The next day, after breakfast, Hua Ru Chu brought out the tea leaves that had been separately packaged and said humbly: "It's not anything good, it's different from the tea leaves in Ji Zhou, I don't know if you can accept this flavor, if you don't like it, return it to me."

  "This is also tea? Why is it green? It's really different from the one in our Hebei province, will it be okay to drink?"

  Qishen said something sarcastic as soon as he opened his mouth, and Qiwu couldn't take it. Although she didn't think she would like this thing herself, her daughter-in-law sent it with a kind intention. The one who received the gift shouldn't have given a smile, but instead said such sharp words, what's going on?

  "My wife said so, if you don't like it, just return it to her, no need for third sister to force herself."

  "It's just that this thing is not as toxic as the tea from Hebei Province, it won't kill us, will it? If we say that, wouldn't it make our niece-in-law feel uncomfortable?" Qi Lin's seemingly mild words pierced people's weak spots, and even if they hurt, you couldn't refute them.

  Hua Ru's head hung low, her pale face looking as if she had been struck, but in her heart, she was coldly laughing. No wonder Qi You said that his mother and Third Aunt combined were no match for Qi Lin Shi. These words sounded like they were defending her, but this kind of defense was something she couldn't bear.

  The old lady patted her hand, "Shuang Ji, take this and go make a cup for me to drink. I'm not afraid of poison."

  "Yes."

  Qilin's wife said with a smile, "Mother, I also want one. Will you give it to me?"

  "Let your wife try the poison first, and then you can drink it, so that Sun's daughter-in-law's filial piety won't end up with her being guilty."

  "You can't wrong the daughter-in-law, receiving the niece's filial piety makes the daughter-in-law very happy. You won't even let me taste it."

  The old lady's face looked a bit better, she glanced at the big daughter-in-law and the third daughter-in-law, and the two of them hurriedly said: "Of course, we also want to."

  "Double cups, everyone has one."

  "Yes."

  Hua Rujin bowed slightly and said, "Let Sun's daughter-in-law go instead. The method of brewing this tea is different from that in Hebei Province. It can't be boiled. Shuang Ju has seen it once and can learn it easily. It's very simple."

  "Be careful, go ahead, take care of Shuangzi, don't scald Young Madam."

  "Yes, don't worry."

  She bowed again and backed out, Huajun unknowingly let out a long sigh, if this continues, she will die young.

  "Madam, this way, please."

  "Got it."

  In the tea room, they watched with rapt attention, afraid of missing a single step. When Hua Ruji finally put all the cup lids on and placed them on the silver tray, she realized it was already done and couldn't help but exclaim: "Is that really all there is to it?"

  "Yes, the tea leaves are tender and unlike brick tea that needs to be boiled, it can be directly infused with hot water. Let's take it away."

  "Yes."

  The old lady picked up the tea and smelled it, "Hmm, it smells great", she slid the lid to pour out the foam, but as the cup's lid moved aside, not a single bubble was seen on the surface of the emerald green tea water. Without even mentioning how it tastes, just by its color and fragrance, this tea has already surpassed those from Hebei Province.

  She took a sip, and the old lady frowned, it was astringent and bitter, far from being as attractive as it smelled. Just as she was about to put down the cup and say something nice to comfort her daughter-in-law, the sweetness that rushed up from her throat stopped her in her tracks. No, this wasn't sweet either... how could she describe it? Aftertaste, yes, that's what it was, aftertaste.

  After another sip, the astringent taste was no longer noticeable, and although there was still a hint of bitterness, it was immediately overpowered by the surging flavors.

  "Mother, how's the taste?" A moment of frowning, a moment of surprise, made Qi Wu anxious, losing face as a daughter-in-law was a small matter, but losing face himself would be embarrassing.

  The old lady's eyes narrowed into a slit, the tea fragrance in her mouth made her feel that even speaking was a waste, she said with her mouth closed as much as possible, "You try it and you'll know."

  The three of them exchanged a glance, and Qi Wu was the first to pick up his teacup and take a sip. "It's so bitter," he blurted out.

  The other two put down the cups that had been lifted to their mouths and secretly thanked themselves for hesitating for a moment.

  "In that case, hand over your share to me."

  Qī Wǔ's family had already come to their senses, and the words they originally wanted to say were swallowed back in an instant after hearing what his mother-in-law said. Even if he wanted to explain for his wife, it would have to wait until later.

  "You like daughter-in-law, naturally willing to filial piety to you." The third daughter-in-law, Qi Shen Shi, handed the box containing tea leaves to the old lady with both hands, and the old lady hurriedly took it over, her eyes looking at the second daughter-in-law.

  Qilin felt that even if he thought it was inappropriate, it wouldn't be good to refuse, so he handed over his own copy as well.

  Satisfied, she handed the two boxes to Shuang Ji's hands. The old lady smiled and looked at her eldest daughter-in-law, "Is your share for yourself or also for me?"

  Qī Wǔ's wife pinched her handkerchief to cover her mouth and smiled, "Mother, you've already gotten three portions by yourself, why don't we leave this one for our daughter-in-law? Even if it's bitter, it's still a sign of our daughter-in-law's filial piety, and I should appreciate the thought."

  "You're quite clever." The old lady looked at her with a hint of a smile, not exposing her words, which resulted in the second and third branches not getting to drink this tea for a very long time, until San Qi got some from someone else and the third branch found out that she had been tricked by her mother-in-law and elder sister.

  Hua looked at the four people fighting with a calm and serene expression, just like an old monk in meditation. All for the sake of a tea leaf, they were so calculating, no wonder there were always many stories in the big mansion, more than can be counted, and far more precious than gold.

  After leaving the main courtyard, Hua Ruochu slowed down her pace and followed Qi Wushi. When they were far away from Qi Linshi and Qi Shenshi, she whispered: "Don't give anything to the second and third branches in the future, but you can show more filial piety to Old Madam's place. I think this flavor will also be liked by Old Master."

  "Yes, thank you for reminding me."

  Qī Wǔ's wife helped her up, patted her hand with a pleased expression, "You did very well today, the old lady seems to like you, maybe..."

  Perhaps she didn't make it clear, but Hua Ru Chu understood her meaning very well. Does she want to use her to fight for power? What can the honest and ignorant Hua Ru Chu do to help you?

  "Alright, you can go back now. Those concubines should be waiting for you. Don't be polite to them, or they'll take advantage of you, especially that sly Green Willow. You need to show her your authority as the first wife and make it clear who's in charge of this household."

  "Yes, my wife is unreasonable and has caused you trouble."

  "My daughter went through the same thing too, once you get used to it, it'll be fine. Alright, go back now."

  "Yes, mother, walk slowly."

  Watching Qi Wu's back disappear around the corner, Hua Ru Chu finally collected her smiling face and revealed a hint of fatigue, it was truly more exhausting than fighting with her older brother.

  Yun Shu wanted to hold her hand, Hua Ru Chu slowly walked forward, thinking that she still had to deal with the three madams of the three houses, and she wished this road would be infinitely long. "Yun Shu, can I just leave those three madams there and ignore them? When it's time, let them leave?"

  "Of course you can, as the legitimate wife of the master, whatever you want to do with the people in the house is up to you."

  "That's all for today, I'm a bit tired."

  "Yes, I will take care of it."

  P.S: Asking for recommendation votes every day, I really think I'm too shameless, covering my face~~