Full House Spring

Chapter 21 Tea Wash
"What are you standing there for? Why don't you open the box and see if you like what's inside."

Mai Dong quickly came to her senses. She opened the box and said with a smile:
"How could I not like the gift you gave me? Wow~ Such exquisite flowers..."

Maidong's eyes sparkled with crystal clear light, like the brightest stars in the night sky, shining brightly. Looking at her expression, Xia Li's mood also brightened, and she explained:
"This is a velvet flower headdress. I made it to honor the old lady. They picked out a batch earlier, and I brought the rest to you. You can wear it for fun. If there is a pattern you particularly like, I can make it for you."

Mai Dong was not unhappy because she took the leftovers from others. She picked up a pomegranate flower and put it in her bun, then turned to Xia Li and asked, "Does this look good on me?"

Xia Li nodded pertinently, giving the right emotional value, and praised generously: "You are more beautiful than flowers, and you are even prettier."

Maidong smiled when he heard that. The interaction between the two of them, which was as oblivious to the people around them, made Xiangru seem a little redundant.

Xia Li pretended not to see her. Mai Dong realized something was wrong after she smiled. She glanced at Xiang Ru and said hesitantly, "There are still so many velvet flowers. Are you going to give them all to me?"

Xia Li raised his eyebrows and chuckled, "Of course, you can give it to others or keep it for yourself, it's up to you."

Xiangru remained silent, her long eyelashes hiding the disappointment in her eyes, making it impossible to see her expression.

Maidong was simple but not stupid. She immediately understood that it was because of what Xiangru had just said. Xia Li must have heard it. She was in a dilemma and didn't know what to do.

Xia Li is not a person who repays evil with kindness. Whether it is a man or a friend, she only screens and does not train. If they are compatible, they come together, and if they are not, they go their separate ways. She never wastes time on others, and is simple and pure.

Seeing the confusion on Maidong's face, Xia Li opened her red lips and said, "I just cleaned up my room, and there are still many things that haven't been sorted out. I won't stay here for long. Come and play with me when you have time."

After Xia Li finished speaking, he packed up his things and turned to leave. Maidong looked at Xia Li's back as he left, then glanced at Xiangru, sighed helplessly, and chased after him.

"Xia Li, wait for me, don't leave so quickly."

Xia Li stopped when he heard the voice, turned around and smiled, saying: "My things are not heavy, there is no need for you to send them."

Mai Dong walked up to her side and said angrily, "Why are you in such a hurry to leave? You haven't seen us for many days. It won't hurt to chat for a while."

Xia Li slowed down his pace and said calmly, "I stood outside the door for a while. I heard everything you said."

Maidong's expression was slightly restrained, and he said carefully: "Actually, Xiangru has no other intentions, and it's not that we don't want to be friends anymore. I just think you've risen too fast and are getting further away from us, so..."

Maidong subconsciously put her and Xiangru together, which shows that she has deeper feelings for Xiangru. This is no wonder, after all, the two grew up together, and Xia Li can understand it.

She said calmly, "You don't have to explain anything. I don't blame her. She is willing to protect me in front of others because of kindness. If she is not willing, it is her duty. I don't have anything to worry about."

Maidong understood what Xia Li meant. She wanted to defend Xiangru, but she was tongue-tied and didn't know how to start. Her eyes were a little moist, and she said pitifully: "It was so good for the three of us before. If nothing had changed..."

Xia Li burst out laughing and said angrily, "It's not a big deal, why are you still crying? I don't want to live a monotonous life. If I have to be a lowly servant for a long time, I will not be willing. I am different from you. I don't have relatives to take care of me. I can only plan for a good life by myself."

Mai Dong was somewhat stunned. She murmured, "But being a servant girl quietly does not mean that you cannot survive..."

Xia Li smiled, looked at her with a complicated look, and said in a calm voice:
"People need to pursue higher quality of life. Having enough food and warm clothes are just the most basic needs. However, it's not bad for you to listen to your father's arrangements."

Maidong is extremely simple. If she were left next to the old lady, she would have no idea how she was being plotted against. Everyone has his or her own way of living. Xia Li didn't want to interfere too much in the cause and effect of others, so she left in a very cool manner.

Maidong watched her back go away, feeling an indescribable sadness in his heart. Xiangru walked up to her without her noticing when, and said in a low voice: "Don't worry too much, she is not on the same path as us. We can't keep up with her pace, so just watch from a distance..."

Maidong wanted to say that they were friends, but when she opened her mouth, no words came out.

The autumn sunset is picturesque, and summer's heart is as calm as a mirror. Although it can reflect the colors of all things in the world, there is not a trace of ripples.

She has few relatives except her grandmother, and has long been accustomed to fighting alone. It is normal for people to come and go around her. She is strong inside and has her own hobbies, so she does not feel lonely.

After returning to her room, she went to her grandmother's house first and took the paper and pen she usually used for practicing calligraphy back to her room. She practiced until the lights were on.

Lying on the brand new bedding at night, listening to the sound of raindrops outside the window, Xia Li slept very soundly. She woke up before dawn because she had to get up early to be on duty.

When Xia Li entered the tea room, the other maids had not come yet. She cleaned the cups, plates and teacups swiftly. She remembered that her grandmother had said that the old lady liked to drink washed tea leaves. She turned around and took out an appropriate amount of tea leaves from the tea can to wash them. Just as she boiled the hot water, she heard footsteps.

The exquisite little room was quiet. Chan Yi looked through the small window and saw Xia Li fanning the stove with a fan. Yin Zhu, who was following her, also saw it.

The smile on her face faded slightly. She first looked at the teacup on the table, and then exclaimed, "Who is so ignorant of the rules that he washed the tea leaves?"

Xia Li stopped what he was doing, looked up at her, and said calmly:
"Hello sisters, I'm the new Xia Li. Grandma said that the old lady likes to drink washed tea leaves, so I washed them first, but what's wrong with that?"

Chan Yi had no expression on his face when he heard this, while Yin Zhu raised his chin and said arrogantly:

"So you are Fang Xiali, who is good at both flattering the master and currying favor with the people below. You are indeed not a simple person."

Xia Li had a premonition that she would be rejected, so she did not get angry. She said calmly, "I don't know who the sister is and why she is so rude."

Yin Zhu was furious when she thought of Bai Shao's previous words to belittle her and praise Xia Li. She sneered:
"I am your elder sister Yin Zhu. You have been in the mansion for only a month, and you have flown to protect the master, acknowledged Madam Xie as your grandmother, and sent velvet flowers everywhere yesterday. You have gone through so much trouble. Now that you have been promoted as you wished, you should behave yourself and stop showing off your abilities."

Xia Li's eyes were deep, the corners of his lips were slightly raised, and he said calmly:
"So it's you, tsk tsk... I heard Sister Bai Shao talk about you... You're really..."

Yin Zhu's eyes turned red due to her attitude, and she said angrily, "If you have something to say, just say it directly. What's the point of saying half and keeping the other half?" Xia Li hesitated for a moment, and said with a half smile, "I just met you, and some things are hard to judge. Just know what you mean."

Yin Zhu really underestimated Xia Li. She caught a glimpse of the wet tea leaves in the teacup, suppressed her anger, and said through gritted teeth, "You washed the teacup and kettle in this copper basin? And the tea leaves too?"

Xia Li didn't understand, so he nodded and said, "I put it in with clean water to wash it."

The silver-red lips curled up into a cold smile, and said sternly:
"If you can't do the job, don't show off. This tea washer is used to wash tea leaves. You are such a tactless person that you ruined a good thing. Do you know that the price of one ounce of this top-grade golden bud is more than your worth?"

Xia Li was secretly annoyed that she had not done enough homework and her knowledge reserves were insufficient. There was a light in her eyes that others could not understand. She immediately bowed to Chan Yifu and said humbly:
"I was reckless this time. I hope you can teach me something. I will not make the same mistake again next time."

Xia Li just ignored Yin Zhu and let her stand aside angrily. Chan Yi looked at her quietly, with a trace of scrutiny in her eyes. After thinking for a moment, she opened her thin lips and said, "Come here and take a closer look."

Chan Yi walked lightly to the table, reached out and placed the ceramic tea washer on the table, tested the water temperature in the pot, and said calmly: "To wash tea, you should first pour the appropriate amount of tea leaves into the tea washer, and then pour in the appropriate amount of water. The water temperature should be determined according to the type of tea. The water temperature for green tea should not be too high."

Xia Li nodded and accepted the instruction. He saw Chan Yi pour warm water into the tea washer and let it sit for a while. Then he gently shook the tea washer with his bare hands and then stirred the tea leaves gently with a tea tongs.

Chan Yi stared at the tea leaves intently, a hint of warmth showing in her cold eyes, and she spoke again: "You don't need to use too much force, just rinse the impurities and dust in the tea leaves with hot water."

Xia Li agreed softly, while Chan Yi's hands kept moving. She put the washed tea leaves on a clean tea towel, gently wiped off the impurities on the surface, and finally moved the clean tea leaves into the teapot.

At this time, the hot water on the small stove had boiled. Chan Yi poured the hot water into the teapot gracefully. Her whole set of movements was as smooth and natural as flowing water.

Xia Li benefited a lot from it and said seriously, "Thank you sister for teaching me so much. I will definitely practice hard."

Chan Yi wiped the water stains on her hands with a handkerchief and said in an ambiguous way:

"You are still young, so don't rush into it. Although it sounds simple to serve others, you need to be patient and learn it well. It's not enough to just talk about it."

Xia Li's eyes were filled with determination, and she said in a calm tone, "Sister, you are right. I have learned your lesson."

Although Chan Yi has strict rules and seems cold and difficult to get along with, she is not the kind of person who likes to find fault. Yin Zhu saw the opportunity and pinched her waist, saying in a domineering tone:
"This is the Duke's mansion, and we are serving an old noble of the highest rank. The tricks you use outside won't work here. If you try too hard to be smart, you might end up losing your life..."

Before she finished speaking, she heard Aunt Xie's dull voice:
"I don't know when the mansion became so dangerous. Have you seen the master beat and killed a few servants?"

Yin Zhu's face lost all color, and she said with trembling lips: "Madam, please forgive me. I was just... just trying to scare people... The master of the mansion is kind..."

Aunt Xie frowned, showing an unhappy look on her face, and said in a solemn voice:

"You and Xia Li are both second-class maids. She calls you sister because you are older than her, but that doesn't mean you are qualified to teach her. Before you lecture others, check whether you are qualified or not."

Nanny Xie's words were ambiguous, as if she was trying to teach Chan Yi a lesson as well. She had accumulated power for a long time, and the maids had always been afraid of her. The two did not dare to argue and just kept agreeing.

Although Aunt Xie would teach Xia Li sternly, she could not let outsiders bully her. She was afraid that she could not change her protective nature. She said indifferently, "The old lady has already stood up, why don't you go and serve her?"

Yin Zhu was indignant but did not dare to challenge Nanny Xie. She shrank her neck and turned to leave. Chan Yi followed closely behind her. She glanced at Xia Li sideways, and her cold eyes flashed with a hint of resentment.

After the two figures disappeared, Madam Xie glanced at the small window again, and then asked gently, "Are you injured?"

There was a faint mist in Xia Li's eyes. She walked to Aunt Xie, hugged her arm, and said with a nasal voice:
"Grandma, they can't bully me. That Yin Zhu made me so angry. Don't worry, I will handle it myself next time this happens."

Aunt Xie was always fair and dignified, but she couldn't bear to see her being wronged. She raised her hand and rubbed her soft hair, saying in a gentle voice:

"It's okay. These girls are young, but they are very thoughtful. I thought Chan Yi was a good person, but I didn't expect she was such a troublemaker. I stood up for you this time, and they won't dare to go too far next time."

Xia Li shook her head gently, blinked her clear and beautiful eyes, and said bluntly:
"Sister Chan Yi didn't do anything to me. I just didn't know how to wash tea, so she taught me without reservation. You might have heard what she said when you came over. She looks cold on the outside but warm on the inside, maybe that's her nature."

Aunt Xie looked calm and nodded slightly.
"That may be my misunderstanding. There are indeed many skills involved in washing and boiling tea. You are young and inexperienced, and no one has taught you. It is normal that you don't know how to do it. I will teach you step by step later. I will let the madder or the artemisia work with you. The old lady wants to drink a cup of tea in the morning, so make some first and send it to her."

Normally speaking, a maid like Xia Li who stayed in the tea room would not have the opportunity to serve tea to the old lady. The resentment in Yin Zhu's eyes just now originated from this.

But Xia Li had Nanny Xie to take care of her, so she could even bypass Bai Shao and Shi Mi to serve the old lady closely, let alone serve tea.

Although Xia Li would not take the initiative to compete for other people's jobs, she would not miss the opportunities that were hers. With her current status, the more she interacted with the old lady and the more attentively she served her, the more affection she would accumulate.

Aunt Xie stayed in the tea room, patiently instructed Xia Li to make tea, and then led her to the main room. Shi Mi was wiping the old lady's face with a towel. Xia Li saw the right moment to serve her tea. The old lady raised her hand to take the teacup and took a sip before she asked with a smile, "How do you feel about your new job?"

Xia Li smiled, with undisguised joy on his face, and said in a brisk voice:

"Thanks to the old lady, I think this job is great. Not only can I learn some skills, but I can also see the old lady and grandma every day."

The old lady became interested, raised her eyebrows and smiled: "Then tell me, what skills have you learned?"

Xia Li Luoluo said generously: "Just now in the tea room, Sister Chanyi taught me how to wash with tea leaves, and Grandma taught me how to brew the most suitable tea. Learning these skills is much more interesting than sweeping and watering."

(End of this chapter)