Chapter Forty-Four: Another Lucrative Venture

"Doctor Chu, shall we go inside?"

The servant of Luo Feng showed not the slightest trace of disdain for Chu Yun's rural origins and spoke to him with great respect. After speaking, he reached out to take the reins of Chu Yun's horse.

Chu Yun handed him the reins and asked, "What is your name?"

The servant replied with a smile, "My name is Luo Lin. I am the steward of the Luo household."

Chu Yun nodded, "Steward Luo, pleasure to meet you. Does the Luo residence have its own craftsmen?"

Luo Lin responded, "Yes, whenever our furniture is damaged, our own craftsmen repair it. Are you looking for a craftsman, Doctor Chu?"

"Yes, please bring me your two best craftsmen," Chu Yun replied.

"Certainly, Doctor Chu!" Luo Lin answered at once, leading the horse into the Luo residence. He called a servant to take the horse to the stable and then summoned another to bring the craftsmen.

Turning back to Chu Yun, he said, "Doctor Chu, I've sent someone to fetch the craftsmen. Shall we wait in the drawing room?"

Chu Yun agreed, and so followed Luo Lin to the guest hall of the Luo residence.

Luo Lin invited Chu Yun to sit, then brought out tea utensils and tea leaves to prepare tea for him.

Chu Yun watched the process in silence, finding the entire ritual surprisingly complex.

"People here take their tea rather seriously," he couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

"Here you are, Doctor Chu, please enjoy the tea," Luo Lin offered, handing him a cup.

Chu Yun took the tea and drank. Instantly, he froze.

It tasted awful!

Truly dreadful—bitter and astringent!

Fearing he might embarrass Luo Lin, Chu Yun tried to force the tea down, but in the end, he couldn't help himself and spat it out.

Luo Lin was stunned. He had never expected Chu Yun to spit out his tea. To check, he poured himself a cup and found the taste quite agreeable.

Unable to contain his curiosity, he asked, "Doctor Chu, is there something wrong with my tea?"

Chu Yun gave an awkward smile and waved his hand, "No, there's nothing wrong. It's just that I'm a country man and not used to this kind of boiled tea. I prefer tea brewed simply with hot water."

He understood well enough that the elaborate brewing was Luo Lin's way of showing respect, so he did not wish to speak too harshly.

Luo Lin was momentarily speechless, then asked in surprise, "Doctor Chu, did I hear you correctly? You prefer tea simply brewed with hot water?"

Chu Yun nodded with a smile, "Yes, that's right."

Luo Lin said, "Doctor Chu, if you brew tea with boiling water directly, can it even be drunk?"

Chu Yun was puzzled, "Why not?"

"I'm sorry, Doctor Chu, we've never tried brewing tea leaves directly with boiling water, but we can try," Luo Lin replied with a smile.

He placed tea leaves in a cup and poured in boiling water.

When the tea cooled a little, he took a sip.

This... this... was truly unpleasant!

Unable to endure the taste, Luo Lin spat it out. "Doctor Chu, this is much worse than my boiled tea. Do you really like it?"

With that, he poured a cup for Chu Yun.

"Thank you!" Chu Yun said with a smile. When the tea had cooled, he took a sip.

He too could not help but spit it out.

It tasted worse than Luo Lin's boiled tea.

Luo Lin smiled faintly but said nothing further.

Chu Yun, however, was puzzled. What had gone wrong? Was it the first infusion, and would the second or third taste better?

He poured out the remaining tea, refilled the cup with boiling water, and let it cool before sipping again.

But whether the second or third infusion, the flavor never improved—there was no tea taste left, and all were unpleasant.

"Where is the problem?" Chu Yun wondered, picking up Luo Lin's tea leaves and examining them carefully.

Seeing this, Luo Lin said, "Doctor Chu, these are the freshest young buds, the very best tea leaves, worth more than silver—three taels of silver for just one tael of tea."

Upon hearing this, Chu Yun understood at once.

In this world, people directly boiled fresh tea leaves to make tea, and had never thought to pan-fry the leaves before brewing them with hot water.

Hence, tea drinking was so complicated.

At the same time, it was clear that serving tea to guests was an act of utmost respect.

Chu Yun smiled to himself. Pan-fried tea was not only more convenient and tastier but also kept better. Surely, it would soon become popular in this world—and it would be a lucrative venture.

At that moment, an elder and a youth, both dressed in coarse linen, walked into the hall.

The old man greeted Luo Lin, "Steward Luo, you summoned me."

Luo Lin nodded and turned to Chu Yun, "Doctor Chu, this gentleman is Craftsman Luo, our best artisan, and the young man behind him is Luo Qi, his apprentice."

Chu Yun smiled, "Greetings to you both."

"Craftsman Luo, Luo Qi, pay their respects to Doctor Chu," they said, bowing in response to Luo Lin’s introduction and Chu Yun’s politeness.

Chu Yun waved his hand, telling them there was no need for formality, then said, "I’ve asked you here to help me make something."

Luo Lin instructed, "Craftsman Luo, Luo Qi, set aside your other tasks for now and follow Doctor Chu. Do as he asks."

"Understood," Craftsman Luo replied, turning to Chu Yun. "We await your instructions, Doctor Chu. What would you have us make?"

"Come with me," Chu Yun said, leading them to a patch of bare earth in the courtyard.

He found a stick and drew a square lantern frame in the dirt. "I need you to make something like this for me as soon as possible."

Craftsman Luo and Luo Qi, both quick on the uptake and aided by Chu Yun’s clear drawing, immediately understood what he wanted.

Though they did not know what use Chu Yun had for a square wooden frame, they did not ask.

You are reading the latest update of The Dominant Noble from Humble Origins by the great Jin Xixi. To ensure you don't miss future updates, please bookmark this page!

Chapter Forty-Four: Another Lucrative Venture.