Chapter Thirty-Five: A Grand Gift

The Great South Gate was the southern entrance of County NC. Built along the Yangtze River, it preserved a stretch of ancient city wall several dozen meters long, with a flight of stone steps running up from the riverbank to the gate.

The wall was mottled with age, like a flicker of light and shadow, bearing witness to several centuries of NC’s history. Zhou Xuan remembered that only this year, a mark had been carved into the gate tower wall at a height of about one meter above the ground, recording the level reached by the highest flood tide of 1998.

Just as Zhou Xuan reached the South Gate, he saw a Range Rover emerge through the arched gateway. He was not familiar with vehicles and could not tell which model it was, but he did recognize the emblem. Still, a glance at the car’s shape told him it was an expensive luxury vehicle, far beyond what he could afford now.

At a glance, wasn’t the driver Deng Cheng, the only son of Deng Ting’an of the Blue Sky Group? In the front passenger seat sat Wang Ximing, the son of the provincial party secretary’s organization minister, and in the back sat Jiang Yun of the Jiang family from the capital.

At that moment Deng Cheng also spotted Zhou Xuan and quickly stopped the car in front of him, calling out, “Zhou Xuan, long time no see. Get in; let’s find somewhere to have some tea first.”

“Then let’s drive a few hundred meters down. There’s a place by the river called Out Beyond the Outer Building, and it’s fairly upscale.” After greeting Deng Cheng and Wang Ximing, Zhou Xuan opened the door and got into the back seat.

The moment he opened the door, Jiang Yun inside greeted him warmly. “Zhou Xuan, sorry about that. I should have come to thank you long ago for saving my life that day. But I only fully recovered a while ago, and then with the Spring Festival just behind us, my family was too busy, so it got delayed for so long.”

“Brother Jiang, you’re too polite. I said at the time that saving you was pure coincidence. It was simply that your time had not yet come. Maybe the rescue team would have found you the next day anyway. I merely happened to be there.” Though he had deliberately gone to save Jiang Yun, Zhou Xuan insisted on calling it an accidental rescue.

“Good! Since you say so, Zhou Xuan, then the four of us are brothers from now on. If there’s anything you ever need us to help with, don’t you dare be polite.” Jiang Yun was truly grateful to Zhou Xuan. If not for Zhou Xuan, he would have remained in Black Bamboo Gorge forever.

Anyone who has never faced death can never understand that kind of despair, when heaven will not answer and earth will not respond. At any rate, after experiencing it once, Jiang Yun never wanted to go through it again.

Jiang Yun had once been too extroverted and loved pushing his limits. After this ordeal, however, he had become much steadier. He also began to think more seriously about his future work, no longer willing to let his own recklessness cost him his life, break his parents’ hearts, or leave his family without an heir.

One could say that the incident had frightened the parents of the three men for days on end, but on the other hand, after tasting death once, the three had all grown noticeably more composed, which gave everyone great relief.

“Exactly! Zhou Xuan, from now on you’re one of us. If anyone dares bully you in the future, we definitely won’t let them get away with it.” Deng Cheng, with his easygoing and bold manner, said grandly.

“Mm. Zhou Xuan, a life-saving favor must be repaid in full. I’m sure you know our backgrounds aren’t ordinary, but we’re not some idle playboys. We’re all well-educated people and understand gratitude. Besides, I can tell you’re a very good person and worth befriending. From now on, we’re brothers. As long as it’s not illegal, we’ll never refuse.” Compared with Deng Cheng, Wang Ximing, who had already worked in the system for more than half a year, spoke much more steadily.

Seeing that his original plan had finally borne fruit, Zhou Xuan was also very pleased. Of course, he had no malicious intent in befriending the three; he merely hoped that in the future they could help one another and, within their power, provide cover for his own ventures.

Once their relationship grew closer, Zhou Xuan could naturally take them along in some business. With the memories of the future and the resources behind their families, he was certain he could help their clans grow even stronger and wield ever greater influence.

“Since the three of you value me, Zhou Xuan, so highly, then I won’t refuse. Thank you, Brother Jiang, Brother Wang, and Brother Deng, for your kindness. I’m afraid I’ll be troubling you all often in the future.” As Zhou Xuan’s words fell, the relationship among the four of them became noticeably warmer.

Of course, Zhou Xuan could not possibly imagine that merely by saving their lives, the three would become brothers to him. It was likely that some of his affairs had long since been known to them, and only then had they treated him with such sincerity.

By the time they reached the teahouse, Zhou Xuan led the three of them familiarly upstairs. It was a three-story building by the river, and half of the second floor was an open terrace, filled with potted flowers and plants, along with several tea tables and chairs.

Seeing the small garden screened by green trees and adorned with blossoms, Jiang Yun nodded. “Oh? The setting here is quite nice. Elegant and quiet, with the Yangtze River right there and the river breeze blowing through, while one looks across to the distant tower on the far hills. It has a flavor all its own.”

“Yes, the owner here is very interesting. He set up this little terrace. The tea here is also excellent, Brother Jiang, Brother Wang, Brother Deng. You should all try it properly later.” As they spoke, the four of them each pulled out a chair and sat down.

By then, the owner downstairs had already brewed the tea and brought it up.

Jiang Yun lifted the lid of his cup, and at once a delicate fragrance rose up, refreshing the soul. It was like the gentle warmth of spring in March, the scent of earth itself, with lush green all before one’s eyes.

He took a sip, smacked his lips, and smiled. “This is top-grade Emei Silver Needle, isn’t it?”

“Correct. I didn’t expect Brother Jiang to tell at a glance.” Zhou Xuan praised him. Zhou Xuan was not very knowledgeable about tea; to him, most of it tasted about the same, though he could still tell good tea from bad.

This one cup alone cost fifty yuan here; one had to know that the green tea and oolong tea at other nearby teahouses were only two yuan a cup.

The four chatted casually, and during the conversation Jiang Yun and the others also told Zhou Xuan about their family backgrounds in detail. Zhou Xuan naturally put on an expression of disbelief and great astonishment.

Their family backgrounds need not be mentioned again. Right now, aside from Wang Ximing already working in the provincial youth league committee, Jiang Yun and Deng Cheng had not yet formally entered employment.

Jiang Yun was the eldest of the three, and a graduate student in international economics and trade at Hong Kong University, due to graduate this year. After graduation, he would certainly go to work in the system; only the exact placement had not yet been decided.

Deng Cheng was also a senior at East Sea University, majoring in business administration. After graduation, he would return to work at Blue Sky Group so that he could later take over the family business.

As they talked, Deng Cheng took out a check and solemnly placed it on the tea table before Zhou Xuan. “Xuanzi, I know that just because you saved us, no amount of money can truly express it. But we also looked into your situation beforehand and know you need money right now. This is ten million, just a little token of our gratitude. Please don’t turn it down.”

Looking at the ten-million check in his hand, Zhou Xuan was utterly stunned. He had not expected that in thanks for saving their lives, they would actually give him ten million. One had to know that ten million now, if converted into the renminbi of twenty years later, was worth more than a hundred million of that time.

Should he take it or not? Zhou Xuan thought to himself.