On the third day, when Miss Daisy Cornwallis learned from her grandfather that Barnett, who had played with her since childhood, was also among the Qing mission! In order to meet her, Daisy happily sends an invitation to Wickham and asks him to take Barnett to the garden of the Governor's Palace, but cannot tell Barnett that she is in the garden.

For Miss Daisy's request, Wickham was a little confused, and couldn't figure out what this pure white rich beauty was going to do. Could it be that the chick has a crush on Ensign Barnett and wants to overlord the bow in the garden? Thinking of this, Wickham's whole forehead felt bad, and he felt that something he liked was snatched away.

Wickham threw those absurd ideas out of his mind, and there was a Georgian in England waiting for him, and he couldn't walk without seeing a beautiful woman. Wickham invited Barnett to join him for a stroll through the garden and some fresh air. Barnett also wanted to see the tropical gardens for which the Governor's Palace was famous, so he agreed to Wickham's invitation.

The gardens of the Viceroy of India have been run by three generations of Viceroyalty and are filled with exotic flora and fauna from Europe and the Far East. The most surprising thing for Wickham is that this garden is transplanted with China's unique Hunan Fei bamboo!

You must know that China today is not the country where foreigners will be rampant 50 years later. The Qing Empire, which strictly enforced the policy of closing the country to the outside world, did not allow foreigners to enter the hinterland of the empire at all. I don't know where these Britons got these Xiangfei bamboos.

Miss Daisy Cornwallis had the servants set up a table and a few chairs under a tall banyan tree, on which were placed fine porcelain from China and some delicate little pastries, quite the prototype of the English afternoon tea of later generations. Of course, real afternoon tea will only be born after decades, and Miss Cornwallis does not have the concept of afternoon tea in her heart, but simply thinks that it is a very pleasant thing to drink tea and chat under the shady banyan tree.

When Barnett saw Miss Daisy, who had a delicate face, he said with some surprise, "Daisy, why are you in Calcutta?" It's social season in London, shouldn't you be in London right now? ”

Miss Daisy gently lowered the teacup in her hand, and then gave Wickham a ladylike salute: "Good afternoon, Captain Wickham." "Daisy's form is outstanding, and the whole movement is full of elegance and nobility. However, when she glanced at Wickham's broad and polite shoulders, Miss Daisy remembered the intimate movements with Wickham at the ball the day before yesterday, and her pretty face suddenly turned red, adding to the girl's delicate atmosphere.

Wickham touched the brim of his hat and said politely, "Good afternoon, Miss Cornwallis." ”

After seeing Barnett, Miss Daisy's newly created elegance was completely destroyed, and Miss Daisy stood up and struck a shudder on Barnett's head: "Barnett Burke, only allow you to secretly join the army, and you will not be allowed to come to Calcutta?" "Apparently, Miss Daisy had heard from Lord Margarny about Barnett's secret enlistment in the army.

Wickham had an urge to cover his face, and who could tell him to ask what gentle lady instantly turned into a tyrannosaurus?

Barnett rubbed his head helplessly and said, "Daisy, how come you have exactly the same temper as the Marquis of Cornwallis, wait for the young masters in London to be offended by you, and see who you will marry in the future." When Barnett said this, his eyes were extremely serious, as if the next moment he would say the words "Others don't want you to marry me."

Unfortunately, Miss Daisy kept peeking at Wickham and didn't notice Barnett's serious eyes. Barnett also noticed Daisy's absent-mindedness, and felt a little worried in his heart. For this childhood sweetheart who has played together to a great time, Barnett can be said to be very affectionate, but he knows that Daisy has always regarded him as an older brother, and he has no meaning at all, which is why he does not dare to propose rashly.

Wickham had not spoken until he spoke, and he had a full view of the expressions and demeanors of the two, he didn't expect Barnett to mean anything to Miss Daisy, it was hilarious, and he hadn't forgotten the Henry at the ball who was also very attentive to Miss Daisy. It seems that beauties are fragrant buns everywhere, especially Daisy, a girl with beauty, wisdom and family background, who is a big fat in the eyes of many wolves.

Miss Daisy didn't notice anything wrong, but pouted dissatisfiedly: "Barnett, you are only a few years older than me, how can you speak in the same tone as grandpa!" That look of anger and coquettishness made Wickham's heart flutter again.

In order to hide his embarrassment, Barnett hurriedly asked again: "Daisy, that hasn't answered my question yet." Isn't it social season in London, how did you get to India? Now Barnett's mind was in turmoil, and it seemed that the girl he had always admired seemed interested in his superiors and friends, which made him feel a little conflicted.

Daisy returned to her comfortable chair and asked the servant to bring two cups of hot tea to Wickham and Barnett, and then said slowly, "My grandfather will be transferred back to China in two months, and I begged my father to let me come to India for a long trip, and then return home with my grandfather." Don't look at me like that, don't worry, I'm on a Royal Navy warship, and Mr. Captain takes good care of me. ”

Listening to Miss Daisy's words, Wickham couldn't help but be impressed by the seemingly weak aristocratic lady in front of him, most of the women in this era are concerned about balls, jewelry and beautiful clothes, and they can think of coming out to see what the outside world is like, after all, there are still a few, and a new woman like Daisy has her own ideas, which is too rare in this era.

"The Marquis of Cornwallis is going to be transferred back home? Didn't Your Excellency the Governor do a good job in India, why did you suddenly have to be transferred back? Barnett asked with some confusion, he knew that the Viceroy of India was a fat man, and he believed that no one would be willing to give up such a position.

Miss Daisy had her hands to support her face, and said with a confused expression: "I don't know the specifics, but this time grandpa told me that he will be transferred back to the cabinet nine times out of ten, and the specific position is like the director of the Ordnance Bureau." Well, I don't know much about these political things, so let's stop talking about these things and try these teas from China. ”

When Wickham heard this, he picked up the finely crafted white porcelain cup and took a sip gently. Just this one bite, almost made Wickham spit out all the tea in his mouth! Nima, Wickham is sure that this damn tea has sugar in it, and in addition to the unbearable sweetness, it also has some spice notes!

Miss Daisy was a little puzzled by Wickham's reaction, so she asked with some confusion, "Captain Wickham, is this tea not to your taste?" If you can't get used to it, I can ask the maid to add some milk for you. ”

Wickham was about to kneel for the eldest lady, and the English barbarian's habit of drinking tea really made him dare not compliment. This so-called tea is simply a pot of soup mixed with a variety of unknown objects!

"Don't bother, Miss Cornwallis. I'm not used to drinking tea myself. Wickham hurriedly rejected Miss Daisy's kindness, and then added milk, what will this tea taste like, so Wickham trembled all over his body when he thought about it!

Barnett took a slow sip of the tea in the cup, and felt that it tasted good, so he also glanced at Wickham strangely: "Sir, I hold this tea in a good way, much better than the tea sold in London." "These teas were all gifts from the merchants of Guangzhou in the Qing Kingdom to the East India Company, and they were naturally much better than those teas used for foreign trade.

Wickham still misses the Chinese tea drinking method, so he said to Miss Daisy: "I know the Chinese tea drinking method, it has a different flavor, if it is convenient, I can show Miss a thing or two." ”

Miss Daisy was very interested in the legendary ancient country of the East, and asked curiously, "How can it be inconvenient, Mr. Wickham?" I've been interested in that ancient country of the East for a long time, and if my grandfather hadn't allowed it, I would have wanted to go to the Qing country with you. ”

After saying that, Miss Daisy instructed the servant next to her to fetch a pot of boiling water and hand it to Wickham. Barnett shrugged, he was not surprised by his chief's mastery of Chinese culture.

In fact, Wickham doesn't know anything about the complex art of tea, he knows that it's just the most silky way to make tea. I saw Wickham take the white teapot, put tea leaves in it, first pour it with boiling water, and then pour boiling water and cover the pot.

After a while, Wickham lifted the teapot, poured Barnett and Daisy a cup of fragrant green tea, and said, "Let's try the tea made this way." ”

Miss Daisy looked at the light green tea in the cup with some dumbfoundedness, and said in surprise, "That's it...... Finished? "No spices, no long cooking, so it's so easy? In her impression, the Chinese are a country with a long history of tea culture, and originally thought that the whole brewing process was complicated, but she did not expect it to be so simple.

Wickham thought that even if you European barbarians were concerned, they would never understand the vast and profound tea culture of my Celestial Empire, but he still explained with a smile on his face: "Don't look at this brewing process and how simple it is, but it is indeed the best method that the Chinese have explored for a thousand years, such a simple brewing can best release the fragrance of tea." Our tea drinking habits in England are similar to those of the Tang Dynasty in China a thousand years ago, but the mess of spices will mask the unique fragrance of green tea itself. ”

Miss Daisy took a sip and found that the tea was indeed as wickham had said, but the astringent taste made her feel so uncomfortable that she always felt the urge to add sugar cubes.

Barnett had the same expression as Miss Daisy, but he couldn't say anything he didn't like because of Wickham's strong admiration. Seeing the strange expressions of the two, how could Wickham not know what these two were thinking? Originally, he wanted to popularize the vast and profound tea culture of my Great Heavenly Dynasty to Barnett and Daisy, but when he saw that both of them were lacking in taste, he stopped talking.

Just when the atmosphere of the three of them was a little awkward, a burly middle-aged officer walked over, the red military uniform looked extremely tall on his body, and there was a smell of iron-blooded soldiers in it.

"Good afternoon, Miss Cornwallis, and two gentlemen, good afternoon." The officer greeted the three men with great deed, and the meticulous etiquette made it impossible to find the slightest mistake.

Seeing that it was Colonel Brandon, Miss Daisy greeted with some joy, "Colonel Brandon, sit down and have a cup of tea and enjoy the quiet time of this afternoon." ”

Then Miss Daisy turned to Wickham and Barnett and introduced, "This is Colonel Brandon, a gentleman of integrity. ”

Colonel Brandon did not sit down, but said apologetically, "I'm afraid it won't work, Miss Cornwallis." I'm here because I need Captain Wickham's assistance on some important matters, I wonder who is Captain Wickham of the two gentlemen? ”

Wickham stood up with some confusion, gave a military salute to Colonel Brandon, and said, "I am Captain George Wickham, I wonder what the Colonel is looking for me?" ”

Wickham had some impression of Colonel Brandon, and the Marquis of Cornwallis had used this gentleman last night as an example of the merits of serving in India, as a way to persuade him to join the British army in India. Looking at the unsmiling Colonel Brandon, Wickham thought to himself that this should be a strict and rigid officer.

Colonel Brandon glanced at Wickham, and then said, "Lieutenant Wickham, after leaving the Gulf of Guinea, did you come across a French ** ship attacking British merchant ships?" ”

Wickham was even more puzzled, it was a fierce battle, how could he forget? But what does this have to do with the Indian authorities? With a question, Wickham asked, "Mr. Colonel, do you mean the Warbler?" ”

Colonel Brandon nodded: "That's right, your fleet has handed over the captain of this warship, Baron de Rochefort, to us, that person has a big problem. ”

Wickham remembered the unlucky French nobleman, the officers and men on the Warbler dared to fight and were very heroic, but the commander was a bit of a mischievous and wanted to mix in with ordinary sailors to get by.

Wickham spread his hands and said, "Baron Drochefort is in your hands?" But I don't know much about interrogating prisoners, so I'm afraid I won't be able to help you much. ”

Colonel Landon shook his head and said, "That French baron is very strange, his warship also left the Brittany military port after the riots in Paris, and I suspect that his purpose in coming to the Far East is not simple. And you and Major William are the only two people with whom we have had an in-depth conversation, and I hope you will cooperate with our interrogation. ”

The first level of the official university crushed people to death, not to mention the third level of the university. Wickham could feel Major Brandon's unmistakable tone, which was already patient when he had explained so much.

So Wickham got up and said goodbye to Barnett and Miss Cornwallis: "Thank you, Miss Cornwallis, for your hospitality. You and Barnett are old friends who haven't seen each other for a long time, and there must be a lot to say, so I won't bother you. ”

With that, Wickham followed Colonel Brandon away.