THE REAL LJ IDOL SEASON 8 BREAK -- FREE TOPIC -- HOT WATER
JAVA JIVE
Master Shennog, Son of Heaven and Ruler of The Middle Kingdom, walked slowly through the garden in his grand palace. It was late in the autumn, and the west wind chilled his bones more than he cared to admit. All his subjects accepted him as a deity in mortal form, but the years weighed heavily upon Shennog nonetheless. He had been middle-aged when he ascended to The Dragon Throne thirty years prior. Now, what hair remained on Shennog's head was white as snow, and he regularly used his staff of authority to support himself as he walked... but none doubted his wisdom, especially when it came to agriculture and medicinal herbs.
Even in his youth, Shennog had a curious mind, and he always sought useful knowledge. Though The Middle Kingdom was blessed in many regards, it was often afflicted with poor harvests. Over the years, Shennog had learned the techniques that the regularly successful farmers had used to improve crop yields, and then tested these farming methods himself to see if they actually worked -- things like turning the earth with a stick before planting seeds, or allowing bird droppings to sit for several months before being used as fertilizer. Once Shennog confirmed that one of these new procedures actually helped, he sent Imperial Edicts to all the lands under his control, advising them to use the newly discovered knowledge. In just the first five years of Shennog's reign, crop yields doubled across the Middle Kingdom, and famine rapidly became a thing of the past. His subjects now called him "The Divine Farmer", and he took great pride in that. But even now, in his twilight years, Shennog sought more knowledge, more ways to help his subjects.
The affairs of state kept Shennog indoors far more than he liked, and whenever he could spare the time he would relax and meditate in his garden. He had various herbs and medicinal plants sent to him from all across The Middle Kingdom, and as time allowed Shennog tested the properties of each of these herbs, to see if they truly were of any use... and he made sure that the knowledge he gleaned was spread far and wide,
This day, however, Shennog had not learned much -- the chill and the wind made him feel older than usual, and he soon became tired. As was his habit in cold weather, Shennog had ordered his servants to set up a brazier in the garden for boiling water; after allowing the liquid to cool a bit, Shennog would sit and drink the heated water, thus warming himself from the inside. He hobbled slowly back to the brazier, removed the pot from the flame and put it on the table that had been prepared for him. As he did so, Shennog noticed something odd:
Dried leaves from a nearby tree had fallen into the pot while it was boiling... and the leaves had stained the water a deep brown color.
Master Shennog looked over the tree in question. It was actually a large shrub from a southern region of the Middle Kingdom, usually referred to as a Cháhuā plant. It was noted for having fragrant leaves, and it had a reputation as a medicinal herb. More importantly, it was not considered to be harmful in any way. Shennog sat in his chair, then leaned over the pot and inhaled deeply -- The aroma was distinctly pleasant and inviting. The old man then dipped his cup into the dark brew, and he cautiously took a small sip... and before he knew it, Shennog had drained his cup, and was refilling it as quickly as he could. The flavor was rich, with a bitter edge which only seemed to enhance the experience. The old man consumed three cups rapidly, and then slowly savored two more cups of the brew before conceding that his belly was full.
As Shennog stood up, he felt awake and alive -- far better than he had ever felt in recent years. He barely noticed the chill west wind at all now; if anything, he now enjoyed the brisk feeling of the breeze on his face. Though he still needed his staff to walk, he had more energy and felt more limber... and as a result he was able to complete his tour of his garden that afternoon.
One week later, Master Shennog sent a new Imperial Edict, recommending the use of hot water steeped with Cháhuā leaves as a medicine for common ailments, and encouraging the cultivation of the herb. Soon, the entire Middle Kingdom was consuming the aromatic brew, which came to be known as Chá... or Tê.
All hail Master Shennog, Son of Heaven and Emperor of The Middle Kingdom. The world has benefited from your wisdom.
Based on the ancient Chinese legend of the discovery/invention of Tea.