What Master Ge said was indeed true.
He and Aunt Lan had been childhood sweethearts, innocent and carefree. As the only son of the old tea master and the eldest disciple, he took good care of his fellow disciples, and his affection for Aunt Lan was especially deep.
When Aunt Lan was young, she often had some out - of - the - box ideas, and the most special one was called "Plum Tea".
The climate in the capital was dry, and winters were bitterly cold, which was not suitable for tea tree growth. So, the people in the capital had to rely on tea merchants to transport tea from various places.
However, except for the extremely noble and wealthy families, for ordinary tea merchants, even if they rushed at full speed, the fresh tea they transported often developed a strange odor on the way due to moisture.
All the major tea houses tried every means, and finally came up with a stop - gap measure, which was to add fresh jasmine flowers to the tea.
The floral fragrance did cover up the slightly stale smell in the green tea. But in this way, no matter if it was the best Baihao Yinzhen or Mingqian Longjing, in the end, they all turned into the flavor of ordinary scented tea.
It was for this reason that Aunt Lan suddenly had an idea. She wanted to make a kind of tea that was easy to store and transport.
She intended to imitate the way people in the southern region stored vegetables, like making dried pickled vegetables and fermented bean curd, and apply it to tea - making. If it succeeded, it would be homophonically named "Plum Tea".
But the custom of tea - drinking valued freshness. The old tea master thought that the idea of "Plum Tea" was simply ruining the ancestral rules and criticized her idea severely, strictly forbidding it.
However, Aunt Lan was extremely stubborn. She refused to give up the idea she had been researching for a long time, and the master and disciple parted on bad terms.
Caught in the middle, Master Ge tried his best to mediate between them, but he never found the right way.
Coincidentally, at this time, the old tea master fell ill.
All these were clearly recorded in the dossier. However, the latter part was rather suspicious.
After Aunt Lan left a letter and disappeared without saying goodbye, Master Ge didn't marry into his fiancée's family as his father had ordered. In fact, he remained unmarried for his whole life, and the old tea master eventually died of his illness.
After that, Master Ge closed his tea house, concealed his identity, and devoted himself to the study of tea - roasting techniques. Finally, he became a world - famous tea - making master.
When Lu Xunguang saw that she had finished reading the dossier, he raised his eyebrows and asked, "A Ying, have you noticed anything abnormal?"
Li Ying asked in confusion, "Since Master Ge didn't marry into his fiancée's family and the old tea master did unfortunately pass away, it's obvious that he didn't betray Aunt Lan back then. So why is Aunt Lan so resentful? She really looks like a woman who has been betrayed and wasted her youth."
Lu Xunguang smiled faintly and said in a low voice, "I have no interest in the ill - fated relationship between them. But I know that the person who tied the knot must untie it. If we can't resolve the ill - fated relationship between Aunt Lan and Master Ge, the business of Jinhua Dark Tea will probably be a long way off."
Didn't Li Ying know this truth?
But it was obvious that Aunt Lan was no longer willing to mention this matter voluntarily, and Master Ge was also evasive. How could it be easy to sort out the misunderstandings of the past?
Just when she was in a dilemma, she saw Lu Xunguang winking at her and looking casually towards the outside of the door.
Li Ying understood and turned her head. To her surprise, she saw Master Ge standing there, looking at the two of them sheepishly, rubbing his fingers nervously.
"Li... Miss Li... Did you go to see Caiwei again today? What did she... say?"
Li Ying was puzzled. In just one day, Master Ge, who had been completely disheartened before, suddenly became eager to try. Without much thought, she knew that Lu Xunguang must have said something to persuade him. So she immediately gave Lu Xunguang an admiring smile.
"Senior, I made the Taiji Tea Soup according to the recipe you gave me. Although Aunt Lan saw me, she clearly said that she didn't want to see you again... She also said that she was used to being homeless, having nowhere to go, and living a lonely and wandering life. She asked you not to worry about her."
Li Ying exaggerated a bit. Aunt Lan's hardships were actually only half as bad as she described, but she made it sound extremely miserable. Lu Xunguang also sighed, "Aunt Lan is really a loyal and affectionate person. Senior Ge, she has deep feelings for you... It's a pity... Alas..."
The two of them sang in chorus, using all their eloquence. Sure enough, Master Ge frowned tightly. After a long time, he finally sighed, "Caiwei, why do you torture yourself like this!"
"Back then, you left a letter saying that you had already found your ideal husband and wanted to break off our relationship. If I had known you had suffered so much... How could I have disappeared for so many years!"
Li Ying frowned. According to what Aunt Lan said, it was the Ge family that was unrighteous first. They had mocked the fermented tea she had painstakingly researched and almost expelled her from the sect. That was why she had angrily cut off all contact with the Ge family. Their statements were completely different, so there must be something strange going on.
She didn't hide anything and simply told Master Ge exactly what Aunt Lan had told her. Sure enough, Master Ge's face flushed red, and he cried out anxiously, "How is that possible! I've regarded Caiwei as the love of my life. Although the tea - making method she researched is very different from mine, how could I possibly speak ill of her!"
Li Ying and Lu Xunguang looked at each other and both showed a knowing look.
"Senior, this matter is very complicated. I'm afraid you and Aunt Lan have to explain it clearly to each other."
This statement hit Master Ge's sore spot.
Since he learned that Aunt Lan had been living alone for many years and had remained unmarried, still keeping herself pure for him, the love that had been hidden in his heart for many years had been rekindled. He wished he could grow wings and fly to his beloved's side early to pour out his feelings of many years.
But now Aunt Lan was completely heart - broken and refused to see anyone. He really had no idea what to do and could only sigh.
Seeing his dejected look, a faint light flashed in Lu Xunguang's eyes.
"Senior, if you really want to see Aunt Lan, I do have a way."
"However, this method is a bit inauspicious. I wonder if you would mind."
Before he could finish speaking, Master Ge exclaimed without hesitation, "Tell me quickly! As long as I can see Caiwei again, even if it costs me my life, so be it!"
Seeing his eagerness, Lu Xunguang stopped beating around the bush and said calmly, "Senior, would you be willing to fake your death? Aunt Lan is deeply in love with you. Moreover, the dead are to be respected. When a person dies, all grudges are wiped out. At that time, she will surely recall all the past tenderness and may open her heart to you."
He whispered some instructions into Master Ge's ear. Master Ge's eyes lit up, and he immediately clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Good! Good! I'll follow your plan!"
Only then did Lu Xunguang nod.
Li Ying followed the two of them out of the door. Only then did she notice that Lu Xunguang had somehow already prepared all the things for "faking death", obviously having premeditated this and just waiting for Master Ge to fall into the trap.
She secretly laughed at Lu Xunguang's ingenious plan of "luring the enemy into a trap". Lu Xunguang just winked at her and gave her a sly smile. His expression showed a bit of youthful heroism, no longer looking like the old - fashioned and proper "family head" he used to be.