527: Chapter 526: The Way of Tea 527: Chapter 526: The Way of Tea “Chat?
With only three days left, you came here early in the morning to chat with me?” Ning Fan chuckled and spoke.
Xu Ruolan was also somewhat worried.
This Mr.
Tang being such a significant figure, even if he came to pick a quarrel, he wouldn’t admit it outright.
Saying it was just for a chat, it definitely meant he was here to cause trouble.
Yet Ning Fan’s carefree demeanor showed no sign of acknowledging any mistake, even addressing the man as old man.
This is the rhythm of courting death.
Left with no choice, Xu Ruolan bit her lip and spoke again, “Mr.
Tang, regarding this matter, it truly is Ning Fan’s fault.
You can take back your plaque at any time; please don’t make it difficult for him, he is just…”
Before Xu Ruolan could finish her sentence, Mr.
Tang suddenly burst into laughter.
“This little girl really cares about you.
But coincidentally, I came to find Ning Fan just for a chat, nothing more.
As for the plaque, I naturally must take it back, just not right now.
The agreement of three days still holds; I’ll come for it after three days,” Mr.
Tang said, laughing heartily.
Ning Fan also chuckled and turned his head towards Xu Ruolan.
He hadn’t expected that facing such an important figure, Xu Ruolan would step forward to speak on his behalf, a gesture that moved him deeply.
“Ning Fan, don’t overthink it.
I just came to have a cup of tea with you and chat, nothing else.
I wonder if you’d grant this old man this favor?” Mr.
Tang said to Ning Fan again.
With things said to this extent, it would be utterly disrespectful for Ning Fan to refuse now.
Moreover, there is a saying, ‘don’t slap a smiling face.’
With Mr.
Tang expressing thus, Ning Fan could only agree.
So, Ning Fan decisively nodded and said, “Alright, then let’s chat.
You must have arranged the place already, right?”
“Of course, we can leave anytime,” Mr.
Tang nodded and said.
“Then let’s go now,” Ning Fan nodded.
It was just a casual chat anyway; the sooner it started, the sooner it would be over.
Since Xu Ruolan had to go to work, she naturally did not follow them.
Moreover, this kind of situation wasn’t really her business.
What surprised Xu Ruolan was how close Ning Fan had become with Mr.
Tang.
At first, Xu Ruolan thought that Mr.
Tang was here to pick a quarrel, but later she realized that he genuinely came just to chat with Ning Fan.
The two chatting like good friends was somewhat hard for Xu Ruolan to accept; why was Mr.
Tang so respectful towards Ning Fan?
Ning Fan and Mr.
Tang sat in the back seat of the car, merely exchanging some simple questions throughout the trip.
Mr.
Tang’s words were clever, seemingly intentionally and unintentionally probing into some of Ning Fan’s affairs.
But Ning Fan was an old hand in Jianghu, how could these little tricks escape him?
However, he didn’t point them out, ambiguously glossing over the questions without leaving a trace.
Mr.
Tang’s face remained smiling, but his heart grew increasingly shocked.
He even felt that the person sitting beside him and speaking wasn’t a young man, but a crafty fox like himself.
What kind of experiences could a young person have had to possess such a shrewd mind?
It must be said that in the short conversation in the car, Mr.
Tang’s understanding of Ning Fan had been thoroughly revised.
If previously Mr.
Tang’s attitude towards Ning Fan was solely based on Ning Fan’s mentor, Guiguzi, then this time, he truly saw Ning Fan in a new light.
Being accepted as a disciple by Guiguzi truly spoke to one’s exceptional nature.
Soon, the car stopped in front of a tea house.
Ning Fan knew that these older generations, especially those in the field of traditional medicine, were not drinkers or smokers but had a deep fascination with tea.
After entering, Tang had already reserved a private room, decorated elegantly with an ancient theme.
Without a doubt, the tea house was impressive.
Upon entering, the architectural style reminiscent of ancient times and the faint fragrance of tea lingering in the air made Ning Fan feel refreshed, and his whole demeanor seemed to rise significantly.
“This is a tea house I often visit, quite excellent,” Tang said proudly.
He usually made it a habit to invite some friends here.
“As one grows old, there aren’t many pursuits left.
The art of tea, which cultivates the mind and body, is truly excellent.
In the future, you should frequent this place as well,” Tang said as he opened the door and then went inside.
The servants had already been dismissed by Tang.
Indeed, such places were meant for cultivating one’s character.
Imagine leisurely savoring tea here, immersed in its ambience; having several stern-faced bodyguards around would simply ruin the atmosphere.
After the two were seated, Ning Fan noticed a Go board laid out in front of him and looked up in surprise at Tang.
“Do you play Go?” Tang asked.
“A bit,” Ning Fan nodded.
Tang’s interest was piqued, his eyes brightened, and he said, “Good, let’s have a couple of rounds.
These days, there aren’t many young people who know how to play Go.
It’s a valuable heritage that shouldn’t be lost.”
Ning Fan nodded in agreement, considering Go a means to cultivate both body and mind, but that was for ordinary people.
For a cultivator, it could also stabilize the mind in critical moments, and even help deal with inner demons significantly.
“Someone, bring over the top-quality tea leaves I left here last time,” Tang called to a server outside, then turned to Ning Fan, “Let’s chat while we play.
My good tea will be here soon, and I usually hesitate to drink it, but today is your lucky day.”
Tang’s demeanor and manner of speaking made Ning Fan very comfortable; it had been a long time since he had felt this relaxed.
He nodded, laughed heartily, and said, “That sounds good, today I will take advantage of your kindness, Old Tang.”
Having said that, the two set up their game, ready to begin playing Go.
Tang looked at the bowl of Go stones in front of him, thought for a moment, grabbed a handful, and hovered them above the board, then looked at Ning Fan.
“Odd,” Ning Fan casually said.
Tang’s eyes brightened, and he nodded slightly.
Indeed, from this point alone, Ning Fan’s understanding of Go was decent.
It is well known that this first move is called the choosing ceremony, to demonstrate fairness before the game starts.
The norm is for the senior, superior, or reigning champion to draw the stones, while the opponent guesses odd or even; guessing correctly allows taking the black stones, and an incorrect guess leads to taking the white stones.
After Ning Fan had spoken, Tang opened his hand, and the scattered stones showed an odd number.
Ning Fan smiled, took the black stones, but his first move was surprisingly placed in the bottom right corner of the board.