Appreciating New Tea with an Inkstone - Chapter 3

Gu Ye was extremely cautious about Gu Xiyan’s marriage. When the Yang family suddenly came to propose, he would not have agreed so readily. He had only allowed Gu Xiyan to come forward because she had once mentioned Yang Xunzhi with a hint of admiration in her words, so he wanted her to make the decision herself.

Since she said she was unwilling, he naturally had to decline. More importantly, something someone had told him eighteen years ago still weighed heavily on his mind.

Gu Ye clasped his hands and said, “I am deeply honored by Madam Yang’s kindness in personally coming to propose. However, as you know, my daughter has been blind since childhood and requires constant care in her daily life. Moreover, due to her blindness, she is not skilled in needlework, music, chess, or calligraphy. Your son’s talents are well-known throughout Danyang, and I fear my daughter may not be a suitable match for him.”

The refusal in his words was clear, and Madam Yang, surnamed Zheng, who had been all smiles, suddenly stiffened. If it weren’t for her son’s sudden insistence on marrying Gu Xiyan, even falling ill over it, she would never have considered this obscure blind girl. Although the Gu family was wealthy, how could he refuse when the Yang family proposed to an eighteen-year-old blind girl who had never received a marriage proposal before?

She sneered and said, “Sir Gu, my son’s talents and character are renowned throughout Danyang. Matchmakers have nearly worn out our doorstep. Since you know your daughter’s blindness makes it difficult to find a good match, why refuse? Aren’t you afraid of wasting her youth? Your daughter is already eighteen, isn’t she?”

Gu Ye’s expression darkened momentarily, but as a merchant, he quickly masked his emotions. His tone turned cold as well. “The Gu family is wealthy enough to support my daughter comfortably. Even if she is eighteen, so what? Thank you for your concern, madam, but I have urgent matters at the tea estate and cannot entertain you further. Xu Bo, please see Madam Yang and the matchmaker out.”

Madam Yang flicked her sleeve in a fury and left in a huff. Only after she had gone did Gu Ye’s anger fully surface. He slammed his cup on the table and exclaimed, “Such short-sightedness!”

“Dad, Dr. Zhou said you shouldn’t get angry. That tea set is from the Yue kiln, and Mom loves it. She won’t forgive you if you break it.” 

Gu Xiyan’s gentle, soothing voice, like a spring breeze, melted away Gu Ye’s rage.

He quickly checked the cup and turned to see Gu Xiyan smiling softly. His eyes filled with love and pride as he looked at his daughter. “Those fools can’t see how wonderful my Yan’er is. I can’t bear to marry you off, afraid you’ll suffer in another family. But you’re already a grown woman, and it’s time to start a family. Your mother is so worried about your marriage that she’s gone to pray at the temple.”

Gu Xiyan shook her head gently. “Dad, let things take their course. Life is but a fleeting moment in the grand scheme of things. There are many things one can do, but not everything is a must. Marriage is not a necessity.”

“How can that be? If you don’t marry and have children, who will take care of you when your mother and I are gone? I will find a way to find you a suitable husband, preferably one who can marry into our family, so you won’t have to deal with his family’s affairs.” In Gu Ye’s heart, no matter what the future held, he wanted Gu Xiyan to be happy. Even if it meant being a bit selfish, he would plan for her.

Gu Xiyan simply smiled and did not argue further. Instead, she pondered the Yang family’s sudden proposal. “Dad, why would the Yang family suddenly come to propose? Madam Yang’s reasoning was too forced. They’ve never met me and know I’m blind. It’s unlikely they would be so eager to propose.”

Gu Ye frowned. “I find it strange too. Yan’er, could it be that you were seen by him when you went out?” He wasn’t boasting, but if anyone had seen his daughter’s appearance, suitors would likely be lining up at their door.

Although Gu Xiyan was blind, her beauty and talents were extraordinary. Coupled with the Gu family’s wealth, Gu Ye feared that suitors might be after her beauty and money rather than genuinely caring for her. He cherished his daughter deeply and couldn’t bear to see her suffer. He couldn’t accept her marrying someone who didn’t truly love her, which was why, even at eighteen, he hadn’t rushed to arrange her marriage.

Gu Xiyan shook her head. “I always cover my face when I go out. Even if someone saw me, they wouldn’t know who I am.”

Gu Ye nodded, but a sense of unease lingered in his heart. His expression darkened. “If they haven’t seen you and don’t know how wonderful you are, why propose? Could it be they’re after the Gu family’s wealth?”

Gu Xiyan remained silent as Gu Ye muttered about being wary of the Yang family. From what she knew, the Yang family wasn’t short on money, and there had been no major changes in their circumstances. This proposal was indeed strange.

The marriage proposal incident seemed to have passed for the time being. Gu Xiyan, as usual, listened to her teacher’s lecture and then went to the tea garden.

Although Gu Xiyan was blind, she could manage her daily life independently. She could even navigate the gardens and vast tea plantations near the Gu residence with ease. The Gu family only remembered she was blind when she needed to read.

Gu Xiyan was gentle and well-liked by everyone in the household. Her blindness earned her both sympathy and admiration, so the household staff went out of their way to accommodate her preferences. 

For example, their young lady was a tea enthusiast.

The Gu family hadn’t been heavily involved in the tea business initially, but since Gu Xiyan started managing affairs, she became deeply engrossed in it. Over the years, the Gu family’s tea business had even surpassed their silk trade, becoming famous in Danyang. Thanks to a tea connoisseur in the Gu household, a trend of tea appreciation and competitions had emerged in Danyang.

Thus, the servants were accustomed to Gu Xiyan spending time in the tea garden. She preferred quiet, so after ensuring her safety, the servants usually waited at a distance. A few tea farmers were weeding the garden, as it was almost time for the tea leaves to sprout, and the plants needed fertilizing.

Gu Xiyan had a deep understanding of tea. She had always been indifferent to material things, so even after losing her sight, she never wallowed in self-pity. Her calmness was almost astonishing. The only thing she truly loved was tea.

From planting tea trees to picking and processing tea leaves, as well as brewing and tasting tea, Gu Xiyan was an expert in all aspects. The tea garden was vast, and since she couldn’t see, she personally tended to a specific cluster of tea trees. These trees thrived noticeably better than those cared for by others.

She gently touched the veins of each leaf when she suddenly heard a faint sound, accompanied by a slight breeze. The noise was subtle, but to her keen ears, it was clear.

The breeze rushed towards her, and she quickly tilted her head, letting it brush past her cheek. A faint warmth accompanied it, prompting her to instinctively touch her face.

She then turned her attention to the last three tea trees that hadn’t been tended to. She stood still for a long time, but apart from the distant chatter of tea farmers and the soft sound of soil being turned, there was no other movement. It seemed as if the earlier incident was just her imagination, but she knew it wasn’t.

She took a few steps forward, her fingers probing the ground. It was strange; she felt something should have fallen there, but there was no sign of anything unusual.

She took a step back and shook the bell at her waist. The guards who were waiting nearby immediately approached. “My lady, do you need anything?”

Gu Xiyan pointed to the spot where she felt the breeze had landed. “Check that area and its surroundings carefully. See if there’s anything unusual.”

The guards, though puzzled, diligently searched the area but found nothing out of the ordinary.

“There’s nothing unusual, my lady. Did something happen earlier?” These guards had been protecting Gu Xiyan for a long time and never underestimated her sharp senses. They half-jokingly believed that even if someone passed by a wine shop and returned without drinking, Gu Xiyan could probably tell what wine was being sold there.

Gu Xiyan shook her head. “If there’s nothing unusual, then it’s fine. But tell everyone working in the tea garden to be more vigilant. I felt something fall into the garden earlier.”

The guards exchanged glances. They had been keeping an eye on the garden and hadn’t noticed anything amiss, except for the moment when Gu Xiyan suddenly tilted her head. Had she sensed something strange?

They searched the garden thoroughly but found nothing unusual. Gu Xiyan didn’t want to cause unnecessary alarm, so she let the matter rest.

Indeed, nothing else happened, and Gu Xiyan continued her routine of studying and visiting the tea garden. Since it was time to fertilize the tea plants, the garden had been reorganized. Ah Qi, concerned that Gu Xiyan might trip, accompanied her that day.

Gu Xiyan didn’t refuse her good intention. The two walked through the tea garden together. She plucked a newly sprouted tea bud and gently sniffed it. Ah Qi, however, let out a surprised “Huh?”

“What’s wrong?” Gu Xiyan straightened up and asked. Although she couldn’t see, she had developed the habit of facing the person she was speaking to. If one didn’t look closely, they wouldn’t notice the slight dullness in her dark eyes, making her seem no different from anyone else.

Ah Qi pointed to a tea tree ahead. “That tea tree seems to be sick. It’s not growing well. How did no one notice?”

“Where is it?”

“Six steps to the left front.” Ah Qi indicated the direction, and Gu Xiyan walked six steps. With Ah Qi’s guidance, she touched the tea tree.

The tree was somewhat frail. Since she couldn’t see its full appearance, with Ah Qi’s help, she ran her hand over the leaves. A few were dry and curled, as if scorched.

“Besides the dry ones, the other leaves are also turning yellow. Should we remove it, my lady?” The surrounding tea trees were healthy, so it might be best to remove this sickly one to prevent the disease from spreading.

Gu Xiyan shook her head. She bent down and gently sniffed the tree, then plucked a leaf and rubbed it between her fingers. She sniffed it again and suddenly froze.

A strange emotion welled up in her heart, and she felt as if she had lost control of her body. She took another deep breath, standing there as if entranced.

Ah Qi, who had been watching Gu Xiyan, found her behavior unusual. She knew Gu Xiyan well—she was the type who remained calm even in the face of disaster. Almost nothing could break her detached demeanor. Her slightly hurried movements just now were already surprising.

Ah Qi was about to speak when she saw Gu Xiyan’s eyes redden slightly, as if she were about to cry. Ah Qi grew anxious. “My lady, what’s wrong?”

Gu Xiyan snapped out of her trance and blinked, suppressing the sudden surge of emotion. She steadied her voice and said softly, “Ah Qi, it smells so good.”

Her voice carried a hint of hoarseness, which worried Ah Qi. Why was she suddenly so sad?

Unbeknownst to both of them, as Gu Xiyan moved, the sickly-looking tea tree trembled slightly.

Ah Qi tactfully didn’t press further. She leaned in and sniffed, detecting a faint tea fragrance. It was indeed refreshing and aromatic.

Although she wasn’t an expert on tea, she knew that old leaves usually didn’t have such a fresh scent; they often carried a bitter taste. This aroma was indeed rare. Was Young Lady Gu so happy because of it?

At that moment, Gu Xiyan’s face seemed to glow. She lifted her skirt and squatted in front of the tea tree. The scent felt strangely familiar, as if it were ingrained in her very bones. She had immersed herself in tea for so many years, though she never quite understood why. She always felt she should care for these tea trees and savor the flavors of tea, almost as if she were under a spell.

But just now, when she smelled this fragrance, she suddenly realized this was what she had been searching for. The scent made her eyes sting.

She eagerly felt the tea tree, forming a rough image of it in her mind. She carefully removed the dried leaves and gently touched the remaining ones, instructing Ah Qi, “Have the surrounding tea trees moved and fetch some water. I’ll water it myself.”

Seeing how much Gu Xiyan seemed to like this tree, Ah Qi quickly agreed. Gu Xiyan couldn’t help but inhale the tree’s scent. Her sense of smell was exceptionally sharp. Although the fragrance was faint, to her, it was delightfully intoxicating.

Her eighteen years of life had been like a still lake, undisturbed by any storm. But this subtle scent had stirred ripples on its surface.

Author’s Note:

Alright, it’s time for the meeting.

Ye Green Tea: I got picked the moment we met? This development doesn’t feel right.

Author: You were also *beep*, and after that, your wife sniffed you all over.

Ye Green Tea: This description feels a bit off.

Just to explain, green tea and black tea are classified based on the level of fermentation after they’re picked, so technically, calling her a “Green Tea Demon” isn’t quite accurate. But it’s for the sake of White Lotus Divine Lord, so please don’t be too harsh, okay?