FID – Chapter 314

Qian Wanjin hummed a melody and went to vacate the new store.

In the carriage that remained  parked around the corner, fearful cries for mercy echoed.

In the carriage, a half a palm thick wooden stick rained down on the maid one by one.

Soon, bloody lash marks appeared on the back of the maid’s hands, neck and face exposed outside the thick cotton jacket. 

Zuo Xuan’s eyes glowed with pleasure as she stared at those blood marks that quickly turned red and swollen. They bloomed on the skin, making her expression more and more savage.

Only when she had exhausted her anger and was comfortable did she throw the wooden stick away, “Return to the house!”

The maid who collapsed in the corner of the carriage was already dying.

Because Qian Wanjin wanted to take advantage of the heat of nourishing wine and the opportunity to nibble at the loopholes of the Liu family, he moved very quickly. In one afternoon, he made room for the shop, which was located in the busiest area in the capital. In his hurry, the store’s layout was very simple.

Qian’s Wellness Tea House was written on the signboard at the entrance of the shop with hanging red silk, foreshadowing the opening of the new store.

Afterward, he rushed to the king’s residence to transport the tea and set them up at the counter. He arranged a few firecrackers for the opening tomorrow!

Even without prior publicity, posting a notice at the door of Qian’s Wine Shop, stating that Qian’s Health Tea Shop was about to open, was the best way to promote.

In the entire capital now, who had more traffic than the Qian’s Wine Shop?

The Liu family soon got the news.

A crowd of family members in charge of businesses gathered in the hall with unmitigated gloom.

Liu Huai sat at the main seat in the center. His face was so sullen that water could drip out of it.

“Our family fell head first in a somersault this time, and everyone should know who was behind it. The Qian family is growing arrogant now! Right after the Liu family’s tea shops suffered an accident, they immediately launched nourishing tea. This is a blatant provocation to our Liu family!”

“With the support of their nourishing wine, the Qian family already has a very high reputation in health preservation. The moment their tea is out in the market, they will quickly gather a large part of the clientele! Those are whom our Liu family has lost!”

“This is fishing in troubled waters! Patriarch, we can’t just let this happen. We must find a way to stop them!”

A few respected elders in the clan were already unable to hold their temper. Everyone said a word, making it hard for them to retain their composure. It was noisy and irritating.

The tea industry has always been a huge pie the Liu family has clutched in their hands. For so many years, no one ever dared to share a thin slice from them. If there were any, they’d been trampled down not long after.

But now, just when the Liu family suffered a crisis, someone came to snatch their food, even before they could resolve their immediate trouble.

They imagined suppressing them with great momentum as in the past, but it was vividly contrary to their expectations. 

Eyes were on them from all sides!

If they turned to suppress their rival in the teeth of the storm, Liu’s reputation would plummet even lower!

Liu Hai felt as though his head would explode from their incessant quarreling, and he felt a dull ache.

“If there is a good measure, won’t I go for it?” Looking around these people who often only move their lips, Liu Huai sneered furiously, “As long as the Liu family takes an action now, no matter good or bad, it will be magnified in other people’s eyes! Do you know how many people are staring at us? Many officials in the court, every citizen in the city! If our next move is lousy, the Lius will be completely finished!”

Although his lines were exaggerated, it also didn’t deviate far.

The Lius owned numerous businesses. Without the tea share, they couldn’t go so far as to starve to death with the money earned by the clan combined.

But tea was their family’s main business for so many years. With the honor of providing special tea for court officials, their other mid-range tea to low-end tea business has never been worse.

In fact, what they really made money from was not the special tea, but the middle and low end.

But they messed up on the special tea!

With problems found on their special tea, could other tea still be sold?

The hall fell silent.

They’ve been prestigious for decades and have never suffered such a setback. Feeling anger and hatred at the same time deprived them of the ability to think of a way to respond.

They were used to throwing their weight around and seizing something, so when these two means could not be used, they were at a loss.

“In short, the Qian family must never get a share in the tea business! Patriarch, can you think of a way to draw those officials back?”

“How are we going to draw them in? I personally visited their door these two days to apologize, make amends, and send gifts, but nearly half of them didn’t even meet me!”

Speaking of this, rage gripped Liu Huai once more.

Before the incident, which of those court officials dared to easily ignore him?

But they have run into disaster this time! They offended Elder Ning!

That stubborn old fool!

With him unbending there, a bunch of people who swayed with the wind followed suit and turned tough on the Liu family!

“Then what should we do? We can’t just let it happen and not do anything, right? It won’t be long before the Qian family will step on our heads!”

“When the Qian family opens their tea shop tomorrow, go and buy a jar of nourishing tea. Let me see what kind of tea that nourishing tea is!” Liu Huai narrowed his eyes into slits. “I’ll visit the palace again and look for Consort Liu. We’ll discuss and see if we can join forces with Minister Zuo, and ask for an audience with Elder Ning! If he is willing to lend a hand, things may turn for the better. If not…”

They must get rid of those who get in the way!

The Liu family couldn’t be defeated, nor would they be defeated.

Many people couldn’t afford it.

Once their family fell, how would those who have been gnawing at the Liu family’s offerings rest in peace?

The next morning, the capital was once again bustling.

Qian’s Tea House was opened.

Firecrackers crackled for a long time, and a puff of smoke surrounded the pavement of the store, mixed with the choking smell of firecrackers.

When the smoke cleared, the crowd also swarmed.

What was the most popular thing in the capital these days?

The Qian family! The Qian family’s health care series!

Their nourishing wine was sold in limited quantities. So many powerful people in the city couldn’t buy it when they arrived a little late. Those who bought it felt that they had bought too little.

All of a sudden, this wellness tea was launched. Wouldn’t there be a mad rush?

Who didn’t not drink tea in the capital despite having an insignificant family background?

Drinking tea was better than alcohol; tea was a must for everyday life.

Although they’ve never drank this tea before, and they had no idea of the taste and effect, the brand of the Qian family and the Xinghua Village wine alone made it worth buying for trial.

Despite the uncertainty, it might bring infinite surprises to people like the nourishing wine.

A few moments after the opening, the store was overcrowded and jam packed.

It was extremely lively and noisy.

Qian Wanjin stood behind the counter, personally greeted the customers who bought, and took the opportunity to promote the efficacy of the wellness tea.

He received the bills resolutely, and his voice turned hoarse in the end, so he simply handed over the counter to the shopkeeper, found a corner for himself, and brewed a pot of tea to savor.

The tea fragrance soon filled the air over the store. The aroma was perfectly subtle, but the smell gave a person a kind of refreshing feeling.

The buying turned even more frenzied.

Qian Wanjin smiled and partly closed his eyes.

Now was the day – a flavorsome day!

It was a pity that Lucky Nannan refused to join him. If she could see this scene, she would be ecstatic.

The tea she had worked so hard to concoct was not wasted.

On the opposite street from Qian’s Tea House was another tea shop. Because the source of customers all went to the opposite side to watch the excitement, the tea shop seemed very deserted for a while, forming a sharp contrast with the opposite side.