A Warm Marriage After Rebirth

Chapter 130: Chapter 130: A Resounding Face-Slap (3)

Michelle Galloway’s voice was serious. ”Besides, I don’t think there was anything wrong with my tea ceremony. If you don’t know how to appreciate it, then don’t stand here making baseless comments! You’re just making a fool of yourself!”

As the atmosphere grew more and more explosive, Marshal really wanted to sew Michelle Galloway’s mouth shut. ’Simon is obviously provoking her on purpose! How can she be so stupid as to fall for it? If they start fighting right here, can this exchange even continue?’

”What a ridiculous thing to say, Galloway! If I already understood Apex’s traditional culture, why would I be attending this exchange? I’m here precisely because I don’t understand, and I want to learn! However, even laymen like us, who know nothing, found your performance unbearable. It’s easy to imagine, then, that Apex’s so-called ’time-honored tea culture’ isn’t all that impressive! It certainly can’t compare to the tea ceremony of Country R!”

Compared to Michelle Galloway’s furious temper, Simon’s calm demeanor was more pleasant and persuasive. In contrast, Galloway’s reaction made her look like someone who had been exposed and was now flying into a rage out of shame and guilt.

Compared to Simon, Michelle Galloway was completely outmatched.

”You’re wrong! It’s not that our tea culture is shallow and crude, but simply that the student who performed the demonstration has limited skill! Simon, you must be accustomed to watching masters perform. Galloway is only a high school student. Her skill level can’t possibly compare to a master’s. Isn’t it a hasty generalization to judge all of Apex’s tea culture by the standard of one ordinary high school student?”

Marshal’s words helped ease the tense atmosphere in the hall and got Michelle Galloway off the hook.

”If her skills are so limited, then why not get someone more skilled? Doesn’t Apex have an old saying? Something about the virtue of knowing one’s own limitations. She knew her skills were subpar, yet she still went on stage to embarrass herself and waste everyone’s time. Don’t tell me that among all of Apex’s high school students, there’s no one else besides the less-than-capable Galloway to perform for us?”

Simon’s icy blue eyes swept toward Seraphina Sterling, his mocking tone making people want to lash out.

The hall fell silent in an instant.

Director Lowell and the teachers from the organizing committee grew anxious. ’What are we going to do? This guy is clearly looking for a fight! And the supervising teacher from Country M is just standing there like a decoration, showing no intention of intervening.’

’If they lost the mountain climbing competition, they could still argue that high school students just lack physical stamina, that it’s unrelated to the theme of the winter camp, and that they could just train more in the future! But if there’s a problem with the tea culture demonstration, that would be a direct, blatant slap in the face!’

’Their own students can’t even master their traditional culture, so what right do they have to promote it to the world! And with television reporters here, if this news gets out, they’ll be utterly despised!’

Marshal glanced over and saw everyone with their heads bowed. Left with no other choice, he said softly, ”I can agree to your request on behalf of the Yorke Family. As long as it isn’t illegal or against the rules, and it’s within the Yorke Family’s power, I’ll do it.”

Seraphina Sterling’s lips curled into a smile. ”Remember your own words.”

”Tea is the national beverage of the Apex people. It originated with Shennong, became known in the time of the Duke of Zhou of Lu, rose to prominence during the Tauren Dynasty, flourished in the Song Dynasty, and became widespread during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Apex’s tea culture blends the philosophies of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism, forming a unique system of its own. It is, arguably, one of the oldest cultures of Apex.” Seraphina Sterling slowly walked to the center and began to prepare the Gongfu tea anew.

”As for the Country R tea ceremony you mentioned, Simon, that too originated in Apex. A monk from Country R named Eisai first brought tea seeds from Apex back to his homeland during the Shaoxi era of the Southern Song Dynasty. It was only from that point that tea cultivation began in earnest in Country R. Later, toward the end of the Southern Song Dynasty, a Zen master from Country R, Nanpo Shōmyō, came to our nation’s Jingshan Temple to study under Zen Master Xutang. He studied the temple’s ceremonial tea banquets, and upon completing his education, he brought these rituals back to Country R. That is what later evolved into what you call the tea ceremony of Country R.”