The Incense Monopoly Order

Chapter 4 Rare things are more valuable
"I just said something, and you're blackmailing me." Shang Zishu complained hypocritically, then turned around and ordered her personal maid, "Hurry and get my new tea and send it to my eldest sister and third sister."

After giving the order, he turned around and said, "This tea is a new product I personally found on the top of Huangshan Mountain. You should try it. I also brought back some saplings, but I don't know if they can be transplanted."

"Hurry up, let my second sister brew me a cup of tea personally, so that I can calm down." Shang Mingshu urged Jinya behind Shang Zishu.

Jin Ya looked at Shang Zishu, got Shang Zishu's approval, and bowed to prepare.

"What happened at the dock last night?" Shang Wenshu asked Shang Mingshu while waiting.

"I only have a vague idea. I don't know who sent a message to my aunt, saying someone was planning to burn the tea we loaded this morning at the dock. My father is in Miss Mu's courtyard, and my aunt couldn't find anyone to help. This is a serious matter, so she had to send me to take a look." Shang Mingshu said what she had prepared. "We'll have to wait for my father to return from the government office to find out what's going on."

Last night they proved their innocence and revealed their identities. Shang Mingshu and Cheng She did help, and most of the captured Japanese pirates were found alive, so they were allowed to return home. This morning, Shang Jinliang was summoned for questioning.

"I'll go first. Mu Xiaoniang won't dare to hide it and not report it, so that my father can come in time."

"Mrs. Mu is always flirting with father and is just jealous. Fortunately, you are safe, otherwise I would have skinned her alive." Shang Zishu hated Mrs. Mu very much.

Shang Wenshu didn't like it either, but she wouldn't say it out loud.

Where is Shang Mingshu?

Shang Mingshu didn't care, but she was always understanding. "She's a poor creature too, brought into the mansion by her father. She has no one to rely on. If she doesn't cling to her father, how can she survive? That's all. It's just a means of survival. Why bother getting angry with her? There's no need to get angry at yourself."

Shang Zishu felt a little disappointed: "You are good at everything, but you are too kind. You should know that kind people are often bullied."

Shang Wenshu nodded in agreement, "I wonder if the prefect's third son is a good man. Since ancient times, people have never fought against officials. Although our family is wealthy, we are still inferior to others. If he is not a good man, my third sister cannot let my father make the decision without thinking."

The fanning hand paused, and Shang Mingshu lowered her eyes. "Men in this world are so unfaithful. What difference does it make who they marry? Look at how much salt permits Yang Shibo gets every year? Half the people in the Yangzhou salt fields are surnamed Yang. The Yang family is so wealthy without being envied because they have the support of the court. We Shang family are already being coveted. If we want to move up a level, without support, we will be shattered."

I was born into a merchant family, and have enjoyed a life of luxury since childhood. I have always enjoyed the blessings of my family, and it is my duty to contribute to the family. I don't need to worry about whether I have a good man or not. I can always find a way to live comfortably. As long as he can protect my sisters, that's all that matters."

Look at me, how much I know about the principle of shared prosperity? Let’s learn from it!

"It's also the fault that so many people in our clan are mediocre. How much gold and silver does my father spend on the clan school every year? He spends a lot of effort to hire famous teachers to teach, but these people are all stupid and not as knowledgeable as my third sister." Shang Zishu gritted her teeth when she thought of the tuition allocated to the clan every year.

If they had just passed the imperial examination, why would their father have pushed their third sister to curry favor with the powerful?
"Don't say that in front of Father," Shang Wenshu advised. "Grandfather had no bank to work for, so he borrowed money from the clan to make his fortune. Without their trust and support, even at the cost of their own resources, how could the Shang family exist today? Besides, there are many merchants in the city, and who doesn't give back to the clan, build clan schools, and help the community? We can worry about other things, but forgetting our roots is unacceptable."

"Eldest sister should tell father this. He will definitely be happy and think that you can take on the heavy responsibility." Shang Zishu and Shang Wenshu have always been at odds with each other in private, and she subconsciously wants to retort.

"I'm doing this for your own good. If you keep these words to us in private, we won't let anyone else know. If you don't restrain yourself, one day I'll tell the elders of the clan about it..."

"Eldest sister, please don't lecture me. I know my limits. If the elders of the clan find out one day, it won't be my reckless words, but someone will definitely slander my sister's reputation."

"You—don't know the heart of a good person." "A good heart? Where can I find a good person? I haven't even seen a good person, so how can I see the heart of a good person?"

Shang Mingshu waved her round fan again and ate some cakes. She had not yet had breakfast this morning and was leisurely watching her two sisters arguing with each other. She never spoke to persuade them when they quarreled.

How can the left and right arms be of one mind? It is not conducive to checks and balances.

If the two of them came back to ask her why she didn't mediate, she would naturally be embarrassed and aggrieved: "I respect my eldest sister and am close to my second sister. I feel uncomfortable siding with either sister. Besides, I feel that each sister is right. How can I help them?"

Finally, Jin Ya brought the tea set and Shang Zishu's freshly made tea, and the two ended their argument. Shang Zishu put the argument aside and couldn't wait to show the results of her hard work for a year.

Shang Zishu rolled up her sleeves and started by preparing the tea. She washed the tea leaves, roasted the tea, bathed the pot, put the tea in, poured the teapot, cleaned the cups, and poured the tea into the teapot without any help from anyone. She did it all in one go, smoothly and effortlessly.

Shang Mingshu picked up the teacup and nodded secretly: Second sister's skill in making tea is becoming more and more proficient.

"The tea fragrance is fresh and lingers for a long time. It has both the charm of pine and the scent of orchid." Shang Wenshu praised it generously.

Shang Zishu looked pleased.

Shang Mingshu took a sip and savored it carefully: "It tastes sweet..."

After a pause, she frowned slightly and said, "Second sister, this tea is not bad, but the soup color is not clear enough. It tastes sweet but has a slightly astringent aftertaste."

"Third sister, you hit the nail on the head. This is exactly the inferior quality of this tea. I have carefully preserved it since I picked it. What you are drinking is the result of my personal effort from frying the green leaves to making sure nothing gets slacked. It is already of the best quality." Shang Zishu was a little discouraged.

She read through the tea classics, tried countless methods, and discussed with veteran tea farmers. She clearly felt that this tea should not stop here, but she could not break through the barriers and develop what she wanted.

Shang Wenshu took another sip: "Could it be that it was not stored properly after it was made?"

"I specially went to Suzhou to ask for advice and spent a lot of money. We usually seal the tea with paper. People in Suzhou use porcelain jars. I followed their method, but the effect was very little." When talking about business, the two sisters rarely quarreled, and Shang Zishu also responded in a good tone.

Shang Mingshu tapped the lid of the teapot lightly with her fingertips. After a moment, she said, "This tea was picked from the mountaintop. It's a new kind. Could it be that the traditional method of sealing it after picking is ineffective? Second sister, why don't you send someone you trust to build a simple tea shop in the mountains, pick a small amount, knead it, roast it, and seal it, and then compare it?"

After saying that, he immediately added: "Cover it up by tinkering with it, and don't let anyone notice."

Shang Zishu's heart was moved, but she frowned: "If that's the case, wouldn't we have to build a tea shop in the mountains to get a lot of tea?"

"If this tea can be improved, with a clear, bright soup and a sweet, non-astringent aftertaste, it will surely become a valuable, priceless tea. We're well-deserved to go through some trouble for it," Shang Mingshu said unconcernedly. "Then we'll spread the word about its rarity and ensure it's in short supply."

The quantity is small, it is laborious and rare.

Only then can it be sold at a high price, only then can it be sold at a high price!
(End of this chapter)