Chapter 70: Puer Tea
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
The two of them sat by the tea table by the window. Outside the window, there was a cluster of green bamboo, adding a bit of coolness to the hot summer day.
Cao Changkun personally made tea and served Mu Chongli. Although the two of them were competing and mocking each other, they were still considered confidants.
Cao Changkun poured a cup of tea and placed it in front of Mu Chongli. The fragrance of the tea was refreshing.
He poured himself another cup. “This is Dragon Well tea gifted to me by one of my students. Try it.”
Mu Chongli took a small sip. He gradually relaxed, but that didn’t stop him from being sarcastic. “Dragon Well tea is indeed not bad, but it’s still inferior to the Puer Tea that my student gave me.”
The harvesting time of the Puer Tea was two to three days before and after the Qingming Festival. At this time, the tea tree had just sprouted and needed the tea farmers to work overtime to pick the leaves in the next few days.
A catty of Puer Tea needed ten people to pick for a day. Moreover, the harvesting time of Puer Tea only lasted for two to three days.
As for the Dragon Well tea, the harvesting was longer.
The output of these two teas was not much, and they were rare high-grade teas. However, the output of Puer Tea was even scarcer than Dragon Well tea, so the former was more precious than the latter.
Cao Changkun was speechless.
“Then why didn’t you bring some Puer Tea over for me to try?”
Mu Chongli glanced at Cao Changkun. “You never lacked good things, so I thought you wouldn’t like it.”
Cao Changkun could not help but laugh. “Junior Brother, you are really stingy.”
Mu Chongli took another sip of tea. The taste was lingering and fragrant. It was good tea. “I can’t compare to you. You can give away everything in this room just like that. You’re rich!”
Cao Changkun changed the topic. “Junior Brother, you said that you want to show me something good. I wonder what it is?”
Mu Chongli mysteriously took out a piece of paper from his sleeve and handed it to Cao Changkun. He raised his chin and looked smug. “Take a look for yourself.”
Cao Changkun took the paper and quickly read the words on it.
After reading it, his eyes widened in shock. “This, this…”
Mu Chongli asked excitedly, “How is it? Is this answer fabulous?”
Mu Chongli and Cao Changkun were classmates of the late emperor. They had the same teacher. Five years ago, their teacher passed away before handing the question about the “circle” to the three of them. He asked them to figure out the answer and then burn it in front of his grave.
The late emperor passed away three years ago. Before he died, he still could not figure out the answer, so he handed the question to the current emperor.
It had been five years. The three of them had asked countless people, but no one could answer it. It was only when Chu Qingzhi appeared that this question was solved.
Cao Changkun said in disbelief, “Fabulous, absolutely fabulous. When our teacher finds out that this question is solved, he can rest in peace.”
Mu Chongli sighed. “Me too. This question has troubled me for five years. Look, my hair has turned white in the past five years.”
At this moment, the two of them finally reached a rare agreement.
Cao Changkun was extremely curious. “Junior Brother, who solved it?”
Mu Chongli kept him in suspense. “Don’t be anxious. Look at the two poems on the back first.”
Cao Zhangkun had given it a glance just now. Now that he heard his junior brother’s words, he re-read the poems. The more he read it, the more interested he became. The more he read, the more profound the poems got. They were good poems!
He said enviously, “Junior Brother, it seems that your school has produced many talents!”
The outstanding and dazzling girl appeared in Mu Chongli’s mind. He waved his hand. “She’s not from my school.”
Cao Changkun asked, “Then who is she?”
Mu Congli didn’t want his senior brother to poach Chu Qingzhi before him. “I’ll tell you in the future. Let’s enter the palace.”
Cao Changkun nagged. “Junior Brother, don’t change the topic. Tell me quickly.”
Mu Chongli snatched the paper back and walked out. “I’m not telling you. I’m leaving.”
Cao Changkun hurriedly caught up and said, “Junior Brother, you’re getting more and more shameless!”
Mu Chongli quickened his pace. “Whatever you say.”
Cao Changkun was speechless.
Shuiyun County.
In just a short period of time, the ice cream bar had already become popular in three counties. From 8o-year-olds to three-year-olds, they were all deeply captivated by it.
Especially Shuiyun County… This was also the county closest to Chu Village.
At noon, Fuyuan Restaurant put up a notice. “Today, we will offer a special treat. We will give groups of more than 10 people who come to our restaurant to eat a set of 12 zodiac ice cream bars for free. There are only 100 sets. First come, first served.”
This notice immediately attracted the attention of some people. When they asked around, they found out that it was true. The news spread quickly. Soon, more than half of the county knew.
The strategy of hunger marketing worked. Tables were quickly booked.
Shopkeeper Zhou was smiling as he calculated the profit for today.
He had made a killing.
Seeing that Shopkeeper Zhou was so happy, the shop assistant couldn’t help but ask, “Shopkeeper, the ice cream bars are given to the customers to eat for free. Moreover, it costs five hundred copper coins for every set. Why are you so happy?”
Shopkeeper Zhou glanced at the shop assistant. “That’s why I’m the shopkeeper and you are the shop assistant. Without offering the ice cream bars for free, do you think our tables will all be booked?”
The shop assistant scratched his head, still unable to understand. “But shopkeeper, can you be sure that they will all come to our restaurant?”
Shopkeeper Zhou said confidently, “Let me tell you, don’t underestimate people’s curiosity about new things. They will definitely come.”
He pointed at the account book. “In just a short while, there are already more than thirty tables booked. By noon, it will definitely exceed a hundred.”
The shop assistant glanced at the list of names and asked shamelessly, “Shopkeeper, you earned so much money. Can you give us a bonus?”
Shopkeeper Zhou looked up at the shop assistant. “Alright, I’ll increase your salary at the end of the month.”
The shop assistant was overjoyed. “Thank you, shopkeeper. Thank you, shopkeeper.”
Chu Xiaotang and the other three girls finished their job in the afternoon. After Shen Ruyue checked it, they could leave.
Chu Lanzhen hesitated for a moment and asked Shen Ruyue softly, “Sister Ruyue, where is Sister Qingzhi?”
Shen Ruyue locked the box and said, “She’s in the wasteland. She’s busy building a house.”
Chu Lanzhen thanked her. “Thank you, Sister Ruyue. I have something to say to
Sister Qingzhi.”
Shen Ruyue nodded. “Then go quickly..”