A husband found in the village? I bought a regent for a penny!

The shop assistant, having seen many things before, quickly suppressed his surprise.

"You are indeed experts, esteemed guests. I will find three different types of Fu brick tea at different price points and ask the tea master to brew them personally. What do you two think of this arrangement?"

An Qinghe nodded, "Okay, okay, then find us a seat on the second floor."

Gu Xixi raised her hand to signal An Qinghe not to rush, and smiled at the waiter, "Brewing tea takes more time than steeping it. We still need to try three kinds, so it's not good to monopolize the tea master on the second floor."

"How about we go to a private room on the third floor? Also, bring some of the best Biluochun tea from this year so we can try it."

An Qing looked at Gu Xixi in surprise.

They were just there to investigate and broaden their horizons; they drank the tea but had no intention of buying any other people's Fu brick tea.

Why does Xixi not only want a private room, but also want to drink different kinds of tea?

The private rooms on the third floor naturally have a minimum charge, and even if the guests just drink tea and eat snacks, the tea shop can still make a considerable profit.

The shop assistant made a sale, but remained humble and polite, smiling and saying, "I'll take you two to a private room to rest, and we'll make other arrangements later."

The private room was indeed decorated in an extremely elegant manner.

This place was originally a spot provided by some regular customers of a teahouse, and the tables, chairs, and furnishings were all of excellent quality.

The walls were adorned with calligraphy and paintings, all related to tea. Beside the gauze window was a crystal cave, below which several koi carp were kept in a large, delicate, lotus-green porcelain jar. There were also various green plants and flowers.

Opposite the guest seats, behind a crystal beaded curtain, is a long tea table, fully equipped with all the necessary tools, where the tea master prepares the tea.

The waiter said "Please wait a moment" and left.

An Qinghe turned his head to see the door close and the figure disappear into the distance before asking the question that had been bothering him.

Fried torreya nuts were laid out on the table as a treat.

Gu Xixi picked up a fruit and peeled it, saying, "Since we're here, we should at least try out the most expensive private room."

"Since we've already had tea and snacks here, we don't need to eat dinner today, so it's not a waste."

An Qinghe suddenly realized, "That's right! This is called knowing yourself and your enemy."

"When I came up here, I also took a few more glances at the tea room on the second floor."

"There are quite a few customers, but each tea table is spaced far apart and separated by bamboo curtains. This alone sets it apart from ordinary street teahouses."

"Not to mention the elegant room we're sitting in."

"With a tea master brewing tea alone, plus this environment and these expensive furnishings, it's no wonder that even the cheapest set of tea and snacks costs twelve taels of silver."

"We're not just having tea and snacks, we're eating everything here!"

Gu Xixi smiled and said, "I knew it. As long as I bring you along, it won't be a wasted trip."

Before entering the East Market, they looked at the teahouses along the way, which had varying prices.

In a more ordinary shop, one or two taels of silver could buy a pot of mid-range tea.

Soon after, tea and snacks were served.

The dishes include Crystal Bamboo Shoot and Three-Ingredient Steamed Dumplings, Chicken Broth Dried Tofu, Crispy Red Bean Rolls, and Honey Tea-Flavored Tofu. There are a total of four colors, two sweet and two savory, and none of them look like a pile of food on a plate.

After the person serving the food left, An Qinghe said, "This plate is only the size of a palm, and they only put a tiny bit of it in the middle."

"Don't even mention selling it for twelve taels of silver. Even if it were priced the same as in the Northwest, just looking at the quantity would make customers flip the table."

The people of Northwest China have a rugged and unrefined lifestyle, which is reflected in their food, which is often served in large plates and bowls, and sometimes even in basins.

Gu Xixi felt somewhat helpless when she saw the tea and snacks.

"After all, it's not a place specifically for eating; a restaurant shouldn't be like this."

An Qinghe nodded in agreement, "That inn is fine for us. Although it's a bit pricey, I've heard that rice is expensive in the capital. Spending a little more money to have enough to eat is fine."

Fortunately, these delicate tea snacks tasted quite good.

The tea master brought three kinds of Fu brick tea and two kinds of Biluochun tea.

Biluochun tea has a relatively mild flavor, so start with that.

Then there's Fu brick tea, from the lowest price to the mid-price, and finally the highest price.

Gu Xixi and An Qinghe exchanged a glance, and both had a preliminary idea of ​​what was going on.

An Qinghe stood up and bowed to the tea server, who also stood up to return the bow.

The tea ceremony is an elegant affair; every movement naturally revolves around the concepts of refinement and elegance.

An Qinghe said, "We'll have a couple more drinks and then we'll leave. Thank you for your hard work; you can go and rest now."

The tea server bowed again and, while clearing the tea table, Gu Xixi pointed and said, "Give me two ounces of this Biluochun tea. I'll settle the bill downstairs later."

The tea master smiled and agreed, then filled the teapot on the guest table before leaving.

An Qinghe was puzzled again and whispered, "We brought our own tea, why do we need to buy more?"

"Even if you want to drink it, we can buy it from other small tea shops. There's no need to do it here."

An Qinghe was right.

What kind of place is the East Market? Land prices there are much higher than in other places, and taxes paid to the imperial court are also higher.

Not to mention, this tea shop is located in the most conspicuous place on the main street, and the storefront is large.

The cost is much higher than that of small tea shops in other places.

Gu Xixi smiled and said, "It's alright. This is my first time in Dongshi, and I wanted to bring a gift for Brother Zichu."

"He is at a crucial time studying for his exams, and green tea can refresh his mind and invigorate him, so it's perfect for him."

Although An Qinghe was somewhat jealous, he knew that for scholars of the Daye Dynasty, the imperial examination was an extremely important event.

So he hummed and said, "Fine, I'll let it go for him since he's going to take the imperial examinations."

"But you've already spent money on tea for him, so you'll have to collect the money when you buy him some food later!"

Gu Xixi chuckled, "Okay, okay, thank you for being so considerate of my spending."

Gu Xixi paid the bill at the counter downstairs.

The waiter who had presented the packaged Biluochun tea earlier was not in an ordinary oil paper package, but in a tea canister carved from bamboo root.

The jar retains the shape of bamboo roots and is exquisitely polished, giving it a rustic and elegant charm.

The front also features a relief of a crabapple tree swaying in the wind, perfectly capturing the scene of spring.

Gu Xixi accepted it and casually praised, "What an elegant tea canister, thank you."

The old man stood behind the counter and smiled, "I'm glad you're satisfied. You're welcome to visit Shunyi Tea Shop anytime."

As An Qinghe walked out of the teahouse, he looked back at the two characters "Shunyi" on the signboard and asked in confusion, "Why does the shopkeeper seem so certain that we'll go back again?"

Gu Xixi didn't mind, "He's a businessman, after all."

She paused, a smile playing on her lips, "But I am interested in doing business with him."

An Qinghe turned to Gu Xixi and said excitedly, "You've noticed too, haven't you? The goods we brought, although not as good as their top-quality goods, are more than enough compared to the medium-quality ones."

Gu Xixi nodded, gazing at the horizon ahead with a distant look in her eyes, "She has a promising future."

"But looking at just one place isn't enough; we need to look at more."

Anqing was full of fighting spirit, "I also want to visit teahouses and tea restaurants of different grades to understand the tastes of people in the capital."

The two bought what Jiang Mingyuan wanted to eat, and had not gone far from the East Market when they saw a large and luxurious carriage approaching.

Even though there was no procession clearing the way, passersby instinctively stepped aside.

Seeing this, Gu Xixi quickly pulled An Qinghe to the side of the road to hide.

Having just found a place to stand, I overheard two scholars next to me discussing excitedly:

"Is this the Regent's carriage?"