"A tea competition and hot spring visit? Of course, that sounds great!" Master Fuli agreed without a second thought.
In October, the tea competition reaches the city level, where top tea farmers from each county engage in an intense match-up. The official tea competition in Xiadong will next send invitations to tea enterprises and farmers nationwide.
At that time, tea merchants and enthusiasts from all over the country will gather in Xiadong to purchase or stock up on premium teas from the production regions.
Ansheng didn't need to think about it; during the busiest days of the tea competition, Ah Qing will surely take time off to help.
Judging from past tea competition experiences, that nuclear-blast tea might have some difficulty winning big at the city level. After all, Qing'an Tea's raw materials are innately several levels below the competitors.
However, securing a spot for the provincial-level competition wouldn't be hard.
If only Lao Deng Tea Garden had some reputation, they might even skip a level and directly apply to the competition organizers by filling out a form.
But there's nothing that can be done. Rather than a real competition, it's more like an official initiative by Xiadong to establish a standard.
To make a name for oneself in the tea industry, one either needs to be an already famous competitor or become a dark horse, breaking through and gaining official endorsement along with exposure.
The tea in the advanced competition group is unlikely to have top-grade core regional tea, but all the teas have a strict criterion. Your tea entry must first meet the standards of its category.
Black tea must have the essence of black tea, green tea must have the essence of green tea. Not any substandard stuff can enter.
The exposure from the tea competition is funded by the officials. Not only will provincial TV stations broadcast, but CCTV will also cover it.
Letting substandard entries participate would waste the valuable exposure resources bought by the official money, which is unfair to the genuine competitors, hence the threshold.
The advanced competition group is no longer just an exchange among tea enthusiasts and merchants, but an economic equation and a political move by Xiadong to export the province's key tea standards.
Still.
Ansheng didn't care about all the behind-the-scenes intricacies. The only thing that mattered was winning the gold medal at the tea competition!
He even had the competition tea in mind.
It's just... he hadn't mentioned it to the tea trees yet, which might make them a bit emotional.
"Oh, yes, there's something else."
"After learning of your successful enlightenment, I was so overwhelmed with excitement that I picked out some small gifts for you back then."
Lin Ying walked toward the stone table in the courtyard, as if recalling something, and spoke to Master Fuli.
"Hmm?"
Ansheng glanced sideways at Lin Ying, showing a strange expression on his face: "You're... not giving me mice, are you?"
"Once Lin Shu gets here, you'll know." Lin Ying gently shook her head and smiled wryly.
Indeed, in her Fox Lady state, she could release negative emotions, but during that state, her mind was extremely erratic and joyful, seeing the world as sunny and full of laughter.
Overall, her thoughts felt as if she had eaten some uncooked poisonous mushrooms.
"So mysterious..." Ansheng muttered, introducing the people at the dining table to Lin Ying.
The Monkey King from the Security Bureau, the father and daughter from the Yang family hermit sect, and the grandfather and grandson from the Gao family, also part of a sect.
"So, there's really a lineal heritage?" The usually cool Lin Ying expressed slight surprise upon hearing this.
"No wonder the last time Daoist Yung Ji had such a unique presence compared to other feng shui masters when he spoke."
"Hmm? Does Lin Ying know people from sect forces?" Ansheng squatted on the table, looking at her curiously.
"Mm-hmm."
Lin Ying lightly nodded and said: "When constructing or relocating a house, following Xiadong's traditional practice, it's customary to consult a feng shui master."
"Although I don't believe in it, spending a few hundred thousand for some esoteric topics isn't bad. It gives material to chat about idly with friends."
"Oh...then give me his contact number. When I return to Xiadong next month, I'll deal with that old Daoist. Fooling us for money, really..." Ansheng lifted a paw and patted the table, showing his dissatisfaction.
"Haha..."
Lin Ying chuckled twice and did not provide Daoist Yung Ji's phone number. In terms of feng shui and occult fortune, the Daoist might not excel, but his revised suggestions for her villa had been excellent, with no leaks for three or four years.
"The old Daoist is already frail, and wouldn't stand a chance in a debate with Master Fuli. Besides, with you around, why would I need a famous feng shui master?"
"Where Master Fuli resides is a blessed place, driving away evil forces, disasters, and bad luck. You are my lucky star, so future architectural consultancy fees, you should cut me some slack."
Lin Ying laughed as she petted the little fox's chin, using the technique and angle taught by Ah Qing, making Master Fuli's eyes involuntarily squint in comfort, wearing a dazed fox expression.
The two sect leaders were equally confused.
Their minds kept echoing the fox fairy's words: "Hiring a feng shui master, it costs a few hundred thousand."
What?
With such forgery, aren't you afraid of going to jail?
You're not afraid? Fine, neither are we. Begging a kind-hearted big brother to lead us.
Collecting such a consultant fee for feng shui, and even involving the fox fairy, made the Daoist clueless.
"Miss Lin, should we deliver the items?" Lin Shu, having parked the helicopter, asked as she dragged a flatbed cart loaded with a dozen metal boxes.
Lin Shu's expression was rather peculiar as she inquired to Lin Ying, who had resumed her normal form.
"Let's try them on Master Fuli. Since they're already here..." Lin Ying grinned wryly.
"What's this?" Ansheng curiously peered over.
Lin Shu picked up a metal box, placed it on the table, unlocked it, revealing the first layer: jewelry set on a black velvet display stand, one set for men and one for women.
However, the men's set was noticeably smaller, seemingly tailored for a child aged seven or eight.
The metal box's second layer contained two sets of clothing, while the bottom layer held shoes and some accessories.
"......."
Seeing the opened box, Lin Ying rubbed her forehead, displaying a strange expression on her usually cool face:
"I was extremely excited back then, and upon thinking about Master Fuli's successful enlightenment, I naturally wanted to record and eternalize that significant moment for Master Fuli..."
"The women's clothes are mine, and the children's clothes, well, I kind of seized them..."
Lin Ying had custom outfits made for Master Fuli, generally leaning toward casual and comfortable styles, without sacrificing comfort for aesthetics and form.
And among those sixteen boxes, were all sorts of children's clothing styles, but not commissioned by Lin Ying; she had borrowed them directly from Lin Clan members' households...
The Fox Lady didn't care for the trivial elements, only considering recording a beautiful life with Master Fuli later.
Returning to her normal form, Lin Ying found herself speechless at this scene.
It was simply... simply too presumptuous!
The Fox Lady was utterly a crude ruffian; Master Fuli hadn't even agreed, and she was preparing things already!
"Master Fuli, you don't need to feel pressured about picking clothes, but honestly, the jewelry was specifically customized for you, one-to-one."
"They were initially meant for decorating the Fox Immortal Temple sculptures..."
There is a Fox Immortal Temple under construction in Changxi Town, mainly funded by Chen Nian, who invested over ten million yuan, with over two acres of land to serve Master Fuli alongside Daoist Yang Liu Ma.
It's somewhat inaccurate to call it a temple.
Its principal use should be Chen Nian's place for storing imported specialties for Master Fuli.
Whereas the Fox Immortal Temple built by Lin Ying had an architectural complex spanning over ninety acres, and during the land use approval, it was designated a landmark structure, making Chen Nian's modest little temple incomparable.
This near-hundred-acre Fox Immortal Temple naturally wouldn't have just one main hall statue; significant halls and scenic spots feature statues of Master Fuli.
And the jewelry that Lin Ying brought was initially meant for those statues.
However, Lin Ying hadn't mentioned this Fox Immortal Temple scenic area to Master Fuli.
Because this temple, or rather mansion, was a New Year gift Lin Ying prepared for Ansheng.
A gift, naturally, should have an element of surprise to truly be a gift.
"..... Ah Qing seeing these might drag me to the Security Bureau for surrender."
"Even robbing an internationally-renowned jewelry exhibit wouldn't yield this much jewelry." Ansheng joked, nudging Lin Ying's arm, advising her to save money.
Sister Lin Fu's family might be wealthy, but that's public funds, along with the reserve funds in clan accounts.
Don't spend your personal savings, or if you have to embezzle public funds to maintain life, then things could get messy.
When the time comes, it won't be Old Li bringing two boxes of milk as New Year's greetings, but me carrying two barrels of peanut oil and vacuum-packed rice from Wuchang to greet him instead.