CHAPTER XII
EXPEDITION TO THE TAIPING TEA
DISTRICT
My Nanking visit was utterly barren of any
substantial hope of promoting any scheme of
educational or political reform for the general
welfare of China or for the advancement of my
personal interest. When I was thoroughly
convinced that neither the reformation nor the
regeneration of China was to come from the
Taipings, I at once turned my thoughts to the idea
of making a big fortune as my first duty, and
as the first element in the successful carrying out
of other plans for the future.
One day, while sauntering about in the tea garden inside the city of Shanghai, I came across a few tea-merchants regaling themselves with that beverage in a booth by themselves, evidently having a very social time. They beckoned to me to join their party. In the course of the conversation, we happened to touch on my late journey through the tea districts of Hunan, Hupeh and Kiang Si and also my trip to Nanking. Passing
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