Chapter 46
Huo Shu’s brow twitched slightly. He did indeed have the intention to acquire other goods, as relying solely on fabrics and silks, as Ji Taoyu had pointed out, was somewhat monotonous.
Moreover, the journey to the Northern Territories was long and arduous, taking considerable time. If the goods carried were too few, the profits might not be worth the effort.
Tea, on the other hand, was lightweight and easy to transport, and there was always a market for it.
The northwestern region was vast, but tea-producing lands were scarce. Yet, the love for tea was shared by people from both the north and the south.
In the past, border nomads had even launched invasions to seize tea-producing lands, sparking conflicts.
Last year, when the war in the Northern Territories ceased, the imperial court not only ceded territory but also compensated with silver and tea.
This showed that both tea and fabrics were universally tradable goods.
In truth, merchant trade mostly revolved around a few key commodities.
Previously, without connections to secure goods, he hadn’t made arrangements. But now that Fang He had come forward with a business proposal, it was a rare opportunity.
He was no petty man to hold grudges over past matters like the incident with Butcher Qiao.
With business knocking at his door, there was no reason to refuse: "Good. Let’s see the goods first."
Fang He was delighted upon hearing this. The Fang family had been in the tea trade for generations, and their tea was of decent quality.
However, in a prosperous place like Jiangnan, tea drinkers and connoisseurs were abundant, and the market was vast—but so were the tea merchants, as numerous as carp leaping over a river.
Standing out in the tea trade was no easier than passing the imperial examinations.
Competition among tea merchants was commonplace - fighting for customers, fighting for business.
At the end of last year, Fang He got engaged, and his family handed him a newly opened branch to manage, with profits and losses now his own responsibility.
It was both a wedding gift and the foundation for his future married life.
His elder brothers had all gone through the same—upon marriage, each received a shop, and their livelihoods thereafter depended on its success. Unless some major crisis struck, the family would no longer provide support or funds.
For the sake of their wives and children, his brothers poured their hearts into running their tea shops.
Fang He had gone to great lengths to marry Qiao Qiao’er and naturally couldn’t bear to see her suffer.
Once married, he had to be a real man, providing for his wife and children and building a family fortune.
So when he learned that Huo Shu was planning a trade expedition north, he seized the chance during the New Year’s visit to his Qiao relatives to approach Huo Shu for business.
Securing a trade deal with a merchant caravan could yield far greater profits than running a shop catering to casual customers for months.
If a stable, long-term partnership could be established, it would be the icing on the cake.
Anyone familiar with merchant trade knew that caravans heading to the Northern Territories were as rare as phoenix feathers, landing such a deal was a rare stroke of luck.
After discussions, they agreed to visit the shop in the city the next morning to inspect the tea.
After Fang He left, Ji Yangzong came to inquire, worried that Old Man Qiao had come to stir trouble again. Upon learning it was a business discussion, he sighed in relief.
This deal seemed to be progressing smoothly, and he felt reassured. The younger generation had their own connections and paths, there was little need for him to intervene.
The next morning, Ji Taoyu and Huo Shu went to the city.
Jingyuan Tea Shop was one of the Fang family’s branches, with several others in Tongzhou.
Upon arrival, they realized the shop was located near the prefectural government office—right by the riverbank where Ji Taoyu had once fallen into the water.
Ji Taoyu glanced outside, his heart still uneasy at the memory. Yet, in a way, it was fate that had brought them here.
The shop had two floors. The first floor had tall shelves displaying tea cakes, with an open space for customers to drink tea.
The back door faced the river, and both floors had railings where patrons could enjoy tea while admiring the view. The second floor was primarily for selling tea leaves, with few people drinking there.
"One pot of bitter tea, please."
Beside the main entrance was a small window with a sign hanging outside: "Loose-leaf Tea for Sale."
Passersby could bring their own pots and have them filled with tea. Different teas were priced differently, but all were affordable. A pot of bitter tea, for instance, cost only three to five copper coins—enough to last half a day.
The most expensive option was no more than ten copper coins.
Most customers were laborers or manual workers who bought a pot to hang at their waists, drinking it throughout the day to stay alert and ward off fatigue.
Early in the morning, the shop had few customers—mostly these small transactions. Business would pick up after the morning market, with the busiest hours in the afternoon.
"Tongzhou is a major tea-producing prefecture. The most famous varieties are Huangshan Maofeng, Qimen Black Tea, and Liu’an Tea. Beyond these, other local teas are also excellent, they just lack the same reputation."
[Huangshan Maofeng (黄山毛峰): A delicate green tea from Anhui, prized for its floral aroma and slender, downy leaves resembling mountain peaks]
[Qimen Black Tea (祁门红茶): A fragrant, honey-sweet black tea from [Qimen County, revered in Europe as "the burgundy of teas" for its rich, wine-like depth]
[Liu’an Tea (六安茶): A robust, earthy tea from Liu’an, often pressed into cakes for aging. Favored by northern nomads for its medicinal warmth.
Fang He brought out samples, brewing them for Huo Shu and Ji Taoyu to taste.
Huo Shu couldn’t discern the subtleties of tea quality, but compared to the Northern Territories, even the street-side tea in Tongzhou was smoother.
So he cut straight to the point: "What are the prices?"
Fang He explained.
Aside from the three famous teas, most of Tongzhou’s tea gardens were concentrated in the Zhongshan area. The tea from there was collectively referred to as "Tongzhou Official Tea."
Beyond that were smaller private tea gardens owned by local merchants, known as "Private Tea."
The three famous teas commanded the highest prices, followed by Tongzhou Official Tea. Private Tea prices varied—some, produced by major local merchants, even surpassed Tongzhou Official Tea, though these were rare.
Most Private Tea was from lesser-known merchants and was slightly cheaper than Tongzhou Official Tea, though not by much.
These Private Tea workshops handled everything from cultivation to processing in-house, reducing costs. Even if their selling prices were lower than Tongzhou Official Tea, their profits might not be any less.
Any tea merchant with generations of experience aimed to establish their own private gardens. To truly make a name, one needed their own product.
Moreover, many tea connoisseurs delighted in exploring Private Tea, seeking unique flavors.
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