Huangshan Maofeng
Chapter 3: Huangshan Maofeng
After Gu Yanchen left, Shen Qingci casually placed the business card with his personal phone number under the glass of the counter. She had no intention of contacting him.
She knew that Gu Yanchen's proposal sounded like a concession, but it was a compromise to the soul of the "Evening Fragrance Tea House." What she wanted was a complete tea house that belonged to her grandmother.
Over the next few days, Shen Qingci cleaned up the teahouse while trying to attract customers. She hung a small blackboard at the entrance of the teahouse, on which was written in elegant handwriting, "Newly arrived Mingqian Biluochun, welcome to taste it."
Most of the residents of the old street were regular customers. Seeing that the teahouse had been tidied up and new tea was available, they began to come in one after another. When they saw Shen Qingci, they greeted her warmly, asked about her life, and comforted her with their condolences.
The teahouse gradually gained popularity, and Shen Qingci slowly found her way into the business. She would patiently explain the characteristics of different teas to her customers, and recommend the right tea to suit their tastes, becoming increasingly skilled in her techniques.
That afternoon, the sun was shining brightly, and several veteran tea drinkers were sitting in the teahouse, chatting while drinking tea. Shen Qingci was sitting behind the counter, sorting a batch of Huangshan Maofeng tea that had just arrived.
Huangshan Maofeng is one of China's ten most famous teas. Its slightly curled shape resembles a sparrow's tongue, with a yellowish green hue and visible silvery hairs. After brewing, the tea soup is clear and bright, with a high, lingering aroma and a refreshing, sweet taste.
She was watching intently when the copper bell at the door rang again.
This time, it was not Gu Yanchen who came in, but a young girl dressed fashionably. She was holding a drawing board in her hand and looked like a student.
"Hello, can I have some tea here?" the girl asked timidly.
"Of course, please take a seat." Shen Qingci smiled and nodded. "We have Biluochun, Longjing, and Huangshan Maofeng here. What would you like to drink?"
The girl looked at the menu and hesitated. "I don't know much about tea. Can you recommend one to me? I'm looking for something lighter and more fragrant."
"Then you can try the Huangshan Maofeng tea we just got." Shen Qingci recommended, "It has a very fresh aroma and a relatively fresh taste. It's very suitable for girls to drink."
"Okay, then let's have a cup of Huangshan Maofeng."
Shen Qingci skillfully brewed a cup of Huangshan Maofeng tea for the girl. When the cup of clear green tea was brought to the girl, her eyes lit up.
"Wow, what a beautiful color!" She couldn't help but exclaim, then picked up the teacup and smelled it, "It smells so good!"
The girl took a sip carefully, a look of surprise on her face. "It's delicious! It tastes different from any tea I've had before."
Shen Qingci smiled and said, "As long as you like it."
As the girl drank her tea, she looked around the teahouse with curiosity and admiration in her eyes. She saw some old tea paintings hanging on the wall and the tea sets on the antique shelf, and she couldn't help but take out her sketchpad and began to sketch.
Shen Qingci did not disturb her. He sat quietly behind the counter, watching her painting seriously, and felt a sense of peace in his heart.
At this moment, the door of the teahouse was pushed open again and Gu Yanchen walked in.
He was stunned for a moment when he saw there were guests in the teahouse. Then his eyes fell on the girl who was painting, and then turned to Shen Qingci.
When Shen Qingci saw him, his heart skipped a beat, but he remained calm and nodded as a greeting.
Gu Yanchen said nothing. He walked straight to the counter and pointed at the can of Huangshan Maofeng tea in front of Shen Qingci: "Give me a cup of this too."
"Okay." Shen Qingci picked up the tea can and started brewing tea for him.
Soon, a cup of Huangshan Maofeng tea was brewed. Shen Qingci handed the tea to him and was about to turn around and leave when he was stopped by Gu Yanchen.
"Miss Shen, how have you considered the proposal I made last time?"
His voice was not loud, but in the quiet teahouse, it was still heard by several old tea drinkers nearby. They all looked over curiously.
Shen Qingci's expression was slightly unnatural. She whispered, "Mr. Gu, I've thought about it. I can't accept your proposal. I hope to keep the teahouse as it is."
Gu Yanchen frowned: “Miss Shen, are you too stubborn?”
"This isn't stubbornness; it's my persistence." Shen Qingci raised his head and looked him straight in the eye. "This teahouse is not just a business for me, it's also an emotional sustenance. I believe there must be a way to have the best of both worlds."
"Best of both worlds?" Gu Yanchen sneered. "Business is business. I don't have that much time to waste with you. If you insist on not cooperating, then we can only proceed according to the original plan."
His words instantly made the atmosphere in the teahouse tense. The girl who was drawing also stopped and looked at them curiously.
At this moment, a gray-haired old man spoke. He was a regular customer of the teahouse. His surname was Chen, and everyone called him Grandpa Chen.
"Sir, you can't say that." Grandpa Chen put down his teacup and looked at Gu Yanchen. "The Evening Fragrance Tea House has been open on this street for decades. It's a memory for us old street residents. If even it's gone, this old street will lose its soul."
"Yes, yes," several other old tea drinkers echoed, "We all support Qingci girl. We can't let the teahouse be demolished."
Gu Yanchen hadn't expected to provoke so much opposition, and his expression turned grim. He glanced at Shen Qingci, then at the indignant old tea drinkers. Finally, he took a deep breath and said, "Okay, I understand. I'll reconsider this matter."
After saying this, he turned around and quickly left the teahouse without stopping.
Looking at Gu Yanchen's back, Shen Qingci felt a warm current in her heart. She didn't expect that the neighbors in the old street would support her so much.
"Don't worry, Qingci," Grandpa Chen consoled her. "We'll all help you. If that company dares to demolish the teahouse, we'll fight them head-on."
"Thank you, Grandpa Chen, and thank you everyone." Shen Qingci was so moved that his eyes turned red.
She knew that with the support of these neighbors, she couldn't give up easily.
She picked up the cup of Huangshan Maofeng tea in front of her and took a sip. The freshness and sweet aftertaste of the tea spread in her mouth, making her feel a little more relaxed.
Although the road ahead was still full of challenges, she believed that as long as she persisted, she would definitely find a solution to the problem. And the battle between her and Gu Yanchen was clearly not over yet.
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