Old Chen was at Yu Zhenghong’s house, almost hand-holding Yu Zhenghong, teaching him how to stand out in the village-level competition.
Unknowingly, it was eight-thirty. After teaching Yu Zhenghong, Old Chen ran away, as if there were some catastrophic forces chasing him.
"Thank Master Fox for his blessing!"
Yu Zhenghong sincerely said, and somehow pulled out a handful of incense sticks to light for Master Fox first.
The tea competition in Xia Dong, even if it’s just at the village level, still holds a certain amount of prestige.
One of the mandatory standards for participating in the tea competition is to have your own tea field. Also, before entering, you must submit a soil and tea quality inspection report to ensure no banned pesticides are used and the safety of the tea.
Yu Zhenghong’s tea trees were planted not long ago, even if they meet the above conditions, choosing to participate would most likely be rejected by the village committee.
During their growth, most nutrients of the tea trees are used for their own development, in other words, tea leaves produced by immature tea trees have no nutrition or flavor.
Although it is a village-level competition, outsiders and tea merchants will join the fun, and the village committee of Changxi Town naturally won’t present something that fails to meet the production standard, tarnishing their own village’s reputation.
Yu Zhenghong wants to participate, but he will have to wait about three years until the tea trees reach the juvenile stage and the quality of the tea leaves is stable to get approval.
But this year, for some reason, he was lucky; Old Chen actually gave him a spot to participate.
It should be noted that just being able to participate in the tea competition allows you to label your product as ’nominated for the tea competition’.
With this label, it’s equivalent to having an official endorsement.
How the tea tastes is subjective, but we can ensure its safety is unquestionable.
If he wins an award at the tea competition, he can mark the award on the packaging, and the price will soar immediately.
"I’m not greedy; I’ll be satisfied if it reaches the top ten in the provincial level, bless me, Master Fox." Yu Zhenghong chanted before the little fox, completely oblivious to the rolling eyes of Master Fox.
Yu Zhenghong is aware of their situation, but as a person, what’s the difference between not having dreams and being a salted fish?
Besides, talking big doesn’t require taxes. What if Master Fox really listens and performs a ritual overnight to boost his luck?
What if the judges have mouth ulcers, taste disorders, or presbyopia and feel that his tea leaves are even tastier than the Dahongpao from marginal production areas?
After offering incense to Master Fox, Yu Zhenghong, with a smile, transferred two thousand to Yu Xueqing, asking her to properly entertain the classmates coming from far away, and to ask for more money if needed, ensuring not to lose face.
Only...
What Yu Xueqing asked next almost gave Yu Zhenghong a back sprain.
When Yu Xueqing was seeing her parents off, she asked her well-experienced dad, "Dad, do you know where we can find super authentic Buddha Jumps Over the Wall?"
"Super authentic Buddha Jumps Over the Wall?" Yu Zhenghong was taken aback, then instantly looked vigilant, "Does Master Fox want to eat it?"
"No, it’s..."
"If it’s not Master Fox wanting to eat it, then it’s a no. The name of that dish should be called Yu Zhenghong Hanging on the Crooked Neck Tree. One abalone alone costs me 1800, and there are six abalones in one pot, not to mention other delicacies from the mountains and seas." Upon finding out it wasn’t Master Fox craving it, Yu Zhenghong directly refused.
The most authentic Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, most Xia Dong people have never tasted.
If it were Master Fox requesting it, Yu Zhenghong might grit his teeth and swallow his pride and order the cheapest set meal priced at 18,800 as an offering.
If it was Yu Xueqing asking, Yu Zhenghong would rather hand the money to his daughter to spend freely than order any Buddha Jumps Over the Wall set meal.
"Oh, it’s not that I want to eat it...well, actually, I do want it a bit, but I’m asking for Momo. She’s visiting Xia Dong, and her main goals are to eat seafood, swim, and try Buddha Jumps Over the Wall once."
Yu Xueqing explained to her dad.
"Oh..."
Upon knowing it wasn’t his daughter plotting against him, Yu Zhenghong breathed a sigh of relief and said, "The authentic Buddha Jumps Over the Wall can be found near Longhai Reservoir in Changping District, but you need to book three days in advance at that place."
"Hmm... the price is very expensive, one meal could cost you a year’s living expenses."
After saying this, Yu Zhenghong left relaxed, not at all worried whether his daughter and her friends could afford it.
Joking aside, that place’s price is a total rip-off. If Ah Qing doesn’t run at the sight of it, I’ll change my last name to my daughter’s! Yu Zhenghong felt at ease, thinking it’d be good for his daughter to broaden her horizons, so she wouldn’t be easily impressed by something as trivial as a plastic flower from a blond guy in the future.
"Oh wow, nice car! All the panels are made of carbon fiber."
Sitting in the pickup truck, Yu Zhenghong saw the electric car parked in front, as well as the Dodge Hellcat parked across the street by Mo Yiqing, and couldn’t help but marvel:
"Someone in our village got rich again. When will my rebar fishing rod be replaced with carbon fiber?"
Yu Zhenghong winked at Chen Peipei, but all he got in return was a cold stare.
"On our wedding anniversary, you gave me a bag, and I gave you a set of Shimano sea fishing rods."
"I put the bag in the closet, never used it, so where’s the Shimano meant for showing off?"
"It... it got pulled away by the fish."
"Louder."
"Report! The fishing rod my wife gave me for showing off got dragged away by a fish!"
"Was using the rebar fishing rod worth it?" Chen Peipei said in a tone full of hidden meaning.
Yu Zhenghong kept silent, but appeared full of resentment.
Evidently, regarding the last fishing failure, Yu Zhenghong had his own opinions.
......
Meanwhile, once Yu Xueqing got back home, she saw Mo Yiqing standing in front of the altar, hands clasped together.
"Momo... what are you doing?" Yu Xueqing asked, perplexed looking at Mo Yiqing.
"Huh? I’m blending in! I just saw Uncle praying so devoutly, thought I’d give it a try too." Mo Yiqing replied casually.
"Woe is me..."
Ansheng, with a face full of black lines, looked at Yu Xueqing, uttering two wails:
"Ah Qing... you arrived just in time, hurry and take care of the free-spirited Momo."
"She treats me like a turtle in a Wishing Pool, even asking me to be her bath ball, yes, the foaming ball for shower gel..."
"Furthermore, she’s asked for a full body massage!"
"It’s like she’s getting a year-long bathhouse membership from me."
Ansheng rushed to Yu Xueqing’s side, complaining about Mo Yiqing’s various whimsical ideas.
"Woof woof woof—"
’Fox, Fox, Boss Bai from the market is looking for you. Anyone who heard this, keep passing it on.’
"Woof woof woof—"
Squatting down in the bathroom, enjoying Mo Yiqing’s supermodel bath service, Ansheng suddenly heard the barking sound arising from Changxi Town and paused.
Then, Ansheng raised his head to look at Yu Xueqing.
Yu Xueqing sensed something and exclaimed:
"What? Dogs want to bite Fox’s butt?"
Ansheng: "......"