Chapter 224: Coffee

Chapter 224 Coffee

Qiu Huanian followed the familiar scent for a few dozen paces and saw a small shop near the end of Wanguo Fang.

Compared to other shops, this one had not undergone much renovation; only a heavy Arabian-style carpet hung at the entrance, and a row of clay pots sat on the open windowsill.

The shop owner had a white cloth wrapped around his head, a full beard, blue eyes, and medium-brown skin. His broad robe could not conceal his robust and sturdy figure.

Bai Quan stepped forward and asked a few questions, only to find that the man's Chinese was very poor, limited to simple greetings, making meaningful communication impossible.

Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse were traveling discreetly, but the two were practically household names in Tianjin Prefecture, known to everyone from the elderly to young children. As soon as they arrived at Wanguo Fang, the clerks managing the area were informed.

Seeing the prefectural magistrate and the county lord encountering difficulties, the clerks quickly brought out a translator from the shadows. With the translator's help, the two sides were finally able to communicate.

"This man is named Harimu, a merchant from Arabia. He has been trading between Arabia, Zhan Cheng, and Brunei. After hearing about the opening of Tianjin Port in Great Yu, he made a detour and arrived in Tianjin just a few days ago. This shop opened yesterday."

Arabia is the ancient name for the region of the Arabian Peninsula, located at the intersection of Asia, Africa, and Europe. For thousands of years, it has been a key hub for cultural and economic exchange. Arab merchants connected with China, Europe, and Africa through land trade routes, and also traveled by ship to trade with Southeast Asian countries.

Qiu Huanian had initially thought Harimu was in his thirties, but after hearing the clerk's introduction, he learned that Harimu was actually under thirty. The beard and robe made it hard to guess his age.

"What is this drink in your shop called, and how is it sold?" Qiu Huanian pointed to the large clay pot bubbling on the stove inside.

Xing Mi had been frowning since entering the shop and whispered to Bai Quan, "This foreigner is selling something so bitter and sour, no wonder he has no business. Why is the county lord asking about it?"

Bai Quan didn't want to respond, but Xing Mi kept muttering, so he leaned over and whispered, "I also find it bitter, but the county lord must have his reasons."

Xing Mi nodded, "You're right. It must be because this foreigner doesn't know how to make it properly, which is why it's so bitter."

Mumian, holding the young master, pretended not to notice her son Bai Quan and Xing Mi whispering behind the county lord.

Harimu, being new to the area, didn't know who Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse were, but from the respectful attitude of the Wanguo Fang clerks, it was clear that these two guests were of high status.

Seeing Qiu Huanian inquire about the beverage he had high hopes for but which had been poorly received in Great Yu, Harimu's eyes lit up, and he enthusiastically explained for nearly ten minutes.

The clerk responsible for translating was overwhelmed, cutting out all the meaningless boasting and summarizing Harimu's lengthy speech in just a few sentences.

"Harimu says this is made from magical seeds from hot soil, blessed by their god. The specific method is to roast the seeds, grind them, boil them with water, and drink it. Those with money might add milk. A regular cup costs twenty wen, and with milk, thirty wen."

Harimu protested, dissatisfied that his lengthy explanation was translated in less than a minute, but no one paid him any attention.

To do business freely in Great Yu, he would first need to learn Chinese, a realization that would gradually spread among foreign merchants worldwide.

Harimu wanted to package his drink as a mysterious and expensive elixir, but unfortunately, he encountered Qiu Huanian, a time traveler who saw right through his tricks.

The so-called magical seeds were actually coffee beans, one of the three major beverages of the future world. The hot soil referred to the origin of coffee beans in Africa, and the claims of divine blessings and miraculous effects were all part of his sales pitch.

Qiu Huanian chuckled, "An egg costs just three or four wen, and thirty wen can buy over two catties of white rice. You're selling this at quite a high price."

The clerks managing Wanguo Fang agreed with the county lord's words. With twenty or thirty wen, one could order a bowl of savory meat wontons at a restaurant, pick up a jianbing guozi from a street vendor, and even add an egg. Why would anyone buy this bitter, murky liquid filled with grounds?

Coffee would eventually become popular worldwide, naturally due to its unique qualities. Unfortunately, Harimu's crude brewing method and unreasonable pricing made it fail to gain traction in the current Great Yu market.

Qiu Huanian didn't buy the coffee brewed in the large pot. After bargaining, he purchased a large pot of coffee beans, planning to brew it himself at home.

According to Harimu, these beans had been introduced to his country over a hundred years ago, and the drink made by grinding the beans and boiling them with water had indeed become popular throughout Arabia.

Arab merchants brought coffee beans to Southeast Asian countries, promoting them and making a lot of money. That's why Harimu brought a large shipment of coffee beans as merchandise when he came to Tianjin Port.

Believing that scarcity drives value, Harimu set the price of coffee very high, hoping to strike it rich. Unfortunately, he didn't anticipate that his ambitious business plan would fail at the first step. The crude version of boiled coffee beans, without even straining the grounds, failed to gain traction in the food-loving nation of Great Yu.

Qiu Huanian originally intended to buy the coffee beans and leave, but after glancing at Du Yunse, he suddenly changed his mind.

"Give me a cup of your drink, no milk or sugar added."

Harimu quickly took out a newly bought porcelain cup and poured a large spoonful of black liquid with coffee grounds into it. The strong, peculiar smell made everyone around frown.

Qiu Huanian took it personally but, instead of drinking it himself, handed it to Du Yunse.

"Yun Se, try it. I used to quite like this kind of drink."

"..."

Du Yunse looked at the cup in front of him, filled with white foam and floating black grounds, and fell into a rare silence.

The others' eyes all drifted away. The county magistrate was about to feed the prefect some foreign concoction—this was a private matter between the couple, and they had no business meddling.

To the ordinary people of the Yu Dynasty, this drink, which looked no different from traditional Chinese medicine soup—or even more terrifying—was the bitter medicine that foreigners consumed.

Qiu Huanian held the cup with a smile, his beautiful eyes slightly curved, flashing a hint of mischief, clearly signaling his 'mischievous intentions.'

"Did Brother Hua really like this before?" Du Yunse asked a question that no one else understood.

"Of course," only Qiu Huanian knew what he meant.

To ensure he had enough time and energy for his ambitious endeavors, Qiu Huanian had often relied on coffee to "keep going" in his previous life. Over time, coffee had become second nature to him.

Sometimes, when he had too little sleep, he would even drink black coffee without sugar or milk. That unique bitter and sour taste was enough to jolt him awake instantly.

Of course, even the most original black coffee would undoubtedly taste better than Harimu's unfiltered, large-pot boiled coffee.

Upon hearing Qiu Huanian's answer, Du Yunse said nothing and naturally took the cup, sipping from it. His long eyebrows immediately furrowed.

"How is it?" Qiu Huanian asked with a smile.

"..." Du Yunse sighed helplessly and answered truthfully, "It really doesn't agree with my palate."

Qiu Huanian stopped him from taking a second sip. "Alright, this method of preparation isn't great to begin with. I'll brew a fresh pot for you to try when we get back."

"..." Du Yunse lapsed into a suspicious silence.