Old Madam Ye finally realized that from the day they collectively decided to make Ye Yaming the next head of the Ye family and aspired to have their tea become imperial tribute tea, Ye Yaming’s matters had become an enormous challenge.

“Then… what should we do?” she stammered, her gaze avoiding Ye Yaming’s eyes. “I think not everyone would be so heartless, would they?”

Ye Yaming shook her head. “It’s not about being heartless—it’s about seeking advantage and avoiding harm. Even if someone were willing to share hardships with me, it would only be my closest companion. As for others, like Zhang Scholar’s parents and his elder brother and sister-in-law, do you think they would?”

“Do you think Zhang Scholar would disregard his parents for my sake? His parents and siblings spent so much money to support his education. He finally passed the examination to become a scholar, but for my sake, he would disregard his future and his life? Would such a person be considered loyal or disloyal? Either way, he would be considered heartless, wouldn’t he?”

Old Madam Ye fell silent.

“Therefore, there’s no need to arrange my marriage anymore,” Ye Yaming said. “Rather than compromising now, bringing a substantial dowry to marry someone inferior to myself, dealing with various family conflicts and complex interpersonal relationships, only to receive divorce papers when trouble comes, or placing others in a dilemma… I might as well remain unmarried and live a peaceful life on my own.”

“How can that be possible?” Old Madam Ye couldn’t accept this.

Unless they couldn’t be married off, no woman remained unmarried. Moreover, when everyone could enjoy family happiness, her granddaughter, her granddaughter who had contributed so much to this family, would have to live alone in solitude until old age. She absolutely wouldn’t allow this to happen.

Seeing the self-blame and helplessness in Old Madam Ye’s eyes, Ye Yaming stepped forward and held the old lady’s hands.

“Don’t blame yourself or anyone else. With my intelligence, do you think I couldn’t have anticipated how things would develop before your discussion that day? Of course I could. So when everyone made their decision, and I calmly accepted the outcome, it meant I had also made my choice. No one forced me. This was my voluntary decision.”

“Compared to supporting my husband and educating children, watching my mother-in-law’s expressions at home, watching my husband’s moods, and dealing with trivial matters, I would rather make tea, buy tea mountains outside, and do things that men typically do. From the moment I considered bringing in a son-in-law, I started thinking of myself as a man. I enjoy the sense of accomplishment that comes from my work.”

“Besides, in our Great Jin, under normal circumstances, women marry early at fifteen and late at eighteen. I’m only fifteen and a half now, with two and a half years until I’m eighteen. It’s too early to worry about this matter.”

She said in a joking tone, “I’m not adamant about not marrying—I just haven’t found the right person. Since Heaven has bestowed so many tea classics on me, perhaps it will also grant me a suitable husband? So don’t worry, Elder. Patience brings resolution. Who knows when I might meet him?”

This child, already distressed by such matters, was instead comforting her.

Old Madam Ye felt both guilty and moved. She embraced Ye Yaming tightly and began to cry, “My poor granddaughter!”

Ye Yaming patted her back in comfort.

She knew that Grandfather Ye Chongming was accustomed to protecting the first branch, considering the interests of his eldest son and grandson; Old Madam Ye also favored her youngest son, Ye Hongrong. Even Madam Yin might place her husband, natal family, and younger daughter ahead of her. Only her father, Ye Hongsheng, prioritized her above all else.

But undeniably, they all loved her dearly, and this love was genuine.

Seeing that the old lady had calmed down, Ye Yaming released her and said, “Next, I’ll need Grandmother to reject all these marriage proposals for me. This is also an extremely troublesome matter, so I apologize for the burden on you, Grandmother.”

Old Madam Ye shook her head. “This is the least I can do for you.”

Rejecting marriage proposals was indeed troublesome; one could easily offend people if not careful.

Madam Yin lacked experience and depth of thought. With a few flattering words, she would forget her surname. Though she wouldn’t dare readily agree to marriage arrangements, she could easily be tricked into revealing information.

That’s why Ye Yaming’s marriage matters had always been handled personally by Old Madam Ye, not allowing Madam Yin to interfere.

If nothing else, Madam Yin’s obedience and non-meddling nature satisfied both Old Madam Ye and Ye Yaming.

Hearing Zai’er call “Old Master” outside, Ye Yaming knew Ye Chongming had returned.

She said, “I need to discuss some matters with Grandfather. I’ll go to the outer study.”

“Go ahead.” Old Madam Ye wanted to stop her husband from discussing Ye Yaming’s marriage predicament, hoping to find a solution.

But she also knew that Ye Yaming had just come down from the mountain and would need to return soon. She couldn’t occupy her granddaughter’s precious time. Their business matters took priority.

Ye Yaming left and went to the outer study with Ye Chongming.

“You’ve been working too hard lately,” Ye Chongming looked at Ye Yaming, who seemed to have grown thinner, feeling very distressed.

Since the pre-Qingming tea became available, Ye Yaming had been rooted in the mountain villa, with an additional trip to Huizhou, constantly on the move.

“I’m not tired,” Ye Yaming smiled.

Since transmigrating, she had been intentionally training her body. During this time on the mountain, she also practiced martial arts with Guan Ting and ran with weights in the morning. Before her transmigration, this body had been delicate as a willow, but now it had grown much stronger, achieving a balance of slenderness and strength.

The perception of thinness was merely the elders’ concern.

For the sake of her reputation, those apprentices lived in a farmstead several hundred meters away from the villa. Ye Hongsheng doted on his daughter. Her running behavior seemed strange to people of this era, but after two days, no one gave her strange looks anymore.

Guan Ting initially joined her running out of curiosity, and Bai Rui and Lu’E also began running at Ye Yaming’s insistence. This became a peculiar sight at the villa.

“How are those apprentices performing?” Ye Chongming asked.

“They’re all doing well,” Ye Yaming replied.

Though they were called apprentices, the oldest was in his early thirties, and the youngest was seventeen or eighteen. All were older than her. At first, when they learned they would be studying tea-making from such a young girl, they didn’t show it outwardly, but inwardly they held some contempt.

However, after she roasted a batch of tea and let them taste it, their attitudes changed. Not only did they study earnestly and seriously, but they also showed extreme respect toward her.

They all understood the importance of Longjing tea. Being a Longjing tea master would multiply their value, making them highly sought after whether within the Ye family or elsewhere. With such an opportunity before them, no one would be foolish enough to put on airs of being experienced tea masters in front of her.

This was the supremacy of capability.

“How well have they learned?” Ye Chongming asked again.

“Several are quite good. They roast well with consistent quality, no worse than my father. Especially Zhao Daquan, whom you’ve praised before, Grandfather. A few aren’t as good. The remaining dozen or so are decent with more practice,” Ye Yaming said.