kvmb Chapter 392 Glass Tea Sets
Chapter 392 Glass Tea Sets
The copper bells on the eaves of the Murong residence tinkled, startling several white doves that fluttered past the carved wooden windows, from which wafted the aroma of food. Murong Qing stood before the dining hall, watching the cooks and the newly arrived traditional Chinese medicine doctor bustling about with their celadon bowls, the pearl hairpin in her hair swaying gently with their movements.
"Young Master, the steamed sea bass is ready, and the bamboo shoots are sliced as well." His subordinate, Yun Tao, came over carrying a plate of emerald-green bamboo shoots. "Master Liu specifically said that these bamboo shoots were dug from the back mountain this morning, and they are the freshest and most tender."
Murong Qing nodded, her gaze sweeping across the round table laden with dishes. Thinly sliced bamboo shoots, drizzled with a glistening sauce, sat on a white jade plate; a steamed sea bass lay in a celadon bowl, sprinkled with tender green scallions; even the tofu soup in the broth was garnished with a few bright red goji berries—a delicate and refined presentation. She had specifically instructed that Murong Qingfeng's diet be carefully considered, avoiding anything oily.
Just then, an announcement came from outside the door: "Young Master Gu and Madam Gu have arrived!" Murong Qing straightened her sleeves and quickly went out to greet them. Gu Mochen was dressed in a moon-white brocade robe, with a warm jade pendant at his waist, and he was carrying an exquisite sandalwood box in his hands; Ye Qingchen was dressed in black, with a cynical smile on her lips, and she was waving a folding fan in her hand. Today she was dressed in men's clothing.
"Young Master Murong, how is Old Master Murong?" Gu Mochen greeted Murong Qing with a slight bow, his gaze gentle. Ye Qingchen also bowed slightly and said, "Young Master Murong, the aroma of food fills the courtyard. Was it specially prepared for us?"
Murong Qing was slightly taken aback, then smiled gently: "Madam Gu, your attire is truly unparalleled. We didn't make any special arrangements; it's just a casual meal. Please come in. My godfather is already waiting for you two. He looks quite well today." With that, she led the two towards the dining hall.
Inside the dining hall, Murong Qingfeng sat in the main seat, his hair neatly combed, his face slightly pale, but his eyes still sharp. Upon seeing Gu Mochen and Ye Qingchen, he nodded slightly: "Young Master Gu, Madam Gu, please have a seat."
Gu Mochen said, "Grandpa Murong, just call us Mochen and Qingchen. We're all family." Murong Qingfeng smiled and said, "Okay!"
Everyone took their seats in turn, and Murong Qing personally poured tea for his adoptive father and the two young masters. As the aroma of tea wafted through the air, Gu Mochen suddenly spoke up: "Today I brought the tea set I mentioned to Elder Murong. Do you like it? This teapot can be heated." As he spoke, he gently placed the sandalwood box in his hand on the table and slowly opened it.
Two crystal-clear tea sets lay quietly on velvet cushions. The teapots were cylindrical, two different shapes, and completely transparent like ice, with a few delicate orchids engraved on their surfaces. Even more remarkably, each teapot contained a fine wire mesh, presumably for holding tea leaves. Next to them were eight small cups, also completely transparent, with walls as thin as cicada wings, shimmering softly in the candlelight.
"This is... crystal?" Murong Qingfeng leaned forward slightly, his aged fingers gently tapping the surface of the pot, producing a clear, melodious sound. In this era when even glass was a rare treasure, such pure and transparent expanded glass was a masterpiece. He had seen countless rare treasures in his life, yet at this moment, he could not hide the astonishment in his eyes.
Gu Mochen smiled and explained, "Senior has a good eye. This is specially made expanded glass, which is not only hard, but also has a hidden layer at the bottom of the teapot that can be filled with hot water to keep it warm. These two tea sets are suitable for different seasons: one can be used to boil tea, and the other can be used for cold brewing. In winter, you can heat it with charcoal, and in summer, you can use it to make ice-cold tea."
Murong Qing leaned closer, examining the tea set with great interest: "Interesting! If we were to go for a spring outing, bringing this pot to brew tea would save us the trouble of carrying bricks and building a stove. Why don't we try this novel gadget in the countryside another day?" He smiled as he spoke.
Murong Qingfeng was also very curious: "Let's try the tea brewed with this tea set first." Although his voice carried the vicissitudes of time, it could not hide his curiosity.
The cook quickly brought over freshly stir-fried Biluochun tea. Gu Mochen personally got up and put the tea leaves into the teapot. The moment the boiling water was poured in, the tender green buds unfurled in the transparent pot, just like the tender buds sprouting on branches in spring. As the steam rose, the aroma of the tea filled the air, refreshing and delightful.
"Excellent tea!" Murong Qingfeng took the cup, sipped it lightly, and found the tea to be sweet and refreshing with a lingering aftertaste. "This tea set is not only novel, but it also brings out the flavor of the tea even better. Mo Chen, where did you find such a treasure?"
Gu Mochen smiled slightly: "To be honest, this is not an antique, but rather the work of a remarkable person. He was skilled in craftsmanship and combined the strengths of the ancient and modern to create this tea set." He did not explicitly state that it was actually a modern tea-brewing utensil, but the ingenuity it contained was enough to amaze even the ancients.
During the meal, the conversation gradually shifted from teaware to food. Murong Qing specially served his grandfather a spoonful of tofu soup: "Godfather, please try this soup. Chef Liu said it's made with chicken broth, but the surface oil has been skimmed off."
Murong Qingfeng nodded, took a sip, and said with satisfaction, "Thank you for your trouble. This soup is fresh and light, just what I wanted." He looked at the dishes on the table, then glanced at Gu Mochen who was still studying the structure of the teapot, and suddenly chuckled, "Today's meal is more to my liking than the delicacies of the past."
Everyone laughed upon hearing this. Ye Qingchen picked up a slice of bamboo shoot with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth, praising, "Young Master Murong, the cooking skills of Chef Liu in your manor are truly excellent. These bamboo shoots are crisp and tender, and the sauce is perfectly seasoned."
Murong Qing said modestly, "Young Master Ye is too kind. Chef Liu was only invited today. With the help of traditional Chinese medicine, his cooking skills are indeed superb and nutritious." He paused and then added, "Speaking of which, I must also thank Young Master Gu for his tea set, which added a lot to today's banquet."
Seeing this, Gu Mochen quickly responded humbly, "You're too kind! It's truly an honor for this tea set to be appreciated by the seniors and everyone else!" After saying this, he raised the corners of his mouth slightly, revealing a faint smile.
Murong Qingfeng was in high spirits today, not only without a cough but also in an exceptionally cheerful mood. The unexpected acquisition of this exquisite tea set only added to his delight.
Just as everyone was immersed in joy, Ye Qingchen suddenly interjected, "Grandpa Murong, look, there are two fresh ginseng roots in this box!" As he spoke, he opened the box and showed it to everyone.
Murong Qingfeng looked closely and indeed found two enormous ginseng roots lying in the box, resembling two white radishes. He couldn't help but exclaim, "My goodness, these are truly rare treasures!"
He thought to himself, "The emperor of the Great Xia is indeed generous. Such a precious gift is truly extraordinary!"