He won 900 million in the lottery.

It was just a quiet meal.

Zhang Xingxing and Chen Yuanyuan were a couple deeply in love, and I felt as if the scene of her serving food to Wu Lei that night was just a figment of my imagination.

We've almost finished eating.

Me: "The payment for the aerospace construction project has already been made. I'd like to thank Dean Wu. Mr. Chen, do you have any suggestions?"

Chen Yuanyuan: "Didn't you know that Dean Wu loves tea?"

Me: "Thank you."

After lunch, I left immediately. I couldn't stay and be a third wheel during our precious time together.

As for why I didn't give Chen Yuanyuan any benefits?

Firstly, the main participants in this aerospace construction project were Wu Lei and Chen Hangtian.

Secondly, besides the mobile phone procurement project for the procuratorate, Chen Yuanyuan and I also have many opportunities to interact later on, including with HW agents.

Thirdly, the profit margin is too thin, so it's unnecessary. Things shouldn't go beyond three times; generally speaking, a project only needs to go through one or two intermediaries. Going through a third intermediary means either being ripped off or being fleeced.

At 6:30 p.m., Chen Yuanyuan met me downstairs at the company as agreed. I was carrying a paper bag containing a teapot that I had specially gone to buy that afternoon. It was so big that it couldn't cover my palm!

It's that small, only 2000!

Damn, the cheap stuff is really cheap, and the good stuff is really expensive.

By the way, the 2000 level is only considered lower-middle.

Because someone invited me, they didn't mention where we would eat.

Once we were in the car, I asked, "Where are we going to eat?"

Chen Yuanyuan: "North Ring Road".

The North Ring Road is on the edge of the city, with farmhouses and guesthouses, but mostly factories.

I didn't ask any more questions.

Half an hour later, we arrived at the location, a landscaping company. The metal gate was open, and we drove straight in.

It was getting dark, but I could still tell that the surrounding area was planted with fruit trees.

Chen Yuanyuan: "We've arrived."

Entering the courtyard, you quickly arrive at your destination. Behind the fruit grove, a row of small buildings appears out of nowhere—two buildings, each with two floors.

I got out of the car and looked around: "This is a paradise."

Chen Yuanyuan smiled: "Everyone who comes here says that. Please."

Chen Yuanyuan was in front, and I followed her to one of the buildings and pushed open the door to go inside.

My first thought was that this was much more upscale than the one Chen Sheng and I had set up; this was more like a club.

The first impression is that it's high-end; all the furniture is Chinese style, and there's even a water feature on the tea table.

High-end, but not luxurious.

At this moment, Chen Hangtian came down from the second floor: "President Shen is here. Dean Wu is next door. He'll be right over. Let's have some tea first."

Me: "Okay."

Chen Hangtian sat to the side, I sat opposite him, and Chen Yuanyuan sat in the main seat making tea.

Judging from Chen Yuanyuan's movements and the skill with which she handled the tea leaves, this must not be her first time here.

I broke the silence first: "Mr. Chen, the environment here is really nice."

Chen Hangtian: "It's alright, I just picked someone else's peaches. Yuanyuan, have you told the kitchen to start cooking?"

While brewing tea, Chen Yuanyuan replied, "I informed them when I entered."

Chen Hangtian nodded: "The former head chef of Liancheng Hotel, I poached him. After all, it's usually the leaders who come to eat, so his cooking skills can't be bad."

Chen Hangtian's words conveyed a message.

Given his rank, the leaders he speaks of must be different from the leaders Chen Sheng speaks of.

Chen Sheng, an ordinary person, hitched a ride on the coattails of Director Zhang (the deputy director in charge of business) of the district education bureau. Most of the people he could get to know were staff members within the system, at most deputy-level officials, or deputy section chiefs.

For Chen Sheng and me, this is indeed the ceiling for ordinary people, but it's not enough to attract business for the government. Even if we encounter good business, it's probably just scraps that slip through the fingers of someone like Chen Hangtian.

Me: "Thank you, Mr. Chen, for thinking so highly of me. Otherwise, I might never have been able to come to this place in my entire life."

Chen Hangtian: "President Shen is joking. With your abilities, it's just that you're usually too low-key. To be honest, we young people should be more assertive. Being too low-key isn't a good thing."

Me: "It's tough without anyone backing you up."

Chen Hangtian: "President Shen, what are you saying? Since we're all here, aren't we all from Institute Wu's circle? Let's have some tea."

Me: "Oh, you really have to be given this opportunity by President Chen."

I picked up the tea and took a sniff. It had a familiar, rich, and lingering aroma of sandalwood.

My eyes lit up, and I took a sip: "Golden Buddha? Good tea."

Chen Hangtian was surprised: "President Shen knows about tea?"

I quickly waved my hand, explaining that the golden Buddha was brought back from Shanghai and that I had only recently tasted the tea, which was why I was familiar with its flavor.

When it comes to the art of tea, one must either know a little or not, and not speak carelessly. Otherwise, if a real discussion ensues, one's explanation will be incoherent and make one a laughingstock.

Me: "I came back from Shanghai a while ago with some tea, specifically the Golden Buddha variety. But when it comes to tea knowledge, I'm far from being an expert."

Important people like us pay attention to details. My two sentences changed the way Chen Hangtian looked at me.

I also have my own thoughts. It's good to want to get close to the Brahman family, but I can't be their lackey. Today I really have to have a good go at Chen Hangtian.

Chen Hangtian: "President Shen is joking."

Drink tea.

Good tea, the first brew, is like a resurrection.

The first three soups are worth savoring slowly. Don't rush to speak, and by the way, let's also enjoy Wu Lei's soup.

Less than 10 minutes.

Wu Lei came in through the door. Before he could speak, Chen Hangtian, Chen Yuanyuan, and I stood up first.

"Professor Wu."

Wu Lei: "Sit down, let's drink for a few more minutes."

It seems Wu Lei really loves tea; the chefs over there have already started serving dishes over here.

There's a large inner room next to the living room, big enough to seat five or six people.

Chen Hangtian: "Uncle, President Shen is no ordinary person. Just like you, he can tell the difference between tea leaves with a single sip."

Wu Lei turned his gaze to me.

I stood up: "It was just a coincidence."

Wu Lei: "Even so, it's still pretty good. Nowadays, young people drink tea like water, they don't understand it and they don't know how to appreciate it."

At this moment, Chen Yuanyuan stood up and said, "Director Wu, President Shen brought you a gift today. I'll go get it."

See, that's what it means to be sensible and perceptive.

If I suggested this gift myself, that's fine. But if Wu Lei is satisfied, it will make me seem like I'm being unnecessary.

Chen Yuanyuan brought it up for me, and the timing was perfect. It showed that I was sincere and not impatient.

Soon, Chen Yuanyuan brought over the gifts.

Wu Lei's side opened it and saw that it was a teapot for playing with, which obviously caught his eye.

Wu Lei: "Yuanyuan, prepare a special teacup for President Shen."

There were about six or seven rounds of tea.

Chen Hangtian: "Uncle, all the dishes are served."

Wu Lei: "Let's go eat."

Become!

I've finally integrated into this circle today. Now, what kind of status will I be given at this next meal?

But I really didn't expect Chen Hangtian to give me such a surprise and gift.

Speaking is an art; one cannot be always low-key, nor can one be always high-profile. Speak to people in their own way, and to others in their own way. To build rapport, you must say what they want to hear.