Things went as she had planned, and Yang Mei indeed forced her to participate together. Lin Jingrong was stunned, so in the eyes of others, she was such a boring person who made people feel suffocated? While thinking about it, Yang Mei had already pulled her up with one hand, laughing loudly: "And what about us? We'll join in on the fun too! I wonder if Mrs. Lu has prepared enough tea sets?"

  Yang Mo stood up to fight, which was within Lin Yu Zhen's expectations, but only Lin Jian Rong was truly unexpected. Lin Yu Zhen looked at her niece with some surprise, but seeing that she was being tightly pulled by Yang Mo and had a dazed expression, she knew that she had been brought here against her will by Yang Mo. She thought to herself, this niece may be good at playing the埙 and loves to divide tea, but her reputation is not prominent, it's likely that she has been confined to that house for a long time, hasn't interacted with many people, and doesn't have much experience or accomplishments.

  Nowadays, it's not a big deal, laughing and saying: "Yes, yes, how can there be none? Hurry up and set up! The more people, the more lively, is there anyone else who wants to participate?" Seeing no one responding again, he said to Yang: "Your family's Mengmeng is really a straightforward and optimistic person! I like her just by looking at her."

  Yang looked at her niece with a faint smile and said, "She doesn't know the severity of the situation, so let Ah Yun teach her a lesson today, so she can understand that there are mountains outside of this mountain, and people outside of our family, and get rid of her arrogant heart."

  Lin Yuzhen was full of confidence in Lu Yun, but she said: "What's the point of having mountains outside and people outside? It's just a child's play, can't be taken seriously."

  While they were talking, someone had already invited the female performer who was reciting poetry on the stage to come down. Soon, a brocade mat, a wooden tea table, a bamboo tea tray, a silver tea container, a golden tea grinder, a Jianzhou rabbit hair cup, a golden tea scoop, a silver tea roller, a Shu Dongchuan E Creek painted silk tea screen, a golden tea spoon and a golden teapot were quickly set up in the middle of the hall like flowing water.

  Lu Yun washed her hands in a small white porcelain basin held by the maid, lit incense in a celadon censer, and wore a subtle smile on her lips. She leaned forward to invite Lu Yang'er, Yang Miao, and Lin Jirong: "Please, sisters."

  Lin Jinyong got up, but the corner of her clothes was gently pulled back by someone. She lowered her head and saw Lin Liu smiling at her, saying in a low voice: "Fourth sister, I just made a bet with Seventh Sister on who would win. You won't let me lose, will you?"

  Lin Qi threw a melon seed into his mouth and said, "Fourth sister, you reason with her, she gambles with you and loses! You must win, infuriate her to death."

  Lin Jianrong's gaze slowly swept over the cool faces of the twins, Lin Qi was still arrogant and domineering, Lin Liu was sweet but with a calculating and provocative tone, but their purpose was the same, to make her win and stir up this play. The specific reason is unknown, but Lin Liu would never suffer a loss, so she didn't respond, smiled faintly, pulled away from Lin Liu's grasp, and walked forward.

  Everyone sat down, and Lin Jinrong examined the tea sets, water, and tea one by one. It turned out that all the tea sets in front of them were top-notch specialized utensils, the water was from Huishan Spring, and the tea was tribute-grade Longfeng Team. The several girls' things were generally identical, and they had not made any fake among them, which showed what kind of confidence Lin Yuzhen and her daughter had.

  Lu Yun was not her opponent many years ago, and now she is even less so. Lin Jinrong glanced at Lu Yun's powdered face and silently apologized. With a slight raise of his hand, the usually attentive lychee came forward to help. Lin Jinrong settled his thoughts, focused his expression, and stabilized his hands, with only tea matters in his heart. Roasting tea, grinding tea, straining tea, waiting for the soup, and brewing tea, everything was ready, one hand holding the whisk, the other pouring the soup.

  First infusion: Pour water into the teapot, stir the tea paste, measure out the right amount of tea leaves, and then pour in the water. Use a gentle touch to lift the lid, and with a circular motion, rotate your wrist to create a whirlpool effect. The tea starts to unfurl, releasing its fragrance like scattered stars on a clear night.

  Second infusion: Pour water onto the surface of the tea leaves in a circular motion, then quickly pour it out. Use forceful strokes to whisk the tea, and the color of the tea will gradually emerge, with bubbles rising like pearls.

  Third infusion: Pour water as in the second infusion, but this time use gentle and even strokes to whisk the tea. The tea is now fully infused, with bubbles forming a thin layer on the surface, and the color of the tea has reached about 60-70% transparency.

  Fourth infusion: Use less water, and slow down your whisking motion. Gradually widen the scope of your strokes, and the tea will start to show its vibrant colors, with bubbles rising like light clouds.

  Fifth infusion: Use a bit more water, and employ light and smooth strokes to whisk the tea. As you do so, use a gentle touch to gather in the foam, which will resemble snowflakes gently falling onto the surface of the tea. The fragrance of the tea will now be released into the air.

  Sixth infusion: Whisk the tea with slow and circular motions, creating a creamy texture that bursts forth like milk droplets.

  Seventh infusion: Use light and clear strokes to whisk the tea, gradually increasing in intensity until it reaches a perfect balance between clarity and cloudiness. The foam will now rise up like a tidal wave, overflowing from the teapot and forming a ring around the surface of the tea that remains still and unmoving.

  Lin Jingrong was fully focused, and with a gentle flick of his wrist, the tea flower bloomed in the pot, its petals unfolding like a real plum blossom. The audience held their breath, and then erupted into a low, admiring sigh. Lu Yang had already stopped moving, his eyes fixed intently on Lin Jingrong. Yang Mei laughed and put down her tea scoop, saying "I concede defeat." Only Lu Yunxiu remained, her face red with determination, stubbornly staring at the tea in front of her, hoping that the tea flower would last a little longer.

  Because Lin Yuzhen had already said that whoever reveals the water mark first loses, and it does not include who can conjure up objects such as flowers, grass, or mountains, so everyone did not dare to make a judgment first, saying who wins or loses.

  In an instant, the plum blossom in Lin Jing's tea cup gradually dissipated, leaving only white foam. After a while, someone whispered, "The water mark is exposed!" Then, from Lu Yun's side came the soft sound of a ringed pendant, and Lu Yun raised her head, her eyes slightly red, forcing out a somewhat dismal smile, her voice trembling as she said, "I lost, Fourth Sister is indeed a master who doesn't reveal her true form, what excellent skills!"

  Lin Jin let out a light sigh, although somewhat cheating, but in her previous life at this age she couldn't condense plum blossoms, yet she could persist for a bit longer than Lu Yun, so there wasn't much shame on her face, only revealing some unease, softly and clearly saying: "Yun sister yields! I'm also lucky."

  Lu Yun forced a smile, lowered her eyes and said in a low voice: "It's me who is not as good as others, sister doesn't need to be humble." She was still young, being defeated by someone, having such magnanimity was not easy, so everyone had some sympathy and admiration for her. However, winning or losing has its own reason, she indeed wasn't as good as Lin Jinyong, with Lin Jinyong's age, being able to achieve this level could be said to be a genius, winning quite beautifully.

  Everyone was staring at Lin Yuzhen.

  Lin Yuzhen's eyes stared fixedly at Lin Jianrong, and suddenly a sharp smile like a steel knife appeared, saying slowly: "Really a good girl!" Although she had tried her best to cover it up, the stiffness of her tone was audible to everyone.

  The twins blinked excitedly, while Lin Wu and Wen turned their heads to glare at Lin Jianrong, blaming her for stealing Lu Yun's thunder.

  Lin Jinrong lowered her eyes, with a look of unease and guilt on her face. But in her heart, she was secretly delighted, for she had ruined Lin Yuzhen's plans, and now Lin Yuzhen truly hated her. From now on, whenever the Lu family invited guests, whether she came or not, no one would ever force her to do anything again. How wonderful.

  Suddenly, Mrs. Song from the provincial government burst out laughing and said loudly: "All of you are good girls! Lin Si's skills are exceptional, but she is not arrogant; Lu San has a great personality, with time, she will definitely achieve great things; Yang's girl is generous and decisive, all of them are good girls!"

  Her words dispelled the awkwardness at the table, and Yang Shi also followed with a smile and scolded Yang Mo: "This girl doesn't understand things, her skills are not refined, she loves to blindly join in the fun, disturbing everyone's peace, just to make you all laugh at her! And yet you're praising her, I think she should be scolded instead." These words carried a hint of hidden apology, and were said to Lin Yu Zhen as an excuse for Yang Mo having dragged Lin Jian Rong into the tea competition, ruining Lin Yu Zhen's mother-daughter plan.

  Lin Yuzhen has come to her senses, gazing straight at Lin Jirong with an air of nonchalance, smiling kindly: "Come here, dear niece! Let Auntie put this hairpin on you personally."

  Lin Jianrong wasn't after those valuable items, and seeing the good opportunity, he stepped forward with a smile and said: "Although I won today, it was purely luck, and I'm not comfortable taking something that belongs to my seniors."

  What a proud and arrogant thing! Just like her mother, not willing to suffer any loss, nor willing to give in. I didn't see this side of you before. Lin Yu Zhen's lips curled up with a hint of sarcasm, but her tone was very affectionate: "You child, no matter what, if you've won then you've won, where's the logic in taking back something that's already been taken out? You have dignity, your aunt is happy about it. Don't be unreasonable, come quickly and take it, don't dawdle like this, it's not very magnanimous."

  If she had won against someone else, Lin Jianrong believed that Lin Yuzhen would be overjoyed. But the person she won against was Lin Yuzhen's precious darling, her lifeblood. Lin Yuzhen's smile was as narrow-minded as it was warm and endearing, making her all the more detestable. Since they said not taking things meant being ungenerous and petty, then she would decline with thanks. These things were worth at least tens of thousands of dollars, after all.

  Lin Jinyong smiled and stepped forward, Lin Yuzhen took the hairpin with a hint of reluctance and resentment, and handed it to Lin Jinyong's hand with a painful expression.

  At this moment, Lin Jinrong really wanted to make Lin Yuzhen's hand "slip" and drop the precious jade hairpin on the ground, shattering it into pieces. Just like in her past life, Lin Yuzhen had dropped the tea cup she was offering and then scolded her for not being able to do even a small thing right. But thinking about it, it was too obvious, would make an enemy of the Tao family, and would also make the women present laugh at her, affecting her own future, so she endured it and thanked Lin Yuzhen with a bow.

  Lin Yuzhen took the lead, and Yang Shi, Song Shi, and others followed suit, each presenting their own festive head to Lin Jiren. Lin Jiren bowed his head in gratitude, handed them over to Lychee, and retreated back to his original seat amidst various gazes.

  Yang Shi, in order to make up for the unintentional mistake made by Yang Mo, said that Lu Yun was a famous painter and calligrapher, why not let everyone see? Lin Yu Zhen pretended to decline several times before calling someone to prepare paper and brush, letting Lu Yun paint and write.

  ——*——*——*——

  This chapter was written with great difficulty, and I spent a long time researching materials. The art of tea fighting, which was popular in the Song Dynasty, is similar to today's matcha, but most of its techniques have been lost. I heard that there are still people in Fujian who can write characters on the surface of soup, it's really a profound skill. I'm not good at it, so I'll just show you roughly how it's done, hoping to bring a smile to your faces. If there are any experts out there, please criticize and correct me, and include me in your mercy. Thank you.