Julie Brooks’s movements were not slow, but by the time lunch was ready, it was already close to the time when people in modern society get off work and head home—any later, and it would be dinnertime.

　　Delicate side dishes were arranged in porcelain plates, all neatly stacked inside a lacquered box. The lacquer box was covered with images of birds and beasts, rustic yet exquisite. Julie Brooks, dressed in a full set of new bridal clothes, knelt at Henry Clark’s feet, respectfully raising the lacquer box to her brow, then, using the forward motion of her body, gracefully presented the box to Henry Clark’s lips. Lowering her gaze, she said, “Teacher, please enjoy.”

　　Was this the legendary “raising the tray to eyebrow level”?

　　At this moment, Henry Clark had more or less guessed the truth, but he couldn’t quite believe it.

　　Julie Brooks’s etiquette was indeed that of someone specially trained by city folk. For example, the way she presented the tray required steady hands and unmoving shoulders, relying solely on the strength of the waist and the forward lean of the body to offer the tray. The ones who performed this move best were the leading courtesans (prostitutes) in the city. They could carry a tray with ten teacups, and no matter how much their bodies swayed, the water in the cups would not ripple at all.

　　Henry Clark hesitated a little, but seeing a fourteen-year-old girl kneeling before him with a heavy lacquer box, calling him “teacher,” even if the girl wasn’t tired, he felt exhausted in his heart, so he didn’t dare to pause for too long.

　　Modern people have a certain unrestrained, natural ease in their character. Henry Clark made up his mind, calmly took the tray at once, trying to make his movements relaxed and natural, as if it were the most normal thing in the world, then pretended to be calm as he began to eat.

　　The meal passed in silence—Henry Clark sat alone at the table eating, while Julie Brooks knelt by the door, sitting on the floor with a similar lacquer box at her knees, quietly eating her meal.

　　During this time, Henry Clark looked up several times to observe and found that although Julie Brooks never raised her eyelids, she was very sensitive to his gaze. Whenever he looked over, the girl would unconsciously lift her bowl of porridge and hurriedly drink, her expression showing a hint of shyness, a touch of happiness, and perhaps even a bit of pride.

　　Not long after this meal, it was already time for dinner. Henry Clark’s courtyard, as he wished, became lively again.

　　This time, a group of soon-to-be brides arrived, all dressed in brand-new wedding clothes, parading through Henry Clark’s courtyard in all their finery, busily finding things to do.

　　Henry Clark grew even more puzzled. Stroking his chin, he wondered: Is today some kind of laundry festival?

　　Could it be that today is the day Song people air out their wedding clothes? Why were all the girls dressed more brilliantly than spring flowers? Darting back and forth, busier than butterflies; their laughter and singing clearer than birdsong…

　　Chaos!

　　This commotion didn’t end until Adam Brooks came in. When Adam Brooks stepped into the courtyard, all the girls were busy, Henry Clark sat silently by the fire pit reading a book, and Julie Brooks knelt at his feet, skillfully demonstrating the full set of Song dynasty tea ceremony.

　　It’s said that the Song dynasty tea ceremony was the pinnacle of Chinese tea culture. To compare the skills of tea masters, even “tea-fighting” competitions were popular among the people. Henry Clark knew nothing about tea ceremony, and although he held a book, his eyes were not on the page, but rather curiously admiring Julie Brooks’s dance-like movements.

　　Julie Brooks began with “arranging the utensils.” This meant setting out the teaware. With her dance-like motions, a row of white porcelain teacups was placed on the table.

　　There were many types of Song dynasty teaware, not just tea cups and tea pots. Ever since Henry Clark had been “picky” about teacups, the level of teaware chosen by the Cheng family had improved. This time, the set Julie Brooks used wasn’t top-tier, but to find such fine white porcelain cups in the mountains made Henry Clark nod in satisfaction.

　　In fact, Henry Clark didn’t know that in the Song dynasty, “dark blue and black cups were prized,” and white porcelain was actually considered cheap.

　　With the guest satisfied with the teaware, the tea ceremony continued. Next, Julie Brooks skillfully roasted, ground, and sifted the tea. At this point, the water in the tiny kettle was boiling for the second time. Julie Brooks picked up the kettle and rinsed the teacups with the boiling water—this was called “warming the cup,” using hot water to preheat the tea bowls.

　　Then came adding the tea—placing the tea powder into the cup, pouring in a little boiling water to make a paste—this was called “making the paste.” Next was the process of pouring and whisking: as boiling water was poured in, the tea whisk was used to beat up a froth.

　　The tea powder was ground very fine, and with just a little water, the tea became a thick, coffee-like liquid. With a few strokes of the whisk, a colorful film formed on the surface of the tea, like an ink painting—this was the “tea froth.” The froth, also called “foam,” was required to be “white in color, beautiful in form, and long-lasting.”

　　Finally, the teacup was handed to the guest, who was invited to smell the aroma and taste the flavor…

　　Su Shi wrote a poem describing this process: “After the crab eyes, the fish eyes appear; a soughing sound like pine wind is about to rise. Fine beads fall from the mill, dazzling as snow swirling around the bowl.” In the great poet’s words, the enjoyment of the tea ceremony was so beautiful it took one’s breath away.

　　Brooks the Seventh didn’t know the value of these things; the etiquette teacher he hired was probably just a singer or dancer. The tea ceremony taught to Julie Brooks was not the etiquette of a housewife, but the labor skills a maid should know—this, Henry Clark only learned later, but at the time, he was so amazed by Julie Brooks’s skill that he was left speechless.