Chapter 68: Before the Engagement

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"Your nephew Liu Yitiao greets Uncle Zhang and Aunt Zhang!" At the residence of Zhang Buliang in Little Xin Village, Liu Yitiao bowed respectfully to Zhang Buliang and his wife.

Zhang Buliang and Lady Zhang sat firmly in their seats, graciously accepting Liu Yitiao’s salute. When the ceremony was over, Zhang Buliang raised his right arm in a modest gesture and spoke gently, "Nephew Liu, your courtesy is appreciated. Please, be seated."

"Thank you, Uncle Zhang, and Aunt Zhang." Liu Yitiao cupped his hands to them, then withdrew to sit beside Old Liu, taking the seat just below his father.

"Brother Zhang," once Liu Yitiao was seated, Old Liu, as the father, smiled and spoke, "The formalities have been done, faces have been met—shouldn’t we choose a date to settle the marriage for those two children? Honestly, if it weren’t for Yitiao causing trouble last time, insisting on giving Cousin Chuchu a riddle, our two families wouldn’t have had to wait this long."

Zhang Buliang waved his hand and replied, "Ah, Brother Liu, how could we blame Nephew Yitiao? If anyone is at fault, it’s us old folks for spoiling Chuchu. Finding a husband isn’t like choosing a scholar; why must there be tests? Thankfully, Nephew Yitiao answered every question. Otherwise, who knows how long we’d have to wait to marry off our daughter, haha..."

"Oh? So, Brother Zhang, you agree to this marriage?" Hearing Zhang Buliang’s words, Old Liu asked joyfully.

"I have never opposed it, have I? My dear in-law!" Zhang Buliang’s address made everything clear.

Upon hearing this, Old Liu stood up and laughed heartily, "Good, good! My dear in-laws! Haha, Yitiao, come, pay your respects to your future father- and mother-in-law, as well as your brother-in-law."

Liu Yitiao stood and approached Zhang Buliang and his wife, knelt, and bowed deeply, "Your son-in-law Yitiao greets Father- and Mother-in-law. Thank you for granting me this union."

"Good, good! Our worthy son-in-law, such courtesy. Please, rise!" Zhang Buliang enthusiastically helped Liu Yitiao up, saying, "The marriage is settled. From now on, our families are joined as one. We are no longer strangers, so let’s dispense with such formalities."

With that, Zhang Buliang glanced at Zhang Chuwen and instructed, "Chuwen, take your brother-in-law to the inner room for a while. You are all family now; you youngsters should get acquainted."

Knowing that the elders still had matters to discuss, Zhang Chuwen stood and made a gesture of invitation to Liu Yitiao, "Brother Yitiao, please."

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"Thank you, Brother Chuwen," replied Liu Yitiao, though it felt awkward to address a younger man as ‘elder brother,’ but such was the situation, for Chuwen was his brother-in-law. He saluted Zhang Chuwen and followed him into the inner chamber.

The room was not large, but quite refined, with a square table at the center and four stools. On one of the stools sat a petite figure.

Zhang Chuchu. Liu Yitiao glanced at Zhang Chuwen in surprise—wasn’t this improper? Though customs in the Tang Dynasty were liberal, newly betrothed couples were expected to avoid each other before the wedding night.

"Please don’t mind, Brother Yitiao," Zhang Chuwen explained with a smile, "According to custom, after engagement and before the wedding, the couple should not meet. But our elders are still discussing the engagement, and it hasn’t been officially settled. So this is not a breach of propriety. You two may take this chance to talk."

He patted Liu Yitiao’s shoulder, "Chuchu has something she wishes to say to you. I’ll leave you now. Once the elders are done, I’ll return for you."

"Thank you, Brother Chuwen." Liu Yitiao bowed as Zhang Chuwen took his leave.

"Master Liu, Chuchu greets you." Once Zhang Chuwen had left, Zhang Chuchu stood up and curtsied to Liu Yitiao. He noticed her face was still veiled.

Liu Yitiao bowed in return, "Thank you, Miss Chuchu. May I ask what brings me here today?"

"Please, Master Liu, be seated." Zhang Chuchu gestured for him to sit, then lifted the teapot and poured him a cup of clear tea, presenting it, "This is tea I prepared especially for you, Master Liu. Please taste it."

Step-Sun Tea? Liu Yitiao, who was well-versed in Chinese tea culture, quickly recognized its origin. Step-Sun, also known as Silver Life, was the predecessor of Yunnan Pu’er tea—different names for the same thing.

"Thank you, Miss Chuchu." Liu Yitiao took the cup, held it to his nose, and inhaled gently. The fragrance was rich and lingering. Examining the color, he saw it was deep yellow—a sign of aged Pu’er, stored for at least three years.

"Excellent tea! Step-Sun is like wine—the older, the finer. I’d say this has aged for three years, would you not agree?" he praised.

Hearing Liu Yitiao’s appraisal, Zhang Chuchu’s eyes sparkled. She hadn’t expected him to be so knowledgeable; with just a glance and a sniff, he’d determined the tea’s exact age. Remarkable. She said, "Master Liu, you have a keen eye. This tea has been kept for three years and six months, aired repeatedly, without a trace of mold. Please, taste it."

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"In that case, I shall not be shy." Liu Yitiao brought the cup to his lips and took a small sip. The aroma was intense, the taste mellow and sweet, and as it warmed his stomach, it stirred his soul.

"Mellow and lingering—wonderful! It truly captures the essence of Step-Sun tea. Only, it’s a pity: it’s been steeped a bit too long. If drunk right after brewing, its flavor would be even finer." He set the cup down and offered his assessment with a touch of regret.

Zhang Chuchu was stunned by his words; his comment matched her father’s exactly from years past.

"Miss Chuchu? Miss Chuchu!" Seeing her lost in thought, Liu Yitiao worried his words had upset her. "I fear I spoke too bluntly just now. Please forgive me."

"You misunderstand, Master Liu," Zhang Chuchu recovered herself and said, "I was simply reminded of my father. Several years ago, when he drank my brewed Step-Sun tea, he said precisely what you just did."

"Uncle Zhang? I never expected Uncle Zhang to be so versed in tea. I am impressed," Liu Yitiao replied, though inwardly he felt puzzled. Zhang Buliang was an ordinary farmer—how could he know such refined tea culture? And this Step-Sun tea was surely not cheap; how could a humble farming family afford it?

"Master Liu, you must have noticed something amiss," Zhang Chuchu stood, turned her back to him, and spoke softly, "In truth, I invited you here today to clarify something before our engagement is finalized."

"In fact, I am not my father's biological daughter."