“First, it was the Chanel tablecloth and now she’s claiming to use Gorreana Broken Leaf Black Tea for boiling tea eggs. Such a braggart and a liar at such a young age!”
“Come on, give her a break. She’s just a nine-year-old, poor and stubborn and probably hasn’t seen much of the world.”
I sighed, hearing the disbelieving comments.
But I wasn’t lying.
That coffee? It came from an old man with a bamboo pole and it only cost a few cents per pound. There was no way it could be that expensive.
Right about now, it was probably the time Mom would be making her famous tea eggs.
The livestream switched over to my house.
The camera panned to show Mom walking into the living room, her Cartoon-themed pajamas making her look casual yet radiant.
With fair skin, a stunning face, long legs and sharp features, she practically glowed, even without a hint of makeup.
While the audience was busy marveling at her beauty, she casually grabbed a face mask from the side.
[Wait, could that be… the $4,000-a-sheet luxury face mask?]
[$4,000! That’s like spending a whole month’s salary on your face!]
I scratched my head in confusion. “It’s not expensive. Mom said it only costs fifty cents per sheet.”
[I knew it! Fake! Little poor girl, tell your mom not to use counterfeit products, or her face will break out!]
[Exactly! Knockoffs are everywhere nowadays. How can you trust them?]
[What’s the point of being so pretty if she’s married to a broke man? She should just get a divorce! With those looks, she could easily land a rich husband!]
[Falling for a guy who’s broke, toothless and balding. What a fool! So love-struck.]
Meanwhile, Mom, unfazed, had already moved on to the kitchen.
She casually grabbed a handful of tea leaves, tossing them effortlessly into a pot filled with eggs and seasonings.
“Today’s Emma’s birthday. Let’s make something she loves,” she said with a warm smile.
The camera zoomed in on the tea leaves.
They looked strikingly similar to the ones Claire had at her house.
Claire’s were in a sleek, premium package; ours, by contrast, were packed more simply in a plain bag.
[Wait a second. I was laughing earlier, but now those look like real Gorreana Broken Leaf Black Tea!]
[Who are you kidding? Look at their house; those could be weeds for all we know!]
[My grandpa’s a certified tea expert! He says those aren’t just Gorreana Broken Leaf Black Tea; they’re from the original mother trees! What a waste, using them for tea eggs!]
For context, regular Gorreana Broken Leaf Black Tea was already expensive. Still, tea from the remaining six mother trees was the pinnacle of luxury, something only the elite could afford.
[Seriously? How could anyone tell just by looking?]
[My grandpa’s a tea enthusiast. He’s willing to buy it, no matter the price. Leave your contact info, little girl!]
[Wow, someone actually believes this nonsense? Have you seen their house? That tea’s obviously fake!]
The reply came swiftly, [No need to argue; my grandpa’s on his way to the filming location.]
After that message, the chat fell into silence.
[I’m dying of laughter. Someone’s actually gonna pay for fake tea?]
The comments erupted into a heated debate as the host turned to the panel of judges.
Coincidentally, one of the judges today was a respected tea master.
“Mr. Lewis,” the host asked, “The comments are all over the place, arguing whether the tea at Emma’s house is real or fake. As a pioneer in tea culture and an expert in tea tasting, can you clear this up for us?”
“Of course.”
Mr. Lewis adjusted his glasses, peering at the screen.
With a quick glance, he waved dismissively and sneered, “Fake.”
He leaned forward, his voice dripping with authority. “High-quality Gorreana Broken Leaf Black Tea features tight, sturdy, slightly twisted strips, with dry leaves that are dark green, gleaming with a jewel-like shine. What they’ve got here? Just plain black tea.”
He scoffed again, his finger pointing dismissively at Claire’s screen.
“This, on the other hand,” he said with a smirk, “is the real Gorreana Broken Leaf Black Tea.”
