Tea Girl
In March in the south of the Yangtze River, the grass is green and the warblers are flying.
The misty drizzle is like smoke and fog, covering the rolling mountains and winding waterways, dyeing the sky and the earth into a misty ink painting. The distant mountains are dark blue, the nearby water is clear blue, the peach blossoms bloom in the water, and the willow branches are green and brush against the bridge.
If you only look at the scenery, it is indeed the most gentle and tender place in the world, but beneath this tenderness, the hardships of livelihood never stop.
It was still dark, just after the hour of Yin, and the tea garden deep in the distant mountains was still immersed in darkness. Eight figures were already treading on the muddy path, taking one deep step and one shallow step, moving towards the tea garden on the mountainside.
They were tea pickers from a nearby village, led by the experienced Aunt Zhang.
"Everyone, be alert! The boss wants the best Mingqian tea. Only one core and one leaf of the buds are taken. Those that are stained with dew, those with spots, and those that are slightly stretched are not accepted!" Aunt Zhang lowered her voice and warned, and the white breath she exhaled instantly merged into the humid air.
They must pick the freshest buds and leaves before sunrise. Once the sun rises higher, the quality of the tea will be compromised. If the boss doesn't buy it, they won't make a penny.
The girls responded in low voices and dispersed into the waist-high tea rows.
Their fingers jumped quickly among the dark green tea bushes, twisting and picking them. The fine rain quickly wet their straw raincoats and soaked their thin clothes through the gaps. No one spoke, only the rustling of the rain could be heard.
For two whole hours, the eight people bent over and hardly stopped. Only then did a layer of tender green and almost transparent buds accumulate in the tea baskets behind them, which was only a small handful in total.
"It's almost done, hurry up! Go down the mountain! We have to send it back and dry it before noon!" Aunt Zhang straightened her aching back and greeted everyone.
The girls felt as if they had been pardoned. They carefully gathered the fresh leaves, which were worth as much as gold, into Aunt Zhang's big tea basket, covered it with a clean white cloth, and then supported each other as they hurried down the steep and slippery path they had come from.
The continuous spring rains have already soaked the mountain and made it soft and swollen, and the soil has become loose.
They were so focused on getting on with their journey that they were completely unaware of the approaching danger. Deep in the valley upstream, a heavy rain had already poured down. The turbid water, carrying mud, sand and gravel, formed a violent torrent that was rushing down the mountain at an alarming speed.
Suddenly, a dull rumbling sound came from the top of the mountain, getting closer and closer.
"What's that sound?" A young tea picker looked up in horror.
Aunt Zhang's face suddenly changed: "Oh no! It's a flash flood! Run! Run to higher ground!"
However, it was too late.
Before he could finish his words, a yellow-brown torrent carrying broken wood and gravel roared out from the valley on the side and instantly swallowed up the narrow path!
Screams, cries, and the terrifying roar of the flood mixed together and were quickly drowned out. Human power was so insignificant in the face of natural disasters that it was vulnerable.
Eight figures were swept down, scattered, and submerged in the mud like fallen leaves. The struggle soon stopped and everything returned to silence. Only the muddy flood continued to rush down, leaving behind a mess.
After an unknown amount of time, the rain stopped for a while.
The tea garden's manager, along with a few laborers, walked through the mud to look for the missing person. They saw the washed-out path, the fragments of a straw raincoat half-buried in the mud, and a lone, worn-out shoe.
The manager frowned and looked around, his eyes quickly attracted by several tea baskets stuck among the rocks not far away. He walked over quickly, pushed aside the mud, and lifted up the wet white cloth inside. Underneath, there was actually a handful of tender and juicy Mingqian tea buds.
The steward's eyes lit up. He carefully took out the tea leaves and examined them carefully, and found that they were in good condition.
A trace of relief flashed across his face, and he waved to his men, "Quick, collect these tea leaves and send them back to the teahouse immediately. No one can afford to delay our distinguished guests from enjoying their tea!"
As for those disappeared tea pickers?
He glanced at the muddy water and said indifferently, "Send a few people to check downstream. If you can find it, bury it. If not, forget it."
The precious tea leaves were quickly sent away, and after going through extremely tedious and delicate processes: spreading out to dry, withering, rolling, and drying, finally, only less than one or two pounds of finished products were left, which were packed into exquisite tin cans and sent to a secret place by fast horses.
*
Outside Suzhou city, on the shore of Taihu Lake.
A vast garden mansion is built against the mountain and beside the water. It has white walls and black tiles, hidden among towering ancient trees. The high walls and deep courtyards are extraordinary. Ordinary people only know that it is the villa of a retired official. The owner is rarely seen coming and going, and he never receives outsiders. It is so quiet that it seems as if he does not exist.
The pot of Mingqian tea was currently being cooked by a young maid in green clothes using a small red clay stove.
The spring water boiled three times, the fragrance of tea filled the air, and the emerald green tea soup was poured into a sky-blue glazed porcelain cup. The housekeeper personally held it and silently brought it to a pavilion by the water.
The interior of the pavilion is elegantly furnished with a table and two chairs. Outside the window is a lotus pond in the drizzle, with withered lotus leaves and listening to the rain, which has a unique lonely charm.
Sitting in the main seat was a man who was about fifty years old.
He was wearing an ordinary sandalwood-colored Hangzhou silk robe. He had a gaunt face, gentle eyes, and a natural, almost imperceptible smile at the corners of his mouth. He had an elegant and calm temperament, like a well-educated scholar with excellent cultivation.
He is Jing Pu Ze. Few people know that he is the uncrowned richest man in the Southern Dynasty. His businesses are spread across the Yangtze and Huaihe River regions. He is rich enough to rival a country, but he lives a secluded life and rarely appears in public.
The Jing family has stood firm through several dynasties and generations.
Opposite him sat Ning Lingyi.
She had changed back into a plain dress, her expression calm, as if she had just come here to visit a friend and drink tea. Beside her was Ning Yanhe, who was sitting upright. The child seemed a little nervous, his little hands slightly clenched under the table, but his eyes were trying to remain calm.
"Your Highness, please try this new tea." Jing Puze smiled, his voice gentle and mellow, just like the tea in front of him. "This is a small crop from the Queen's own tea garden. Although it's not as good as the imperial tribute, it's refreshing and has a unique wild aroma."
Ning Lingyi picked up the teacup as she was told. With her slender fingers like jade, she first observed its color, then sniffed its fragrance, and finally took a sip, letting the sweetness after the slight astringency spread on her tongue.
She put down the teacup and nodded, "It's truly excellent. The buds and leaves are fresh and tender, and they're skillfully stir-fried. They have a delicate fragrance and a mellow taste, with a long aftertaste. Mr. Jing has a refined taste."
Jing Puze chuckled, his smile growing gentler. "Your Highness, you are too kind. Honestly, I maintain a tea garden. It may not seem large, but I employ over a thousand people to meticulously tend it, weeding, fertilizing, pruning, and harvesting. Every year, I spend no less than 100,000 silver taels to produce just a few dozen kilograms, barely enough for my own appreciation and gifts."
He gently twirled his Buddhist beads, his gaze seemingly casually cast on the rain outside the window. His tone was calm, as if he were discussing a trivial matter. "Thus, I have always felt that in this world, if we want to gain even the slightest benefit, whether it is something elegant or practical, we must ultimately be willing to give up. Only by giving can we gain. Do you agree, Your Highness?"
Ning Lingyi met his gaze, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Of course. Mr. Jing, your insight is profound. Just like your seclusion here, every blade of grass and every tree shows ingenuity. In terms of comfort and ease, even the Imperial Palace might not be as comfortable. Today, Lingyi has finally gotten a glimpse of the wealth of the Southern Dynasty's richest man."
She changed the subject slightly, her tone still calm: "Although the misty rain in Jiangnan is beautiful, it is ultimately gentle. Today, I am honored to meet Mr. Jing, and I would like to take the liberty to invite you to taste a different kind of flavor."
Jing Puze paused slightly as he twirled his Buddhist beads. His gentle smile remained unchanged, but a subtle inquiry flickered in his eyes. "Oh? What do you mean by that, Your Highness? I'd like to hear the details."
"The taste of power."
The pavilion fell into a brief silence, with only the sound of raindrops outside the window and the sound of boiling water.
Jing Pu Ze didn't say anything, just looked at her quietly, his eyes moving slowly between her and Ning Yanhe. Beneath that gentle appearance, there was an unfathomable scrutiny.
Ning Lingyi raised her hand and gently placed it on Ning Yanhe's slightly thin shoulder, continuing, "This is my brother, Ning Yanhe, the sixth son of the late emperor. Although young, he is intelligent and studious, well-mannered and respectful, and has a naturally benevolent and filial heart."
"As the eldest sister, I always thought."
Ning Lingyi paused and finally said those words.
"My brother should be like Yao and Shun."
Jing Pu Ze raised his eyelids slightly, and the Buddhist beads in his hand stopped turning.
As if she hadn't noticed his reaction, Ning Lingyi continued, "Although Lingyi is far away in Heshuo, I've long heard that Mr. Jing has a granddaughter who is well-bred and virtuous, and a virtuous woman of high status. Therefore, I would like to take the liberty of proposing to marry her on behalf of my brother. What do you think, Mr. Jing?"
Jing Puze was silent, his eyes fell on Ning Yanhe again, and he was silent for a long time. Under his gaze, Ning Yanhe straightened his back and tried to stay calm, but his slightly trembling fingertips still revealed his nervousness.
For no reason, Ning Yanhe suddenly thought that they, the siblings, were like the fish laid out on the ground at the Suzhou wharf morning market, with anyone able to pick the fat meat.
After a long moment, Jing Puze slowly spoke, his voice still gentle: "Your Highness is currently busy with military affairs. The Northern Expedition is in full swing, and the swords and soldiers are merciless around you. Your Highness the Sixth Prince is so young that it is probably not a long-term solution for him to follow the army."
He looked at Ning Lingyi, his tone becoming extremely sincere. "I am not very talented, but although this garden is humble, it is quiet and safe. If Your Highness trusts me, why not temporarily entrust the Sixth Prince to my care? I will do my best to treat him with respect and respect, and invite famous scholars to teach him carefully when he returns. What do you think?"
Ning Lingyi tightened her hands slightly in her sleeves.
How could she bear to leave her younger brother here? How could she feel at ease? But...
She resisted the urge to frown, her face calm as she reached out and gently touched Ning Yanhe's hair, her tone filled with worry and reluctance: "I appreciate Mr. Jing's kindness, but..."
"Yan He is young and cannot leave his family. I, as your elder sister, feel deeply uneasy about entrusting him to your family. I am also afraid that I have wronged Mr. Jing."
Upon hearing this, Jing Puze's gentle smile deepened. He glanced at Ning Yanhe, who was trying to straighten his back, and said slowly, "Your Highness, you are worrying too much. Today, I have observed that the Sixth Prince, although young, has a mature demeanor. He will definitely be something extraordinary in the future."
He paused briefly before finally making his final promise: "My granddaughter is a worthy match for Your Highness."
Ning Lingyi was filled with mixed emotions. A huge rock fell to the ground, only to be replaced by another, even heavier rock.
She looked down at her brother, and Ning Yanhe was also looking up at her. The child's eyes were filled with complex emotions, including attachment, fear, confusion, and a hint of forced understanding.
*
A few days later, Ning Lingyi said goodbye.
Jing Puze personally escorted her to the second gate and stopped there, then was led out by the housekeeper. Ning Yanhe held his sister's hand tightly and silently escorted her all the way to the magnificent gate of the mansion.
The high threshold seems to be two different worlds inside and outside.
Ning Yanhe stopped, raised her head, and looked at her sister for a long time without saying a word. Tears quickly gathered in her beautiful eyes, but she held back and refused to let them fall.
Ning Lingyi's heart felt like it was being tugged at by something, causing unbearable pain.
She squatted down, stroked his cheek again, straightened his collar, and said in a voice so soft that it almost disappeared in the rain and mist: "Yan He, do you remember what your sister said to you?"
Ning Yanhe nodded fiercely, his lips pursed until they turned pale.
"Sister will definitely come to pick you up."
Ning Lingyi looked at him and promised solemnly, word by word, "I will."
Ning Yanhe nodded vigorously again, and finally couldn't hold back his tears. Big drops of tears rolled down his face, hitting the bluestone slabs and making small water stains. He suddenly threw himself into his sister's arms, his little shoulders twitching violently, but he bit his lips tightly to prevent himself from crying out loud.
Ning Lingyi hugged him tightly, and for a moment, she just wanted to take her brother away.
But the next second, she thought of the three places in Heshuo, the millions of soldiers and civilians, and everything on her shoulders. She finally let go of his hand and carefully wiped away the tears on his face with her fingertips.
She wanted to say a lot, but...
So, she tried to force a smile and said, "Be good, follow Mr. Jing and study hard. I'm leaving."
She stood up, took a last look at her brother, turned around, and finally stepped over the high threshold.
The young servant in blue closed the heavy black lacquered door, isolating the inside and the outside.
Ning Yanhe stood alone inside the door, looking at the door where she could no longer see her sister. Her small figure looked particularly lonely under the magnificent gate.
He waited until he could no longer hear any noise outside the door before rushing to the door, hoping to see something through the crack, but there was nothing there, only silence, so quiet that it scared him.
He didn't want to cry. His sister had talked to him a lot and he couldn't cry.
But many tears still fell on his collar. He felt sorry for his sister and cried.
Sister, he will be sensible and willing to help you. Don’t worry, sister, he will be well-behaved and won’t cry anymore.
Sister, sister, how long will I stay here? When will you come to pick me up?
Finally, night fell and it was dark. This place was too big and empty, with few people around. No one made him feel close. He wiped his tears and walked back to the mansion that seemed to want to swallow him up.
He turned around and looked at the door again, Sister, I'll wait for you.
*
A few days later, at night.
At a secluded private dock in Taihu Lake, nearly a hundred large cargo ships gathered quietly. The ships had a very deep draft and were obviously fully loaded. There were no signal flags on board, and the sailors moved swiftly and silently.
The drizzle continued to fall, wetting the sides of the boat and the sails.
In the cabin of the largest ship, Ning Lingyi stood by the window, looking at the dark lake outside and the scattered fishing lights in the distance, her expression showing an indescribable loneliness.
Ning Lingyao walked out of the inner cabin, snuggled up to her sister, and asked softly, "Sister, are we going on a boat again? Where's my brother? Isn't he coming with us?"
Ning Lingyi's body stiffened for a moment. She didn't turn around, nor did she answer her sister's question. She didn't know how to answer. She just reached out and hugged her younger sister in her arms. Now, it was just the two sisters snuggling together.
At the other end of the cabin, Jing Pu Ze's eldest son Jing Zhao and Yang Tianlu stood side by side, looking at the two sisters who were leaning on each other from afar.
The fleet set sail, and under the cover of night and rain, it sailed into the vast Taihu Lake, then turned north, leaving the warmth and bloodiness of the misty Jiangnan region far behind, and headed for the Heshuo area that would determine the future destiny of the country.
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