Workplace

A: Modern tea shop owner B: Ah-Chu, a tea-leaf sorter
A: Hello, I'm the current owner of the tea shop
I've always wanted to learn more about what work was like here in the past
I'm really looking forward to talking with you today
B: My name is Ah-Chu. Back then, I worked as a tea-leaf sorter
Whatever you want to ask, I can tell you
A: I heard you all arrived at the tea shop very early every day to secure a spot?
B: That's right. If we didn't come early, we couldn't get a spot with good light
Sorting tea in poor light strains your eyes
We all sat under the arcade, relying entirely on sunlight
If we arrived later, the spots would be taken
Without a place to work, we had no choice but to go home
A: What if you had family matters and couldn't leave?
B: If we have elderly relatives or children to care for at home
The tea house asks the master to deliver the tea leaves to our house
We sort them in the living room
After sorting, the master takes the tea back
Sometimes when the workload is heavy
The boss even asks proactively, “Can we deliver the tea to your home for sorting?”
A: That sounds like an early form of “working from home.”
If your home situation allows, would you prefer working at the tea shop?
B: We still prefer coming to the shop. It's more relaxed here
We're all women, so we chat and listen to the radio while sorting tea
We even help each other watch the kids
Usually, we're stuck at home managing everything
Coming to work at the shop gives us a change of scenery and lifts our spirits
A: So work isn't just about earning money for you
It's also a chance to breathe
Today's jobs have lights, air conditioning, and assigned seats
But yours began with “grabbing a ray of light.”
B: Back then, it depended on the weather, the light, luck
And our family situations
A: Thank you for sharing. I'll always remember this story