Nanny Zhong smiled and gave Fang some advice: "This is not difficult! Why don't we ask someone for some Zhongling Spring water? Who knows whether this spring water was given by the second daughter of the Zhou family or obtained from someone else? It must be true that the fourth master of the Cheng family drew Zhongling Spring water from the Jinshan Mountain, right?"
Fang immediately figured out the trick.
She nodded slightly.
Nanny Zhong knew that the matter was settled, and said, "I will send someone to Shanquanju to ask for some money."
Shanquanju is the largest teahouse in Zhenjiang. People are sent to draw water from the river every day, and it relies on the spring water from Zhonglingquan.
Fang was a little worried. After thinking for a while, she said, "I'll just park my sedan outside Shanquanju when the time comes."
This will let the manager of Shanquanju know the importance of the matter and stop him from talking nonsense.
Nanny Zhong happily agreed and asked about the visit to Old Madam Guo: "…Did the old lady agree?"
Fang's eyes showed a little joy, and she said, "Yes!"
"Amitabha!" Nanny Zhong couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief and said this with her hands clasped together.
Fang thought for a moment and said, "I think what you said makes sense. The Zhou sisters are probably very favored in the Cheng family. The old lady was hesitant at first, but then she agreed very readily. I invited the old lady to our house, and she said, 'Since we are a family, we will inevitably visit each other in the future, so there is no need to be so polite.' At first I thought it meant that Madam Yuan and I were cousins, and I was happy for Madam Yuan that her mother-in-law finally treated her kindly. Now it seems that it was probably referring to the Zhou sisters."
Nanny Zhong was Fang's closest friend, so she naturally knew that Madam Yuan was not as respectable in front of Madam Guo as was said outside. When the Liao and Zhou families were getting married, Fang felt that she had been wronged, and she had visited Madam Guo. But Madam Guo's words were full of "this is your decision, it has nothing to do with me", otherwise Fang would not have been so disappointed.
She pondered in her heart and said, "Madam, could it be the second daughter of the Zhou family? At that time, the eldest daughter of the Zhou family was already fourteen years old, and the second daughter of the Zhou family should only be seven or eight years old. If the one who was favored was the eldest daughter of the Zhou family, then Madam Guo should not have said such words at that time."
Fang's face turned slightly red, and she said, "It's not the old lady's fault for that. I was not satisfied with this marriage at that time, and it was probably because the old lady saw through it that I spoke so impolitely. However, what you said makes sense. It's just that the eldest daughter of the Zhou family will marry in a few months. No matter who is favored, it is beneficial to our Liao family to help our Liao family for the sake of the two sisters. We just need to manage this marriage well. What's more, the master of the relative has been promoted to the prefect of Baoding. I only hope that he can rise to prominence and help our Shaotang in the future. As for the master, I have given up on him. He is not as hard-working as his son, so how could the title of Jinshi in the two exams fall from the sky? You and I only need to know about this matter, and don't let it out. The master forced me to ask the old lady for this matter. Anyway, I have already explained it to the master, so there is no need to make any more trouble."
Nanny Zhong hurriedly replied "yes".
The Liao family seemed to be surrounded by flowers and the clan seemed to be in great glory, but in fact, after Old An passed away, the incompetent eldest master, who lost his mother's protection, could only criticize Fang, which made life very difficult for Fang and their family in the Liao family.
Fang instructed Nanny Zhong: "When you go back, tell the chief steward that after the master gets married, he will take his new grandmother to live in the capital. It will be enough to have a place to store things, and there is no need to connect the houses next door. If anyone asks, you can say that it was when I visited the Cheng family's old lady Guo that proposed it. She wanted our master to study with the Cheng family's eldest master. How could I refuse such a good thing? I agreed immediately. Then tell the second steward in charge of the accounting office to come to the capital right away and help the master to settle down in a house. The house should be good, preferably close to the Cheng family, and I will pay for it. This house will also be registered in the name of the master in the future, and it will be regarded as the property I bought for the master to get married."
Nanny Zhong was stunned and asked, "Can the old master also go to Beijing with the eldest master? Isn't it a bit bad to let the new grandmother serve the old master and the eldest master alone? Why don't you give the old master a house, or let the old master and the eldest master live in the Liao family's house..."
"No need to go to such trouble." Fang said coldly, "They only agreed to let the second master Wei teach the eldest master about contemporary writing when he goes to the capital to take the exam. It is me who plans to let the eldest master live in the capital. What's the point of staying at home like this and following his useless father to suffer grievances every day? As for studying with the eldest master Jing, I didn't expect that Mrs. Guo would agree so easily. I was a little confused for a while and didn't react. You go to see the second young lady of the Zhou family tomorrow and tell her about these shabby things at home. If the Cheng family can take the initiative to ask the eldest master to study with the eldest master Jing without my asking, I will let the eldest young lady of the Zhou family take charge of the affairs in the capital in the future. I will also have a helper! If not, I will sacrifice my old face and go to Jinling in person. At worst, I will ask my family to ask Mrs. Guo. I will never let the eldest master bear the reputation and be laughed at."
Nanny Zhong agreed repeatedly.
Zhou Shaojin never thought that because of Langyue's bowl of cool spring water, his sister and brother-in-law would get a house for free compared to their previous life. Also, his sister didn't have to be wasted for several months in the Liao family like in her previous life before she had the opportunity to go to the capital to serve Liao Shaotang. From then on, she lived in seclusion with her mother-in-law for a while. It was also because of this period of time that Zhou Chujin and Liao Shaotang were free from the influence of others, and their feelings for each other grew by leaps and bounds, and eventually Liao Shaotang would rather give up his position as the eldest son to keep his wife and children.
She happily went to Mrs. Guo's room holding the Zhongling spring water.
When Mrs. Guo heard that Zhou Shaojin was holding the Zhongling Spring, which is known as "the best spring water in the world", she became very interested.
Zhou Shaojin said excitedly: "Shall I make you a pot of tea?"
Mrs. Guo said "OK" repeatedly.
Madam Lu was very tactful and went to get the tea set herself.
Zhou Shaojin sat cross-legged very naturally in front of the tea table on the Luohan bed, boiling water, scalding cups, dividing tea, washing tea, and brewing tea... The whole set of movements was as smooth as flowing water, as smooth as rolling clouds, elegant and confident, like a top-grade South Pearl, emitting a bright and lustrous glow, which made Old Madam Guo sigh to Aunt Lu: "What a beautiful person and delicious tea! I am so blessed today." Zhou Shaojin blushed with praise and hurriedly invited Old Madam Guo to taste the tea.
Mrs. Guo smelled the tea, sipped it slowly, nodded repeatedly, and said, "This Zhongling Spring Water is really well-deserved. Yesterday we also drank Taiping Houkui. You don't know until you compare it. You can feel it with this comparison. The tea brewed with Zhongling Spring Water is more refreshing than the tea brewed with other water. However, Shaojin chose this tea well. The soup of Taiping Houkui is clear and green, with a mellow orchid fragrance, and the water for brewing tea is clear, which just complements each other. If we chose the Liu'an Guapian we drank two days ago, it would not be so delicious - Liu'an Guapian is mild, with the fragrance of ripe chestnuts, and the soup color is bright apricot yellow. If we use Zhongling Spring Water to brew it, I am afraid that the spring water will suppress the taste and fragrance of Liu'an Guapian, and it will be inferior. As for the technique of brewing tea, it is even better. The movements are clean and neat, without a trace of drag, but gentle and graceful, soft with hardness, which is the essence of the tea ceremony, the essence of the mean... Very good! Very good!"
Zhou Shaojin didn't expect that Mrs. Guo had such a high opinion of her. Her face flushed, and she was about to say something modest when Cheng Chi's voice suddenly appeared in her ears: "What's good? Mother, tell me so that I can be happy too!"
"Uncle Chi!" Zhou Shaojin jumped up and saw Cheng Chi walking in with a smile.
Madam Guo laughed and said, "It's really true that it's better to arrive at the right time than to arrive early. Shaojin just made some tea, you can try it too."
"Oh!" Cheng Chi walked in and took a clear look at the situation in the room. He had already guessed about 70% of the situation. Hearing this, he sat down opposite his mother with great interest. Zhou Shaojin hurriedly took out a small cup and made another cup for Cheng Chi.
Cheng Chi took a sip.
Mrs. Guo asked Cheng Chi with a smile: "What's the matter?"
Cheng Chi nodded and said, "Zhongling Spring water is worthy of the title 'the best spring in the world'!"
Madam Guo smiled and said, "Although this vessel is good, it also depends on who uses it. Zhongling Spring Water has such an effect only when Shao Jin uses it to brew Taiping Houkui. If it is other teas, it may not taste so good."
Cheng Chi glanced at Zhou Shaojin, whose ears were red as if they could bleed, and thought, no wonder this little girl could please her mother. He drew a bucket of Zhongling Spring water back. Besides knowing how to draw Zhongling water from the river and liking to use this spring water to make tea, he also wanted to give his mother a surprise. But spring water is not like other things. It will go bad if it is left for a long time. So he asked Langyue to deliver some alone, and he personally delivered the water to his mother. Unexpectedly, after getting the spring water, this little girl not only did not hide it, but also gave it to her mother to taste immediately... It was worth it for her mother to feel sorry for her.
He smiled and teased his mother: "You are too biased. I haven't even finished what I said, but you've already scolded me. Can you wait until I finish what I'm saying? If you still don't like it, you can scold me again!"
"Who did you learn this chatterbox from?" Old Madam Guo couldn't help laughing and said, "You can't even restrain yourself in front of your mother. Be careful not to scare Shaojin!"
Cheng Chi smiled and said, "She has you to protect her, how could she be afraid of me?"
Zhou Shaojin felt as if his face was burning when Cheng Chi and his mother teased him. He lowered his head and dared not raise his eyelids.
Madam Guo found it very interesting, but she also felt pity for him. She scolded Cheng Chi, "How can you be an uncle like this? Shaojin, come to me and ignore him."
Zhou Shaojin hid behind Mrs. Guo like a frightened little rabbit.
Cheng Chi couldn't help laughing.
Madam Guo took Zhou Shaojin's hand and comforted her softly: "Don't be afraid of him, I'm here!"
Zhou Shaojin murmured in response.
Madam Guo threw the teacups in front of her towards Cheng Chi and told him, "Make a pot of tea!"
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Sisters, today’s extra update!
PS: My father was sick and went to the hospital last night. Fortunately, it was just his old age and stomach problems. He will be discharged after one day of observation. I didn't have time to correct the typos that were found during proofreading. The same applies to this chapter. I can't set a specific time for the evening update. You can all read it tomorrow morning. I will correct the typos at that time.
We apologize for any inconvenience caused!
※(To be continued)