“Good tea!!” Watching Zhuang Buzhou perform the steps of Gongfu tea—observing the tea, boiling water, cleansing cups, placing tea, pouring water, offering tea, smelling the tea, appreciating the liquor—each step flowed like clouds and water, making the observer feel their entire heart calm down unconsciously. This is the art of tea. The purpose is to taste the tea, but in the process of tasting, allowing one's heart to quiet down is the true essence of tea art. Even Hong Gu, with her extensive experience, couldn't help but exclaim loudly at this moment.
She took the teacup, took a small sip, and felt the lingering charm of the tea, her eyes lighting up instantly.
“This is Gongfu tea. To fully grasp its essence, you shouldn't drink it in large gulps, but rather sip it slowly. Of course, the ultimate purpose of drinking tea is still to quench thirst. If you have leisure time, then drink Gongfu tea and savor it slowly. If you don't have time, drinking it in large gulps is also perfectly fine.”
Zhuang Buzhou said with a faint smile.
Tea has no distinction between vulgarity and elegance; there is only good or bad, suitable or unsuitable.
His fondness for tea was a habit carried over from his previous life. To better cultivate his character, he specifically sought out someone to learn tea art. Although not overly proficient, it could be said that within Qingyun City, he was unmatched. Hong Gu, a matchmaker, had never witnessed such a display.
Looking at Captain Zhuang with a strange gaze, she said with a smile, “Everyone thought Captain Zhuang was exceptionally skilled in martial arts. Who would have thought he is proficient in both literary and martial arts? This tea art is far more refined than that of those literati and elegant scholars. In my opinion, Captain Zhuang shouldn't be a constable; he should study and participate in the imperial examinations.”
“Hong Gu, you jest,” Zhuang Buzhou said with a smile. “I am just a rough man; where do I have the literary talent to participate in the imperial examinations? That would truly make me a laughingstock on the spot. Please don't mention this again; if it gets out, it will be a great joke.”
“Xiao Ge Zhuang, what do you think of what I just said? This is a good marriage. If it succeeds, Hong Gu guarantees you a happy family with many children and grandchildren. After all, you are not young anymore; it's time to settle down and start a family.”
Hong Gu continued the previous topic; she hadn't forgotten the purpose of her visit.
“The matches Hong Gu arranges are naturally well-reputed. Outside, when Hong Gu is mentioned, who doesn't give a thumbs-up? To say that Zhuang should not refuse, however, although my parents are gone, and I am alone without relatives or friends, marriage is no small matter. After all, it is a lifelong commitment. When searching, I naturally still want to find someone compatible and pleasing to the eye.”
Zhuang Buzhou said sincerely.
Starting a family, with a beautiful wife by his side, a life of warmth and tenderness—this kind of life was not something he was unwilling to have. He just needed to find someone he liked. If there truly was a suitable person, he would not refuse.
“That's natural, Xiao Ge Zhuang, you are absolutely right. You see, Hong Gu came prepared this time. Look, this is a portrait of the lady, painted by Gu Yuqing, the most famous painter in the city. It guarantees both spirit and form, truly lifelike.”
Hong Gu said with a smile, taking out a scroll and placing it in front of Zhuang Buzhou.
Gu Yuqing was the most famous painter in Qingyun City. It was said that his paintings had a divine quality; whatever he painted looked exactly like the real thing. In the city, any one of his paintings was highly sought after and quite valuable. In recent years, he rarely painted for others.
To be able to commission Gu Yuqing for a painting, there was no doubt that the county magistrate's Face played a significant role.
Zhuang Buzhou looked at the scroll before him, a hint of curiosity arising in his heart. He had heard of Gu Yuqing's paintings, but had never seen one with his own eyes. No matter how divinely they were described, it was not as good as seeing one firsthand.
He picked up the scroll and slowly unrolled it.
Immediately, a painting of a beautiful woman appeared before his eyes.
Rockeries, a lake, a pavilion, and blooming lotus flowers. A young woman in white sat gracefully in the pavilion, plucking a flower and smiling faintly.
“What a painting, how beautiful.”
Zhuang Buzhou looked at the scroll as if he had transcended the boundaries of time, seeing the scene within the painting with his own eyes. The scenery was beautiful, and the person was even more beautiful. It had to be said that this painting was incredibly lifelike; every blade of grass and every tree was vivid. As a gentle breeze swept through, there seemed to be ripples in the water and lotuses swaying in the painting. It must be said that this painting skill was truly extraordinary. Such a painting, if placed in his previous life, would definitely be worth a thousand pieces of gold, a rare masterpiece.
This painting technique seemed out of the ordinary.
Of course, his gaze was primarily directed at the woman in the painting. Her white robes fluttered, her hair was like clouds, her eyes were like a Phoenix, her elegant eyebrows were exquisite, and her facial features were truly unparalleled, a beauty among ten thousand. Her figure was even more graceful and curvaceous, her lines perfect. Such a woman, no matter where she was, would be an absolute stunner, pursued by countless members of the opposite sex, revered as a goddess in their hearts.
She surpassed the celebrities and internet personalities he had seen in his previous life by countless times.
Even Zhuang Buzhou, who considered himself well-tested, couldn't help but feel his heart flutter upon seeing the portrait.
To be honest, that feeling of infatuation was incredibly strong. No one could refuse such a woman.
However, a hint of doubt immediately arose in his heart. How could such a peerless young woman possibly struggle to find a husband? Moreover, he was merely a small Captain, and even if he had some renown in Qingyun City, it was absolutely impossible for such a woman to take an interest in him, let alone fall in love at first sight.
No matter how he thought about it, something felt strange.
Something out of the ordinary must be demonic.
Being in this world, Zhuang Buzhou had to be cautious.
Especially since lust leads to ruin; there were countless such lessons from ancient times.
“Xiao Ge Zhuang, what do you think? Do you find her beautiful?”
Hong Gu waited until Zhuang Buzhou had put the scroll back down, then asked with a light smile.
“More than just beautiful, she is truly a peerless beauty, capable of overthrowing kingdoms. Zhuang, I am too lowly to harbor such a delusion. How could such a beauty take a liking to Zhuang? Even if the county magistrate appreciates Zhuang, he couldn't possibly do something like this.”
Zhuang Buzhou said with a light smile, “Hong Gu, please be honest with me. Although Zhuang also admires peerless beauties, and usually doesn't abstain from female company, having visited brothels and pleasure boats, I haven't reached the point where lust blinds my judgment. Why would such a well-bred young lady be proposed to me? Otherwise, Zhuang can only politely refuse.”
Some things, when they need to be explained, should be spoken out loud.
Hiding them doesn't do much good.
“As expected, it couldn't be hidden from Captain Zhuang.”
Upon hearing this, Hong Gu's smile diminished slightly, and she then said, “This match was indeed entrusted to me by the county magistrate. When I saw that Miss Li, Hong Gu was also very surprised. The county magistrate asked me to help Miss Li find a husband and marry her off as soon as possible. After searching and searching, Captain Zhuang was the most suitable. Captain Zhuang's portrait was also given to Miss Li, and Miss Li was very satisfied. However, whether she agrees or not, and whether it can happen, depends on Xiao Ge Zhuang's own wishes. After all, marriage is a good thing and cannot be forced. Hong Gu has never forced a match.”
As she spoke, she picked up her teacup to moisten her throat, then continued, “According to the information I gathered, this Miss Li Yueru has a rather peculiar fate.”
“How peculiar?”
Zhuang Buzhou asked curiously.
“Husband-killing!!”
Hong Gu hesitated for a moment, then finally uttered two words.
“What? Husband-killing?”
The teacup in Zhuang Buzhou's hand trembled slightly, almost falling.
How dare they propose such a fate to him? What were they trying to do, wishing him to die faster? Who knew if he could withstand it?
“Indeed, it is husband-killing.”
Hong Gu nodded affirmatively and said, “According to the information Hong Gu gathered, Miss Li had a childhood engagement. Then, her fiancé drowned in the river when he was eight years old. When she was thirteen, someone came to the Li family to propose marriage. After the Li family agreed, half a year later, the fiancé choked to death on a meatball while eating. When she was fourteen, she got engaged again, and then, two months later, the fiancé's house caught fire, and he was burned alive.”
The older Li Yueru grew, the more beautiful she became. Her appearance, no matter where she was, would cause a sensation, attracting countless members of the opposite sex. Although the news that anyone who married her would be killed by her fate made these pursuers somewhat apprehensive, there were still those who were not afraid of death.
Every year, someone would get engaged to her, but none of them lived for more than three months. And this was just engagement. There were some who weren't afraid of death and planned to hold the wedding three days after the engagement. But the groom, just as the sedan chair was carried to the Li family's doorstep, got so excited that his heart suddenly stopped beating.
In any case, anyone who got engaged to her would certainly not survive.
The time might be long or short, but they would definitely die.
After a long time, no one dared to approach her anymore. Even if she was as beautiful as a Heavenly Immortal, she was still feared like a snake or scorpion. While beauty was important, the problem was that it couldn't compare to one's own life. Over time, Li Yueru became a woman no one dared to marry.
Some time ago, Li Yueru's parents also passed away due to an accident, which further intensified her reputation for being a husband-killer. Not only did she kill husbands, but she also killed relatives.
Therefore, Li Yueru came to seek refuge with her second uncle, the county magistrate Li Xian.
Li Xian was also afraid. Li Yueru's fate was so powerful; keeping her by his side felt like a poison that could strike at any moment. So, he was determined to find her another husband, regardless of anything else, just to get her married off first. Of course, he wasn't being perfunctory; he hired Hong Gu, the most famous matchmaker in the entire city.
He also hoped that Hong Gu could truly find a remarkable man suitable for Li Yueru, one who would not fear her husband-killing power.
However, he didn't expect Hong Gu to find Zhuang Buzhou.
Li Xian also greatly valued Zhuang Buzhou. The peace in the city owed much to Zhuang Buzhou's efforts, and he was usually good at dealing with people, so his impression was excellent. Upon learning that Hong Gu had chosen Zhuang Buzhou, he hesitated repeatedly. Before coming, he also instructed that if Zhuang Buzhou truly didn't agree, they shouldn't force him, and just pretend it never happened.
“Hong Gu, since you've said all that, Miss Li's fate is so formidable, how could Zhuang possibly bear it?”
Zhuang Buzhou said with a wry smile, shaking his head repeatedly.
Hearing Hong Gu describe the various ways those who got engaged to Li Yueru died, even with his firm resolve, he couldn't help but gasp in cold air. He had seen brutal things, but never anything this brutal. This wasn't getting married; this was asking for death!
He couldn't afford to provoke her, he couldn't afford to provoke her.