Chapter 31: The Triplet Renovation Committee
The day after the noble visitors left, Peach Blossom Village was buzzing like a beehive dunked in honey.
Old Aunt Zhao stood at her gate shouting, "Did you see her teapot?! Gilded spout! I heard one of those noble girls had hair that smelled like jasmine!"
The butcher declared he'd raise prices for anyone whose tea didn't come from Su Yanyue's shop.
Meanwhile, the actual shop sat peacefully under the morning sun—until the triplets showed up.
Su Lin marched in, holding a feather quill like a baton.
"Alright, listen up," he said, standing on a crate. "Now that nobles are interested, Auntie's tea shop needs to become... FANCY."
Su Rui, seated on an upside-down bucket, nodded solemnly. "Like with silk curtains. And marble chairs. And those spinning signs."
Su Zhi, ever practical, was dragging sticks and flower petals across the floor, muttering, "We need sparkle. And soap."
Yanyue, grinding herbs at the counter, paused. "Sparkle?"
"Yes," Su Lin said dramatically. "We shall transform this humble hut into the Imperial Phoenix Pavilion!"
Yu Shiming, who had just walked in with a bundle of firewood, looked at them all, then at Yanyue. "Do I want to ask?"
"No," she sighed.
But it was too late.
Within an hour, the boys had:
Covered the front counter with embroidered scarves borrowed (read: stolen) from Aunt Zhao's laundry line.
Hung their "Official Noble Tea Menu" handwritten in calligraphy that looked suspiciously like chicken scratches.
Invented a "VIP Booth" made from three chairs stacked under a blanket.
Replaced the tea labels with names like "Emperor's Whisper" and "Dragon's Nostril" (Su Lin's idea).
Su Rui took it a step further by insisting on greeting customers with:
"Welcome to the Phoenix Pavilion. May your soul steep in elegance."
The villagers weren't sure whether to laugh or run.
Mrs. Wen tried to order her usual chrysanthemum blend but was asked by Su Zhi if she preferred it "with subtle notes of power or royalty."
A passing farmer just blinked. "What...?"
Yu Shiming leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching the chaos unfold with a barely suppressed grin. "You going to stop them?"
Yanyue raised her teacup and took a long sip. "Eventually."
Just then, Su Lin popped up next to her with a piece of paper. "Auntie! We've designed new packaging. Look!"
It was a drawing of a phoenix sipping tea from a crown, surrounded by what appeared to be flames and sparkles. In the corner, it read: 'Approved by triplets.'
She coughed. "Subtle."
"Very classy," Su Rui added.
"We're branding experts now," Su Zhi declared proudly, holding a small stick with a ribbon attached. "I call it 'Noble Flavor Wand.'"
The ribbon caught fire on the stove moments later.
Yu Shiming put it out with a bucket of water. "So... branding experts, huh?"
"Still in training," Su Lin muttered, dripping wet.
---
That evening, the shop was back to its usual calm, albeit now with a hand-painted sign that read:
"Phoenix Blend – Now Nobly Approved"
Yanyue tucked the boys into bed, shaking her head.
"You three nearly turned my shop into a royal circus."
Su Rui grinned sleepily. "But the nobles would've loved it."
Su Zhi mumbled, "Especially the sparkle."
Su Lin yawned, "We'll try again tomorrow."
Yanyue smiled softly.
"Just promise me one thing?"
Three little heads turned toward her.
"When you make me famous, don't forget I'm still your Auntie first."
They nodded solemnly and, before falling asleep, added in unison:
"But you'll still let us name the blends, right?"