Chapter 20 A Gift That Wins Over the Whole Family

As the velvet fabric was lifted, a warm and serene dark green hue came into view.

That was a set of Yixing clay teaware.

For a moment, the air in the living room seemed to freeze.

Ye Manrou was the first to react. She covered her mouth and let out a soft laugh, a laugh filled with undisguised sarcasm and superiority.

"Sister Wantang is so thoughtful." She spoke first, her voice sweet but every word laced with barbs.

"However, Grandpa Lu has spent his life on the battlefield. What rare treasures hasn't he seen? Ordinary objects probably wouldn't catch his eye."

In short, this gift was defined as an ordinary item, not suitable for formal occasions.

She preemptively shut down any potential boasting by Su Wantang, waiting to see how she would back down.

Grandma Lu's lips curled into an even wider sneer, the disdain in her eyes almost tangible. "A tea set? Does the Lu family lack that?"

The implication is, who are you trying to fool with this piece of junk?

Lu Jingyan clenched his fist once again. The chilling aura emanating from him seemed to lower the surrounding temperature by several degrees.

Su Wantang seemed not to hear these barbed words.

She didn't even look at the tea set; instead, she reached for something else in the package.

A small tea caddy, about the size of a palm, also made of purple clay.

The jar has no patterns on its body, only a faint mark on the bottom.

Her slender fingers gently rested on the lid of the jar.

"Clatter".

With a soft click, the lid of the can opened.

The moment the jar lid was opened, an indescribable fragrance, as if it had come to life, instantly wafted out from the small opening of the jar!

It wasn't the rich aroma of ordinary tea, but a clear, mellow fragrance with a subtle, almost imperceptible hint of snow. The aroma entered my nostrils like a clear spring washing over my entire being; the fatigue of days of travel and the tension from our heated debate were instantly soothed.

Everyone in the living room was stunned.

The old master Lu, who had been sitting steadily in the armchair with his eyes closed as if he were not concerned about anything, suddenly shuddered the moment the fragrance entered his nostrils!

His sharp, eagle-like eyes suddenly snapped open!

Without looking at Su Wantang or anyone else, his gaze, like two solid searchlights, was fixed firmly and unwaveringly on the small tea canister in Su Wantang's hand!

His breathing became heavy.

His hands, gripping the armrests of the armchair, were bulging with veins, and his knuckles were white from excessive force.

"This...this is..."

For the first time, the old man's voice trembled uncontrollably. He wanted to say something, but he was too excited and lost his voice.

Ye Manrou's mocking smile froze completely.

She didn't understand tea, but she understood Old Master Lu. What could possibly cause this man, who would remain calm even in the face of a collapsing mountain, to lose his composure so completely could not possibly be an "ordinary object"!

Grandma Lu was also surprised by her husband's reaction. Looking at the old man's shocked expression and smelling the fragrance that inexplicably calmed her mind, the harshness on her face lessened.

"Wuyi... Snow Peak?"

Grandpa Lu finally regained his voice, and he practically spat out those four words through clenched teeth. Each word carried a shocking, overwhelming force.

Wuyi Snow Peak!

For tea lovers, these four words are no less than a legendary elixir.

Records of this tea exist only in a few fragmented ancient books. It is said to grow at the very top of Wuyi Mountain, where it is covered in ice and snow all year round. It is harvested only once every three years, yielding only a few ounces each time. The tea leaves are as white as frost, and after brewing, the tea soup is clear. Its aroma can calm the mind and promote longevity.

This is no longer just tea; it's a legend!

Su Wantang met Old Master Lu's burning gaze with a slight smile and nodded gently.

"Grandpa has a good eye."

She didn't offer much explanation; her actions spoke for themselves.

She picked up the thermos that was already prepared on the coffee table, and then took the purple clay teapot that Ye Manrou had scorned as an "ordinary item".

Her movements were fluid and graceful; warming the cup, adding tea, pouring water… a series of actions that were elegant, skillful, and pleasing to the eye, clearly demonstrating her deep understanding of the art.

A few dark green tea leaves with specks of silver frost fell into the teapot and were infused with hot water.

"boom!"

That crisp, refreshing snow fragrance was instantly brought to its peak!

The entire living room seemed to transform into a serene snow-capped mountain peak, refreshing the mind and dispelling all worldly thoughts.

When the tea is poured into the cup, its color is a clear, bright green, just like the finest jade.

Su Wantang personally picked up two cups of tea, handing one to Old Master Lu and the other to Grandma Lu.

"My mother had a small collection of these items before she passed away." Her voice was soft and gentle, yet every word was clear.

"Wantang is new here and doesn't know the rules. She only heard that Grandpa loves tea, so she took it upon herself to bring this only thought of hers to Grandpa and Grandma. She hopes that you two will not find it offensive."

In short, it's watertight.

Attributing the preciousness of the gift to the deceased mother is reasonable and justifiable, demonstrating filial piety while silencing any questions from others.

They even transformed "lack of understanding of the rules" into "pure sincerity."

Grandpa Lu stared at the cup of tea in front of him, his eyes filled with complex emotions. He stretched out his hand, the hand that had gripped a gun and killed enemies on the battlefield with unwavering steadiness, but now it trembled slightly.

He picked up the teacup, but instead of drinking it immediately, he brought it to his nose and took a deep breath.

His face instantly revealed an expression of utter ecstasy and satisfaction.

He then drank the tea in one gulp.

After swallowing the tea, the old man slowly closed his eyes, leaned back in his armchair, and remained motionless. After a long while, he finally let out a long, comfortable breath.

That breath seemed to release years of pent-up frustration from his chest.

When he opened his eyes again, the way he looked at Su Wantang had completely changed.

There was no scrutiny, no oppression, only a kind of appreciation, even a trace of gratitude, for looking at one's own junior.

This girl isn't just giving me tea, she's giving me her life!

Grandma Lu, watching her husband's reaction, felt a turmoil in her heart. She suffered from extremely stubborn insomnia and relied on medication for years, with little effect. But just now, smelling the aroma of the tea, she felt her restless heart miraculously calm down.

She hesitated for a moment, then picked up the teacup in front of her and, imitating the old man, took a small sip.

A warm, soothing sensation slid down my throat.

The calming and sleep-inducing fragrance seemed to permeate her entire body, soothing her tense nerves.

Her face, at a speed visible to the naked eye, went from ashen to relaxed, and then... a slight unease softened.

This tea... seems to have some merit.

This scene struck Ye Manrou, who was standing to the side, like a thunderbolt!

Her face instantly turned a deep purplish-red.

His face was slapped repeatedly, and it stung painfully!

She couldn't understand how the daughter of a Shanghai businessman could produce such a treasure that even their elite circle in Beijing had never heard of.

This is not scientific!

That's not a beaver!

Just as Ye Manrou was struggling with her inner turmoil, Su Wantang spoke again.

She picked up the purple clay tea set that everyone had initially ignored, and gently stroked the body of the teapot with her slender fingers.

"This 'Wuyi Snow Peak' is a top-grade tea, extremely pure, and has very strict requirements for water quality and utensils."

She raised her eyes and looked at Old Master Lu, her smile deepening.

"Therefore, my mother specially sought out this unique 'Xu Bian Pot' by the former dynasty's master potter Shi Dabin to match it."

"Only a teapot like this can do justice to this exceptional tea."

boom!

The phrase "a unique work by Shi Dabin" sent shivers down everyone's spines!

Shi Dabin!

A master of Yixing teapots in the Ming Dynasty! Every piece of his work is a national treasure! Any one of them would be enough to drive any museum crazy!

Su Wantang casually presented a unique set of artifacts as a "side dish."

What a magnificent spirit! What profound cultural heritage!

The way Old Master Lu looked at that tea set completely changed, from appreciation to... shock!

He suddenly stood up, strode to the tea table, and almost reverently picked up the purple clay teapot, examining it from all angles, muttering repeatedly, "What a fine teapot! What a fine teapot! Harmony between man and nature, a return to simplicity! Truly the work of a master!"

In the living room, no one dared to underestimate this "capitalist lady" from Shanghai anymore.

What she gave was not a gift, but taste, style, and a cultural depth that even the Lu family could not match.

Su Wantang looked at Ye Manrou's face, which had turned a deep purplish-red, and smiled even more brightly.

You think you can play the power struggle game with me?

Your little bit of green tea skills are nothing compared to mine; you're not even worthy of carrying my shoes.