Tea Merchants of the Song Dynasty

The town closest to the tea garden at the foot of Huangshan Mountain is called Xidi Town, which is also the town where Jiang Si Niang rented the house.

The town is quiet and peaceful, with few vehicles and horses coming and going. Most of the people there are from the town and nearby villages.

Perhaps it is because Xidi Town is not a key area for tea cultivation in Huizhou, and there are not many caravans coming here to visit.

There is not even a proper teahouse, only some scattered tea stalls for passers-by to rest and quench their thirst.

Jiang Yin put his hands behind his back and suggested as he walked, "We can open a teahouse here in the future."

Although it is just a small town, there are many people passing by and stopping for a rest on the edge of the town.

Moreover, there are many wealthy people in the town. If they can enjoy better treatment by spending a few more coins, I believe many people would be willing to do so.

Jiang Si Niang said with a smile: "Everyone is having a hard time these days. If everyone can make money, the business of the shop will not be bad."

Jiang Si Niang chuckled for no apparent reason, and then said with admiration, "However, the people of Huizhou are really smart. These days, I see people doing business everywhere.

Whether they are street vendors, peddlers, or caravans, they will try whatever they can do and make money. "

Compared with the ease and comfort of Bashu, life in Huizhou is more stressful, which is also caused by Huizhou's special environmental factors.

The Bashu region is completely self-sufficient in food and even has surplus to sell outside.

But on the contrary, Huizhou is a place that is extremely lacking in conditions for growing grain.

First of all, the terrain is "surrounded by streams and mountains", which is not conducive to the storage of rainwater and lacks irrigation water.

Secondly, the climate is unstable all year round, the precipitation is uneven, the ground is dry when there is no rain, and the mountains are swollen when there is a sudden rain, and natural disasters such as drought and floods are frequent. In addition, the land is barren, which is not conducive to the survival of farmers who rely on the weather for their livelihood.

?In addition, the Huizhou area also faces conflicts between population and land.

Because Huizhou is a mountainous area, surrounded by thousands of mountains, with rugged rivers and valleys, hidden peaks, many mountains and little land, land resources are scarce.

However, due to the continuous population growth, the grain produced in Huizhou was insufficient to feed the population living in Huizhou.

All these factors forced Huizhou people to seek other ways to make a living besides farming, and doing business was a profitable way out.

No matter how big or small a business is, as long as it can make money, it is a good way out. Even if the status of a businessman is low, it doesn't matter. When people live, they must first consider the problem of having enough food.

The Huizhou people are most famous for their four major business interests: salt, pawn, wood and tea. In addition, rice, grain, cotton cloth, silk, paper, ink, porcelain, etc. are also among their businesses.

Huizhou is a place where mountains and rivers are concentrated. Although the soil is not conducive to the growth of grain, it is suitable for the growth of tea, bamboo and wood.

Therefore, Huizhou tea is famous and occupies an important position in the previous tea-horse trade.

Jiang Yin suddenly realized and couldn't help but give Jiang Si Niang a thumbs up, sighing, "Si Niang really knows a lot."

She had never been far away, the farthest she had been was to Yazhou. She only had a vague understanding of what Si Niang said, and had never thought about it so deeply.

Jiang Si Niang curled her lips and said, "I also heard it from your uncle. You know, he wants to take part in the imperial examination, so he has to be familiar with these things."

A happy smile appeared on her face. Before she set out for Huizhou, Fang Wenyuan told her a lot about Huizhou.

Therefore, after she came here, she was able to quickly find the direction.

Jiang Yin nodded and said, "My uncle is very knowledgeable and will definitely pass the imperial examination."

She was not bragging, but Fang Wenyuan had the ability to do so.

When he passes the imperial examination, he will definitely become a good official who will benefit the people.

Jiang Si Niang smiled and was about to say something when she heard someone calling her from behind.

"Madam Jiang Si, please stay."

Jiang Yin also looked back in the direction of the sound, and saw a middle-aged man with vigor and bright eyes walking towards them quickly.

She calmly took two steps towards Si Niang, trying to stand in front of her.

However, Si Niang walked around her and went to meet the person who was coming.

Without waiting for her to respond, Si Niang bowed to the visitor and said politely, "It's been a long time since we last met. Boss Xu is still as charming as ever."

"No, no, Madam Jiang Si is doing well." Xu An politely replied, "If it weren't for Madam Jiang Si's help, I'm afraid I would still be busy in the tea garden right now, and I wouldn't be able to have the ease and relief I have now."

As soon as Xu An said this, Jiang Yin knew who he was.

This is the tea farmer named Xu mentioned by Boss Wu, and he is also the owner of the tea garden rented by Si Niang.

However, no matter how he dressed, spoke or behaved, she felt that he was not just a simple tea farmer.

"Boss Xu, you are too polite. We just need each other." Si Niang stepped aside and introduced, "This is Jiang Yin, the head of my Jiang family, and also my niece. Ah Yin, this is the Boss Xu I mentioned earlier."

"It turns out to be Patriarch Jiang." Xu An's eyes lit up, and he quickly bowed and said, "I have long heard of Patriarch Jiang's great name. Seeing you today, I can see that your reputation is well-deserved. You are young and promising."

There was a smile in his eyes, but he was observing calmly.

Jiang Yin returned the greeting and said, "Boss Xu is very polite. I have heard about you from Si Niang a long time ago. I was thinking of sending a greeting card to your house to express my gratitude these past two days. I didn't expect to meet you here."

She still knew how to say polite words, but she didn't know why Xu An hurriedly called Si Niang.

Xu An's smile deepened, and he raised his hand and said, "It's rare to see you. Why don't you two move to the tea stall and have a chat while drinking tea?"

Jiang Yin and Si Niang looked at each other, then followed Xu An to the nearest tea stall, and ordered a pot of tea and two plates of snacks, as if they were going out for a picnic.

Jiang Si Niang didn't hesitate and asked directly, "Boss Xu, do you have anything to tell us? Feel free to tell us."

The only transactions they had with Boss Xu were regarding tea plantations and tea leaves. Boss Xu called her so urgently, could it be that he didn't want to continue renting the tea plantation to her?

She took a sip of the rough tea calmly, and a bitter taste came from her mouth, and then a sweet taste climbed up to the tip of her tongue.

"Mrs. Jiang Si, that's not true." Xu An said with a smile, "I am totally relieved to leave the tea garden to you."

He paused, and said to Jiang Si Niang and Jiang Yin, "To be honest, I am considering selling the tea garden, and will mainly make a living in business in the future. Have you considered buying an industry in Huizhou?"

It was obvious that the two of them really loved tea, so he felt relieved to leave the tea garden he had carefully tended to to them.

Jiang Si Niang's pupils shrank slightly, and then she concealed her thoughts and frowned slightly, "Why does Boss Xu want to sell the tea garden?"

She hadn't even come to talk yet, but Xu An had already come to her door. This made her think more deeply.

Xu An smiled bitterly in his heart: "I have no choice but to do it!"

He has feelings for his own tea garden. If he had not been starving, he would never sell the property to others.