Chapter 47: Cheng Mo Pays a Visit

“Xiao, I know you don’t smoke, so I only brought you fifty cartons of various special supply cigarettes, just to keep at home for guests. When you’re running low, just have Steward Lu let me know, and I’ll send more over.” Tang Tianhao had indeed thought of everything—cigarettes as well as liquor.

“I’ll be heading back to Hanzhou in a few days. My father doesn’t smoke much, but he enjoys the occasional cigarette, so I can bring some back for him,” Xiao Yao accepted the gift without hesitation.

As a mid-level cadre in a state-owned enterprise, Xiao Zhenshan often had to entertain guests and attend various functions. Whether it was special supply liquor or cigarettes, bringing them out was always a mark of prestige. Though these things weren’t particularly valuable, Xiao Yao knew that as gifts for his father, they would surely make him happy.

“If Uncle Xiao enjoys the occasional smoke, I’ll prepare some more high-end special supply cigarettes before you leave. From now on, Uncle Xiao’s supply of fine liquor and cigarettes is on me,” Tang Tianhao naturally wouldn’t pass up the chance to curry favor with Xiao Yao’s elders.

“It’s nothing for you, just a few phone calls. In that case, I’ll gladly accept,” Xiao Yao took Tang Tianhao up on his offer.

The Maotai liquor in the car hadn’t even been fully unloaded when more visitors arrived.

Cheng Mo entered, accompanied by Li Jingyi. Seeing so many people busy at work, she approached Xiao Yao and asked, “Did you rob the entire Maotai distillery? Why did you bring in so much liquor?”

Before Xiao Yao could answer, Tang Tianhao replied, “Xiao likes Maotai, so I brought over a truckload. I didn’t realize you knew each other, Miss Cheng.”

Hearing this, Cheng Mo was genuinely surprised.

She did know Tang Tianhao, but not well—they’d only met a couple of times at gatherings, just enough to recognize each other by name, but had never truly interacted. Though the Cheng family was a powerful and discreet force in both political and business circles, they still couldn’t compare to the Tang family. For the proud young master Tang Tianhao to address the obviously younger Xiao Yao as “Brother Xiao” was astonishing.

There were only a handful of people in all of the capital whom Tang Tianhao would call “brother,” and every one of them was older than he. For someone younger to command that respect—so far as Cheng Mo knew, Xiao Yao was the first.

Cheng Mo had already been curious about Xiao Yao, whose collection of rare treasures seemed endless; now, her curiosity only deepened.

She truly could not imagine that there could be any scion in the country capable of outshining this blue-blooded son of the Tang family.

“Miss Cheng wanted to prepare a birthday gift for an elder in her family and bought a few jadeite ornaments from me. We’ve only just met, actually,” Xiao Yao explained simply. “It’s chaotic out here—let’s talk inside.”

Li Jingyi followed the trio, her face always set in a warm, friendly smile, though inside, she was anything but calm—she was, in fact, stunned. If she hadn’t already heard from her husband about Xiao Yao’s connection to the Tang family, and the fact that Tang Zhengshan himself had hosted the siblings for dinner, she would have found it hard to maintain her composure.

Though Tang Tianhao didn’t know her, as a renowned jewelry appraiser, Li Jingyi was familiar with many society ladies and certainly knew of the Tang family’s young master. If it were just a matter of Tang Tianhao associating with Xiao Yao, it wouldn’t have surprised her. But to see Tang Tianhao not only bring over a truckload of special supply Maotai for Xiao Yao, but also address him as “Brother Xiao” with the deference of a younger brother—this was truly shocking.

She could not imagine that there was anyone in the country for whom Tang Tianhao would willingly play the role of junior.

The three of them entered the small reception room, where Steward Lu brewed a pot of tea. Xiao Yao got straight to the point, “Miss Cheng, have you come today to collect the three jadeite pieces?”

“It was quite a lot of cash to prepare, so it took some time. I hope you’ll excuse me, Mr. Xiao. The funds are all ready, and I’ve arranged for the transfer. If you have no objections, I can send it to your account right now—is that alright?” Cheng Mo, worried that something might change, confirmed once more.

“It’s a done deal—of course there’s no issue. I’ll fetch the jadeite pieces for you right away.”

Soon, Xiao Yao returned with three brocade boxes.

Instead of handing them directly to Cheng Mo, he placed them in front of Li Jingyi. “These items are quite valuable. I’d like Teacher Li to verify them first.”

Li Jingyi did not stand on ceremony. As she took out her specialized tools, she said, “Miss Cheng certainly trusts Mr. Xiao, but the chance to personally examine jadeite of this caliber is just too rare to pass up. I’d like to have another look.”

Cheng Mo had never doubted Xiao Yao would try to swap the items; this was just standard procedure. While Li Jingyi conducted her appraisal, she said apologetically, “It seems I’ll have to miss out on Mr. Xiao’s ‘Nine Dragons Playing with Pearls’ jadeite bracelet. I mentioned it to my father, and he was interested, but after taking these three pieces, our family’s available funds are quite tight. There’s just no way we can afford that bracelet as well. Luckily my father never saw it himself; otherwise, he’d be agonizing over it.”

“No matter. I’m quite fond of that particular piece myself and was reluctant to part with it. Since you’ve decided, I’m spared the dilemma,” Xiao Yao replied nonchalantly.

Tang Tianhao was surprised to learn that Xiao Yao was selling jadeite pieces to the Cheng family.

He knew that Xiao Yao came from an ordinary background and guessed that these pieces must have been left to him by Old Zhao. Old Zhao had never sold jewelry to outsiders before—did this mean Xiao Yao was short on cash?

If that was really the case, he was more than willing to help. Whether he took the pieces himself or found a friend to do so, he had the means and resources to handle it.

He glanced at the three jadeite pieces Li Jingyi was appraising, each of them a rare, top-tier specimen on the market. If these were the things being sold, it would be a mutually beneficial arrangement.

With that thought, Tang Tianhao chimed in, “Even with your resources, Miss Cheng, you’re still hesitant? That ‘Nine Dragons Playing with Pearls’ bracelet must be something extraordinary. Brother Xiao, you can’t show favoritism—would you mind letting me see it?”

“It’s just a trinket. There’s no reason you can’t see it. Give me a moment, I’ll fetch it for you,” Xiao Yao replied.