Chapter 16: Blind Selection of Tribute Tea
Wu Bi asked cautiously, “May I ask, Official, what is the matter?”
The official cupped his hands and said, “Lord Liang requests all tea merchants from Jianghuai to gather at the official residence for a discussion.”
I thought for a moment and followed the official outside.
Wu Bi worried, “Second Young Mistress, will there be any trouble?”
I shook my head at him and instructed him to watch the counter.
After a moment, we arrived at the official residence.
I stepped into the room and saw two rows of tables and chairs already filled with people. A man in official robes sat in the center. The man had a long face and his eyes were sharp and bright.
I paid my respects and sat in an empty spot.
The man in official robes looked around and said meaningfully, “You are all renowned merchants of this area, each with your own strengths. However, I am acting on behalf of His Majesty, and I cannot show favoritism. It is truly a difficult position.”
As soon as he finished speaking, those present began to whisper amongst themselves.
The room became quite chaotic for a moment.
They all thought that by giving gifts, Lord Liang would show them more favor. However, when everyone gave gifts, it became impossible to distinguish between them.
Being selected as tribute tea meant not only boundless prestige and honor for the merchants but also the assurance of receiving funds from the Ministry of Revenue annually, thus securing their business. Therefore, all merchant households were very invested.
Plan before acting.
I slowly stood up and said, “Reporting to Your Lordship, this humble woman has a method that can assist Your Lordship in selecting the tribute tea soon. And no one will be able to accuse Your Lordship of favoritism.”
He glanced at me, “Oh? Tell me about it.”
All eyes turned to me, and I announced loudly, “Why don’t Your Lordship conduct a blind selection?”
“Blind selection?”
“Yes. Pack each family’s tea in identical vessels and place them before Your Lordship. Your Lordship will not know which tea belongs to which family, and will select the best based solely on its appearance, color, and taste. In this way, it can be considered impartial and fair.”
The man in official robes pondered for a moment, then smiled and nodded, “Excellent. This reminds me of an ancient story. In the third year of Chunhua during the reign of Emperor Taizong of Song, the Supervisor Chen Jing submitted a memorial suggesting the use of a ‘blinded name’ method in the imperial examinations, which Emperor Taizong of Song adopted. Since then, the ‘blinded name’ method has been passed down to this day. Blindly selecting tribute tea has a similar ingenious effect to the ‘blinded name’ method in the imperial examinations.”
He looked at me and asked, “Which family’s representative are you, Madam?”
I bowed and replied, “Reporting to Your Lordship, this humble woman is the second daughter-in-law of the Cheng Family. My mother-in-law is unwell, so I am managing the household affairs in her stead.”
“Cheng Family?” The man in official robes seemed to recall something and said to the person beside him, “Is it the family that has not come to the official residence these past few days?”
The person beside him replied, “Yes, Your Lordship. Only the Cheng Family has not come to the official residence.”
The man in official robes smiled and announced loudly, “On the eighth of this month, at the Yangzhou Prefectural Office, I will taste the teas publicly. All merchants, please prepare yourselves well.”
“Yes.”
Everyone responded in unison.
No one had expected such an outcome.
It would be a case of each of the eight immortals crossing the sea, each revealing their divine prowess, and putting effort into their own tea.
I returned to the counter, and Wu Bi greeted me. I told him about today’s events, and he pondered, “Second Young Mistress, our family’s tea is mainly Huizhou tea, with the best being from after the Qingming and rain seasons, prized for its freshness. Tasting it in winter might not be the best time. Competing with others, we don’t have a great chance of winning.”
Just then, a young apprentice brought a cup of tea and handed it to me. I looked at the verdant liquid in the cup.
From outside the door, the faint scent of winter plum blossoms drifted in.
Wu Bi said, “When I accompanied Second Master to the tea gardens in Huizhou, I heard the craftsmen there talk about a process called ‘scenting.’ It involves infusing tea with floral fragrances to enhance its flavor. Second Young Mistress, would you like to try it?”
At this season, the best blooming flower was undoubtedly the plum blossom.
Infusing plum blossoms into tea, scenting it, would allow the tea to possess the spirit and charm of the plum.
I carefully considered the scene of meeting Lord Liang today.
His clothing, his speech, his expression…
I nodded, then shook my head, “No, infusing tea with floral fragrance will overpower the tea’s own aroma. Moreover, Lord Liang announced the rules for blind selection publicly today. To make their teas stand out, other merchants will surely find ways to make their teas ‘more fragrant.’ If we do the same, we will just be following the crowd. It would be better to do the opposite.”
“Do the opposite?” Wu Bi asked, confused.
I asked, “Of all the teas in our shop, which one is the most bitter?”
Wu Bi thought for a moment and said, “Yishan Maofeng tea has a slight bitterness. But if we’re talking about the most bitter, it would be Ling County Bitter Tea. However, this tea is specifically prepared for the laborers on the docks and is very cheap; it’s hardly suitable for refined occasions.”
“Serve a cup,” I ordered.
“Yes…” Wu Bi went off, looking puzzled. After a moment, he returned with a cup of tea.
I took it, smelled it, and closed my eyes, as if I saw dense forests, winding streams, and swirling clouds. Taking a sip, the bitterness was like a spirited little snake, coiling on my tongue, and before I knew it, it had spread to my lungs. My entire body trembled from the bitterness.
“This is the one,” I said.
“Ah?” Wu Bi was greatly astonished. He couldn’t believe that I would entrust the fate of Cheng’s tea to this obscure bitter tea.
I said again with conviction, “This is the one. Send it on Laba Festival.”
“Yes,” Wu Bi replied reluctantly.
I stood behind the counter and silently finished the bitter tea in the cup.
What others discard, I take; what others take, I give.
Whether this move is correct will be seen on Laba Festival.
Just as I was about to return home, I saw Third Young Miss approaching with a smile, “Second Sister-in-law!”
I said softly, “Qing Shi, you’re smiling so happily. Is there any good news?”
She whispered mysteriously in my ear, “Mother agreed to it.”
“Hmm?”
“A few days ago, it was Madam Qin’s birthday. I invited Second Sister-in-law to go with me, but Second Sister-in-law was busy with the shop and couldn’t make it, so only Mother and I went. Second Sister-in-law doesn’t know, but Madam Qin absolutely adored that peony painting. She praised me so much at the banquet, I didn’t know what to say…”
She said shyly, “Madam Qin also had Mingxu sit next to me… Second Sister-in-law, do you think Madam Qin’s actions imply an intention for marriage?”
I said, “In terms of family background and appearance, you are indeed a good match. Did Madam Qin mention it explicitly?”
“Oh! She didn’t say it directly! I thought this veil of secrecy would eventually be lifted. I begged Mother to remind Madam Qin. Mother initially disagreed. But I pleaded with her every day, and finally managed to persuade her. Today, I’m going.”
She looked at me, a mixture of anticipation and worry on her face, and then left.
Before leaving, she turned back and said to me, “Second Sister-in-law, don’t let He Hua lock the door tonight. I’ll come to your room to talk.”
I smiled and nodded.
In the evening, I was sitting at my desk painting a snow scene when Third Young Miss walked in, looking dazed.
Her face seemed to be covered in a layer of frost.
I quickly got up, touched her hand, and said, “Qing Shi, why are your hands so cold? He Hua, go get a hand warmer and warm up Third Young Miss.”
He Hua agreed, brought a hand warmer, and I placed it in Third Young Miss’s hands. It took a long time for them to feel warm.
She leaned on my shoulder and began to cry, “Second Sister-in-law, Madam Qin had already agreed and said she would come to propose on an auspicious day. But… but Mingxu refused. He said, he said he likes someone else, someone with whom he shares a kindred spirit and has gone through life and death together. It’s just that this woman is now very far away. He is waiting for her. A gentleman keeps his word and does not change his heart… This is clearly an excuse! How could something like this happen? I had no idea… In front of so many people, where can I possibly save face…”
I gently stroked her back and comforted her, “Qing Shi, there are many good young men in the world. You are still in your maiden chambers, and you have many opportunities.”
She shook her head desperately, only crying.
After crying until she was exhausted, she lay down on my couch and fell asleep.
Laba Festival arrived in the blink of an eye.
Outside the Yangzhou Prefectural Office, a crowd had gathered to watch the spectacle.
Lord Liang stood at the entrance of the yamen, with dozens of identical white porcelain jars placed before him.
I, along with the other merchants, waited to the side.
Lord Liang examined each one carefully.
A group of women walked over and served the tea.
With each sip, Lord Liang would say a few words to the scribe, who would record them one by one.
Finally, after tasting one cup, he frowned and asked, “Whose tea is this?”
An official in charge checked and replied, “Reporting to Your Lordship, it is from the Cheng Family.”
“Summon the person from the Cheng Family,” he ordered sternly.
I quickly stepped forward and bowed, “Your Lordship, what is the problem with this tea?”
“Why have you sent such bitter tea?”
“Your Lordship, fragrance is easy to come by, but clarity is difficult.”
He paused for a moment, then sat down, smiled, and pointed at the teas, “All the teas today are competing in fragrance. However, the essence of tea is bitterness. Even if there is sweetness, it comes after many twists and turns, not as an immediate overwhelming sensation. Your tea, bitter to the extreme, has taken a different path. As you said, fragrance is easy, clarity is difficult. It is rare that you possess this clarity. I also wish that I may always maintain clarity. And I wish that everyone in the Imperial Court, from top to bottom, can maintain clarity.”
He clapped his hands, and several officials brought forward several trays, all laden with various precious jewels. Each item was marked, indicating when, where, and by whom it was presented.
“These are the gifts you have brought me. Take them all back,” he said, waving his hand.
The merchants exchanged glances.
My guess was correct; he was an honest official. His back was slightly hunched, clearly from long hours of desk work. Moreover, a corrupt official would not have such an open and honest gaze.
“The Cheng Family is the only merchant household that has not presented me with a gift. Today, the Cheng Family’s tea is also the only one without added fragrance. The act of concealing flaws is itself a flaw. Do any of you have any objections to my selecting the Cheng Family’s tea as tribute tea?” Lord Liang asked.
In the crowd, Wu Bi looked at me with excitement.
No one present dared to speak.
The matter was thus settled.
When I returned to the manor, Old Madam personally greeted me in the courtyard.
“Sang Yu, thank you for your efforts. With Huai not home, I’ve relied on you…”
She held my hand.
I quickly replied, “Mother, you are too kind. It is simply what a daughter-in-law should do.”
As we were speaking, a servant boy entered with a letter, “Second Young Mistress, a letter from Jizhou.”
Jizhou was where Eldest Young Master and his wife resided.
“Is it addressed to Mother?” I asked.
“No, it says here, ‘To be opened by Second Young Mistress personally’,” the servant boy replied.
I took it, opened it, and as I read the long letter halfway through, my heart grew heavy.
