Chapter 40: Class

Chapter 40

Class

As Kang Wang sat in his carriage, a smile remained on his face. The route back to his palace passed by this tea house, so he saw the woman running it nearly every day. Her appearance was striking, but it was her determined eyes that captivated him even more—eyes that knew exactly what she wanted.

He had never encountered a woman who conducted her own business in such a hands-on manner, and her youth made it all the more remarkable. Despite himself, he couldn’t help but feel a certain admiration for her.

Today was the grand opening of her tea house, and the atmosphere was lively. Thus, he decided to stop by.

From their very first conversation, it became clear that she was adept at seizing opportunities. Every word she spoke emphasized how beneficial her tea house would be for the city. In the end, he found himself charmed and bought twenty jin of her Lü Cui tea. The flavor of this tea was unlike anything he’d ever tasted. Despite ruling this area of the region and often drinking the finest teas of each season, he had never encountered a tea with such a rich, fragrant aroma. He intended to send this tea to the royal palace.

The news of Kang Wang’s visit to Xiangyun Tea House spread quickly, drawing much attention. The tea he purchased became highly sought after among the city’s merchants. Word got out that only two hundred jin had been produced this year, and if they didn’t buy it quickly, it would soon be gone. Even though the price of this tea was ten times higher than the usual tea sold at the Chun Shui Shop, the merchants eagerly handed over their money.

After all, Kang Wang’s taste was more exceptional than any of them. If it was good enough for Kang Wang, it was good enough for them. Drinking the same tea as Kang Wang would surely bring them prestige! They rushed to the table displaying the tea, grabbing as many boxes as they could. Ding Tao approached with a smile, like a kind-hearted elder. He raised his voice to address the crowd of customers scrambling to buy the expensive tea.

"There’s no need to fight over it. If you buy too much and don’t finish it in time, the tea will lose its flavor. When that time comes, the color and aroma will fade. In just three months, it won’t be the same anymore."

Hearing this, the customers paused.

"Don’t worry. This tea is processed with a special technique, giving it a rich flavor and a shelf life of over a year. If you store it in airtight jars, it may last even longer."

Nie Shuang, who had been sitting overseeing nearby, quickly glanced at Ding Tao, catching the displeasure on his face, but she pretended not to notice. As the merchants, each clutching five or six boxes, prepared to pay, Nie Shuang suddenly adopted a regretful expression.

"I must apologize to all of you. Due to the limited quantity of Lü Cui tea this year—only two hundred jin were produced—each customer can only purchase two boxes. However, our shop will soon be introducing a new tea, and I will be sure to send invitations for you to be the first to sample it."

Though some were disappointed, they kept their complaints to themselves. Instead, they began to feel that Xiangyun Tea House’s tea was a rare and valuable treasure, not something that could be bought simply with money. It was different from the tea at Chun Shui Shop, which was stacked high and easily available in paper bags—common and consumed by every household. Some customers began planning to send servants back to purchase more tea in secret, while others thought it would make a perfect gift for officials. The cylindrical boxes, adorned with beautiful designs, lined with gold trim, and stamped with Xiangyun’s logo, looked luxurious and expensive.

After the guests had all left, Nie Shuang’s money box was so full it had to be transferred into cloth bags. She instructed Da Shi to exchange it for promissory notes. The maids tidied up the used teacups and cleaned the place, restoring everything to its original order. Just as Nie Shuang was about to go rest, she saw a large group of scholars walking toward the shop.

"Greetings, Lady Boss. We heard that you’ve just celebrated the opening of your shop, and we’ve come to offer our congratulations and to taste the tea. Earlier, we stopped by the bookstore, and the shopkeeper mentioned that you’ve created a new tea called Lü Cui, which Kang Wang tasted and greatly enjoyed. We’d love to try it as well. Are you open to the general public yet?"

Seeing that there were five or six of them, all young men with serious and studious expressions, Nie Shuang gestured and invited them inside.

"Since it’s the opening day, please come in and enjoy the tea. It’s on me today."

The scholars politely declined at first, but Nie Shuang waved off their concerns and had the maids seat them. They thanked her humbly. Some of the scholars came from modest backgrounds and were deeply moved after hearing that she would treat them to tea. Initially, they had only intended to order a simple cup of tea. They never expected to have the chance to taste the famous Lü Cui tea, which they had heard so much about. From what they gathered, Lü Cui must be quite expensive, and if it weren’t for their friends bringing them here today, they might never have dared step inside the shop.

Once seated, they glanced around and noticed several paintings by Young Master Li hanging on the walls. One of them exclaimed excitedly,

"Aren’t these the works of Young Master Li? Lady Boss, this piece is one of his masterpieces. How did you manage to persuade him to sell it to you?"

Nie Shuang smiled and replied,

"Young Master Li said that if his paintings could be appreciated by the eyes of scholars who understand their value, it would be an honor. When he learned that I planned to make this tea house a gathering place for scholars, he was happy to sell them to me."

Her words flattered both the artist and the scholars. Hearing this, they felt quite pleased, as if they had showcased their knowledge to the world. They decided that, in the future, if time allowed, they should frequent this tea house. It would demonstrate to others that they had good taste and understood the ‘art of tea culture,’ just as the Lady Boss had discussed with Kang Wang.

The bookstore owner had been right—this tea house had a serene atmosphere that invited relaxation and exuded the scholarly aura of a learned place. It was perfect for them to visit often. Nie Shuang’s parting words only strengthened their resolve.

"In the future, if you come to drink tea here, simply show your jade plaque from the academy, and we will offer you a twenty percent discount. After all, you are the future and the intellectual minds of Da Ye."This tea house truly exuded class, they all agreed silently.