Chapter 108 - 108 107 Tea Tasting Event

Words : 1838 Updated : Sep 17th, 2025

108: Chapter 107 Tea Tasting Event 108: Chapter 107 Tea Tasting Event Liu Hun immediately said, “If there’s anything, just say it!” “But the hosting expenses have to come from us. Welcoming and seeing off guests, setting up appearances, inviting important people, all these will cost money. I’m afraid it might cost hundreds of thousands,” Ying Nanhong started speaking, laying out a basic budget for Liu Hun. Liu Hun thought about it for just a few seconds before saying confidently, “Alright! Let’s settle it! I’d rather risk everything than shy away from a challenge! You go ahead with the arrangements! Don’t worry about the money!” Ying Nanhong didn’t expect Liu Hun to agree without hesitation, secretly admiring his audacity to take on big challenges. After returning to Wanbao Village, Liu Hun shared the news with Du Yueling and others, and asked Qin Yue to post the announcement in big red letters. Under Liu Hun’s mobilization, the entire village started bustling with preparations for the tea competition. Some were leveling mud roads, others were picking up trash around the village, and some were even using the opportunity to repair their houses. In short, everyone treated it as a personal major event. As Wang Dajiao put it, “Wanbao Village is like a virtuous maiden entering the bridal chamber—it’s a first!” Half a month later, Wanbao Village was filled with fluttering red flags, bustling gongs and drums, and throngs of people both inside and out. True to her word, Ying Nanhong brought a group of so-called tea tasting experts and competition specialists, not to mention the tea merchants waving stacks of cash, eager to buy teas. “Wow! You’re really going all out, aren’t you afraid of losing everything and ruining your reputation?” Cai Yan smiled slightly as she said the words, but without a hint of mockery in her heart. Liu Hun looked up and down at Cai Yan, who had changed her style once again with a fluffy and peculiar outfit and short skirt, reminding him instantly of a mountain chicken puffing up its feathers, readying for a fight. Her eyes were even stranger; the big eyes were surrounded by dark circles, resembling a giant panda, the national treasure. Her long slender legs were now wrapped in stockings with black threads forming peonies, and she wore nine-centimeter high heels that simply looked painful to walk in. “What pit did you fall into to get those eyes all swollen?” Liu Hun remarked back to Cai Yan, genuinely puzzled by her dark-ringed eyes. Cai Yan was about to explain when Liu Hun was called away by Ying Nanhong, leaving her stomping in annoyance and muttering, “What swollen eyes? It’s smoky eye makeup! Smoky eyes! It’s the latest from Milan Fashion Week... Hmph! No use explaining it to you!” Liu Hun arrived below the stage, listening to Qin Yue, the village chief, reading Du Yueling’s speech. Thinking it was quite well-written, he asked Ying Nanhong about the upcoming competition, “How many people registered for the competition? What’s the arrangement?” “The guests we invited seem to have a big background, and thirty-two people are participating. They’re all eyeing the tea merchants’ money. The competition will be judged in four stages: dry tea, color of the tea soup, the base of the leaves, and taste, with three judges deciding the tea king,” Ying Nanhong explained, pointing out the three judges sitting on the stage to Liu Hun. Liu Hun glanced over, seeing an old man with white hair and beard, a prosperous-looking middle-aged man, and another middle-aged man, bald but with peaceful eyes. “Don’t worry; we’ve got this tea king in the bag! Qin Yue is almost done reading, and we should start organizing the competition. I won’t let your hard work go to waste!” Liu Hun assured Ying Nanhong, exuding confidence as if he had swallowed a pen, steady and composed. After a while, Ying Nanhong brought a group of tea merchants to Liu Hun, introducing them, “Liu Hun, let me introduce you. This is Chen Qiming, President Chen of Jinli Tea.” Wearing gold-rimmed glasses, looking scholarly and ready for an exam, Chen Qiming raised his eyebrows and said, “Hello, I’m Chen Qiming. I heard you have century-old tea here. I’m quite interested.” “Hey! President Chen, I’m also extremely interested!” A slightly plump middle-aged man immediately squeezed in, grabbing Liu Hun’s hand like catching a thief, and said, “Mr. Ling! I’m Wu Liang, the general manager of Tianming Tea! I have extensive research on ancient teas. Collaborate with me, and I guarantee you won’t regret it.” Wu Liang’s enthusiastic greeting was like stirring a hornet’s nest, as several tea merchants quickly surrounded Liu Hun, shaking his hand vigorously, more passionately than reuniting with a long-lost brother. Finally, they managed to get these tea merchants seated in the VIP section. Ying Nanhong stood by Liu Hun and asked unexpectedly, “We’ve invested money and brought people. Are you really confident?” “Of course!” Liu Hun answered simply, feeling that this prize was within reach, just needing a little gulp to swallow it down. “The opponents here today are no easy pickings, we can’t underestimate them. Let’s go, it’s about to start!” Ying Nanhong smiled at Liu Hun, acknowledging that the tea merchants she invited were heavyweights, and the opponents were equally challenging for Liu Hun. “Welcome to the Wanbao Tea Competition. Next, let me introduce the three judges for this Wanbao Tea Competition.” With her sweet dimples, Du Yueling brought a natural affinity with her smile, making her an ideal host for the event. “The first is Mr. Lu Bomeng, Chairman of the Tea Culture Association. Welcome, Mr. Lu! The second is Mr. Chang Genrong, Chairman of the Tea Merchants’ Association. Welcome, Mr. Chang! The last is Mr. Wang Jian, Chairman of the Tea Art Promotion Foundation. Welcome, Mr. Wang!” Du Yueling introduced the judges one by one. Even with her experience handling large events, she couldn’t help but think this tea competition was among the nation’s finest in terms of quality and scale. She was indeed surprised Cai Yan managed to bring these people here. The onlooking villagers, unaware of the grandeur of it, watched with delight, as if enjoying a play, clueless of what it all meant. Meanwhile, the tea merchants with bulging wallets in the VIP seats were both thrilled and excited, feeling that coming to this remote mountainous area wasn’t a waste. These three were figures of authority akin to Mount Tai in the tea industry, their titles serving as an assurance of authenticity, without a hint of deception! The three judges stood up courteously, nodding to the audience below. Besides receiving payment to be here, they were eager to examine the century-old tea, as precious things always attracted them. “Now, let me introduce the participants of this tea competition!” Du Yueling said with a smile, starting to recite the notable backgrounds of the participants. “... A three-time tea king champion... Third-generation inheritor of special tribute teas... First place on the National Boutique Tea List... Record holder for highest price sold for Tieguanyin...” As Du Yueling read, the more she went on, the more worried she became, feeling as if all the formidable characters of the tea world had been summoned. Since teas speak for themselves, faced with these reputations, she wondered how much of a chance Wanbao Village really had for a win. While Du Yueling was anxious, the tea merchants smiled broadly, feeling confident. With renowned judges overseeing and premium tea sources, it was like a bachelor entering a village of maidens—not a bad deal in sight. “Finally! Representing Wanbao Village’s century-old tea is—Liu Hun!” Du Yueling announced with a smile, watching Liu Hun, which gave her heart some reassurance. “Hmph! What a joke! I thought the organizers had some impressive backing to make us come all this way. Just a few words and we’re dismissed? What century-old tea? Never even heard of it! What a scam!” “I was actually worried when I came, but now I’m not worried at all. A competitor without a brand, history, or honors is just setting the stage and paying for the show!”‘ “Exactly, if it weren’t for all these major tea merchants here today, who would bother with this godforsaken place? If there were any authentic and reputable teas, that would be different. Clearly, this is just a publicity stunt! Nowadays, what doesn’t claim to be tea just because some leaves are involved?” “...” The notable attendees of the tea competition paid no attention to Wanbao Village, considering them beneath notice. But the villagers weren’t entirely naive; they understood the condescension behind the high titles and dismissive comments. “Why didn’t our village come up with some first-place champion or record holder? This is just openly looking down on us! I mean... is our tea really up to par? If not, I might as well go home and munch on peanuts instead of embarrassing myself.” “If you want to leave, just go! Look at you, so lacking in spirit! Our village’s tea is the best! Who needs those superficial accolades anyway? Only when you’re stripped bare can you see if the fuzz is fully grown. What’s the point of that hollow stuff? We have to speak with real strength!” “Look at those swaggering bastards, practically leaking their excitement! I trust Hunzi! I bet he’ll thoroughly teach those bastards a lesson later and bring pride to Wanbao Village!” “...” The clamor subsided with the sound of Mao’er’s gong, bringing everyone to attention. Du Yueling promptly announced the first round of the tea competition—Dry Tea! As the name suggests, dry tea refers to tea that hasn’t been brewed, judged by its color and shape. The three judges approached the thirty-two bowls of tea, inspecting each carefully, conversing quietly for a moment, before Lu Bomeng announced that all thirty-two bowls passed the first round. This result didn’t surprise those present, particularly the tea merchants ready to purchase, as today’s teas were all top-notch. However, sitting beside Ying Nanhong, Chen Qiming suddenly remembered something and asked her, “Boss Ying, I recall that Chairman Wang Jian seems to be a representative of the New Tea Movement, right?” Ying Nanhong was taken aback, not quite understanding the nuances, so she asked Chen Qiming, “What does the representative of the New Tea Movement mean?” “It means preferring innovative teas and disliking ancient ones. This century-old tea from Wanbao Village, regardless of its quality, might not even catch his eye, and he might criticize it outright. If Wanbao’s century-old tea really is top-notch but fails to win the title of tea king due to Chairman Wang’s personal taste, wouldn’t that be rather unfair?” Chen Qiming adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, being particularly interested in the ancient tea, hoping it would triumph so he could elevate its market price significantly.

Chapter 108 - 108 107 Tea Tasting Event

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