Chapter 140

In addition to tea, there were also many pastries in the tea house, most of which Xu Ran had never heard of the names before. He had no idea what those people liked to eat, so he picked up a few with fancy names. As for tea, Xu Ran prepared the good ones too. As the saying went, you couldn’t make an omelette without breaking eggs. Each person was connected with a group of people. It was vital to build a good interpersonal relationship.

Qin Shuwu must have sent out a lot of people to invite customers. Xu Ran hadn’t waited long in the tea house before Qin Shuwu with a group of people came in.

As soon as they entered, Xu Ran went up to greet them. “Brother Qin, fellow guys. I have booked the table. Come inside please.” Xu Ran made a standard inviting gesture. Because of his gorgeous look, none of these people entered the room without their eyes lingering on him for a while.

After they went in, Qin Shuwu first introduced Xu Ran and then introduced others one by one. Among these people, some were business friends with Qin Shuwu and some made acquaintance with him for other reasons. They usually had close contacts with each other, or else they wouldn’t have come at one summon from Qin Shuwu.

When everyone arrived, Xu Ran asked the waiter to serve pastries and tea. In fact, business people were not so particular about food. As long as the pastries were delicious, the look of them were insignificant. No matter the tea was expensive or not, the taste came in the first place.

The pastries that Xu Ran ordered quite catered to their appetite.

Someone even joked that maybe Xu Ran had inquired about their likes in advance.

Xu Ran smiled gently. “I really didn’t. To be precise, I should say that you haven’t allowed me the time yet. Today, I have hit the mark by a fluke. I have worried that you might dislike the food.”

“No, no, how can we dislike it? I heard that you are a scholar. You might be a high-ranking official in the future.”

When it came to this matter, Xu Ran himself hadn’t said anything before Qin Shuwu exposed him. “You could count more on his son than on him. The reason he wanted to be a scholar was to spare the taxes for his family’s farmland. He never thought about taking more exams to be an official.”

Others burst into peals of laughter when they heard Qin Shuwu’s words, but no one said that Xu Ran had a low aspiration.

As Qin Shuwu talked about it in front of so many people, Xu Ran was a little embarrassed. “I don’t have much ability and can’t be a government official, so I’m too lazy to go to the exam again.”

Someone nodded and said, “Brother Xu is a man of true disposition. Being an official isn’t that easy. It’s better to live a peaceful life as our ordinary people. Brother Xu, there’s no wine here. I’ll toast you with tea instead of wine. I just appreciate someone as true as you.”

“Come on, count me in.”

“Count me in.”

A group of people came to join them.

Xu Ran also drank up his tea freely.

After drinking, Qin Shuwu began to talk.

“Hey, hey, hey, I do not only invite you guys here for tea today. There’s a good stuff to recommend to you. Xu Ran, bring the chess over and show them.”

Xu Ran got up and took three chess sets over, which were respectively of large, medium and small sizes. Then he handed out to each of them an instruction booklet.

When they saw the chess on the table, they were curious. “What is this? Wu, what did you just call it? Chinese chess?”

Qin Shuwu nodded. “It is called Chinese chess. It is a plaything devised by Xu Ran, which my dad and daddy have played long time ago. I can’t introduce clearly. Let Xu Ran explain to you in details.”

Xu Ran opened the smallest chess set and began to introduce the chess pieces inside, including the role of each piece and the rules of moves on the chessboard. At the same time, they combined what he taught with the content of the booklets.

As the saying went, the businessmen were all cunning. As businessmen, these people naturally had something up their sleeves, and they had wonderful comprehensive ability. After Xu Ran explained once, plus referring to the booklet, they could basically grasp its gist.

Qin Shuwu knew how to play chess, although his chess skills were not very good.

Xu Ran and Qin Shuwu played a round on the spot to give them a demonstration. Those who were originally interested were more intrigued now.

Xu Ran said, “Do you want to try, too? One round won’t take you too long. Just take it as a practice.”

After Xu Ran said this, someone immediately answered, “I’ll have a try. Wu, I’ll play with you.”

Under the other people’s gaze, the two started their battle.

This person was indeed unfamiliar with it and made many wrong moves. Xu Ran gave him advice and explained the reason of moves. In the end, this guy unexpectedly beat Qin Shuwu.

Qin Shuwu’s expression was not very good and he kept staring at Xu Ran.

Xu Ran shrugged his shoulders innocently. He was just giving advice, instead of joining in. Thus the blame could only be laid on his own skills.

Qin Shuwu quit playing after two rounds and let the rest of them play. When it was about time, Qin Shuwu reminded them.

“It’s late today. Xu Ran’s kid is no more than one month old. He needs to go back home to look after the baby. You can go home to play chess. If you are not clear about the rules, you can read the booklet, or go to my house to ask my dad and daddy, who are much more proficient than you.”

“Wu, since you have said so, can we each get a chess set? I don’t think you have many here. Do you have enough for us all?”

Qin Shuwu said, “Yes, yes, just for you several guys, I surely have enough.”

“Xu Ran had intended to make this stuff for sale. Only because you are my buddies, I introduced it to you first. Spring Festival is coming soon. While relatives get together, the chess can be used either as a gift or a plaything. I didn’t produce a lot at present. If you want it, tell Xu Ran immediately, he will spare one for you.”

Xu Ran stood aside smilingly. Then he took out several identical chess sets, and gave one to each of them.

After they took the sets, someone began to ask the price. Xu Ran said, “You are friends of Qin. This chess is a gift for everyone. I will expect and appreciate your favor in the future.”

The person closest to Xu Ran patted him on the shoulder. “You are a smart guy, but I definitely can’t take this stuff for free. If you will give it to us at a better price, we will accept gladly. However we cannot take it for free.” Then he made a gesture of putting the chess set back on the table.

To business people, they adhered to give-and-take policy, and no one wanted to owe anyone else.

Xu Ran hurriedly stopped him, “Don’t say it like that. Fine, I had planned to sell one tael of silver for each set. How about selling you at the half price?”

The man nodded. “OK, half price will do. Do the math. How much are these? I’ll pay them all.”

Xu Ran counted the price and the man paid it the right amount of money on the spot.

At last, he asked Xu Ran to make a few more sets for him, saying that they would serve as new year gifts.

Xu Ran agreed with a smile, “No problem. I’ll put them in Qin’s place. You can ask for them from Qin.”

“Good, good.”

Xu Ran paid for the tea. Then the group of people left the tea house merrily.

Compared to the group who wore exquisite clothes, Xu Ran, who was carrying a packbasket on his back, looked a little like a country folk with the face of a city resident, which was very contradictory.

Xu Ran himself did not know it.

When they came out of the tea house, it was really late. Even if Xu Ran drove the carriage back, it would be dark too.

Xu Ran put all the chess sets he brought with him in Qin Shuwu’s place. “Brother Qin, I leave these chess sets here. The price is one tael of silver for each. I will go back today and come again tomorrow.”

Qin Shuwu nodded. “Alright. Be careful on your way back.”

“OK, I have occupied you for so long. Brother Qin, you can leave me alone!”

After Qin Shuwu saw Xu Ran off, he went back to the store to settle the account.

Before Xu Ran drove back home, he went to purchase some goods for Spring Festival. As to Du Xin, he didn’t think of going to see him at all. He only thought about if when he was halfway home.

Since he had been halfway from home, there was no reason to turn back!

So Xu Ran kept going forward.

When he got home, it was already dark, just in time for dinner.

At the dinner table, Tangtang, Guoguo and Xu Ran had a good conversation of sons and father. Recently, his attention was all on little Baozi and neglected them.

Tangtang and Guoguo were as lovely and obedient as always. Now they could run more and more laps in the morning, getting familiar about the whole back hill.

Xu Ran didn’t expect them to be very powerful. As long as they were able to protect themselves, it would be fine. A strong body was their elementary asset.

Xu Ran thought that it was about time to celebrate the new year, and that he had to send Tangtang and Guoguo to school after the Spring Festival, about which he hadn’t told them. Thinking about it, Xu Ran wanted to inquire about their opinions.

“Tangtang,Guoguo, you will be seven years old next year. Do you want to go to school?”

The two kids nodded. “Yes, Dad.”

“After Spring Festival, you should go to school in the village. Maybe not much, you can always learn something. Especially Tangtang, since you love studying, you should study hard. If Fuzi in the village can’t teach you much, I will send you to the town school.”

Tangtang and Guoguo nodded. “Okay, we will follow Dad’s arrangement.”

Although his goal was achieved, Xu Ran felt that the two kids were too obedient and had no sense of achievement at all. Somehow, he was a little upset.

When he sent the food to Liu Tong after dinner, he asked Liu Tong, “Tongtong, do you think Tangtang and Guoguo are too obedient?”

Liu Tong looked up at him and said, “Isn’t it a good thing to be obedient?”

Xu Ran frowned. “Yes, it is. But they are too obedient. They don’t look like children at all. I hope they can be more lively, just like little Baozi.”

Liu Tong suddenly smiled. “You don’t know that they were more troublesome than little Baozi when they were babies. If they were to cry, they would cry together. You should be content. If they are really not obedient, you’d probably be even more depressed.”

Xu Ran thought about it, so it was better now.