mtl008 Chapter 236 Preparing to Close the Tea Shop
Chapter 236 Preparing to Close the Tea Shop
"It's very difficult to buy a shop in Xiushui County," Shen Zhian sighed. "Even if there are shops for sale, it's not up to someone from another county like you to buy one."
Tian Tian wholeheartedly agreed.
“However, Sweetie, if you’re looking to buy a shop, I do have one here,” Shen Zhian added.
Before Tian Tian could agree, Shen Zhian continued to daydream, "That way, I won't have to keep thinking about going to Baishi County."
Tian Tian smiled. Would he be able to resist going to Baishi County?
"My shop was originally a teahouse, but business was so-so."
Tian Tian listened to Shen Zhian's words but did not answer him.
Shen Zhian asked in confusion, "Does the girl still have any concerns?"
Tian Tian glanced at Li Huaiyuan, who was walking ahead of her.
His words reminded her that if she wanted to do business in Xiushui County, that Magistrate Wan was not someone to be trifled with.
She's starting to have some doubts.
"Manager Shen."
someone shouted.
Tian Tian looked up and saw that it was Magistrate Wan, whom she had just parted ways with.
She looked at Shen Zhian with some surprise.
Shen Zhian walked toward Magistrate Wan and said, "Magistrate Wan, I met an old friend's daughter on the road. I'm late."
The magistrate of Wan County forced a smile, but froze when he saw Tian Tian.
"Who is this…"
"Miss Tian Er."
"The magistrate of Baishi County, and..."
Li Huaiyuan nodded to Magistrate Wan, "Magistrate Wan, we just met."
The magistrate of Wan County smiled.
Shen Zhian looked at him suspiciously, wondering what had happened. "Come on, let's go inside and have a meal together."
The magistrate of Wan County did not refuse.
Tian Tian followed along with Li Huaiyuan and Empress Li.
After taking their seats, Shen Zhian signaled to the waiter to serve the dishes.
Tian Tian understood that Shen Zhian was hosting lunch today.
"Girl, eat more." Shen Zhian took good care of Tian Tian.
While waiting for the food, he introduced her again, "Magistrate Wan is the most important official in Xiushui County. Tian Tian, if you do business in Xiushui County in the future, you will inevitably have to..."
Tian Tian finally looked up and said, "Manager Shen, I think I probably won't come to Xiushui County to do business."
Shen Zhian was taken aback, and followed Tian Tian's slightly mocking gaze to look at Magistrate Wan.
He could tell at a glance that there was a problem between the two.
Shen Zhian knew that Tian Tian was not a troublemaker; if she had a problem with Magistrate Wan, it must be because Magistrate Wan had offended her.
The magistrate of Wan County also looked somewhat embarrassed.
He knew Tian Tian said that because of the rice planting.
But he didn't think it was his fault; instead, he became even more convinced that Tian Tian was narrow-minded.
"Manager Shen, since this young lady is unwilling to do business in our Xiushui County, let's not force her."
"Let's talk about the tea plantation instead."
Tian Tian had no interest in listening to their business, so she picked up her teacup and took a sip.
The same applies to Li Huaiyuan and Empress Li.
Shen Zhian didn't shy away from them, saying frankly, "Magistrate Wan, my tea shop is going to close down after the spring tea comes to market this year."
The magistrate of Wan County suddenly stood up, his expression slightly angry. "Manager Shen, how can you just close such a large tea shop like that?"
"If the tea shop closes down, what will happen to the county government's taxes?"
Shen Zhian was taken aback by his question.
Tea plantations need to be moved to different locations after a period of time, otherwise the yield of tea trees will decrease.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have to constantly search for suitable mountains to grow tea.
Moreover, he said he was closing the tea shop, but he didn't say he was moving it out of Xiushui County.
Just as Shen Zhian was about to explain, he saw Magistrate Wan blush and point at Tian Tian, "Is it because this girl said something to Manager Shen?"
"What does this have to do with Tian Tian?" Shen Zhian was also annoyed by the unfriendly tone he used when addressing Tian Tian. "I made this decision a long time ago."
He has already set his sights on another mountain in Xiushui County and is preparing to take the tea farmers there.
Today, I met with Magistrate Wan to discuss the matter of issuing land deeds.
"Impossible, she must be saying that I don't like her leading the people to grow rice."
"The people of Xiushui County are all tea farmers. They haven't farmed for a long time. They're busy with tea all the time, so they don't have time to grow rice."
Shen Zhian frowned. He was naturally happy that his tea plantation could give the people more things to do and earn more money.
However, he did not agree with what the magistrate of Wan County said.
Farmland is still very important. Moreover, the high-yield rice variety that Tian Tian grows can yield up to 1,600 jin per mu, which is truly a good thing for the people and the country.
As the official in charge of the people's welfare, the magistrate of Wan County should think further ahead than the people and plan ahead for the future.
Being a tea farmer can certainly earn you money in the short term.
Planting high-yield rice varieties is the only truly long-term solution.
“If we don’t grow rice, she’ll make you shut down the tea plantation!”
"That woman is too ruthless!!" Magistrate Wan kept slandering Tian Tian.
"This is simply an attempt to cut off the livelihoods of all the people in Xiushui County!!"
Li Huaiyuan slammed his teacup down. "Magistrate Wan, watch your words!"
The magistrate of Wan County turned his head sharply and said sternly, "Am I wrong?!"
“Magistrate Li!” He stared at Li Huaiyuan. “You can grow whatever kind of rice you want in Baishi County. Why do you have to use your status to pressure people and force the Prefect to make the entire city follow suit?”
"You're really bullying us by taking advantage of your power!!"
Li Huaiyuan's face immediately turned red, and he subconsciously glanced at Empress Li.
Li Huaiyuan bullies others by relying on his power, but whose power can he rely on? Isn't it Empress Li's power?
Empress Li held her teacup, tea already in her mouth, but because of Li Huaiyuan's glance, she was embarrassed and unsure whether to swallow the tea...
Shen Zhian never expected that his simple desire to plant tea trees in a different location would cause so much trouble.
Not only did it cause Tian Tian a lot of trouble, but it also implicated Magistrate Li and his associates.
His tea was sold in the capital and even in various parts of Daqi, although he did not get to know any royal nobles.
But I also know many high-ranking officials and wealthy businessmen.
He really didn't need to be too polite to the magistrate of Wan County.
Enraged, Shen Zhian slammed his fist on the table and stood up, declaring, "My tea can be grown anywhere, not just in Xiushui County!"
Magistrate Wan approached Shen Zhian and said, "Manager Shen, your tea business has already expanded in Xiushui County. If you leave Xiushui County and go to other places, you will have to start all over again, which will cost you a lot of money and effort. Why bother?"
Shen Zhian didn't care. He explained to the magistrate of Wan County, "My niece has opened two very popular shops in Baishi County: Baishi Tea House and Baishi Hot Pot Shop. Many merchants from other places come here because of her reputation."
"Among them are many tea merchants."
"If I move the tea plantation to Baishi County, it will save everyone a lot of trouble."
This saves everyone the trouble of traveling back and forth.
Of course, if Tian Tian were to open Baishi Teahouse and Baishi Hot Pot Shop in Xiushui County, the same effect would be achieved.
However, Tian Tian has made it clear that she will not open a shop in Xiushui County.
Therefore, if he were to move the tea plantation to Baishi County, it would indeed save everyone a lot of time.
Moreover... personally, if he moved the tea shop to Baishi County, he would have more time to see Sister Lu.
Thinking of this, Shen Zhian's mind had already tipped.
"She is... the owner of Baishi Teahouse and Baishi Hot Pot Shop?" Magistrate Wan looked at Tian Tian in disbelief.
In the past, merchants would wait for goods or negotiate deals in restaurants and teahouses in Xiushui County...
But ever since Baishi Tea House and Baishi Hot Pot Shop opened in Baishi County, many businessmen have preferred to travel to Baishi County to wait.
He had overheard businessmen discussing...
If Baishi Teahouse and Baishi Hot Pot Shop opened in Xiushui County, they wouldn't have to go to Baishi County all the time.
At that time, he thought that if the manager of Baishi Teahouse came to Xiushui County to open a shop, he would definitely give his full support.
Who would have thought that the owner of Baishi Teahouse would be this young girl in front of us?
She said she would not open a shop in Xiushui County.
Now...
He could only keep Shen Zhian.
"Manager Shen, the people of Xiushui County are innocent. If they lose their livelihood..."
"Manager Shen, how can you bear to do this?"
This made Shen Zhian hesitate.
Indeed, the people of Xiushui County are innocent. If he moves the tea plantation out, the people will lose their jobs as tea farmers and will have to go back to being farmers.
But considering that Magistrate Wan was the one who caused all this, and that he had just looked down on rice seeds so much...
Shen Zhian hardened his heart and said, "That's something Magistrate Wan should explain to the people."
The magistrate of Wan County was stunned.
He not only had to answer to the people, but also to the imperial court.
He's about to get a promotion...
If something happens at this time, his path to promotion will be cut short.
Shen Zhian turned around, and the people next to him immediately pulled out a chair for him. "Magistrate Li, sweet girl, it's really uncomfortable here. Why don't we go to another restaurant to eat?"
"Manager Shen..." Magistrate Wan chased after him, but was stopped by Shen Zhian's servants.
Li Huaiyuan, Empress Li, and Tian Tian followed...
"Magistrate Li, Miss Tian..." Magistrate Wan looked at the two women one by one.
But neither Li Huaiyuan nor Tian Tian paid him any attention.
Empress Li stopped, looked at Magistrate Wan and shook her head, "How could Daqi have a magistrate like you?"
Magistrate of Wan County: "..."
After leaving the restaurant, Shen Zhian kept comforting Tian Tian, "Sweetie, you must not listen to that guy surnamed Wan."
"He's just too short-sighted; he only sees the immediate benefits."
“It’s a good thing that you’re leading the people to plant rice; it’s just that he doesn’t understand.”
"Sigh..." Shen Zhian sighed, "Xiushui County is going to suffer with a magistrate like this."
"but..."
He slightly raised his eyes, glancing tentatively at Tian Tian, "But the common people are innocent..."
Tian Tian turned her head and asked, "So... is Manager Shen going to move the tea shop or not?"
Shen Zhian smiled awkwardly, "I never intended to move the tea plantation; I just wanted to change the location of the mountain."
He waved his hand, "This isn't urgent, let's scare him first."
Tian Tian smiled slightly, having already made up her mind.
*
Magistrate Wan was extremely anxious and visited Manager Shen's estate every day.
But Shen Zhian gave the instructions and refused to meet with them.
Meanwhile, Tian Tian, Li Huaiyuan, Empress Li, and others were all cultivating seedlings on Manager Shen's estate.
Shen Zhian owns a plot of land of over 500 mu on his estate, but he does not cultivate it.
This time, we simply lent it to Tian Tian for breeding.
These 500-plus mu of land, proportionally, should be enough to cultivate over 4,000 mu of land.
Shen Zhian had said that if that man surnamed Wan still didn't wake up, then he would plant these seedlings himself.
Anyway, his spring tea will be on the market soon. After that, he can just uproot the tea trees and plant rice directly.
*
"Sir, the Prefect has given a strict order that rice must be planted," the clerk who came with Magistrate Wan reminded him with a troubled expression.
"If the Prefect finds out that you have offended that Miss Tian and lost Manager Shen, he will definitely blame you."
"At that time...the official's hat, sir..."
The magistrate of Wan County paced back and forth, occasionally glancing inside.
He was unaware that Tian Tian was also in the village.
“My lord…” the clerk followed him, “Why don’t we go find that Miss Tian?”
"I've heard that the rice grown by the people of Baishi County... this Miss Tian will buy it all for five coins a pound."
"Last year, the people who farmed with her, those with two or three mu of land, after paying their taxes and keeping four or five hundred jin of grain each, could still sell it for twenty or thirty taels of silver."
The clerk slightly raised his eyes. "This is more profitable than working at the tea shop..."
There are several types of tea farmers in the tea plantation.
Those who work in the fields and take care of the tea trees earn about thirty or forty coins a day, with a maximum of fifty coins.
The girls who pick tea only earn twenty or thirty coins a day.
The workers who stir-fry tea are paid more, but they need to have experience in stir-frying tea.
Based on this calculation, the highest annual yield for tea farmers in Xiushui County is only a dozen or so taels of silver.
It's nowhere near as good as growing rice.
Moreover, the twenty or thirty taels of silver from selling rice was after taxes and grain reserves had been paid.
If you include taxed grain and stored grain, it would amount to at least forty or fifty taels.
The gap is obvious.
"It can sell for so much silver?" Magistrate Wan was clearly surprised. "Farming can earn this much?"
How high is the yield of that rice?
The clerk sighed, "Sir, isn't it clearly stated in the prefect's official letter?"
"The yield per mu is 1,600 jin, which is more than five times that of before."
The magistrate of Wan County was stunned!
1,600 jin per mu!! That's so much!!
No wonder, no wonder Miss Tian didn't insist at all.
This kind of good stuff would be highly sought after anywhere, but he just doesn't appreciate it...
"My lord, actually, I still think it's better to grow rice." Seeing Magistrate Wan's surprise and regret, the clerk quickly continued to persuade him, "If the people have money in their hands but no grain, it's all for nothing."
"But it's different when there's food."
"When faced with natural disasters or man-made calamities, people feel more secure having grain in their hands than having silver."
"and..."
“Our granaries in Xiushui County are empty. If a natural disaster or man-made calamity were to occur and the granaries could not produce any grain, the imperial court would also investigate.”
"Besides... there's no conflict between growing this kind of rice and growing tea trees."
"Originally, during the busy farming season, Manager Shen would give the workers a day off so they could go home and work."
"Even if Manager Shen doesn't give us time off, the elderly and women in the family can still look after the rice paddies..."
The magistrate of Wan County became increasingly regretful after being persuaded by his advisor.
But right now...
"Manager Shen wants to move the tea shop, and I've offended Miss Tian again..."
"Now... what should we do?"
The clerk rolled his eyes. "Sir, then go find Miss Tian and apologize to her."