bookcurios Chapter 307 Yao Family Tea Garden
Chapter 307 Yao Family Tea Garden
The tea gardens on this mountain seem to grow haphazardly, but they are like a delicate ink painting, gently unfolding on the high mountain.
Sunlight filters through the thin mist, gently illuminating the tender green tea buds, each one seemingly brimming with the vitality and hope of spring.
Although these tea bushes are arranged neatly in all directions, they look like an abandoned child.
Standing in front of the bamboo house halfway up the mountain, looking into the distance, it resembles a green wave.
The waves stretched out in layers, reaching into the distance and connecting with the distant green mountains, creating a harmonious natural landscape.
Following Yao Wenlan up the mountain, Dongfang Jin asked the question that had been bothering him: "Prefect Yao, don't you prune your tea garden?"
Yao Wenlan was taken aback by her question, looking surprised: "Xiao Jin means that the tea trees need to be pruned?"
Dongfang Jin pointed to the tea bushes: "Aren't you going to prune them?"
The middle-aged man next to Yao Wenlan interrupted, "Prune, but only prune the upright branches."
Dongfang Jin glanced at him; this was the emperor's man. She shook her head: "These tea trees need pruning. The two rows of tea trees should form an arc between them."
"The tea bushes can be left here for the tea pickers to stand and harvest. Look at those people standing on stools, it's so dangerous!"
Moreover, pruning tea bushes not only benefits their growth but also significantly impacts tea quality.
"Look, these tea seedlings also need to be removed in time to prevent them from stealing nutrients from the tea plants."
"Look, these spaces are too close together. Not only does it prevent ventilation, but it will also shorten the lifespan of the tea trees..."
The group listened to her words, completely bewildered.
Yao Wenlan tentatively asked, "How do you want it cut?"
Dongfang Jin took out a tea garden map printed by Ruyi from her crossbody bag, along with a pair of flat-scissors.
He handed it to Yao Wenlan: "Here, it should be trimmed like this. Your tea trees are Maojian, and they need to be pruned every year."
Yao Wenlan was shocked when she looked at the tea plantation on the blueprint. She glanced at the picture and then at her own tea plantation.
It's true that you don't know the harm without comparison.
"Xiao Jin, tell your uncle when you want to start cutting your hair. Your uncle will listen to whatever you say."
Dongfang Jin listened to Ruyi's words: "After winter arrives, or after this spring tea harvest, you can prune it according to the instructions here."
Your tea bushes only need deep pruning every three to five years, and normally you only need to prune them to this height once a year.
After Dongfang Jin finished speaking, she picked up a tree branch from the ground and drew a height of five to ten centimeters.
The others initially looked at A-Ping with a mocking and disdainful expression as he kept taking notes.
Now, when they saw the tea garden pictures in Prefect Yao's hands, they were all stunned.
Is this a tea plantation?
What kind of tea plantations do they manage?
This is practically a work of art!
Putting aside everything else, just learning how to prune tea trees like this is a skill that can make a living.
Standing on the path in the mountaintop tea garden, Dongfang Jin looked down. The area seemed to be gently covered by a thin veil of mist, exuding a sense of mystery and tranquility.
The tea buds on the other side of the tea trees are plump and tender, green with a hint of yellow, like the most exquisite jade in early spring, containing the purest essence of nature.
It truly lives up to its reputation as a place nurtured by the sunniest sunlight of the day.
The fine dewdrops among the tea bushes on the back side have not yet completely disappeared.
They hang from the tips of the leaves, crystal clear, like pearls inlaid on a green brocade.
As the wind blows, dewdrops occasionally slip off and drip into the damp soil, making a soft, crisp sound.
The occasional birdsong from afar intertwines to create a melodious spring symphony.
Not far away, tea farmers dressed in traditional clothing, wearing straw hats and carrying bamboo baskets at their waists, moved nimbly among the tea bushes.
Their fingers were nimble and skillful; with a gentle pinch, they plucked the two tender leaves and a bud at the very top.
Each harvest seems like a gentle caress to nature.
Their figures blended seamlessly into the tea garden, becoming an indispensable part of this natural landscape.
"Your tea-picking technique is quite good," Dongfang Jin said, looking at the busy tea farmers.
Yao Wenlan pointed to the bamboo houses next to the tea garden valley behind the mountain: "Where is our destination?"
Dongfang Jin looked at the place he pointed to. The bamboo building stood alone in this world, like a guardian of this area.
As the group approached, Dongfang Jin saw a row of large pots placed at an angle in the shed area; that was the tea-frying area.
"Xiao Jin, when are we going to start frying the tea?" Lu Yunqing asked impatiently.
Dongfang Jin pointed to the freshly picked tea leaves: "Spread those tea leaves out to 'wither,' then it's time for 'kill-green' (a process to kill the green), and then..."
"Fine, have your head chef demonstrate right now, and I'll see which step is missing."
Yao Wenlan nodded and called out to a man standing behind her, "Yao Xuesen, come over here and stir-fry the tea."
"It's Fourth Uncle."
Dongfang Jin watched as someone lit the fire to warm the pot, watched Yao Xuesen test the temperature, and watched him perform the initial processing, rolling, and shaping of the dried tea leaves before removing them from the pot to dry.
Dongfang Jin finally realized where their difference lay.
Lu Yunqing walked over, leaned closer to Dongfang Jin, and asked, "How is it?"
Seeing that everyone was looking at her, Dongfang Jin said, "No, this kind of Maojian tea is made by drying and killing the green in the tea leaves after they are picked, which is also called stir-frying."
His technique is very skilled. The next step is the initial kneading. After this step, the second "killing" is carried out, and then the re-kneading is done.
The third round of blanching, kneading, removing from the pan, and drying...
Although Yao Wenlan didn't understand, she still said to her master chef, "Master An, could you do it again as she said?"
Master An glanced at Dongfang Jin, and although he was displeased, he still did as Yao Wenlan said.
Yao Wenlan knew that these master chefs were unconvinced, but she didn't say anything else. She looked at her nephew and asked, "Did you remember what Xiao Jin said?"
Yao Xuesen nodded: "Fourth Uncle, I'll remember."
Yao Wenlan nodded in satisfaction: "Stir-fry it again according to Xiao Jin's instructions."
"Okay, Fourth Uncle."
When he took over again, the tea-frying masters sent by the emperor and the Crown Prince Chen also joined in.
Dongfang Jin gestured to Xia Lan, Ling Lan, Xia Yu, and Dong Xue to cook. She had brought the four of them with her this time.
Despite their young age, they are all 160cm tall, thanks to Dongfang Jin's upbringing. They can easily stand in front of those large pots and stir-fry tea.
Yao Wenlan was very pleased to see this and immediately sent people to light a fire for them, and also had many of the Yao family's young men watch along.
Dongfang Jin made it very clear that all of these tea-frying masters were experts.
They can master just by repeating a few techniques.
Although I wasn't used to it, I still completed each step very carefully.
Just as they were intently watching the tea masters fry tea, Dongfang Jin walked into the tea garden.
Wildflowers bloom profusely along the paths and high platforms surrounding the tea garden, including elegant wild chrysanthemums, vibrant azaleas, and other unnamed wildflowers.
They either hide in the grass or peek out from the fence beside the bamboo house, each interpreting the splendor of spring in its own way.
At this moment, the tea garden is not only a visual feast, but also a spiritual cleansing.
Standing amidst this lush greenery, bathed in the morning light, Dongfang Jin stretched out her arms to embrace the sunlight. At that moment, it seemed as if she could hear the heartbeat of the earth.
Feeling the surge of life, all worldly troubles seem to drift away with the wind.
All that remains is inner peace and an infinite longing for a better life.
Ruyi watched as Dongfang Jin slowly stretched out his arms, closed his eyes, and merged into this world.
Seeing that the jade tablet containing her "Thousand Hands Everlasting Spring Technique" was glowing again, he murmured excitedly: "This can even help you advance a level. With such talent, why didn't you know how to cultivate?"
Then, he praised, "Not bad, you've improved another level."