Chapter 20: Brewing Trouble and Minty Mayhem
Su Yanyue stood before the long wooden table in the outer room, sleeves tied high, mortar and pestle in hand. Carefully measured bundles of herbs and dried fruits were arranged around her like soldiers—mint leaves, wolfberries, dried plums, chrysanthemum petals, and slices of licorice root.
This was her first official batch for Madam Lu's teahouse in Qinghe Town.
She couldn't afford to make even one mistake.
Su Lin peeked around the doorway. "Can I help stir?"
"No," she said instantly. "One wrong move and I'll have to throw it all out."
"But I have very precise hands!" he declared proudly.
Su Rui appeared beside him, dragging a small wooden stool. "I can taste-test! My tongue is very accurate."
Su Zhi joined them silently, already nibbling on a slice of candied plum from her jar.
"Zhi!" she snapped. "That's part of the measured stock!"
The boy looked guilty, cheeks full like a squirrel. "It was just one…"
Yanyue groaned. "Go outside. All of you. I'll make you your own tea later."
"But your tea is for rich people now," Su Lin said with wide eyes. "Does that mean you're becoming a big boss?"
"Auntie Yanyue the Boss Lady," Su Rui repeated dramatically.
Su Yanyue pressed her palm against her forehead. "Out. Now."
They finally scurried away, but not before knocking over a basket of licorice root.
She sighed, bending to clean the mess. Yu Shiming appeared in the doorway just in time to see her muttering under her breath.
"Need backup?" he asked.
"If I don't finish this batch by nightfall, I may lose the deal," she grumbled. "And your demon nephews keep trying to turn my herbs into snacks."
"Would you like me to tie them to a tree?" he offered casually.
She gave him a look. "Tempting. But I'll survive."
He stepped in, rolling his sleeves. "Let me help. I can grind and sort. I followed your methods enough to know how not to poison someone."
"High praise," she said dryly, but handed him the next mix of herbs.
With Yu Shiming helping to grind and weigh, the process became more efficient. Soon, the soft room was filled with the refreshing scent of mint and the sweet-tart aroma of plums and wolfberries.
They worked in a quiet rhythm, occasionally interrupted by the distant sounds of the boys arguing over a caterpillar.
By evening, six bundles of dried herbal tea had been packed and sealed, tied with red string and parchment labels. Su Yanyue looked at them with a small, proud smile.
"Done," she whispered, brushing her hands off.
Yu Shiming leaned against the table. "So, Boss Lady… what will your next empire be? Pastries? Spices? Silk?"
"I haven't even received the payment for this one yet," she replied, chuckling. "But… it feels good. Making something. Not just surviving, but building."
He nodded, watching her quietly. "You're already more impressive than half the merchants I've met in court."
She paused, surprised. "You've met court merchants?"
His face didn't change. "I've… traveled."
Suspicion flickered in her eyes, but she didn't press. He was always vague.
For now, it didn't matter.
That night, as she tucked in the triplets and set the tea bundles in a carefully cushioned basket, a thought lingered in her mind.
She was growing—bit by bit, like a sprout pushing through soil.
And perhaps, even without knowing her true roots, she was finally beginning to bloom.
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