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Chapter 14 Old Lady

  Chapter Fourteen Old Lady

  Xiao Lao Tai Jun used to live in the main courtyard of the Ling Mansion, but after Old Master's passing, she moved out due to nostalgia and now resides in Chunhui Garden at the east end of the Ling Mansion.

  "The two characters 'Spring Hui' are taken from the phrase 'Who says that even a small blade of grass can repay the kindness of three springs?' This garden was originally the East Garden of the Ling family, with lush flowers and trees, winding bridges, flowing water, artificial hills, and ponds. When Old Lady moved in, Ling Zhao renovated it extensively, building it into what it is today - a complete and independent residence, not very large but with all the necessary facilities."

  Yan Dai brought Wenping and Cailian, together with Yunhua, into Chunhui Garden. She had only been to this garden once before, when she first returned to the Ling family. When she left, she also took Wenping and Cailian away from here.

  She was okay, but Cailian, who was standing beside her, couldn't help but let out a soft sigh, with a hint of nostalgia in her tone. Wenping, who was standing next to her, heard her sigh but remained silent. Yunhua, who was standing nearby, turned around and looked at Cailian after hearing the sigh, her eyebrows slightly moving as if she wanted to say something, but seeing Yandai standing beside her, she didn't dare speak up.

  The capital city is located in the north, after October, it has already entered winter, dry and cold. However, standing in Chunhui Garden, what meets the eye makes people feel that they are still in autumn. The evergreen pines and cypresses are lush and green everywhere, the red maple leaves of autumn surpass the spring flowers, the sweet fragrance of osmanthus is mixed with the elegant scent of chrysanthemum, and the warm winter sun shines on one's body, making people feel cozy and comfortable.

  The Ling Mansion was originally a very standard northern-style building, with a grand and majestic structure. However, the Chunhui Garden is different, it seems more like a southern garden, with a delicate layout, elegant and refined, having a kind of intoxicating beauty that is both elegant and unconventional.

  Yun Hua led the three of them along the winding corridor to the Yanhui Study where Old Lady Xiao lived. Outside the Yanhui Study, a maid had been waiting and saw the three approaching, she hurriedly smiled and welcomed them: "Ninth Miss has arrived, Old Lady and Eldest Miss Xiao have been waiting for half a day!" As she spoke, she turned around and quickly walked a few steps to open the curtain for Far Dai, inviting her inside.

  Although she had only been here once, Yuandai was not familiar with the maids in Chunhui Garden. However, seeing that this maid was dressed elegantly, she knew that she was no ordinary maid. She nodded slightly and said, "Thank you!" As she spoke, she walked inside.

  She had just entered the door when she heard Xiao Chengyan's voice: "Sister has finally arrived!" The tone was full of delight.

  The corners of her mouth twitched slightly, and Far Dai smiled at her, but took a step forward first, bowing to the elderly Mrs. Xiao who was sitting in the hall with a smile. Mrs. Xiao was already nearly seventy years old, although her hair was gray, her face was still radiant and ruddy, and now her face was full of smiles, making her look even more kind and gentle. Seeing Far Dai bow, she signaled to someone beside her to come over and help her up, while smiling and saying: "Get up quickly, come here and let me take a look!" As soon as she made the gesture, a maid had already come forward to support Far Dai and bring her before Mrs. Xiao.

  Xiao Lao Tai Jun then took Yu Dai's hand, looked at it carefully for a moment, and finally shook her head, saying: "After going out to recuperate for over two years, I had originally hoped that you would have recovered, but how is it that you've returned still looking so sickly?"

  Yan Dai smiled and replied, "It's not the granddaughter's fault that you're so worried, old lady. The granddaughter's illness was something she was born with, it's hard to fully recover from it, but as long as she rests quietly every day, there won't be any major problems!"

  Xiao Lao Tai Jun listened and nodded, saying: "This is indeed the truth!" Her expression was momentarily melancholic.

  Yuandai smiled again, just as she was about to say something, but Xiang Chengyan had already laughed and interjected: "Auntie, I have something on my mind, but I don't know if it's suitable to say or not!"

  Xiao Lao Tai Jun looked at her and smiled, saying: "You this clever girl, speak only in circles, what is there to say just say it, yet also what should not be said!"

  Xiao Chengxian heard this and immediately frowned, complaining: "Auntie's words are always so sharp, it's as if she's deliberately trying to make me lose face!" But her tone was more playful than resentful.

  As soon as these words came out, the old lady burst into a fit of laughter and pointed at Xiao Chengyan, scolding with a smile: "You! You! No wonder your parents always look worried and sigh when they mention you! Alright, alright, don't try to be clever with me, just say what you want quickly!"

  Xiao Chengyan said seriously: "Auntie also knows that I learned some medical skills when I was young, although I didn't learn them well, but I understand some medical principles. In my opinion, sister's illness is just a deficiency syndrome since birth, if we can invite a famous doctor to prescribe the right medicine and take good care of her with a good prescription, paying attention to her diet, then even though she will be weaker than ordinary people in the future, it won't be too bad!"

  Everyone present is a clever person, and upon hearing this remark, who wouldn't be able to discern Xiao Chengxian's meaning? Old Lady Xiao burst out laughing on the spot: "Well done, you little monkey! I didn't expect that you and my family's Ninth Miss would truly have a predestined affinity!"

  Her distant eyes moved slightly, and she looked deeply at Xiao Chengyan. In the past, Xiao Chengyan had once told her that when she returned to Beijing, he would definitely invite a famous doctor for her. At that time, however, she didn't take it seriously, thinking that he was just speaking casually. Unexpectedly, Xiao Chengyan had remembered this matter firmly in his heart, and today, taking the opportunity, he brought it up directly with Old Lady.

  Three people were talking when a young maid came over and said with a smile: "Old lady, lunch is ready!"

  Xiao Lao Tai Jun heard the sound and nodded, then called the two of them to go to the side hall.

  In the side hall, the meal had already been laid out. Old Lady Xiao gestured for the two to sit down in front of her, and smiled at them: "To think about it, it's been quite some time since my place has been this lively!"

  Yuanni and Xiao Chengyu sat on either side of Old Lady Xiao, chatting for a while after dinner. As they talked, Old Lady Xiao's age began to show, and she grew tired. She smiled at the two women and waved her hand, saying, "As one gets older, it's easy to get drowsy. Ninth Sister will keep Yuanni company in the garden; let me take a nap!"

  Yuan Dai listened to these words and hastily bid farewell to Lao Tai Jun with Xiao Cheng.

  The two of them strolled through Chunhui Garden, yet neither of them had spoken a word. They walked all the way to the Qingyi Pavilion on the south side of the garden before Farong finally stopped in her tracks and turned to Xiao Chengxian, saying: "Today's events were all because of your careful planning, sister!"

  Xiao Cheng smiled slightly and leaned his head towards her: "Sister, you're being too polite! Since I've acknowledged you as my sister, how can I let you suffer?"

  Listening to this familiar phrase, Yuandai was slightly dazed and distracted for a long time before letting out a melancholic sigh. She then deliberately changed the subject, no longer speaking those polite words: "Sister, has the tea been brewed yet?"

  Xiao Chengxian's face turned sour as she mentioned this, and she complained: "The prescription that my sister gave me is really too difficult to make. I've tried more than ten times in these days, but somehow I just can't get it right."

  Seeing her like this, Yuandai couldn't help but smile lightly: "Has that sister ever tried the tea she made herself?"

  Xiao Chengyan shook her head matter-of-factly and said, "That's not true!"

  Yan Dai lightly raised an eyebrow and suddenly asked: "Sister, what do you think is good about that 'Three Friends of Winter' tea?"

  Xiao Chengxian hadn't considered this and quickly replied: "The flavor is clear and mellow, with a lingering aftertaste."

  Yuan Dai then asked, "Sister, you were born into a wealthy and noble family, and must have drunk many famous teas in the past. I wonder if among the teas you've had, there's one that can compare to 'The Three Friends of Winter'?"

  Xiao Chengxi lowered her head and thought for a moment, then shook her head and said: "To be honest with my sister, if we really talk about the entrance flavor, there are not many teas that can match 'Sui Han San You', but it's not a small number either. The special thing about this tea is that when you first enter, it's as clear as water, but after savoring it carefully, the flavor comes out on its own, which makes people feel quite surprised. Moreover, the pine fragrance, bamboo clarity, and plum fragrance in the tea are integrated into one body, complementing each other and making up for each other's shortcomings. This point is far beyond what other famous teas can achieve!"

  Yuan Dai heard this and immediately clapped her hands and laughed: "Sister is indeed a connoisseur! However, I still have one more thing to ask sister?"

  Xiao Chengxian was already a bit dazed at this moment, and when she said that, he naturally nodded and said, "Sister, just ask?"

  "If this tea is not as clear and refreshing as water when entering the mouth, does sister think that this tea can still be considered a famous tea?"

  Xiao Chengyan lowered her head and pondered for a moment before finally saying: "It's still possible!"

  Smiling, Yan Dai said: "Not to deceive sister, the 'Three Friends of Winter' kneading method can actually be simplified by half. And if I rely on my revised method to make tea, it's not difficult at all, only the entrance will no longer have its subsequent surprise! If sister is interested, I'll copy a new recipe for sister later, and sister can try again when she returns home!"

  Xiao Chengyan was not a foolish person, and had once devoted himself to making "Sui Han San You" tea. At this moment, upon hearing Yuan Dai's words, he suddenly woke up in his heart. It turned out that the method of making this tea was so complicated, it was actually meant to make people feel shocked when they drank it, and suddenly feel a sense of surprise and joy. He couldn't help but laugh and shook his head, Xiao Chengyan said incredulously: "I don't know who created this tea recipe, it's really so clever!"

  A pair of bright eyes suddenly became even more profound and mysterious, with long eyelashes slightly drooping to cover the unusual color in her pupils. She smiled faintly and said in a very low voice, "Isn't it just like that?" Her tone was as if she were lost in thought, nostalgic, and hiding many indescribable emotions within.

  Xiao Chengyan was busy pondering the tea formula in her mind, and she didn't notice Yu Dai's expression at all. After thinking for a moment, she smiled and said: "Sister, let me keep that formula first, I'll try it out a few times when I get back, if it still doesn't work, I'll come ask you again!"

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