Chapter 479: Chapter 448, Drinking Tea_1
After lunch, the women dined in the old lady’s courtyard. Once the meal was finished, Daohua led several young ladies to the back garden.
In the Jiao Pavilion, the maids had already hung the drapes and lit the charcoal brazier.
Zhou Jingwan said without any reserve, “Quickly bring out your good tea, and let me show you a thing or two.”
Daohua laughed, “Oh, you’ve learned to brew tea now?”
Zhou Jingwan, with a look of grievance, said, “My mother confined me to learning for over a month. Even if I were slow, I should have learned by now.”
Daohua said, “Then we’ll have to have a good tea tasting session later.” With that, she signaled for Wang Manman to fetch the tea leaves and tea set, then led Yang Xiujun, Yan Yunxi, and the others to take their seats.
Zhou Jingwan lifted her chin proudly, “Just watch.”
Yan Yile said with a smile, “Sister Zhou, my third sister is also learning tea brewing and tasting from Madam. Why not have a little comparison between you two later?”
Zhou Jingwan looked at Yan Yishuang and raised her eyebrows, “Let’s compete then. I’ve only been learning for a little over a month, so losing won’t be a dishonor.”
Yan Yishuang gave an embarrassed smile, “Sister Zhou is being too modest. Although I’ve been learning for a few more days, I’m still very clumsy. Please go easy on me later!”
Though her words were humble, her expression was full of confidence.
She put great effort into mastering tea appreciation. Among her sisters, she was the best student. In other matters, Master Shen always favored the eldest sister, but in the art of tea, it was she who often received his praise.
Seeing that Yan Yishuang was not giving way to the guest, Yang Xiujun was concerned that this might offend Zhou Jingwan and lead to unpleasantness, so she glanced at Daohua.
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However, Daohua just watched with a smile, saying nothing and showing no intention of intervening or advising.
Hesitating for a moment, Yang Xiujun tugged at Daohua’s sleeve and whispered, “We’re all sitting together to chat and enjoy tea. Do we really need to compete?”
Daohua said with a smile, “It’s alright. We’ve got nothing better to do anyway, so let them have their contest. It will be a good test of their skills, and we’ll get to enjoy some delicious tea.”
Yang Xiujun was somewhat dumbfounded. Aren’t hosts supposed to avoid potential disputes at all costs when entertaining guests? Why was Cousin Yiyi so unconcerned?
Was it due to a lack of similar hosting experience, or was it that the way of entertaining guests differed from Beijing?
Seeing Yang Xiujun’s worried face, Daohua explained with a laugh, “Jingwan is magnanimous. This ‘competition’ is really just for fun, an opportunity to showcase her learning. She doesn’t take winning or losing too seriously.”
“And as for Yishuang, she has a real talent for tea appreciation. The tea she brews is indeed delicious. Later, we should drink several cups.”
Yang Xiujun’s expression froze slightly. She was quite surprised by Daohua’s indifference to a concubine’s daughter showcasing her talent.
Letting a concubine’s daughter outshine others—Cousin Yiyi must either be naively magnanimous or a person of broad and generous heart.
In Beijing, no legitimate daughter would allow a concubine daughter to surpass herself.
Obviously, Cousin Yiyi, who could help her aunt with the household management affairs at such a young age, was not foolish.
Suddenly, Yang Xiujun felt a touch of envy for Yan Yishuang. In the Yang Family, the elder sisters above her were not easy to deal with. She would have been grateful just to avoid their schemes, let alone be given a chance to shine.
Before long, Wang Manman arrived with Guyu, Lixia, and several tea sets, along with a variety of tea leaves.
Yang Xiujun glanced at the tea leaves in the case, and her pupils contracted slightly—Longjing, Biluochun, Maojian… all of these were tribute teas.
Just as rumors suggested, the Prince Residence indeed had close ties with her uncle’s house.
Then, Zhou Jingwan and Yan Yishuang started brewing tea. The movements of both were extremely pleasing to the eye. Daohua smiled as she watched and directed Wang Manman to bring boiling water, busying herself with brewing a pot of Wuyi Rock Tea.
Just as Zhou Jingwan and Yan Yishuang were about to finish brewing their tea, laughter suddenly echoed from the garden entrance.
Within moments, Yan Wenxiu appeared with a group of people.
Yan Wenxiu, upon seeing the people in the pavilion, was slightly taken aback and somewhat annoyed. He should have sent someone to check if the pavilion was occupied before coming over.
Although they were all acquaintances, they were, after all, external men.
Nevertheless, having come this far, it would be inappropriate to turn back now. Yan Wenxiu could only smile and say, “We wanted to see the flowers in the residence, so I led them here. I didn’t expect to find you all here as well.”
Standing in the pavilion, Daohua responded, “The flowers are in the courtyard. Feel free to look around.” Then, shifting her gaze, she saw Xiao Yeyang standing beside her elder brother, looking somewhat surprised.
What was he doing here?
Yan Wenkai peered through the bamboo curtains at the steaming pavilion, called out loudly, “Big sister, what are you doing in there?”
Before Daohua could reply, Zhou Jingwan jumped in, “We’re brewing tea.”
Yan Wenkai immediately beamed, “Then I must go in and ask for a cup to taste.” Saying this, he walked towards the pavilion without consideration for the others.
Normally, Wentao would never engage in such improper behavior, but this time, without hesitation, he followed suit.
He had heard from Brother Zhou about how Aunt Zhou had been keeping her daughter at home to learn tea brewing, and he was eager to taste her skills.
Watching her two younger brothers head toward the pavilion, Yan Wenxiu felt somewhat helpless. Seeing that everyone else looked at her with interest, she had no choice but to say, “Let’s go and have a taste too.”
Soon, a group of people entered the pavilion.
As soon as Yan Wenkai sat down, he said, “Aren’t we brewing tea? Hurry up and let us taste it.”
Zhou Jingwan immediately laughed and said, “I’m brewing Longjing tea. Who wants to drink?”
Yan Wentao responded in a second, “I’ll drink.” His voice was loud and quick, drawing everyone’s attention to him.
Feeling the gazes of all those present, Yan Wentao looked somewhat uncomfortable and awkwardly said, “I just like to drink Longjing tea.”
Zhou Jingwan had no suspicions and immediately smiled as she poured a cup of Longjing tea, personally handing it to Yan Wentao, “Third Brother, please taste my brewing skills and see if it’s good or not?”
Because of what had just happened, Yan Wentao felt guilty. He took the teacup and tilted his head back to drink it all down.
Seeing this, Zhou Jingwan was stunned. After a while, she asked, “Third Brother, the tea was just brewed; isn’t it too hot for you?”
Of course it was hot!
But Yan Wentao endured it and casually shook his head, pretending it was no big deal.
Daohua’s mouth twitched with amusement, and she tried to smooth things over with a laugh, “Third Brother must have been very thirsty.”
Yan Wenxiu glanced at Yan Wentao and then after Daohua spoke, she said, “Sister Zhou, I also like drinking Longjing.”
Zhou Jingwan beamed with happiness, “I’ll pour some for you right away.”
Daohua then turned to Yan Yishuang, “Third Sister, what tea are you brewing?”
Yan Yishuang smiled softly and said, “I’m brewing Biluochun Tea.”
No sooner had she finished speaking than Yan Wenkai immediately said, “I like that one.”
Han Hexu followed, “I also enjoy the fresh scent of Biluochun Tea. It’s a lot of trouble for you, Third Sister.”
Yan Yishuang smiled and elegantly began pouring tea for everyone.
Soon, everyone in the pavilion had picked their tea of choice, everyone except Xiao Yeyang.
Yan Yishuang hesitated while looking at Xiao Yeyang, and in the end, she chose not to offer him the tea in her hand.
Daohua glanced at Xiao Yeyang, who was chatting and laughing with her elder brother. Without asking him, she poured a cup of Wuyi Rock Tea for him and walked over, “Why are you here?”
Xiao Yeyang took the tea with a smile, “Chengye is here, so of course I had to come and sit for a while.” He raised an eyebrow as he added, “Why, are you not welcoming me?”
Daohua gave him a look and, without a word, turned and walked toward Yang Xiujun and the others.
The teapots Zhou Jingwan and Yan Yishuang were using to brew tea weren’t very large, and after two rounds, they were empty.
Feng Hao looked at Daohua, not too far away, pondered for a moment, then with a smile said, “Eldest Sister Yan, do you still have any tea? I’m a bit thirsty and would like to have another cup.”
Daohua, who was joking with Zhou Jingwan, was taken aback, but then blurted out, “I’m sorry, I’m out of tea as well.” After saying that and looking toward Wang Manman, “Quick, brew another pot of tea for Master Feng.”
Wang Manman bowed, “Yes!” Then, in front of everyone, she quickly started to make tea. Although her actions weren’t as graceful as Yan Yishuang’s, they were smooth, natural, and done in one go.
Yang Xiujun saw this and swiftly glanced at Daohua. If even the personal maid had such good tea-brewing skills, then Sister Yiyi probably wasn’t far behind.
Feng Hao hadn’t expected Daohua to refuse; his face paused for a moment, but he soon recovered and turned his head to talk to Yan Wenqi and the others.
Xiao Yeyang cast a fleeting glance at Feng Hao, then looked at the steaming Yixing teapot near Daohua, and the corners of his mouth couldn’t help but curl up.
Zhou Jingwan tugged at Daohua and whispered beside her, “Why didn’t you give him tea?”
Daohua replied, “I just brewed it randomly, I’m embarrassed to offer it to others.”
Zhou Jingwan was somewhat speechless. It was fine to give to the Little Prince but not to others? “You’re still as partial as ever.”
Daohua would certainly not admit to playing favorites. Wuyi Rock Tea was rare, and it was her favorite. The can of Dahongpao tea she had was something Xiao Yeyang had saved from his own consumption to give to her. If it weren’t for Zhou Jingwan’s visit today, she wouldn’t have brought it out at all, much less offered it to others.
Seeing her Third Brother looking over at them from time to time, Daohua’s mind raced, and smilingly she asked Zhou Jingwan, “Let me ask you, if there’s only one cup of tea left in your teapot, and both my elder brother and my Third Brother want it, who would you give it to?”
Zhou Jingwan didn’t have to think, “Of course, to Third Brother. After all, Third Brother and I have a better relationship.”
Daohua pressed, “What if it’s between your brother and my Third Brother?”
Zhou Jingwan was about to say ‘Third Brother’ instinctively, but she felt it seemed like she was turning her elbow out, so she swallowed the words just as they reached her lips. After pondering for a moment, just as she was about to say she would make another pot so that both could drink, she stopped herself before saying anything, immediately glaring at Daohua, who was smiling like a fox, “Yan Yiyi, trying to fish for my words.”
Without waiting for Daohua to respond, Zhou Jingwan herself started to feel embarrassed, and a blush colored her cheeks as she thought of the colored glaze lamp hanging by her bed.