Ge Fan's family lived in the south of the city, and he had to go home every day to take care of his old mother.
Therefore, Qi Jiao only rented a small one - courtyard house not far from the shop, just two streets away in Pear Blossom Alley, where Hua Sanniang and her daughter Hua Shuangshuang lived.
Aunt Zheng proposed that she and Zheng Huier also move there to avoid suspicion.
Although Aunt Zheng knew exactly what kind of person Ye Pa was, she often had to go back to Silver Bay to help Tang Guiniang and couldn't always keep an eye on things here. She was afraid that Ye Pa, being young and hot - blooded, might lose his self - control.
Moreover, it was inconvenient for Huier to be around the two Ye brothers all the time, as they were all young men and women.
Qi Jiao had also thought of this and immediately agreed. She gave them brand - new bed curtains and bedding, and bought two pots of gorgeous camellias to add color to the small courtyard.
Seeing that Qi Jiao treated them so well, Zheng Huier returned the kindness whole - heartedly.
There were a total of three rooms in the small courtyard in Pear Blossom Alley, with a kitchen and a bathroom in the side room. It was more than enough to accommodate the two pairs of mothers and daughters.
Zheng Huier was also kind to Hua Sanniang and Hua Shuangshuang. After just a day or two of getting along, they had already cooperated quite seamlessly.
Now, let's talk about Ge Fan. He used to follow Guo Linghui, the second son of the Guo family.
Although Guo Linghui was not the son of Mrs. Guo, he was highly favored and valued by Lord Guo. He had already obtained the title of Xiucai and was a truly elegant person.
One of the most important aspects of elegance was the tea ceremony.
Ge Fan was very smart and could recite Lu Yu's *The Classic of Tea* and Zhao Ji's *Treatise on Tea of the Daguan Era* backwards.
His tea - whisking technique was also very proficient, using the "Seven - Soup" tea - whisking method.
The First Soup: "Measure the tea and pour in the water, blend it like melted glue."
Take clean, light, sweet, and pure water, boil it and pour it in. Blend it into a thick paste like sesame paste to form a colloid, where the tea powder particles stick together.
The Second Soup: "Whisk vigorously, and the bubbles are like pearls."
Ge Fan used a tea whisk to quickly and forcefully create large and small bubbles.
Ge Fan had long and handsome eyebrows. Wearing the new clothes issued by Qi Jiao, this sixteen - or seventeen - year - old young man in a blue gown was quite a sight. His fair and beautiful hands attracted many passers - by to stop and watch.
Standing by the door, he was like a beautiful scenery in Pomegranate Alley.
The Third Soup: "Whisk gently and evenly, like millet grains and crab eyes."
The Fourth Soup: "Be a bit slower, and light clouds gradually rise."
After multiple whisking, pour in a small amount of water. The tea whisk should move in a large and slow arc.
At this time, clouds gradually rose from the tea surface, looking magnificent.
The Fifth Soup: "You can be a bit more relaxed, and the color of the tea is fully revealed."
Ge Fan looked calm. He whisked casually, making the tea soup blend evenly and thoroughly until it was well - combined.
The Sixth Soup: "Observe the formation, and the milk - like bubbles emerge vigorously."
Ge Fan continued to pour water, bringing up the tea powder at the bottom that hadn't been whisked up, making the milk - like surface thicker. He just dropped a little water on the areas where the foam was too concentrated to make the foam on the entire tea surface even.
The Seventh Soup: "The milk - like mist surges and overflows the cup."
Ge Fan frowned slightly and whisked quickly in the upper part of the tea soup until "the foam around the cup remained still, which was called 'biting the cup'."
He leaned slightly and presented the whisked tea to the tea guests for inspection.
Paired with a tea cup with a dark blue glaze, the foam floated on the cup surface, looking like sparse stars and a pale moon, full of elegance and beauty.
After this wonderful tea - whisking performance, everyone applauded.
Qi Jiao and Pei Xia, standing by the railing on the second floor, exchanged a smile.
Ge Fan was truly extraordinary.
He won the favor of the tea guests and Qi Jiao's trust with his performance.
Qi Jiao also taught him many ways to make tea drinks without reservation.
Ge Fan carefully pondered and adjusted the recipes according to the local people's tastes. For a while, Jiao Niang Restaurant was bustling with customers.
Some came for the food, and some came for the drinks.
Pei Xia had to increase the procurement budget every day.
Similarly, the income of the shop was also increasing.
As Jiao Niang Restaurant became popular in Lingle County, Qi Jiao also foresaw many things.
The natural resources in Silver Bay were ultimately limited, and many fruits, flowers, and ingredients were seasonal, and could only be sold for a short period.
One day, Zheng Huier separated a camellia plant from the one in the small courtyard in Pear Blossom Alley, potted it, and brought it to the shop.
Seeing the blooming camellia, Qi Jiao suddenly had an idea.
Qi Jiao and Pei Xia discussed it and immediately took a mule - cart to the outskirts of the city.
"Second brother said there were many flower growers here, but why is it so empty?" Qi Jiao lifted the curtain of the cart and looked disappointed.
Pei Xia held her hand and told her not to worry. "Flower growers usually sell their flowers in the morning market. We're late. I'll go and ask around."
They got off the cart and walked. They asked at a tea house along the way and found out that the most famous flower - growing families in Lingle County were nearby.
Pei Xia thanked the owner and took out some copper coins to buy a bowl of tea.
He gave it to Qi Jiao first.
Qi Jiao smiled at him, took a sip, and then handed it to Pei Xia.
Pei Xia's taste had been spoiled by Qi Jiao's tea.
Now that there was Ge Fan in the shop, Pei Xia drank a lot of tea and other drinks every day.
Suddenly drinking the rough tea soup from the roadside, although he could still drink it without changing his expression, his mood was quite different.
The customers in the tea house were mostly peddlers and porters. The tea was cheap and not very good, but it could quench their thirst.
Qi Jiao watched as Pei Xia returned the rough porcelain bowl and fell into deep thought.
Although Ge Fan's tea - whisking skills were excellent, it was relatively high - brow.
Fortunately, their shop also had affordable and large - bowl tea drinks to meet the needs of different customers.
Those who wanted high - quality tea could go to the second floor.
Those who just wanted a cup of tea to quench their thirst could stand outside the tea counter on the first floor and buy it for just a few copper coins.
*
Following the tea - house owner's instructions, Pei Xia and Qi Jiao found a flower farmer named Teng Chun.
When Qi Jiao entered Teng Chun's small courtyard, she was deeply shocked by the beautiful scenery.
It was mid - spring. The sun was shining brightly, and the flowers were in full bloom. Bees and butterflies fluttered around.
"The peach blossoms vary in shade, like evenly applied makeup."
"Thousands of scarlet buds are about to bloom, looking so charming and out of the ordinary."
"By chance, I took a stroll over the eastern hill. There were red peach blossoms, white plum blossoms, and yellow rape flowers."
...
Teng Chun and his wife Zhang Shi took excellent care of all kinds of flowers. The half - mu flower field was extremely eye - catching. The delicate flower buds were still covered with dew, looking very fresh and lovely.
Among them, there was a pot of tree peonies placed properly in the shed. The gorgeous red flowers had a circle of golden stamens, looking luxurious and elegant.
Teng Chun led Qi Jiao and the others to have a look and said proudly with a smile, "Tree peonies are not native to Lingle. I spent a lot of effort to buy the flower branches from Luzhou two years ago. My wife and I took good care of them for two years, and they finally bloomed this spring."
Qi Jiao praised, "This tree peony is of excellent quality. My husband and I are really lucky to see it today."
Teng Chun smiled, "Madam, you're overpraising."
Zhang Shi also smiled and said, "The old lady of the Shu Mansion in the city is about to celebrate her birthday. This tree peony has been ordered by them and will be shown to the guests on the old lady's birthday."
Qi Jiao turned to Pei Xia and said, "See? We've had an early treat."
Pei Xia looked at her tenderly and smiled, "Jiao Niang, which flowers do you like?"
He would buy them for her.
Qi Jiao came here mainly to cooperate with Teng Chun.
Seeing the beautiful flowers in the garden, she knew how professional Teng Chun and Zhang Shi were at growing flowers.
But she still had to buy some flowers.
Qi Jiao chose yellow peonies as the main flowers, and kerria, banksia rose, raspberry, and hydrangea as the matching flowers.
She also picked some Chinese bushcherry, rose, double - petaled peach, Chinese laburnum, and daphne genkwa to be used for flower - arranging in the shop.
Zhang Shi brought two bamboo horse - head baskets, wrapped the bottoms of the flower branches with wet cotton blocks, and packed them properly. She also told Qi Jiao many tips on flower - growing.
Seeing that Qi Jiao liked the flowers, Pei Xia paid for them generously.
After buying the flower materials, Qi Jiao told Teng Chun her idea of contracting a small piece of land to grow roses.
They discussed for about an hour. Teng Chun agreed, and they set down the rules. They also agreed to transplant some wild roses from Silver Bay for cuttings.