In 1992, a small village owner became the richest man in the village by owning a car.

Chapter 186 Everyone has their own thoughts

Yu Dawei gripped the two seats in front of him with both hands and looked in the direction Brother Duan was pointing.

Beside the stone pillar at the very front of the guesthouse stood a man of short stature.

He was at least 1.65 meters tall, with a slightly raised nose, his hair parted in the middle, thick eyebrows, and a lean physique, making him look very steady and mature.

When the other person looked towards the door, they would subconsciously glance at their watch on their left. Once they finally spotted the three people's pickup truck, a warm smile spread across their face. They would extend their right hand to greet the group as they walked over.

"Brother Jun, it's been a while, you've gotten fatter!" Boss Liang parked his car against the wall, got out, and began to chat warmly with Deng Zhijun.

"Brother Liang, I've missed you so much! I heard you were coming, and I've already booked the biggest restaurant in Yushui County for you, as well as a guesthouse. Leave your luggage at the guesthouse, and I'll take you to my teahouse for morning tea first." After giving Boss Liang a big hug, the man named Deng Zhijun looked at Yu Dawei and Duan Dahai, "Brothers, I've also booked rooms for you. After morning tea, I'll take you to a restaurant at noon to try some Yushui specialties."

"Oh right, Brother Jun, I haven't had a chance to introduce you yet." Boss Liang pointed to the two men with his right hand. "This is Duan Dahai, and this is Yu Dawei. They are both my good brothers."

"My name is Deng Zhijun. Judging from my appearance, I'm a few years older than you. If you don't mind, call me Brother Jun, and we'll be like brothers." Deng Zhijun's face was beaming with a bright smile as he took out a pack of Zhonghua cigarettes from the black leather bag tucked under his arm.

"Thanks, Brother Jun." Seeing how enthusiastic the other party was, Brother Duan forced a smile and accepted the cigarette offered by the other party.

Yu Dawei smiled and waved his hand, saying, "I won't, I can't."

"It won't get better, it won't get better. Smoking this stuff too much will hurt my chest. I'm thinking of getting some imported good cigarettes to smoke in a while. I heard that foreign cigarettes have filters in the mouthpieces, they're so high-end." Deng Zhijun said as he took out a silver Zippo lighter.

"Don't just stand there, where's your luggage? I'll have someone bring it upstairs for you." Deng Zhijun glanced at Yu Dawei and Duan Dahai.

Upon hearing this, Boss Liang, with a cigarette dangling from his mouth, was about to climb into the car to unlock it and retrieve his luggage.

At this moment, Yu Dawei and Duan Dahai secretly exchanged a glance. Then Duan Dahai stepped forward and grabbed Boss Liang. He then looked at Deng Zhijun and smiled, "Brother Jun, we told you before we came that I would be responsible for your meals and accommodations this time. We have already caused you a lot of trouble. We can book the rooms ourselves. We can't let you spend any more money."

“Brother Duan, you’re being too formal. Coming to Yushui County means you’ve come to my territory.” Deng Zhijun said, then changed the subject, “Of course, since you three brothers have set the rules, I can’t break them, but I must treat you to this meal today.”

"Of course," Duan Dahai said with a smile as he stepped forward. "We'll need your help a lot this time."

"Don't mention it, we're brothers! Don't be so polite with me." Deng Zhijun reached out and patted the other man's arm.

The three then went to the Yushui Guesthouse, where they got a standard double room and added an extra bed, which served as their temporary accommodation.

However, the luggage that Deng Zhijun had been keeping a close eye on was not taken off the three men's pickup truck. After asking, he learned that all three men's suitcases were locked in the metal box behind the truck bed.

Deng Zhijun then withdrew his gaze and led the group away to his so-called teahouse for tea and snacks.

“Old Liang, it’s not that we brothers are trying to embarrass your friend, it’s just that the world is a dangerous place, and it’s always good to be careful.” Duan Dahai, sitting in the passenger seat, turned to Boss Liang and explained, “After all, you haven’t met him many times, and to be honest, that guy’s shady nature is a bit hard to see through.”

Duan Dahai's words were still polite, but according to his own thoughts, this person was obviously not a good person. His tone, demeanor, and behavior all made Duan Dahai feel deeply uncomfortable.

It wasn't that the other person's words were impolite; people from Northeast China don't care about such details. Rather, it was Duan Dahai's feeling about Deng Zhijun that was based on his experience in dealing with people over the years.

"Old Duan, I understand you. I haven't really had much contact with Brother Jun, so it's always good to be on the safe side." Boss Liang acknowledged part of Duan Dahai's reasoning, but also tried to save face for his friend. "However, you'll know after a few meetings. He's actually a very good guy, generous and magnanimous! Dawei, what do you think of Brother Jun?"

As Boss Liang drove, he glanced at Yu Dawei in the rearview mirror and said, "You haven't said much since you met Brother Jun'er, and you've been even quieter since you got in the car. What are you thinking about?"

"No, I just felt that the Santana he was driving looked familiar. Does this guy often go to the Northeast?" Yu Dawei curled up on the back seat with his back against the car door.

“Yes! But he doesn’t go often. He just has a temporary office in our county town. I heard he bought a two-story building. He rented out the downstairs to open a pharmacy, and used the upstairs as an office.” Boss Liang recalled, “Anyway, when he comes, he can stay in Northeast China for a month or half a month.” Yu Dawei’s eyes narrowed slowly. Although he was not sure about the idea in his mind, he had begun to have some doubts about this Brother Jun.

"Let's go to the teahouse later to learn about their business. After lunch, we can have them take us to see the cars. An afternoon is enough time to find out their background," Yu Dawei said, tapping his cheek with his index finger as he pondered.

"I agree with what Dawei said, Lao Liang, what about you?" Duan Dahai felt that Dawei's plan coincided with his own thoughts.

“I have no objection. It’s good to be cautious when you’re out and about. If we really offend someone, we can always apologize to them.” Boss Liang smiled at Duan Dahai and said, “I’m just afraid that you’ll run into a brick wall this time and end up having no face to beg them for help.”

“Not really. Even if this person doesn’t mean any harm, I don’t really want to associate with him. It’s too tiring to deal with someone who doesn’t know his own limitations.” Duan Dahai leaned back in his chair and turned his head away, saying, “It’s the same in life and in business: you should be close to virtuous people and stay away from petty people.”

"Fine, fine, you're the gentleman, and we're all scoundrels, okay?" Boss Liang rolled his eyes in annoyance, realizing he was getting a little carried away, and quickly changed the subject, "Hey Lao Duan, when did you get this skill? You're quite the smooth talker."

“Brother Liang, have you forgotten that Brother Duan has a special used book section in his yard?” Yu Dawei leaned on his two older brothers’ shoulders and said with a smile, “Don’t be angry. We’ll find out who they are in the end.”

Although Yu Dawei said this entirely out of a desire to comfort Boss Liang, he actually leaned more towards Brother Duan's opinion.

Firstly, Brother Duan has excellent eyesight and is very observant; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to turn the town's flour mill from loss to profit in just one year.

Secondly, there's himself. Compared to Brother Duan, he has more faith in his own judgment now. The other party's behavior, demeanor, and style of doing things are somewhat similar to that antique dealer from before.

Not only that, but the Santana the other party was driving looked exactly like the antique dealer's car to him. He just couldn't understand why the impounded car was in this person's hands.

Soon, the two cars arrived at a commercial street one after the other, and finally stopped outside the red-painted shop on the second floor. Three steps up were the glass doors, with a swallow-shaped eave above the doors. Between the first and second floors was a calligraphy-carved plaque with four characters: Mingyue Teahouse.

Upon entering the teahouse, on the left are various high-end packaged teas, including canned and tea cakes, while on the right are a dozen or so mahogany octagonal tables, with a grand master chair on each of the four sides.

Inside the room were three more women, all dressed in matching dark purple suits with red patterned scarves tied at the collar. One of them, the older one, was checking bills at the counter, while the other two were serving tea drinkers downstairs.

"Hello, Brother Jun'er." ×2
"Hello, Brother Jun!"

When the three women saw Deng Zhijun, they all looked up and greeted him warmly.

"Okay, get two pots of premium Longjing tea from private room 888 on the second floor." Deng Zhijun waved his hand dismissively, then turned to look at Boss Liang and the other two. "Go to the second floor, it's all private rooms."

Yu Dawei's eyes darted around, and he leaned closer to the other person, deliberately raising his voice a little: "Brother Jun'er, your teahouse is amazing! It has all kinds of precious teas, and the building is so big. Is this your own property or rented?"

Upon hearing this, both the customers drinking tea in the teahouse and the three women serving them looked at Deng Zhijun with some surprise.

Deng Zhijun's expression turned somewhat unpleasant for a moment, but he quickly recovered: "Little brother, there are still guests here. Let's go upstairs to talk, so as not to disturb them."

"Everyone, drink up." Deng Zhijun glanced subtly at the woman behind the counter. "Xiao Hong, put the bill for these two tables downstairs on my tab today. At least we've run into this boss."

"Okay, Brother Jun'er." The woman at the counter named "Xiao Hong" nodded, then took out her ledger and redrew it.

Deng Zhijun wanted to tell Yu Dawei in this way that because of his rude questioning, he, the boss, lost the cost of two tables of tea. So next time you ask questions, shouldn't you think twice before you speak?
Duan Dahai stood silently beside Yu Dawei, having taken in all the actions of the shop assistant and Deng Zhijun, and had made a certain judgment in his heart.

Mr. Liang was somewhat embarrassed at this moment. He didn't know why Yu Dawei, who was usually so clever, would suddenly say something like that.

But since he had initiated both sides, he could only put his arm around Yu Dawei's neck and smile at Deng Zhijun: "Brother Jun, Dawei is young and just came to join in the fun, please don't mind him."

(End of this chapter)