Chapter 352 You Must Stand Up and Make Requests
In Ningbo, Fudun also met an old monk from the Putuo Mountain Temple. They became friends and often drank tea and discussed Taoism together. Fudun's tea culture finally made a qualitative progress. He figured out an important mistake that the British had always made - black tea is made from the leaves of the black tea tree, and green tea is made from the leaves of the green tea tree.
He finally understood that black tea and green tea are both leaves from the same tree. The old monk also taught him the art of tea - the difference between brewing tea with well water and river water.
In 1851, he finally cultivated tea seedlings from seeds, which made him ecstatic. So, he rented land from Bir and cultivated nearly 20,000 tea seedlings, which he shipped to Calcutta in three batches.
Why was it shipped to Kolkata? Because India was a British colony, and he believed that the climate in the southern foothills of the Himalayas in India was closer to that of China.
However, out of the 20,000 tea seedlings planted, only 80 survived.
China's sacred tree, only Chinese people can grow it.
Soon, he recruited eight more Chinese people who knew how to grow tea and also how to make tea. These Chinese people were very happy because they had enough income to travel across the ocean to come to a foreign country.
They used all their talents to carefully nurture the tea seedlings and let them thrive. They constantly summed up their experience and allowed these Chinese "sacred trees" that came to a foreign land to adapt to the new environment. They used the fruits of the first batch of tea trees as seeds and planted them widely on the southern slopes of the Himalayas. After the tea trees produced tea, they patiently and meticulously taught the locals how to make tea.
In short, they were very serious, very dedicated, and very internationalist. They successfully introduced Chinese tea trees to India and successfully taught the locals how to make high-quality black tea and green tea.
A single spark can start a prairie fire. Thus, the British East India Company, the notorious company that once opened the door to China with opium and made a fortune in silver, now held an even more important weapon in their hands - tea.
With the help of the Chinese, the British were breaking China's tea monopoly. Besides Fu Dun, the eight Chinese were "indelible in their contributions." Of course, they never understood until their death that they were China's sinners.
Due to their "contribution", the export volume of Hankou tea gradually decreased from 80% of China's total sales in the past. By 1890, it only accounted for 10%.
The British government tried to keep a low profile on this not-so-glorious matter. Fordham, the "botanist" who made great contributions to Britain, was not awarded any national medals or the like. It can even be said that he was banned, but he was not short of money.
In 1880, Fu Dun died and left this world, but on the southern foothills of the Himalayas, the boundless tea trees were growing vigorously.
Starting from 1851, after repeated trial planting, it took root in 1856. After just over twenty years, the British were able to ship back the tea they needed from India.
This was a huge commercial theft. The British did not feel the slightest bit of uneasiness or guilt. On the contrary, they regarded it as a great adventure and a great victory.
The Chinese tea industry, which was ruined by Fu Dun and eight Chinese people, began to ferment in 1880. However, the Chinese at that time were not very aware of it.
By the time everyone knew about it, the East India Company had grown so big that it could not only supply two-thirds of Britain's total tea demand, but they also planned to produce more beautifully packaged green tea and dump it into China.
In 1881, the number of British tea merchants in Hankou did not decrease, but more tea shops were opened. These tea shops sold green tea and scented tea in exquisite paper packaging or cans. The green tea produced by the East India Company amazed all the Chinese merchants.
I said, "My story is over."
Zhang Chi said with emotion: "Teacher Wan's explanation is really vivid. If the British had not stolen the tea seedlings, the eight Chinese would not have taught the British how to grow and process tea. The British would not have been able to occupy the world tea market.
Nowadays, few people want Chinese tea, and the world's black tea is mainly supplied by Britain. Even when the Japanese came to China in the last century, we had no awareness of the situation and allowed them to photograph the Xuan paper production process. As a result, the Xuan paper produced by Japan is even better than ours.
Shi Ting said: "These are indeed heavy lessons. Some ancient technologies need to be better protected."
As soon as Director Shi finished speaking, he gave me a clear hint with his eyes, indicating that I should tell Director Shi about his wife's transfer.
I ignored him.
At this time, Shi Ting said, "We have finished the story. Mr. Zhang Chi would like to ask Teacher Wan to predict a fortune."
I said readily, "Okay. Better write it down."
Yishu brought paper and pen, and Zhang Chi wrote the word "true" on the paper.
"Which aspect?"
Zhang Chi smiled and said, "Master, I just want to test whether I can do something. Can I be vague and not say anything specific?"
"OK."
No one knew what Zhang Chi was trying to figure out, so they all looked at me, hoping that I could figure out what was on Zhang Chi's mind.
I knew what he meant, that he wanted something to be true, but he wouldn't tell me what it was.
Then, I can only discuss the matter based on the words.
I said, "The word 'zhen' (Zhen) doesn't have oracle bone inscriptions; it was first seen in bronze inscriptions from the Western Zhou Dynasty. It's a pictophonetic character. Its most basic meaning is...
Taoists cultivate their innate nature and thus attain the Tao. Such people are called Zhenren. Those who do not cultivate their innate nature are not called Zhenren.
For example, if you calm down and write a book on tea, it's like practicing Taoism, and you can succeed. You can become a true person. If you do something else, nine times out of ten it's fake."
"Oh, is that so? After hearing what the master said, I feel more confident. I've always wanted to write, but I haven't had the confidence. Mr. Shi occasionally talked to me about you, so I suggested that we meet soon."
I smiled and said, "Give me a copy when it's published. I'll study hard."
Shi Ting and Yishu also congratulated him, saying that Master Wan's fortune-telling was always accurate. "You can just write with confidence."
After chatting for half an hour, I stood up and said, "Mr. Chen from the company sent me a text message urging me to go back for something. Let's talk another day."
Understand the inexplicable.
Shi Ting stood up and said, "Okay, okay, if you have something to do, go ahead and we'll talk."
I held Shi Ting's hand tightly and said, "By the way, there's one more thing I need your help with."
Shi Ting said, "You say."
"This is my good brother. His wife works at the Wuxiang City Transportation Management Bureau. He wants to come to the subordinate unit under your jurisdiction to resolve the separation between the two places."
Shi Ting said: "There are difficulties. But I will try my best to find a solution."
I tightened my grip and said, "Everyone has difficulties."
He smiled and said, "Master, I will definitely find a way to deal with your request."
I told Baibai, "From now on, you should go to the director alone. If he doesn't handle the matter well, you can pack your backpack and sleep in the hallway of his house."
After I finished speaking, I let go, and understood that my hands were holding Shi Ting, and I kept bending over: “I will come to visit you specifically next time.”
Shi Ting said: "Okay, let's think of a way."
The two of them left the Lihua Hotel and got in the car. Mingbai let out a long sigh and said, "I'm so worried. You never mention it."
I burst out laughing. "A clear director, a clear director, a clear leader, this is an art."
"Art? What art?"
"When you sit down and make a request, the other person has time to negotiate and offer a bunch of reasons to decline. If you're standing, there are only two options: refuse or agree. There's no time for excuses. Standing makes your back hurt."
"We held hands tightly together. Rejecting him face to face is something most people wouldn't do, especially since our relationship is different. Since he's already agreed, you can go to him slowly and visit him more often. It will eventually be resolved."
"Oh, I see."
I said, "If you want to stop a fight, you must first persuade one party to sit down, so that the fight can't start. If you want to make a request, it's best to stand up and hold the other person's hand before making it.
Intervention, because when you sit down, your anger will subside. Shaking hands, physical contact brings people closer together.”
Mingbai smiled and said, "Master, are you organizing a training class?"
I said, "I'm just telling you. Most people don't tell him."
Back home, I sat on the sofa for a while, thinking to myself, Zhang Chi's talk of writing a book must be a lie, a lie, a lie.
He must be confused about something. He will come to see me another day.
What exactly is this? The word "true" has the character "具" in it. I have an idea.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
