Watching the commotion dissolve into nothing in an instant, Young Master Zhu was left completely bewildered. He felt he should be grateful to Sang Shisi, yet something still nagged at him, making him uneasy.
Yang Jingyuan was even more dejected than Young Master Zhu. Apart from when he first appeared, Ji Yingying had only given him a single glance and hadn’t properly looked at him since.
Sang Shisi sat at the head position, playing the role of the refined young gentleman. Though not accomplished in studies, he excelled at eating, drinking, and merrymaking. His tea preparation movements were as elegant as the bright moon and clear wind, displaying an ineffable grace.
The ginkgo leaves carpeted the grove in gold. The sky was azure blue. The sunlight was warm. Water bubbled like pearls in the copper kettle on the stove, the tea foam surged white, and a subtle fragrance wafted through the air.
Both the Ji and Zhu families were merchant households running dye houses. Young Master Zhu, being the second legitimate son, didn’t need to support the family business and devoted himself to socializing. Ji Yaoting had been groomed since childhood with high expectations, immersing himself in the ways of commerce. Ji Yingying was fascinated with dyeing. None of them were versed in the art of tea. Since being widowed, Madam Ji has been busy managing the dye house. They had never personally witnessed the elegant manners of scholarly official families.
For a moment, three pairs of eyes were fixed on Sang Shisi, filled with admiration, praise, and appreciation, completely forgetting Yang Jingyuan’s existence.
Hanshan asked Shide: “In this world, there are those who slander me, bully me, insult me, mock me, look down on me, demean me, deceive me – how should I deal with them?”
Shide replied: “Endure them, yield to them, avoid them, let them be, tolerate them, respect them, ignore them, and in a few years, you’ll see what becomes of them.”
No need to wait a few years – right now, Yang Jingyuan’s “ignore them” attitude toward Ji Yingying was as bitter as eating unripe mulberries, his heart growing cold with every breath.
Sang Shisi prepared a cup of tea for Ji Yingying. The tea foam gathered to form a sparrow, lifelike and lasting.
“Wow.” Ji Yingying had never seen such skill before and couldn’t help exclaiming in amazement.
Yang Jingyuan looked down at his cup of tea, where Sang Shisi had formed the character for “good.” This was praising Yang Jingyuan as a good brother, performing excellently at the crucial moment. He even hoped Yang would do even better, drumming up support for a romance. Yang Jingyuan didn’t want to be his good brother anymore. Sourly, he thought, if a good brother doesn’t even have this much perception, why should I play the role of an extra? Hmph!
After sneering at Sang Shisi, he then scorned Ji Yingying’s shallow appreciation, blurting out: “How provincial!”
With these two comments coming one after another, even a fool would know he was talking about himself. Ji Yingying thought, so Young Master Yang truly holds a grudge. Mother and brother opposed the marriage with the Zhao family just because the Ji family’s status was too low, right? Looking at Yang Jingyuan’s sour face, she remembered their first meeting at Zhulin Temple where he casually tossed around fifty taels of silver. Is being wealthy such a big deal? Master Sang hasn’t looked down on our merchant background, and he’s both polite and gentle. The difference in upbringing between scholarly families and merchant households is truly evident.
Without comparison, it wouldn’t have mattered. But seeing them side by side, Ji Yingying found Yang Jingyuan increasingly petty, and she retorted with a cold smile: “Being unable to bear others’ excellence is what’s truly provincial. What’s wrong with me openly praising Master Sang?”
Master Sang, is it? You’re about to be carried off by that wolf Sang Shisi! How blind! And you, Brother Ji! Can’t you see that this tea-brewing fellow is full of schemes? And you, Young Master Zhu! You wouldn’t realize what’s happening even if you were cooked through! Yang Jingyuan’s sharp gaze swept across the faces of the three people opposite him, and he couldn’t help but mutter again: “So shallow!”
Ji Yingying lightly waved her fan and countered: “How strange. Master Sang only invited Young Master Zhu and us for tea, yet someone insisted on joining uninvited. And now they’re criticizing others’ skills. What logic is this?”
Ji Yaoting didn’t come to her defense, thinking, my dear sister, can’t you see that Third Young Master Yang wants to stay by your side?
Sang Shisi, still thinking Yang Jingyuan was willingly playing the foil to highlight him, became even more humble and gentle: “My tea skills are modest, worthy of Young Master Yang’s mockery.”
Young Master Zhu finally found an opportunity to repay Sang Shisi: “Third Young Master Yang, since you mock Master Sang’s skills, why not compete with him?”
Ji Yingying chimed in: “Young Master Zhu, why force someone to do what they can’t?”
Besides loving martial arts, Yang Jingyuan only knew how to drink tea. Sang Shisi deliberately wanted Yang Jingyuan to fully play his role as a foil, smiling as he gestured for his servant to bring the tea set to Yang Jingyuan’s table: “Please, Brother Yang. I love tea but rarely have the chance to exchange skills with others. I welcome your guidance.”
A gentle, harmonious smile hung on Sang Shisi’s lips, hoping Yang Jingyuan would lose his temper in public and escalate his argument with Ji Yingying. Then he could step in as the gallant hero.
Would Third Young Master Yang have such refined interests as tea brewing? Ji Yingying didn’t believe it either.
Yang Jingyuan laughed coldly inside, and sure enough, jumped up pointing at Ji Yingying: “Second Miss Ji, you want to see me make a fool of myself, don’t you?”
Ji Yingying nodded seriously: “You’re wrong. I just want to see you humiliated.” Who told you to mock me first? Let’s see if you can create birds and insects in the tea foam!
“How absurd!” Yang Jingyuan, hearing the movement behind him, gave Sang Shisi a meaningful look and angrily lifted his teacup as if to splash Ji Yingying.
His movement was exaggerated and slow, giving Sang Shisi plenty of time to jump up and shout: “Miss Ji, watch out!” He swooped toward Ji Yingying like an eagle catching prey.
Unfortunately, Yang Jingyuan had already drunk all the tea in his cup. And Ji Yingying still had Ji Yaoting beside her.
Ji Yaoting pulled his sister behind him and ended up being embraced firmly by Sang Shisi.
That lecher! When Yang Jingyuan saw Sang Shisi’s movement, he first clenched his fists and then stuffed them against his mouth to stifle his laughter. He secretly cursed: Sang Shisi, your lecherous intentions have made you completely stupid. I thought you would just make a show of blocking with your arms. Did you think you could get away with a proper embrace and take advantage of the situation?
He understood that since Sang Shisi wanted to take Ji Yingying home as his fourth concubine if he had managed to embrace her, he would certainly apologize repeatedly and beg the Ji family’s forgiveness, putting on an act of taking responsibility. But Yang Jingyuan believed he knew Ji Yingying well enough – even if she were kissed, she would treat it like being bitten by a dog. Sang Shisi’s plan would never work.
Nevertheless, seeing Sang Shisi accidentally embrace Ji Yaoting instead, Yang Jingyuan was quite pleased.
At that moment, a group of women rushed into the grove.
Several delicate voices called out like songbirds in the forest: “Young Master!”
“Young Master, you were so hard to find!”
Sang Shisi, still holding onto Ji Yaoting’s shoulders, straightened up and turned to see three concubines appearing before him with their maids and servants. His heart instantly turned to ashes, but he still wouldn’t give up: “There are still many fine chrysanthemums at my residence. When you have time, I’ll send an invitation for the honorable siblings to visit and appreciate them.”
Ji Yaoting stepped back, and Sang Shisi was instantly surrounded by his three concubines. Even a well-bred official’s son with both looks and manners wasn’t acceptable. Master Sang appeared to be about his age, yet already had three concubines. He shook his head and sighed, crossing off Sang Shisi and all official’s sons from his list of potential brothers-in-law.
Having eliminated the foolishly straightforward Young Master Zhu and exposed Sang Shisi’s true nature, Yang Jingyuan was quite satisfied.
His eyes met Ji Yingying’s again, conveying: How’s your precious Master Sang now? He has enough concubines to form a mahjong table.
Ji Yingying’s gaze had only one message: How is this any of your business? I was praising his tea skills – can’t you understand simple words?