Chapter 490: Fan Chengxu’s little scheme (2)
A Blessed Daughter
Chapter 490: Fan Chengxu’s little scheme (2)
Translator : Virichime
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“I’ve also heard that Young Master Xu recently purchased a great deal of sandy land that no one else wanted, intending to grow crops on it?” Fan Chengxu continued.
“That is true. I am merely making some attempts. Success is not guaranteed, I hope Boss Fan won’t laugh at me,” Wei Ruo answered.
“And I hear that the wheat at your estate is nearing maturity, and judging by its growth, there should be a bountiful harvest,” Fan Chengxu added.
“May your words bring good fortune. I, too, hope for a plentiful harvest,” Wei Ruo replied.
“It seems that Young Master Xu is not only an outstanding businessman, but also highly knowledgeable about agriculture,” Fan Chengxu remarked.
Wei Ruo merely smiled without replying. She lowered her head and quietly took a sip of the freshly brewed Longjing tea, waiting for him to continue.
Fan Chengxu had certainly not invited her over just to offer a few compliments. As for his real purpose, she would wait for him to say it himself.
Next, Fan Chengxu pointed to the Longjing tea on the table. “Young Master Xu, do you know how much this Longjing sells for per jin?”
Wei Ruo glanced at it. “Was this tea harvested before Qingming, before Grain Rain*, or later?”
“The flavor is fresh yet rich, the leaves upright and well-shaped. It is of superior quality,” Wei Ruo evaluated.
If it were pre-Qingming, it would be even rarer and considered a treasure. But pre-Qingming tea seldom reached the open market; it was usually taken by local officials to be presented as tribute to the imperial court.
Fan Chengxu asked again, “Then does Young Master Xu know how much this pre-Grain Rain Longjing costs per liang?”
“Although I have never purchased it myself, I have heard of its high price. Depending on the grade and quality, it ranges from ten to fifty taels of silver per liang,” Wei Ruo replied.
“Correct, correct. Young Master Xu truly knows her trade. When I purchased this batch, it cost thirty taels of silver per liang,” Fan Chengxu said with a smile.
He looked at Wei Ruo, the smile never leaving his face. In his fox-like eyes glinted a crafty light.
“Boss Fan surely did not invite me here merely to praise my business acumen and test my ability to appreciate tea, did you?” Wei Ruo said.
“I wonder whether Young Master Xu, being so knowledgeable in agriculture, has studied tea cultivation? Do you know how to help tea trees grow better, and how to produce tea with excellent color, aroma, and flavor?”
Fan Chengxu had finally steered the conversation to its true purpose.
“Does Boss Fan own tea plantations?” Wei Ruo asked.
“Yes. I have two tea plantations in Taizhou Prefecture, covering more than a hundred mu,” Fan Chengxu replied.
Hearing this, Wei Ruo immediately understood the general situation.
Tea was a highly profitable industry, and Fan Chengxu wanted to venture further into it. But it seemed his plantations were not performing well. Recently, after hearing certain things about her, he had guessed that she might have a way to help him and thus wanted to seek cooperation.
To be honest, the tea business was indeed tempting to Wei Ruo. However, at present, she did not have the capacity to undertake such an endeavor.
The initial investment for tea cultivation was substantial. Tea trees did not mature in a year or two, and the ongoing costs were also high.
Most importantly, there was the issue of sales channels.
Ordinary households did not drink tea. Even typical families—such as the Colonel’s Residence—would only consume more common varieties.
People like Fan Chengxu, who brewed pre-Grain Rain Longjing, were few; they were either wealthy or noble. Such clients rarely switched their preferred tea or suppliers.
“That is true. I am merely making some attempts. Success is not guaranteed, I hope Boss Fan won’t laugh at me,” Wei Ruo answered.
“And I hear that the wheat at your estate is nearing maturity, and judging by its growth, there should be a bountiful harvest,” Fan Chengxu added.
“May your words bring good fortune. I, too, hope for a plentiful harvest,” Wei Ruo replied.
“It seems that Young Master Xu is not only an outstanding businessman, but also highly knowledgeable about agriculture,” Fan Chengxu remarked.
Wei Ruo merely smiled without replying. She lowered her head and quietly took a sip of the freshly brewed Longjing tea, waiting for him to continue.
Fan Chengxu had certainly not invited her over just to offer a few compliments. As for his real purpose, she would wait for him to say it himself.
Next, Fan Chengxu pointed to the Longjing tea on the table. “Young Master Xu, do you know how much this Longjing sells for per jin?”
-Longjing tea
Wei Ruo glanced at it. “Was this tea harvested before Qingming, before Grain Rain*, or later?”
“Young Master Xu is indeed knowledgeable,” Fan Chengxu said with a smile. “This batch is pre-Grain Rain. What do you think of it?”*-Picked before the Qingming Festival (around April 4–5). → Rarest, most delicate, most expensive. -Before Grain Rain (around April 20). → Still high quality, but slightly less rare. -Later harvest, picked after Grain Rain. → More abundant, lower price.
“The flavor is fresh yet rich, the leaves upright and well-shaped. It is of superior quality,” Wei Ruo evaluated.
If it were pre-Qingming, it would be even rarer and considered a treasure. But pre-Qingming tea seldom reached the open market; it was usually taken by local officials to be presented as tribute to the imperial court.
Fan Chengxu asked again, “Then does Young Master Xu know how much this pre-Grain Rain Longjing costs per liang?”
“Although I have never purchased it myself, I have heard of its high price. Depending on the grade and quality, it ranges from ten to fifty taels of silver per liang,” Wei Ruo replied.
“Correct, correct. Young Master Xu truly knows her trade. When I purchased this batch, it cost thirty taels of silver per liang,” Fan Chengxu said with a smile.
He looked at Wei Ruo, the smile never leaving his face. In his fox-like eyes glinted a crafty light.
“Boss Fan surely did not invite me here merely to praise my business acumen and test my ability to appreciate tea, did you?” Wei Ruo said.
“I wonder whether Young Master Xu, being so knowledgeable in agriculture, has studied tea cultivation? Do you know how to help tea trees grow better, and how to produce tea with excellent color, aroma, and flavor?”
Fan Chengxu had finally steered the conversation to its true purpose.
“Does Boss Fan own tea plantations?” Wei Ruo asked.
“Yes. I have two tea plantations in Taizhou Prefecture, covering more than a hundred mu,” Fan Chengxu replied.
Hearing this, Wei Ruo immediately understood the general situation.
Tea was a highly profitable industry, and Fan Chengxu wanted to venture further into it. But it seemed his plantations were not performing well. Recently, after hearing certain things about her, he had guessed that she might have a way to help him and thus wanted to seek cooperation.
To be honest, the tea business was indeed tempting to Wei Ruo. However, at present, she did not have the capacity to undertake such an endeavor.
The initial investment for tea cultivation was substantial. Tea trees did not mature in a year or two, and the ongoing costs were also high.
Most importantly, there was the issue of sales channels.
Ordinary households did not drink tea. Even typical families—such as the Colonel’s Residence—would only consume more common varieties.
People like Fan Chengxu, who brewed pre-Grain Rain Longjing, were few; they were either wealthy or noble. Such clients rarely switched their preferred tea or suppliers.
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