Chapter 95

Chu Huan listened to Lin Lang's words and was about to ask what the idea was when Su Bo hurried over and reported from outside the pavilion, "Miss, dinner is ready, and the tea water has been boiled!"

Lin Lang stood up and smiled at Chu Huan, "Let's go and have dinner first, and I'll tell you everything slowly!"

The three of them then left the pavilion and went to the dining area, which was also in the garden. It was a refined room, elegantly decorated, with a warm stove making the room very cozy.

In addition to a nanmu table in the main hall, there was a bamboo table in the corner with a delicate small teapot and four porcelain lidded cups, and a stove was boiling water.

Although Chu Huan wanted to resolve the matter of the house as soon as possible, he remained calm. Lin Lang smiled and said, "You don't need to rush. The food will be served soon, but before we eat, please taste a cup of tea!"

"Perhaps it would be a waste of a good thing," Chu Huan smiled. "This is the habit of literati, but I am just a commoner and don't know how to appreciate tea!"

Lin Lang smiled and extended her delicate hands, pouring hot water into the teapot to warm it. At this moment, Su Bo had already taken out the tea leaves and said to Chu Huan with a smile, "Little Brother Chu, this is the pre-rain Longjing tea picked before the Grain Rain, and there isn't much of it. Miss rarely uses it to entertain guests!"

Chu Huan smiled, "I am indeed honored!" He leaned forward to take a closer look.

In fact, Chu Huan knew that the Qin people loved alcohol, from high-ranking officials to commoners, but when it came to appreciating tea, not everyone could do it. High-quality tea was sometimes more valuable than gold.

Tea ceremony is an ancient art, full of cultural charm.

Lin Lang's pre-dinner tea tasting also revealed her noble lifestyle.

Lin Lang put the pre-rain Longjing into the teapot, poured water from high and low, and a faint fragrance gradually spread throughout the room. Although Chu Huan was a novice in tea ceremony, the aroma of the pre-rain Longjing made him feel refreshed.

Authentic pre-rain Longjing is a pure, natural green food, hard to come by even with money. Chu Huan thought it would be nice to try it, a taste of a bourgeois life.

Su Bo respectfully said to Lin Lang, "Miss, I'll go and have them bring the food and drinks!"

Lin Lang nodded slightly, and Su Bo left.

Lin Lang filled the teacup to seven-tenths full, and the Longjing leaves, shaped like spears, were tender and uniform, like colorful flags, a truly high-quality tea.

Lin Lang lifted the teacup and smiled, "Taste it and see how my tea ceremony is!"

Chu Huan took the teacup, a bit awkwardly, "Madam, to be honest, you can ask me to drink tea, but to appreciate it, I really don't know how. Appreciating tea must be different from drinking it. Teach me!"

Lin Lang smiled, "The method of appreciating tea is actually quite simple. Sip slowly, swallow gently. When the tea enters your mouth, your mouth contracts, and the tea under your tongue is pressed out, creating a sensation like a spring. This is called 'tasting the spring'... You'll get the hang of it soon, but you don't have to be too rigid. Do it as you please, whether you are tasting or drinking!"

A spring?

Chu Huan found the term a bit strange. Looking at Lin Lang's smiling face, his heart skipped a beat. He saw Lin Lang lift the teacup and take a small sip, her movements graceful and beautiful, demonstrating for him.

Chu Huan couldn't help but say, "Madam, do you know the story of Dongshi imitating Xishi?"

Lin Lang put down the teacup, her movements gentle and elegant, showing her noble demeanor. She nodded and said, "Of course I know." She asked curiously, "Why mention Dongshi imitating Xishi?"

Chu Huan couldn't help but say, "Madam, your posture when tasting tea is elegant and moving, just like Xishi's smile. Xishi is beautiful whether she smiles or frowns... But if I imitate it, I will surely look as ridiculous as Dongshi!"

Lin Lang burst into laughter, her charm captivating.

Chu Huan was not the first to praise her beauty. Lin Lang's beauty was well-known in the city, and many people praised her, even some idle literati wrote poems and verses to praise her. However, Lin Lang was never moved by such praise. Today, Chu Huan's words, comparing her to Xishi's smile, made her very happy.

"You are not an ordinary person," Lin Lang smiled. "Otherwise, how could you know the story of Dongshi imitating Xishi!"

Chu Huan chuckled, took a sip of tea, and felt the tea's fragrance in his mouth. He nodded, "Although I don't understand tea ceremony, this tea is indeed good!" He put down the teacup and asked, "Madam, about the house..."

Before he could finish, the sound of footsteps was heard, and Su Bo had already brought the food and drinks. In a moment, the nanmu table was filled with over ten dishes, all colorful and fragrant.

Lin Lang invited Chu Huan to sit down, and he did so without hesitation. Su Bo was about to leave, but Lin Lang asked him to stay and join them for dinner, smiling, "You know I don't drink well, Su Bo. You should drink more with Chu Huan to help him relax after his ordeal in prison for us!"

"Madam, I wasn't scared!" Chu Huan smiled. "But if you run a wine business, don't you drink?"

Lin Lang countered, "Then, does the owner of a cosmetics shop have to wear makeup?"

Chu Huan was taken aback, thinking that it wasn't necessarily so. If the owner of a cosmetics shop was a man, he wouldn't have to wear makeup. He found Lin Lang's quick wit impressive and laughed.

Although Lin Lang didn't drink much, she wasn't completely abstinent. She took small sips, while Chu Huan and Su Bo drank more.

Lin Lang's skin was naturally fair and tender, but after a cup of wine, her face turned rosy, making her even more beautiful and charming.

"Madam, can we talk about the house now?" Chu Huan and Su Bo drank a cup of wine, and he put down the cup, "You neither reclaim the house nor accept the gold. What other idea do you have?"

Lin Lang smiled, "Actually, it's quite simple. You work for me, and I deduct your wages. When the wages are enough, it will be equivalent to paying back the silver!"

Chu Huan was taken aback and said, "This... How can this be possible!"

"Why not?" Lin Lang countered.

Chu Huan smiled bitterly, "Madam, you are joking. If I pay back with wages, when will it be done?" Chu Huan knew that the house was worth no less than 500 taels of silver. Even if he earned 5 taels a month, it would take nearly ten years to pay it off. Lin Lang was clearly making things difficult for him.

Lin Lang smiled, "You don't need to worry. The job I have for you pays well, and there will be a bonus at the end of the year. I estimate it won't take long to pay it off!"

"What job?"

"You know, our family has been through a lot of trouble recently, and we have been bullied." Lin Lang said seriously, "So I have recruited ten guards. If something happens, they can protect us. Although these ten men are strong, they lack skills. If you are willing, you can be their teacher and teach them some skills to prevent our family from being bullied in the future." She looked at Chu Huan with hope, "Chu Huan, can you agree to this request?"

Chu Huan frowned. Su Bo said, "Little Brother Chu, although our family came from Guanxi and settled here, many people still see us as outsiders. The locals often bully us. Miss is kind and tolerant, but some people take advantage of her kindness. Miss recruited guards out of necessity. You are skilled, and if you can help Miss, our family won't be bullied anymore!"

Chu Huan smiled bitterly, "Madam, to hire a martial arts teacher, with your wealth, it would be easy. Why... Why must it be me?"

"Because I trust you," Lin Lang said seriously. "And because you genuinely want to help me. Many people help me for their own benefit, but you are different!"

Chu Huan hesitated.

He knew that although Lin Lang said this, it seemed like she was asking for his help, but in reality, she was helping him by giving him a suitable job.

She didn't hire guards earlier or later, but specifically at this time, probably to create an opportunity for him to work here.

In the end, Lin Lang was a woman who repaid kindness.

Chu Huan hesitated and finally said, "Madam, I can't promise you definitely. The future is uncertain, and I can't make any commitments."

Lin Lang's beautiful eyes showed disappointment, but she heard Chu Huan continue, "But Madam, you have been so kind to me. If I don't do my best, it would be inexcusable. Thank you for your trust. If there are no other surprises, I will do my best!"

Lin Lang's disappointment disappeared, and she showed a hint of joy, "So, you agree?"

Chu Huan nodded.

Lin Lang was delighted, "That's great. Chu Huan, being their teacher will be hard work, so your salary will be high. Fifteen taels of silver a month, and a bonus at the end of the year...!" She smiled slyly, "If you do well, you can pay off the house in two years!"

Chu Huan was quite surprised. Fifteen taels of silver was a sky-high salary. He knew Lin Lang was intentionally taking care of him and thought he would help her more in the future. He joked, "Madam, you are not generous. I thought you would give me fifty taels a month!"

Lin Lang knew he was joking and smiled, "I have a small business, so I'm sorry to trouble you. Please bear with it!"

At that moment, a voice came from outside the door, "Miss, someone from Taiyuan is urgently seeking an audience!"

Lin Lang was taken aback, then showed a hint of joy, stood up, and said to Su Bo, "Could it be that the grain from Taiyuan has arrived?"

Su Bo shook his head, "It shouldn't be that fast. I estimated it would take another two or three days, and with the snow, it might be delayed by one or two days!"

Chu Huan stood up and said to Lin Lang, "Madam, business is important. I have eaten and it's getting late. My family might worry, so I'll take my leave!"

Lin Lang thought for a moment and nodded, "That's fine. Chu Huan, take a few days off. When the people are ready, come back." She smiled slightly, "Please convey my regards to your family."

The three of them didn't delay and left together. Lin Lang went to meet the person from Taiyuan, and Su Bo escorted Chu Huan out of the Su residence, then hurried back.

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