However, the Ye family was not an unknown entity in Lin’an city, and many among the spectators knew of them.
Someone began explaining to others: “This is the home of Old Master Ye, the owner of Jixiang Pavilion and head of the tea merchant guild. You know? They’re the ones who secretly produce Longjing tea.”
“What?” someone exclaimed in surprise. “How is that possible?”
A person nearby, not understanding the issue, asked: “Why would that be impossible?”
That person lowered his voice and said: “They’re merchants. You know what merchants are, right? In the four classes—scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants—though we may be poor people with only a few small fields, in terms of social status, the Ye family ranks below us. How could nobles from the capital form a marriage alliance with their family? And with a fifth-rank official at that.”
He spoke with an expression of utter bewilderment.
Several people nearby exchanged glances, not agreeing with him at all.
In their view, the Ye family was extremely wealthy with vast assets, a supremely affluent household where even the servants ate and dressed better than themselves. Whenever they passed by this residence, they would keep their distance from the splendidly dressed doorkeepers, hugging the walls as they walked, not daring to get too close for fear of being scolded.
Now to hear someone say the Ye family’s status was lower than theirs—they could only scoff.
What use was status when you couldn’t even fill your stomach? Hadn’t they seen how nobles from the capital were willing to marry the Ye family’s daughter, yet wouldn’t even spare them a glance?
Seeing that no one agreed with him, the man anxiously continued: “You know the young examination graduate Song Yifeng, right? He was originally engaged to the Ye family’s daughter. Later, he broke off the engagement. His parents constantly say that the Ye family’s daughter is not worthy of Scholar Song.”
The elderly man in the sapphire blue robe, named Xie Linjiang, was watching Old Master Ye and the Second Master welcome Master Zhineng inside while his ears caught this conversation.
He turned around and looked at that person, saying: “What Scholar Song? Don’t you know that the Scholar Song you’re speaking of wrote forbidden poetry, lost his academic title, and was imprisoned?”
He sized up the other person: “You seem to think highly of yourself, so why hasn’t anyone sought to form a marriage alliance with your family? Why don’t you try finding a noble or fifth-rank official to marry into your family?”
The man’s face alternated between red and white at these words.
He wanted to retort but thought about how this person could recognize noble attire and official wives’ robes, and even knew that the Deputy Prefect’s wife had attended a banquet during New Year—his identity must be either wealthy or noble. He immediately shut his mouth.
He was merely dissatisfied with his own life and, seeing others doing well, felt envious and couldn’t help but disparage them to find some comfort in his heart and elevate himself. Yet he also knew these words should only be muttered in private, not spread about.
If the Ye family learned of his earlier words, they might target him and cause him to lose his livelihood.
He mumbled something indistinct that no one could hear clearly, then turned and disappeared into the crowd.
Xie Linjiang saw the betrothal gift procession filing in, with the last person disappearing at the entrance. Among the spectators, some bold ones ran to the Ye family’s doorkeepers to inquire about the details, and he quickly squeezed through to join them.
“…This is the master’s business. We only guard the door and know nothing,” the doorkeeper said.
“If you won’t say whose family is presenting the betrothal gifts, surely you must know which young lady in your family is receiving them?” the person persisted.
Those who had followed to the Ye family’s door were mostly idle people. Their inquiries stemmed merely from curiosity and gossip, hoping to gain a reputation for being “well-informed” when chatting with others at teahouses.
“Don’t know, don’t know,” the doorkeeper waved his hand and then shouted to the crowd, “Thank you all for your concern. In a few days, when my master’s holds the wedding celebration, you can all come back for the wedding feast. Please disperse for today.”
Seeing that the doorkeeper refused to say anything and that the Ye family wasn’t distributing money or wedding sweets, people discussed briefly and then dispersed.
After leaving, Xie Linjiang didn’t go home but went to Jixiang Pavilion.
His old friend Wan Youde was still at the teahouse and was surprised to see him arrive: “Hey, didn’t you say you had something to do and wouldn’t be coming?”
“Haha, it was just a small matter, already taken care of,” Xie Linjiang laughed.
“What tea did you order?” he asked.
“Longjing.”
As the weather had warmed up, tea buds grew quickly. With Ye Yaming and Ye Hongsheng having trained apprentices, more tea was being produced. Since it was summer tea, the price wasn’t as exorbitant.
Families of moderate means might not be able to afford to buy it by the pound, but coming to a teahouse and ordering a pot with friends was still manageable.
Xie Linjiang also ordered some tea snacks and, while drinking tea, chatted casually with Wan Youde, but his ears were perked up, listening to the conversations in the teahouse.
Teahouses were information hubs, and “news gatherers” often brought the latest information there first.
Sure enough, he soon heard people discussing the betrothal gift presentation, and the voice sounded familiar. He turned to look and saw the person who had been questioning the doorkeeper at the Ye residence, now animatedly describing the special features of the betrothal gifts to others.
Seeing that half the people on the floor had turned their heads to listen to him, the man’s voice grew even louder. Wan Youde naturally heard it too.
Both Wan Youde and Xie Linjiang were wealthy men of leisure in Lin’an city. Their families owned land and shops and conducted various businesses. Their children and grandchildren studied diligently, and some had become officials. At their age of fifty or sixty, besides nurturing their health, they were primarily concerned with the prospects of their descendants.
At this moment, whether it was Xie Linjiang who had witnessed the betrothal gift presentation firsthand or Wan Youde who had only heard descriptions from others, they both felt nothing but envy.
“Sigh, the Ye family is truly blessed. Setting aside everything else, the fact that the man’s family invited Master Zhineng to present the betrothal gifts shows how highly they regard this marriage,” Wan Youde sighed. “I wonder how the Ye family arranged such a marriage alliance. Impressive, truly impressive.”
Xie Linjiang shook his head: “‘Plant a parasol tree, and phoenixes will come.’ I don’t think it’s about luck or the Ye family being impressive that makes this young lady so highly valued, but rather the excellence of the Ye family’s daughter herself.”
“Well said,” a middle-aged man nearby agreed. “The Ye family is kind-hearted and produces excellent Longjing tea. Even as merchants, there are naturally people willing to form marriage alliances with them. Moreover, I’ve heard that the Ye family’s daughter is exceptionally talented. She wrote a book called ‘The Tea Ceremony,’ and the principles of tea ceremonies presented in it are highly praised by scholars and literati in the capital.”
“Really?” Xie Linjiang was surprised and cupped his hands toward the man. “May I ask your surname? Are you from the capital?”
The man smiled and returned the gesture: “My humble surname is Zhu. I indeed just returned from the capital and have read Miss Ye’s book. I was greatly impressed.”
“How have we not seen it in Lin’an?” Wan Youde asked in surprise, then turned toward the counter and waved his hand, calling out, “Manager Lin.”
Lin Zhensheng looked up from his account book, and seeing it was Wan Youde, hurried over to ask: “Master Wan, what can I do for you?”
“I heard that your young lady wrote a book called ‘The Tea Ceremony,’ and many people in the capital know about it. Is this true? Why has no one mentioned it in Lin’an?”