Chapter 108: Tea Brewing Equipment

Chapter 108

Tea Brewing Equipment

The General thought to himself: his wife is so beautiful—why should she be the one to brew tea for others to watch? Let Mu Rongying do it instead. Let that Wuqian suffer from jealousy alone.

"Are the Mo Cha Fen brewing tools ready? Let’s have Yingying give it a try,"

Nie Shuang instructed Jiang Ru, who then stood up and retrieved a tray of tea equipment from the cabinet. There was a tea container, a kettle, a small bamboo ladle, a bamboo tea scoop, and a tea whisk.

"Let me brew the first round for you. These tools were made according to Sister Nie Shuang’s instructions, and you may not have seen some of them before. For the second round, you can try brewing it yourself."

Jiang Ru told Mu Rongying, who nodded in agreement. Having grown up surrounded by tea, Jiang Ru had a deep knowledge of tea, and she also liked drinking tea, so she could brew it with ease. She could gauge the perfect water temperature, and as she brewed, she explained the process to Mu Rongying. After finishing the first cup, she handed it to the General, the eldest and most senior person present.

Song Qilin gracefully accepted the cup and took a sip. Seeing his poised demeanor, Nie Shuang thought how great it would be if he could join the tea ceremony. Having him seated alongside Kang Wang would surely attract many admiring glances.

"Not bad."

The tea in the cup was a clear, light green with a pleasant fragrance and a slightly bitter aftertaste lingering in the mouth. Song Qilin finished the cup in three sips, placing it down just as Xiao Hua Hua reached out, eager to taste the tea for herself, which made all the adults laugh in amusement.

"My dear Xiao Hua Hua, you’re too young to drink tea. Wait until you’re a bit older,"

Song Qilin lowered his head and said to his pouting daughter, gently lifting the empty cup out of her reach. He then called Xiao Tong to bring a small cup of water for her instead. When the little girl saw she had a cup just like her father, she stopped fussing.

The two unmarried young women observed the General helping Nie Shuang care for their children with a hint of envy. Growing up, they had never seen men in their families assist with childcare—such tasks were always considered a woman’s duty. Look at Sister Nie Shuang: since entering the room, she had sat elegantly like a mistress of the house, while the General juggled the three little dumplings like catching a sack of squirming crabs.

Nie Shuang gave Mu Rongying a nod, signaling for her to try brewing the tea herself. Mu Rongying had carefully observed Jiang Ru’s tea brewing earlier, noting the quantity of tea, the level of water used, and how to stir the tea to create the proper color and consistency.

"The tea ceremony isn’t just about brewing or drinking tea. It’s about appreciating the serene atmosphere and the aesthetic beauty of everything around you—even the patterns on the teacups and the craftsmanship of each tool. The movements while brewing the tea are also considered an art form in their own right,"

Nie Shuang explained further. Mu Rongying pondered this for a moment, realizing that she had to blend both the essence of the tea and the elegance of her actions. What Sister Nie Shuang was asking for wasn’t just tea brewing but a form of performance, much like a graceful dance. She sat with her legs tucked beneath her with the tea brewing equipment in front, focused her mind, and began to brew the tea.

The slender hand scooped hot water with a bamboo ladle, poured it into the cup to warm it, then emptied it into a small basin. Next, Mu Rongying added Mo Cha Fen to the cup, poured in hot water, and used a bamboo whisk to stir until a frothy layer formed on the surface. Every movement was smooth and precise, as if she were a priestess performing a sacred ritual. The atmosphere was serious yet serene, creating a sense of peaceful contentment for the onlookers. Even the three little ones sat quietly, as if they had sprouted roots that anchored their chubby bottoms to the floor. When the green tea in the cup was perfectly frothed, Mu Rongying carefully handed the cup to Nie Shuang with both hands, ensuring the cup’s beautifully decorated side faced outward. Nie Shuang smiled with satisfaction, accepting the tea and taking a sip.

"You’ve done so well. If you practice a bit more, you’ll be an incomparable tea brewing master. Oh...except for Jiang Ru, your teacher,"

Nie Shuang teased, making the three women laugh, easing the atmosphere in the room. Mu Rongying then brewed tea for Jiang Ru and Song Qilin, before finally preparing a cup for herself. The four adults sipped their tea in quiet enjoyment, listening to the sounds of nature in the winter valley, feeling the warmth of the fragrant tea in their hands, and experiencing a deep sense of contentment.

After drinking tea and conversing for some time, Nie Shuang suggested they take the children outside to enjoy the view of the tea plantation. Although winter in the southern city like Huangjing wasn’t as harsh as the snow-covered north, the mountain air was still chilly at midday. She asked Xiao Tong to bring out the soft rabbit fur coats for the children, which had hoods with cute little ears sewn on as Nie Shuang had asked the maids to make. The three chubby little ones looked like fluffy bear cubs, so adorable that both Mu Rongying and Jiang Ru couldn’t resist asking to carry them. Bao Bao was more than happy to offer himself to his beautiful aunt, while Xiao Hua Hua cheerfully stretched her arms out to Jiang Ru. Only Young Master Bei Bei clung to his mother, indifferent to the world around him. With his hands free, Song Qilin softly coaxed his second son.

"Bei Bei, let me carry you for a while. Your mother must be tired from holding you for so long."

The boy looked up at his father, seeing the warmth in his gaze, then glanced back at his mother with hesitation, as if afraid she’d feel neglected. Smiling gently, Nie Shuang spoke to reassure him.

"Let your father carry you, dear. I won’t mind."

With this, Bei Bei finally leaned into his father’s embrace, nestling his face into his shoulder in a heart-melting display of affection. Song Qilin couldn’t help but feel a surge of warmth at his son’s endearing behavior. This second son truly had a natural charm that drew people to him without effort.

Meanwhile, Bao Bao was happily entertaining the ladies, making them laugh, while Xiao Hua Hua was so adorable that Jiang Ru almost didn’t want them to leave. Noticing Jiang Ru’s reluctance, Nie Shuang playfully teased her.

"You should hurry up and have your own. Now that you’re so well-known, I doubt any eligible young man would dare turn you down."

Jiang Ru laughed shyly.

"I’m in no rush for that. I just want to focus on making more tea for you, Sister Nie Shuang."

On the way back, Jiang Ru gifted Mu Rongying a set of tea brewing equipment to take home. These equipment were specially commissioned by Nie Shuang from a local pottery shop, with orders for up to a thousand meticulously crafted sets. When she instructed Da Shi to make the arrangements, he no longer had any doubts. If Lady Boss ordered this quantity, they would surely sell out. The design on the teacups was all from Lady Boss herself. She chose fine white clay, with brown lines along the upper and lower rims that resembled tree branches. The outside of the cup featured two freshly sprouted green tea leaves, along with the word Xiangyun written in calligraphy. The set was minimalistic yet visually captivating.

These days, whenever Lady Boss approached a shop with a business proposition, the owner would be as thrilled as if gold had appeared in their backyard. People said that the Lady Boss was a goddess of fortune, always bringing prosperity to her business partners. This time was no different. The owner of the pottery shop eagerly accepted her terms without hesitation. First, the tea brewing sets would only be sold exclusively at Xiangyun Tea House. Second, every piece had to meet the high-quality standards they agreed upon. Lastly, the design that Lady Boss created was not to be reproduced or sold to anyone else. Even if other shops tried to imitate, the Lady Boss wasn’t concerned. Every piece she commissioned was made from top-quality materials, crafted with fine precision. Even the water ladles and bamboo spoons were sanded smooth and beautifully engraved with the word Xiangyun. The pottery shop owner, taking on this tea brewing set project, found himself so inundated with work that he hardly needed to take on any other commissions for the entire year. The payment he received was far more lucrative than selling everyday dishes to the common folk. As a result, he delegated other tasks to his workers, choosing to personally oversee the tea brewing set production for the Lady Boss.Naturally, if the tea ceremony became popular, these tea brewing sets would soon be available for sale at the famous Xiangyun Tea House. His pottery shop’s reputation would rise along with it.