Chapter 324: Please Send More Lab Mice

Different paths, no plotting together.

Mu Nan Zhao lay on the bed with eyes closed, this sentence still turning in his mind.

Different paths?

Is he going to forcibly drag her onto his path?

Or will he abandon his own path and go onto hers?

If one must sacrifice oneself, what good choice is that!

After another two days, Gu Xixi continued to go out drinking tea with An Qinghe during the day.

Among them were some tea houses of various sizes recommended by He Jinglan.

He Jinglan herself was busy with the renovation of the sugar-water shop.

That night, the two soaked together in a wooden tub, sharing what they each gained today.

Gu Xixi had already visited over a dozen tea houses and tea shops of different grades.

She half-closed her eyes, smiling, said: "These two days haven't been wasted; although loose-leaf tea is prevalent in the capital, the trend of brewed tea is also popular and more related to elegance."

"Moreover, rich-flavored teas like Poria tea, black tea, pu'er are available at every tea house, with many fans, not exactly novel."

"I have decided to prepare the tea garden when I return, and entrust the establishment of the tea-processing workshop to An Qinghe."

He Jinglan leaned against the tub wall, comfortably tilting her head back and sighing, "Seeing your confidence makes me happy too."

"My side is also progressing smoothly; construction will start tomorrow."

"So don't rush back; wait another half month and you'll see our sugar-water shop."

Gu Xixi answered lazily, "Don't worry, I can't leave for now either."

"First, we need to figure out how to get land; communicating with the County Office still takes time."

"Second, the spring farming season is definitely missed; tea trees are best transplanted in early autumn when it cools, can't rush."

"And there's Lv Jing..."

"We have to wait for a response from her lawsuit."

He Jinglan smiled and nodded, "As long as you don't leave, feel free to stay at my house for as long as you like."

Beside the tub was placed a large tray lacquered black with gold inlay.

The tray held a glass self-pour pot, plus tea cups and two kinds of sweet-and-sour preserved fruit.

The tea He Jinglan brewed was hot; she picked up the pot and poured two cups, the liquid a light red, suffused with rose sweet fragrance.

She handed a cup to Gu Xixi, saying, "This is a tribute rose dew from the southern borders, mixed with honey, color like rouge; to brew this pot of water, just a teaspoon makes it very fragrant."

Gu Xixi took a sip; indeed it tasted good, the floral aroma also helps relax the spirit.

He Jinglan again smiled and said, "The two tea cakes you sent my brother, he's tried them and likes them a lot."

Gu Xixi said, "As long as Lord He enjoys drinking it."

"When I came to the capital I only wanted to come and go quickly; I never intended to bother your brother in person, so I didn't bring any gifts."

"Only these two tea cakes, homemade, are a token of my feelings."

He Jinglan said, "Your gift is more than enough; you can't buy it elsewhere. He plans to bring it on an outing, while the weather is still cool, to ask close colleagues to brew tea and drink together."

Gu Xixi smiled and glanced at her, "Poria tea is mild, neither heating nor cooling, and also aids digestion; it's actually suitable for summer too."

"However, when it's hot, brewing tea over fire ends up smoky and unpleasant; you can brew the Poria tea elsewhere, let it cool, then drink it with ice, or steep dried wolfberry and tangerine peel in the cold tea for flavor, definitely refreshing."

He Jinglan exclaimed in delight, "This method is good, also novel; I'll tell my brother later, he'll surely be pleased."

"If we can't come up with something distinctive in food and drink, how can we live up to the name of refined scholars?"

Splashing water sounds.

He Jinglan turned her body toward Gu Xixi, hands gripping the tub's edge, smiling and said:

"You have nothing else coming up, right? I mean the main thing you originally planned to do."

Gu Xixi answered, "This trip was just a preliminary survey; that's enough."

He Jinglan's smile deepened; looking at her expression, it was clear she had already planned something.

"That day I let my brother and them try it, plus my household maids and servants; although we got feedback later, I still feel it's not enough."

Gu Xixi said, "Can you still find more people to be test subjects?"

He Jinglan cunningly said, "Of course."

"But I need to come up with a noble-sounding reason, not only to let them drink, but also not for free."

"Best to kill two birds with one stone; seize this opportunity to first spread the fame of our sugar-water shop!"

Gu Xixi understood, "You want to invite guests?"

He Jinglan nodded, "Perfect, it's spring flower-viewing season; I'll hold a flower-viewing poetry gathering at my home."

"Anyway, every year at this time, the He manor always has such a banquet."

"This year I happen to have seized this opportunity."

Gu Xixi thought and said, "Those who can receive an invitation from your He family are naturally the capital's young masters and ladies; they're mostly wealthy and leisurely, and thus need novel enjoyment."

"If we want to promote, the banquet is indeed a good opportunity. But..."

She had some concerns, "After all, it involves personal connections; preparation is also troublesome; what about Lord He's side?"

He Jinglan had prepared earlier, "Don't worry, I've already sounded out my brother; he has no objections."

"Now there's still no sister-in-law in the household; I am the lady of the house."

"As for the specifics of organizing the banquet, we just need to discuss and decide."

Gu Xixi gave a faint smile, "Good."

He Jinglan pondered and said, "Besides planning the banquet's format, we also need to write the invitations in advance."

Since the spring examinations are imminent, let's set the date after the results are posted.

That way, whether they pass or fail, everyone's mind will be settled, making it easier for us to invite more guests to the feast.

Also, send an invitation to your relative Jiang Mingyuan.

Gu Xixi nodded, "That way it will be thorough."

After all, the spring examinations are presently the biggest affair in the capital and the topic of greatest discussion.

Once the examination dust settles, the flower‑viewing banquet's trial tasting will have a chance to attract widespread attention, achieving twice the result with half the effort.

Gu Xixi and He Jinglan are not indecisive people.

They immediately began discussing:

Gu Xixi: "The sweet drinks for the banquet need not be too many; at most three or five kinds are sufficient, to be used respectively as appetizer tea, meal accompaniment beverage, and mid‑meal dessert, and written into the day's menu."

He Jinglan: "We must choose something nobody has drunk before, which will deliver the greatest impact and leave them wanting more."

Gu Xixi: "We also need to choose the one with the highest acceptance and broadest audience, otherwise it's easy to backfire."

He Jinglan: "Mm, that makes sense. It seems letting only our own people try it isn't enough; I'll also have the Regent Prince's mansion's people sample it, since they have many people there."

Oh, I'll handle it personally; it's just my own intention, you don't owe them a favor!

……

With two days left until the spring examinations, Gu Xixi and An Qinghe bought some things and went to the inn to visit Jiang Mingyuan.

In recent days, Gu Xixi hasn't seen Mu Nan Zhao at all.

He Jinglan also found it strange; before, either Mu Nan Zhao came to the He residence, or He Jinghui went to the Regent Prince's mansion—basically they visited each other daily, being at one place or the other.

But this time Mu Nan Zhao hasn't come to the He residence for several days, truly breaking the record.

He Jinglan recalled that night's conversation with Mu Nan Zhao and secretly cursed, wondering if he really had retreated.

She didn't feel comfortable discussing it with Gu Xixi, so she had to go privately ask her own older brother.