The following day at noon, Zhou Mingli delivered the Jiang porcelain to the Shan family at the address written on it.
This place is quiet and secluded with few people. The three-courtyard siheyuan is guarded by security guards and looks quite secure.
Zhou Mingli's bicycle was stopped by the guards before it even got close.
"Who are you? Strangers are not allowed to come near here."
Jiang Ci jumped off the back seat and smoothed the creases on her skirt.
Standing next to Zhou Mingli, she said to the guard, "My name is Jiang Ci, and I am here at Mr. Shan's invitation."
Upon hearing her words, the guard said, "Wait a moment."
He walked inside, while Jiang Ci and Zhou Mingli looked around from the outside.
"Unexpectedly tight security." Zhou Mingli lowered his voice.
Jiang Ci nodded. "It seems the Shan family has quite a few secrets hidden."
“If you don’t come out in two hours, I will proceed according to plan.” Zhou Mingli looked at her intently, his deep eyes revealing unconcealed worry.
Jiang Ci chuckled, "Don't worry."
A short while later, the guard came out and politely said to Jiang Ci, "Comrade Jiang, you may go in, but Mr. Shan only invited you. The person next to you..."
Jiang Ci smiled and said, "He brought me here; he's not going in with me."
The guard said no more, "Please come in."
Jiang Cichong nodded to Zhou Mingli, took the pastries he had bought at Daoxiangcun from the front basket of his bicycle, and walked towards the Shan family's house.
Zhou Mingli watched her retreating figure, lowered his eyes, and did not leave. Instead, he stopped in a corner nearby where he could see the gate and waited quietly.
This courtyard house belongs exclusively to the Shan family. Given Jiang Ci's status, it wouldn't be necessary for Shan Shengshuo to wait for her. The person who greeted her after entering was Shan Shengshuo's grandson, Shan Fangdu.
A man about the same age as Jiang Ci.
Jiang Ci handed over the pastries she had bought as a courtesy during her visit to Shan Fangdu, saying, "I don't know what Mr. Shan's taste is, so I bought some mung bean cakes from Daoxiangcun as a small token of my appreciation."
Danfang accepted her gift and said in surprise, "Thank you, my grandfather loves mung bean cakes."
He seemed to be a very easygoing person. He smiled and said, "Grandpa is still entertaining guests in his study. He'll need a little while. Comrade Jiang, please come in."
Dan Fangdu led Jiang Ci to the main hall in the front yard and personally brewed tea for her. "This is the new Maojian tea that arrived this year, pre-Qingming, and it's the best batch. Try it."
Pre-Qingming Maojian tea is tender and fresh, with an aroma like orchids. Once you taste the brewed tea, you can tell it's Maojian from before Qingming Festival.
It is also one of the most expensive types of tea.
Jiang Ci took the teacup, lowered her head, and took a sip.
Danfangdu looked at her and said, "I have long heard of Comrade Jiang's great name. He opened up trade exchanges with European countries through diplomatic means and provided no less than 10,000 jobs. At the beginning of this month, the Minister of Foreign Affairs specifically brought up this matter to commend you."
Surrounded by the fragrance of orchids and the same sweet taste in her mouth, Jiang Ci put down her teacup. "It's all thanks to the quality of our products. Only through teamwork can we achieve such excellent results."
Dan Fangdu laughed and said, "Comrade Jiang is too modest. Everyone can see how much your minister admires you."
Jiang Ci did not directly answer Shan Fangdu's question, but instead smiled and changed the subject, "I wonder what Mr. Shan asked me to do for you?"
Danfangdu shook his head. "I don't know the specifics, but Comrade Jiang, my grandfather admires you very much."
"My cousin often praises your abilities at home," Shan Fangdu said gratefully. "My cousin is a playful person who doesn't take anything seriously, and we in the Shan family are very grateful to you for being so tolerant of her."
Jiang Ci and Shan Fangdu talked for a long time about Shan Lian's matter before Shan Shengshuo, leaning on his cane, came over with someone by his side.
Jiang Ci stood up from her seat and bowed to Shan Shengshuo, saying, "Mr. Shan."
As a younger man, Shan Shengshuo was very pleased that he was treated with such respect. He smiled and said, "I've been wanting to invite you to dinner for a long time, and now I finally have the chance. I hope you're not angry that I suddenly invited you, Xiao Jiang, over."
Jiang Ci straightened up, looking somewhat reserved and showing a hint of awe towards Shan Shengshuo. "How could that be? I am deeply grateful and humbled by your invitation, sir."
"Haha, please sit down!" Shan Shengshuo laughed, gesturing for her to sit down. He took a sip of the tea brewed by Shan Fangdu and asked Jiang Ci with a smile, "Little Jiang, what do you think of my family's tea?"
Jiang Ci maintained a demeanor of being invited by an important person, both happy and somewhat cautious, as she dealt with Shan Shengshuo.
When lunch was served, Jiang Ci glanced around.
Dan Shengshuo is really extravagant; the table even has abalone and crab from the coast.
She stared at those things and involuntarily swallowed.
Dan Shengshuo observed Jiang Ci's movements with great interest.
"I heard your hometown is near Shanghai, so you should be quite familiar with these things, right?"
Jiang Ci smiled shyly, "I have seen them before, but my family isn't wealthy. These things are beyond our means. We only manage to get a few occasionally when my parents take us to the beach to collect seafood."
"Then you should definitely try these dishes today; they might just taste like your hometown," Shan Shengshuo said gently.
Jiang Ci looked at Shan Shengshuo with delight in her eyes, "You are such a thoughtful person."
Jiang Ci had a very sumptuous lunch at the Shan family's house. She praised the Shan family's cooks for their excellent skills, saying that the food tasted just like the food she ate back in her hometown.
"If you like, you can come to my house for a meal anytime."
Jiang Ci became embarrassed again, "I can't accept this."
But her eyes were bright, clearly showing anticipation.
Even if a young girl can hide her thoughts, they will still inadvertently reveal them.
But she quickly regained her composure and became calm and collected.
The Foreign Minister's praise for her was not unfounded, but her ability to secure those trade deals with foreign countries was probably due to the Cheng family's influence behind her.
The solitary scorpion is quite patient; its prey will only fall into the hunter's trap without realizing it.
This time, Shan Shengshuo did not keep Jiang Ci for long. Before Jiang Ci left, Shan Shengshuo gave her a gift.
The gift was contained in a slender sandalwood box.
Shan Shengshuo smiled and said, "If you still want to come, there will be a gathering at my house at the end of this month. You can bring this with you."
"thank you!"
Jiang Ci said with trepidation, then added gratefully, "Thank you so much for your hospitality, I am very happy today!"
Dan Shengshuo smiled, "Little girl, I also enjoy chatting with you."
Jiang Ci turned back repeatedly to express her gratitude until she left through the hanging flower gate.
Her expression hardened, and she didn't turn back.
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