Li Zhifu's eyes showed a trace of reminiscence, and a faint smile hung on his weathered face as he said, "The last time I tasted the mother tree Da Hong Pao was about 20 years ago, and I can't forget the taste to this day … Xiao Xia, the 500 grams of Da Hong Pao we made today, whether it's the tea, the fragrance, or the taste, doesn't lose to the mother tree Da Hong Pao at all. And I feel that it has a more natural charm than the mother tree Da Hong Pao! Gen 'er was right, this is indeed a top-notch tea! "
Li Zhifu's evaluation was very high, and even Ye Linyun and Yang Shugen were stunned.
All along, Da Hong Pao had been the most respected in rock tea, and the mother tree Da Hong Pao was undoubtedly at the top of the pyramid. It was like a god, and also like a monument that people absolutely needed to look up to.
In the early years, the mother tree Da Hong Pao was exclusively provided to the country's leaders, and it was also given as a national gift to important foreign guests. After 2006, in order to protect the mother tree, those few trees had stopped harvesting, and the fragrant mother tree Da Hong Pao had become extinct.
In the 2005 auction, 20 grams of mother tree Da Hong Pao was sold for 208,000 yuan, which was equivalent to 5.2 million yuan per 500 grams.
Although the mother tree Da Hong Pao's price was no longer just a display of the tea's quality, but also historical legends, the origin of tea culture, and even intentional hype, combined to create such a shocking price.
But even so, Li Zhifu's evaluation was quite high.
Yang Shugen looked at the tea in the Yixing clay teapot, and then at the sealed tea canister next to it, and his heart surged. There were tea leaves worth millions in here! I actually personally participated in the entire process of making it?
Xia Ruofei, on the other hand, was very calm because he had confidence in Li Zhifu's craftsmanship. He was even more confident in the tea he provided. He had a prejudgment of the quality of the tea leaves in the end, and now it seemed that the final result did not disappoint him.
"Old Mr. Li, it's been hard on you this time!" Xia Ruofei said with a smile. "Everyone, continue drinking! I heard that after five or six soaks of Da Hong Pao, the fragrance still doesn't dissipate! "
Ye Linyun and Yang Shugen also looked at Li Zhifu eagerly.
Li Zhifu smiled and continued to brew. His movements were as smooth as flowing water. It was especially harmonious and comfortable to watch.
In the room filled with the fragrance of tea, everyone seemed to calm down. No one said a word, quietly savoring the charm of the supreme-grade Great Crimson Robe.
The tea leaves were brewed six times before everyone stood up, still longing for more.
Xia Ruofei smiled and said to Yang Shugen, "Mr. Yang, I've troubled you this time …"
Yang Shugen quickly said, "Boss Xia, you're too polite! It's my fortune to be able to observe and learn from my master. It's not troublesome at all! Besides … if it wasn't for Boss Xia, how would I have the chance to taste such top-notch tea leaves? "
Xia Ruofei laughed as his gaze fell on the sealed tea leaves on the coffee table.
He thought for a moment and opened the can of tea leaves. Then, he picked up an empty iron box on the coffee table, grabbed a handful of tea leaves from the can, and put them into the iron box.
This handful of tea leaves was about ten to twenty grams, which was enough for two or three breaths.
Yang Shugen still didn't understand the purpose of Xia Ruofei's actions. Xia Ruofei had already stuffed the iron box into Yang Shugen's hands and said with a smile, "Boss Yang, this is a small token of my appreciation. Don't think it's too little …"
Only then did Yang Shugen understand. He retracted his hand as if he had been electrocuted. He waved his hand and said, "No! No! Boss Xia, your tea leaves are too expensive. I can't accept it! "
According to the auction price of the mother tree Great Crimson Robe, ten to twenty grams of tea leaves would cost at least one to two hundred thousand yuan. How much was Yang Shugen's small tea factory worth? This gift was indeed too expensive for him.
Xia Ruofei smiled and stuffed the iron box into Yang Shugen's hands. He said, "Why can't you accept it? My tea leaves were made in your tea factory. As the owner of the tea factory, what's wrong with keeping a few breaths for yourself? It's just that the tea leaves this time are a little too little, so I can't give you more. You can think that I'm stingy. "
Yang Shugen continued to decline.
At this time, Li Zhifu opened his mouth and said, "Gen Er, since Xiao Xia is giving it to you, just accept it. Xiao Xia is a big businessman. He can afford to give you a few breaths of tea!"
Since his master had spoken, Yang Shugen took the iron box containing the top-grade Da Hong Pao. He held it tightly in his hand and said, "Boss Xia, thank you!"
Xia Ruofei smiled and said, "I should be the one thanking you! You provided us with such a good venue. "
Yang Shugen smiled honestly and said, "Master's business is my business!"
Li Zhifu's eyes also showed some warmth. He said lightly, "Gen Er, I'm going to the provincial capital in a few days. When I come back, if you're willing, you can learn tea making from me!"
Yang Shugen was stunned for a moment. Then, he revealed a look of ecstasy. He knelt down and said while kowtowing, "I'm willing! I'm willing! Thank you, Master … "
Xia Ruofei's eyes revealed a trace of a smile. This Yang Shugen looked very simple and honest, but his brain was very clever. He immediately understood that Yang Shugen wanted to take him in as a disciple, so he quickly knelt down and kowtowed.
Li Zhifu said faintly, "Alright, get up!"
"Yes, Master …"
Li Zhifu looked at Xia Ruofei and said, "Xiao Xia, the tea making matter has been settled. You see …"
Xia Ruofei thought for a moment and said, "Mr. Li, I want Lingyun to take me to the grave of Martyr Yan Xiaodong in the afternoon. You must be tired after staying up all night. Why don't we go home and have a rest? There will be fewer cars on the road. We can reach the three mountains in about three hours. "
"Alright, I'll listen to you!" Li Zhifu said with a smile.
Yang Shugen quickly said, "Master, Boss Xia, have dinner at my place!"
Xia Ruofei smiled and said, "Boss Yang, there will be opportunities next time! We've already troubled you this time. We'll have a simple meal at Uncle Niu's place before we leave. "
Li Zhifu also said, "Gen 'er, don't bother. Wait until I come back from the three mountains!"
"Alright! Master, take care … "
Xia Ruofei first drove Li Zhifu back to Niu Yusheng's house, and then drove to Xiakeng Village with Ye Linyun.
He came to the grave of Martyr Yan Xiaodong. The small grave had completely changed. Ye Linyun found a construction team to clean up the weeds, and the grave was repaired with cement and marble.
The open space in front of the grave was also paved with stones to prevent the weeds from growing again.
There was a newly built small altar in front of the grave. There were traces of incense and candles on it. This was left by Ye Linyun after the grave was repaired.
The tombstone was still the original tombstone, but the words on it were all redrawn with red paint.
Xia Ruofei took the incense, paper money, and offerings that had been prepared in advance from the car. He placed the offerings on the altar one by one, then lit the incense and candles with Ye Linyun and inserted them into the incense burner in front of the tombstone.
Then Xia Ruofei took out cigarettes, lit three, and inserted them side by side into the incense burner.
Then the two of them burned all the paper money they had brought. During the whole process, Xia Ruofei and Ye Linyun did not speak. They just burned the paper money quietly.
Xia Ruofei silently said in his heart, "Martyr Yan Xiaodong, Master Song is too old to come in person. I came to visit you on his behalf … Every Qingming Festival, I will come to pay my respects. Even if I can't come, I will definitely send someone. Rest in peace here!"
After burning the paper money, Xia Ruofei poured three glasses of white wine and said, "Martyr Yan Xiaodong, we have to go back. Last three glasses of wine to you!"
After that, Xia Ruofei picked up the wine glass and slowly poured it on the ground.
Then Xia Ruofei took out his SLR camera and took a few photos. Together with Ye Linyun, they packed up their things. Finally, they looked back at Yan Xiaodong's tombstone, got in the car, and left.
Back at Niu Yusheng's house, Xia Ruofei asked Li Guizhi for a few sealed iron boxes for tea leaves. Almost every house in Wuyi Mountain had containers for tea leaves. Li Zhifu, an old tea maker who had been making tea for decades, naturally had no shortage of them.
This kind of small sealed iron box could hold about one tael of tea leaves. A box of tea leaves could be brewed seven or eight times.
Xia Ruofei filled five boxes. Half of his can of tea leaves was gone at once. There were only about five or six taels left.
Li Zhifu got up after sleeping for two or three hours. At this time, he was packing his clothes and luggage.
Xia Ruofei walked over with a box of tea leaves and said with a smile, "Mr. Li, this is for you. There are not many tea leaves. Please have a taste."
Li Zhifu didn't refuse. He took it and said, "Thank you, Xiao Xia."
Then he opened the cupboard and carefully locked the box of tea leaves inside.
Xia Ruofei asked curiously, "You're going to Sanshan tonight. Aren't you going to bring the tea leaves?"
Li Zhifu said without raising his head, "Can you not give some of these tea leaves to Xiao Song when you go back? I'll just drink his when I get to the provincial capital! Of course, I have to hide such precious tea leaves! "
Xia Ruofei didn't know what to say.
This old man who loved tea as much as his life looked honest, but he knew better than anyone else!
Xia Ruofei called Ye Linyun over and gave him a small box of tea leaves. He said, "Linyun, this is for you!"
Ye Linyun quickly waved his hand and said, "I don't want it! It's so expensive. You should keep it for yourself! "
"There will be more in the future!" Xia Ruofei pushed it into Ye Linyun's hands and said, "Take it! What are you waiting for? "
Then, Li Zhifu said without raising his head, "Linyun! If you want to learn how to make tea, you have to learn how to taste tea. Since Xiao Xia gave it to you, just take it! Besides, even if you don't drink it, you can give it to me! "
Ye Linyun and Xia Ruofei looked at each other and thanked him while holding back their laughter. They took the box of tea leaves from Xia Ruofei's hands and walked directly to Li Zhifu.
"Master, this is for you …" Ye Linyun said.
"You're not going to keep it for yourself?" Li Zhifu politely declined.
"No, no, I can't taste anything at my level!" Ye Linyun quickly said, "Besides, I've been learning from you. You can bring me along when you taste tea. It's best to leave it with you!"
Li Zhifu nodded and took the box of tea leaves. He then took out the key to open the cupboard door. After putting the tea leaves in, he carefully locked it.
Xia Ruofei, who was watching from the side, also found it funny.
It was the first time he saw Li Zhifu's sly side. It also showed that Li Zhifu really liked the tea leaves. On the other hand, it also showed that the quality of the Da Hong Pao tea was really good.
After having a simple dinner at Niu Yusheng's house, Xia Ruofei and the other two drove back.
Ye Linyun took the initiative to be the driver. Xia Ruofei sat in the front passenger seat. The comfortable and wide single seat was naturally left to Li Zhifu.
Night fell slowly.
The Knight XV sped along the highway. At around 8: 30 p.m., it got off the highway at the exit of Mount Sanshan.
However, Ye Linyun did not drive to the city.
During the day, Xia Ruofei called Director Lu again to confirm. Director Lu said that the Bureau Chief had instructed him to send Li Zhifu directly to Guling Courtyard when he arrived at Mount Sanshan.
After Ye Linyun drove out of the highway toll station, she went directly to Guling via the highway around the city. Then, she followed the mountain road all the way up and arrived at Guling Courtyard at around 9 p.m.
Director Lu had already informed Xia Ruofei in advance and reported his license plate. Along the way, the Knight XV was directly allowed to pass. Of course, the news that they had arrived at Guling was naturally passed on by the soldiers at the sentry posts.
When the car stopped in front of Master Song's small building, Xia Ruofei saw Master Song personally standing in front of the building under the street lights. Director Lu stood beside him.
Xia Ruofei and Ye Linyun quickly jumped out of the car and helped Li Zhifu down.
At this time, Master Song had already walked over quickly. His voice was full of joy. "Ah Fu! You're here … "
"Little Song, why did you come downstairs personally?" Li Zhifu said, "Your identity is different now. This is not appropriate …"
"What's not appropriate? In front of Brother Ah Fu, I'll always be that Little Song Company Commander! "Master Song said with a smile." Brother Ah Fu, the wind is strong in the mountain. Let's go inside and talk! "
Xia Ruofei and Ye Linyun carried Li Zhifu's luggage and walked into the small building.
When they arrived at the reception room, everyone sat down. The waitress immediately served tea for everyone.
Master Song smiled and said to Xia Ruofei, "Little Xia, thank you for your hard work this time!"
Xia Ruofei said with a smile on his face, "Not at all, Chief."
Then, Xia Ruofei reported, "Chief, I've already done a preliminary examination on Old Mr. Li in Wuyi Mountain. His recovery is very good. However, in terms of physical examination, Western medicine's data is more objective and clear, so I suggest that Old Mr. Li undergo a thorough examination as soon as possible."
"Good, good, good! Little Xia, thank you so much! "Master Song said with relief.
"You're welcome." Xia Ruofei said, "By the way, I also went to take a look at Martyr Yan Xiaodong's grave this time. The martyr's grave has been renovated. Ye Linyun personally led people to complete it."
Xia Ruofei pointed at Ye Linyun.
"Little Ye, thank you for your hard work!" Master Song said with a smile.
"Chief, you're welcome!" Ye Linyun quickly stood up and said. "Not at all!"
Xia Ruofei then took out his tablet and showed Master Song the photos that he had imported from the camera in advance.
Master Song looked at each photo very carefully and stared at it for a long time. He was quite satisfied with Xia Ruofei's work.
After looking at the photos, Xia Ruofei took out two small boxes of top-grade Da Hong Pao tea leaves. The tea leaves that he had given to Li Zhifu were actually two ounces. He didn't even have time to hold Ye Linyun's one ounce before it was given to Li Zhifu, so he naturally couldn't favor Master Song. He also prepared two ounces of tea leaves.
According to the standard of the mother tree Da Hong Pao tea leaves, two ounces of tea leaves were worth one million!
Xia Ruofei said with a smile, "Chief, I got some very good tea leaves this time. I brought some for you to try …"
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