Chapter 164: Woman Causes Trouble
The day after receiving Zhuge Liang’s letter, Cai Mao happened to be away from Xiangyang, so Liu Qi seized the opportunity to petition his father, expressing his willingness to garrison Jiangling.
At the same time, Liu Qi packed ten large boxes full of his own property and secretly sent Deng Zhi to present them to Madam Cai.
In the rear residence of the State Pacifying General’s Mansion, Madam Cai squinted at the gold, silver and jewels and jade artifacts in the boxes, her eyes squinting into slits with delight.
She hadn’t expected her most hated eldest son to be so tactful, presenting her with so much property, which must be worth over a hundred thousand strings of cash!
From ancient times to the present, what women have loved most is money, and only money can bring them a great sense of safety, especially with Liu Biao’s health deteriorating day by day, making Madam Cai value money even more.
This was Zhuge Liang’s strategy: spend money to avert disaster. By offering family property to Madam Cai, nominally to honor his mother, he could openly present the wealth, and she could openly accept it, truly solving the problem.
“Speak! What does he want? As long as it’s not excessive, I can grant it.”
“Madam, the eldest son wishes to bring his wife and children to garrison Jiangling and humbly requests that you put in a good word for him before the governor.”
“He wants to bring his wife and children to take up the post?”
Madam Cai was very clever and immediately pinpointed the key point.
“Exactly, and he also hopes to obtain military command over thirty thousand troops.”
“Alright! That’s not a big issue. I can directly approve bringing his wife and children; just let him take them along. As for military command, I’ll mention it to his father.”
There was no need for Cai Mao to persuade her; that very evening, Madam Cai spoke a few words to Liu Biao, allowing Liu Qi to garrison Jiangling to avoid the two sons falling out.
Liu Biao had actually already tacitly approved Liu Cong as his successor. He truly had no energy left to fight with Jingzhou’s noble families, so for the sake of Jingzhou’s overall stability, he could only sacrifice his eldest son’s interests.
Liu Biao hesitated only for a moment before agreeing. Madam Cai then drafted the appointment on Liu Biao’s behalf, affixed Liu Biao’s seal, and Liu Biao shakily signed his name on Liu Qi’s application.
The next morning, Assistant Administrator Liu Xian announced the governor’s order, appointing Liu Qi as Jiangling Defense Commissioner, in command of Jiangling’s thirty thousand troops. Madam Cai sent someone to deliver the tiger tally granting military control to Liu Qi.
By the time Cai Mao received the news, it was already too late. Liu Qi had already left Xiangyang with his wife and daughters, escorted by five hundred of Liu Biao’s guards, to take up his post in Jiangling.
Cai Mao was so angry he nearly spat blood. He didn’t oppose Liu Qi going to Jiangling, but Liu Qi could manage government affairs at most, not command the army. Once Liu Qi commanded the army, it would inevitably cause endless trouble in the future.
Worse still, his sister had no idea what she was thinking and actually kept it from him, letting Liu Qi become Jiangling Defense Commissioner in command of thirty thousand troops. Cai Mao was furious and cursed that women meddle in affairs, but he was helpless. Jiangling’s army was in Liu Biao’s hands, beyond his control. With Liu Biao giving the army to his eldest son, there was no way for him to reverse it.
Autumn rain fell continuously, making it inconvenient to go out. Even Xiao Qiao, who loved running around outside, quieted down and stayed in the mansion pondering tea arts.
In the living room, Da Qiao was still diligently practicing calligraphy. She had finished studying Mencius and was now reading Zhuangzi. Compared to Mencius, she preferred the free-spirited Zhuangzi.
She had been studying for half a year now, and compared to half a year ago, her calligraphy had improved greatly. She wrote elegant small script, not yet matching Xu Wei but already earning endless praise from her husband.
Beside her, Xu Wei sat at the desk studying the Book of Changes, still using the three copper coins her master gave her, tossing them six times and recording the hexagram on paper.
Xiao Qiao, on the other side, was focused on brewing milk tea. She was fascinated by the tea ceremony. Gan Ning had specially sent someone to invite Wu Sanniang, the female owner of the Tea Appreciation Studio, to teach Xiao Qiao the tea ceremony for a month, and she had gradually gotten the hang of it.
Gan Ning had originally hoped Xiao Qiao would brew tea for him every day, but unexpectedly she became obsessed with milk tea, tinkering with various flavors all day.
“Hurry! Taste the milk tea I made today and see how it is?”
Xiao Qiao smilingly placed two cups of milk tea in front of Da Qiao and Xu Wei. “Hurry and taste it while it’s hot!”
Da Qiao set down her brush, picked up the teacup, and sipped it carefully, praising, “It seems a bit better than yesterday’s. Why?”
“Yesterday it was sheep’s milk; today it’s cow’s milk. Today I used honey for flavoring, yesterday maltose. Of course it’s different!”
Xiao Qiao urged, “Yun Qing, stop fortune telling and taste it quickly!”
“Got it, right away!”
Xu Wei muttered incantations, tossed the last three copper coins, recorded them, then set down the coins and took a sip from the teacup.
“It’s really good. I noticed temperature is important too. Yesterday it was a bit cool when I drank it; today the hot milk tea has an even richer aroma. This is the best one yet.”
Xiao Qiao said joyfully, “Great! I need to write down this recipe.”
Da Qiao remembered something and added, “A Yu, yesterday husband was complaining about you to me!”
Xiao Qiao jumped in fright. “Complaining about what?”
Da Qiao smiled with pursed lips. “Husband said he had you learn the tea ceremony for a month, but you’ve never brewed tea for him once. He’s planning to have another maidservant learn it.”
“No need! No need!”
Xiao Qiao hurriedly said, “I’ll brew tea for him today and guarantee it’ll satisfy him.”
Xu Wei laughed. “You tinker with milk tea every day; you’ve probably forgotten how to brew tea.”
“I haven’t forgotten! It seems the first step is selecting the tea cake. What was that rhyme again? Let me think… oh! I can’t quite remember.”
Da Qiao handed her a stack of papers in exasperation. “I recorded all of Wu Sanniang’s lesson content for you. I knew you’d be scatterbrained and unwilling to take notes. That silly head of yours couldn’t remember anyway.”
Xiao Qiao was overjoyed, quickly took the lesson notes, hugged her sister’s neck, and planted a loud kiss on her face. “Older sister is the best, or I’d really be done for. I’ve forgotten everything Wu Sanniang taught.”
“Hurry up! Husband will be back soon.”
Xiao Qiao then ran out to fetch tea cakes and the tea set. Gan Ning’s tea drinking differed from Han Dynasty style. Han Dynasty people drank tea in three ways: boiled, infused, and as soup. Wealthy families favored boiled tea with plenty of seasonings; soup tea turned tea into a soup dish eaten with the leaves.
Gan Ning preferred infused tea, and under his influence, Yuzhang Commandery and surrounding commanderies popularized tea brewing, with a particular emphasis on water quality—mountain spring water was essential.
Currently, the water they used in Chaisang came from Mount Lu’s springs: clear, cool, and sweet, perfect for brewing tea.
In the evening, Gan Ning returned to the mansion and, as usual, went into the study and sat down.
Xiao Qiao came in carrying a tea tray. Gan Ning laughed, “Oh! The sun must have risen in the west today—little sister Xiao Qiao is actually brewing tea for me.”
“People like making milk tea! You don’t like milk tea anyway, or I’d make sure you drink it happily.”
“Didn’t your sister tell you? I get diarrhea from milk.”
“She probably did; I forgot!”
Xiao Qiao sat in Gan Ning’s arms, wrapped her arms around his neck, and coquettishly said, “From now on, I must brew all your tea. You’re not allowed to have anyone else learn.”
“Fine! Fine! I’ll drink tea brewed by Madam Xiao Qiao.”
“Gan Lang called me madam?”
“You’ll be my madam from now on. For now, it’s just an advance—you’re still little sister Xiao Qiao.”
“When will Gan Lang take me to your room? I can’t wait anymore.”
Gan Ning shook his head with a smile. “When you’re truly ready, we can share a room.”
“How much longer do I have to wait?”
Gan Ning pinched her little cheek and laughed. “That’s not for me to decide—it’s up to you. When you’re truly ready, you’ll know, not just talking tough.”
Xiao Qiao took the initiative to kiss Gan Ning, and they passionately embraced for a moment before Xiao Qiao left, her face flushed red. Actually, she knew she wasn’t ready yet.
After Xiao Qiao left, Gan Ning finally picked up the tea and took a sip, finding it a bit astringent—far inferior to Da Qiao’s brewing.
