allonlinenovel Chapter 358 Return
Chapter 358 Return
Shen Qingtan called Liu Yue in to report: "Has the matter of the tea been investigated thoroughly?"
"I had the tea leaves examined by the physician, who confirmed that there was nothing wrong with them. So, as you instructed, I asked Vice General Sun to arrange for someone to go to the tea shop to buy some tea."
Liu Yue said with a solemn expression, "The tea shop owner said that it's almost New Year's Day and all the tea has been sold. If we want to buy tea, we can pay in advance to reserve next year's new tea."
Shen Qingtan frowned: "Pay the money first?"
"The shopkeeper requires full payment in silver," Liu Yue said. "Because his tea is of high quality and scarce, regular customers who can't buy his tea will pay a deposit to reserve the new tea for the following year. When the new tea is delivered the following year, they will pay the remaining amount to the tea shop."
"Because there were too many people making reservations, the tea shop owner changed the rules. Anyone who wants to buy next year's new tea must pay the full amount upfront."
"Despite this rule, many regular customers are still willing to pay in advance just to be able to buy tea."
At this point, Liuyue asked, "Your Highness, shall we pay silver to order tea?"
Shen Qingtan fell into deep thought.
Zhao Yi said thoughtfully, "Since we can pre-order next year's new tea, it's fine to pay the full amount in advance."
Shen Qingtan looked up at Zhao Yi.
“If the Lin family were selling smuggled tea, they must be very cautious to have done so for so many years without being caught. If someone suddenly starts buying a large quantity of tea, they will definitely become suspicious. They would rather not do this business than put themselves in danger.”
Zhao Yi took out a letter and handed it to Shen Qingtan: "We will follow the rules of the tea shop and pay the full amount to order the new tea for early spring next year. This will dispel the Lin family's suspicions and make them willing to order a large quantity of tea from us."
Shen Qingtan took the letter, skimmed through it, and a look of surprise flashed in her eyes as she read its contents.
Suddenly, she understood Zhao Yi's intention: "You mean... we not only pay the money to order tea, but also order more next year's new tea? After we get the tea order contract, we'll find a way to force the Lin family to hand over the tea?"
Zhao Yi nodded slightly.
Shen Qingtan smiled, cleared her mind, and instructed Liu Yue: "Have Vice General Sun arrange for more people to order tea, preferably from foreign countries, to drive up the price, the higher the better."
Liu Yue was stunned. Without asking Shen Qingtan the reason, she did as she was told.
Sure enough, this time when they went to order tea, the tea shop owner lowered his guard and ordered next year's new tea from them, but with a limit on the amount.
They were willing to spend more money to buy tea, but the shopkeeper was only willing to give them an extra ten catties.
Over the next two weeks, people who came to place orders for tea found that the price of tea was getting higher and higher. Eventually, the price of tea increased several times over.
Liu Yue received the news from Deputy General Sun and hurriedly returned to Lanxue Garden to report to Shen Qingtan.
"Your Highness, all our people have successfully ordered tea." Liu Yue exclaimed, "The price of tea has increased several times over, yet there are still quite a few people going to tea shops to order tea, as if money is no object."
Shen Qingtan asked, "Have Uncle Qin and my uncle transported all the tea leaves to the capital?"
Liu Yue replied, "The goods arrived yesterday, and we prepared the shop overnight. We are just waiting for your instructions to open."
Shen Qingtan was reassured. Uncle Qin and her uncle had tea permits. They were both merchants with extensive connections. They had collected tea leaves from other tea merchants and transported them all to the capital.
"With six or seven days until New Year's Day, our tea shop can open for business now," Shen Qingtan instructed. "This afternoon, have Vice General Sun return the Lin family's tea."
When they bought the tea, they signed a contract, which included a clause stipulating that the buyer would have to pay a 20% penalty for breach of contract.
Liu Yue agreed and hurriedly went to find Deputy General Sun.
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Lin.
The tea shop owner, holding the account book, reported the good news to Madam Lin: "This year's tea is selling very well, and many foreigners have come to buy it."
He said with a smile, "It's probably because of the trade between several countries and the reduction or exemption of taxes. Merchants from other countries come here to buy tea and then transport it back to sell at a high price."
Madam Lin took the ledger and looked through it. This year's tea price was several times higher than in previous years, and the profit was also several times higher.
She began to have doubts.
But hearing the shopkeeper's words, it seemed to make sense.
In previous years, only high-ranking officials and nobles in the capital bought tea. Now, with the trade between several countries, many merchants from other countries come to Northern Qi to do business, so it is understandable that they would buy tea in large quantities.
As the saying goes, "Meat and fish cannot be digested without tea. The heat of barley cannot be relieved without tea."
They would rather go three days without food than one day without tea.
This shows the importance of tea to foreign lands.
Thinking of this, Madam Lin dispelled her doubts.
This was the first piece of good news the Lin family had heard in months, and Old Madam Lin smiled slightly.
"Our Lin family's fortunes are about to turn around." Old Madam Lin closed the account book: "Is this silver in the money shop?"
"I received the money and lent it all out." The shopkeeper gestured: "It's probably around the New Year, and there are many people who need money, so the interest rate has increased by one point."
Madam Lin's smile deepened. They had collected all the money for next year's new tea from their shop and then lent it out at high interest rates to earn exorbitant profits.
She said with a smile, "You handled this matter beautifully. You can take 10% of the tea shop's profits and have a good New Year."
The shopkeeper quickly expressed his gratitude.
Madam Lin invited the shopkeeper to have a meal at her residence.
The shopkeeper declined, saying, "There are still seven days until New Year's Day. Business is good, and the two employees are too busy to handle everything. I have to hurry back to take care of things."
Madam Lin nodded.
The shopkeeper prepared to leave.
Just then, the anxious voice of the Lin family steward rang out at the door: "Old Madam, something has happened at the tea shop."
The old lady Lin and the shopkeeper's expressions changed simultaneously.
"Come in." After the manager entered, Old Madam Lin said in a low voice, "What happened at the tea shop?"
The manager said in a flustered manner, "A regular customer who ordered tea from the tea shop this year has gone to cancel his order."
"What did you say?" Old Mrs. Lin looked astonished. "Our tea shop has been in business for so many years, and this isn't the first year we've done this. We've never had any order cancellations before. How come something like this has happened this time?"
The steward shook his head: "I don't know the specifics."
Grandma Lin realized the seriousness of the situation. The tea shop's regular customers were all wealthy and powerful. If the Lin family refused to cancel their orders, they would offend half of the powerful and influential people in the capital.
She couldn't sit still any longer and said coldly, "I'll go to the tea shop myself."
The manager broke out in a cold sweat and followed Old Madam Lin to the tea shop, his face ashen.
The carriage stopped in front of the tea shop. When Old Mrs. Lin lifted the curtain of the carriage and saw the scene in front of the shop, her expression froze.
P.S.: Happy National Day, everyone! The remaining chapters will be updated tonight. Mwah!