novelaction No. 417 Porcelain Tea Boat
No. 417 Porcelain Tea Boat
The crowd gathered around Su Ran as they arrived at the magnificent Cangyue Pavilion. As soon as he stepped inside, he was struck by the soaring eaves, brackets, carved beams, and painted buildings, exuding an ancient and solemn charm.
Su Ran had carefully prepared everything early on. The dinner table was filled with delicacies, including delicacies from land and sea, and all kinds of delicacies from land and sea. The mellow wine swayed gently in the glass cup, and the rich aroma instantly filled the entire hall.
Before the dinner started, Shen Li seized the opportunity and quietly tugged at Su Ran's sleeve. The two of them moved to the corner in tacit understanding.
Shen Li leaned closer to Su Ran's ear and said in a low but clear voice, "Su Ran, we have to come up with something very Chinese to attract Robert.
"Put out all the top-quality porcelain treasures in the pavilion, and prepare some rare teas, like Mingqian Longjing, Zhengshan Xiaozhong, and Wuyi Dahongpao, so they can fully appreciate the unique charm of China." Su Ran understood and nodded slightly to indicate that he understood.
Su Ran then quickly instructed his men to set up the reception room. Each of them carefully and steadily held each piece of exquisite porcelain, meticulously placing it on the polished sandalwood table.
The blue and white porcelain vase has smooth and elegant lines, and the blue and white pattern is like a lively ink painting, with a few strokes showing the artistic conception of mountains and rivers.
On this pastel porcelain plate, lush peonies bloom in vibrant colors, almost as if you could smell their fragrance. Every detail vividly showcases the exquisite craftsmanship of Chinese artisans.
After everything was arranged, Robert and his family were politely led to the living room.
As soon as they stepped over the threshold, their eyes were immediately attracted by the dazzling array of porcelain in the room.
Robert's eldest son, Eric, had his eyes wide open, his face filled with uncontrollable excitement. He pointed at a porcelain vase painted with pastel floral and bird patterns and couldn't help but exclaimed, "Dad, look at this! This is absolutely exquisite!"
Robert himself was also full of amazement. He walked slowly among the porcelains, stopping from time to time, reaching out his hand to gently touch the exquisite porcelains, his eyes full of appreciation and shock.
At the same time, maids in simple cheongsams walked in one after another with light steps, holding exquisite tea trays in their hands.
On the tea tray, a thin porcelain cup was filled with steaming hot tea, and the curling tea fragrance slowly rose up.
The maidservant explained in a gentle voice, "The tea leaves are picked before Qingming every year. They are extremely fresh and tender, with a refreshing taste and a long-lasting sweet aftertaste."
Robert's wife took the cup with both hands, took a sip, and an intoxicated expression instantly appeared on her face. She exclaimed sincerely: "This taste is fresh and elegant. I have never tasted such a wonderful drink."
The maid then handed Robert a cup of black tea and whispered, "This is Zhengshan Xiaozhong. The tea soup is bright red and attractive, with a very unique aroma." Robert took it with both hands, first leaning close to the cup, gently sniffing the unique tea fragrance, then taking a sip, and then nodding and praising, "It is indeed unique, with a mellow aroma and a long-lasting flavor. It's wonderful!"
Seeing that the time was ripe, Shen Li walked forward with graceful steps, a gentle smile on her face, and said slowly: "Mr. Robert, the porcelain and tea you see before your eyes are just the tip of the iceberg of China's vast and profound cultural treasures.
We've heard of your family's exceptional shipbuilding skills and are deeply impressed. If we can work together, leveraging your exquisite craftsmanship to build sturdy and durable vessels, then along the vast maritime trade routes of the future, these exquisite porcelain, fragrant tea, and countless other Chinese specialties will be transported to the world in your vessels. Then, you will reap not only abundant wealth, but also the fame of your family's shipbuilding will spread across the globe as these vessels sail far and wide."
Robert listened carefully to Shen Li's words, his eyes moving back and forth between the porcelain in front of him and Shen Li. His mind couldn't help but picture the magnificent scene of merchant ships laden with cargo, sailing through the rough seas and heading for the distance. At this moment, the balance in his heart was gradually tilting towards cooperation.
In the elegantly decorated reception room, Shen Li and Robert's family sat around the carved sandalwood table, concentrating on discussing shipbuilding matters.
On the table lay a series of meticulously drawn blueprints. Shen Li, brush in hand, tapped the drawings with her fingertips as she detailed her requirements to Robert. "Mr. Robert, the ship we plan to build needs to carry a large amount of cargo while also being able to withstand strong ocean winds and waves. Therefore, the sturdiness of the hull is of paramount importance. Do you think the keel design can be further optimized?"
Robert leaned forward, his eyes fixed on the blueprint. After carefully examining it, he offered his professional opinion: "From a design perspective, the current keel structure is relatively reasonable. However, in terms of material selection, using the oak wood that our family has refined can significantly enhance the hull's impact resistance, ensuring the ship's safety in harsh sea conditions."
The two of them discussed key details such as the ship's size, cabin layout, and sailing speed, and finally finalized all the plans.
For the next week, Robert and his family enjoyed a bountiful journey through Dongsheng. They strolled along the long, sandy beaches, letting the golden sand slide between their toes; climbed steep peaks, taking in the magnificent panoramic views of the mountains and sea; and wandered through the bustling markets, immersing themselves in the unique customs and culture of Dongsheng.
The day of departure came in a blink of an eye. Shen Li had people prepare several large boxes of gifts in advance. They were filled with exquisite blue and white porcelain vases, pastel porcelain plates with auspicious patterns, and various rare teas, such as Biluochun with a light orchid fragrance and Dahongpao with a mellow rock flavor. Each piece was carefully packed.
Shen Li smiled and handed the gift to Robert, saying sincerely, "This is a little gift from us. I hope you like it. This cooperation is just the beginning. We look forward to working together to embark on more wonderful journeys in the future."
Robert accepted the gift, his eyes filled with gratitude. Suddenly, he remembered something and said, "Beautiful Miss Li, thank you very much for your generosity. During our voyage, we passed a deserted island and dug up many colorful stones. Those stones looked unique, and we thought they might be useful to you, so we unloaded them at the port.
Now, I'll give them to you as a return gift. Furthermore, my eldest son, Eric, is a skilled shipbuilder and enthusiastic about this partnership. He's willing to stay and help you build the ship. We'll come back to take him home later."
After Shen Li heard this, a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes.
Based on Robert's previous description, she knew in her heart that those stones were most likely precious gems.
These gems are not only priceless, but can also add great value to the decoration of the ship or subsequent transactions.
She said excitedly, "This is such a pleasant surprise! We were worried about the complexity of the drawings and the difficulty in grasping some of the process details. Eric's decision to stay and help is undoubtedly a timely help. Don't worry, we will take good care of him."
In the square in front of Cangyue Pavilion, everyone lined up neatly to see Robert and his family of three off.
Robert shook hands with Shen Li and others one by one and said goodbye, then got on the carriage.
The carriage started slowly, the wheels rolled, and a cloud of dust was raised.
Eric stood there, waving goodbye to his family.
After the carriage drove away, he turned around and followed Shen Li into Cangyue Pavilion with great anticipation.
At the same time, Shen Li did not forget to arrange manpower and quickly went to the port to properly transport the "stone" given by Robert back, hoping that these gems could bring more surprises and possibilities for future plans.