"Girl, I've seen that you're quite skilled. Using tea soup in cooking to suit my taste is indeed a clever move."
The tea master, Master Ge, squinted his eyes. Lu Xunguang was quick - witted and immediately picked up a freshly brewed cup of tea and respectfully presented it to him.
Li Ying smiled and said, "Senior, you're overpraising me. It's just a petty skill and not worthy of mention."
However, Master Ge ignored her modest words. He finished the cup of Coastal Tea in one gulp and felt the fragrance lingering on his teeth and cheeks. It was truly a rare good tea.
He put down the teacup. The leisurely look in his eyes disappeared instantly. His eyes were as sharp as torches. Looking at her seriously, he asked, "If you want to impress me with this tea and delicious food, you could have made it more delicate. With the support of the Lu family head, I'm sure you have all kinds of rare delicacies at your disposal. So why did you choose this unassuming tea - marinated egg as your trump card?"
His words hit the nail on the head. There seemed to be a burning flame in his eyes, as if he was about to see through all her disguises.
Li Ying gave a calm smile and no longer concealed her thoughts. She nodded.
"Senior is truly perceptive. No little tricks can escape your eyes."
She got straight to the point and continued, "Senior must have already guessed our intention today. We'd like to invite you to come out of seclusion and make this unique Coastal Tea."
Master Ge retorted, "The Ping'an Bank has good sources of information. Naturally, you also know that I've been out of worldly affairs for a long time. Making tea is just a bit of elegance with old friends in my leisure time. Just this tea banquet today is not enough to persuade me to return to the industry."
Li Ying seemed to have anticipated his words and was not bothered at all. She smiled lightly and calmly.
"Senior, I'm just a nobody and a merchant full of the smell of money. I know I can't invite a refined gentleman like you. But what if I'm pleading for the common people in the world? Can I invite you then?"
Master Ge was slightly stunned, seemingly not understanding what she meant.
Li Ying peeled another tea - marinated egg and placed it in front of him. Softly and gently, she said, "Drinking tea is an elegant thing, but usually only well - off scholars can enjoy it.
Ordinary commoners can only casually fry and dry some coarse tea stems and drink it to quench their thirst. Scholars from poor families save up money with great difficulty. They think they can buy half a catty of new tea to honor their teachers, socialize with colleagues, or satisfy their own taste buds. But they are often cheated by cunning tea merchants.
Tasting tea is indeed a great elegance, but this elegant thing has been divided into different grades by tea merchants for profit. Senior, you love tea so much. I believe you can't be indifferent to this.
Tea itself has no distinction of high or low. It's only about the quality of the tea - making skills. People who love tea, regardless of their origin, should have the right and freedom to taste tea. The Lu Tea House is going to rectify the improper practice of over - priced and uneven - quality tea in the capital!"
Li Ying's voice was not loud, but every word was resounding. Looking at the tea - marinated egg, she continued, "I used this tea - marinated egg as the finale today to let you understand my intention. The tea - marinated egg is just the cheapest and simplest snack. All the common people can buy and enjoy it. They can even bring tea leaves home and marinate it themselves. This is the sincerity of the Li's and the Lu's. We must make sure that all the people in the world can afford to drink tea and can freely choose the tea they like!"
Master Ge stood there stunned. During the meal, he had imagined countless possible words from Li Ying. He thought she might use the financial and material resources of the Lu family to coerce and lure him, or she might mention Yan Lianzhi to appeal to his emotions and reason. But he never thought that a woman like her would have such a broad ambition!
He examined the tea - marinated egg carefully. After a long time, he finally put down the teacup, looked up at the sky and laughed, "Good! Good! Lianzhi's friend regardless of age is really interesting! Girl, I'll take a chance with you. The tea merchants in the capital have been deceiving others for so many years. It's time for them to learn a lesson!"
A huge stone in Li Ying's heart finally dropped. She bid farewell to Master Ge and quickly wrote a letter. She ordered the leaders of the horse caravan to escort him to the tea mountain at full speed. Only by letting him see the fresh leaves of the Coastal Tea in person could they make better - looking new tea.
Currently, all the processes of the Coastal Tea, such as fixing and rolling, were done by her alone.
Relying on her previous - life experience, she imitated the process. Although it looked decent, it was still not as good as the skillful old tea master who could master the heat perfectly.
Master Ge was also a tea enthusiast. The two hit it off immediately. He immediately packed his luggage and was eager to go.
The matter of tea - making was finally settled. Granny Sun saw that Li Ying had lost weight since she came to the capital. She felt so sorry for her and insisted that she put aside all her chores and have a good rest for a few days.
But Li Ying was not the type to sit idle. How could she relax?
She couldn't resist the old lady's stubbornness and had to lie on the beauty's couch obediently. But in her heart, she was secretly making plans.
After Master Ge successfully stir - fried the first batch of Coastal Tea and sealed it in bamboo tubes, the horse caravan would rush day and night to send it to the capital. Then, according to the quality of the tea leaves, they would be graded and clearly priced.
The gift that Lord Xu would give to his colleagues would be the top - grade Coastal Tea, paired with a box of delicate tea snacks. The peeled and cooked white kidney beans would be ground into fine bean paste, stir - fried with lard, dyed with various fruits and vegetables, and wrapped with lotus paste, red bean paste, dates and other fillings, and carved into various flowers, fruits, looking very elegant and lovely.
Then, some green - tea Buddha cakes with strong tea fragrance and lush greenery would be added. The carved snack box was as delicate as a dressing case of a boudoir girl and was sure to win everyone's praise.
From then on, her bamboo - tube tea could also be successfully launched.
As for the publicity slogan, it would be "Tea sealed in bamboo tubes, crafted by a master."
Li Ying thought everything through carefully. Just then, there suddenly came a happy call from outside the door.
"Sister!"
Li Ying looked up and saw a bright red dress. It was like a colorful butterfly fluttering down beside her. A charming little face beaming with joy burrowed into her arms. Who else could it be but A Man!
"Sister, do you miss me?"
After not seeing each other for several months, A Man had grown taller and become more and more beautiful. It seemed that she had a very comfortable life in the Xikang Hu tribe.
There was a charming exotic style in her eyebrows and eyes. Her bright eyes were full of charm. She was already a beautiful young girl, but she still acted like a child, lying beside Li Ying and acting coquettishly, rubbing her temples affectionately. Her cute and innocent look made Li Ying can't help smiling.
"A Man, why didn't you say hello before you came?"