The Lucky Heiress

Wei Ruo opened the small jar, using a small spoon to scoop out the black tea leaves inside.

Upon seeing the color of the tea leaves, a variety of puzzled expressions appeared on everyone’s faces.

Why was the tea black?

If the tea was not stored properly or if it was over-roasted during the drying process, wouldn’t it become black?

Wei Ruo understood their confusion, but rather than explaining, she concentrated on the task at hand.

The process of making milk tea was not complicated. The caramel was pre-prepared. After it was added to water and boiled, the black tea was added. After boiling for a while longer, milk was added. Once brought to a boil again, the kettle could be removed from the stove.

Wei Ruo set out the teacups and poured the milk tea into them. The teapot had a built-in filter, so there was no need to worry about tea leaves pouring out with the tea, and no need for any additional filtering cloth.

Wei Ruo poured six cups and gave one to Xiu Yaojun and each of the five girls closest to her.

Xiu Yaojun looked at the teacup in her hand, hesitating about whether to try it.

Yuan Jiuniang also received a cup of milk tea from Wei Ruo. Out of trust, she

was the first to take a sip.

At first, Yuan Jiuniang showed no reaction.

Everyone watched her curiously, including Wei Qingwan who had been holding back her curiosity and hadn’t come over to watch Wei Ruo brew tea.

A moment later, a look of delight appeared on Yuan Jiuniang’s face, followed by praise, “It’s delicious! It has a creamy milk flavor, it’s sweet, and there’s a bit of tea aroma. The taste is very rich!”

Hearing Yuan Jiuniang’s comments, Xiu Yaojun’s curiosity was also piqued.

She had watched Wei Ruo’s tea brewing process, and all the ingredients added were common. The only unusual thing was the black tea, which did not seem superior.

Xiu Yaojun took a small sip and carefully tasted it.

It was good! Xiu Yaojun was pleasantly surprised. She took another sip, wanting to get a better taste.

“It really is very good!” Xiu Yaojun commented.

After saying that, Xiu Yaojun looked at Wei Ruo. This could be considered the first time she truly admired Wei Ruo.

Although she had previously said many nice things to Wei Ruo, none of them were truly sincere.

Even when Wei Ruo’s poem was highly praised during last time’s outing, she did not think that Wei Ruo was particularly talented. Wei Ruo was merely a tool she could use to annoy Wei Qingwan.

With Xiu Yaojun giving it a positive review, the rest of the girls who received the milk tea also nonchalantly began to taste it.

After tasting, everyone expressed their opinions. Some found it good, some found it novel, but no one said it tasted bad.

Yuan Jiuniang asked Wei Ruo, “Ruoruo, what’s up with this tea? Why is it black?”

Yuan Jiuniang asked what everyone else was wondering. Everyone was curious about this.

“This is black tea. The manufacturing process is slightly different from the green tea you usually drink. It lacks some of the bitterness of green tea and is smoother, making it more suitable for milk tea,” Wei Ruo explained.

“Black tea? This is the first time I’ve heard about it. I didn’t know tea leaves could be black,” Yuan Jiuniang said.

“The tea just appeared not long ago. It’s said that some hermits invented a new method for better preservation of tea. It only started to spread this year, so not many people know about it,” Wei Ruo replied.

Wei Ruo made up an origin story for black tea, saying it was invented by hermits to give it an air of elegance. If she said that it had been invented by rural women, some of the privileged people present might develop a distaste for it and it could affect their enjoyment of the tea.

■’Miss Wei, where did you get this black tea? I want to buy some for my family to try,” Yuan Jiuniang said.

Yuan Jiuniang was the first to express this sentiment, and several others also expressed their desire to buy some.

“I want to buy some too, to make milk tea like Miss Wei when I go home.” “Our family has a dairy farm, and they send me milk every day. I’m tired of drinking it. It’d be good to pair it with this black tea for a change of taste.”

Wei Ruo said, “I bought it from someone else, but I heard that the Yusheng Tea Garden is mass-producing black tea. I guess it will be available for purchase in a while.”

Of course, Wei Ruo, as the daughter of the military prefecture, couldn’t sell tea herself. Selling loquat syrup, a medicinal product, was justifiable, but selling tea was not. So at such times, Wei Ruo only needed to tell everyone where it could be purchased.

“Yusheng Tea Garden? Isn’t that this tea house?” Xiu Yaojun asked.

So Xiu Yaojun called over a maid to ask, “Does your tea house sell black tea?” The maid quickly shook her head in denial, “Our teahouse does not sell black tea. I do not know what black tea is.”

Hearing this, Xiu Yaojun turned to look at Wei Ruo, “It seems there’s an issue with Miss Wei’s information.”

Wei Ruo smiled lightly, “I must have made a mistake. It’s probably another tea garden that’s making it.”

Her information being accurate was not important. What was important was that some people had an interest in buying black tea.

Then Wei Ruo said, “Let me make some more milk tea for everyone.

She had only made six cups, and there were many people who hadn’t had a chance to taste it.

Upon hearing this, Yuan Shiniang quickly said, “Yes, make some more. I want to taste it too.”

A few others voiced their agreement.

No matter who voiced their desire to taste it, Wei Ruo made a cup for each one, even those who appeared uninterested, none were left out.

Since the milk was already there and current conditions didn’t allow for it to be preserved for very long, if not used it would be wasted.

A cup was also placed in front of Wei Qingwan. Looking at the milky-brown liquid, no hint of anticipation could be seen on her face.

The situation was worse considering the occasional praises for Wet Ruo she could hear.

Xiu Yaojun was observing Wei Qingwan’s expression. Taking advantage of the timing, she walked over and teased, “Wei Qingwan, why don’t you drink? Your sister made it herself. It’s really good; all of us really enjoy it.”

Wei Qingwan’s expression worsened. She forced a smile and replied, “I m not very thirsty.”

“Drinking tea is not to quench thirst. This tea is fragrant and sweet, and it even tastes better than a soft and sweet osmanthus cake. By the way, do you know what osmanthus cake tastes like? If I remember correctly, you used to be the best at making osmanthus cake.”

Xiu Yaojun deliberately compared it with the osmanthus cake that Wei Qingwan excelled in making.

“Yes, my sister has learned a lot of skills during her many years in the countryside, I can’t compare,” Wei Qingwan hastily replied modestly.

While she was being modest, she did not forget to mention Wei Ruo’s upbringing in the countryside.

Xiu Yaojun gave a light scoff, “But your sister’s talents are not inferior to yours. How come you haven’t learned better than someone who grew up in the countryside despite spending so many years in the Colonel’s house?

Wei Qingwan’s face turned a deeper shade, her lips pressed tightly together. She replied quietly, “I’m slow-witted and not as intelligent as my sister..