Chapter 76 Teahouse

"Okay, Yamato, hold Fubao, let's go quickly and try to come back early. The porcelain pots and cups are too expensive, and we can't make mistakes on the way. If we can't sell them today, we have to carry them back, don't make it too late."

Zhang Jinlan placed the tea set in the backpack.

Fearing that it might be broken, she not only wrapped the tea set with two layers of cloth, but also padded it with a thick layer of straw.

Jiang Dahe picked up Jiang Fubao.

Several people left their homes and rushed to the town.

This time we walked faster.

It was only morning when the four of them arrived at the city gate.

After queuing and being checked by the guard.

They entered the city and walked straight to Youran Street without wasting any time.

There are many teahouses, money houses, and schools on this street, and the residents are all wealthy families and families of poets and scholars.

At first, Zhang Jinlan wanted to set up a stall here.

Jiang Eryong dissuaded him from doing so.

"Mom, why don't we go to a teahouse and ask around? Most teahouses have private rooms on the second floor. People who go there to drink tea are all people of high status, so the teahouse will definitely prepare some good tea sets to entertain them. Let's go to the teahouse first and ask them if they want to buy it. If we just put it up there, I'm afraid we won't be able to sell the tea sets at a high price."

A few years ago, Jiang Eryong moved goods for the teahouse, so he naturally knew more about it than Zhang Jinlan.

"Okay, I'll listen to you and go ask first. It's okay even if they don't buy. If we still can't sell it after asking a few houses, we'll set up the stall again." Zhang Jinlan nodded and agreed.

Several people came to the nearest teahouse.

This teahouse has three floors.

The first floor is the lobby, where most of the guests sit.

We drank cheap tea.

Standing in the middle was a storyteller, telling a story passionately.

"It is said that eight hundred years ago, there was a scholar who was taking a boat to take an exam. On the way, the boat crossed into a turbid river. It suddenly began to rain. In an instant, white mist filled the air. Except for the scholar, everyone on the boat fell to the ground and fell asleep. The scholar was so scared that his hair stood on end. At this moment, a melodious song floated in from outside the boat..."

The old storyteller spoke passionately, his tone sometimes low and sometimes high.

The guests sitting in the hall were all listening attentively. Even the people passing by on the street were attracted and stopped to look inside.

Jiang Fubao was in no mood to listen.

All she could think about now was how much the teapot could fetch.

"Dear guests, would you like to have some tea? There are seats inside, please take a seat."

The waiter had sharp eyes. After serving the guests tea, he quickly walked to the door to greet them.

"No, no, no, we're not here for tea. May I ask if your shopkeeper is here?"

Jiang Eryong waved his hands repeatedly.

"Yes, what do you want to talk to our shopkeeper about?"

The waiter's attitude is pretty good.

Even though they were covered in patches and looked like poor people, no one looked down on them.

Not as arrogant and domineering as Jiang Fubao imagined.

"We have a set of tea sets handed down from our ancestors. They are beautifully crafted and well preserved. But we are just farmers and can barely afford to eat. What's the point of having these tea sets? I thought it would be better to sell them.

Just now I came to town and I happened to see your teahouse. Please ask the shopkeeper if he is willing to accept this set of tea sets. If not, we will go to another place to have a look."

Zhang Jinlan took over the conversation.

She was not telling the truth.

Instead, he made up an excuse.

"Okay, I'll go ask the shopkeeper. Don't stand at the door. Come with me to the back."

The teahouse's business was average to begin with; the second and third floors were almost empty, and the lobby on the first floor was not full either.

The customers only ordered cheap tea and drinks, so we didn't make much money.

The waiter was worried that they were blocking the door and affecting business.

So he asked them to wait in the yard.

"Yeah, okay, thank you, we'll follow right away." Jiang Eryong is more lively than Jiang Dahe.

He nodded and responded with a flattering look on his face.

Jiang Fubao saw it all.

She felt a little distressed.

My family is too poor.

So much so that the second uncle had to try his best to please a waiter.

He looks like a thug, and it's really funny to see him doing this.

Jiang Fubao was held by his uncle.

Following the waiter, we came into the yard.

There is a different world here.

There are not only rockery, but also an artificial pond.

There are several red and white carps in it.

There is a stone table and four stone benches beside the pond.

If you are sitting on the third floor and looking down.

The view must be very nice.

"You guys sit down and rest for a while. I'll go call the shopkeeper."

The waiter pointed at the stone table and turned to go into the room on the left.

Less than a minute.

He came out and said, "The shopkeeper doesn't go to bed until dawn. Please wait for a moment. I'm going to go to the front to do some work. When the shopkeeper comes out, you can talk to him yourself."

"Hey, okay, go and get busy." Jiang Eryong smiled innocently and watched the waiter leave.

Waited for about a quarter of an hour.

A thirty-year-old man reeking of alcohol came out of the room.

"You're the ones looking for me? What tea sets are you selling? Take them out and let me see."

He strode to the stone table and sat down.

Exactly four positions.

Zhang Jinlan sat on one seat, Jiang Eryong sat on one seat, and Jiang Dahao sat on one seat holding Jiang Fubao.

"This set of tea sets is an heirloom in our family. My ancestors fled from the north and settled in Lianshan Town. Our family was once well-off, but after so many years, they sold all their property, leaving behind this set of tea sets.

I wanted to pass it down, but it didn’t rain, the land was dry, rice couldn’t grow, and the family couldn’t get enough food, so I decided to sell the heirloom. Here, take a look.”

As Zhang Jinlan spoke, she took out tea sets from the basket on her back.

There was only an ounce of truth in what she said.

Anyway, her parents had passed away a long time ago.

There is no way to verify this.

She placed the tea set on the stone table.

Not just a teapot and four teacups.

Bamboo trays were also brought.

Fortunately, there is no engraving on it.

There is only one side with bamboo pattern.

"Wow, I've never seen such a unique little pot before."

The teahouse owner's cloudy eyes suddenly lit up.

He raised his eyelids, carefully picked up the teapot, and brought it to his face to observe it carefully.

The love in his eyes grew stronger.

"The peach branch is pink and soft, and the porcelain surface looks warm and soft. It feels like jade but not jade, but better than jade, as if it were covered with a layer of butter, and more like silk. Good, good, good! It is worthy of being a family heirloom. Wow, it even has ice crack glaze. I wonder which famous kiln fired it? By the way, what kind of pot is this? Why have I never seen it before?"

The teahouse owner exclaimed several times.

I couldn't let go of the teapot.

"This pot has another name, called Xishi Pot. As for which kiln it was made from, I don't know. My parents are no longer alive. I was still young at the time, so I didn't ask."

Zhang Jinlan would know.

It still depends on what Jiang Fubao said.

"Xi Shi Hu? What a good name! But, how come I have never heard of the word Xi Shi? What is the story behind it?"

The teahouse owner looked puzzled.

He looked at Zhang Jinlan with doubt.