Chapter 6
Tea Monopoly System

Madam Tao had just entered the main courtyard and hadn’t said much when Ye Jiaxing and his group returned. She still didn’t understand what trouble the fourth master had caused. She took the opportunity to explain everything so the second household wouldn’t overthink.

The second master was honest and didn’t manage affairs, but he was still the proper second master of the Ye family, and all the tea production in the family had to go through him. Moreover, the second household had a son-in-law who was a scholar, which was not to be underestimated.

Madam Zhang probably knew this too. She twisted her handkerchief and, not daring to delay any longer, said in a low voice, “The day before yesterday, Fourth Master saw a batch of tea cakes, thought the quality was good, and the price was particularly low, so he decided to buy them.”

She adjusted her hair, looking a bit unnatural. “The tea passed inspection when it was received, so he paid for it and took it to the tea shop to sell. However, when customers who bought the tea came to complain, it was discovered that only the top few dozen cakes were good, while the tea cakes below looked fine on the surface but were moldy inside.”

Upon hearing this, everyone’s faces darkened.

Madam Tao finally understood why the old lady, who usually doted on her youngest son, was so furious with Ye Hongrong. She gritted her teeth and asked coldly, “The government has strict regulations, and the old master has repeatedly ordered that private tea trading is forbidden. How dare the fourth master do this?”

Madam Zhang stammered, “Wasn’t it… wasn’t it because he feared the money from selling the tea wouldn’t be enough, so he wanted to earn a bit more? I heard Fourth Master say that there was fierce competition at the time. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been so hasty and would have definitely discussed it with his father and elder brother.”

Madam Tao was so angry she didn’t know what to say.

The court implemented the tea monopoly system. The system stipulated that tea producers first received “capital” from the mountain fields, and after harvesting and processing the tea, they had to pay taxes and return the capital in tea. The remaining tea was also sold to the mountain fields. Merchants buying tea had to pay the monopoly office first and then use the certificate to exchange for tea at the monopoly office or designated mountain fields.

In other words, the government bought and sold tea, and private tea trading was not allowed. Even if the Ye family was a tea producer with a hundred acres of tea fields, a tea factory, tea shops, and tea houses, they still couldn’t sell their tea directly. They had to deliver it to the monopoly office first. Only after receiving a certain amount of tea certificates could they buy some tea to sell in their shops and houses.

This process meant that the government took the majority of the profits. However, where there is high profit, there are always gamblers. In recent years, the government has not been strict in enforcing this, so many people took risks and traded tea privately.

Old Master Ye had built the family business to such a large scale and was very shrewd and wise. He knew that while others could do this trade, the Ye family, being wealthy but without political backing, could not afford any mistakes. Therefore, he repeatedly ordered his descendants not to touch private tea.

Now, the Fourth Master had fallen into someone else’s trap, secretly traded private tea, and caused trouble. If this matter was not handled well, the Ye family might soon decline.

Thinking of this, Madam Tao wanted to strangle Ye Hongrong.

The second and third households had no sons; the Ye family’s property belonged to the first and fourth households, with the first household holding seventy percent. Now that Ye Hongrong had caused trouble, it was essentially the first household’s property at stake, which made her resentful. She was probably so angry that she no longer maintained her usual polite and amiable demeanor and said angrily, “Such a big matter, and you still dared to hide it. Truly reckless.”

With that, she turned and left.

Ye Yaqing was stunned for a moment and quickly followed.

Seeing Madam Tao leave, Madam Zhang changed her previously submissive attitude, glared at Madam Tao’s back, and left without greeting Madam Yin, holding her head high.

Seeing this, Madam Yin’s chest heaved with anger. She turned to Ye Yaming and said, “Let’s go.” She strode towards the second household, her eyes reddening as she walked.

Her mother-in-law didn’t respect the second household, and her elder sister-in-law and fourth sister-in-law ignored her, all because the second household had no sons. Thinking of this, tears welled up in her eyes.

With so many people around, Ye Yaming couldn’t say much.

She led Madam Yin towards the second household. Once they entered the courtyard and sent the servants away, she comforted Madam Yin, “I guess Grandmother wants to cover up for Fourth Uncle. But she knows this is a serious matter, and if not handled properly, the entire Ye family could be ruined. That’s why she went to discuss it with Aunt. It was just a coincidence that Big Brother came back. Since Aunt knew about it, Big Brother would know it too, so Grandmother decided to keep Big Brother and send Aunt away. She didn’t intentionally hide it from our second household.”

Madam Yin calmed down, her concern for the Ye family outweighing her grievances. She asked nervously, “Will the family be alright? This matter can’t be handled by Jiaxing alone. Someone needs to inform your grandfather.”

“Don’t worry. Aunt is more concerned about the family’s well-being than anyone else. The messenger she sent has probably already left.”

Madam Yin thought so too and calmed down.

If the sky falls, there are taller people to hold it up. The old master was still alive, and the first household was at the forefront. Since the second household had no sons, there was no need to worry too much.

But Ye Yaming’s next words unsettled her again, “Grandfather will definitely go to apologize and buy back the moldy tea cakes, along with presenting gifts. This matter needs to be handled quickly, and he can’t do it alone. Uncle is not at home, and Big Brother is injured. The only one who can help him now is Father. Father is not good with words, so I’ll accompany him.”

“No,” Madam Yin instinctively opposed.

Women were not restricted as much in the Great Jin Dynasty, but there were still norms. Men handled external affairs, and women managed internal affairs. This was the customary rule. Even in family business matters, Ye Chongming and Ye Hongchang did not allow the old lady and the eldest madam to intervene. Not to mention a girl like Ye Yaming, who was still in the inner chambers.

Moreover, if a woman had to step in, there would still be the old lady, Madam Tao, and herself. If worse came to worst, Ye Yaqing was the second sister, so it wouldn’t be Ye Yaming’s turn to intervene.

“Mother, I want everyone to know that I’m not inferior to a son. At least let Grandfather know that I’m better than Fourth Uncle.”

“Ming’er…” Madam Yin’s eyes reddened again.

“Besides, when I get married, I must manage my dowry. If I don’t learn now, I won’t know if my dowry is being used up. It’s always good to learn more.”

Madam Yin had nothing to say to that. Although her eldest daughter’s fiancé was once her father’s student and was sponsored by the Ye family to study for the imperial exams, Song Yifeng was too outstanding. Ever since he became a scholar, Madam Song had changed her attitude and started putting on airs. She feared her daughter would have a hard time after marrying into the Song family.

Learning more now was always good.

“Should we send someone to call your father?” Madam Yin now regarded Ye Yaming as the backbone.

“No need,” Ye Yaming said. “Grandfather will call him when he returns tomorrow. If we act on our own, it will only upset Grandfather and Grandmother. It’s unnecessary.”