PCJ – Chapter 208 Invite a Tea Master Back

“Old leader, you know I’m not an expert. I only picked up tea-frying skills halfway and never mastered them. Otherwise, our tea factory wouldn’t have closed. If I teach this kid, I’m afraid it will only hold him back. To be honest, we have good tea in Zijiang. Zijiang’s Yunwu tea is famous nationwide. However, during the county’s tea technology training session, they didn’t bring in real tea masters. We only learned the basics, and the training period was too short. Even if someone learned how to fry tea, it wouldn’t lead to much success. My own kid doesn’t want to learn from me, and I don’t dare to teach because I might mess it up. I certainly don’t dare to teach someone you brought here,” Zhong Jinxiang explained, not shirking responsibility.

Back then, Zhong Jinxiang was just an ordinary young worker at the tea factory, and Luo Yongming was the factory director. Seeing that Zhong was bright and literate, Luo Yongming selected him for technical training. Regular workers did labor-intensive jobs, but with technical skills, the pay was higher and the work easier. Luo Yongming’s recognition had a significant impact on Zhong Jinxiang’s career.

“I see,” Luo Yongming frowned.

Thinking Luo Yongming was displeased with his reluctance, Zhong quickly explained, “Old leader, it’s not that I’m keeping my skills to myself. I’m currently unemployed, and my skills aren’t worth much. I’m just afraid of wasting this kid’s potential. I can see he’s talented. Teaching him to fry tea would be a waste.”

“I don’t have any better tea masters to refer him to right now. You can start by teaching him the basics. His family has over two hundred acres of tea that can’t wait. Why don’t you help him fry the tea leaves and get paid daily?” Luo Yongming suggested after some thought.

“That works. If Jiaohua wants to learn the basics from me, he can do so while I help. But I absolutely can’t accept any payment for this. If it weren’t for you back then, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” Zhong Jinxiang said, as he felt uncomfortable at home despite making enough money.

“You’re not blaming me for letting you learn tea frying, leaving you with no use for your skills, are you?” Luo Yongming joked.

“Not at all. Honestly, if the tea factory were still under your management, it wouldn’t have closed so quickly. Other factories improved their techniques and expanded. Our factory closed mainly because we didn’t maintain quality. During the production team days, we received high-quality tea leaves. Later, when the tea farms were contracted, all kinds of tea leaves were sent to the factory, and the internal quality control was lax, resulting in poorer quality. If the strict quality control from your time had continued, the factory wouldn’t have closed,” Zhong Jinxiang expressed his deep feelings for the former factory.

“Well, it’s all in the past. If you help Jiaohua fry the tea leaves, you must accept payment, or you won’t be able to go. Your family will oppose it, and it won’t last long. The priority is to fry good tea and make money for Jiaohua,” Luo Yongming said wisely.

Zhong Jinxiang nodded, “Alright, alright.” He understood the old leader’s thorough consideration. If he went out for a few days without bringing back any money, his wife might not say anything, but it would be hard to go again. With over two hundred acres of tea, Zhang Jiaohua’s tea field would regularly need processing.

“It’s settled then. I’ll ask Changjun to find some tea frying technical materials from his classmates. You can improve your skills while teaching Jiaohua. It’s a pity for our town’s tea factory equipment to be left idle,” Luo Yongming hinted, and Zhong Jinxiang seemed to understand partially.

Zhang Jiaohua only knew that the tea field issue was temporarily resolved and he could go back and fry tea leaves after buying some necessary equipment.

After purchasing the equipment, he was short on money, but at least the tea leaves had a clear direction. Once the tea was fried and sold, all problems would be solved. Zhang Jiaohua wasn’t yet thinking about sales. One step at a time, as the old saying goes.

“The first step to frying good tea is strict control of raw materials. Since you asked me to help, you must follow my instructions. I won’t do anything to ruin my reputation,” Zhong Jinxiang said seriously, showing his craftsmanship.

“Of course. I don’t know anything. Why wouldn’t I listen to you?” Zhang Jiaohua laughed.

“You little rascal, that’s not what I meant. For example, not just any leaves can be used for tea. You can’t fool tea drinkers; the taste is in the leaves, not the technique. Different teas require different leaves. Harvesting tea requires skill and speed, especially for Xianhao. The buds must be picked quickly as soon as a tender leaf appears; otherwise, it affects the tea’s shape and nutrients,” Zhong Jinxiang, despite his modesty, showed his deep understanding of tea.

“Got it. When our villagers come, you can demonstrate, and I’ll make sure they follow your instructions,” Zhang Jiaohua agreed.

“Alright, have them come today for a demonstration, but we can’t pick tea today. Tea picking must start early in the morning, with dew on the leaves being the best,” Zhong Jinxiang said.

The villagers, excited about picking tea after many years, were not just motivated by the penny per pound wage, but also by the collective labor reminiscent of the production team days.

Zhang Dechun led the Villagers into the horticultural field, “Listen up, everyone. Master Zhong will teach us how to pick tea leaves. Follow his instructions exactly. The tea leaves will be checked by the master, and any unqualified leaves won’t earn a penny. Understood?”

“Understood. Dechun, who here hasn’t picked tea leaves? Back in the production team days, no one was faster than me. Do we really need to learn this?” Zhang Qigao’s wife, Xie Chun’e, asked skeptically.

“Of course we do! Before, we sent tea leaves to the agricultural company. Now, Jiaohua will fry the tea himself. If we don’t produce good tea, how can we sell it?” Zhang Dechun understood the importance.