The Rich Man's Life Begins with a Comeback

Chapter 302 The Female Yama

The rain grew heavier, and streaks of rain dripped down the windowpanes.

The warm yellow light inside the room kept the twilight out of the window.

Qi Guowei looked at the three young men in front of him: one was his own son, one was the son of his old friend whom he had watched grow up as if he were his own son, and one was his godson who had risked his life to save his whole family. All of them were dashing and handsome.

Now that they are sitting together, how could he not feel a sense of great comfort?

Like father, like son; like brothers, like soldiers fighting tigers.

In this magnificent era, if the three brothers could work together and advance and retreat side by side, he could hardly imagine how high they could go in the future.

"Old Qi, what are you thinking about so happily over there?"

Didn't you say your old friend sent you some new Wuyi rock tea?

Where is Wuyi rock tea?

Tang Jinghui urged, "Hurry up and take it out so I can taste it."

"What's the hurry?"

"With your hippo-like mouth, giving you that drink would be like a cow chewing on a peony."

Qi Guowei snapped out of his daze, glanced at Tang Jinghui, and then slowly took out two small iron boxes from the drawer. They looked ordinary and there was nothing special about them.

"Uncle Qi, I'm the youngest here."

"Let me make the tea."

As soon as Qi Guowei opened a metal box, Gu Heng offered to help.

"Eh……"

"Xiao Gu, you are a guest, how can we let you come?"

Upon hearing this, Qi Guowei immediately waved his hand.

"Uncle Qi, didn't you just say that I should feel at home here?"

Gu Heng smiled and said, "Since we are at home, isn't it only natural for a junior to make tea and pour water for his elders?"

Facing this fierce tiger from Jilin Province, Gu Heng dared to be bold for once.

Because he was well aware that compared to someone like Qi Guowei, his wealth, assets, and status were essentially meaningless.

In other words, what Gu Heng currently possesses is not enough to make Qi Guowei look at him with respect. Perhaps only after Gu Heng completes the challenge of the third level of the [Golden Tower of Wealth], successfully obtains the task reward of the third level of the [Golden Tower of Wealth], and his wealth soars to the A11 level, will he be able to make Qi Guowei look at him with respect based solely on his status.

Under these circumstances, the only thing Gu Heng could offer Qi Guowei was the tea ceremony knowledge granted to him by the special item, the "Appreciation Card."

Now that Gu Heng has seized the opportunity, he naturally wants to cherish it.

"Good good."

"Then Uncle Qi won't argue with you anymore, you can come and do it."

Upon hearing Gu Heng's words, Qi Guowei had no choice but to put down the tea set he had just picked up. Otherwise, if he continued to insist, wouldn't it mean that everything he had just said to Gu Heng was just empty politeness?

He, Qi Guowei—

I hate people who are all talk and no action!

Seeing that Qi Guowei was no longer insisting, Gu Heng smiled at Qi Guowei and the others, then picked up the tea set on the table and skillfully began to work with it.

As the saying goes, a true expert's skill is immediately apparent upon their first move.

After Gu Heng made his move, Qi Guowei, Qiu Yanfeng, and the others immediately realized Gu Heng's extraordinary skill in the art of tea.

His natural and rhythmic movements were comparable to those of master tea masters who had been immersed in the art of tea for decades; it was not the kind of transcendent demeanor that a young man could exude.

Qi Guowei, Qiu Yanfeng, and Tang Jinghui exchanged glances, each seeing surprise in the other's eyes.

"Xiao Gu, did you have some knowledge of tea ceremony before?"

Qiu Yanfeng asked gently.

"I have done some research."

Gu Heng smiled shyly and responded modestly.

"Oh?"

"Being modest, is that it?"

"Then Uncle Qi will test you."

Qi Guowei held the iron box he had just opened in front of Gu Heng, and then asked with interest, "Tell me, what kind of tea is this?"

"The strands are tightly knotted and sturdy, with a bluish-brown color and a jewel-like sheen, like iron nails embedded in rock, and feel gritty to the touch."

As Gu Heng finished speaking, the boiling water was just ready. He immediately picked up the silver kettle and poured the boiling water into the covered bowl: "The soup was orange-yellow and clear like amber, and the aroma was like the distant, cool fragrance of moss and minerals on a rock wall."

"Uncle Qi, you're testing me with Wuyi rock tea, aren't you being a bit too lenient?"

As Gu Heng poured the first brew of clear tea for Qi Guowei and Qiu Yanfeng, he smiled and said to Qi Guowei.

"Wuyi rock tea is indeed world-renowned."

"Anyone who knows a little about tea can tell just by looking at it and smelling it."

"But it's extremely rare to see someone speak so eloquently as you do."

Qi Guowei could tell from the fragrant aroma of the tea that it was brewed perfectly without even taking a sip.

"Come……"

"Since you said I'd go easy on you, take a look at this."

Qi Guowei took the unopened iron box and gently pushed it in front of Gu Heng: "This rock tea variety is very rare."

Upon hearing this, Gu Heng raised his hand and opened it.

When Qiu Yanfeng and the other three heard Qi Guowei say it was rare, they all craned their necks to look over.

"The strips are tightly knotted and slender, with a dark green color tinged with brown, and the surface is covered with white frost like moonlight."

Gu Heng picked up a tea stalk and, almost without hesitation, gave his answer: "Uncle Qi, this should be the mysterious and rare variety of rock tea called 'Half-Heavenly Demon,' right?"

"Good boy!"

"You actually recognized it at a glance!"

Qi Guowei slapped his thigh, his eyes showing a hint of surprise.

He originally thought that even if Gu Heng was very powerful, it would take him some time and effort to recognize this extremely rare and mysterious species. However, he never expected that Gu Heng would recognize it at a glance.

"A half-demon?"

"Isn't that a chain grilled fish brand?"

Tang Ziheng blinked, asking with a slightly suspicious expression.

"Brother Heng, Bantianyao is one of the many types of rock tea."

Gu Heng explained with a smile, "Because its rock flower fragrance is as rich as orchid, and upon closer inspection, there is a blend of fruity and woody scents, and its cool floral fragrance is like a seductive enchantment, hence the name Half-Heavenly Demon."

"It seems that Xiao Gu really has a deep understanding of the tea ceremony."

As a learned man, Qiu Yanfeng was naturally a tea lover. Seeing that Gu Heng, a junior, had such refined tastes, he felt even closer to Gu Heng.

"Old Qi, you're not being fair!"

"You have such a good thing but you don't share it with us. You're keeping it from us!"

When Tang Jinghui heard Gu Heng describe the Half-Heavenly Demon in such a "strange" way, he immediately started to complain and began to "denounce" Qi Guowei.

"Go! Go! Go!"

"You don't even understand Wuyi rock tea."

"Besides, he's a half-demon, it's already generous of us to give him a drink, and you're still being picky."

Qi Guowei was furious when he saw that Tang Jinghui had actually made a move.

They were clearly two powerful officials in Jilin Province, but now they seemed like two old children, which made Gu Heng feel a little strange.

“Uncle Qi, the ‘demon’ in Bantianyao mainly lies in its aroma.” Gu Heng spoke again: “But how many people have been drinking Bantianyao for more than ten years, yet the taste they’ve tasted is never the true flavor of Bantianyao? In fact, what they’ve been drinking are all ‘half-asleep’ Bantianyao.”

"Oh?"

Qi Guowei became interested; even the old friend who gave him the tea had never told him about this.

Gu Heng further explained, "To fully bring out the unique fragrance of the Half-Day Demon, there are specific requirements for the brewing method. Even a slight difference in technique can result in a completely different aroma."

"Is it really that magical?"

Qiu Yanfeng also became somewhat interested and pressed Gu Heng for more information.

"Xiao Gu, since you've said that, you must know how to brew Bantianyao. Could you demonstrate it for us before dinner? I'm really curious now."

Qi Guowei pushed the iron box containing the Half-Heavenly Demon toward Gu Heng, looking at him with great interest. Gu Heng felt a sense of déjà vu from him, as if the Tiger King in an anime was curled up watching dragonflies playing in the water.

"Row."

Gu Heng didn't hesitate and started demonstrating immediately.

"Actually, the special requirements for a half-demon are very simple."

"There are only seven words: it can only be done with boiling water."

Gu Heng explained the process to Qi Guowei and the others as he operated the equipment.

"In addition, the boiling water must be poured directly onto the Half-Day Demon's ropes to ensure that the Half-Day Demon is evenly and thoroughly soaked by the boiling water."

"Even a slight difference in temperature or a drop in boiling water can drastically alter the aroma that the demon energy will release in the last half day."

At this point, the silver kettle on the table suddenly made a sound.

Without hesitation, Gu Heng picked up the silver kettle and poured the water over the half-day demon that he had just evenly spread around the inside of the covered bowl.

In an instant, a refreshing aroma burst forth from the gaiwan.

"Wow!"

"It smells so good!"

Qi Jiasheng took a deep breath and couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

"The difference really is that big!"

Qi Guowei also looked somewhat surprised: "Yesterday I brewed some Bantianyao tea at home. Although it smelled very good, it was nothing compared to the aroma of the tea that Xiao Gu is brewing now. There's no comparison at all."

"Little Gu, you're amazing!"

Seeing that Qi Guowei and Qiu Yanfeng, who both love tea, were so moved, Tang Jinghui immediately gave Gu Heng a thumbs up.

"What smells so good?"

As everyone was talking, Yao Qinyu, wearing an apron, came out of the kitchen. After arriving in the living room, she first sniffed and muttered a few words, then called out to Gu Heng and the others, "Xiao Gu, wash your hands, let's get ready to eat."

"it is good."

Gu Heng responded immediately.

Yao Qinyu looked at Gu Heng, who was handsome, refined, dignified, and polite, and she liked him very much no matter how she looked at him.

"We'll go over after we finish this cup of tea."

Qi Guowei replied to his wife.

"Then hurry up."

Yao Qinyu greeted them and turned to walk back towards the kitchen.

"Uncle Qi, your family has such a nice atmosphere."

Looking at Qi Guowei and Yao Qinyu's respectful and harmonious relationship, and then at the joyful scene before him, Gu Heng couldn't help but sigh from the bottom of his heart.

"It was only after your brother Sheng got married and had children, and your aunt Yao resigned from her original job, that the atmosphere at home gradually became like this. Otherwise, ask your brother Sheng how many times he could see me and his mother at the same time in the past. It was really rare."

"Even if we can see the two of us at the same time, it's usually in a rush. Let alone cooking for each other like we are now, even after the housekeeper has cooked the meal, the three of us don't have time to sit down and eat together."

Qi Guowei sighed softly and smiled at Gu Heng, "Don't let your Aunt Yao's current appearance as a housewife fool you. Back when she hadn't resigned from her original position and hadn't chosen to step down, she was a notorious female devil in the criminal division of our provincial high court. Over the years, countless vicious and ruthless thugs have been sentenced to death by her own hands."

"It sounds like my Aunt Yao is so cool."

As Gu Heng listened to Qi Guowei's description, the scene naturally came to mind, and he couldn't help but exclaim in amazement once again.

"Xiao Gu, do you know what your Uncle Qi and Aunt Yao have been arguing about all these years?"

Tang Jinghui chimed in at the opportune moment.

"Because of work?"

Gu Heng tentatively guessed.

"Yep!"

"It's because of work!"

Tang Jinghui chuckled and said, "When the two of them argue, eight out of ten times it's because of work, and the other two times it's probably just a topic of conversation related to work."

“I remember there was a case back then where your Uncle Qi advocated for the criminal to be sentenced to death immediately, but your Aunt Yao’s final judgment was a suspended death sentence.”

"After the verdict was announced, your Uncle Qi went straight to your Aunt Yao's office, and the two of them started arguing on the spot. The noise was so loud it shook the earth. Later, the news spread throughout all three of their systems."

When Qi Guowei heard Tang Jinghui bring up the old matter again, he realized that even after so many years, he still harbored resentment about it.

"Humph……"

"That beast should be executed immediately."

Qi Guowei sneered, "Back then, he murdered that girl in an extremely cruel way, and afterwards he used all sorts of cruel methods to destroy evidence. That girl was only 17 years old. In my opinion, giving him the death penalty immediately would be too lenient."

"You have a point."

"But the evidence you provided does have flaws."

Tang Jinghui shrugged.

"At that time, due to the limitations of technology, it was inevitable that there would be flaws."

“If there’s a problem, our technicians can explain it in court.”

Although Qi Guowei was still somewhat indignant, his tone had softened.

"You didn't see how much the girl's parents cried in the end."

Qi Guowei sighed, "You guys didn't see how they pointed their fingers at my little brothers and cursed them in the end. It was really frustrating."

"Eh eh eh..."

"Alright, alright."

"I was just being nosy; why did I bring this up with Xiao Gu for no reason?"

Tang Jinghui patted Qi Guowei on the shoulder and comforted him, "What's past is past. Whether you're in your line of work or ours, no one can be perfect. It's enough to have a clear conscience."

"Indeed."

"Don't be too hard on yourself."

Qiu Yanfeng also offered a timely reassurance.

Gu Heng sat on the sofa, somewhat bewildered, while Qi Jiasheng and Tang Ziheng remained silent. Clearly, they had heard adults talk about this matter countless times since they were children.

"Forget it."

"Let's not dwell on the past."

"The food is ready, let's go eat."

Qi Guowei's expression softened a bit, and he stood up from the sofa first: "Xiao Gu, try your Aunt Yao's cooking later. She used to be a good cook, but we were all busy back then and didn't have time to cook."

"Of course we have to try it."

"I could smell the fragrance as soon as I walked in."

Gu Heng stood up with the adults, and then everyone chatted and laughed as they walked towards the round table in the center of the restaurant...

(End of this chapter)