It was getting late, so Lu Xunguang didn't stay any longer. He made an appointment to pick up Li Ying early the next morning and take her to the inn to visit several tea masters who had come from afar.
He had come in a hurry and left in a rush. After he left, Li Ying told her family about his whereabouts in the past few days.
A Man heard that he had been doing something important and that he had vowed to look into the guilt of the annoying servant in the silk shop. Only then did her indignant heart feel a bit more at ease.
Everyone went to bed, and the night passed in silence.
The next day, Li Ying prepared the coastal tea and several seasonal tea snacks as gifts as usual, carefully putting them in a carved food box.
In spring, there were snacks in the shape of peaches, plums, cherries, and apricots. The delicate bean paste was dyed a tender and lovely pink, with a touch of yellow for the flower core, looking small and delicate.
In summer, there were snacks in the shape of hydrangeas. The agar was dyed indigo and lotus purple, cut into small, crystal - clear pieces, and gently wrapped around the red - bean stuffing. They didn't aim for extreme mimicry but rather a touch of artistic charm.
In autumn, there were snacks in the shape of pomegranates. The pomegranates were as brightly red as jewels. Sweet and sticky condensed milk was used to knead the dough, which was then used to wrap the coconut filling stir - fried with butter and the preserved Chinese hawthorn pickled at home. After being carefully cut to look like split pomegranates and painted with red yeast rice, these pigeon - egg - sized pomegranate - shaped snacks were extremely lifelike and cute after baking.
In winter, when all things withered, only narcissus and red plum blossoms could withstand the frost and snow. Making tea snacks in such shapes would surely please the noble tea masters.
After everything was ready, she personally wrote a visiting card and also detailed her concept of "tea sealed in bamboo tubes". Then she set off with Lu Xunguang.
Sure enough, most tea lovers were people with lofty ideals and strong integrity. When they heard Li Ying say that the tea sold on the market had unstable quality control, was over - priced, and that tea merchants were asking exorbitant prices, creating a chaotic situation, the tea masters very much agreed.
After tasting the coastal tea roasted by her, although they could tell that her technique was inexperienced, every step of the process was clearly done to perfection. Her down - to - earth and serious attitude also won her some favor with them.
After reading her "product plan" and listening to Li Ying talk eloquently about her intention to clearly mark the prices of different tea varieties and grades, promising not to be like other tea merchants who made wild price offers, and vowing to let all the common people taste the genuine "tea made by masters", they were amazed that such a delicate woman could have such a broad ambition. At the same time, they couldn't help but secretly admire her.
The business negotiation was a success without any suspense. Lu Xunguang had already arranged for people to take good care of the tea masters. Li Ying also set a date and promised to personally prepare a feast to celebrate the successful cooperation between the two parties.
The tea masters readily agreed. They regarded these days in the capital as a sightseeing trip. After the feast, they would return to their respective tea gardens and make tea according to their own preferences.
The tea masters were each proficient in different kinds of tea, such as Biluochun, Keemun Black Tea, and Old - Tree White Tea. Li Ying trusted them completely and respectfully asked them to do as they pleased.
Finally, after signing the contract, Li Ying heaved a sigh of relief. The business of making tea in bamboo tubes was finally a success.
Next, there was only the golden - flower dark tea left.
She and Lu Xunguang looked at each other, and they both saw the difficulty in each other's eyes.
Li Ying cheered up and said with a smile, "Where there's a will, there's a way. We've already solved the major problem of rejuvenating the tea business. As for the golden - flower dark tea, maybe the timing isn't right yet. We can just take our time."
The two of them stood side by side and walked on Zhuque Street. While they were chatting casually, a staggering figure suddenly rushed out from the side. Like a hungry tiger pouncing on its prey, the person rushed in front of them and knelt down immediately.
"Master, Mistress, this old servant knows I've made a mistake! Please, Master, for the sake of this old servant who raised you with so much hardship, spare my life!"
She crawled two steps on her knees and reached Li Ying. One of her hands tightly grabbed the corner of Li Ying's clothes.
"Mistress, it's because this old servant is clumsy with words and doesn't know how to please you, so I offended you. But the Master was nursed by me. He's like my own flesh and blood! Mistress, please be kind and forgive this old servant just this once!"
Li Ying was taken aback. After looking at the person for a long time, she realized that this was the shopkeeper of the silk shop. The other day, she had been dressed in gold and silver, looking quite wealthy. But today, she looked so disheveled?
However, although the old woman's face was dirty and her clothes were tattered, the ten short and thick fingers had not a single bit of dirt under the nails. They were clean and polished smoothly.
Li Ying raised her eyebrows secretly. Before she could answer, Lu Xunguang spoke first.
"Wet - nurse, you're getting old. You should have retired to the estate to enjoy your later years. I've already ordered the steward to give you a sum of silver, which is enough for you to live a decent life until the end. I advise you not to pester us anymore, or it will be embarrassing for everyone."
The wet - nurse blushed, but still argued, "Master! This old servant is by no means after the silver. I've watched you grow up since you were a child. To say something disrespectful, I've long regarded you as my own flesh and blood. Now, just because of a few words from the Mistress, you're going to drive me away. Without the Lu Mansion, this old servant will end up dead on the street. How can you bear it?"
She held tightly onto Li Ying and raised her voice so high that many passers - by on the street turned to look.
Lu Xunguang's face darkened.
He wasn't a person who didn't value old feelings.
Previously, when Lian Ji was around, she was very harsh to the old servants of the Lu family. The wet - nurse had been very cautious and had some scruples.
But now, since he had returned to the capital, the wet - nurse had come to the Lu Mansion almost every day, issuing orders complacently. She already seemed like half the old master of the mansion. Moreover, she was insatiably greedy. Almost all the new and rare items in the warehouse had been taken by her.
The steward thought it was inappropriate and had advised her, but the wet - nurse had still gone her own way and simply ignored his advice.
The steward had no choice but to report the matter to Lu Xunguang in detail.
Lu Xunguang hadn't wanted to pursue the matter of these external possessions. But now that the wet - nurse had attacked Li Ying, she had firmly stepped on his bottom line.
He looked at the wet - nurse coldly, raised his eyebrows slowly, and asked, "You keep saying that you only had good intentions and no ill will. But I told the servants in the family early on that A Ying and I are in love and behave properly. They must not flatter her with the title of 'Mistress', which might damage her reputation. Wet - nurse, did you just ignore my words or did you do it on purpose?"
"A Ying's winter clothes were a bit thicker, which was a very ordinary thing. But you exaggerated and spread false rumors, making a big fuss in the whole city. If I hadn't stepped in, I don't know how many people you would have spread these crazy rumors to. Just because she didn't buy the brocade you recommended as you wished, you dared to put such a big label on her. Do you know how many women would rather die than lose their reputation?"
"You casually said it was just a moment of loose - tongued talk, but in my opinion, you probably had evil intentions long ago! You embezzled the private property of the Lu family. Today, you're acting pitiful and causing a scene in public, aiming directly at A Ying. Your purpose is to make the common people misunderstand that she's the cruel one. Wet - nurse, do I still need to point out your vicious intentions?"