Zhu Jiayu thought about it and did not refuse, so he went home with her.
On the way, the woman introduced herself to her: "My name is Pan Luxiu. I am from Shanyang. Eight years ago, I went to the capital with my husband to take the imperial examination. Later, my husband passed the examination and became a Jinshi. He then took a position in the Dali Temple. My child and I have been living in this capital for a long time."
Zhu Jiayu followed her to Xingzhi Lane, where Pan Luxiu smiled and said, "My family is poor, so please forgive me if there is any inadequacy in our hospitality."
Zhu Jiayu smiled and said, "Sister, you don't need to call me Miss. My nickname is Ayu, you can just call me Ayu."
Pan Luxiu smiled and agreed, leading her into the house. A child who reached Zhu Jiayu's waist came running over and tugged at Pan Luxiu's sleeve. When he realized there were strangers, he shyly hid behind Pan Luxiu, only revealing a pair of round eyes looking at Zhu Jiayu.
Pan Luxiu tugged at him, squatted down and said, "This is Sister Ayu. How have I always taught you? Quickly greet your sister."
The child then pursed his lips, approached Zhu Jiayu, bowed to her, and said softly, "Greetings, sister."
Zhu Jiayu patted his head and looked at Pan Luxiu: "If I had known that there were children in my sister's family, I should never have come empty-handed."
Pan Luxiu smiled and said it was alright. She then called out an old nanny to take the child downstairs to play, while she took Zhu Jiayu to the backyard. Soon after, she brought out tea leaves to boil water and make tea for Zhu Jiayu.
Seeing her busy, Zhu Jiayu felt a little embarrassed and poured the already cold water on the table, saying, "I'll just drink this, sister, you don't need to bother."
Pan Luxiu felt embarrassed: "You are a guest, how can I let a guest drink cold water, especially since you just helped me so much!"
She was pulled to sit for a short while by Zhu Jiayu, but still wanted to get up and prepare tea and snacks.
Zhu Jiayu pressed her hand and said, "It's alright, I'm not some rich lady, I don't care about such things. Please sit down, sister. I've only been in Yujing for a short time and don't have anyone to talk to. If you don't mind, I'll come to visit you often in the future. That way, you can repay my kindness, okay?"
Pan Luxiu was not being modest; her family was indeed quite poor. She couldn't bear to replace her teacups even though they were chipped, and the table had a missing corner. The water jar outside was filled with water lilies, but now only a few thin, palm-sized leaves floated on it, and there were also gaps around the edge of the jar... All of this showed that her family was not wealthy.
How could Zhu Jiayu possibly accept those teas and snacks?
Pan Luxiu said, "Although I have lived in the capital for many years, I usually have to take care of Xiaobao, and my husband doesn't come home often. I haven't found anyone to talk to. It would be great if you could come and keep me company, Ayu."
That's what she said, but looking at Zhu Jiayu, who was as beautiful as an angel, sitting at her own table with a missing corner, and even drinking cold water, she felt really embarrassed.
After thinking for a while, she said, "Does Ayu like tea? Why don't you take some tea leaves with you when you leave? I don't know much about tea, but I sometimes find the aroma of tea refreshing and elegant."
As she spoke, she pushed the white porcelain teacup in front of Zhu Jiayu.
Zhu Jiayu stared at the porcelain cup, slightly stunned. She smiled and said, "I don't know much about it either, but this porcelain cup is quite beautiful."
This is not just any kind of beauty; it's the kind of beauty that comes from spending a fortune. The porcelain is thin and delicate, the color of mutton fat, and the touch is warm and smooth. The exterior is engraved with peony patterns, the brushstrokes flowing and continuous. This porcelain cup is clearly white porcelain from the Ding kiln. How could Pan Luxiu's family have such a valuable item?
She suppressed her doubts and swallowed the words of refusal that were about to come out of her mouth. She simply smiled and said to Pan Luxiu, "I don't really know either, but what you said, sister, has piqued my curiosity. May I take a look at this tea?"
Pan Luxiu took the initiative to lift the porcelain lid for her.
The tea leaves inside are brown, and after being stir-fried, the leaves curl up finely, like small twigs, lying quietly in the white porcelain bowl.
This is Hanzhi tea from Wangyue Peak. This tea only grows after autumn. Judging from its color, it is the first batch this autumn. If it were aged tea, it would have turned black by now.
The first batch of Hanzhi tea this autumn... Zhu Jiayu recalled hearing from tea drinkers in the teahouse that the tea merchant was offering fifty taels of silver per tael today.
The inner wall of the porcelain cup is also engraved with peony patterns, and the outer wall of the porcelain cup clearly reflects Zhu Jiayu's eyebrows and eyes. This kind of craftsmanship makes Zhu Jiayu even more certain that the porcelain cup is from Ding kiln.
Ding ware is described as having "a pearly luster that can serve as a mirror; and openwork patterns of flowers and birds that are all lifelike."
She covered the porcelain cup and looked at Pan Luxiu: "I can't tell what kind of tea this is either, but it should be pretty good."
Pan Luxiu waved her hand: "My husband said it's only one tael of silver. Although it's a bit expensive, he likes it and wants to buy it, so I didn't stop him."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Jiayu's smile froze slightly.
Seeing that Pan Luxiu's expression didn't seem feigned, she didn't say anything more. After all, it wasn't really her business, and she was too lazy to cause any more trouble. She just wondered who Pan Luxiu's husband was, that he could afford such expensive tea and such precious utensils.
The sun had already set, and the orange-yellow sunset hung on the bare tree branches. Pushing open the back door, one could see the babbling water outside. Occasionally, egrets would skim across the riverbank, startling the fish and shrimp swimming on the surface of the river, causing the molten gold-colored water to ripple.
Zhu Jiayu said, "It's getting late, I should go back now. Sister Green Sleeve, I'll come and talk to you again next time."
Pan Luxiu smiled and saw her to the door, then said, "That would be wonderful. When you come back next time, I'll take you to fish for shrimp behind the yard. I grew up in the countryside of Shanyang. When there was no farm work, I loved to go fishing for shrimp with my sisters in the fields and by the river. When you come again, I'll teach you."
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