143 Humans Are Like Water
Yu Youyao shook her head. Yu Shuangbai had been spoiled by Second Aunt, who planned everything for her. Over time, she had developed this carefree personality. She did not take anything to heart, so she did not learn much.
In the past, she had been just like Yu Shuangbai. When her grandmother doted on her, she also became delicate. Now, it was impossible to change it.
However, after experiencing a nightmare, no one knew better than her that in the end, one could only rely on themselves.
Yu Shuangbai was fun loving and liked new and interesting things.
Yu Youyao had an idea and pulled Yu Shuangbai to the study.
There was a partition screen in the study room, and there was a tea set on a gold-threaded wooden table. This was where Yu Youyao learned tea making from Nanny Xu every day.
This was the first time Yu Shuangbai had seen so many tea sets. There were small stoves, cups, bowls, teacups, and so on. There were dozens of them. “Are these all for tea making?”
Yu Youyao nodded and asked Chun Xiao to burn a small stove. As she ground the tea brick, she said, “Tea skills involve mainly recognizing tea, distinguishing tea, making tea, brewing tea, dividing tea, whisking tea, and so on. It’s easy to learn the first part. What I want to do is divide tea and whisk tea. It requires an extremely high level of tea appreciation skills.”
Yu Shuangbai was still a little uninterested.
Yu Youyao continued, “Dividing tea is a method of brewing tea. In the previous dynasty, people were flourishing and it was popular. The noble ladies invited their friends to sit together and brew tea, so they used a ladle. They used a few clever tricks to make the tea flow into an object. Beasts, insects, flowers, and plants were beautiful and varied, as delicate as a painting. However, they were lost in a moment. It was called ‘a hundred tricks of tea’. That was how tea dividing was born. In the Great Zhou Dynasty, the method of tea dividing was no longer popular. The technique of whisking tea began to flourish. Built on the basis of tea dividing, the advantages were combined into one, combining the essence of the two.”
After hearing Yu Youyao’s explanation, Yu Shuangbai finally became interested. “You can actually make such a fancy tea? Quick, show me!”
Yu Youyao first displayed her tea-dividing technique. She was skilled, and her every move was beautiful and smooth.
Not long after, the tea patterns in the cup surged, and the tea surface turned into patterns. Yu Shuangbai’s eyes widened in shock. She leaned forward to take a look, and the water surface really did turn into peach blossom patterns.
Yu Shuangbai was extremely excited. “This is too amazing. How did you do it? Quick, teach me.”
Yu Youyao shook her head. “I’m also a beginner. I can only create some simple tea patterns, but I can’t teach you. If you want to learn, ask Second Aunt to find a powerful master to teach you seriously.”
Yu Shuangbai quickly asked, “Can I make any tea patterns that I want as long as I learn how to make tea?”
Yu Youyao nodded. “Logically speaking, that’s right. However, what kind of soup patterns can be made depends on the level of tea brewing.”
Yu Shuangbai looked deep in thought.
After that, Yu Youyao displayed a few simple tea patterns that piqued Yu Shuangbai’s curiosity.
Yu Shuangbai was also excited. She begged Yu Youyao to teach her tea techniques, but Yu Youyao refused. She only said that she was not good at tea techniques and was afraid that she would lead others astray, which made Yu Shuangbai anxious.
As the two sisters joked around, the sun was about to set.
Madam Yao had sent her maidservant, Cai Wei, to look for Yu Shuangbai.
Yu Shuangbai was no longer angry, but she still had a temper. She said, “I’ve already told Big Sister that I’ll stay in her room today and talk to her under the same blanket. I won’t be going back.”
With that, Yu Shuangbai turned to look at Yu Youyao. “Good sister, I’ve already said what I wanted to say. You have to agree. Otherwise, how embarrassing would it be for me to run back like this?”
Yu Youyao was also helpless. She glared at her. “Second Aunt dotes on you. Otherwise, she wouldn’t care about what you do.”
Hearing this, Yu Shuangbai stuck out her tongue, and the haze in her heart completely dissipated.
Cai Wei returned to the second house and told Madam Yao this.
Madam Yao held her teacup and sat there in a daze.
In the afternoon, Yu Shuangbai rushed to the main house in a huff. She was also filled with regret. She shouldn’t have said those words. Worried that the sisters would cause a ruckus, she also chased after them.
In the inner room, Yu Shuangbai was crying profusely.
When she reached the outer room, she was shocked and afraid when she heard Shuang Bai’s unrestrained words. Once she said something, not only would it hurt their relationship as sisters, but it would also cause trouble for Old Madam.
Fortunately, Yu Youyao interrupted Shuang Bai and comforted her.
At this moment, Yu Zongshen came down from the government office. As soon as he returned to the residence, he heard that the mother and daughter were arguing. He entered the house and asked Madam Yao about it.
Madam Yao didn’t hide anything and told him everything. “I was wrong. I saw that Yao Yao had changed a lot recently and felt that Shuang’er was still childish, so I was a little strict with her.”
Yu Zongshen frowned when he heard this. “Shuang’er is already old. She indeed has to learn the rules well, but Shuang’er is different from Yao Yao. As long as she’s sensible and knows the severity of the matter, we’ll protect her.” At this point, his expression darkened. “Don’t be too harsh on Shuang’er. Ruining the sisterly relationship will make Mother unhappy.”
Upon hearing this, Madam Yao felt a little uncomfortable, but she still forced a smile and said, “This girl is very angry. She’s throwing a tantrum at me, but she’s still staying in Yao Yao’s room, saying that she wants to share a bed with her and refuses to come back.”
With that, Madam Yao lowered her head.
The hot tea in the cup was filled with smoke, causing her eyes to be misty and moist. Everyone envied her for being lucky enough to marry a young talent like Yu Zongshen, who was a Cabinet aide.
She often comforted herself, too.
However, humans were like water, and they could tell if someone was hot or cold.
Madam Yao perked up. “Master has just left the government office. Why don’t you rest in the main courtyard?”
Yu Zongshen’s expression was indifferent. “No, I still have official documents to deal with in my study.” Thinking of Yu Shuangbai, his expression paused for a moment. “I’ll go to the main residence to take a look at Shuang’er first.”
With that, he strode out of the house without waiting for Madam Yao to react.
Madam Yao suddenly gripped her teacup tightly, her arms trembling.
Yu Zongshen treated her with respect, and gave her the dignity of a first wife. However, she could now sense how much of a couple they were.
They had been husband and wife for many years, but she could not see through his heart.
It was also bitterly disappointing.
In the house, Yu Shuangbai pestered Nanny Xu to teach her tea techniques, and Nanny Xu did not refuse.
Seeing that Yu Shuangbai was really interested, Yu Youyao pursed her lips and chuckled. She glanced at the window and saw that her second uncle had come to the Jade Courtyard at some point. He was standing in the courtyard with his hands behind his back. His handsome and elegant figure was resting under the tall tree, and he actually looked inexplicably gloomy.
This was the first time Second Uncle had come to the Jade Courtyard after she had moved in.