Chapter 120: Sister and Cousin (5)

  "Are you Xie Jia's sister-in-law? You really do look a bit like her!" Lu Jinyu and her cousin Zheng Yi had somehow appeared beside her, smiling as they spoke to her.

  "Miss Lu, Miss Zheng!" Yao Cunhui hurriedly smiled and greeted, looking at Lu Jinyu nodding and smiling: "We are sisters of the same mother, naturally there is some resemblance."

  "Xie Jia's sister is the most gentle, and Hui's younger sister is also good. If I had known you were coming, I should have visited Xie Fu earlier!" Lu Jinyu said with a smile: "Hui's younger sister shouldn't be too polite, just call me Jinyu, she is Xiao Yi!" Then asked about the living habits in Jinling, where to go and play, what delicious food to eat, etc. Yao Cun Hui smiled and chatted with her two sisters.

  The girls were originally simple-minded, and at the age of innocence and beauty, Yao Cunhui was delighted that the two had a bright and lively personality, and the three quickly became familiar with each other, chatting and laughing non-stop.

  "What's with Miss Xu always following Master Xie around?" Zheng Yi glanced at Xu Wanting and asked in a low voice, "Have we neglected her? Should we call her over to join us?"

  Lu Jinyu and Xu Wantong had known each other for a long time, and they had been looking at each other with disdain. Lu Jinyu heard this and glared at Zheng Yi, "Tch" she said disdainfully: "Her? Hmph, let's just forget it! Who doesn't know her little tricks?! Hui sister, although it's not the right time to disturb the mistress of the Xie family, you should still give her a gentle reminder. This Miss Xie from the Xie family is being too close and affectionate with Master Xie!"

  Yao Cun Hui glanced over, thinking to herself that Xu Wan Zhu was being so obvious, probably everyone could see it! She was willing to put everything out there, but also quite foolish, doing this in front of so many people. Even if Xie Fu Yun had wanted to, he wouldn't have dared to do anything with her, and besides, he didn't even have any intentions.

  "After talking for half a day, are you two thirsty?" Yao Cunhui smiled and asked Lu Jinyu and Zheng Yi.

  Lu Jinyu was taken aback for a moment, then smiled knowingly and said: "Exactly! Let's sit down and have a cup of tea too, I'm a bit thirsty!"

  Then the three of them laughed and sat down together.

  "Are you three done whispering? Are you willing to come back?" Lu's young master smiled and scolded his sister, his eyes glancing over Yao Cunhui as he said with a smile: "Miss Yao has traveled far, don't neglect her."

  Yao Cunhui heard the words and smiled brightly, leaning in close to Lu Jinyu and slightly tilting her body, "How could that be? Don't we get to meet like old times?"

  "That's right! Brother always likes to teach me, but sister Hui is the best!" Lu Jinyu smiled proudly with her arm around Yao Cunhui.

  Lu Gongzi burst out laughing: "Miss Yao is quick-witted and fast-talking, no wonder she's close to my sister!"

  Several people laughed together.

  A maid brought in the tea, Lu Jinyu picked up a covered bowl, lightly lifted the lid, slightly furrowed her brow, took a sip and put it down, saying: "Is this scented with osmanthus flower tips? The floral flavor is too strong, no matter what kind of tea leaves, brew me another pot of clear tea."

  "Me too, thanks for your hard work." Yao Cunhui also smiled and said.

  The maid took her orders and left.

  Zheng Yi, however, loved the tea that had been scented with flowers. She deeply inhaled the fragrance at her nostrils, and smiled, saying: "I think this scent is really nice, it has both the fragrance of tea and flowers, it's a perfect combination!"

  "The fragrance is clear and elegant, the entrance is fresh and refreshing, the taste is sweet and mellow, this is the original color of tea. After being scented with flowers, the fragrance is increased, but it's actually ruined the original color, and can't even bring out the original flavor of the tea. It's better not to add anything." Yaoke Hui smiled and said.

  Lu Jinyu clapped her hands and laughed, "Sister Hui, you've hit the nail on the head! I don't like brewing tea with flowers either. It's a waste of both the tea and the flowers!"

  Yao Cunhui found what she said amusing and couldn't help but let out a "heh" of laughter, the two exchanging glances.

  Zheng Yi hesitated and said: "The original flavor of clear tea doesn't have much taste, I still think the fragrant one is better!"

  "What do you know, you little brat!" Lu Jinyu said bluntly.

  Xu Wantong interrupted with a smile: "Jin Yumei is indeed a talented person, tea fragrance clears the mind, flower fragrance delights people, and the combination of tea and flower fragrances is even more interesting. However, the osmanthus-flower-scented tea has a slightly strong flavor, not as elegant as the lotus flower."

  Lu Jinyu wouldn't let Wan Zhu snatch the limelight from her, so she immediately retorted: "The fragrance of lotus flowers is in their petals, not in their stamens. I've never seen anyone use lotus flowers to scent tea leaves!"

  "Jin Yu didn't know," Xǔ Wǎnzhú said with a pleased smile, "the most fragrant lotus flower is the white one. During the blooming season of the lotus flowers, in the evening, select those that are about to bloom and have just cracked open, wrap the chosen tea leaves in silk gauze, carefully put them into the white lotus flower bud, and then wrap the lotus flower bud with silk gauze. After two or three days, unwrap the gauze, take out the tea leaves, and that fragrance, seemingly there yet not quite, is the most refreshing and elegant!"

  "Miss Xu is indeed a true gem, to have come up with such a plan! Truly unheard of!" The young master of the renowned Wang family in Jinling laughed and praised, while the others also smiled and echoed their agreement.

  "It's too much of an honor for a few young masters!" Xǔ Wǎnzhú pursed her lips and smiled shyly, but was quite pleased with herself. She couldn't help but sneak a glance at Xiè Fǔyùn out of the corner of her eye, thinking to herself: One day, if she could sail on a boat with her cousin, personally brewing tea for him, that would be a wonderful thing! Even divine beings wouldn't surpass this!

  Among the ripples, emerald green lotus leaves stretched to the sky, elegant flowers swayed gently like water nymphs. A small boat glided swiftly across, with two people on board - herself and her cousin. They lingered, laughing and having fun. What a scene! Xǔ Wǎnzhú was momentarily dazed, her gaze at Xiè Fǔyùn's eyes even more autumnal and enchanting.

  Yao Cunhui felt a surge of anger in her heart: this "wife's sister" was right next to her, if she didn't show any concern at all, others might even look down on her own sister!

  Lu Jinyu suddenly spoke up, shouting: "So that's how you're taking the fragrance of the lotus! Not only is it unheard of, but it's also truly wicked! The flower was fine on its own and didn't provoke anyone, yet when it's about to bloom, you put tea leaves in it and wrap it with silk gauze so no one can open it, just to take that faint 'as if present but not' fragrance. It's really harming the harmony of nature and going against the natural order! Even if you did get the flower's fragrance, how could you bear to drink that tea?"

  "You——" Xu Wanting's face suddenly fell, and she retorted: "If that's the case, other people's tea leaves are still growing fine, but you picked their buds just to drink tea. Isn't that also a sin? If you have the ability, then from now on don't drink tea or eat food, I'll believe you!"

  Yao Cunhui saw Lu Jinyu being choked by Xu Wanting's words, and smiled: "Sister, your words are biased. What is the natural way? It is also to follow nature. For example, sheep want to eat grass, wolves want to eat sheep, this is the natural way. Sheep can eat grass when they are hungry, but should wolves die if they eat sheep when they are hungry? Humans live between heaven and earth, take what is naturally available, live in accordance with nature, and die in accordance with nature. This is the great way! Just like flowers blooming when it's time to bloom, leaves falling when it's time to fall, without human interference, this is the natural way."

  "Hui's words are reasonable, isn't that the truth!" Lu Jinyu clapped her hands and laughed with a curved brow, casting a triumphant glance at Xu Wanting.

  Several men looked at me, I looked at you, and we were all stunned. We were shocked by the verbal sparring of several girls, and also amazed by what Yao Cunhui said.

  "You're obviously being unreasonable!" Xǔ Wǎnzhú said angrily.

  "You're the one who won't let go!" Lu Jinyu retorted.

  "Older brother, look——"

  "Hmmph!"

  Xu Wantong and Lu Jinyu glared at each other, their faces twisted in anger, the air thick with tension, as if they were about to come to blows. Lu Gongzi, Xie Fu Yun, and the others hastily intervened, using kind words to calm them down and holding them back.

  Xie Fu Yun had been watching for half a day, and Yao Cun Hui was only chatting with Lu's sisters, without any interaction with those "brother-in-law candidates". She was thinking about how to start the conversation when Yao Cun Hui said something that finally caught everyone's attention. Xie Fu Yun was secretly delighted: after all, it was the second sister, and her words were truly impressive!

  He was about to stir up trouble, but unexpectedly, Hui Wan-zhu and Lu Jin-yu intervened. Xie Fu's luck was not going well, and he was secretly annoyed. Just then, the boat sailed into a patch of lotus flowers and leaves. His eyes lit up, and he smiled: "It's rare to see such beautiful blooming lotus flowers at this time of year. Why don't we compose some poems about lotus flowers today? Miss Lu plays the zither extremely well; I wonder if we'll have the good fortune to hear her play today?"

  Playing music and writing poetry, won't this atmosphere be over soon?

  Lu Jinyu was just urging Lotus to hurry up, when she glanced out of the boat and saw a beautiful lotus scene. The leaves were as green as jade plates, and the flowers were elegant and charming. But at first glance, Lu Jinyu felt displeased and said irritably: "Miss doesn't have the mood today, don't want to play!"

  "Little sister!" Lu Gongzi tugged at her sleeve, but she glared at him and yanked it back.

  "Although Yu'er's qin skills are not refined, she is willing to give it a try. What do you all think?" Xǔ Wǎnzhú then chimed in with a smile. At this time, Xiè Fǔyùn brought up the topic of lotus flowers, although it was just a timely remark, wasn't he also helping her? She naturally felt delighted in her heart.

  When facing outsiders, why should Xie Fu Yun humiliate his own cousin and lose face? The other young masters also laughed and agreed with him, so he could only smile and say it was good.

  "I don't want to," Lu Jinyu said proudly. "My zither doesn't like others using it! This lotus flower is really annoying, I'll have someone come and pull it out when I turn back! Brother, tell the boat to turn around, I don't want to be here!"

  "Good grief!" Lu Gongzi couldn't help but laugh bitterly.

  Everyone was used to Lu Jinyu's temper, so they didn't think much of it. The young masters of the Wang and Li families even joked with her a couple more times. But Xu Wanting couldn't take it anymore. With a smiling face, she said: "Isn't it just going with the flow? These lotus flowers and leaves aren't bothering you, they bloom when they should, and wither when they should. Why does Sister Jinyu have to get so angry?"

  Yao Cun Hui smiled slowly and said: "Following the natural order is the great way, people have seven emotions and six desires, and there is also a saying that scenery evokes emotions! Emotions arise from the heart, spoken through the mouth, following the most true feelings in one's heart. Jin Yu sister is indeed straightforward and quick-witted! However, what you said isn't wrong either, Jin Yu sister. The lotus flowers and leaves are good things too, no need to pull them out. They form a beautiful scene, decorating the lake and bringing joy to those who see it, clearing the mind and pleasing the eyes. As for how they're used in tea, I don't know, but as medicine, they're a treasure! Lotus leaves clear summer heat; lotus stems relieve chest congestion; lotus petals treat summer heat and thirst; lotus seeds tonify the spleen and stop diarrhea; lotus hearts calm fire and soothe the spirit; lotus houses dispel blood stasis and stop bleeding. And the rhizome nodes in the mud have the effect of relieving hangover poison!"