Chapter 228: How Peerless Is It

Winter in Shenyi Gu is not as bone-chillingly cold or biting like a knife as it is further north. But when the cold wind blows, it still makes people tighten their collars. If one is tired and cold from strolling the streets during the day and wants to find a place to rest, the children of wealthy families will find a medicine shop and go to the tea room to drink a few cups of hot Medicinal Herbal Tea.

For the wealthy, the conditions of the medicine shop's tea room are crude, but given the current state of affairs, one cannot be too demanding; it is good enough to have such a place to drink tea!

The medicine shops hold a near-monopoly on several businesses in the Town.

At this time last year, the tea rooms of the various medicine shops in the Town were very lively. There were even children of wealthy families who came to blows over grabbing a tea room.

Consequently, the better-developed medicine shops with the means expanded and renovated their tea rooms, intending to make another profit this year.

Unexpectedly, the group of newcomers who arrived this year—no, not just that group of newcomers, but also the young masters and misses who hadn't left—don't seem to be as lavish with their spending as before.

Some say it is because of the scarcity of supplies in these troubled times, and even the landlords have no surplus grain, unable to withstand constant, extravagant consumption.

Others say it is because the children of wealthy families already spent a sum of money on this year's Entrance Assessment and are now strapped for cash, having to wait a while for their families to provide relief.

Regardless of the reason, business in the medicine shop tea rooms on every street in the Town is exceptionally desolate now.

The tips received by the medicine shop attendants have also decreased significantly.

The large-scale medicinal material transactions of the medicine shops are not something these grassroots employees can get involved in; their main income is their daily tips.

With no business in the tea room, the tips they receive are small, and their enthusiasm for work is low; they spend their days looking half-dead, slacking off. Now that they finally see a young master who seems to have a good family background coming over for tea, the hired hands of Anxiang Hall are full of enthusiasm.

While they are ushering the guest toward the tea room on the second floor, inside a medium-sized grocery store opposite Anxiang Hall.

The shopkeeper of the grocery store is chatting with an old friend.

He originally did not recognize the young man who just entered Anxiang Hall. He had business outside the valley a while ago and only returned yesterday.

It was only after his old friend mentioned it just now that he learned the young man's identity.

"See that? That's what you call high spirits! That kid even walks with a breeze!" the old friend beside him said.

"The one who just went in, is that really the famous Rong Huan?" The grocery store shopkeeper has already heard many stories about Rong Huan.

"It is indeed him!" the old friend said.

"I think he's average. Didn't he just make a big splash during the assessment? Look how smug he is!" The grocery store shopkeeper doesn't care much.

The old friend beside him shook his head and smiled: "He is different from those young masters. Those people have no other options and can only run to Shenyi Gu. This one, you can tell at a glance, is here with a mission!"

"As far as I know, Xinzhou has gotten involved with Doctor, and the kid surnamed Rong is the person sent by the Patrol Guard Division to stay by Doctor's side!" The grocery store shopkeeper really doesn't know much about Rong Huan and cannot offer much of an opinion.

But at this moment, he is curious and asks his old friend: "Aren't you going over to take a look?"

The old friend sitting next to the grocery store shopkeeper is a man in his forties, with a round face and a slightly wealthy appearance; he wears a smile, but there is a hint of sharpness hidden in his eyes.

This person is none other than the hall master of Anxiang Hall, Yu Jing.

Hall Master Yu did not reply immediately, taking a slow sip of tea.

Just as the grocery store shopkeeper thought he would continue to stay here and chat, the other party put down his teacup, stood up, patted his hem to brush off the dust, and smoothed out the small wrinkles on his clothes.

Hall Master Yu said: "I really am not at ease! That person doesn't look like someone who will stay out of trouble!"

Just now, sitting in the shadows of the grocery store, he could see Rong Huan's movements on the first floor of Anxiang Hall, but now that the other party has gone up to the second-floor tea room and he cannot observe his actions, Hall Master Yu feels a thumping in his heart, feeling quite uneasy.

His pace as he left the grocery store to walk toward the medicine shop also became a bit more hurried.

Anxiang Hall.

"Hall Master!"

"Hall Master, you're back!"

"Just now..."

Hall Master Yu waved his hand, ignoring the respectful greetings of the medicine shop's hired hands. He walked quickly upstairs, and when he reached the tea room, he slowed his pace, his expression naturally switching to just the right amount of enthusiasm.

One part more would be too eager, one part less would be slightly cold.

"Young Master Rong, your visit is an honor; I, Yu, failed to welcome you from afar!"

As he stepped into the room, Hall Master Yu accompanied his words with a slight, shallow bow.

He then signaled for the medicine shop attendant to step aside; he would personally entertain this distinguished guest.

The medicine shop attendant dared not say more at this moment and respectfully withdrew.

Wen Gu also returned the bow with a touch of casualness: "Hall Master Yu!"

He said: "I have long heard that the Medicinal Herbal Tea of Anxiang Hall is considered peerless on East Third Street. I grew a bit tired from strolling the streets today, so I specifically came over to taste it and see just how peerless it is!"

Hall Master Yu could tell there seemed to be some other meaning in the other party's words, and he pondered what it could be, but it did not show on his face, which still wore an appropriate smile.

Hall Master Yu did not show off his connections like the attendant on the first floor, nor did he blather on about how many precious varieties of Medicinal Herb were in the tea. However, he was not modest in what he said: "I dare not claim much else, but the Medicinal Herbal Tea of my Anxiang Hall is indeed a unique formula. Recently, I even asked my master to adjust the recipe, making it more comfortable and pleasant to drink in the winter. It is just right today, please taste and judge, Young Master Rong!"

Hall Master Yu has a cheerful appearance, and his temper also seems mild.

At least, that is how it looks.

But just now when he came up, a single glance made the attendant dare not make a sound, which shows that this person has his methods.

Hall Master Yu had someone bring up a few plates of snacks, and while waiting for the tea, he continued to chat with this Young Master Rong, his words filled with probing. He always felt that this person came today with another purpose.

The Medicinal Herbal Tea did not take long.

If it were made fresh using medicinal materials, it would naturally take more time, but the medicine shop has other methods: they pre-boil and make it into a concentrated medicinal paste, then prepare it when a guest arrives.

Wen Gu calculated the time it took for the Medicinal Herbal Tea to be served and understood.

Oh, pre-made tea!

The teapot specifically used for the Medicinal Herbal Tea was brought up by the attendant.

Hall Master Yu did not immediately get up to take it, but instead let the attendant of "Young Master Rong" receive it.

This was not him putting on airs as a hall master.

Letting the other party's attendant receive the teapot also allowed the attendant to test the temperature, proving that the teapot was hot, scalding.

Once the teapot was placed on the table, Hall Master Yu picked it up and poured the first cup of the brewed Medicinal Herbal Tea for himself.

This was not a lack of etiquette.

This is a rule that only formed after the Evil Plague troubled the world, just to prove that these things entering the mouth are first tasted by me, guaranteeing there are no problems! Only then can sincerity be shown!

After Hall Master Yu poured tea for himself, he then poured it for the distinguished guest.

The tea was too hot to drink immediately, but since it was winter, the tea cooled quickly, and in the midst of casual conversation, it became palatable. When it came to drinking the tea, Hall Master Yu went first.

During the time of the Evil Plague, one could never be too cautious.

Only by actually putting it to one's lips and drinking it down could the guest be more at ease.

Precisely because there were so many fastidious requirements, ordinary commoners only sold dried medicinal slices and dared not sell tea, as it easily invited trouble.