Although Hongmi was born into a tenant farmer family and even worked as a slave, she possessed an inherent wild pride and a direct, unabashed gaze. Naturally, this gave her a unique aura.

This can be seen from the warm hospitality the waiters showed them as soon as they entered.

As for Mu Run, she kept as low-key as possible, wishing that no one could see her and that she could be invisible.

"Please have some tea, gentlemen." The waiter brought over tea and snacks, respectfully serving Hongmi and Murun.

Hongmi took out a piece of silver and gave it to the shop assistant, saying, "Bring us your newest and most fashionable materials. Don't try to fool us with outdated stuff."

The shop assistant usually only received a few copper coins as tips, but he never expected to see silver ingots today. He became even more certain that the two female customers were young ladies from wealthy families traveling incognito. While agreeing to their request, he excitedly went to the storeroom to get the finest Hunan embroidery fabric.

Mu Run said to Hong Mi, "It looks like there's about half a tael of silver."

Hongmi poured Murun a cup of tea and whispered, "If we're going to buy something, we should buy the best. We've never been here before, and if they try to cheat new customers by giving us outdated materials, we won't know what they're doing. With the initial payment, the waiter won't try to rip us off too much. As for that little bit of tip, I'll definitely get it back when we haggle."

"...Impressive!" This little girl is truly cunning.

Mu Run took a sip of tea.

The next moment, I almost spat it out.

The tea choked in my throat, rolling around and around, before I finally managed to force it down.

This burnt, bitter taste is like drinking burnt Chinese medicine soup; it has none of the sweetness and aroma of tea.

Mu Run looked at Hong Mi, who was drinking it very naturally, as if in her mind this was the taste of tea.

Seeing that Mu Run only took one sip and then stopped drinking, Hong Mi looked around and, seeing that no one was paying attention to them, said, "Sister-in-law, is it because you don't like it? This is a precious drink that only rich people can afford. Let's buy some for the eldest brother later too."

"That's it?" Mu Run glanced at the dark color of the soup and shook his head. "Forget it."

"But this Osmanthus-scented Luohan Tea doesn't suit the guest's taste? I can have someone come and get a different pot." The manager of Xiangxiu Workshop came over to greet them upon hearing this.

Although these two female customers were simply dressed and didn't look like they were from wealthy families, someone who's been in business for a long time knows that appearances can be deceiving, and they might actually be potential buyers. Even if they don't buy anything, it would be good for them to help promote the business.

Mu Run savored the taste of the tea soup on her tongue... There was no osmanthus fragrance at all, and the unique sweet and strong flavor of Luo Han tea was nowhere to be found. She said tactfully, "No need, we came to see the embroidery."

The shopkeeper was shrewd enough to understand Mu Run's meaning perfectly well. There was something wrong with the tea, but she didn't want to cause trouble.

Seeing that her hair was not tied up and she looked young, she should not be married yet. "Does the young lady have any advice on this tea? Please speak freely."

Mu Run fell silent for a moment. Her family owned tea plantations and a tea factory; their ancestors had been making and selling tea for generations. From a young age, she learned to pick tea leaves, drink tea, and appreciate tea, obtaining her tea appraiser certificate before she was even twenty. Later, she suffered a serious illness that severely damaged her sense of taste, almost causing her to lose it entirely, making it impossible for her to taste tea anymore. She then gave up her job in the tea industry, leaving her hometown for a nine-to-five job in a big city. But whenever it was time to pick tea leaves, she would always return home to help.

Xinlian's sense of taste is now very acute; she can tell the quality of tea just by smelling it, without even tasting it. However, she couldn't resist the temptation when she saw the tea and took a sip.

"There's nothing much to say about this tea," she said.

The shopkeeper's expression was rather unpleasant. "Miss, do you know that this Osmanthus-scented Arhat fruit costs fifty taels of silver per pound?"

Mu Run glanced at the tea again. "This tea was probably overcooked, the tea leaves were burnt, and the aroma has been completely destroyed. It even has a burning sensation when you drink it. But it's not without its merits. This kind of burnt tea has a particularly strong flavor, and some experienced tea drinkers might accept its unique taste. However, for those who are just starting out with tea, it will be difficult to swallow." Just like her body.

The shopkeeper remained noncommittal. "Are you a tea connoisseur, young lady?"

"I know a little bit about it." Now that her sense of taste is back to normal, it won't be difficult for her to pick up things she used to know again.

The shop assistant brought over the Hunan embroidery material.

When the shopkeeper saw that the waiter was carrying only the finest ingredients, he assumed that they were ordered by the women. His expression softened slightly, and he said to the waiter, "Put them down for now and go get the premium tea I just received."

"Yes, sir."

A short while later, the shop assistant brought over a jade box with excellent clarity.

Putting aside the quality of the tea inside, the box itself is quite valuable.

Mu Run looked at the jade box with a hint of anticipation.

The lid of the white jade box was opened, revealing a gold foil pouch inside.

"Please take a look, young lady."

The shopkeeper carefully opened the gold foil pouch, revealing the tea inside...

Its appearance resembles straight silver needles, with plump and full buds that are uniform in length and size. The tender buds and leaves are covered with fine silver hairs, and the color is bright golden yellow. The aroma of the tea is subtle, high and pure, and it is very appealing.

On Mu Run's face, a genuine smile finally appeared for the first time since she came into this world. It was as warm as the winter sun and the spring breeze, seeping into people's hearts and becoming unforgettable.

Hongmi, standing to the side, was stunned... No wonder the boss wanted her. It turns out that her beauty was not on the surface, but rather a gentle and graceful charm hidden within her skin, a gentle and beautiful color that emanated from her very bones.

Mu Run said, "If Junshan Yellow Tea is a treasure among yellow teas, then Junshan Silver Needle is the finest among treasures. Congratulations, shopkeeper, on obtaining such a fine tea."

The shopkeeper had originally intended to test Mu Run, but he was surprised that she actually recognized the tea. He stroked his short beard with pride and said with a smile, "What you said is absolutely right. This Junshan Silver Needle is a tribute to the imperial court, and the annual production is just enough to make up for the tribute. This year the harvest was good, and after deducting what was sent to the palace, a little bit of it was left over. I only managed to get an ounce with great difficulty."

"I wonder how much the shopkeeper spent on this tael?" Mu Run asked thoughtfully.

The shopkeeper held up five fingers. "This number."

Mu Run: "What is this?"

Seeing that she didn't understand, the shopkeeper smiled and said, "Five hundred taels of silver! That's with a favor; normally it would be... one hundred gold!"

"Five hundred taels of silver!" Mu Run's eyes widened in surprise. That's almost 100,000 yuan! Although Junshan Silver Needle tea is of high quality and scarce, 100,000 yuan per tael is an absolute astronomical price. Perhaps it's because it's a 'royal tribute' tea.

The shopkeeper carefully put the Junshan Silver Needle tea away again; he had only wanted to show Mu Run what it was all about. He wouldn't even drink this tea himself, let alone offer it to her.

"If I have some good tea, would you like some, shopkeeper?" Mu Run asked the shopkeeper.

Although she was new to this world and currently imprisoned, she would never give up on escaping. Once she was free, her first priority would be survival, establishing herself in this world. Tea picking and processing were skills she had mastered since childhood. The fact that she had asked the shopkeeper how much silver she had paid for the tea earlier showed her intention to return to her old profession and make a living in the tea trade.

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P.S.: The May Day holiday has begun! Wishing you all a happy holiday and a wonderful vacation! Also, please vote and add to your favorites! Mwah!