Chapter 242: Meeting an Old Friend in a Foreign Land
Sailing on the lake.
Outside, there was a cold wind.
But inside the boat, there was charcoal fire, making it warm and cozy.
The windows couldn’t be closed; closing them would make it too hot.
Mostly because Magistrate Jia had arrived in such a hurry today that the clothes he wore underneath weren’t very presentable.
It was hard to take them off.
“I feel I should be more careful next time; wear a cloak on the outside and less underneath, so it won’t be so hot when sitting indoors. Getting hot just makes me anxious.”
At this moment, a founder of Gongfu Tea was sitting in front of him, brewing tea for him.
It was so good he wanted to bow down in worship.
He also wanted to learn it properly so he could go out and brag about it.
Seeing the father and daughter on the side drinking so casually, he felt it was a waste of the tea.
After drinking a brew of stomach-warming tangerine pu-erh, he saw Aunt Yin take a tea canister out of the box she had brought with her.
The logo on that tea canister was slightly familiar; wasn’t it the same one as the tea canister he had snatched from his older brother?
His brother had said it was worth more than gold and priceless, yet this nanny from Commander Jiang’s household from Jingzhou had actually taken it out so casually.
“This tea?”
“This is tea stir-fried by our Little Master. Its yield is indeed low, and the household only kept about ten jin, which is almost all gone,” Aunt Yin explained.
Magistrate Jia was struck dumb by the revelation.
Damn it, he’d been shown up again.
He had only managed to snatch two taels.
And he had been bragging about it.
Only to end up bragging in front of the actual owner.
He drank another cup of the tea brewed by Aunt Yin.
The taste was indeed somewhat similar. He finally understood why it was worth more than gold; because after drinking it, he felt refreshed, and his mouth watered.
Smelling the fragrance of the tea, he also understood why Aunt Yin had frowned earlier. Even with the same tea, the taste when he brewed it seemed different; there was always a bitter, astringent aftertaste.
He had thought that was the lingering sweetness, that it would turn sweet after the bitterness.
In reality, true good tea has no such bitterness, only smoothness and comfort, followed by a lingering sweetness.
“Your tea wasn’t stored properly. It needs to be kept in a place with consistent humidity, and sealed. If it’s opened and absorbs other odors, it won’t taste as good,” Aunt Yin explained.
It really was the same tea, but the way it was brewed made all the difference.
He felt a bit dizzy; perhaps his brain was growing.
Magistrate Jia sipped his tea while chatting with Lord Jiang.
Brother Jiang was truly a great conversationalist; not only was he handsome, but he also spoke well, was knowledgeable, and was good at listening.
Whatever Magistrate Jia said, Brother Jiang would appear to be listening attentively, offering appropriate questions, making the interaction feel very engaging.
Magistrate Jia loved to talk and loved to show off.
Every sentence began with, “My brother, who is at the Court of Judicial Review…” or “My uncle, at the Ministry of Rites…” or “My maternal uncle, at the Ministry of Revenue…” He rambled on about all sorts of connections, making it sound like he had a very impressive background, reciting his family tree and listing all the important figures in his family.
Jiang Changtian listened patiently, his expression showing appropriate amazement and admiration.
Besides talking about his family tree, Magistrate Jia was also an expert when it came to eating, drinking, having fun, and spending money.
After chatting all afternoon, it was time for the welcoming banquet in the evening.
Jiang Changtian generally did not socialize easily.
If he had time, he would rather spend it with his family.
If he went out to socialize, it was usually because the person was useful or deserved to die.
Magistrate Jia was likely the former.
And he was also quite interesting and sincere.
He didn’t know the nature of Commander Jiang; he just thought Commander Jiang was a good person, graceful and easy to get along with.
By the time the welcoming banquet arrived in the evening, Magistrate Jia was already calling Commander Jiang “brother” and acting like sworn brothers.
They were very affectionate.
Jiang Changtian was actually a bit tired, but since he was a newcomer, he put on a show.
By nature, he was actually a homebody who preferred enjoying life.
He greeted each of the officials from Jiangzhou politely.
He had originally thought this would be a night of tedious social obligations.
But he hadn’t expected to meet someone unexpected.
“Lord Jiang, I have long admired you.”
“Lord Gong, I have long admired you.”
“Are you well?”
“I am well.”
“You have come.”
“I have come.”
“You are late.”
“It is just right.”
Gong Qichi had graying temples and a thin frame, making him look ten years older all of a sudden. He already looked like an old official ready for retirement, mixed in with a group of officials, yet he was still full of vigor.
Cups were clinking, voices were boisterous, and there was a mix of official robes of various ranks, verbal sparring, and back-and-forth exchanges.
In such a lively and noisy vanity fair.
Jiang Changtian met an old friend from many years ago.
Gong Qichi also smiled.
His waist was more bent than before, his shoulders more hunched, and his rank higher than before.
In the vanity fair, everything was colorful and flashy.
You wear a mask, and I wear a mask.
Yet, in this vanity fair, he saw an old friend.
The trip was worth it.
Magistrate Jia sat to the left of Jiang Changtian, and Gong Qichi sat to the right of Jiang Changtian.
Gong Qichi blocked the wine for Jiang Changtian.
“He cannot drink, but I can.”
“I will drink three cups.”
Gong Qichi was especially enthusiastic tonight.
Lord Gong, who was considered an old schemer in the Jiangzhou officialdom, was as enthusiastic today as if he had taken the wrong medicine.
Prefect Lu of Jiangzhou, seeing the fair-skinned appearance of Commander Jiang, spoke up: “Lord Jiang, at this welcoming banquet today, I have a presumptuous request. I wonder if I should say it or not.”
Jiang Changtian smiled.
Prefect Lu laughed and said: “I have always liked fine horses, and I see that the horses accompanying Commander Jiang are quite good. I wonder if you would be willing to part with them? Rest assured, I will definitely pay you more than the market price. Those fine horses on the market are fifty taels each, and I am willing to pay one hundred taels of silver.”
Jia Sen felt it was inappropriate. Those fifty-tael horses on the market were all inferior, old, weak, sick, or disabled horses. One hundred taels couldn’t buy any good horse, and the horses Brother Jiang rode were all sturdy and robust. How could they be worth only one hundred taels? According to the market price, they were probably worth at least a thousand taels.
This Prefect Lu was bullying him too much, but he had close ties with the eunuch faction and was extremely overbearing in Jiangzhou.
“Lord Lu is so generous, actually willing to spend money to buy things. However, how could I let Lord Lu go to such expense? Rest assured, I will definitely have the fine horses delivered to your residence tomorrow.” Jiang Changtian agreed readily.
Prefect Lu laughed heartily, patted Jiang Changtian on the shoulder, and said: “Brother Jiang, you are truly a marvelous person. Let’s have tea together another day. I wonder what Brother Jiang’s hobbies are?”
Jiang Changtian thought seriously for a moment and said: “When I sleep, I like to sleepwalk.”
Gong Qichi chimed in: “What a coincidence, I also like to sleepwalk when I sleep.”
Gong Qichi took a bite of food, found the taste quite good, and used public chopsticks to put a portion into Changtian’s plate.
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