Chapter 40 -

Chapter 40: Chapter

Xiao Jun settled into the chair across from Yimei, while Ah Hei remained standing quietly near the door.

Yimei looked directly at him, her face calm. "My tea house was burned down this morning."

The easy smile on Xiao Jun’s lips vanished. "What?"

"The East Market Tea House," she repeated, her tone steady. "It was reduced to ashes hours ago."

Xiao Jun’s expression sharpened as he leaned forward. "This morning? Do you know how it happened?"

"I don’t have all the details yet."

"Do you know who did it?"

Yimei’s gaze narrowed. "I have a strong suspicion."

Xiao Jun picked up on it instantly. "Then let me look into it for you."

"No," Yimei answered, swift and unyielding.

He paused, brow furrowing. "You don’t want my help?"

"I don’t need it."

"Yimei, your business was destroyed only hours ago, and you already have a target in mind," Xiao Jun pressed, studying her. "Let me handle the investigation."

"No," Yimei said, shaking her head. "I will handle this myself."

The cold, sharp resolve in her eyes made it clear that her mind was entirely made up. Seeing that, Xiao Jun eventually leaned back and gave a small shrug.

"Fine. I won’t interfere," he said. "Though if you change your mind later—"

"I’ll let you know," Yimei cut in lightly, before shifting the topic. "There is another reason I came to see you today. Your sister’s engagement banquet."

Xiao Jun’s attention instantly focused. "Ruyan’s engagement banquet?"

"Yes. It is only two weeks away, and I promised my winter tea would be served there," Yimei said, folding her hands in her lap. "I have no intention of breaking my word, but without my tea house, I need a proper space to test recipes, prepare the ingredients, and set everything up."

Xiao Jun smiled faintly. "You don’t need to go searching for a space. Use the kitchen here at Wenlong Tea House. It’s large enough for whatever you need, and you can stay as long as necessary."

"Will that not disrupt your own business?"

"Not at all. We are business partners," Xiao Jun said simply. "Besides, your winter tea will only attract more patrons here in the long run."

Yimei considered it for a moment, then nodded. "Then I accept."

"Good," Xiao Jun said, tapping his fingers thoughtfully against the tabletop. "And as for your tea house, I will handle the reconstruction."

Yimei looked at him, surprised. "I can afford to rebuild it myself."

"I know you can."

"Then why offer?"

"Because your shop was destroyed this morning, and you have an important banquet to prepare for in two weeks," Xiao Jun explained, looking straight at her. "You shouldn’t be wasting precious time finding laborers, sourcing timber, or replacing ruined equipment. I’ll arrange the workers and cover all the materials to get it rebuilt as quickly as possible."

Yimei frowned slightly. "Partner Xiao, that isn’t necessary. You owe me nothing."

"It’s my choice," he replied with a casual smile. "When my partner’s business takes a hit, I have every reason to help her get back on her feet."

Yimei watched him closely. "And your twenty percent share?"

"Stays exactly as we agreed," Xiao Jun assured her smoothly. "You keep eighty percent of the winter tea profits, and I take twenty percent for supplying the ingredients. The cost of rebuilding your tea house has nothing to do with that cut."

Hearing that, the tension in Yimei’s shoulders finally eased. "Then I accept."

"Wonderful. You can start using the kitchen today," Xiao Jun said. "Tell Qinqin and Lin Fang to speak with the head clerk, and he’ll arrange whatever you need."

Yimei stood up from her chair. "Thank you, Partner Xiao."

Xiao Jun smiled, but as she turned to leave, his tone shifted back to seriousness. "Yimei."

She paused and looked back.

"If you truly know who set that fire... be careful. Don’t underestimate them."

Yimei’s eyes turned icy. "I won’t."

Downstairs, Qinqin and Lin Fang hurried over the moment they saw her descend the wooden stairs.

"Miss, what did Young Master Xiao say?" Qinqin asked, her voice filled with quiet anxiety.

"We are using the Wenlong kitchen to prepare the winter tea for Xiao Ruyan’s engagement banquet," Yimei told them as they walked toward the exit. "And he is taking care of rebuilding the tea house. paying for the workers, materials, and equipment."

Qinqin let out a long breath of relief, while Lin Fang looked on in subtle shock. "He’s taking care of all of it?"

"Yes," Yimei replied, stepping out into the street.

She looked back at the grand tea house one last time. Her own business might have been reduced to ash this morning, but she would not let the fire ruin her plans. She would prepare the winter tea, satisfy the banquet guests, and rebuild what was lost.

As for the person who set her tea house ablaze, Yimei’s gaze hardened. She would uncover the truth herself and make sure they paid dearly for what they had done.

Since all their ingredients had been destroyed in the morning fire, Yimei and the girls had to rely entirely on Wenlong Tea House’s stock.

The head clerk personally led Yimei, Qinqin, and Lin Fang up to the third floor, away from the bustling main area. He stopped before a heavy wooden door and pushed it open, revealing a spacious second kitchen. Though old, the room was spotless and meticulously maintained, looking as if it had not been used in a long time.

"Young Madame, we keep this kitchen prepared just in case," the clerk explained politely. "Would you like me to assign a few extra kitchen hands to assist you?"

Yimei shook her head without hesitation. "No need. The three of us can handle it."

She was not about to let anyone at Wenlong Tea House watch her work and learn her secret ginger tea recipe.

The clerk nodded understandingly. She showed them a wooden cabinet where clean aprons were stored, offered a polite bow, and excused herself, leaving them to their privacy.

Once the door closed, Yimei turned to Qinqin and Lin Fang. The quiet space was perfect for their work, and with Xiao Ruyan’s engagement banquet approaching, there was no time to lose.

"Tie your hair back and put on your aprons," Yimei instructed, her tone calm and focused. "We are starting over from scratch."

Qinqin and Lin Fang quickly tied their aprons behind their backs and stepped forward, ready for instructions.

"Lin Fang, go through the storage racks and bring out the fresh aged ginger roots, red dates, and dark brown sugar," Yimei directed. "Inspect the ginger carefully. Wash away any leftover soil, peel off the tough skin, and slice the roots paper-thin so the spice draws out properly."

"Yes, Miss," Lin Fang replied, immediately moving toward the wooden crates to sort through the fresh roots.

Yimei then looked at Qinqin. "Qinqin, fetch the heavy stone mortar and clear the stove. Crush the red dates to open them up, then boil a large pot of spring water. Since these ginger roots are from Wenlong’s stock, we need to test their heat and strength first to balance the sweetness for the banquet."

"Understood, Miss!" Qinqin said, quickly grabbing the washing basins and moving toward the brick stoves.

Yimei pulled a small, blank ledger and a charcoal pencil from her sleeve, laying them on a clean prep table in the center of the room. She rolled up her sleeves, took a deep breath, and rolled a fresh piece of ginger between her hands.

"Today, we perfect the winter ginger tea," Yimei said, her eyes shining with quiet resolve. "Let’s begin."