Xu Ze sat across the dining table, accepting a warm towel from a maid dressed in a frilly uniform. He gently wiped his face and hands before smiling at Old Tang. “Sorry to keep you waiting, Elder Tang…”
Old Tang chuckled, his thin face brimming with contentment. “Haha… No need to apologize. I’m happy to have you join me for a meal. It’s been a long time since someone has dined with this old man. Having a young fellow like you here today brings me great joy…”
With that, he nodded to the attendant beside him. Soon, several servers brought out dish after dish, arranging them gracefully on the table.
“Braised lion’s head, yam and duck soup, Pingqiao tofu, wine-braised yellow chicken, stir-fried bok choy…” Old Tang pointed at the dishes, grinning as he introduced them to Xu Ze. “Go on, try them! I specially hired a chef from Yangzhou—his Huaiyang cuisine is authentic, a rarity in Xingcheng. Today, I had him prepare these dishes just for you, so you could experience something different.”
Hearing that this feast was arranged specifically for him, Xu Ze felt both flattered and a little overwhelmed. “Elder Tang, I’m really not picky when it comes to food. You didn’t have to go through all this trouble for me.”
“Hey, now you’re being too modest, Xu Ze!” Old Tang laughed. “The food at your school cafeteria lacks proper nutrition, and you’re still growing. Of course, I’d make sure your first meal here is a proper feast! Besides, one of life’s greatest pleasures is good food. At my age, indulging in fine cuisine is one of the few joys I have left.” He winked. “And don’t think I don’t know—you’ve got a bit of a refined palate yourself.”
“Uh…” Xu Ze froze. Who leaked that? How does Elder Tang even know about that?
Seeing Xu Ze’s stunned expression, Old Tang burst into laughter. “No need to be embarrassed! What’s there to hide? I’m a food lover myself. Lately, I’ve been craving foie gras and escargots, so I’ve been making frequent trips to La Villa. I’m not ashamed to admit it—why should you be?”
“Come on, dig in! These dishes were all made for you.” Old Tang picked up a braised lion’s head with his chopsticks and placed it in Xu Ze’s bowl. “Try this—it’s the best in Xingcheng!”
Unable to resist Old Tang’s enthusiasm—and with his stomach already growling—Xu Ze took a bite. The moment the tender meat touched his tongue, a rich, savory aroma filled his senses. The texture was smooth, neither greasy nor heavy, melting effortlessly in his mouth. His eyes lit up. Just this dish alone makes this trip worth it.
Seeing Xu Ze’s reaction, Old Tang grinned triumphantly. Finally, a fellow gourmet to share a meal with!
By the end of the meal, Xu Ze had polished off three full bowls of rice, much to Old Tang’s satisfaction.
After a short break, and upon learning that Xu Ze had no classes in the afternoon, Old Tang led him to the tea room, setting up an elaborate tea ceremony.
Xu Ze glanced around—a small wooden table, two chairs, and an exquisite purple clay teapot set. Just as he was about to sit, a series of text rapidly flashed across his glasses, startling him.
“Rare wood species: Huanghuali furniture. Current market price: 7,000 per kilogram. Handcrafted purple clay teapot. Based on stylistic analysis and age estimation, likely crafted by Chen Mingyuan during the early Qing Dynasty, approximately 300 years ago…”
The words appeared clearly on his lenses, leaving Xu Ze momentarily dazed. Since when did the system have this function?
He quickly composed himself, not bothering to ask Little Knife (his AI system) for an explanation. He figured this must be a new feature unlocked after Little Knife’s recent data collection.
Xu Ze was thrilled. This is incredibly useful! Now I won’t get scammed when buying things, and I can instantly identify anything unfamiliar. Perfect.
After his brief excitement, he sat down and examined the table and teapot more closely. He had only read about Huanghuali wood and early Qing purple clay in books—never did he expect to see the real thing here.
“Elder Tang, your collection is truly exceptional,” Xu Ze remarked, unable to hide his admiration.
Old Tang raised an eyebrow. “Oh? You’re knowledgeable about these things too?”
Xu Ze smiled modestly. He had developed an interest in antiques and often browsed related books in the library. Now, seeing these treasures in person, he couldn’t help but be fascinated.
Running his fingers along the table’s smooth, fine-grained surface, he murmured, “Huanghuali wood… I’ve heard it’s nearly extinct. I never thought I’d see it today.”
Then, he carefully picked up the teapot, feeling its slightly coarse yet comfortable texture—just as the books described. He checked the maker’s mark at the bottom and sighed. “Chen Mingyuan’s early Qing purple clay teapot… These are practically extinct now. Truly extraordinary.”
Old Tang’s eyes widened in surprise. After a long pause, he chuckled. “You’re the extraordinary one here.”
“Tea—elegant, simple, calming to the mind…” Old Tang held the teapot gracefully, rinsing the cups with hot water before retrieving a small canister of tea leaves.
With a proud smile, he said, “This is something special. Only two or three jin are produced each year. I had to fight tooth and nail to get a few liang from those old fellows in the capital. I wouldn’t serve this to just anyone, but you and I share a rare bond. Today, we’ll savor it together.”
At first, Xu Ze was puzzled by Old Tang’s reverence. Given the elder’s status, how precious could this tea really be? But as the explanation continued, Xu Ze’s breath hitched.
He stared at the canister in shock before hesitantly asking, “This… Could it be… the last two surviving wild tea trees…?”
Old Tang was taken aback. “You know about that too?”
Xu Ze exhaled slowly, his eyes gleaming with fascination. He had once stumbled upon a tea forum where the moderator ranked the world’s rarest teas. Among them was a legendary Da Hong Pao, harvested from two ancient wild tea trees on a cliff in Wuyi Mountain. Only a few jin were produced annually, exclusively reserved for high-ranking officials in the capital. No ordinary person had ever seen it.
When Old Tang mentioned the limited annual yield and how he had “snatched” it from the capital, Xu Ze immediately made the connection.
But what truly stunned him wasn’t just the tea itself—it was the fact that Old Tang had access to something reserved for the nation’s top leaders. This means his status is far beyond what I imagined.
Until now, Xu Ze had assumed Old Tang was a provincial-level figure—perhaps a retired minister or wealthy businessman. The elder lived modestly, with only a bodyguard and driver, dined out casually, and resided in an elegant but unassuming villa.
Yet now, it was clear: Old Tang moved in the same circles as the capital’s most powerful.
Despite his internal shock, Xu Ze’s expression remained composed. He had always been adept at concealing his emotions.
With a light chuckle, he said, “Then today, thanks to Elder Tang, I’ll get to experience a privilege reserved for the nation’s leaders.”
Old Tang, sharp as ever, had noticed Xu Ze’s momentary astonishment. He had initially worried that his slip of the tongue might unsettle the young man.
But seeing Xu Ze regain his calm so effortlessly—still treating him with the same respectful ease—Old Tang’s admiration grew. For a young man from a rural background to possess such poise and insight… Truly remarkable.
Smiling, he opened the tea canister, carefully scooping out two portions with a tiny spoon before placing them into the teapot.
