Chapter 76: Understanding Tea

Due to the tea-making techniques of this era, the original loose tea, compared to modern stir-fried green tea, even when picked before the Qingming Festival in spring, still had a slightly bitter and yellowish taste, lacking freshness and aroma.

Even though Ye Yaming added osmanthus flowers to make osmanthus tea, it only highlighted the fragrance but still had many shortcomings.

However, after being brewed by Ye Yaming, the tea’s freshness was prominent, and the bitter and yellowish taste almost disappeared.

Combined with the lingering fragrance of osmanthus, the attention was entirely drawn to the aroma, and the sweet and fresh taste that followed instantly amplified the flavor several times.

After drinking this cup of tea, Master Zhineng suddenly doubted the tea he had been drinking in the past few days. Since the Ye family sent him osmanthus tea, he hadn’t drunk any other tea. He was very familiar with the taste of osmanthus tea, and after drinking it often, the initial amazement had worn off. But now, he was once again amazed by the taste of this tea.

“What tea did Miss Ye brew?” he asked. “Did you make another batch later?”

It was indeed osmanthus tea, but the taste was better than the original.

“No, no,” Ye Chongming quickly shook his head. “It’s the same batch.”

He then looked at Ye Yaming.

Ye Yaming did not respond to him but looked at Jingchen.

Jingchen was still recalling how Ye Yaming had brewed the tea. He couldn’t understand why the same tea tasted so much better when brewed by Ye Yaming. He had always thought that he could bring out the best flavor in any tea. But now, compared to Ye Yaming, he suddenly felt that his pride was laughable. He realized he was like a frog at the bottom of a well.

Master Zhineng, although puzzled by why Ye Yaming didn’t speak but looked at Jingchen, called out to Jingchen twice, “Jingchen, Jingchen.”

Jingchen finally raised his head, his eyes full of confusion, “Ah?”

Master Zhineng found it both amusing and exasperating.

Ye Yaming then spoke, “The tea I just brewed was given to me by young monk Jingchen.”

Jingchen, seeing Master Zhineng looking at him, finally snapped out of it. He nodded vigorously, “Yes, it’s the tea that Old Master Ye sent to you. I put it in a jar. Miss Ye didn’t bring tea, so I handed her that jar. I watched her take the tea from the jar while she brewed it.”

Master Zhineng was still just curious, but Lu Guanyi and Qi Ji were filled with joy.

After all, Ye Yaming had used the tea utensils she created to brew the tea, showing the effectiveness of the utensils. Ye Yaming also said she would give them the brewing method, indicating that this method didn’t require an exceptionally keen sense of taste or advanced tea-making skills like Jingchen’s. It was something that ordinary people could learn.

This was an intangible asset, as valuable as the tea-making method.

Cooperating with the Ye family was indeed the right choice. No wonder Meng Chengwei had tried every means to cooperate with the Ye family but had used the wrong approach.

Master Zhineng looked at Ye Yaming, wanting to speak but hesitating. He was of high status, always calm and composed.

In decades of acquaintance, Ye Chongming had never seen Master Zhineng look so uncertain. He found it quite amusing and said to Ye Yaming, “Yaming, why don’t you explain your tea-making technique to everyone?”

Master Zhineng, usually decisive, hesitated, “Isn’t that inappropriate?”

“No problem,” Ye Chongming said. “Yaming said that loose tea can reveal the true flavor of tea. To make loose tea popular among the nobility, the tea-making technique must be more exquisite. As long as it makes loose tea taste better and more people like it, she doesn’t mind sharing the technique.”

“Good, good,” Master Zhineng praised repeatedly and respectfully thanked Ye Yaming, “Thank you, Miss Ye, for your generosity.”

Jingchen’s eyes sparkled.

Ye Yaming said, “Why don’t I brew another pot and let young master Jingchen experience it firsthand?”

“Good, good,” Master Zhineng agreed eagerly.

The first pot of tea Ye Yaming brewed had only one cup per person, no more. Naturally, Master Zhineng wanted another cup.

Ye Yaming cleaned the tea utensils, replaced the tea, and brewed another pot, explaining as she went.

Everyone was once again immersed in the beautiful scene before them.

Ye Yaming brewed the tea and poured it into the cups. Seeing that Jingchen was completely absorbed in the tea-making process, she didn’t call him but personally served the tea to everyone.

Master Zhineng didn’t speak, only made a one-handed gesture of thanks and took the cup. The others did the same.

Only Ye Jiaxing didn’t understand why the atmosphere in the room had suddenly become so solemn. He didn’t dare to ask, even breathing lightly, and carefully took the tea from his cousin, sipping slowly. As the tea went down his throat, he half-closed his eyes in comfort.

Hmm, it was still as fragrant and delicious as when he first tasted it at home. But…

He glanced at everyone, puzzled: Did the tea really need to be drunk in such a solemn atmosphere?

He looked at his grandfather and saw that he, like Master Zhineng and the others, was focused on the teacup in front of him.

Well, with his grandfather handling everything, he might as well enjoy the fragrant tea in front of him.

After a long time, Master Zhineng finished his tea and looked at Jingchen, who was wholeheartedly savoring the tea.

Jingchen was completely immersed in the taste of the tea, with no distractions.

Master Zhineng didn’t rush him.

When everyone else finished their tea and saw that Master Zhineng seemed to be waiting for Jingchen, they remained silent. The room was very quiet.

Finally, Jingchen finished his tea, and Master Zhineng asked, “Jingchen, what did you realize?”

Jingchen placed the cup on the table, stood up, and respectfully bowed to Ye Yaming, “Thank you, Miss Ye. I now understand how to treat tea.”

He then turned to Master Zhineng, “I used to think of tea as just tea. But after watching Miss Ye make tea, I realized that tea is alive and needs to be brewed with care.”

Master Zhineng nodded and looked at Ye Yaming with not only admiration for an outstanding junior but also respect for an equal.

“Miss Ye,” he called, “Is Jingchen’s understanding correct?”

Ye Yaming smiled. She liked Master Zhineng’s attitude at this moment.

When she first came to Chongshan Temple with Ye Chongming, she was a junior from the Ye family, a female benefactor with impure motives who had intruded into a pure place. Although Master Zhineng didn’t show any rejection, he ignored her.

Now, his attitude had completely changed, showing respect and admiration.