Volume 6: Dream Record Chapter 402 Ouyang Xu Sends Cabbages
After getting off the carriage, Zhao Pan'er looked at the boats on the Imperial River, the people on the Rainbow Bridge, and the peach blossoms that had just bloomed on the roadside. She felt upset. She looked at Ouyang Xu and forced a smile:
“It’s quite lively here!”
“It’s quite lively here!”
After taking a look around, Ouyang Xu looked at Zhao Pan'er and said gently:
"Pan'er, there's a teahouse nearby called Qingmingfang. The tea there tastes pretty good. Let's go sit there!"
"OK!"
Zhao Paner nodded in agreement.
…
When they arrived at the Qingmingfang Teahouse, Ouyang Xu led Zhao Pan'er into the private room on the second floor with familiarity. The two sat opposite each other. Zhao Pan'er carefully looked at the famous calligraphy and paintings hanging on the wall of the private room for a while. She was called the Tea Selling Lady in Qiantang because she loved collecting famous calligraphy and paintings, and then hung them on the walls of her own teahouse for tea drinkers to appreciate. It was not until Yang Zhiyuan set his eyes on her Night Banquet Painting that she put away all those famous calligraphy and paintings to avoid being coveted.
She didn't expect that tea houses in Tokyo would do the same. After admiring it for a while , Zhao Pan'er looked back and saw that the tea master of Qingmingfang actually put the finely ground tea directly into boiling water to boil. She couldn't help but wonder:
"Hey, why is Tokyo still using sencha?"
Looking back at the tea doctor who was making tea, Ouyang Xu smiled and explained:
"Oh, the customs and habits between the north and the south are very different. You might as well try the taste of Tokyo tea!"
Although she understood the principle of adapting to local customs, Zhao Pan'er still couldn't bear to watch it. This top-quality Shuangjing white bud tea was extremely delicate. It would be a waste of natural resources to boil it directly. Thinking of this, she stood up and walked to the tea doctor to remind him:
"No, no, this premium Shuangjing white bud tea is the most delicate, you must not boil it for so long!"
Hearing what Zhao Pan'er said, Tea Doctor stood up and stepped aside. Zhao Pan'er apologized and then sat down in his seat . She poured the tea that was boiling in the pot on the small stove into the water jar, then poured in new water from the bottle and said with a smile:
"This kind of tea must be boiled in boiling water for five breaths, and then poured into the tea leaves. This way, it can appear fresh, fragrant and tender. By the way, it is best to use a silver kettle. Iron will have a raw taste!"
Seeing that what Zhao Pan'er said made sense, and the set of tea-making techniques was as smooth and natural as flowing water, and the movements were skillful and graceful , the tea doctor of Qingmingfang could not help but bow and praise:
"I didn't expect that the young lady is actually an expert. I am very grateful for your teaching!"
After taking a look at Dr. Tea, Ouyang Xu didn't want outsiders to hear what he was going to say to Zhao Pan'er, so he waved his hand to send him away.
"Just go down, we can do it ourselves!"
"yes!"
Seeing Zhao Pan'er's superb tea-making skills, the tea doctor originally wanted to exchange a few more words, but after seeing what Ouyang Xu said, he could only retreat with regret. Zhao Pan'er kept moving her hands, and soon, the room was filled with the fragrance of tea. She smiled lightly and said:
"Ouyang, you haven't drunk the tea I ordered for a long time, right?"
"Pan'er!"
Looking at Zhao Pan'er who was making tea with her head down, Ouyang Xu was considering his words, but he didn't know how to start. Zhao Pan'er was looking down, and didn't see the tangle on his face. Instead, she smiled faintly and said:
"Let me tell you, there are places in Tokyo that are not as good as our Qiantang. Look at this teahouse, it's so beautiful, but the tea art is not that good..."
"Pan'er, I have something to tell you!"
Before Zhao Pan'er could finish her words, Ouyang Xu gritted his teeth and interrupted. Zhao Pan'er was stunned when she heard his familiar words. It seemed that Uncle De had said this to her before. Could it be that Ouyang Xu also...
At this moment, Zhao Pan'er was actually looking forward to it. As long as Ouyang Xu really changed his mind and wanted to marry Gao's daughter, then she wouldn't have to worry too much. Unfortunately, Ouyang Xu actually said:
"Pan'er, what do you think about our wedding being held at the end of this year?"
"marriage?"
When Zhao Pan'er heard Ouyang Xu talking about marriage, her face changed slightly and she said:
"Ouyang, I, I actually want to tell you that I can no longer be with..."
"Can't what?"
Seeing Zhao Pan'er hesitating, Ouyang Xu couldn't help but ask. In the end, Zhao Pan'er still didn't say it out loud. She just planned to write a letter to Ouyang Xu to explain the reason after returning to the inn. Thinking of this, she forced a smile and changed the subject:
"No, I can't do anything. Oh, I forgot to ask you, what position did the court grant you?"
"How can it be so fast? The Qionglin Banquet just ended not long ago. The Jinshi candidates must have an audience with the emperor before they can be officially granted official positions. If they don't get a real position, they can't be considered a real official!"
Speaking of this, Ouyang Xu's face was full of deep affection and friendship.
"Pan'er, that's why I have to put you in a difficult position. I will definitely give you the most grand wedding, but all this will have to wait for half a year after I marry the lady from the Gao family. If I want to get the best official position as soon as possible, I can't offend the Gao family. Do you understand?"
"What?"
Seeing Ouyang Xu's attitude reversed, Zhao Pan'er was stunned. For a moment, she didn't know whether to be happy or sad. Seeing her like this, Ouyang Xu thought Zhao Pan'er was deeply shocked and couldn't accept this cruel reality for a while, so he hurriedly advised:
"Pan'er, I know I have wronged you, but you have always been virtuous, you will not mind, right?"
Seeing that Zhao Pan'er was just confused and didn't say a word, Ouyang Xu continued to persuade her earnestly:
"Pan'er, you are good in everything except your background. After all, you were once a member of a lowly family. If someone investigates, you will not be able to hide it no matter what. I only found out after I passed the imperial examination. As a scholar-official, you cannot have any flaws. You don't want to be a stain on me, right? What's more, I can't afford to offend Gao Guancha no matter what. Can you understand me?"
After listening to what Ouyang Xu said, Zhao Pan'er did not feel much sadness in her heart. Instead, she was very glad. Since Ouyang Xu had changed his mind, she did not have to feel sorry for him. Fortunately, she did not give her body to him easily. Now the relationship between her and Yuan Xudong was perfect. After all, she gave herself completely to Yuan Xudong, her body and heart to him without reservation!
Thinking of how Yuan Xudong was so jealous of Ouyang Xu, and how he would be unhappy every time Ouyang Xu was mentioned, like a child, Zhao Pan'er couldn't help but smile. Her smile was so charming that it could make the moon hide in shame. Ouyang Xu, who was sitting opposite her, looked at her in a daze, and even stretched out his hand to touch Zhao Pan'er's face and said with a silly smile:
"Pan'er, you agreed, didn't you?"
"no!"
Before Ouyang Xu really touched Zhao Pan'er's delicate face, Zhao Pan'er noticed it and quickly dodged his dirty hands and said coldly.
Looking at Ouyang Xu with a stupid look on his face, Zhao Pan'er suddenly felt a little disgusted. Such a weak-footed man was a decent person in front of her, but he was humble to the core in front of a famous family like the Gao family. He was simply born with a mean bone, without backbone and dignity as a man, even inferior to a woman like herself. She was really blind at the beginning. How could she fall in love with such a weak-footed man who only knew how to climb up the social ladder? When she thought of this, Zhao Pan'er couldn't help but said with disgust:
"Ouyang Xu, didn't you say that Uncle De lied to me on his own initiative?"
"Hao Pan'er, I didn't dare to tell you the truth because I was afraid that you would be too excited!"
Looking at Zhao Pan'er's cold and arrogant look, Ouyang Xu just thought that she was angry with him, angry that the person he was going to marry was the daughter of the Gao family, not her, Zhao Pan'er. Thinking of this, Ouyang Xu actually sighed, as if he had suffered a great injustice and said:
"Pan'er, I have never forgotten the three lives and three lifetimes we made before the Buddha. I just can't make you my principal wife. But don't worry, even if I marry Gao, you won't be affected at all. I will never let you be humble in front of her. I will let you live in another courtyard without being disturbed. In the future, your children can also be registered under the name of the principal wife. Is that okay?"
Looking at the shameless Ouyang Xu, Zhao Pan'er laughed in anger:
"You mean, my child will have to recognize someone else as his mother in the future?"
"This is just an empty title. We are the flesh and blood of each other. Are you still afraid that I will not respect you in the future?"
Ouyang Xu felt that he had considered Zhao Pan'er very well. He was a newly-appointed Jinshi and Gao Hui was also a lady from a prominent family, while Zhao Pan'er was just a singing girl from the Jiaofang Bureau who had escaped from her status as a prostitute. Where did her sense of superiority come from?
What's more, the Gao family would never allow me to take a concubine. I was willing to keep her as a mistress, which was already a big risk. She still cared so much about it. She was really greedy!
Thinking of this, Ouyang Xu barely suppressed his patience and continued to persuade:
"Pan'er, for the sake of our future good life and my official status, can you give up this step a little bit in terms of status?"
"not good!"
Zhao Pan'er shouted coldly. She tried to straighten her weak body and looked at Ouyang Xu, who looked completely different from before, and laughed coldly:
"Ouyang Xu, do you think too highly of yourself, or do you think too highly of me, Zhao Pan'er? You brought me here on purpose because you were afraid that I would make a scene in front of the Gao family and ruin your good marriage, right? If you have changed your mind, please just say it directly. Why are you going through so much trouble?"
Hearing Zhao Pan'er say this about him, Ouyang Xu hurriedly explained:
"Pan'er, I haven't changed my mind. I can swear to heaven right now that you are the only woman I love in my life. I just had no choice but to do this!"
"Really? What a last resort!"
Looking at the disgusting Ouyang Xu, Zhao Paner slowly picked up the teacup and said with a smile:
"So, because of your helplessness, I have to be your concubine, or even your mistress without any name or status, and my child will have to recognize someone else as his mother in the future, right?"
"Pan'er, calm down!"
Looking at the hot tea in Zhao Pan'er's hand, Ouyang Xu avoided her gaze. Seeing that he was so timid and afraid that she would splash water on him, Zhao Pan'er couldn't help but smile and said sarcastically:
"Don't worry, I won't splash you. I came here from thousands of miles away to find you just to find a reason. Don't worry, I won't blame you. To be honest, Tokyo is so rich and beautiful, and the love is so deep. You changed your mind, and I changed my mind too. It's fine this way, but..."
Zhao Pan'er slowly poured the freshly brewed tea onto the ground and said:
"You don't deserve my tea!"
After saying that, Zhao Pan'er threw the teacup on the ground, without even looking at Ouyang Xu, turned around and walked out of the private room. Ouyang Xu hurriedly chased after her and tried to persuade her to stay:
"Pan'er, calm down..."
"Don't follow me, or I'll ruin your good marriage with a single shout. I, Zhao Pan'er, will never be your concubine!"
Zhao Pan'er shook off Ouyang Xu and walked back quickly. Ouyang Xu stood there and didn't dare to move, for fear that Zhao Pan'er would really make trouble with him. If the Gao family knew about his previous engagement with Zhao Pan'er, Gao Hui would be fine and could be easily deceived, but Gao Guancha, who was a military officer, was not so easy to fool. As long as he and Gao Hui didn't get married and enter the bridal chamber, he could not take it lightly. If he offended Gao Guancha, his future career would be difficult. For the sake of his official position, he could only abandon Zhao Pan'er and choose Gao Hui, who came from a famous family!
