The Lucky Heiress

“Hmm, I didn’t have many years of education,” Wei Ruo replied, “I’m not cut out for studying, otherwise, I would have already passed the imperial examination.”

“But Young Master Xu has such a high level of medical skill.”

“I can recognize the names of medicines – aside from that, my master personally taught me everything,” Wei Ruo answered.

The implication was that I don’t understand medical texts, I can only write prescriptions, recognize a few common characters.

“As such, I will have to act as your scribe.” Fan Chengxu didn’t see it as a problem. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. Xu Heyou already has many strengths; having these weaknesses doesn’t matter.

If Xu really knows everything, he would find it too wondrous.

So Wei Ruo began to dictate, and Fan Chengxu began to write.

“The tea leaves should be ventilated for four hours until they are half-dry. At this time, they should be kneaded, turning the tea leaves into a strip shape. This process takes about 15 to 30 minutes. Then, load the kneaded tea leaves into a bamboo basket, cover them with a wet cloth, and place the basket on a bowl filled with water. This is the process of tea leaf fermentation.”

Fan Chengxu recorded everything, meanwhile he was filled with curiosity about what Wei Ruo described.

Chu Lan was equally interested as he listened on the side, with a slight smile on his lips.

Wei Ruo continued, “After that, dry the tea leaves using the baking drums that the people of Taizhou prefecture use for drying bamboo shoots. After drying, they can be packed into containers.”

Although Wei Ruo’s explanation was simple, for Fan Chengxu and Chu Lan who had seen this process of tea treatment, its content was filled with novelty.

After listening to Wei Ruo’s explanation, Fan Chengxu asked her several detailed questions.

“Young Master Xu, in the process you just described, there’s a stage of baking, I wonder how the heat should be controlled in this stage?” asked Fan Chengxu.

“Low and slow is the best way for drying. The drying process needs to be slow; one should not be impatient to avoid the tea leaves becoming burnt, influencing the taste,” answered Wei Ruo.

“I don’t know if Young Master Xu could teach the kneading technique in detail, otherwise I’m afraid the people in my tea garden may not do it well.”

“In that case, after taking a short break, Shopkeeper Fan could call over a few tea workers who can learn quickly and have a good memory. I would show them.”

“No problem,” Wei Ruo agreed.

The two had a pleasant conversation, leaving Chu Lan out in the cold.

Wei Ruo, who was engaged in a serious discussion with Fan Chengxu, was visibly more relaxed than when she first faced Chu Lan.

Chu Lan looked at Wei Ruo’s profile and was reminded of the time he was severely injured and lived in her house. At that time, they used to chat so casually.

He was unsure why he would miss the interactions of that time. Ironically, it was during his worst and most challenging period.

After confirming the details, Fan Chengxu put down his pen and said to Wei Ruo, “Whether it works or not, the fact that Young Master Xu can come up with such a method of processing tea leaves is truly a pleasant surprise to me.”

“Shopkeeper Fan, you flatter me, this method isn’t my invention. It’s what an old woman taught me a long time ago,” Wei Ruo replied.

“Oh? So that’s how it is. It seems the people Young Master Xu has met in the past are not short of talent,” said Fan Chengxu.

If Xu Heyou’s medical skills are so outstanding, his master must be a notable person.

“Shopkeeper Fan, you flatter me. I’m just a simple countryman. The people I’ve met can’t compare to those around Shopkeeper Fan,” Wei Ruo hurriedly replied with modesty.

Fan Chengxu said, “You don’t have to be so modest. You see, Young Master Zhu and I admire you a lot.”

Chu Lan said, “Once Young Master Xu’s fermented tea is ready, would I have the privilege to have a cup?”

No, you won’t.

Wei Ruo responded in her heart.

“Young Master Zhu is Shopkeeper Fan’s honored guest, and is welcome to have tea with Shopkeeper Fan anytime.” Wei Ruo answered.

She and Fan Chengxu both have shares in this tea. If he wants to drink it, he can just ask Fan Chengxu. Why trouble her?

“Hmm,” Chu Lan responded.

But Fan Chengxu was smiling inwardly. It was interesting that Xu Heyou could make the arrogant Seventh Prince yield like this.

Shortly, the shopkeeper Shen brought two tea-making workers over. Wei Ruo personally demonstrated the kneading technique, and the two expert tea makers quickly grasped the knack.

After ensuring the two had mastered the technique, Wei Ruo did not stay long. Using the excuse that there was something going on at her residence, she bid them farewell.

“Let me take Young Master Xu home,” said Fan Chengxu.

“No need. Shopkeeper Fan is hosting Young Master Zhu, he should keep his esteemed guest company. Let Shopkeeper Shen take me down the mountain,” Wei Ruo declined.

“I was planning to take a walk anyway. Let me accompany Shopkeeper Fan and send you down the mountain.”

Upon saying that, Chu Lan stood up.

Seeing this, Fan Chengxu could only follow Chu Lan’s lead. “Yes, Brother Zongyu has been bored in my humble dwelling for a few days. It’s good to walk around.”

Weu Ruo didn’t want to refuse again, so she didn’t say anything else.

So, the two men accompanied her down the mountain.

Along the way, Wei Ruo admired the scenery, trying to avoid carrying on the conversation with Chu Lan or having any eye contact.

Fortunately, although Chu Lan was annoying, he wasn’t a talkative person. He didn’t keep questioning her.

The three of them walked down to the foot of the mountain. The carriage that came to pick up Wei Ruo was parked there.

Wei Ruo bid the two men farewell, then got into the carriage. The coachman who brought Wei Ruo once again drove her away from the Yusheng Tea Garden. After the carriage had traveled some distance, Xiumei, who was sitting in the carriage, breathed a long sigh of relief.

“I was scared to death just now. As I was accompanying you, my palms were sweating,” she said.

“Before he leaves Taizhou prefecture, we won’t meet with Shopkeeper Fan in person again,” said Wei Ruo.

Xiumei nodded vigorously: “That’s good! We can’t meet him again, it’s too dangerous!”

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On the first day of May, Wei Ruo received an invitation from the young lady of the Xiu family, Xiu Yaojun. The latter invited her to watch the dragon boat race on the fifth of May, Dragon Boat Festival.

Last year, Wei Ruo spent the Dragon Boat Festival in Xingshan County. Although Xingshan County also has some festivities during the festival, there were no dragon boat races to watch.

By contrast, the Dragon Boat Festival in the Government City of Taizhou prefecture is much more lively. A dragon boat race is held every year, and this year is no exception.

“Miss, why would Miss Yaojun invite you? You’re not familiar with her. You only met her once when Madam Xiu invited ladies from the prominent families for a spring outing,” Xiumei curiously and worriedly said.

This lady from the Xiu family was not familiar with their lady but was good friends with the second lady! Probably they were harboring unfavorable intentions.

“Who knows what this young lady is thinking,” Wei Ruo didn’t even have a clue.

“Miss, are you going to go?” Xiumei asked.

“No, if I can avoid it, I won’t go,” Wei Ruo naturally didn’t want to join such a gathering.

Since returning to the Military Prefecture, she had been trying to avoid having too much contact with these ladies from prominent families.

Wei Ruo decided to decline Xiu Yaojun’s invitation, and planned to have Xiumei go to the Tongzhi Prefecture the next day to relay a message.

That evening, Wei Yichen also showed up during dinner.