In the Xu hour (7-9 PM) of late spring and early summer, the sky had completely darkened. Behind the Ye family’s tea factory, the estate was silent, with the vast majority of people deep in slumber.

A young man of about twenty, carrying a bundle of items, walked in the darkness to the front of a house. He gently tapped on the door, softly calling, “Uncle, Uncle…”

“Who is it?” Cao Dazhu asked, looking outside through the window.

“It’s me, Xiao Wu.”

Hearing his nephew’s voice, Cao Dazhu put on some clothes and went out to open the door.

“What are you doing here so late instead of sleeping?” Cao Dazhu asked while letting Cao Wu in.

“Hehe, let’s talk inside, let’s talk inside,” Cao Wu said with a grin.

The two entered the house, and Cao Wu placed his bundle on the table, saying to Cao Dazhu, “This is Xiao Wu’s filial gift to Uncle.”

Cao Dazhu took a look and found two pieces of meat, two packages of pastries, and a bottle of wine. He looked at Cao Wu suspiciously, “Where did you get the money, boy?”

“I’ve saved a bit over the years. I haven’t seen Uncle for a long time, so I came to visit you.”

Cao Dazhu naturally didn’t believe this and said, “What are you up to? Tell me quickly. Otherwise, I won’t dare accept your things.”

“What are you saying, Uncle? My father passed away early, and you’ve been looking after me. Now that I’m grown up, isn’t it right for me to buy some good things for you?” Cao Wu said.

Cao Dazhu’s wife, Madam Liu, had also come in by now. Hearing these words, she secretly sneered.

She said coolly, “Xiao Wu, just say what you want. Your uncle is exhausted from work and needs to get up early tomorrow. Tell him what’s on your mind so he can rest early. That would be your filial duty.”

Seeing that his aunt had poured tea and sat down, showing no signs of leaving, Cao Wu silently cursed but had to say to Cao Dazhu, “Uncle, I heard the tea factory is recruiting. I’m in my twenties now, without a good job, can’t earn enough to get married, and I’ve been a burden to you. Could you recommend that I try working there this time?”

“I promise you, once I’m in the tea factory, I’ll work hard and not bring shame to you.”

Hearing this, Madam Liu became somewhat interested.

Cao Dazhu’s father had been a long-time employee of the Ye family’s tea factory, which meant the entire Cao family was considered the Ye family’s bonded laborers, having signed a lifelong contract. Not only did they lack personal freedom, but their children were also bound to this status.

Although they were bonded laborers, the Ye family was not responsible for feeding everyone. When children grew up, they had to find work themselves in the Ye family’s teahouses, tea shops, tea factories, tea gardens, or estates. If they couldn’t find work and had no income, the Ye family wouldn’t care if they starved to death.

Of course, with the Ye family’s vast enterprises, there was always work to be done somewhere. As long as one was honest and hardworking, one could always find a job. Even if the pay wasn’t much, it was enough to barely make ends meet.

The Ye family was kind and didn’t mistreat their servants.

Among the three Cao brothers, Er Zhu had faltered, and San Zhu had also passed away from illness when Cao Wu was seven years old. San Zhu’s widow was left raising two daughters and one son. Over the years, Cao Dazhu had helped their family considerably.

Now, Cao Wu’s two sisters were married. If Cao Wu could enter the tea factory, the third branch of the family would no longer need support, and the first branch would also be relieved of much burden.

“No,” Cao Dazhu flatly refused, “You can’t handle it.”

Over the years, he had repeatedly humbled himself to ask the managers to find work for Cao Wu. But Cao Wu was lazy and would quit or be fired after working for only a short time.

The tea factory was an extremely important place; how could they hire someone like Cao Wu?

A flash of resentment appeared in Cao Wu’s eyes, but he quickly concealed it.

He put on a dejected expression and said gloomily, “Uncle, I know I’ve been idle these past two years and have disappointed you. But isn’t that because I had no chance to enter the tea factory? Your son is your son, so it’s natural for him to follow in your footsteps. If the tea factory was still the same as before, not hiring so many new people, I wouldn’t come asking you.”

“But now Second Master has created Longjing tea, and Third Miss has created osmanthus tea. I heard they’re going to make jasmine tea next, and the factory needs people everywhere. They hired a batch of people recently, and I heard they’re going to hire more. Uncle, can’t you help your nephew?”

Hearing these words, Madam Liu’s thoughts stirred, and she looked at her husband.

“Where did you hear all this?” Cao Dazhu asked.

“Everyone’s talking about it,” Cao Wu said.

Cao Dazhu fell silent.

Recently, his eldest son, who was his apprentice, had been sent to the mountains to learn how to make Longjing tea, and indeed, the tea factory had hired a batch of people to fill the vacancies. He had only heard about Third Miss making jasmine tea and the factory hiring more people this afternoon, but it seemed everyone already knew about it.

Thinking about his nephew’s situation, he finally gritted his teeth and said, “All right. But let me be clear upfront: if you’re still like before—avoiding hard work, being lazy, and getting fired by the managers—I won’t intervene at all. Don’t expect me to humble myself to plead for you. And I won’t take care of you anymore.”

“Uncle, please rest assured. I was young and ignorant before. Now I understand the importance of self-improvement,” Cao Wu lowered his head, appearing embarrassed. “Mainly, I’ve grown up and think it’s time to earn money to get married.”

“If that’s the case, then that’s for the best,” Cao Dazhu nodded slightly. “Words are empty; I’ll judge by your performance.”

“Then, Uncle, please rest early. I won’t disturb you anymore.” Cao Wu also said a few polite words to Madam Liu before taking his leave.

Madam Liu secured the door and returned to say to Cao Dazhu, “Let’s hope that boy can work properly.”

The couple had two sons. The eldest learned tea-making from Cao Dazhu, while the second, who was quick-witted, worked as a waiter in a teahouse. They had worried about Cao Wu too, but this nephew had been spoiled by his mother and sisters. He was arrogant yet incompetent, couldn’t endure hardship, and was disliked wherever he worked, never lasting long.

That’s why when the tea factory was hiring, Cao Dazhu hadn’t thought of recommending his nephew.

Now that his nephew expressed a desire to improve, Cao Dazhu went to find the manager the next day, saying all the nice things he could, humbling himself greatly. The manager finally agreed to put in a word for Cao Wu.

However, the manager also said, “You know how important the tea factory is; people are carefully selected. My agreement isn’t final; the Old Master and Second Master still need to approve.”

Cao Dazhu nodded repeatedly, “I understand, I understand. But Second Master has been managing the tea factory all these years. As long as Manager Cai approves, there shouldn’t be a problem with Second Master.”

The tea factory was originally managed by shopkeeper Zhang Zhongkun and manager Wu Qingping. But after twenty-some people were transferred to the tea garden to make Longjing tea, Ye Hongsheng couldn’t both teach tea-making and manage personnel, so Zhang Zhongkun was transferred there.

As for Wu Qingping, Ye Hongrong in Huizhou felt that Zhou Xiang alone wasn’t enough, so he was transferred there.