Chapter 5.1: Unscrupulous Tea Merchants

　　Clutching a black plastic bag in his hand, Su Ling cut through the rough terrain of the mountain path toward the village cemetery.

　　Tucked away in the secluded Stone Creek Village, untouched by the modern ritual of cremation, a timeless tradition still thrived — laying cherished souls to rest within the earth’s embrace. Here, at the cemetery nestled on the northern slopes of Mount Phoenix, Su Ling’s presence was awaited. Yet, as he stepped onto the burial grounds, a daunting chill enveloped him, sending an involuntary shiver down his spine.

　　Unlike the typical public cemeteries in the city, the graves in this particular location predominantly housed the distinctive “armchair” graves¹ 椅子坟 (yǐ zi fén): It refers to a specific style of graves found in the southern part of Zhejiang province, which is known as “椅子坟” or armchair-shaped graves. These graves have a distinct shape resembling an armchair, with one end higher than the other. They are built along the mountainside and do not have tombstones. Instead, the information about the grave’s owner is engraved on a central stone tablet. The descendants are buried beneath the graves of their ancestors, creating a long tomb structure that resembles a staircase over generations. .

　　Notably, one recently excavated grave boasted an elaborate setup, complete with a unique courtyard design, a stone table, and several unfamiliar stone sculptures² This is just a reference picture, but based on the research I’ve conducted, I reckon that Second Grandfather’s tomb would look something similar to this… .

　　That marked the final resting place of Second Grandfather.

　　In a solemn moment, Su Ling stood before the tombstone, his expression a portrait of respect. With a reverent bow, he introduced himself, “Second Grandfather, I’m Su Ling, the successor you appointed. Today, I’ve come to pay my respects.”

　　In the photo, the elderly person’s benevolent smile beamed like a ray of sunshine. The gentle gaze in his eyes suggested that he must have been an approachable and amiable soul in life.

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　　Lost in the joy of painting, a faint cry pierced the tranquil air – it was none other than the unmistakable voice of Li Dahai.

　　“Brother Su, Brother Su!”

　　Su Ling came to an abrupt stop, swiveling around to lock eyes with the swiftly approaching youth.

　　“Good morning, Dahai,” Su Ling greeted with a smile.

　　“Go-good morning.” Gasping for air, Li Dahai rushed up to him. “Brother Su… the village… the village chief wants you to come to the village committee⁴ 村委会 (cūn wěi huì): A village committee, similar to a neighborhood council or local governing body, is a group of elected individuals responsible for managing the affairs and welfare of a specific village or rural community. .”

　　“The village committee?” Su Ling’s eyebrows shot up in surprise, his voice tinged with curiosity. “What on earth happened?”

　　Li Dahai’s hand brushed the sweat from his brow as he explained, “A bunch of people from town showed up and picked a fight with the village chief over something to do with Grandpa Su’s passing.”

　　Upon learning it concerned Second Grandfather, he wasted no time urging Li Dahai to lead the way.

　　Inside the village committee office, a lively debate raged on. Three middle-aged men surrounded a tall, thin, and robust elderly man. With fervor in their voices and conviction in their eyes, they sought to sway him to their cause.

　　“You seriously need to think this through, Village Chief Jin! Sure, Second Master Su’s no longer with us, but the tea on the mountain isn’t going to be picked by itself. If we dilly-dally until May, the tea will lose its freshness, and we’ll lose our chance at a good price.”

　　“Zhang Zhong’s right. If our tea leaves turn out dreadful, it wouldn’t just be a stain on our reputation, but Second Master Su would be in for a bitter disappointment!”

　　“Absolutely not!” Village Chief Jin’s countenance darkened, his eyes ablaze with resolve. With a firm tone, he swiftly dismissed the offer with a resounding refusal. “The price you’re offering is far too low. I simply cannot betray my conscience by selling at such a loss.”

　　“How can you insinuate that I’m betraying my conscience?” The man in a suit with hair neatly slicked back smiled jovially as he countered, “After Second Grandpa Su’s passing, isn’t it still within your authority as the village chief to make decisions regarding the tea plantation? Yes, Second Master Su may have footed the initial investment, but you’re the one ensuring the ongoing profits benefit the village’s development. Would you not agree that this is a commendable deed worthy of recognition?”

　　Su Ling’s steps halted at the doorway, his expression shifting into a tight frown as he caught wind of the conversation between the man in the suit and the village chief. Was this greasy, middle-aged man trying to incite the village chief to engage in corrupt practices?

　　To his relief, Village Chief Jin remained unmoved by the persuasive words thrown his way. Catching sight of Li Dahai and Su Ling approaching, he signaled them over with a wave of his hand.

　　“I know how to harvest tea leaves, but I’m at a loss when it comes to selling them. If you want to negotiate a lower price, I suggest you speak with Old Su’s grandson.”

　　“Second Master Su’s grandson?”

　　As the three men turned their heads, their eyes were drawn to the figure of the young man who stepped into the office. Instantly, their faces lit up with a unanimous blend of astonishment and reverence as if they had just witnessed a rare marvel.

　　In front of them stood a young man who exuded both beauty and a refined demeanor. His delicately arched eyebrows perfectly accentuated his peach blossom eyes, which shimmered with a mesmerizing gleam. His straight nose and soft, rosy lips completed a face that could only be described as flawlessly perfect.

　　With hair flowing in effortless waves down to his shoulders and dressed in a sleek black jacket over a crisp white tee, he looked like he had just strolled out of a fashion magazine. Light blue jeans hugged his legs, while pristine white sneakers adorned his feet. Amidst the simple surroundings of the village office, he stood out like a majestic prince in a room full of commoners, radiating an air of regal elegance and charm that seemed to belong to another world.

　　Su Ling was no stranger to the various looks that followed him wherever he went. Hence, he greeted the tall, slender village chief calmly, “Hello, Village Chief. I’m Su Ling.”

　　Stroking his goatee, Village Chief Jin’s deep-set eyes bore into Su Ling with a mix of curiosity and scrutiny. In his final moments, Old Su sought the assistance of a lawyer to draft his will and name an heir. Two long months passed before the awaited individual finally arrived. “Well, aren’t you quite the dashing one! And I must say, you bear some resemblance to Old Su in his younger days.”

　　Bathed in praise, Su Ling maintained a perfect smile on his face. “Village Chief, what brings you to summon me today?”

　　Just a while ago, he stood by the doorway, struggling to make sense of the conversation that seemed veiled in mystery. All he could discern was that Second Grandfather had secured the contract for the tea plantation on the mountain. Yet, these three middle-aged men shamelessly prodded the village chief to lower the price and sell it cheaply. Fortunately, the village chief remained resolute and unaffected by their attempts to sway him with money.

　　Village Chief Jin introduced, “These are tea merchants who have been long-time partners in business with your grandfather.”

　　Su Ling’s gaze flicked over to the three middle-aged men, who extended their right hands toward him in unison.

　　“Hello there, I’m Qi Yue.”

　　“I’m Huang Xing.”

　　“I’m Zhang Zhong.”

　　Su Ling slipped his hands into the pockets of his coat, flashing a friendly nod their way. “Hello, I’m Su Ling. Just arrived in Stone Creek Village yesterday.”

　　Even in their most impolite moments, attractive individuals had a way of leaving people unable to hold onto their anger. As such, these three greasy middle-aged men nonchalantly retracted their hands, yet a lingering sense of bewilderment clouded their minds.

　　Wait a minute, wasn’t Second Master Su unmarried? Where did this grandson come from?

　　For more than a decade, they had been acquainted with Second Master Su, yet never had they caught wind of any other kin. Moreover, how this young man carried himself and clad in fashionable attire with an air of elegance left no doubt that he was a wealthy scion from the city.

　　Noticing the questioning glances from the three tea proprietors, Su Ling explained, “My grandfather happens to be Second Grandfather’s elder sibling, who relocated to City S decades ago. It was only a few days ago a lawyer reached out to me with news that Second Grandfather had left a will and named me as the heir.”

　　“Ah-ha! So that’s how it is!” Qi Yue’s face lit up with realization. It all makes sense now why the residents in Stone Creek Village addressed Su Lan as Second Master Su. It was because he had an older brother all along.

　　With a quick exchange of glances with Huang Xing, Zhang Zhong turned his attention to Su Ling and stated, “Our purpose for coming here today is mainly to discuss the important matter of purchasing tea leaves.”

　　Fixing his eyes on Su Ling, the village chief shared, “Your grandfather had leased Mount Phoenix for seventy years and nurtured tea trees along its slopes. In those days, he would personally negotiate prices with them. But with him gone, they seek to drive down the prices.”

　　Qi Yue’s voice wavered with uncertainty as he refuted, “Sure, the Dewfall Tea produced in Stone Creek Village is undeniably of exceptional quality and sells well, but—”

　　Zhang Zhong interjected, “But this year is unlike previous ones. Global tea prices have declined, and as buyers, we find ourselves at a disadvantage. That’s why we’re left with no choice but to cut costs.”

　　With a heavy sigh, Huang Xing lamented, “Running businesses through these turbulent times has become a Herculean task for us all.”

　　After each of them took their turn weaving their arguments, Su Ling’s understanding finally clicked into place.

　　Though he found the ruthless business world distasteful, his passion for fine arts could not fully shield him from the business tactics ingrained in him since childhood by the Su family.