Chapter 58 Using Tea as a Medium

Upon hearing the address "Young Miss," Du Kangnian straightened his back slightly, the smoothness in his voice dissipating, replaced by the prudence unique to a businessman.

He acknowledged the Du family's lineage, but that didn't mean he would immediately submit to them.

Photos can be faked, favors can be fabricated, but the descendants of the Bai family must produce something real.

Su Wantang saw through the scrutiny in his eyes and smiled as she spoke.

"General Manager Du, how do you think I can prove that I am who I am?"

Du Kangnian hadn't expected her to be so direct, and his seasoned business persona almost crumbled. He coughed, sat back down, and placed his hands on his knees, adopting a negotiating posture.

"Young Miss is joking. It's just that Miss Bai back then... had extraordinary methods and vision. Her true successor is definitely not someone to be underestimated."

The implication is that you need to show me what makes you so special.

This wasn't a doubt, it was final confirmation. He couldn't afford to gamble, and neither could the Du family.

If Su Wantang wants to completely subdue this shrewd person, relying solely on the "favor" card is not enough.

You have to make him fear you, respect you, and acknowledge you from the bottom of his heart.

“Okay.” Su Wantang stood up and walked to the expensive mahogany tea table, her slender fingers gently brushing over the purple clay teaware displayed on it.

"Then let the tea serve as proof."

Du Kangnian raised an eyebrow.

"General Manager Du, would you dare lend me three types of tea from the hotel's collection?" Su Wantang turned around.

"I blindfolded myself and relied solely on my sense of smell and touch. If I made a single mistake, I would immediately turn around and leave, never to set foot in the Peace Hotel again."

mad!

That's insane!

Two words popped into Du Kangnian's mind.

The teas served at the Peace Hotel are all top-quality teas specially supplied from their place of origin. There are so many varieties that even a top tea master might not be able to distinguish them perfectly, let alone blindfolded.

Where does this young girl get her confidence?

But looking into Su Wantang's eyes, which were so confident they were almost defiant, he nodded as if possessed: "Alright! I'd like to test just how much of Miss Bai's successor has truly inherited her teachings!"

He immediately called over the supervisor and whispered a few instructions.

Before long, the foreman personally carried in an antique wooden tray with three identical blue and white porcelain jars placed side by side on it.

Du Kangnian took out a fine silk handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to Su Wantang: "Miss, please."

Su Wantang took the handkerchief without hesitation, tied it behind her head, and her vision was instantly plunged into darkness.

Du Kangnian personally pushed the first blue-and-white porcelain jar in front of her and opened the lid.

A delicate orchid fragrance instantly filled the air.

Su Wantang simply reached her hand to the mouth of the jar, picked up a few tea leaves with her fingertips, and gently rubbed them.

"West Lake Longjing tea, the first harvest before the Qingming Festival."

Her voice was clear and confident.

"The leaves are flat and smooth, brown rice-colored, and have a natural orchid and bean fragrance. It is from the batch specially supplied to Zhongnanhai."

Du Kangnian's pupils contracted.

He was right! No more than five people in the entire city of Shanghai knew where this batch of tea came from!

Without making a sound, he pushed the second small jar over.

This time the aroma is more domineering, with a rock-like chill.

Su Wantang picked up a few leaves and felt the veins and texture of the leaves between her fingertips.

"Wuyi Rock Tea, the mother tree of Da Hong Pao."

"The leaves are tightly rolled, with a green and brown color, and a distinct 'three-section color'. The aroma is mellow, with the fragrance of rocky flowers."

Du Kangnian's hand holding the teacup had begun to tremble slightly.

This is the store's prized possession; we wouldn't even open a jar of it in a year.

He took a deep breath and pushed the last small jar over, fine beads of sweat already forming on his forehead.

Su Wantang reached into the jar, picked up some tea leaves, and remained silent for a long time.

The room was so quiet that only Du Kangnian's slightly heavy breathing could be heard.

Could it be that this last question stumped her?

Just as a glimmer of hope rose in Du Kangnian's heart, Su Wantang spoke, her tone tinged with regret.

"This jar is also made of Da Hong Pao tea, but it's a bit later in vintage. What a pity..."

"What's a pity?" Du Kangnian asked subconsciously.

"It's a pity this can of tea got damp." Su Wantang's voice was cold. "It was stored in the south corner of the warehouse, too close to the ground, and picked up a bit of the ground's moisture. Although it wasn't heavy, it ruined the purest aroma of the tea."

"It's a waste."

Du Kangnian staggered back a step, staring incredulously at the blindfolded girl in front of him.

Only he and the old warehouse keeper knew about this!

He only discovered the dampness in the Da Hong Pao tea yesterday, and he's still annoyed about it, so he hasn't had time to deal with it yet!

How...how did she know?!

This incredible skill in tea appraisal, this ability to determine the storage environment simply by touch and a faint, almost imperceptible aroma...

In this world, there is no one else who could do it but that person!

That was Bai Xiuzhu's unique skill from back then!

Su Wantang slowly removed her blindfold, revealing a pair of bright eyes that shone remarkably in the dim light.

She looked at Du Kangnian, who was already deathly pale, and did not stop, but instead threw out the final heavy blow.

“I remember that Grandpa Du’s favorite piece of music was Yan Xueting’s ‘Yu Tang Chun’. Every time he heard the part about Su San’s release, he would hum along.”

“I remember my mother once gave him a Patek Philippe pocket watch, with a gold case, an enamel dial, and four characters engraved on the inside of the cover: ‘Bai Family Loyal Servant’.”

The color drained from Du Kangnian's face instantly.

He stared intently at Su Wantang, his lips trembling, unable to utter a single word.

If we're talking about the ability to appreciate tea, it might be considered a natural talent.

Those two private old stories, known only to the core members of the Du family, completely shattered his last line of psychological defense!

That pocket watch is still enshrined in his family's ancestral hall!

thump.

Du Kangnian stood up, his knees buckled, and he knelt down straight in front of Su Wantang.

"Du Kangnian, third generation of the Du family, pays his respects to the young lady!"

He slammed his head deeply onto the cold floor, his voice trembling with a mixture of relief and excitement.

"Just now, Kang Nian was blind and did not recognize your greatness. Please forgive me, Miss!"

This time, I was completely convinced.

Su Wantang didn't help him up, but quietly accepted his bow.

This is what he should give, and what the Bai family deserves.

"Get up," Su Wantang said calmly. "I came to Shanghai not to make you kneel."

"Yes!" Du Kangnian stood up, his posture extremely humble, no longer daring to test the waters. His eyes showed only complete respect and trust.

Su Wantang sat back down on the sofa and cut straight to the point: "Does Lu Wenbo have any people in Shanghai?"

Upon hearing this name, Du Kangnian's expression instantly turned serious.

“Yes.” He lowered his voice. “Not only does it exist, but Shanghai can be considered Lu Wenbo’s second hideout, which he has been operating for many years.”

“He’s here, with a pair of ‘gloves.’ One black and one white.”

"The white gloves are a few respectable people with official titles who are responsible for helping him pull strings and handle matters in the open. The black gloves are only one, and they are the most ruthless one."

Du Kangnian uttered a name slowly and deliberately: "Zheng Kai".

Su Wantang had seen this name in Lu Wenbo's black gold ledger; it appeared very frequently.

“This person is Lu Wenbo’s shadow in Shanghai. He handles all the dirty work that can’t be seen in the light of day.” A hint of apprehension flashed in Du Kangnian’s eyes.

"Smuggling, selling stolen goods, silencing witnesses... he committed every imaginable evil. People in Shanghai's underworld trembled at the mere mention of his name."

Su Wantang tapped her fingertips lightly on the table, her eyes slightly cold.

Found it.

This is the person she's looking for.

“This Zheng Kai,” Du Kangnian thought for a moment, then added, “has recently been getting very close to a company representative from Hong Kong Island, and it seems he’s planning a big deal. I haven’t found out the specifics yet.”

"All I know is that the representative from Hong Kong Island had a very imposing manner."

Du Kangnian paused for a moment, then uttered his last sentence.

His surname is Lin.