Chapter 67

For several days, Xia Hongsheng and the shopkeeper's son had been holed up in the workshop without coming out. At every mealtime, the shopkeeper would have someone deliver food to the outside of the workshop. After Xia Hongsheng and the shopkeeper's son finished eating, they would put the items outside for the servants to collect. There was a bed inside the workshop, so at night, the two of them would sleep there in their clothes. The tea masters already knew that Xia Hongsheng was trying to create a new type of tea inside, so they did not go over to disturb them. Xia Hongsheng and the shopkeeper's son conducted many experiments in the workshop. It took only three or four attempts to get the white sugar right. By directly mixing the yellow mud slurry into the sugar syrup for filtration, the process of producing white sugar was indeed faster and the results were better. With the white sugar—although, due to technical and equipment limitations, it could not match the true white sugar of later times, it was at least white—rock sugar could also be produced. By melting the frost sugar again, adding egg whites to further remove impurities, and then placing a few bamboo strips inside, followed by cooling and solidification overnight, rock sugar could be produced. Although it was not as clear and transparent as the rock sugar of later times, it was still semi-transparent!

As for the scented tea, it took five or six attempts before Xia Hongsheng was satisfied. Previously, either there were too many flowers, making the floral scent too strong and the tea flavor insufficient, or there was too much tea, making the floral aroma unnoticeable. They could not find the right ratio, so they could not achieve the desired taste. After several more experiments, they finally found the right ratio: one part flower to three parts tea. By layering the flowers and tea in this ratio in a clay jar, placing the jar in a pot to simmer, then removing it to cool, separating the flowers from the tea, and drying the petals that had been flavored by the tea, they could produce the scented tea. When brewing jasmine tea, the scent of jasmine was fresh and the tea aroma was light, blending together to create a divine and refreshing experience. The tea enhanced the floral scent, and the flowers enhanced the tea flavor, complementing each other perfectly.

"Wang Shun, take the results, it's time for us to go out," Xia Hongsheng stretched lazily. After several days of seclusion and experimentation, he had finally managed to produce rock sugar and scented tea based on his knowledge from later times, recalling and experimenting as he went. Xia Hongsheng was overjoyed. He owned half the shares of the tea shop, and the better the business did, the more dividends he would receive. How could he not be happy? Although the market for scented tea was not as large as that for regular tea, it was a product that had stood the test of time for centuries. Suddenly becoming a tycoon felt incredibly exhilarating. He finally understood the feeling of those nouveau riche. One word: awesome!

"Sure thing!" Wang Shun picked up the two most successful jars of scented tea, and Xia Hongsheng also carried the other two empty jars. After helping out for several days, Wang Shun now looked at Xia Hongsheng with a bright, almost reverent gaze. Xia Hongsheng had not kept any of the techniques from him and had even explained the processes in detail. This clearly meant he was passing on the skills for making white sugar, rock sugar, and scented tea to him. Wang Shun had always followed his father in business and knew that these skills were more valuable than money. With skills, money would naturally come, but sometimes money could not buy skills. He also knew that this was not due to his own merit but to his father's loyalty and dedication to the Xu family, who had trusted him to manage the tea business. If it were not for his father's trust, he would not have had the opportunity to learn these skills. Therefore, Wang Shun resolved to live up to this trust and learn the art of business from his father. Following this young master, there would be many more such big businesses in the future. With business acumen, he would be valued by this young master and secure a bright future for himself.

The two of them came out of the workshop, got into a carriage, and headed straight for Mingxiangju. Upon entering, they saw the shopkeeper sitting there, holding a cup of tea but not drinking it, just smiling.

"Shopkeeper, is there good news?" Xia Hongsheng asked with a smile, seeing the shopkeeper's expression.

The shopkeeper was startled, turned around, and saw Xia Hongsheng and his son. His smile couldn't be wiped off his face. He got up and bowed to Xia Hongsheng, saying, "Good news! Great news! I've been running around for several days, and today it's finally settled. Mingxiangju will provide all the tea for the flower competition and the prizes for the flower queen. We've secured the exclusive sponsorship rights! Moreover, a large order has come in from Chang'an, and the workshops are already working day and night, but the demand is still not met. The family head has already agreed to open two more workshops!"

"Very good. For the top few grades of tea, start limiting sales now. Prioritize gold card VIPs, and members can prepay to reserve. Deliver the tea according to the order of reservation." Xia Hongsheng nodded, then turned and picked up the jars, gesturing to the shopkeeper and entering the inner room. The shopkeeper understood and instructed the manager before following in.

Inside the inner room, the shopkeeper saw four jars on the table. Xia Hongsheng said, "Wang Shun and I have been working hard these past few days and have finally produced the items. Two jars of jasmine tea, one jar of white sugar, and one jar of rock sugar. I've already taught Wang Shun all the methods, and he has mastered the key points. Please have the most trusted tea master taste the scented tea and make adjustments before promoting it. Since we are using jasmine flowers, these two jars are jasmine tea. In the future, other flowers or fruits can be used to make different scented teas. For example, using roses would produce rose tea, and lotus leaves or chrysanthemums can also be used. There are many more varieties than regular tea, and they not only taste good but are also beneficial to health, especially for women. As for white sugar and rock sugar... Rock sugar is sweet and neutral, entering the lungs and spleen meridians, with the effects of tonifying the middle and benefiting qi, harmonizing the stomach and moistening the lungs. It can also nourish yin and generate body fluids, and moisten the lungs to stop coughing. It can be added to cooling tea. The formula for cooling tea can be obtained, and adding this rock sugar will greatly improve both the taste and the effect. White sugar... is a higher quality sugar, white as frost, and is the raw material for making rock sugar. It can also be sold as a sugar product."

As he spoke, Xia Hongsheng opened one of the jars. The shopkeeper leaned in and saw square, crystal-clear pieces inside, looking like ice crystals, very beautiful. Xia Hongsheng took one out and handed it to the shopkeeper, who hesitated for a moment before putting it in his mouth, immediately widening his eyes.

Xia Hongsheng smiled and opened another jar. Instantly, the room was filled with a fresh and elegant jasmine fragrance, different from the scent of jasmine flowers, mixed with a light tea aroma, making one feel refreshed and at ease.

The shopkeeper looked surprised and saw the curled jasmine petals inside the jar. Xia Hongsheng grabbed a cup and put a few jasmine tea leaves in it. Wang Shun had already brought in a kettle of water.

As the water slowly poured into the cup, the jasmine tea leaves lay quietly at the bottom, calm and peaceful, emitting a jasmine tea fragrance that was serene and elegant. The tea water was a clear yellow-green, the floral scent like a mountain stream, giving a feeling of purity and detachment.

The shopkeeper picked up the cup and took a sip. The tea flavor entered his throat, slightly astringent at first, but then a rich and clear, sweet jasmine fragrance rose from deep within his throat, filling his chest. It felt as if the world was filled with this light fragrance, like a gentle morning breeze on a mountain peak, making one feel refreshed and serene.

"Master... this... this tea..." The shopkeeper, holding the cup, was extremely excited but couldn't find the words to describe it, finally managing to say, "Good! Good!"

"Alright, I haven't shown up for several days, so it's time to see my classmates. Shopkeeper, for the specific details, ask Wang Shun. I've already taught him how to make white sugar, rock sugar, and scented tea. I'm sure he can explain it clearly to you." Xia Hongsheng looked at the shopkeeper and knew his efforts had not been in vain. He then suddenly remembered something and added, "By the way, this scented tea can also beautify and nourish the skin, greatly benefiting women's appearance. If we can produce a batch in time for the flower competition and provide it to the flower queens... well, Wang Shun will have his hands full."

The shopkeeper, extremely excited, pulled his son and bowed deeply to Xia Hongsheng, his voice trembling, "Thank you, Master, for trusting my son! Please rest assured! My son and I will definitely get this done and not let you down!"

Xia Hongsheng smiled, waved his hand, and turned to leave the inner room, heading out of Mingxiangju.

The poetry competition should be over by now. I wonder which academy's student won first place. It would be great if it were Luozhou Academy, but unfortunately, Xu Qixian and Bai Jianzhi are likely to have lost in the round I missed. They were both pampered from a young age and have never experienced much hardship, so they probably found the topic difficult to write about.

When he arrived at the inn arranged by the academy, the students were still there, all waiting for the flower competition!

"Hey! Brother Xia!" As soon as Xia Hongsheng appeared at the inn's entrance, he was immediately spotted by the students, who quickly gathered around.

Xia Hongsheng had gained a lot of attention at the poetry competition due to Wang Zike's actions. The passionate and stirring "Manjianghong" had spread throughout Luoyang through the people who attended the poetry competition. Who didn't know this powerful and moving poem? In the past few days, many people had come to seek his acquaintance, but Xia Hongsheng had been absent.

So his appearance now immediately caused a stir among the students in the inn.

(These past two days, the number of favorites has been a bit sluggish. Please, dear readers, show your support! TAT)

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