his lips, the Hu merchant’s eyes widen. The tea has a fresh, clean taste, akin to a mountain spring, soothing his parched mouth. As it goes down, a pleasant aftertaste lingers, making him crave another sip after the first.

“May I ask the name of this tea? It seems I’ve never had it before,” the Hu merchant asks. He considers himself a veteran in the tea world—how is it possible he has never encountered this tea? Where is it sourced from?

Steward Xu strokes the short beard on his chin and smiles. “You have a fine palate to discern its quality after just one cup. This tea is called…”

He pauses briefly, cursing inwardly. They haven’t yet named the tea, and there is no time to consult the young master or the lady for their input.

“This tea is called Cangzhou Green.”

“Cangzhou Green?” The color is indeed green, but why associate it with Cangzhou? The Hu merchant has never been to this place but vaguely remembers it as a rather impoverished region.

“Yes, this tea is produced in Cangzhou. The mother trees grow deep in the mountains, nourished day and night by the mountain’s dew. Naturally, the tea absorbs the sweet essence of the dew,” Steward Xu explains with an air of authority.

The Hu merchant is intrigued. After exchanging some pleasantries, he begins inquiring about the price and the quantity Steward Xu has brought. If this deal goes through, they won’t need to travel south anymore.

Unfortunately, Steward Xu has only brought a small amount. However, he writes the merchant a note instructing him to go to Cangzhou, assuring him that someone there will discuss business with him.

Before leaving, Steward Xu also wraps a small packet of tea for the merchant to take home and enjoy.

The Hu merchant looks at the small packet in front of him, barely half the size of a palm, and can’t help but think the giver is incredibly stingy.

However, when he goes back and opens it, he discovers it contains top-quality tea with one bud and one leaf. Only then does he feel a bit more satisfied.

The group quickly finishes the tea, and after tasting it, they make up their minds: a trip to Cangzhou is a must.

…

Now, this group has also received an invitation. It is easy to imagine that those who enter the city later must have received one as well. Clearly, there are plenty of competitors. It seems likely that the Prefect has gathered everyone together to encourage competition, thereby driving up the price of the tea.

After thinking it through, the Hu merchant feels a bit helpless. However, he quickly reconsiders. If the price turns out to be too high, their trip over the past few days will simply be wasted, and it won’t be too late to leave and head south. After all, they are only likely to buy inferior goods there anyway. On the other hand, if the price is reasonable, they will gain an additional tea supplier close to Liangjing. By purchasing the tea ahead of the large caravans, they can seize the Liangjing market before their competitors return.

After lunch, they prepare to set off. As they step out, they happen to run into the group of men staying next door. The two groups decide to travel together.

On the way, both sides subtly probe each other’s backgrounds. Although the northern men appear cheerful and straightforward, they are not without their own shrewdness. They speak carefully and don’t let slip any details they shouldn’t reveal. Similarly, the Hu merchant’s group is just as guarded. By the end of the journey, their understanding of each other remains at a very superficial level.

“This Mingzheng Pavilion is quite far,” the Hu merchant says, his throat starting to feel dry after chatting for so long. They have already been traveling for half an hour since leaving the city.

“It seems we’re almost there,” someone outside replies. “The address says that after passing a Daoist temple, we should turn left and walk for another quarter of an hour.”

Hearing this, the Hu merchant lifts the curtain to look outside. They are now traveling along a mountain path flanked by lush green hills. The verdant trees provide abundant shade, and the surrounding vegetation is thriving. Spending time in such an environment seems to cleanse the body of accumulated fatigue, leaving one refreshed and revitalized.

Good mountains and good waters produce good tea. No wonder Cangzhou Green has such a unique flavor. The thought makes the Hu merchant even more eager to reach Mingzheng Pavilion.