"Division Commander Lu, you can speak now. How do you feel?" Jiang Ning asked with a warm smile, his eyes full of concern.
Division Commander Lu sat up abruptly. *Hey, you know what?* His complexion was now radiant, a complete transformation from his previous sickly appearance.
"Young man—oh, no, no, no—Master Jiang, I don't know how to thank you enough!" Division Commander Lu spoke with such excitement that his words tumbled out in a jumbled mess.
He suddenly realized he'd been too casual calling Jiang Ning "young man," which might seem presumptuous and disrespectful given his age. After all, Tang Xiachuan himself addressed Jiang Ning as "Master Jiang" with the utmost respect. He couldn't possibly continue calling him "young man" and quickly corrected himself.
"Division Commander Lu, please don't be so formal. It's just a name. Call me whatever you like," Jiang Ning replied with a smile. "If you're available next week, I'd prefer you come to Cangnan City. I'll give you another acupuncture session, and by then, your condition should be about 7788 healed. The week after that, we'll do the third session, and you'll be completely back to normal."
Jiang Ning pondered for a moment and decided that having Division Commander Lu come to his place would indeed be more convenient. After all, the commander still had to take care of his child and couldn't frequently travel to Jingdu.
"Alright, no problem! I feel so refreshed now, I could practically get out of bed and take a stroll right away." As Division Commander Lu spoke, he made to climb out of bed.
"No, no, no, don't move!" Jiang Ning quickly stopped him. "Division Commander Lu, you just finished your acupuncture. It's best to rest until the afternoon before walking around. Please stay still for now."
"Oh, oh, alright. Master Jiang, I, Lu, owe you a great debt! If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to ask me. And from now on, just call me Old Lu. I'm not a division commander anymore."
Division Commander Lu was in such a good mood that the joy of recovering from his serious illness nearly overflowed from his face.
"Qiang'er, hurry, hurry! Get the Da Hong Pao tea from my drawer and brew a cup for Master Jiang," Old Lu called out excitedly.
This Da Hong Pao tea was no ordinary brew—it was a Wuyi Mountains Da Hong Pao given to him by the State Lord last year. He usually treasured it so much that he wouldn't even drink a sip himself.
"Dad, that tea... it's a gift from the State Lord to you!" Lu Guoqiang's eyes widened in disbelief at his father's words. He could hardly believe his ears.
Normally, neither he nor his father would dare touch that tea. Yet today, his father was actually going to use it to entertain Jiang Ning.
"Qiang'er, what nonsense are you babbling? I told you to get it, so just get it! Understand?" Old Lu snapped, his voice sharp with irritation.
"Yes, yes, yes, Dad. Don't be angry. I'm going to get it right now." Lu Guoqiang hurried to the drawer and carefully retrieved a small packet of Da Hong Pao tea.
"Teacher-Commander, you should keep this tea for yourself. It's a special gift from the State Lord to you."
Tang Xiachuan was also taken aback. He hadn't expected his Teacher-Commander to be so generous, willing to use the State Lord's Da Hong Pao to entertain a guest.
Jiang Ning quickly added, "Indeed, Old Lu, you really don't need to be so formal."
"Qiang'er, why are you still standing there? Get it brewed already!" Division Commander Lu urged impatiently.
With a beaming smile, Lu Guoqiang turned to Jiang Ning. "Master Jiang, it's just a small packet of tea. Don't make such a fuss. I'll ask the State Lord for more later."
"Today, you saved my life, Master Jiang. I have nothing worthy to offer in return, but please, try this Da Hong Pao."
Jiang Ning tried to decline, but finally relented. "Very well, I won't be so polite then. Today, I'm truly indebted to you, Old Lu."
Lu Guoqiang, holding the tea, also carried all the tea set and tray into Old Lu's room.
His hands trembled slightly as he carefully arranged the exquisite tea set and tray, piece by piece.
First, he lifted the steaming kettle and poured a stream of boiling water into the gaiwan with a *swish*. A cloud of white mist instantly rose, not only rinsing the tea ware but also dispelling the lingering medicinal odor in the room.
Next, Lu Guoqiang delicately pinched a small pinch of Da Hong Pao tea leaves and gently placed them into the gaiwan.
The tea leaves were tightly rolled, their color a deep, lustrous black. As he brought them closer, a subtle, rich fragrance wafted out.
Old Lu gazed at Jiang Ning with warm, admiring eyes and said with a smile, "Master Jiang, I usually dabble a bit in the art of tea, but today, I'll have to let Qiang'er brew for everyone. His technique might not be as refined as mine, but it's still quite skilled."
Hearing his father's words, Lu Guoqiang took a deep breath and picked up the kettle again.
The stream of water poured into the gaiwan at just the right force and angle, instantly releasing a rich, mellow aroma that filled the air with a "whoosh."
Tang Xiachuan bowed slightly and respectfully offered the first cup of tea to Jiang Ning. "Master Jiang, please, you go first. You saved the Teacher-Commander's life today, making you our most honored guest. I'm just lucky to be sharing this Da Hong Pao with you."
Jiang Ning quickly replied, "Master Tang, please don't be so formal. You've always helped me and Mengmeng, and Old Lu made such great contributions to the Great Xia Kingdom. My medical skills are truly nothing to boast about. Let's all drink together, yes?"
Jiang Ning accepted the teacup, gently blew on the steam, and took a small sip.
As the tea entered his mouth, it was slightly bitter at first, but then a sweetness like spring water surged, bubbling over his tongue and spreading. The liquid flowed smoothly down his throat, leaving a lingering, sweet aftertaste. The taste was indescribably wonderful.
Jiang Ning couldn't help but exclaim, "What a superb tea! Its aroma is long-lasting, and its flavor is rich and mellow. It truly lives up to its reputation as a treasure gifted by the State Lord. It's my honor to taste such a fine tea today."
Old Lu also raised his cup, gently inhaling the fragrance. A look of rapture immediately spread across his face as he said, "How could a mere packet of tea possibly repay Master Jiang's life-saving grace? Compared to your miraculous healing skills, this Da Hong Pao tea falls far short."
With that, he tilted his head back and drained the cup in one gulp, as if swallowing his gratitude along with the tea.
Lu Guoqiang hurried to refill everyone's cups, then poured himself a cup and began to sip it slowly.
Perhaps it was due to his deep respect for Jiang Ning, but he had been particularly careful when brewing the tea today. He couldn't help but feel that this brew was even more fragrant and mellow than usual.
The four of them chatted casually about everything under the sun while sipping tea, creating an atmosphere of effortless comfort and harmony.
After three rounds of tea, Old Lu's spirits grew increasingly lively, his eyes sparkling with energy. "Master Jiang," he said, "I'll come to Cangnan City to find you next week. I'd be grateful if you could treat me then."
Jiang Ning nodded with a smile. "Of course, Old Lu. You can rest assured. It's just that I've been busy with the kids lately, making it difficult to travel to Jingdu. I really should be the one to come and treat you. My apologies."
Jiang Ning quickly explained, fearing Old Lu might misunderstand.
Old Lu waved his hand and laughed heartily. "No bother, no bother! This gives me an excuse to get out and stretch my legs. Hahaha!"
Indeed, Division Commander Lu looked noticeably better now. His complexion had become increasingly rosy and vibrant, a stark contrast to his earlier state of lying in bed, weak and listless.
Warm sunlight streamed through the window, gently bathing the group and adding a touch of cozy beauty to this gathering of gratitude and good tea.
"Great-grandfather! Great-grandfather! We're back!" A young girl's voice rang out from outside the house.
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