Chapter 65

In ancient times, there were twelve scenic spots in Chuzhou, with Langya Mountain being the most prominent. Raising his eyes, one could see the mountain ranges and the winding paths leading to secluded springs.

The reason for Langya Mountain's enduring fame lies in the Drunken翁Pavilion nestled within the mountain. It was Ouyang Xiu's essay "Record of the Drunken翁Pavilion" that made this place a haven for literati and scholars for nearly a hundred years.

Not long after the Qingming Festival, Langya Mountain welcomed a peak tourist season, primarily due to the triennial Tea Competition held near the Drunken翁Pavilion.

The Song Dynasty was an era that placed great emphasis on tea culture, from the emperor down to the scholars, all of whom were passionate about it and wrote books to theorize about it. You might find that even a humble peddler on the street could appreciate tea and discuss it with ease.

The Tea Competition was often held during the Qingming Festival, as this was when the new tea was just harvested, making it the perfect time for the competition. Participants were usually tea enthusiasts who formed groups freely, ranging from a dozen to just a few. During the competition, many neighbors and passersby would gather to watch the excitement.

If the competition took place in a tea shop, the owners or employees of nearby shops would take turns to join in, especially the customers who were there to buy tea, as they would linger, eager to witness the event.

Choosing Langya Mountain as the venue for the Tea Competition highlighted the grandeur of the event. Over time, the competition has evolved from a personal hobby and rivalry to a cultural phenomenon, becoming a contest for prestige among local tea merchants.

Winning the title of "Tea Master" at the competition was akin to receiving a brand label.

Ye Yu's father, Ye Menggeng, won the title of "Tea Master" for eight consecutive sessions, which made the Ye family a renowned tea merchant in the Jianghuai region. As a result, the Ye family's "Dragon Ball Superior Snow" became one of the six tribute teas to the imperial court.

Tea tasting, also known as tea appreciation, involves the host inviting a few close friends to savor the tea, which is served in small cups, similar to wine, to be enjoyed slowly.

However, the Tea Competition is different. The word "斗" (dòu) implies both competition and the desire to win. It can be summarized as "comparing the quality of tea and the skill in judging it."

Participants in the Tea Competition would each present their finest tea, taking turns to taste and evaluate, to determine the winner. The competition included the color and fragrance of the tea, the aroma and smoothness of the tea soup, the quality of the tea ware, and the timing of the water boiling. The winner would be decided by a collective evaluation.

The Tea Competition was presided over by the Prefect of the state, supervised by officials from the Tea Monopoly Office, and judged by ten respected tea experts, making it a grand event.

Before the competition began, Langya Mountain was already crowded with people, like a grand festival.

"Come, meet Mr. Hu from First Fragrance! He is a great scholar, excelling in poetry, calligraphy, and painting!"

"This is Mr. Qian from Purple Qi Tea House, a master of gold and seal engraving!"

"This elderly gentleman is Mr. Wu, a tea connoisseur with vast knowledge and skills!"

"Ha ha ha!..."

The ten judges introduced themselves, their faces beaming with joy, as the triennial Tea Competition was a rare and highly anticipated event, and they all hoped for a pleasant surprise.

Just as everyone was chatting, Prefect Yue Lin and the Tea Monopoly Office official Yang Wanli approached. Seeing everyone engaged in conversation, Yue Lin smiled and said, "You all arrived earlier than we did!"

Everyone turned and bowed to the two officials, saying, "We greet the two officials!"

"No need for formalities. Mr. Wu, as the authority on tea in our state, what do you expect from this year's competition?" asked the young official Yang Wanli, turning to the elderly Mr. Wu.

Though Mr. Wu was old, his eyes were clear. He bowed and said, "Your Excellency flatters me. There is no such thing as an authority in tea. The quality of tea cannot be determined by one person. As for my expectations..."

He glanced at the Ye family, represented by Ye Mengxin, and shook his head with a hint of disappointment: "Since the Ye family won the title of 'Tea Master' eight years ago, no one has surpassed them. To be frank, I and my fellow tea enthusiasts are not optimistic..."

"I have heard the same. It is indeed difficult to find a tea that surpasses the tribute 'Dragon Ball Superior Snow' in our state. I hope this year's competition will bring a pleasant surprise!" Yang Wanli nodded in agreement.

Seeing the dejected faces of the crowd and the arrogant demeanor of the Ye family, Yue Lin stroked his beard and smiled, "There's no need to be discouraged. There are many hidden talents in the world of tea. Ye Master, what do you think?"

The rules of the Tea Competition were that each session would select a winner who would then challenge the previous year's "Tea Master." As the current "Tea Master," Ye Mengxin, who had taken over the family business from his brother Ye Menggeng, had to accept the challenge.

Ye Mengxin bowed slightly and replied, "Your Excellency is right. In literature, there is no first, and in martial arts, there is no second. The same applies to tea! Even if my family is the leading tea merchant in our state, we may not be the best compared to other regions."

What a seasoned old fox! His words were a mix of humility and arrogance, showing both respect and confidence. "Leading in our state" was a bold statement!

"Is that so? But that title was won by your brother. We will see if you can maintain it!" Yue Lin said with a hint of challenge.

Ye Mengxin's eyes twitched, but he still replied respectfully, "Thank you for the reminder, Your Excellency!"

"Third Uncle!" Just as Yue Lin finished speaking, a woman's voice called out. It was his niece, Yue Sanlang.

Yue Lin turned to look at her, somewhat exasperated, "Didn't you go back to the capital?"

Yue Sanlang approached, smiling sweetly, "I heard about the Tea Competition, so I asked the driver to turn back!"

"You always love to join in the fun. You've caused me a lot of trouble during your stay here..." Yue Lin pretended to be annoyed, but there was no real complaint in his voice, only the affection of an elder for a younger relative.

"Hmph! Third Uncle, you knew I love to join in the fun but didn't tell me about the Tea Competition today, making me travel for dozens of miles for nothing!" Yue Sanlang pouted, looking quite adorable.

Yue Lin gently tapped her forehead, smiling, "You're like a cat, always drawn to the scent of excitement!"

"Hehe!"

Yue Lin then introduced his niece to the crowd. Only then did they realize that the young woman was the daughter of the current Imperial Scholar, Yue Lei. Ye Mingzhi, who had come with his father, followed his father's advice to observe more and speak less.

He did just that, but his eyes were fixed on Yue Sanlang, who returned his gaze with a cold, sharp look.

In the bustling Langya Mountain venue, as people chatted, the time for the Tea Competition arrived. Mr. Wu, as the organizer, stepped forward to announce the start of the competition.

Dozens of tea enthusiasts entered the venue, each bringing their tea-making tools. The process of making tea was very particular, so the setup varied among the participants.

Some carried a tea set and did everything themselves, while others had several tea sets placed beside them.

One man in front, wearing straw shoes, held a cup in one hand and a tea bucket in the other, his chest bare, looking proud of his tea's quality.

Behind him, another man with his sleeves rolled up held a cup in one hand and a teapot in the other, pouring tea into a cup. Two men stood to the right, watching intently, as if listening to the introduction of the tea and preparing to counter. Though the competition was elegant and calm, it was filled with unseen tension.

Once all the procedures were completed, each participant presented their tea, with the cups labeled "1, 2, 3, 4..." and placed before the ten judges, led by Mr. Wu. The final decision would be made by them.

"The first item, evaluate the tea leaves and tea soup!" Mr. Wu announced in a trembling but loud voice.

The ten judges picked up the cups, first examining the shape and uniformity of the tea leaves, the amount of broken or damaged leaves, and the color, which should meet the standards for the type of tea, such as green tea being dark green, not scorched or broken, and properly curled.

They then sniffed the tea from about a foot away, and held a small amount of tea under their noses to smell it. After discussing among themselves, they wrote down their favorite tea's number on a small piece of paper and placed it in a box. The results would be announced by the host.

After Yue Lin received the box from Mr. Wu, the judges returned to their seats to wait for the results. The same process was followed for each subsequent evaluation.

"The second item, evaluate the tea ware!"

Each of the dozens of participants placed their tea sets on the judges' table, listening to their comments.

"This pot is well-made and unique..."

"This pot has a novel design, elegant and classic, perfectly matching the tea!"

"This pot has a harmonious color, is easy to use, and is elegant and dignified..."

...

"The third item, evaluate the water quality and the timing of boiling the water!"

This was the most challenging part, as the judges had to determine whether the water used was mountain water, river water, or well water. Generally, mountain water was the best, river water was second, and well water was the worst. Only the ten judges, all seasoned tea connoisseurs, could distinguish the differences.

After the three basic criteria were evaluated, the initial competition was over. After several rounds of voting, the ten judges made their choices.

When Yue Lin looked at the name of the winner, he couldn't help but smile. He then announced, "After a comprehensive evaluation, number three is the first place winner. The tea friend number three will have the opportunity to challenge the previous 'Tea Master'!"

(Updates have been a bit slow recently, but I won't stop. I am preparing for the release, and there will be more updates after the release. Please bear with me and support me! More exciting content is coming soon!)

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