Chapter 79: Eighty-Two: The Health-Preserving Tea Way of Yunshui Pavilion

Eighty-Two: The Health-Preserving Tea Way of Yunshui Pavilion

“Are you all full? If so, let’s head back.”

Second floor of Yunshui Pavilion.

Ouyang Rong, whose head throbbed from the “girlfriend calling” vibration, immediately nodded and suggested.

“Full, full.”

“Brother Lianghan, this slight spiciness is truly invigorating.”

Su Dalang, Yan Liulang, and three others put down their chopsticks, wiped their mouths, and agreed.

They said they were leaving, yet before the table…

Ouyang Rong, Yan Liulang, and Liu Ashan sat perfectly still, upright and motionless.

Su Dalang, halfway to his feet, frowned in confusion:

“Huh? Didn’t we say we were leaving? Why aren’t we going?”

But his companions either glanced over, or stared straight ahead, or admired the view outside the window—none rose.

Su Dalang was baffled until he spotted a serving woman from Yunshui Pavilion approaching with the bill—then it suddenly clicked:

“Oh oh oh, I’ll pay, I’ll pay.”

The other three instantly snapped out of their “hibernation state,” shaking their heads and speaking up:

I should’ve paid—hey, Dalang, you’re still so generous. Fine, next meal’s on me, no one’s allowed to grab it.

This was Ouyang Rong, sighing in dissatisfaction.

“How could we possibly let you? Brother Su, you’re too kind—Yunshui Pavilion seems quite expensive… Next time if you come to my place on Tao Gong Street, I, Xiao Liu, will treat you properly!”

This was the righteous Yan Liulang.

“The Magistrate is right, Brother Yan is right.”

This was Liu Ashan, who had held his tongue until now and finally managed a sentence.

Su Dalang listened, stunned.

He nodded, touched, thinking his companions were truly good—they’d taken him out for fun and were all so honest and loyal.

This trip was definitely worth it; he hadn’t made the wrong friends—these were certainly not the wine-and-meat companions his mother warned him about.

Su Dalang promptly pulled out money to pay.

The serving girl beside them, holding the menu and watching the four in cheerful harmony, smiled faintly—as if this were routine.

Clearly, she’d seen this combination many times.

When men go out to have fun, there are always these fixed roles:

One foolishly rich, one smooth-talking, one simple and honest, and one devastatingly handsome.

Wasn’t it obvious right now?

“Miss, how much is it?”

Su Dalang asked politely.

The serving girl, dressed in the cheap, shoddy uniform provided by the stingy restaurant, bent over and handed him the bill:

“Thank you for your patronage. Round down the change—six hundred and eighty cash.”

Su Dalang, seemingly unaware that a single dinner cost nearly half a tael of silver, skimmed the bill without really looking, then pulled out a silver bean and handed it over without a word.

The serving girl’s smile brightened further.

Ouyang Rong had clearly seen her arrive with only the bill—her clothes had no pockets—yet now, with a flick of her wrist behind her back, she produced a fresh menu and placed it on their table.

“Please wait a moment, I’ll fetch your change. Also, on the third floor we have some tea suitable for digestion after meals—you might like to take a look.”

With that, she turned and left.

Su Dalang picked up the new menu curiously and asked:

“Lianghan, Brother Yan, Brother Liu, shall we go up for tea? I’ll treat you. Isn’t it too early to go home yet?”

Though he saw Su Dalang’s reluctance to return home, Ouyang Rong, still distracted, shook his head.

“No, not now. Next time. My head’s a bit dizzy—I need to rest.”

“Alright…”

Su Dalang’s face showed slight disappointment. He was about to nod and rise with them, but his eyes caught something—he became a curious child, muttering:

“Huh? Why is the tea upstairs so expensive?”

At that moment, the serving girl returned, politely handing Su Dalang the change wrapped in red cloth.

Su Dalang looked up, pointing to the last few lines of small print on the new menu, his curiosity intense:

“Excuse me, what tea is this? Why is one pot one tael? And this ‘Winter’s Warmth’—two taels per pot?”

Even he, oblivious to the cost of rice and oil, was taken aback—how could tea cost more than his father’s? Was the tea leaf worth its weight in gold?

The serving girl’s expression didn’t change; she nodded politely:

“Ah, this is our Yunshui Pavilion’s Health-Preserving Tea Way. Perfect for aiding digestion after meals. It’s a bit pricey, but our service is top-tier.”

“How top-tier?” Su Dalang asked.

The serving girl spoke gently, listing details like a master:

“It depends on which tea you choose. On the third floor this month, we feature four health-preserving teas. Please look:

“This one is ‘Spring’s Elegance,’ this one ‘Summer’s Refreshment’—both last twenty minutes.

“This one behind is ‘Autumn’s Depth,’ and the last pot is ‘Winter’s Warmth.’ It’s pricier, but lasts longer—half an hour—enough for full satisfaction.

“Each health-preserving tea comes with a private tea room and a skilled tea master who brews and prepares it.

“You may recline on the couch, eyes closed, doing nothing; or sit by the stove with the tea master, brewing tea yourself; or move to the chessboard and play while discussing Dao… All are acceptable, depending on your mood. Our third floor specializes in refined, health-preserving elegance.”

After hearing this explanation—detailed yet vague, as if saying everything and nothing at once—

Su Dalang, experiencing it for the first time, stood speechless.

He glanced at the politely smiling serving girl, then turned to Ouyang Rong and the others, whose expressions were strange.

The serving girl asked calmly: “Would you gentlemen like to go upstairs for tea?”

After listening so long, Yan Liulang behind Ouyang Rong seemed to have grown humble and eager to learn—he asked earnestly:

“May I ask, are your tea masters male or female?”

The serving girl replied without expression:

“There are both, of course. Women are more common—they’re more dexterous—but if you prefer men, we have them too.”

Su Dalang and Yan Liulang exchanged glances, their eyes revealing a half-understanding.

Only Liu Ashan remained confused, glancing left and right.

As for Ouyang Rong, who had said nothing throughout… he could no longer hold back. He snatched the menu from Su Dalang’s reluctant hand and shoved it back into the serving girl’s arms.

“Why pay so much for tea? We’ve got tea at home.”

Ouyang Rong pulled Su Dalang and Yan Liulang’s sleeves, turning to head downstairs:

“Come on, let’s go. We’ve eaten—why stay here? We can walk back to Lu Ming Street, that’ll help digestion—better than this tea… hey, move your feet!”

Seeing the two lagging behind, Ouyang Rong turned, exasperated.

He sighed and said to the hesitant Su Dalang and Yan Liulang:

“My head really is dizzy. Let’s go rest.”

Ouyang Rong spoke seriously—so they had no choice. Even with their curiosity still burning, they obediently followed.

The serving girl wasn’t offended. She tucked away the small menu and smiled politely: “Thank you for your patronage. Welcome back.”

Ouyang Rong led downstairs; Su Dalang, Yan Liulang, and Liu Ashan followed behind.

Ouyang Rong thought he might finally get some peace—but this was only the beginning.

“Lianghan, something’s off. Just a few pots of tea, no mention of any famous Longjing—how could they charge so much? One tael minimum? Are the tea leaves made of gold? There must be something strange going on…”

Behind him, Su Dalang frowned, leaning close to whisper.

Ouyang Rong’s mouth twitched.

Of course—look at the names: “Spring’s Elegance,” “Summer’s Refreshment”… Who names real tea like that?

Su Dalang punched his left palm with his right hand: “Lianghan, don’t you think there’s some hidden service we don’t know about? Unusual things always hide something!”

Ouyang Rong shook his head. “I don’t know.”

But Su Dalang clearly didn’t care about his answer—he kept frowning and muttering:

“But, Lianghan, just before we left, I saw two beautiful, graceful girls carrying tea sets upstairs—maybe they’re the tea masters. I never expected such young girls to be so skilled. Truly fine ladies—far more capable than the old maids who brew tea in my courtyard… Wait, I get it now! This is the refined service!”

He spoke seriously: “Lianghan, now I see—this Health-Preserving Tea Way isn’t too expensive. Sipping tea with such fine ladies is elegant. Spending one tael is worth it—it cultivates the spirit and nourishes the soul. Don’t you think?”

“I don’t know. Don’t ask me,” Ouyang Rong said flatly.

At that moment, he silently cursed how long the stairs were—he hadn’t even reached the bottom, and he was already near death from the chatter of this man.

The young magistrate took a deep breath:

“Dalang, can you please stop talking…”

“Lianghan, I think my father and mother wouldn’t object to this refined, soul-nourishing practice—even they’d approve. Isn’t this the way of the cultured scholar? The books say scholars always cultivated themselves like this—choose a fine lady, brew tea by the stove, sit and discuss Dao—what a beautiful image, don’t you think?”

Behind him, Su Dalang still frowned, his tone full of longing.

“…,” Ouyang Rong.

Immediately, another stream of muttering came from behind:

“Lianghan, I finally understand why studying has always exhausted me—I was too attached, wrong in my approach. I never realized studying could be joyful—if you find the right method, like the third-floor Health-Preserving Tea Way: balance work and rest, sip tea while reading, and learn easily and happily… Oh, my rigid teachers misled me!”

Ouyang Rong’s face grew stern.

“Spring’s Elegance, Summer’s Refreshment, Autumn’s Depth, Winter’s Warmth… Truly evocative.”

Su Dalang sighed, then muttered curiously:

“Hmm, Lianghan, if you had to choose, which one would you pick? I prefer the last one—no other reason, just curious—how exactly does ‘winter warmth’ feel…?”

Ouyang Rong suddenly stopped walking; the three behind him halted too.

Su Dalang instantly fell silent, as if his mouth had been locked shut.

The air grew quiet for a moment; Yan Liulang clenched his fist over his mouth and coughed, his tone slightly reproachful:

“Brother Su, don’t say any more—the County Magistrate said he’s unwell and needs to rest. Whatever it is, let’s postpone it until another day…”

Su Dalang whispered:

“True… wait, wouldn’t it be better to go upstairs? I’ve got some silver on me—we could book a quiet tea room for Lianghan, let him lie on a soft couch, close his eyes, and sip warm tea from a beauty’s hand, relax a bit, and wait until his dizziness passes before heading back. We could rent a few rooms nearby and wait for him.”

Yan Liulang seemed to suddenly understand, inhaling and nodding: “Huh, now that you mention it, that does make sense.”

“?” Ouyang Rong.

Just as the two behind him played their double act, the young County Magistrate suddenly turned around—they instantly fell silent and straightened up.

Ouyang Rong glanced at the two who were still craning their necks, then nodded calmly and turned first, ascending the stairs.

Su Dalang and Yan Liulang stood frozen, looking up at him.

Ouyang Rong did not look back:

“What are you two standing there for? Come on—‘winter warmth,’ right? Let’s go.”

“…”

Su Dalang and Yan Liulang broke into broad smiles and immediately followed.

Ouyang Rong, leading them upstairs, let out a long breath.

He finally understood—if he didn’t take these two up to take a look, he’d never get peace on the way.

Seriously, is Su Dalang’s mouth made of Tang Seng’s? He mutters to himself, then comes over and gives you a whole elaborate analysis.

Forget it, let’s just book the third floor’s blessing room… consider it repaying the favor from Su Fu, plus these past days Liulang and Ashan have worked hard—they deserve a reward… and besides, he wanted to see what kind of health practice this was… finally…

“You’re paying.”

Ouyang Rong turned and glared at Su Dalang, who immediately nodded vigorously and patted his chest—his eagerness made Ouyang Rong’s lip twitch again.

Not long after, on the third floor of Yunshui Pavilion, four private rooms had their doors tightly shut…

While typing, my left eyelid kept twitching—I don’t know why, hey, could my blessing be coming too…

(End of Chapter)