Courtyard House: A System Connecting Two Worlds, Resources for the Nation

After resting in the room for a while, Zhou Feng took a deep breath, realized that his body had returned to normal, and pushed open the door.

It's alright, at least I can go out now.

Standing in the corridor, he could see the entire lobby downstairs.

At this moment, Zhao Pan'er was standing at the top of the stairs with her back to him. Sun San Niang had rushed out of the kitchen at some point, carrying a gleaming cleaver, but Zhao Pan'er blocked her with one hand behind her.

Song Yinzhang's face showed a hint of fear, but he still held a long flute in his hand and stood on the other side of Zhao Pan'er.

Downstairs in the lobby, the tea drinkers who were originally packed with people had dispersed to the side, some standing to watch the excitement, and others sitting in the corners whispering among themselves.

In the very center of the hall stood a dozen or so people, all dressed in brocade robes, some fat, some thin, some tall, some short.

The leader was a middle-aged man in his forties, with a neatly trimmed short beard, and wearing a dark blue Hangzhou silk robe.

"Gentlemen, what brings you to my half-veiled teahouse today? Unfortunately, we don't have enough seats available. Perhaps we could wait until next time?"

The leader sneered, raised his chin to look at Zhao Pan'er, and deliberately raised his voice: "Madam Zhao, you don't need to pretend here. We're here today to seek justice!"

Upon hearing his words, the tea drinkers who had been watching the spectacle began to whisper among themselves.

Since everyone there was a connoisseur of tea, someone naturally recognized him and whispered to the person next to him, "This is Manager Hu of Qingmingfang in Tea Soup Alley, one of the top tea masters in Tokyo. Why are you personally coming here today, half-veiled?"

"Whether they're skilled or not is another matter, but these are three women running a shop here. What kind of skill is it for them to gang up on them and bully them?"

"Shh—this Manager Hu has connections too, be careful what you say!"

……

Hearing the comments from those around him, Manager Hu's expression became even more pronounced, and he led the dozen or so people behind him forward a few more steps.

"Justice? Manager Hu, my Banzhai Teahouse has only been open for a few days and has no connection with any of you managers. I don't know where I have offended you all, that you have to go to such lengths to come here and demand justice?"

Zhao Pan'er raised an eyebrow. Having come to Tokyo from Qiantang, she had seen too much, and the managers of a dozen or so teahouses were naturally not intimidating to her.

"Completely unrelated?"

The shopkeeper's sneer deepened: "Madam Zhao, isn't that a bit unfair? You even snatched Su Niang away, and you still say you have no connection with her?"

Su Niang…

Song Yinzhang gripped the flute tightly, his fingertips turning slightly white.

Zhou Feng, who was standing on the second floor, also twitched his lips slightly.

I dare not say anything else, but the story of Su Niang paying a hundred gold coins to become an apprentice was definitely orchestrated by Zhao Pan'er herself.

First, they spread the word in Tokyo that the half-veiled Lady Song's pipa skills were unparalleled. Then they went to find Su Niang and finally put on a show offering a hundred gold pieces for her to become her teacher.

This tactic is seen by later generations as a standard marketing hype, but it didn't exist in this era, so these tea drinkers regarded it as an elegant affair, a romantic tale that could be written into poems and passed down through generations.

"Madam Zhao, you don't need to pretend anymore. Tea shops in this capital city have their own rules, and you can't do business like this."

As soon as Manager Hu spoke, the tea shop managers behind him all echoed his words.

"Yes, there are rules to follow in doing business."

"Madam Zhao, your methods are not honorable."

...

Zhao Pan'er's gaze swept over the shopkeepers in front of her, a coldness appearing on her face. She then sighed softly, straightened her sleeves, and spoke slowly: "You all came to my Half-Veiled Pavilion today, probably not just for Su Niang's matter, right? If you have something to say, just say it directly. Hiding in front of so many tea drinkers will only make you a laughing stock."

"Alright, since Madam Zhao wants me to make things clear, then I won't stand on ceremony!"

Manager Hu's face flushed and paled in turns. He took a deep breath, straightened his back, and raised his voice slightly: "Esteemed tea drinkers, I am Hu Bingwen of Qingmingfang. I have been running a teahouse in Dongjing City for over ten years. I wouldn't presume to claim great skill, but I am certainly familiar with the rules of tea ceremony!"

He took two steps forward, put his hands behind his back, raised his head, and struck a righteous and awe-inspiring pose.

"The tea ceremony has always emphasized the virtues of a gentleman: tranquility and harmony. Tea is an elegant pursuit, valued for its serenity, depth, and detachment. But look at this half-veiled face!"

Manager Hu turned around to face the tea drinkers, flicked his sleeves, and his face was full of heartache and indignation: "This is outrageous! Charging exorbitant prices to challenge the market—what kind of rule is this? Even more absurd is that this Zhao lady actually came up with the despicable method of using courtesans to serve tea to attract customers!"

"Ladies and gentlemen! Serving tea with courtesans is the practice of brothels and entertainment establishments. Our Song Dynasty's tea ceremony has been passed down for decades, and we have never seen such a despicable tactic. This is no teahouse; it's clearly a charade, using the name of tea ceremony to engage in brothel-like prostitution!"

These words were quite serious, and the entire lobby instantly erupted in chaos.

The dozen or so tea shop owners behind Manager Hu immediately gathered in response, chiming in with their own opinions.

"Manager Hu is right, what kind of teahouse is this? It's clearly a brothel!"

"Our twenty-seven teahouses in Tea House Lane all run a refined business; we can't let such despicable tactics ruin our reputation!"

"Yes! We can't let them break the rules of the tea ceremony!"

Sun San Niang gripped the kitchen knife tightly, wanting to rush forward, but Zhao Pan'er stretched out an arm to stop her.

"Pan'er, don't stop me!"

Sun Sanniang gritted her teeth, her eyes blazing with fury as she glared at the group: "When I was running a teahouse in Qiantang, they didn't even know where they were! They even called me a prostitute!"

"Third Sister, don't be in a hurry."

Zhao Pan'er's voice was calm, but it gave Manager Hu more confidence, making him think that she was afraid.

Since that was the case, he turned around, faced the tea drinkers, clasped his hands in a fist and palm salute, and said loudly, "Distinguished guests, I also have something to announce. Starting tomorrow, all guests who wish to linger at Ban Zhai Mian will be refused service at the twenty-seven teahouses in Tea Soup Lane!"

The hall fell silent for a moment after these words were spoken.

The next second, a scholar stepped forward from the corner, cupped his hands in greeting to Manager Hu, and said, "Manager Hu, if I may be so bold as to say something, the grudges between you managers and Half-Covered Face are matters of business, but to use a customer as a blackmailer... isn't that a bit inappropriate?"

An elderly man in a silk robe cleared his throat and said, "Manager Hu, I've been drinking tea in Tea Soup Alley for over ten years. We're all neighbors here. I'm only here half-hidden today, but I'll be back in Tea Soup Alley in the future. Business is business; customers should go wherever they want. Why make such a fuss?"

Listening to the two men's advice, Manager Hu's face turned ugly.

He never expected that after running his tea ceremony business in Tokyo for so long and accumulating so many regular customers, Zhao Pan'er would poach them all in just a few days, even getting the customers to turn around and advise him against it!

"Gentlemen, there's no need for persuasion. It's not that I, Hu, am heartless; it's simply that we walk different paths and cannot work together! Although we are merely businessmen, we cannot tolerate being compared to these lowly women of the night. The art of tea is refined and elegant; how could they possibly defile it?"