Chapter 48: Double Happiness
The First Year of Shaosheng, October 1st.
The battle report from Huanzhou arrived in Dongjing on the first day of the tenth lunar month.
That morning, Cui'er and I were in the Kunning Hall testing our milk tea. In the copper barrel, Jianxi's Dragon-Phoenix Cake Tea was brewing. The scent of tea mixed with milk, filling the room. Cui'er carefully added a spoonful of osmanthus flowers. I took a sip—not sweet enough. I added another spoonful of sugar.
"Your Highness, this taste..." Cui'er's eyes sparkled. "This servant has never had tea like this before."
"Is it good?"
"It's delicious! Fragrant and sweet. One sip makes you want another."
I smiled. Emily was right; good things are loved everywhere.
Zhao Xu had gone to the Chuipao Hall for court discussions that morning, saying he would return for lunch. I calculated the time, kept the milk tea warm in the copper barrel, made a few plates of osmanthus cakes, and waited for him to return so we could taste them together.
But before he returned, the Chief Eunuch arrived first.
I would never forget how he ran in—his official cap askew, the hem of his robe muddy, his expression somewhere between crying and laughing. He knelt at the entrance of the Kunning Hall, his voice trembling:
"Your Highness! Great victory at Huanzhou! An eight-hundred-li urgent dispatch—Great victory at Huanzhou!"
The teacup in my hand nearly fell to the floor.
"What?"
"We won! His Majesty sent this servant to report—the siege of Huanzhou is lifted! The Western Xia have retreated! Two thousand heads severed, three thousand captured! The Tuhuo Guns—the Tuhuo Guns achieved great merit!"
Cui'er covered her mouth, her eyes turning red.
I put down the teacup and stood up. My legs felt weak, not from fear, but from joy. It was the kind of relief after holding one's breath for too long.
"Where is His Majesty?"
"In the Chuipao Hall. All the ministers are there; congratulatory memorials are piling up like mountains—"
I didn't wait for him to finish. Lifting my skirt, I ran out.
The entrance to the Chuipao Hall was crowded.
Purple and red official robes were pressed together; everyone wore smiles. Some spoke loudly, others bowed to each other, and some wiped away tears. I walked through the crowd; no one stopped me—they saw it was me and automatically made way.
Zhao Xu stood on the stone steps.
He wasn't wearing his crown, dressed in casual robes, holding a battle report in his hand. His back was straight, his chin slightly raised, his expression calm—but I had known him too long. I saw his hands trembling.
"Your Majesty," I called out.
He looked up and saw me. Then he smiled.
I would never forget that smile in my life. It wasn't his usual curved smile, nor the shy purse of his lips. It was a smile of immense relief. Like a heavy burden carried for a long time had finally been set down.
"We won," he said. Just two words, spoken softly, yet in the noisy hall, I heard them clearly.
"I know," I looked at him. "I heard."
He walked down from the steps to stand before me. He was so much taller than me; I had to look up to meet his eyes. His eyes were bright, as if they held an entire starry sky.
"A-Heng."
"Hmm."
"The Tuhuo Guns... they really work."
"Yes."
"The things you talked about—they are all real."
"Yes."
He reached out and took my hand. In front of the entire court. The ministers paused for a moment, then unanimously lowered their heads, pretending to see nothing.
His palm was hot, his fingertips calloused. His hand trembled—not from nervousness, but from joy.
"Let's go home," he said. "Let's talk at home."
Back in the Kunning Hall, I poured him a cup of the warmed milk tea.
"Taste it. A new product."
He took it and drank a sip. He paused, then took another.
"What is this?"
"Milk tea. What my new tea shop will sell."
"Milk tea." He repeated the words, took another sip. "It's sweet."
"Yes. Added osmanthus and sugar. Is it good?"
"It's delicious." He lowered his head and took another sip. "Just as good as your osmanthus cakes."
I smiled. "Then drink more. To celebrate the great victory at Huanzhou."
Holding the cup, he sat on the soft couch. I sat beside him, waiting for him to speak. I knew he had things to say.
After a silence, he began.
"The report says the Firearm Battalion used the Tuhuo Guns to launch a night raid on the Western Xia camp. As soon as the guns fired, the Western Xia horses panicked, running wildly within the camp. The Western Xia didn't know what it was; they thought it was heavenly thunder and collapsed into chaos."
He paused.
"Two thousand heads. Three thousand prisoners. Countless cattle and sheep. The siege of Huanzhou is lifted."
"Are you happy?" I asked.
"Happy," he looked at me. "But also... afraid."
"Afraid of what?"
"Afraid of what if I didn't have you." His voice was very soft. "Without those things you brought—how could three thousand defenders in Huanzhou withstand thirty thousand cavalry?"
I took his hand. "I am here."
He gripped my hand tightly in return.
"A-Heng."
"Hmm."
"Thank you."
"Thank me for what?"
"Thank you for coming from a thousand years in the future." He looked at me, the light in his eyes bright and soft. "Thank you... for being by my side."
My eyes grew warm. "When did you learn to say such things?"
"I learned from you," he smiled. "Every word you say, I remember."
That afternoon, the news spread throughout Dongjing.
Firecrackers exploded in the streets, popping and cracking all afternoon. Cui'er said the people in the city had gone mad; restaurants and tea houses were packed, people drank and sang in the streets, and others burned incense and made vows in temples.
"Your Highness, you don't know," Cui'er said while combing my hair. "We've fought wars at the border for so many years, losing forts and lives every year. This time we won, and it was a huge victory—the people of Dongjing are overjoyed."
I sat before the mirror, looking at my reflection.
"Cui'er."
"Hmm?"
"When can our tea shop open?"
"Your Highness, the shop is still being renovated. Shen Lingcheng hasn't finished forging the tea barrels yet—"
"Speed it up," I said. "I want to ride this momentum."
Cui'er paused, then smiled. "Your Highness wants to... share in the good fortune?"
"No." I turned to look at her. "I want everyone to celebrate together. Great victory at Huanzhou, celebration for the whole city. For the opening of Chaji, the first cup of milk tea is free."
October 5th, Chaji Shop Soft Opening.
That morning, I woke up before dawn. Zhao Xu was still asleep. I got out of bed quietly, changed into casual clothes, and left the palace with Cui'er.
The shop was fully renovated. White walls, bamboo curtains, wooden tables. On the wall hung calligraphy I had written:"Tea is the fine tree of the south." A potted plant sat in the corner, moved from the Imperial Garden by Cui'er. The operation area at the back was spotless, the copper tea barrels polished to a shine.
The tea barrels forged by Shen Lingcheng worked wonderfully. The copper walls were thick, the lids fit seamlessly, and the insulation was better than I expected. I tested it; milk tea brewed in the morning was still warm by noon.
"Your Highness," Cui'er looked at the price list on the wall, slightly nervous. "Twentywen per cup, isn't that too expensive?"
"Not expensive," I said. "And today, we aren't selling."
"Not selling?"
"Today we give it away. First cup free, one per person."
Cui'er's eyes widened. "Free? Won't we lose a lot of money?"
"We won't lose," I smiled. "What we lose today, we'll earn back tomorrow."
Emily taught me about customer acquisition costs. Let customers taste something good first, and they will naturally return. This principle applies in the Song Dynasty just as well.
At the hour of Chen (7-9 AM), I had Cui'er open the door.
People were already queuing outside.
I was surprised. Queuing before opening?
"Your Highness," Cui'er whispered. "Yesterday, this servant had people distribute flyers on the street—the 'Chaji' sign you drew, with the words 'Great Victory at Huanzhou, Celebration for the Whole City, First Cup Free'."
"You distributed them?"
"Yes. This servant had a few young eunuchs change into civilian clothes to distribute them. We handed out about... five hundred?"
Five hundred. I looked at the line at the door—at least two hundred people.
The first to enter was a young scholar in a blue cloth robe, holding a book. He stood before the counter, looking at the price list, hesitating.
"Sir," Cui'er greeted him with a smile. "Today the first cup is free. Which would you like to try?"
"Free?" The scholar paused. "No money?"
"No money. His Majesty is joyful over the victory at Huanzhou, and our owner is treating everyone to tea."
The scholar looked at the price list. "This... 'Chaji Milk Tea', what is it?"
"Tea with milk, sugar, and osmanthus. Would you like to try?"
The scholar nodded. Cui'er turned to the operation area, poured a cup of milk tea, and handed it to him.
The scholar took it, lowered his head, and took a sip.
He froze.
He took another sip.
Then he looked up at Cui'er, his eyes shining. "What... what kind of tea is this? How is it so delicious?"
Cui'er smiled. "This is our owner's secret recipe. We're glad you like it."
The scholar finished the entire cup in one go, then took twentywen from his sleeve and placed it on the counter.
"Another cup, please."
"Sir, today the first cup is free—"
"I know. I'm paying for this one."
Standing in the operation area behind the bamboo curtain, I watched this scene and couldn't help but smile.
Emily was right. Good things don't lack for buyers.
That day, a line formed outside Chaji all day long.
After the scholar left, a woman came with her child. The child drank the milk tea and refused to leave, demanding another cup. The woman paid for two cups, one for the child and one for herself.
After the woman left, an old man arrived, wearing a silk robe, obviously wealthy. He drank one cup, then bought five more to take home for his family.
Cui'er was so busy her feet barely touched the ground, sweat beading on her forehead. I hid in the operation area brewing tea, heating milk, and mixing sugar, my hands never stopping.
By the hour of Shen (3-5 PM), the milk tea in the copper barrels was sold out.
"Your Highness," Cui'er ran in, her face flushed. "Sold out! All sold out!"
"How many cups?"
"This servant counted—two hundred and thirty-seven given away, one hundred and eighty-two sold. In total—"
"I know," I smiled.
Two hundred and thirty-seven cups given for free, one hundred and eighty-two sold. This meant two hundred and thirty-seven people had tasted it, and one hundred and eighty-two of them were willing to pay for another cup.
The conversion rate was over seventy percent.
If Emily knew this data, she would surely say: "That's insane! You're a genius!"
"Your Highness," Cui'er panted. "Shall we open tomorrow?"
"Yes. But tomorrow it won't be free."
"What about the membership system?"
"We'll launch it tomorrow."
October 6th, Chaji Shop Official Opening.
A notice was posted at the door:
*"Chaji Membership System: Pre-deposit oneguan of money to receive a membership card. With the card, enjoy a 10% discount on tea, a free osmanthus cake on your birthday, and priority tasting of new products."*
Cui'er worriedly said, "Your Highness, isn't oneguan too much? Ordinary commoners—"
"It's not for ordinary commoners," I said. "Have you forgotten who is opposite us?"
Cui'er looked at Qingfeng Lou across the street and suddenly understood.
Qingfeng Lou was the largest tea house in Dongjing; a pot of good tea cost several hundredwen. Those who went there to drink tea were either wealthy or noble. My Chaji shop opened opposite them; the target customer base was precisely those people.
Oneguan meant little to them.
Sure enough.
Less than half an hour after opening, the first member arrived.
It was the scholar from yesterday. He wore new clothes today, his hair combed meticulously, holding a fan in his hand.
"Shopkeeper," he stood before the counter, taking out aJiaozi note worth oneguan. "I want to become a member."
Cui'er paused, glancing at me. I nodded.
"Certainly, sir. May I ask your surname?"
"Shen. Shen Kuo's Shen."
"Master Shen, here is your membership card." Cui'er handed him a bamboo slip engraved with the words "Chaji" and an osmanthus flower. Shen Lingcheng had carved this for me; it took him three full days.
Master Shen took the bamboo slip, turning it over and over to examine it. "This card... is quite unique."
"Membership cards are numbered," Cui'er said. "You are the first, number 001."
"Number 001?" Master Shen smiled. "Does that make me a... founding member?"
"Yes. In the future, when new products are released, you will be the first to taste them. Every year on your birthday, we will gift you an osmanthus cake."
Master Shen tucked the bamboo slip into his sleeve, nodding with satisfaction. "Good. Bring me a cup of milk tea. It's not free today, right? I'll pay."
"Twentywen. With the member discount, eighteenwen."
Master Shen took out eighteenwen, placed it on the counter, and carrying the milk tea, sat by the window, opened his book, and sipped slowly.
Then came the second, the third.
By noon, forty-seven membership cards had been issued. Oneguan each, totaling forty-sevenguan.
When Cui'er calculated the accounts, her hands trembled. "Your Highness... this is just the morning..."
"Don't rush," I smiled. "This is just the beginning."
In the afternoon, an unexpected guest arrived.
He was a man in his forties, wearing a silk robe, sporting a long three-strand beard, obviously no ordinary person. He stood at the door, looked at the shop sign, then at the price list, the corner of his mouth curling slightly in a sneer.
"Where is the owner?"
Cui'er approached. "Sir, how may I help you?"
"I am the owner of Qingfeng Lou across the street." He glanced at Cui'er. "I heard you sell... milk tea here?"
Cui'er looked at me. I stood in the operation area and did not go out.
"Yes," Cui'er said. "Would you like to taste it?"
"No need." He smiled, but the smile was unfriendly. "I just wanted to see who is so bold as to open a tea shop opposite Qingfeng Lou."
"Our owner said," Cui'er replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, "In business, everyone relies on their own skills. Qingfeng Lou has its merits; Chaji has its merits. Guests can go wherever they prefer."
The Qingfeng Lou owner's expression changed. "Who is your owner?"
"Our owner said her identity cannot be revealed. But she asked me to convey a message to you—"
"What message?"
"She said: 'Cooperation is better than competition. Qingfeng Lou sells tea; Chaji sells milk tea. After drinking milk tea, guests can also go to Qingfeng Lou for tea. Working together to make this street prosperous benefits everyone.'"
The Qingfeng Lou owner fell silent for a moment. Then he snorted, turned around, and left.
Cui'er ran into the operation area, her face pale. "Your Highness, will he cause trouble?"
"No," I said. "He is a businessman. Businessmen calculate accounts. Once he thinks it over, he will know I am right."
That evening, Zhao Xu was looking at my ledger in the Kunning Hall.
"Forty-seven members, forty-sevenguan. Three hundred and twenty cups of milk tea sold, six thousand four hundredwen, equivalent to sixguan and four hundredwen. Gross profit for the day—"
"What exactly did you study in America?" He looked up at me, his expression complex.
"Food Science. And incidentally listening to Emily ramble."
"The things Emily talked about—they really work."
"Of course they work. Economics is a science."
He fell silent for a moment, then took something out of his sleeve and placed it on the table.
It was a bamboo slip. Engraved with the words "Chaji" and an osmanthus flower.
Number 002.
I was stunned. "You... when did you sign up?"
"This afternoon. I had Cui'er do it." His ears turned red. "001 belongs to someone else; I can't be worse than others."
Looking at that bamboo slip, I couldn't help but laugh.
"You are the Emperor. If you want to drink tea, just tell me; why get a membership card?"
"It's different." He put the slip away, carefully tucking it into his sleeve. "I am your first member."
"001 is the first."
"He is the first customer. I am the first—" He paused, his ears turning even redder. "The first family member."
My heart skipped a beat.
"Zhao Xu."
"Hmm."
"Did you get a membership card today because... you wanted to support me?"
"No." He lowered his head, his voice soft. "It's because... in your shop, I want to have a place."
I said nothing. I stood up, walked to him, and extended my hand.
"Give me your membership card."
He paused, handing me the bamboo slip. I took it, turned it over, and used my fingernail to carve a small mark in the corner—a heart.
"What is this?" he asked.
"In my place, this symbol represents 'love'."
He looked at that heart for a long time. Then he looked up at me, stars in his eyes.
"A-Heng."
"Hmm."
"I love you too."
That night, I wrote on a slip of paper:Great victory at Huanzhou. The Tuhuo Guns achieved merit. His Majesty said, "Thank you for coming from a thousand years in the future."
Chaji shop soft opening was a hit on the first day. Forty-seven membership cards issued, three hundred and twenty cups of milk tea sold. If Emily knew, she would surely say "I told you so".
His Majesty got a membership card, number 002. I carved a heart on the back. He said he loves me too.
Outside the window was the moon. The moon of the first day of October, missing a small corner, yet still bright.
I closed my eyes, thinking about the things I needed to do tomorrow:
First, ask Shen Lingcheng to forge more tea barrels. Business is good; one barrel isn't enough.
Second, design merchandise. We have membership cards; we can also make cup sleeves, packaging straps, and coupons. Emily said branding is important. Letting guests walk the streets holding Chaji cups is the best advertisement.
Third, develop new products. We have milk tea; we can also make fruit tea and flower tea. As a food science major, I understand this best.
He said never change for a hundred years. If he says no change, then there will be no change.
He is still that child who watched ants in the Imperial Garden. Only now, he is my Number 002.
[End of Chapter 48]