Chapter 57: Precautions

There was only one road from Lin’an City to the mountains. To prevent Meng Chengwei from causing trouble, Ye Chongming had already informed the family running the tea house at the foot of the mountain.

The Wang family, who ran the tea house, also had a tea garden in the mountains. However, with a large family and a small tea garden, they opened the tea house to provide tea and rest for passing tea merchants and tea pickers. The Wang family was acquainted with Ye Chongming and had a good relationship with him.

Meng Chengwei didn’t trust Meng Liang to handle the matter, so he sent his trusted aide, Liu Qilin, to the mountains.

Liu Qilin knew that the villagers were familiar with the Ye family. If he, a stranger, went into the village to speak ill of the Ye family, he would be chased out with sticks. So he decided to start at the tea house.

Tea houses, whether in the city or the mountains, were places where gossip spread. If the people at the tea house knew about the Ye family’s situation, it would soon be known to all the tea farmers in the mountains.

Dressed in silk and looking like a wealthy man, Liu Qilin arrived at the tea house with two attendants. Another person, disguised as a tea merchant, had already arrived.

The two pretended to be strangers from the capital and started chatting, eventually talking about the latest news from Lin’an City.

“The whole city is talking about it. The Ye family’s tea money was robbed, and they recently made a bad deal, losing a lot of money. So they can’t afford to pre-order tea.”

They didn’t dare mention the private tea deal involving the Ye family because Ding Jian had been arrested. If this matter was investigated further, Meng Chengwei himself wouldn’t escape. Therefore, Liu Qilin and his companion didn’t dare to mention it.

Liu Qilin, as if suddenly remembering something, asked Wang Youcai, the son of the tea house owner, “By the way, which tea farmers here have pre-ordered their tea with the Ye family? Now that the Ye family is in trouble, you haven’t signed a contract with them yet, have you?”

Wang Youcai exchanged a glance with his wife, Madam Wang, and pretended to be very surprised. He said to Liu Qilin, “Really? But… but we’ve already signed a contract with them.”

He then showed a very anxious expression and said to his wife, “What should we do?”

Madam Wang suggested, “Why don’t we send Dali down the mountain to find out more? If this is true, we should inform the others so they can make plans early.”

“Alright, alright.” Wang Youcai put down the cloth he was holding and bowed to Liu Qilin, “Thank you for the reminder, sir.”

He then called out loudly, “Dali, Dali.”

A sturdy young man in his twenties ran in and shouted, “Dad, what’s up?”

“Go down the mountain and find out about the Ye family,” Wang Youcai instructed carefully.

Wang Dali agreed, untied the donkey nearby, and rode it down the mountain.

Liu Qilin exchanged a glance with his companion, put down his tea bowl, and said, “Brother, you rest here. I’ll be on my way.”

“I’ve rested enough,” the companion said, standing up. Both groups left the tea house together.

They weren’t worried about the tea house people finding out. In the city, Meng Liang had hired a group of hooligans to spread rumors. As long as the tea house owner went to the city, they would hear about the Ye family’s downfall.

Meanwhile, Wang Dali went straight to Jixiang Lou and told Ye Chongming about the situation.

Ye Chongming smiled and asked, “Aren’t you afraid what he said is true?”

“How could it be?” Wang Dali said, eating the snacks brought by the waiter. “My dad said the Ye family is very wealthy. Even if the tea money wasn’t robbed, that’s only a rumor. Just selling one of your shops in Lin’an or the capital would be enough to pay for the tea from our entire mountain. Issuing the tea currency is just helping Baofeng Money Shop.”

After finishing his snack, he drank the tea in one gulp and wiped his mouth. “Besides, the money shop owner isn’t stupid. If your family were really in decline, he wouldn’t partner with you to issue ‘tea currency.'”

Ye Chongming couldn’t help but laugh and patted Wang Dali’s head, “You’re quite smart.”

“Really? My parents always call me dumb,” Wang Dali complained.

“Would you like to work as a waiter in my tea house?” Ye Chongming asked.

The Wang family had helped him a lot this time, and he should repay them. He used to think Wang Dali was a bit simple-minded, but hearing him speak now, he seemed quite capable. He could let him work as a waiter to gain experience.

The waiters in Lin’an City’s tea houses earned a good salary, better than what Wang Youcai made from the tea house. Most importantly, they met many people, which was a great way to gain experience.

Besides, Wang Youcai and his wife could manage the tea house without Wang Dali.

Young people always yearn for bustling places, and Wang Dali’s eyes lit up, “Can I do it?”

“I’ll have someone guide you. You can give it a try,” Ye Chongming said cautiously.

Being a waiter in a tea house required not only physical strength and agility but also sharp eyes and a good way with words. Otherwise, they might scald someone or offend a customer, causing big trouble for the owner. Not everyone could do it.

“Discuss it with your parents the day after tomorrow and have your dad bring you to the tea house to find me,” Ye Chongming said. “I’m going out for a while. Take your time eating, there’s plenty. When you go back, take some for your grandparents and parents.”

“Okay,” Wang Dali agreed obediently and continued eating.

As Ye Chongming left, his eyes turned cold.

“Manager Lin, go to my house and bring Jiaxing. Go up the mountain with him and explain the situation to everyone to prevent panic. Tell the tea farmers that if they help the Ye family through this difficult time and don’t cash in the tea currency at the bank, I’ll add 100 wen of interest for every tael of tea currency when they exchange it next spring.”

“Yes,” Lin Zhensheng replied.

“Take more bodyguards from the escort agency with you,” Ye Chongming added.

Lin Zhensheng, aware of the injuries to Ye Hongchang and Ye Jiaxing, was very cautious. He first went to the escort agency to hire bodyguards, then went to the Ye residence to fetch Ye Jiaxing, and together they headed up the mountain.

…

Meng Chengwei’s rumors targeted only the tea house customers. These customers were wealthy and idle; even if they spread gossip, it wouldn’t easily reach the Song family.

To lay the groundwork, Ye Yaming had Nanny Xia make another trip to ensure Xiao Xiang heard the gossip.

So, after buying vinegar, Xiao Xiang hurried back and told Madam Yu, who was instructing the cook on preparing the Mid-Autumn Festival dinner, that the Ye family’s tea money had been robbed, the head of the Ye family was seriously injured, and the Ye family was going bankrupt.

That’s right; the rumors evolved into “the Ye family going bankrupt.”

Madam Yu was overjoyed and clapped her hands, “Oh, thank heavens! Let’s see if they still dare to look down on us. I must offer incense to my husband.”

She hurried to the Buddha hall to offer incense to her husband.

Xiao Xiang couldn’t help but roll her eyes.