"Please listen to this 'Water Dragon Chant.'"
Tao Yuzes grandfather and grandmother were retired high-ranking officials, accustomed to good wine and tea. Even Jiang Li and the others, who came from wealthy backgrounds, could be considered second-generation rich. However, in their eyes, Zhang Zhili, an orphan from a humble family, was not qualified nor had the opportunity to drink tea of this class, let alone to evaluate it.
The disdain in Tao Yuzes eyes was barely concealed; he just wanted to see Zhang Zhili make a fool of himself. Tang Yanran frowned slightly. She didnt understand why Zhang Zhili had to go against the grain. It was not about saving face or not. She couldn't understand, but insisting on courting public favor made her feel embarrassed.
Zhang Zhili sighed. He was not unfamiliar with tea etiquette. His father used to enjoy tea, and he had also drunk a lot of good tea with him. Later, when he went to college, he happened to study the Tea Classic and some related books, so he understood very well how the ancients turned tea drinking into a refined art, becoming one of the Eight Elegant Pursuits favored by cultured scholars.
However, Zhang Zhili was not interested in discussing those interesting details with them. He just picked out some materials he had read and said, "Adding salt is because tea leaves contain glutamic acid, the content of which is second only to free amino acids in tea. When frying tea, the appropriate amount of sodium chloride added can chemically react with glutamic acid in the tea soup to produce salt, forming a certain amount of sodium glutamate. Sodium glutamate is the same as the monosodium glutamate we often add when cooking. It can enhance the freshness of the tea soup. Due to the ancient tea-making process, the tea has a slightly strong astringent taste. The fresh taste can suppress the bitterness. But in tea tasting, freshness, sweetness, bitterness, and astringency are blended together, creating a lingering sweetness after a sip, like the five tastes of life. That's why Huang Tingjian said adding salt to tea is like catching thieves and breaking up families, diverting the attention!"
Everyone was stunned. They didn't expect Zhang Zhili to actually understand the ins and outs of it. Even the tea master couldn't help but nod: "What the gentleman said is exactly the same as what Mr. Shu said! However, when guests are tasting tea now, they always associate astringency and bitterness with old tea, so they add salt according to the usual practice."
Zhang Zhili nodded: "Understood. Most people are just adhering to conventions, and only a few truly understand tea."
Tao Yuzes face turned black, displeased: "Are you saying that we are just adhering to conventions, and only you truly understand? I also just understand a little bit!"
As Zhang Zhili spoke, his gaze lingered on the incense burner: "Burning incense and tasting tea is an ancient tradition. However, this Qingfeng marrow doesn't match with aloeswood. It should be paired with pine needles!"
"The fragrance of aloeswood is not clear and uplifting enough, and the aftertaste is too strong, affecting the sweet aftertaste of the tea." Tang Yanran looked at Zhang Zhili in surprise as he spoke confidently.
As for this qin..." Zhang Zhili's gaze shifted to the ancient qin.
Tao Yuzes face turned black as he sarcastically remarked, "A seven-stringed qin. Do you understand anything else to comment on it again? The Phoenix Seeks Phoenix does not match the scene!"
Zhang Zhili smirked.
Tao Yuzes tone turned cold, "What, are you going to play another piece?"
"Sure, let me try. If I don't play well, please don't mind!" Zhang Zhili rubbed his hands and walked towards the seven-stringed qin.
In the Immortal Medical Classic, there is a technique called Qin Fu Xian Sheng, which is specifically used to control attacks on the soul. After three years of hard study, Zhang Zhili had not neglected his research.
Tao Yuze sneered and stood up, making way for him. He really didn't think Zhang Zhili could play the seven-stringed qin!
After Zhang Zhili took his seat, he adjusted the strings of the qin and plucked them a few times. At first, he was a bit rusty, but he quickly became familiar with it.
"Serve the tea, burn the pine needles!" The tea master nodded.
Zhang Zhili deftly plucked the strings of the qin, and the sound of the qin rose.
His whole demeanor seemed to have changed, with the stars and rivers in his eyes, full of boldness and enthusiasm.
The sound of mountains and flowing water filled the air, making it seem like there was a clear sky and endless clouds, giving people a sense of openness and peace.
As the tune changed, it seemed as if the wind was blowing, evoking imagination, and ruffling the surface of the lake.
The melody changed again, and scenes of flashing swords and shadows of swords emerged, with wind, flowers, snow, and moon, the mountains and rivers changing, and dynasties rising and falling, all coming together.
"In a room filled with flowers, three thousand guests are drunk; with a sword, fourteen provinces are chilled!"
Listen to this sword cry, listen to this melody of the water dragon's chant.
Tang Yanran felt that this tune was like the tea in her hand: the front taste was plain and refreshing, the middle taste was slightly bitter and astringent, but after swallowing the tea, the back taste was sweet and mellow, exploding on the taste buds, extremely stunning, with a lingering charm.
She looked at Zhang Zhili in amazement. Who would have thought that this guy had such skills!
If it weren't for the fact that Zhang Zhili had left her in the hospital, Tang Yanran felt that at this moment, she would have been moved by this man with stars in his eyes!
Not only her, but everyone present was amazed.
Even the qin master was impressed.
If Tao Yuzes level was slightly better than a beginner, then Zhang Zhili's skill was at the level of a master!
Zhang Zhili immersed himself in the performance. The art of qin music, used to control the soul in the Immortal Medical Classic, was used by him to play a small tune, which was considered underutilizing his talents.
At the end of the piece, everyone felt that it was not enough.
"Sorry, I haven't played for a long time, so my hands are a bit rusty!" Zhang Zhili stood up and smiled faintly.
Both the qin master and the tea master couldn't help but applaud.
This song, this tea, this fragrance, everything was just right.
The tea master clicked his tongue. "Has the gentleman studied ancient tea etiquette specifically?"
"No, I'm just playing around!" Zhang Zhili shook his head. This remark almost made Tao Yuzes face turn black, especially when he saw Tang Yanran's undisguised admiration, an unnamed fire raging in his heart.
"The qin playing is good, but I didn't hear any connection with today's Qingfeng marrow!" Tao Yuze insisted with a hardened mouth.
Zhang Zhili smiled faintly. "Maybe there.
The sound of the qin suddenly changed, as if a breeze had arisen out of nowhere, evoking imagination, and causing ripples on the surface of the lake. The melody shifted again, and scenes of flashing swords and shadows of swords emerged, with wind, flowers, snow, and moon, dynasties rising and falling, all coming together.
"In a room filled with flowers, three thousand guests are drunk; with a sword, fourteen provinces are chilled! Listen to this sword cry, listen to this melody of the water dragon's chant."
Tang Yanran felt that this tune was like the tea in her hand: the front taste was plain and refreshing, the middle taste was slightly bitter and astringent, but after swallowing the tea, the back taste was sweet and mellow, exploding on the taste buds, extremely stunning, with a lingering charm.
She looked at Zhang Zhili in amazement. Who would have thought that this guy had such skills!
If it weren't for the fact that Zhang Zhili had left her in the hospital, Tang Yanran felt that at this moment, she would have been moved by this man with stars in his eyes!
Not only her, but everyone present was amazed.
Even the qin master was impressed.
If Tao Yuzes level was slightly better than a beginner, then Zhang Zhili's skill was at the level of a master!
Zhang Zhili immersed himself in the performance. The art of qin music, used to control the soul in the Immortal Medical Classic, was used by him to play a small tune, which was considered underutilizing his talents.
At the end of the piece, everyone felt that it was not enough.
"Sorry, I haven't played for a long time, so my hands are a bit rusty!" Zhang Zhili stood up and smiled faintly.
Both the qin master and the tea master couldn't help but applaud.
This song, this tea, this fragrance, everything was just right.
The tea master clicked his tongue. "Has the gentleman studied ancient tea etiquette specifically?"
"No, I'm just playing around!" Zhang Zhili shook his head. This remark almost made Tao Yuzes face turn black, especially when he saw Tang Yanran's undisguised admiration, an unnamed fire raging in his heart.
"The qin playing is good, but I didn't hear any connection with today's Qingfeng marrow!" Tao Yuze insisted with a hardened mouth.
Zhang Zhili smiled faintly: "Perhaps there is no connection!"
"Hehe, the qin playing is good. You can consider performing for a living in the future, no need to rely on others!" Jiang Li teased, sensing Tao Yuzes annoyance.
Just then, the door of the private room was pushed open.
A woman dressed in a cheongsam walked in.
At first glance, Zhang Zhili's mind jumped to a word: enchantress.
The cheongsam, adorned with flowers, did not appear vulgar on her, but rather made her shine like dazzling fireworks.
With a perfect body proportion, her voluptuous and slender figure would make people unconsciously think of a phrase: naturally charming.
With her long hair elegantly coiled up, above her fair neck was a breathtakingly beautiful face.
Her beautiful eyes were shining and agile, full of charm and gracefulness, swaying gently, exuding a charm that was both alluring and untouchable.
"What a wonderful melody of the water dragon's chant. It perfectly matches the Qingfeng marrow on your table, with the aroma of pine needles not overshadowing the tea fragrance, and echoing the twists and turns and boldness in the music. To have such a pairing, one must indeed be a master of tea! I wonder whose masterpiece it is?"