Lin Yuchan quietly called Mau Shuniang over.

“Don’t want to get married?”

Mau Shuniang nodded: “I have to take care of my father.”

“What about your mother?”

“Her health isn’t good.”

“Your sister-in-law?”

Mau Shuniang hesitated: “Sister-in-law is pregnant.”

Lin Yuchan remembered that although there was a sister-in-law, according to the propriety rules of this era, a daughter-in-law couldn’t have such intimate physical contact with her father-in-law.

Lin Yuchan nodded and asked again: “Will you still make tea then?”

“After I finish observing filial piety. If you’ll still keep me…”

Lin Yuchan breathed a sigh of relief. This girl’s mind was crystal clear—she was simply disadvantaged by her age and seniority, collectively undermined by several senior apprentices and weak family members.

Lin Yuchan patted her shoulder and walked to the outer room, where the three apprentices sat restlessly.

“The old master needs to be wiped down,” she directly ordered. “Otherwise, there will be an odor.”

The apprentices all looked troubled, stealing glances at the several women in the household.

After a long while, “Bajie” said in a low voice, “Lady Lin, let us go check the shop instead. One day without working is also a loss of your money.”

Lin Yuchan: “What about your master then?”

Everyone knew this female boss favored the women—this one inconvenient, that one precious. The apprentices didn’t dare brazenly suggest letting the master’s wife and junior sister do it.

“Wukong” suddenly said shrilly, “We can pool money to buy Master a concubine. Women are attentive and convenient for caring. We’ll pay! We can go find one right now!”

Lin Yuchan hadn’t expected this move at all and felt somewhat nauseous for a moment.

Looking at Mrs. Mau beside her, her expression was mournfully numb, showing no sign of anger whatsoever.

In the eyes of people, then, buying a concubine was as casual as buying an object. Some middle-aged men, when away from home for examinations or business, would typically buy a woman locally to attend to their daily needs. It wasn’t necessarily for pleasure—just buying a comprehensive caretaker to scrub their backs, wash their hair, help them during the night, fan them in the evening, swat mosquitoes, scratch their backs… Things a servant couldn’t do, a concubine could do legitimately.

As for elderly, seriously ill men, many families were happy to sell their daughters to become their concubines. After serving for months or years, when the old man passed away, such concubines were generally given some money and sent away, still young and beautiful, able to continue finding their next household.

In the apprentices’ view, they were rough men with clumsy hands unsuitable for caring for people. Buying Master a small concubine was showing filial piety.

Lin Yuchan frowned and made one final test: “Shopkeeper Mau’s remaining work and his shares in the tea shop—have you discussed with your master’s wife how to handle them?”

Seeing she wasn’t as fierce as before, the apprentices thought that after seeing Shopkeeper Mau’s critical condition, she probably had no idea either.

Looking at each other, “Wukong” said: “If you permit, madam, we can buy out Master’s shares, and all the money we raise will be left for Master’s wife and junior sister. Then I’ll be the manager, second and third will handle accounting and supervision, we’ll rearrange the shop and strive to resume work quickly…”

Looking at Lin Yuchan, he quickly added: “After work each day we’ll all come serve Master—absolutely no running around…”

“What about Miss Mau?”

The apprentices looked at each other again, mumbled for a while, and “Wukong” still replied:

“Her in-laws are pressing for the wedding—there’s nothing we can do… Anyway, daughters can’t inherit the family business, and she’s of marriageable age. We senior apprentices will fulfill our responsibilities and marry her off in grand style… She’s saved some dowry from working these past years, hasn’t she? We can add some more…”

It sounded extremely generous, practically a touching model of exemplary senior apprentices.

Lin Yuchan’s mouth curved in a cold smile.

She was crystal clear in her heart—Mau Shuniang had good natural talent, loved to think when working, and her current tea-making skills were no less than her senior apprentices’, plus she could operate machinery. A few years ago, the senior apprentices would still accommodate her, playfully taking her through training; this past year, they gradually grew distant from her, avoiding her when discussing techniques, fearing this junior sister would surpass them.

Now they saw the perfect opportunity—while her brother was still away—to completely squeeze her out.

Even if they had said Shopkeeper Mau’s business would be split equally with the junior sister, with all four inheriting the craft together for the sake of quickly stabilizing and resuming the tea shop’s operations, Lin Yuchan might still have considered keeping these few people.

But now…

Forget it. A small temple cannot accommodate great Buddhas. Someday, they’d kick her out, too.

At this moment, there was commotion at the door—a Western doctor had arrived by carriage for a house call, looking for the address. Rong Hong went over to greet him. Everyone rushed out to welcome them. Lin Yuchan took the opportunity to squeeze out the door.

“Mr. Rong,” she quickly explained the situation inside to Rong Hong. “I might need your help…”

Rong Hong was somewhat displeased: “You want to drive those apprentices away?”

“Yes,” she said quietly, “though it might not be quite proper…”

“Miss Lin,” Rong Hong said seriously, “although I no longer manage Boya, I still want to make a suggestion—Boya’s traditions cannot be lost. People with such crooked hearts, if it were me, I wouldn’t hire them at all.”

“Oh, what big official airs,” Lin Yuchan laughed. Before Rong Hong could anxiously explain, she quietly added, “But I like it.”

The two exchanged a smile. At this moment, someone inside shouted: “Who understands foreign writing! This foreign doctor needs a translator!”

Rong Hong hurried in to help.

Lin Yuchan took the opportunity to pull Mau Shuniang out. She couldn’t understand anything inside anyway.

“I support you not marrying and continuing to work at the tea shop,” Lin Yuchan said directly and quickly. “But you need to prove yourself, too. Let’s work together—we can’t let your senior apprentices intimidate us.”

Mau Shuniang, suddenly without her father’s protection, seemed to age several years overnight. She wiped away her tears and nodded firmly.

“Alright. Then let’s do this…”

After Western medical treatment, Shopkeeper Mau’s consciousness slightly recovered. He could open his eyes and look at his family members with tears.

Family members took turns going in to visit, essentially just arranging final affairs. First Mrs. Mau, who cried for twenty minutes with content like “Please get better quickly—without you, how will we orphans and widows manage?” Then Mau Shuniang and her sister-in-law went in together, opening a character book. Shopkeeper Mau tremblingly used his finger to choose a name for his unborn grandson.

When the two young women came out, the three apprentices busily wanted to go in and visit, too.

Lin Yuchan raised her hand to stop them: “Me first.”

The three were stunned, their eyes clearly saying: On what grounds?

In terms of closeness, first come, first served, how could she—a shareholder and financier who barged in halfway—compare with their years of father-son-like master-apprentice relationship?

Rong Hong advised from the side: “You all should let the young lady go first.”

He was the only one in the room with an official title. Though it wasn’t earned through examination, but…

Not many people’s titles were earned through examination these days. No one should ask too many questions—such people of status should be respected, not offended.

A gentle exterior wrapped around a fifth-rank official position—no one dared contradict him.

Lin Yuchan sat beside Shopkeeper Mau’s bed, unable to help but feel sad.

She didn’t necessarily like this cunning uncle much either. But most people encountered in life were just like this—they bore her no great love nor deep hatred, just had some small intersection in their respective journeys, enriching each other’s lives and decorating each other’s paths.

The Western doctor was listening to his heartbeat. Shopkeeper Mau lay with his head tilted, half-propped up in bed. His lifeless eyes looked at her, and suddenly his throat made a “clicking” sound.

Lin Yuchan knew he was worried about his family.

He was a tea shop manager, the sole pillar of his household. When earning money, he was glorious, able to provide his wife and daughter with food and clothing, and able to hire famous teachers for his son to pursue an official career.

But everyone in business knew—wealth came quickly and left quickly too. With him down, how long could this glory last?

Shopkeeper Mau wasn’t without such thoughts. In his leisure time, he had mentioned that when he could no longer work, he’d return to his hometown, buy land, and peacefully be a landlord.

Who could have predicted that fate wouldn’t wait? Who could have imagined it would come so quickly?

“I won’t disturb your rest much,” Lin Yuchan said kindly. “You and Boya are family. I’m granting you long-term sick leave—your only responsibility now is to recover well. I’ll pay medical expenses. Your apprentices are working diligently. I’ll also look after your daughter. As long as she’s willing to work for me, however long she works, I’ll pay her wages. If she wants to work for life, I’ll handle her retirement money.”

Shopkeeper Mau’s eyes suddenly widened, showing gratitude.

His lips moved for a long time. Lin Yuchan could only make out a few words.

“Little girl… marry…”

He felt that since Lin Yuchan had known Mau Shuniang, “helping marry her off” would be the deepest sisterly affection.

Lin Yuchan smiled slightly and said softly: “Little girl needn’t hurry to marry. I’ll allow her to stay home and serve you, and I’ll still pay her wages. I’ve asked acquaintances—in this situation, we can apply to the court for a filial daughter commendation. With this title, when she marries, her in-laws won’t dare bully her easily. It will also be useful for her brother’s future career. Does this seem acceptable to you?”

Shopkeeper Mau was startled, not expecting such an arrangement to be possible.

Meanwhile, Rong Hong found Mau Shuniang’s prospective father-in-law and amicably discussed similar matters.

“…Postpone the marriage to serve her father in his old age until his passing. Not to boast, but with this official position, I can directly apply to Shanghai County, then forward it to the prefecture and province, to see if we can get approval for a filial piety memorial arch. I’ve asked acquaintances—the current Two Palaces revere filial piety. If, fortunately, it enters the county records…”

The prospective father-in-law worked at the county office. During Rong Hong’s imprisonment, Lin Yuchan had given him many benefits. Now with Rong Hong’s steady promotion, he felt he’d latched onto a golden patron and obeyed Rong Hong completely, immediately bowing repeatedly: “Much obliged, much obliged! No hurry, no hurry!”

He thought happily that if his daughter-in-law entered the county records, wouldn’t her name would be recorded with his Li family surname, indirectly meaning his family would also be remembered in history!

Using magic to defeat magic, so to speak. Those worthless titles the court gave women—martyred wives, filial daughters, respectful ladies, virtuous ladies, chaste ladies—still carried some weight in the eyes of those who strictly observed propriety.

Lin Yuchan, thanks to that “Ninth-Rank Respectful Lady” nominal title, had doubled in status since returning to Shanghai, conducting business much more smoothly, and remarkably, people began calling her “Lady Lin” instead of “Mrs. Su,” delighting her to toss and turn; today she immediately applied divergent thinking, wondering if she could use the “filial and chaste” reputation to defeat the calculations of Mau Shuniang’s senior apprentices.

Memorial arches were a business—applicants fought tooth and nail each year, with some families even forcing widows to die for their husbands to seek fame and profit. In Lin Yuchan’s view, becoming a “martyred wife” was unacceptable, but becoming a “filial daughter” was still worth considering.

First paint a vision—as for whether this memorial arch could actually be approved, that was beyond Lin Yuchan’s control.

An hour later, Lin Yuchan gathered Shopkeeper Mau’s family, in-laws, and the three apprentices to explain this plan.

Except for the three apprentices, everyone else’s sorrow lessened somewhat, feeling that if Mau Shuniang could earn a filial daughter memorial arch from this, it would truly be turning misfortune into blessing and comfort for her father.

“As for you three,” Lin Yuchan smiled at the three senior apprentices, “since family matters are resolved, let’s talk business. Apprentices inheriting their master’s craft is natural law, but now I’m a shareholder and must consider the tea shop’s future, selecting capable people to replace Shopkeeper Mau’s work. During Shopkeeper Mau’s illness, I hope you can spend half the day serving your master and half the day returning to make tea. Miss Mau has the same rotating shifts as senior apprentices, half the day working, half the day fulfilling filial duty. After one month, I’ll send someone to evaluate uniformly. Whoever produces more qualified, high-quality tea leaves stays. If none meet requirements, then everyone leaves, and I’ll seek other talent. The tea shop is Shopkeeper Mau’s life work—we can’t ruin the reputation.”

Mau Shuniang had originally held much respect for her senior apprentices, but since being tricked out by Lin Yuchan’s words and learning they had secretly encouraged her early marriage, this respect had diminished considerably.

As soon as Lin Yuchan spoke, she immediately declared: “I can do it!”

The three apprentices’ faces lengthened by a third, scrambling to say: “That’s not appropriate…”

“…Of course, since you have three people, the tea quantity must also be calculated as one-third and compared with Miss Mau’s.” Lin Yuchan continued unilaterally, “Moreover, when you three serve your master that half a day, you’re working together, which is much easier than Miss Mau alone. I’ll let you have this advantage—who told you to be senior apprentices…”

“But…”

“But what?” Lin Yuchan’s face hardened, not giving them a chance to haggle. “Your master treated you like his own sons. Now he’s dying, and you can’t spare half a day daily to serve him? I believe you’re not ungrateful people either. All the neighbors are watching—if you don’t serve him well, they’ll point fingers at your backs!”

The three looked up to see neighbors indeed gathered at the door, craning their curious necks, listening while sighing and asking each other: “Who is this woman giving orders? Is she the family matriarch?”

Lin Yuchan switched to a gentle tone and consulted Mrs. Mau: “Is this acceptable?”

Life is unpredictable. Before half the month-long “competition period” had passed, Shopkeeper Mau departed from this world.

What comforted Lin Yuchan was that the old master’s final days were relatively peaceful: the household remained orderly, everyone was present, and his daughter served at his side daily. Because Lin Yuchan had sent someone to supervise, the three apprentices also served attentively like caring for their father, greatly comforting him and making him feel he hadn’t misjudged his apprentices.

Over ten days later, son Mau Dalang also rushed back from afar after hearing the news and saw his father one last time. Only then did the old master peacefully let go.

Boya Company provided generous condolence money. The tea shop closed for ten days. After the funeral and settling all affairs, the deceased rested in peace while the living had to continue their arduous lives.

In the tea-roasting workshop, Su Minguan tasted from two sample jars and directly spilled one cup on the ground.

“This also dares call itself Xingrui?” He sneered. “Too perfunctory. Unqualified.”

Opposite him, three apprentices wearing mourning bands had faces as white as their mourning caps.

Today was the tea “quality inspection”—who among senior apprentices and junior sister would stay or go would be decided in this moment.

Lin Yuchan had paid half a month’s salary to invite external tea expert Su Minguan to separately evaluate the quality of tea made by senior apprentices and junior sister.

Su Minguan rarely appeared at Xuhui Tea Shop. The three apprentices originally looked down on him, thinking he was some amateur recruited from somewhere. While Su Minguan went to relieve himself, “Bajie” even cornered him in the toilet, warning him not to help Boss Lin cheat.

Su Minguan, looked down upon without cause, said nothing, immediately took his leave, and conveniently locked the door. After ten minutes, Lin Yuchan couldn’t stand it anymore and sent someone to unlock the door, rescuing the stinking Bajie.

However, the senior apprentices weren’t too discouraged. They prided themselves on receiving authentic teachings and had consulted peers while caring for their master during this period, exerting their lifelong skills. Pot after pot of tea was roasted with utmost dedication. They confidently believed their work was superior to their junior sister’s machine-made tea.

However, seeing Lin Yuchan directing staff to systematically sample and weigh from piles of finished products with apparent seriousness, the senior apprentices were still quite indignant, privately discussing:

“Simply looking down on us!”

“Too bad Master couldn’t speak before dying, otherwise he definitely would have directly passed the craft to us!”

“She doesn’t think Miss Mau can make good tea, does she?”

They weren’t afraid of fair competition—they feared Lin Yuchan would cheat.

So they also used connections to invite several friends to jointly evaluate.

Thinking this would secure victory, who knew Lin Yuchan would announce last-minute rules for “blind tasting.” Selected samples would be repackaged and numbered by staff, with tea makers’ names written inside the bags, then tasted in random order under mutual supervision.

This blind tasting game Lin Yuchan had done once before, and was now expertly familiar with it.

Unlike last time, this “blind tasting” wasn’t to determine superiority but to have judges score each sample bag—excellent, good, qualified, unqualified, scoring four, three, two, and zero points respectively. Finally tallying both contestants’ scores. Higher scores indicated higher tea excellence rates, determining the winner.

The senior apprentices were dumbfounded. But these rules were fair and couldn’t be faulted. Even if someone wanted to show favoritism, they had no way to do so.

Mau Shuniang, dressed in heavy mourning, watched experts drinking cup after cup, so nervous she went to the toilet several times.

She was much more haggard than half a month ago. Lin Yuchan had long told her there would be no favoritism—only by defeating her senior apprentices with real skill would she be allowed to stay and work.

Lin Yuchan walked over, patted her shoulder, and said quietly: “Don’t worry, I think you’re stronger than them.”

But Mau Shuniang lacked this confidence. During this period, she carefully served her father with her family at night, not daring to neglect; then, when senior apprentices took over, she worked overtime daily in the workshop, sleeping beside machinery when exhausted. Grief plus fatigue had turned this flower-like young maiden into someone with heavy dark circles, much thinner hair, coal-stained dirty clothes she had no time to change—her whole person disheveled and dusty, making her white mourning clothes appear blindingly stark.

Su Minguan had finished evaluating all samples and casually tossed his conclusions into the small basket.

Lin Yuchan cast him an inquiring look.

He returned a smile without speaking.

Other peers also completed their evaluations, put down cups, and laughingly apologized to the apprentices: “This is demanding too much. All good tea—how difficult to nitpick! We’ve done our best—thank you for the hospitality, farewell. Wishing your shop prosperous business!”

Finally, under everyone’s supervision, Lin Yuchan personally calculated scores and announced results.

“Senior apprentices’ score: fifty-six.”

The senior apprentices beamed with joy. This meant at least half their tea received “excellent” ratings.

Mau Shuniang huddled to one side, not daring to look up.

Lin Yuchan methodically continued calculating.

“Junior sister’s score… sixty-two.”

She broke into a broad smile, waving the pen in her hand at Mau Shuniang.

Mau Shuniang’s face suddenly flushed with color.

The senior apprentices looked at each other in dismay. Impossible!

“Lady Lin, boss… please calculate again!”

“If the weighing was correct, the tea you produced these past days didn’t even reach three times Miss Mau’s output, at most two and a half times. Therefore, your score must be further reduced.” Lin Yuchan smiled. “You all saw that the entire process was fair and reasonable. Sampling and numbering were supervised by you. Most judges were your acquaintances. There was no possibility of cheating. So… Miss Mau is superior in skill. No one objects, right?”

Mau Shuniang stared in amazement, still not quite believing it.

Her senior apprentices equally couldn’t believe it. They exchanged glances and approached one after another, wanting to grab the score papers.

“No touching.” Lin Yuchan said sternly. “You also supervised the calculation process just now. Now, according to the contract, you’re insufficient to serve as Xuhui Tea Shop’s new team. Considering the late Shopkeeper Mau’s affection, I’ll settle an extra month’s salary for each of you. Wishing you all bright futures.”

“But, but… this…”

The apprentices were dumbfounded. The clever one brought up their master.

“We had father-son relationships with Master…”

Lin Yuchan stood up, walked into the accounting office, and began writing termination letters.

Father-son relationships were correct, but conditional. Before Shopkeeper Mau’s moment of fancy letting his daughter playfully begin touching tea leaves, the apprentices considered themselves Shopkeeper Mau’s successors. They studied and worked seriously, helping in the shop annually with master-of-the-house attitudes: this shop would eventually pass to us.

But somehow, from some point, that little junior sister who should have stayed home doing needlework also began handling tea leaves. Although Master didn’t say so outwardly, he often cast approving glances at her. Gradually, the time he spent guiding her exceeded the time training apprentices.

The apprentices developed crisis awareness, fearing their years of apprentice hardship would end in futility. So in the past year, they rapidly grew distant from junior sister, avoiding her in everything, as if only this way could they preserve some advantage in experience and ability.

Now look—one “blind tasting” had revealed their true colors. This Boss Lin showed no sentiment for old times. Moments later, three dismissal letters were ready. Of course, the language was very polite, saying the company intended to reduce costs and had to lay off some workers, deeply apologetic. Considering everyone’s years of hard service to the tea shop, there were severance payments…

The “tea competition” was something they had personally agreed to, all signed on guarantee letters. Even in court, they had no grounds.

The three apprentices looked bitter, glancing at each other, and dejectedly packed their things to leave.

The tea shop immediately quieted down.

Lin Yuchan picked up another prepared employment letter and smilingly placed it in Mau Shuniang’s hands.