Chapter 32: Curiosity

Ye Yaming smiled embarrassedly and asked, “What about the funds we lack?”

“Hmph, that old man initially only mentioned preparing a big gift for you without a word about lending us money. Only after I analyzed the pros and cons with him did he agree to lend us money interest-free.”

Ye Chongming said this with a smile on his face, clearly indicating that he had an enjoyable conversation with Mei Zhonglin.

“Tomorrow morning, I’ll send someone to the tea shop to bring back the loose tea and purchase osmanthus flowers. You can start making tea with the raw materials. I’ll find a way to get people to buy tea and collect osmanthus flowers. Use as much raw material as you have.”

He said regretfully, “It’s a pity that we can’t bring back the loose tea from the capital in time; otherwise, we would have a few hundred pounds of loose tea to use.”

The Ye family’s tea is very particular about quality. Even if these loose teas are not that good and are mostly made from summer and autumn teas, they are still better than loose teas outside. Moreover, they are at cost price, so they are much cheaper. Other tea merchants’ loose tea varies in quality, and pricing it after making osmanthus tea is also difficult. But now we have to rush to make tea while the osmanthus flowers are in full bloom, so there’s no time to bring the loose tea back from the capital.

Ye Yaming understood his meaning and said, “I’ll use our best quality loose tea to make top-grade osmanthus tea, which you can give to Master Zhineng or Master Wu and others. This batch of tea is for gifting, not for sale. As for the other tea, I’ll divide it into three grades: high, medium, and low. You can set the prices accordingly when selling without being too detailed.”

Ye Chongming agreed with her and nodded, “You are thoughtful as always. Let’s do it that way.”

Ye Yaming knew that Ye Chongming was experienced and didn’t need her reminders, but she couldn’t help adding, “When buying loose tea and collecting osmanthus flowers, don’t do it in our family’s name. Use intermediaries to make the purchases.”

Ye Chongming was once again impressed by his granddaughter’s thorough consideration.

He nodded, “Don’t worry, I won’t attract any attention.”

“Grandfather has been in business all his life and naturally understands these things. I’m just reminding you,” Ye Yaming said with a smile.

Ye Chongming sighed, “Grandfather is getting old, and things have been smooth these years. My thoughts are not as comprehensive as yours. Ming’er, if you have any ideas, just say them. Don’t worry that Grandfather won’t listen or will be unhappy. Without you, our family would be in real trouble this time. The consequences would be hard to predict.”

Thinking about how they might have been deceived by Meng Chengwei, who would have befriended Ye Jiaxing and offered help during difficult times, the Ye family would have seen him as a good person. They would have deepened their relationship with him and possibly thought of ways to repay him, ultimately being led into a trap. The thought made Ye Chongming shudder.

“Grandfather, I’m glad you don’t blame me. Sometimes, I speak impulsively and regret it afterward. Those things don’t need me to say; you would have figured them out,” Ye Yaming said.

In modern times, she was used to giving orders without considering how to phrase them politely, as she was dealing with subordinates. Now, in ancient times, as someone else’s granddaughter in a society that emphasized hierarchy and etiquette, her words sometimes seemed inappropriate.

Ye Chongming waved his hand, “I don’t think you said anything wrong. Don’t overthink it.”

With one problem after another, his heart was anxious. Ye Yaming’s good suggestions were like a balm, and he couldn’t care about such details. If Ye Yaming spoke vaguely, it would make him more anxious.

Seeing that Ye Chongming didn’t mind, Ye Yaming added, “We need to act quickly in buying tea and collecting osmanthus flowers. Making osmanthus tea requires fresh flowers, and we can’t do it after the blooming season.”

Ye Chongming nodded, “Alright.”

He then asked, “How many people do you need? Do you need to go to the tea shop?”

“No, we can do it in my courtyard. I have six maids and servants in my courtyard, plus six more from my mother’s courtyard, making twelve people, which should be enough.”

There were eight maids and servants in Madam Yin’s courtyard. Leaving two close maids for her, Ye Yaming could take six. Madam Yin was very supportive of her daughter making osmanthus tea.

“If it’s not enough, there are more maids and servants in Yin’er’s courtyard. I’ll have my mother and Yin’er supervise them in picking osmanthus flowers and baking tea. For the key process of scenting the flowers, I’ll do it with Nanny Cai and four maids.”

Seeing that Ye Yaming had arranged everything in an orderly manner and knew to use her own people for the key process to avoid leaks, Ye Chongming felt even more that this child was meticulous and capable, a rare talent, and his regret deepened.

The next day, Old Madam Ye had all the maids and servants pick Osmanthus flowers, clean them, and send them to Ye Yaming’s courtyard. Ye Chongming also sent people to bring loose tea from the tea shop and some tea-making tools.

At the same time, he used intermediaries to collect osmanthus flowers and had unfamiliar servants disguised to buy loose tea from other tea merchants.

Ye Yaming led the maids and servants in making tea in the courtyard.

Old Madam Ye sent Nanny Yu to guard the door and help with logistics, occasionally bringing snacks and tea to Ye Yaming and the others.

“Have you found out what Ming’er is doing with the maids and servants in the courtyard? Don’t tell me she’s really making osmanthus honey,” Madam Tao asked her maid, Ling’er.

“It’s one thing to do it for a day, but she’s still doing it today, and even collecting osmanthus flowers from outside and working behind closed doors in the courtyard. Does making osmanthus honey require so many flowers and secrecy? Besides, there’s tea involved.”

The things brought in were well-covered, so Madam Tao, who managed half of the household, couldn’t figure out what they were. The secrecy made her curious.

“I couldn’t find out. Nanny Yu is guarding the door near the third young lady’s courtyard. Anyone not from the second branch passing by is questioned,” Ling’er said.

Madam Tao frowned.

Initially, she suspected the second branch was up to something, but now she dismissed that thought.

Nanny Yu was Old Madam Ye’s trusted aide, only listening to her. Her status was higher than other servants. Without Old Madam Ye’s orders, even Madam Yin and Ye Yaming couldn’t command her.

Now that Ye Yaming had Nanny Yu guarding the door, it was clear that this was not just a matter for the second branch but for the entire Ye family.

Thinking about how Old Madam Ye had the servants from various courtyards help pick Osmanthus flowers and how things were constantly being sent to Ye Yaming’s courtyard, Madam Tao had a suspicion.

It seemed that the second master had created a new type of tea, and to prevent leaks from the tea shop, Ye Yaming and the maids made it in the second branch.