Super Strong Little Divine Farmer
Chapter 30 - 030 Tea Tasting
Having settled down inside the house as host and guests, the conversation between Yun Shan and his father interrupted Lin Hai's thoughts, "Uncle, where did you use to work? Your face looks somewhat familiar."
Hearing Yun Shan's words, Lin Hai laughed and said, "I'm just a farmer, always relying on the heavens for my sustenance."
"Is that so!" A look of regret appeared on Yun Shan's face.
At this juncture, Lin Chen's mother took out a packet of Longjing tea, preparing to brew tea for everyone. This packet of Longjing was a reserve from a few years ago that father hadn't wanted to use, and it was only because a distinguished guest had come today that mother brought it out.
"Mom, let's not drink the Longjing, just drink my special tea instead," Lin Chen suddenly stood up and said.
Upon hearing Lin Chen's words, Mayor Li and his secretary who had come with Yun Shan laughed, thinking Lin Chen was stingy, unwilling to serve the Longjing tea.
Then, Mayor Li smiled and instructed Secretary Zhang, "Xiao Zhang, go to the car and bring several boxes of Longjing tea."
Upon hearing Mayor Li's words, Lin Chen then realized that he had been misunderstood and said, "Mayor Li, there's no need, my tea tastes even better than Longjing."
Upon hearing Lin Chen's words, not only did Mayor Li and his secretary laugh, but Zhou Yufei also burst into laughter.
"Lin Chen, Longjing is a famous tea in China, can your tea be better than Longjing?" Zhou Yufei gave Lin Chen a playful look and teased.
Unfazed, Lin Chen went to the yard, fetched a few strands of dried grass, and walked back in, saying, "Mom, chop this up and brew some tea for everyone."
Seeing the dried grass Lin Chen brought, Mayor Li and Secretary Zhang's expressions changed immediately.
Everyone recognized this grass as foxtail, abundant in the fields, but it was unthinkable as an ingredient for tea.
Even Lin Hai felt it was too much and said, "Lin Chen, how can you use foxtail grass as tea to serve guests?"
Yun Shan was also somewhat displeased. Coming from the countryside himself, he knew foxtail grass was used for feeding pigs. He had initially admired Lin Chen, but now his favorable impression quickly diminished.
"Lin Chen, don't bother, I'm not thirsty," Yun Shan said with an awkward smile.
"Uncle Zhou, please try it, it won't disappoint you."
Seeing everyone's reluctance, Lin Chen did not speak further. He personally went to the kitchen, chopped the foxtail grass, and brewed the tea.
"This child." Lin Hai also didn't understand what Lin Chen was attempting and shook his head helplessly.
The foxtail grass that Lin Chen used was indeed foxtail grass, but it was very different from the normal kind.
This foxtail grass consisted only of newly sprouted shoots, and after soaking in a seven-herb solution and air drying, the process was even more complex than that of Longjing.
This tea was originally made for his father. However, believing Yun Shan to be a good official, Lin Chen decided to bring out his painstakingly crafted Qi Star Tea.
After placing the tea in the cup and pouring boiling water, covering it with a lid, Lin Chen then brought the tea out.
Mayor Li and Secretary Zhang looked at the tea placed before them unmoved, as they were used to drinking Longjing and Pu'erh. How could they drink tea made from pig-feed grass?
Lin Chen set the tea in front of Yun Shan, smiling as he said, "Uncle Zhou, try it, it's really delicious."
Yun Shan felt very awkward, inwardly resistant to the tea made from foxtail grass, but Lin Chen insisted he drink it.
"Lin Chen, what do you mean by this, how can you make my dad drink tea made from pig-feed grass?" Zhou Yufei finally couldn't hold back her frustration.
"Yufei!" Yun Shan chided her with a laugh, "Yufei has been spoiled by me since she lost her mother as a child. Lin Chen, don't mind her."
Lin Chen laughed, "I don't mind, Uncle Zhou, this tea has cooling, de-heat, detoxifying, thirst-quenching, lipid-lowering, stimulating, and pressure-reducing effects which are very beneficial for your health recovery."
"This tea has so many effects?" Hearing Lin Chen's words, Yun Shan became curious about the tea.
"Dad, don't be fooled, I have never heard of foxtail grass having such miraculous properties," Zhou Yufei glared at Lin Chen and said.
Mayor Li also reminded Yun Shan on the side, "Mayor Zhou, you've just recovered, it's best not to drink such homemade remedies recklessly."
Yun Shan's gaze fell on Lin Chen, who was watching him with a confident, beaming smile.
"Okay, I'll try your miraculous tea," Yun Shan smiled and lifted the cup lid.
As soon as the lid was opened, a faint tea fragrance wafted from the cup.
"Great tea!" Zhou Yunshan couldn't help but exclaim.
Zhou Yunshan seemed to have forgotten that this was the same dog tail tea he had just greatly disdained, as he eagerly picked up the teacup.
As the tea entered his mouth, it melted rapidly. The flavor was sweet, and as it slowly seeped down his throat, you'd be greeted with a refreshing aftertaste. Sweet, with a sudden enlightening sensation, gradually you would become one with it, as if you were in the midst of a dense forest, feeling refreshed and comfortable all over.
Zhou Yunshan liked drinking tea and had tasted many good teas, but today he realized that compared to the tea in his hand, those teas were simply rubbish.
He savored the tea in his cup, completely enchanted by the tempting aroma.
Unknowingly, Zhou Yunshan discovered that his cup was already empty.
"Lin Chen, bring me another cup," said Zhou Yunshan, unable to wait.
At this moment, Mayor Li, Secretary Zhang, and Zhou Yufei all exchanged glances.
Mayor Zhou's expression was extremely exaggerated just now. Although the tea tasted good, could it really be that delicious?
Mayor Li tried lifting the lid of the teacup.
"So fragrant!"
He tried taking a sip but, very soon, he too was captivated by the intoxicating fragrance of the tea. Tea could indeed intoxicate, and at this moment, Mayor Li was intoxicated.
At this time, Secretary Zhang and Zhou Yufei were also mesmerized by the fragrance of the tea in their hands; the sensation was simply marvelous.
Zhou Yufei drank very quickly. Wiping her mouth, she said to Lin Chen, "Give me another cup. This tea is a hundred, no, a thousand times better than the drinks sold outside."
"Didn't you say this tea is made from pig feed grass?" Lin Chen teased.
"Even if it's made from pig feed grass, I'd love to drink it," Zhou Yufei said, her face flushing, with an expression that meant she'd agree to anything as long as she could continue drinking the tea.
Lin Chen laughed helplessly, "Sorry, it's gone."
"Gone?" The three of them were stunned.
"Isn't tea supposed to be reusable for brewing?" Zhou Yufei asked.
Lin Chen shook his head and said, "This Seven Star Tea is different; it can only be brewed once, and it loses its flavor if brewed again."
"I see!" Zhou Yunshan regretfully put down his cup.
But Zhou Yufei didn't give up and said to Lin Chen, "Lin Chen, make another pot for me!"
Lin Chen grinned, "Sister, this Seven Star Tea isn't so easy to make. The small pot you all drank was from herbs I found after searching half of Qingyang Mountain."
"No wonder it tastes so good," Zhou Yufei suddenly realized.
Upon hearing Lin Chen say it was gone, both Zhou Yunshan and Mayor Li showed pained expressions on their faces.
The two of them were tea lovers; after drinking Lin Chen's Seven Star Tea, other teas like Pu-erh and Longjing just didn't compare.
"Lin Chen, could you possibly make some more for Uncle Zhou? I'd buy it at a high price," Zhou Yunshan implored, thick-skinned.
"Lin Chen, if there's any to spare, could you possibly make some for me too?" Mayor Li chimed in.
Seeing their pitiful looks, Lin Chen laughed and said, "All right, but it will take three days to make."
"Three days? That's so long!" Zhou Yunshan now regretted drinking it so quickly and not savoring the fragrance properly.
"Yes, it takes time to gather the herbs and prepare the tea leaves," Lin Chen nodded.
"All right, three days then," Zhou Yunshan said helplessly, shaking his head.
Suddenly, Lin Chen remembered something and said to Zhou Yunshan, "Uncle Zhou, I have two things to discuss with you."
"What is it?" Zhou Yunshan asked curiously.