Chapter 616: Eat a Little Less

“Junshan Silver Needle Tea is cultivated in a very specific environment, with its own unique soil and water. The conditions here in Yunzhong City are different from Jun Mountain’s. Even if you got the same tea seeds and planted them using the exact same methods as they do for Junshan Silver Needle Tea, I’m afraid the tea leaves you grow won’t be the same, right? It’s impossible to replicate the flavor of the tea from Jun Mountain.” Wen Yuan crouched down, pinching a small amount of soil and grinding it into powder in his hand, as if studying its composition.

“We’ll know when it grows, won’t we?” Generally, it takes over three years from planting the seed to the first pruning and harvesting of tea leaves. But with Maphario here, Shen Yibin felt he wouldn’t have to wait that long. Maybe he could even taste the first batch of new tea next year. ‘Hmm, if I have time soon, I should consider a trip to West Lake and Wuyi Mountain. I could look for seeds for West Lake Longjing Tea and Wuyi Mountain Dahongpao, bring them back, and plant them next to the Junshan Silver Needle Tea. Also, what are the other top ten famous teas of China? Where are the best tea trees grown?’

‘Pu’er tea seems pretty good too, and its place of origin is close to Yunzhong City. I could consider that for the first batch. But Pu’er seems different from other teas. For teas like Junshan Silver Needle and West Lake Longjing, you want to drink them fresh. But for Pu’er, aged tea cakes are better. I don’t think I know much about making and storing tea cakes, though.’

“That’s true. Even if it’s not as good as the tea from its native region, it’ll definitely be better than the tea produced locally here in Yunzhong City.” Wen Yuan was now used to thinking of himself as a Yunzhong City local. “Besides, looking at all the flowers, plants, and saplings you’re growing here, Bin, their growth is much better than at my place. Maybe the flavor won’t be that different once it’s ready. You have to give me some to try when the time comes.” The fifty grams of Junshan Silver Needle Tea Shen Yibin had given him yesterday were already treasured away; he couldn’t even bear to drink much of it himself.

“No problem. Come on, I’ll show you around. Let’s see how these flowers and trees are growing.” ‘He has no idea who’s managing this garden. Maphario’s ability to cultivate plants is even better than the royal gardeners at Sylvie Palace.’ As Shen Yibin thought this, he stood up and led Wen Yuan on a stroll through his garden, constantly introducing the various plants. “Look, these are top-quality seeds I found at the Yunzhong Orange orchard. It’s only been a short while, and they’re already this tall! When the oranges are ripe, I’ll give you some to take home for your family to try. These oranges don’t have that soil and water issue, since they’re all irrigated with water from the Yunshui River. The flavor will definitely be amazing.”

“This is an apple tree, this is a pear, this is a plum, this is an apricot… all from top-quality seeds.” There were quite a few fruit trees, more than Shen Yibin could possibly eat on his own. In the future, there would probably be plenty left over for Xiaoliu to brew into wine. ‘Wouldn’t Monkey Wine brewed from these even more delicious fruits be even more fragrant and mellow?’

“Whoa, these must be flower seedlings, right? Is this a peony?” As a landscape architect, Wen Yuan was naturally very familiar with all sorts of decorative flowers and quickly identified the types of seedlings. “Is this a Chinese rose over here? Oh, and Purple Wisteria, Yingluo Treasure Pearl, Silver Star Pothos, Lily, Yellow Heart Tree, Inverted Silver Envelope Tree… You really have quite a variety. But I feel like these seedlings of yours are a bit different from the ones I usually use. They look… they look especially vigorous.”

‘Of course they are. He should consider who planted them. Maphario is a Great Druid! How could the saplings he plants be anything but the best?’ Shen Yibin gloated inwardly but maintained a modest smile. “Come, take a look over here. Do these few trees look a little familiar?” Shen Yibin pointed to Wen Yuan’s front-left.

“Whoa, how long have you been living here? You already have saplings taller than me?” Wen Yuan walked over to the nearest sapling and looked it up and down. The oval, leathery leaves and the young branches covered in scaly fuzz all looked so familiar. ‘What kind of tree is this again?’ Wen Yuan touched it, pondering for a long time before it finally hit him. “No way, Bin! Isn’t this the Heaven-Reaching Tree we saw at the forest farm?! How long has it been, and it’s already grown this tall?”

“Yeah. I estimate it won’t be long before these trees become the tallest on the whole estate, probably this year!” Shen Yibin said proudly. Being able to plant the tallest trees in all of China in his own yard—what an incredibly proud accomplishment that was.

“Wow, I originally thought my skills with flowers and plants were better than yours, and that the garden I built with my own hands would surely be better than this. But now I see I was just a frog in a well!” Wen Yuan said, a little unwilling to admit defeat. Although his own garden was top-notch, even among the projects he had worked on, it was simply no match for Shen Yibin’s.

“Haha, this is just the beginning. I’m going to collect many more seeds in the future to make this place even more beautiful. Alright, it’s getting late. Let’s go inside. I’ll make you guys dinner.” Shen Yibin pulled Wen Yuan back into the house. He brewed some Junshan Silver Needle Tea for the couple and served it, then headed to the kitchen to start cooking. The ingredients left in the fridge were only enough for one dinner; tomorrow, he would have to go out with Turtle Immortal to gather new materials again.

He first put the medicinal herbs Turtle Immortal had instructed him to gather and some carefully selected rice into a clay pot, then set it on the stove to simmer over low heat. Only then did Shen Yibin start stir-frying the other dishes. The Junshan Silver Needle Chicken Slices wasn’t the only dish he had learned from his time at Dongting Lake. He was too rushed yesterday to make more, but with plenty of time today, he could bring out all these new recipes.

Wen Yuan refilled the teapot twice, and by then, Shen Yibin had finished cooking. He called out, and Wen Yuan and his wife came into the kitchen to help carry the dishes out. Hah’Er, Bald Qiang, Xiaoliu, and the others all came to their seats. Hah’Er struggled a bit to lift Turtle Immortal onto the dining table and place a shallow dish in front of it. It seemed the two of them were getting along better and better.

“The porridge needs to simmer for about ten more minutes. Everyone, please start on the other dishes first.” Shen Yibin served some food to Hah’Er and Turtle Immortal first, then began to eat himself.

Wen Yuan seemed a bit distracted. He picked at his food, his eyes drifting toward the kitchen from time to time. He didn’t even register the taste of the delicious dishes.

Ten minutes finally passed. Shen Yibin returned from the kitchen carrying a full clay pot of medicinal porridge. “Come, let me serve everyone. Mr. Wen, pass me your bowl. You look like you can’t wait. Here, I’ll serve you first, and give you a little extra.”

“Ah, thank you, Bin.” Wen Yuan immediately passed his bowl over.

“Don’t fill it up for him. Half a bowl is enough,” Wen Yuan’s wife objected, however. She shot Wen Yuan a look and said, “Eat less tonight. Half a bowl will be plenty.”

‘Huh? What’s the reason for that? If he needs to eat less, he eats less. Why are you blushing?’