Ye Yuqingchuan, born in the Year of the Rat, a Leo, hails from Wuchibi, his hometown and also a traditional tea production area. He grew up drinking tea and developed a deep love for it, which has now become an obsession. Over the years, he has published more than twenty books on tea culture, which have had a broad influence across the Pan-Chinese region.

From a place in Yunnan over 2000 meters above sea level, growing up under the gentle southwestern sun, when I met you, you gave me a warm afternoon.

Our first meeting was not one of grandeur or prestige. It was just a very ordinary, very ordinary afternoon.

When I took out the tea, each leaf felt heavy and substantial, what is often described as having good weight. This feeling was grounding and joyful.

As the tea leaves were placed into the gaiwan, the clear, crisp clinking sound they made felt like the overture to a master-level concert, filling me with anticipation and excitement.

Excellence stems from an endless挑剔 of details. So, when your fingers touch this tea, your heart can't help but tremble; when your ears hear this sound, the door to happiness gradually opens. But is this just the beginning? What will the rhythm be like later?

This was my first dance with Sun-Dried Red Tea. When the joy in my heart overflowed, time immediately shifted from hurried to serene, from blurry to clear.

The sound of water progressed from silence to a gentle sizzle, then to a sound like a fading figure in the distance. I knew it was time to join hands. As the water fell like pearls into the gaiwan, I could hear your soft, orchid-like breath—lazy and gentle, soft and enchanting. Unwilling to startle you awake, I just let the water gently cover you. Let you slowly awaken in this warmth and softness. Because the time for our dance is near, we both must be in our best state.

Rouse yourself! Let our future life be splendid, beautiful, and happy, not for others, but for ourselves.

Pour water again, continuing until it overflows the gaiwan, allowing the tiny hairs on the surface to flow out. When the water surface becomes clean and calm again, I know you are ready. Everything is so perfect.

After being moistened by water, your form is so perfect—a little more would be too plump, a little less would be too thin. Your color is also such a deep red, yet not the least bit worldly. Upon the first sip, I thought you might say something, but instead, you were silent, offering your fragrance, your含蓄的沉稳的爱 (implicit, steady love) to my taste buds and sense of smell. Unassuming, yet once again deeply captivating.

Life holds countless meetings and partings. This time, I am also deeply grateful and moved by this touch of red from Yunnan.

(Sun-Dried Red Tea is a red tea from Yunnan that I encountered. I fell deeply in love with it upon meeting, and recently it has become my daily tea.)