Seeing Father Lin holding a large tin bucket in his hand, Chen Tianpeng, who had already stood up, couldn't help but ask in confusion:
"Xiao Lin, is this the bucket you were talking about? Wow, good heavens, this is really a bucket! This one bucket must be at least two or three catties, right?"
"Haha, exactly three catties. Oh, I won't lie to you, it cost 1,400 yuan, and 1,000 yuan of it was my 'private stash' I saved over a few months!"
Hearing Father Lin's joking words, the discomfort that had originally lingered in Chen Tianpeng's heart disappeared, and he immediately thought about his own family's situation and burst into laughter as well.
At 1,400 yuan for three catties, this means it's just over 40 yuan for one liang of tea leaves, a price that's completely acceptable.
"Haha, that's the same for all of us, so I won't be polite with you. Coincidentally, I have an old friend coming over soon. He's quite passionate about tea, and your tea is tastier than mine, so I'll let him have a taste later."
Seeing the bucket of tea leaves being brought out by Father Lin, Chen Tianpeng no longer stood on ceremony, casually picked up the small tea box with one liang inside, and returned to his office with a chuckle.
Just two hours later, while Father Lin was in the office working on production drawings, someone suddenly pushed open the office door. Right after, Chen Tianpeng, who had just chatted with him in the morning, stepped in, bringing along an elderly man in a traditional Tang Suit.
Seeing this, Father Lin quickly set aside his work and stood to greet him, but before he could speak, Chen Tianpeng, looking quite displeased, opened his mouth:
"Lin Jianguo, what are you up to!"
Chen Tianpeng's tone was very hostile, and while speaking, he thumped a small can of tea onto Father Lin's desk.
Lin Jianguo was suddenly left at a loss, unsure of what madness his superior was driven to.
Seeing Father Lin's innocent expression, Chen Tianpeng became more irritated and pointed at Father Lin as he questioned:
"Lin Jianguo, explain this tea to me! Explain how this is the tea you bought for 1,400 yuan for three catties??"
"It is, isn't it? I just bought it yesterday, right? Is there some spoiled tea in it? It shouldn't be, I just packed it this morning!"
Looking at the cup of tea on the table he had brewed in the morning but forgotten to drink due to being busy, even someone as sharp as Father Lin still couldn't figure out what on earth Chen Tianpeng was trying to stir up.
Seeing Father Lin look so innocent, Chen Tianpeng himself began to doubt. Xiao Lin didn't seem to be lying, did he? Could it be that Lao Wang made a mistake?
Thinking this, Chen Tianpeng glanced at the old man in the Tang Suit beside him, his eyes full of inquiry, as if asking if he had made a mistake.
The Tang Suit old man, however, simply shook his head with a resigned smile and directly spoke, "Haha, Xiao Lin, is it? You said you bought three catties for 1,400 yuan. Can you show me the rest of the tea leaves?"
Upon hearing these words, Chen Tianpeng nodded along. Lao Wang's method might work. If according to Lao Wang's earlier judgment, this tea was definitely top-notch Imperial Qian Longjing, then it simply wouldn't be possible to have said three catties.
If he couldn't produce the rest of the tea leaves, then it would indicate that this kid had been performing all along, and his acting was good enough that it was hard for him to call it a lie.
If it turned out that Lin Jianguo intentionally bought this million-yuan tea to bribe him, then it could be surmised that this kid was eyeing the director's position. However, if that were true, he'd be making a big mistake.
As Chen Tianpeng brainstormed in his head, Father Lin was completely speechless. Isn't this just giving some tea leaves? Even if it's not good, do you really have to confront me? If you don't like it, just toss it away...
Even though he was a bit upset inside, he had no other choice; after all, the other party was his superior.
Thinking this, Father Lin simply got up and took the tea bucket out of the cabinet again.
This scene made Chen Tianpeng's corners of the mouth twitch uncontrollably. This rascal was really using this bucket again to deal with him. He should have just opened it in the morning.
In Chen Tianpeng's mind, there was no way he'd believe the tea leaves inside this bucket were the same as the one liang of tea he was given.
"Haha, it's all here, President Chen, but there's not much left now. I drank a bit last night, and my wife took more than a jin to make tea eggs this morning..."
Hearing this, not only did Chen Tianpeng, but even Wang Lao beside him almost fell over. Is this something a person would say? If it were truly all Imperial Qian Longjing inside, and you used more than a jin to make tea eggs? Are your tea eggs made of gold??
Of course, they didn't really believe the tea in there could be top-notch Imperial Qian Longjing.
Not responding to Father Lin, Chen Tianpeng directly reached out, took the tea bucket from Father Lin's grasp, and sat down on the sofa in a huff, placing it on the coffee table before reaching to open the bucket's seal.
As soon as the lid was opened, a unique fragrance of tea leaves wafted out.
Wang Lao, who had moved in to take a closer look, sniffed with his nose, feeling puzzled. 'Hmm? This scent seems a bit off!'
Thinking this way, Wang Lao simply snatched the tea bucket from Chen Tianpeng's hand and looked inside, at which point his heart skipped a beat!
Simultaneously, he couldn't help but take a sharp breath:
"Hiss! How, how is this possible!!"
Seeing his old friend's expression, Chen Tianpeng curiously looked into the tea bucket, immediately revealing the half bucket of tea leaves inside to his view.
"Hmm? What's inside is the same as what's in that small box?? Haha, made a mistake, didn't you, Lao Wang? I said Xiao Lin wouldn't engage in such opportunistic schemes."
Seeing the tea leaves in the bucket indeed matching those in the small box, Chen Tianpeng visibly relaxed and turned to Father Lin with a slightly embarrassed smile:
"Sit down, Xiao Lin, don't take it to heart. This old man came over, and when I served him the tea you gave me, he insisted it was some top-notch Imperial Qian Longjing.
He was adamant, telling me it has a price but no market, claiming that the one liang you gave me was worth at least four million!"
Upon hearing this, Father Lin realized what was going on. It turned out Chen Tianpeng thought he was trying to bribe him, which really was a misunderstanding. Although he did indeed desire that position, he would never resort to underhanded means.
[To be continued....]