Chapter 1176: Tea

Gu Jin’an felt a bit disappointed, but he hid it well, knowing that things shouldn’t be rushed. Moreover, he had confirmed that Miss Ouyang was indeed Master Ouyang’s granddaughter, which was enough to make him happy.

He withdrew his gaze, with a slight smile on his face, following beside Ah Song, listening to Ah Song speak: "Old Master knew you would return these days, so he hadn’t gone anywhere, just stayed in the house waiting. You all finally arrived today."

Ah Song’s words carried a hint of humor, informing them that Master Ouyang cared greatly about Gu Jin’an and the others.

Gu Jin’an replied, "We should have returned earlier, but something happened in Linhe Prefecture, causing the delay."

"What happened?" Brother Dewang asked, very curious.

Gu Jin’an: "It’s a long story, I’ll tell you once we get back. Right now, we need to meet Master Ouyang."

Brother Dewang felt a bit dejected: "Brother Jin’an really disappoints, just as I’m curious, you keep me in suspense."

Brother Dexing said: "It’s not that Good Brother An wants to keep it from you, it’s just that the matter in Linhe Prefecture is really complicated."

Brother Dewang’s eyes lit up, asking: "Brother Dexing, you know as well?"

Brother Dexing nodded: "I know, the matter caused quite a stir in Linhe Prefecture."

He was referring to the issue with the Tong Family’s iron mine, but their time in Linhe Prefecture also involved the complaint of Scholar Cao against Gu Jin’an. In short, there were many events, not something that could be explained in a few words.

Soon, everyone arrived at the study courtyard. Master Ouyang, dressed in a gray robe, was kneeling on a large bamboo mat spread on the ground. In the middle of the mat were two pots of tea and several plates of tea snacks: "You’ve arrived, Old Man has been waiting for you for quite some time. If you didn’t come soon, I might have packed up and left."

"Packed up?" Gu Jin’an laughed: "Master, have you been visiting many markets recently, even setting up a stall?"

Master Ouyang liked to travel. Although he hadn’t left Qingfu Town for a long period, he would often go to nearby towns or countryside markets whenever he had the chance, knew quite a few farmers, and got along with them well.

Master Ouyang laughed, pointing to the bamboo mat under his knees: "Old Man didn’t learn this from market farmers but rather imitated the ancient sages."

In Great Zhou, during the former dynasty, very few people sat on chairs; everyone kneeled.

Gu Jin’an laughed: "Then let us students follow Master and learn from the ancient sages today by kneeling and discussing in the courtyard."

Upon hearing this, Master Ouyang waved his hand, laughing: "No, don’t learn, Old Man’s just teasing you. Meeting you in this courtyard is simply because it’s too hot, everyone can sit wherever."

Third Grandpa and the others, upon hearing this, weren’t formal and sat on the edge of the bamboo mat. Third Grandpa even laughed: "It’s like taking a break at the field’s edge while farming; if a breeze came up, it would be even more comfortable."

Master Ouyang laughed heartily: "Old Brother Gu is right. It indeed feels similar to sitting at the field’s edge."

Brother Dewang complained: "Master, you are a Great Scholar, why do you always like to act like a farmer? Even farming in the house, it’s not that we students want to mock you, we’re just curious, when you’re fertilizing, does your family still eat?"

"You brat, shut up!" Master Ouyang, enraged, pointed at him: "Did Old Man hold grudges with you in a previous life? Why do you always rain on Old Man’s parade whenever I’m happy? You’re begging for a beating."

Brother Dewang wasn’t afraid of a beating; he only feared Master Ouyang giving him extra homework.

"What? Master, you’re becoming more and more rustic, now it’s ’what,’ ’how’ and the likes fluently from your mouth, used to speak elegantly." Brother Dewang said disdainfully, quickly grabbing a piece of cake and running to one side to avoid Master Ouyang’s swinging hand, turning back to Master Ouyang with a sly grin: "Master, your hand’s short, can’t reach."

Master Ouyang was furious, pointing at him: "You wait until I find a way to deal with you, haven’t I got other methods?"

Brother Cheng and Gu Defa shook their heads together; Brother Dewang liked courting trouble, obviously afraid of Master giving him extra homework, yet insisted on poking him daily. When punished with homework, he better not ask them for help.

Gu Jin’an took all this in, and said to Master Ouyang: "Listening to Brother Cheng, master’s been in a good mood lately. Now I see, indeed, it looks good."

"Yes, Old Man’s two granddaughters arrived, naturally the mood is excellent." Master Ouyang nodded, not shying away from mentioning his two granddaughters’ visit, even pointing to the tea: "This is Yunya Tea brought by my third granddaughter from Capital Tea Mountain, tastes different from Jiangnan’s tea, very nice."

Gu Jin’an’s eyes lit up and he picked up a cup of tea, took a sip, saying: "It’s indeed good tea, rich aroma with a touch of sweet bitterness, has a flavor of northern majestic mountains."

Gu Jin’an’s compliment was very nice, but Master Ouyang curiously said: "Why did you drink it yourself?"

He had been in contact with Gu Jin’an for a while, knowing his habit – if family members were present, he would always first serve them the good stuff. This was the first time he saw Gu Jin’an drink the tea directly without considering Old San Gu, Dashan, and Brother Cheng.

Gu Jin’an: "It’s hot, testing the tea temperature."

Saying this, he put down the teacup and poured tea for all the elders.

Scholar Shang was almost unable to hold back his laughter. This kid was getting better at uttering nonsense with his eyes open, clearly because the excitement over Miss Ouyang’s tea made him lose his composure, yet he could say it was for checking the tea temperature for the elders.

When Gu Jin’an handed the tea to Scholar Shang, Scholar Shang laughed and said meaningfully: "This northern tea coming south is truly fate."

Hearing this, Gu Jin’an suppressed the expression on his face, but his ears turned red.

Scholar Shang laughed out loud, haha, pretending not to be shy, but still embarrassed.

Gu Jin’an quickly composed himself and continued serving tea to the elders.

Master Ouyang seemed to really like his two granddaughters, pointing to several plates of tea snacks: "These were made by Xiao Wu; her cooking skills are quite good; try them."

Although Brother Dewang disliked Ouyang Wu’s two-faced nature, he loved eating. He came over again to eat a few pieces of cake and got a fierce glare from Mrs. Chen, who scolded: "Brat, are you blind or didn’t see your parents, huh?"

Brother Dewang quickly gave his parents some cake: "Dad, Mom, you eat, the taste is really good. This is a secret recipe from a noble family, you can’t find it outside."

Brother Dewang wasn’t lying; these cakes were indeed delicious, but Gu Jin’an didn’t touch them. Firstly, he didn’t like them; secondly, he was unwilling to put down the tea.

After they had their tea snacks, Master Ouyang sent them away without asking about the exams.

The results were already out; there wasn’t much to ask or say.

Yet, Gu Jin’an kneeled down, saying: "Student thanks Master for the help. Without your articles, my reputation would certainly have been damaged, perhaps even losing my Scholar official position."