A job worth 50 taels of silver is not easy to find, and having a competitor will naturally not attract good looks.
The pavilion is not big, and there happens to be one person sitting on each side.
There is a futon in front of you, a short writing desk above, and an incense burner in the hall, with green smoke lingering.
Xia Shang took off his bamboo hat, shook off the rain and dew on his body, and sat down cross-legged. The old man from before, Mr. Jia, sneered sideways and said, "How can a young boy teach me when he is as old as a daughter of the Sai family?"
indeed.
Xia Shang was really too young. With his eighteen-year-old appearance and his natural fair skin, he looked as if he were fifteen or sixteen years old. If not for Xia Shang's steady and decent manners, he would have been regarded as a student.
Sai'e was also puzzled, thinking how could the maid invite a young boy in? But when she saw the maid standing outside the pavilion without saying anything, she turned her eyes to Xia Shang and asked softly: "Mr. Xia, what's the matter?
I ask you, do you have fame or fame?"
"Back to Madam, I have neither."
Sai'e frowned slightly, not knowing how to answer for a moment.
On the other hand, the young people on the other side heard that Xia Shang had neither fame nor prestige, so they couldn't help but sneer: "I don't know how high the mountains are and how vast the sea is. I'm afraid he is an opportunist who only came here for the fifty taels of silver?"
Xia Shang ignored it and looked at Sai'e indifferently. This woman had a plump figure and looked lazy when she sat. She looked rich and noble. Although she looked gentle on the surface, she was actually not angry and powerful. Her innate elegance made her whole.
Neither of them dared to look at him.
Only Xia Shang, the youngest, has the most stable demeanor.
It made Sai'e a little suspicious. Where did this young boy who was as handsome as a girl come from? Sitting cross-legged is like a green bamboo outside the court, moving with the wind, neither hard nor soft. Looking at him is like a spring breeze, but his posture is not weak.
.
Xia Shang said: "I heard outside the pavilion that Madam is going to take the exam. Since Xia is here, why not let Xia try it?"
Sai'e nodded: "That's right. You're here when you come. Please sit down. You three, please listen to the folk woman's explanation."
Sai'e made a sign of invitation, meaning to invite everyone to have some tea.
On the desk, the fragrance of tea has come out of the celadon teapot. Several people in the pavilion are enjoying their tea. Sai'e continues:
"A commoner's wife has only one daughter, and they have been dependent on each other for sixteen years. She has always regarded her as the heart and soul of her life. It is also a commoner's wife who is used to being arrogant and indulgent. Jiangnan has been unruly and willful since she was a child, and is difficult to discipline. All the gentlemen she hired before were talented.
The man had no choice but to lack some skills, and was unable to be taught by Jiangnan Diao, so he ran away without saying a word.
In order to ensure that you can truly control Jiangnan, I have prepared a few test questions here, not only to test your practical knowledge, but also to test your wit. Do you three have any opinions?"
"It's okay to say it, ma'am."
"Okay then, the first question for a folk woman is to taste tea."
"Tasting tea?"
"Yes, it is what the three of you drank before. Tasting tea can reveal a person's mood and outlook. Tasting tea is like observing people. Tea taste is a reflection of character. Only those whose character and temperament match those of women can be women.
Don’t worry, I will leave my daughter to you. Which of the three will try first?”
This tea tasting may seem like a small interest, but it is actually a great wisdom.
Speaking more broadly, drinking tea is just like talking about the current situation. You can express your own opinions freely, but you can also see a person's character, pursuit, tolerance, etc. at a glance.
From which aspect should we start? Is it the taste of a single product of tea? Or is it the tea that expresses the meaning? This all needs to be considered.
The young scholar couldn't hold his breath at first. He stood up first, held the folding fan horizontally, and placed the tea cup quietly on it. Although it was shaking and almost shaking out the tea, he still had the elegance and elegance on his fingertips, which matched his green face.
The shirt and scarf are so chic.
This style is enough, it can be said that the literati's coquettishness has been brought to the extreme.
Just as he was about to speak, Xia Shang suddenly sneezed violently.
"Ah owe!!!"
The sudden sneeze frightened everyone, and the scholar holding the folding fan was no exception.
Others were startled and broke into a cold sweat at most, but the scholar was so startled that he splashed tea all over himself and dropped the teacup to pieces. His previous showmanlike aura was gone, leaving only a mess and embarrassment.
Extremely.
"Hahaha..." After finishing the opening, Mr. Jia squinted his eyes and twirled his beard with contentment, and muttered something to himself, "After all, he is young and frivolous, a little less stable, a little less steady!"
Such a big mistake happened at such a critical moment!
Who can bear it?
He stood in the pavilion without knowing what to do with his tea. Not to mention the scholar himself who was embarrassed, Sai'e, as the host, also blushed a little and hurriedly called to the maid outside the pavilion:
"Xiaoxiang, give me a handkerchief quickly."
After the scholar wiped his clothes with a handkerchief, the awkwardness in the scene was relieved. He put all his anger on Xia Shang and shouted angrily:
"It's you! You must have done it on purpose!"
Xia Shang spread his hands: "Brother, I'm wronged! Even gods can't stop people from sneezing. This... why is it my fault?"
"You didn't hit me early or late, but you hit me when I stood up to raise my glass. It was obviously intentional!"
"Brother, what you said is wrong. Can't you hold the tea cup in your hand properly? Why do you have to put it on the fan?"
"Yes, yes!" Mr. Jia smiled happily and felt something in his heart, "This is a waste of money! Hahaha..."
"You... you!" The scholar blushed and did not argue with the two. He turned to Sai'e and said, "Madam, please comment. What you saw with your own eyes just now must be the one named Xia who was causing trouble and deliberately trying to trouble me.
.”
"This..." Sai'e was also in a dilemma.
Anyone with a discerning eye knows that Xia Shang did that on purpose, but it would not look good to everyone if this matter was brought out.
Not knowing how to answer, Xia Shang took the initiative to admit it.
"That's all. Xia admitted that he did it deliberately."
"You still dare to admit it?"
"Brother, don't blame me, I have my reasons too."
"You're trying to punish me, do you still have a reason?"
"Didn't Madam say it before? It's not just practical knowledge, but also quick wit. You and I are both taking the test, and we are competitors. I know that my practical knowledge is not as good as my brother's, so I have to use a sneeze to spoil my brother's eloquent speech.
.This is my little brother's plan to pull off a thousand pounds. I hope Madam will understand clearly. Can what Xia did be called quick and wise?"
Sai'e was stunned. She never thought that this kid had such a plan. She couldn't help laughing, and then clapped her head and nodded: "Excellent, extremely wonderful. It's true that soldiers are not afraid of deceit. Mr. Xia sneezed well. My little girl Jiang Nan will use such methods."
Only then could she be restrained.
As for this gentleman, how about the civilian woman apologize to you for Mr.
The scholar had no choice but to suffer the loss of being mute, so he sat down angrily and stopped talking.
At this time, Mr. Jia, who was laughing happily, knew that it was his turn.
"Mrs. Sai, your elegant residence in the bamboo forest adds a lot to the beauty of this tea. The tea is good tea, newly made in Liuzhuang Tea Garden outside Yangzhou City. This scented tea has a refreshing fragrance and sweetness, neither astringent nor bitter, and the soup is sweet and pure.
Moreover, the flowers do not break when brewed, the soup and tea are distinct, and the drinking is smooth. It is the best tea.
Mrs. Sai can place this tea in a small pavilion in the bamboo forest, which shows that Mrs. Sai is also a person who understands tea very well. Even if she is a close friend, I don't need to say more. I believe that Mrs. Sai already understands in her heart." (To be continued)