Tale of Two Tea Shops: Part Two

Thank you to Abigal for reminding me to finish this story.
Here is part one
https://sweetestdew.com/blogs/tea-education/a-tale-of-two-tea-shops-part-one

As I left the original tea shop I picked a random street and started walking. I passed shop after shop not really knowing which shop to go in. As I walked passed one shop I noticed the people inside perk up. I kept going afew feet when I heard from behind me someone yell (in Chinese) “Come drink tea!”. I turned around and there was a burly bald man hanging out of the shop door smiling and waving me to come in.

I walked in the shop and already the vibe was different. While the first shop was clean with a trendy modern feel, this tea shop felt more like home. The table was a refurbished door from an old home; solid piece of wood with the brass knocker sill attached. Around the shop were shelves of tea and the occasional award. Around the table sat a number of people including two children who were minding their own business and drawing as if this was their home. They all smiled warmly and as I sat down the tea started brewing.

We drank three teas I dont remember what we drank, because we didnt really talk about the tea. Unlike the first stop which was trying hard to sell me the tea, this shop used the more like a social lubricant. We talked about America and Chinese governmental relations. We talked about Chinese history. We talked about growing up in China and how times have really changed. At one point the kids came up to show me they could write their names in english and I wrote mine. We talked about everything but the tea and it was really nice. I must have sat there for an hour or two before the topic of me going back to Zhe Rong came up. I told them I would take the bus back and they almost jumped out of their seats “Let me take you to the bus!” the bald guy said as he went for his keys. I assured him that was not necessary and that I wanted to walk around a bit first. This though was the biggest difference to me. While the first shop had this expectation to buy tea, the second shop was more worried about me catching my bus with once again no mention of buying tea.

I don’t write this article to bash the first shop. They are running a business and I am just a random person off the street. I write this article to talk show the different energies that tea shops can have. In China the tea market is very large with lots of different faces. There are luxurious high end shops, and there are shops that act more like hang out spots than places of business. Each is good in their own way and each has their place. But if I were to go back to Dian Tou, there would be one shop I go to and one shop I skip.