Despite her words, those tea merchants still couldn't put their minds at ease. They were afraid that what Li Ying said today was just a ruse.
Seeing them looking at each other but showing no sign of leaving, Li Ying just smiled slightly and said in a low voice, "Are you all worried that I'll go back on my word? Although I, Li Ying, am just a woman, I know the principle that a promise should be kept. Since I've promised, I will surely not go back on it."
Her gaze swept across their faces one by one, and she gave a charming smile.
"Right now, the best way to help you out of this urgent situation is for me to acquire these disaster - stricken tea plantations immediately. If you have no objections, why not go quickly to get the land deeds and sign the contract with me?"
Those tea merchants never expected Li Ying to say such words. And what she said was indeed right, hitting the nail on the head.
They looked at each other, and a sense of shame welled up in their hearts. This Boss Li was straightforward. At such a young age, she had such courage.
In contrast, they had lived most of their lives and had been struggling in the capital for half a lifetime. Not only were they easily outmaneuvered, but now they even had to rely on a young girl who had just arrived in the capital and had no foundation to clean up this mess. Everyone felt a bit ashamed.
Li Ying smiled calmly and asked calmly, "If you keep hesitating like this, don't miss this good opportunity."
Hearing this, those tea merchants finally heaved a sigh of relief. Seeing that Lu Xunguang just stood there non - committally without raising any objections, they were afraid that the two would change their minds. So they quickly bowed and took their leave.
Li Ying watched their backs disappear at the end of her sight, then turned to Lu Xunguang. She tilted her head up and gave him an apologetic smile.
"Lu Lang, in this urgent situation, I made the decision to acquire the burned tea plantations without discussing it with you. Will you blame me?"
Although Lu Xunguang frowned tightly, his eyes were still full of trust as he looked at her.
"I know that you, A Ying, always have a plan in mind. Since you've said so, it must not be just for winning people's hearts. What brilliant strategy have you come up with this time? I'd like to hear the details."
Li Ying laughed, "Sure enough, I can't hide anything from you!"
They signed the documents with those tea houses. The old shopkeeper was right. These people might have a somewhat short - sighted vision, but their characters were impeccable. Each of them knew that it was really a matter of conscience for Li Ying to take over this mess. Moreover, they would rely on the Lu family in the future. So the selling price of the tea plantations was not very high.
"Boss Li, are you really going to take over our tea plantations? The tea trees have been burned. It won't grow back in three or five years. Even if new branches sprout next year, the new tea will have a smoky and burnt smell and will be extremely hard to drink!"
They were afraid that Li Ying didn't understand the ways of tea - picking and was just acting on impulse, so they carefully reminded her a few more times.
Li Ying smiled slightly.
"Dear seniors, just because you are honest and didn't try to deceive me, it shows that you are all suitable candidates for agents. The money for acquiring the tea plantations is just my way of making friends with you seniors! However, I have one more request."
She spoke frankly, and those tea merchants naturally agreed without hesitation, saying, "Boss Li, if you have any other instructions, just say it!"
"Please publicize the fact that the tea plantations have been deforested on a large scale. Make sure that all the tea merchants in the capital know about it!"
When the rabbit dies, the fox grieves; when the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold.
She had already ordered the servants to spread the story of how the old shopkeeper was provoked and beaten by the wife of the tea tax inspector and had to go back to his hometown dejectedly. Now, hearing that several small tea houses had been secretly plotted against, the tea - merchant circle in the capital was bound to be shaken, and everyone would be in a panic!
Those tea merchants readily agreed. After getting the money, they thanked her repeatedly and left. But A Man was so anxious that she stamped her feet when she heard that Li Ying had bought several such dilapidated tea plantations.
"Sister! You are always so kind - hearted! I know that you want to unite the tea merchants in the capital to fight against the tea tax inspector and even the imperial inspector Lin, but this deal will cause us too much loss!"
Li Ying saw her blushing face and said with a smile, "Silly girl, when has your sister ever done a losing business?"
Seeing that A Man still looked puzzled, Li Ying stopped being mysterious and asked with a smile, "A Man, think carefully. Where do most of the delicious wild mushrooms in Xikang and the Hu areas grow?"
A Man answered without thinking, "Naturally, they grow on the dead and decaying trees in the deep mountains and old forests!"
Suddenly, her eyes lit up, and she finally came to her senses. She exclaimed in surprise, "Sister, do you mean you're going to..."
Li Ying nodded.
Currently, the horse caravan would send all kinds of dried mushrooms from Xikang and the Hu areas to the capital and the fishing village every month for her cooking.
However, the taste of fresh mushrooms was different from that of dried goods.
Moreover, the winter in the capital was long and extremely cold in the north. For ordinary families, except for scallions, garlic, and Chinese cabbages, there were almost no other fresh vegetables to eat.
Li Ying had inspected these burned tea plantations one by one, and most of them were located in the outskirts of the capital.
If they used these tea - tree stumps to cultivate mushrooms, they could be delivered fresh to the kitchens of every household in the capital within a day.
The burned tea trees had already been carbonized and had become natural potash fertilizer. Without additional nutrients, the mushrooms would surely grow plump and lovely.
Li Ying told A Man her plan. Seeing that there was still a bit of doubt on her face, she simply took her and rushed straight to the tea plantations.
On the charred stumps, a lot of water had been splashed during the fire - fighting the day before, so they were very moist. Li Ying didn't spend much time before she found a cluster of small brown mushrooms with straight and tender stems and cute small caps.
A Man found these mushrooms strange and asked doubtfully, "Sister, what kind of mushrooms are these? I've never seen them in Xikang."
Although Li Ying had expected that they wouldn't return empty - handed, she still felt a burst of joy in her heart.
She carefully put all these long - stemmed small mushrooms into a bamboo basket as if she had found a treasure, and then introduced them to A Man as if she were showing off her most precious collection.
"These are tea - tree mushrooms. When stir - fried, they have a very crispy texture and a faint tea aroma. They taste extremely delicious whether they are stir - fried with meat, stewed in soup, or served cold. They will surely be liked by the people in the capital."
But A Man had already stopped listening to her words. Her starry eyes showed undisguised anticipation. She quickly and neatly helped her pick all the tea - tree mushrooms in sight and then urged her repeatedly.
"Sister, let's go back quickly. A Man is hungry!"