As soon as Song Mingzhang entered the tea house, he noticed the changes inside.
"Reporting to Master Song, I was swindled..."
Cai Chao ca out to greet him and said, "The tables and chairs before were all made of Curved Wood, placed for so long... It really made a laughingstock of us!"
Song Mingzhang burst out laughing upon hearing this and patted Cai Chao’s shoulder, "You finally discovered it."
"Three years ago when you purchased them, I already noticed. However, at that ti, the Curved Wood hadn’t lost its Spiritual Qi and wasn’t much different from Spirit Pattern Wood. It was fine to let you use them for free for a few years before telling you. Wouldn’t that be a good way to return the goods... Ha ha, I didn’t expect you to find out yourself."
Cai Chao said, "It wasn’t who found out; it was a fellow Daoist who inford ..."
"Oh? A Daoist friend? Do you also have friends in the wood business?"
"Not at all, this fellow Daoist isn’t a lumber dealer, just soone with a passion for reading..."
He imdiately narrated the entire story.
Song Mingzhang was astonished.
The difference between Curved Wood and Spirit Pattern Wood can only be discerned by an old hand in the wood business for decades.
Song Mingzhang knew because of his extensive knowledge and ability as an Artifact Evaluator.
But now, an obscure person actually possesses such insight.
That’s quite rare.
"Where is this person?" he inquired.
"Fellow Daoist Zuo hasn’t co for several days. Master Song, would you still like ’Celestial Yang Tea’ today?"
"Hmm."
Cai Chao imdiately went to personally brew the tea.
...
After seven or eight days, Li An ca to the tea house again.
Cai Chao, bored inside, ca out to chat with Li An. After this incident, the two’s relationship suddenly beca closer.
Cai Chao ntioned the matter of Song Mingzhang, and Li An was overjoyed, "You know Master Song?"
"That’s great... Brother Cai, could I ask you for a favor?"
"Brother Zuo, please go ahead,"
Li An said, "I wish to purchase two books from Master Song. He must have them in his collection."
Cai Chao’s brow imperceptibly twitched; Zuo Wen wants him to help buy books?
Because Song Mingzhang frequently visits the tea house, many who seek sothing from Song Mingzhang co here too; he has seen many!
Could it be that Zuo Wen ca to the tea house just to get close to Song Mingzhang?
But it shouldn’t be... after all, Zuo Wen has been around for more than a year already.
Who would wait so long when seeking help?
"What books does Brother Zuo wish to purchase?" he inquired.
"One ’Pill Discussion’ and one ’Grass Recognition Skill.’ I’ve searched throughout Celestial Yang City yet found nothing, thinking that perhaps only a renowned figure like Master Song might have them in their collection..."
"If this master is unwilling to sell, I am willing to borrow them!"
Cai Chao nodded, "Alright, I’ll give it a try."
...
A few days later, when Song Mingzhang ca for tea, Cai Chao ntioned the matter.
Song Mingzhang was slightly pensive.
Many who approach him do so because of his status as an Artifact Evaluator, pretending to be "book lovers" in order to learn from him and thereby get close.
"Enough, you seldom do favors for others, so I cannot refuse you these two books. I’ll lend them to him for a month, no need for Spirit Stones."
"Ha, the knowledge in these two books isn’t sothing the average person can comprehend!"
...
After so ti, Li An went to the tea house, and Cai Chao imdiately approached him with a smile: "Brother Zuo, you should treat to drinks!"
He produced the two books, indeed, they were Pill Discussion and Grass Recognition Skill.
"Master Song said these books are already out of print, only a few artifact evaluators at the Treasure Pavilion still have them. You’ve indeed found the right person!"
"His honored self said you may borrow them for a month."
Li An was ecstatic and said, "Don’t worry, Brother Cai, I won’t need a month, ten days... no, three days, Zuo Wen needs only three days!"
...
Back ho, Li An worked tirelessly without sleep or rest.
Three days later, he indeed returned the books.
...
When Cai Chao returned the books to Song Mingzhang, Song Mingzhang was quite surprised that Zuo Wen had only looked for three days?
He leafed through the pages, finding his bookmarks and such left untouched, and the book pages scarcely showed signs of being turned.
"A lover of reading?"
He couldn’t help but chuckle, recalling Cai Chao’s previous assessnt of the person.
It seems he was right, rely a trick to get close?
He read and then retreated after realizing the difficulty?
He shook his head and let it go.
Cai Chao saw Song Mingzhang’s smile and suddenly realized; indeed, he had guessed correctly—Li An approached on purpose...
Afterward, Cai Chao’s attitude towards Li An suddenly turned cold, especially when he learned that Li An was eagerly inquiring about Song Mingzhang’s situation from Xiaochen, prompting him to sneer.
Yet Li An continued visiting for tea and reading as before, undeterred by Cai Chao’s change in attitude.
In fact, he had long since learned everything about Song Mingzhang.
But he wouldn’t hurry; the other party clearly thought of him as just another sycophant.
Patience was needed, using it to distinguish himself from the others!
...
Just like this, four more years passed!
On this day, Li An was drinking tea as usual and had Xiaochen request a eting with Cai Chao.
When Cai Chao heard the report from Xiaochen, he was montarily stunned, he had completely stopped paying attention to Zuo Wen over the years and had almost forgotten the person.
Four years ago, it seed this fellow devised a sche to try getting close to Song Mingzhang through him...
In a blink of an eye, Zuo Wen had persisted in reading at the tea house for five years??
He suddenly doubted himself, had he misjudged back then?
He had seen too many trying to get close to Song Mingzhang, but who could persevere for five years?
Moreover, during this ti, apart from borrowing those two books back then, Li An had no further interaction with Song Mingzhang.
He pondered for a mont, then imdiately stepped out:
"What important matter has Fellow Daoist Zuo called upon for?"
He smiled warmly.
Li An said, "I wish to ask Fellow Daoist Cai for a favor."
"Please go ahead, Daoist."
Li An, neither haughty nor humble, said, "I received Master Song’s kindness in borrowing books four years ago. I heard that Master Song’s granddaughter suffers from the ’Yin Erosion’ disease. Recently, Zuo has gained much from reading and thought of a good redy, which might be useful for Master Song’s granddaughter."
He took out a package of Spirit dicine and handed it to Cai Chao, "This is the dicine I’ve prepared, and here’s the origin of the prescription as well. Please present these to Master Song."
"I would be imnsely grateful," said Li An.
Cai Chao was montarily stunned—curing Master Song’s granddaughter?
Master Song, an Artifact Evaluator, had invited countless experts over the years, yet none could cure his granddaughter Song Anning’s illness. Could Li An?
"Fellow Daoist Zuo, why don’t you present it to Master Song yourself?" he asked.
Li An smiled, "Master Song is a distinguished individual. Zuo, being a humble cultivator, feels unworthy. I only wish to express my gratitude without causing annoyance—"
Cai Chao said, "Alright, I’ll make sure to pass it on to Master Song on your behalf."
After so polite exchanges, Li An took his leave.
...
Soon after, when Song Mingzhang ca to the tea house, Cai Chao presented Li An’s items:
"Elder Song, there’s a joke I must tell you..."
"Do you rember Zuo Wen from four years ago?"
"He said a few days ago that he devised a formula to cure Miss Anning’s illness. Truly, it’s laughable..."
Song Mingzhang, curious, picked up the dicine and examined it carefully, then took up Li An’s handwritten prescription. Seeing the neat, elegant handwriting on it, he was montarily taken aback:
"A joke?"
"This is no joke... This is sothing that could save my granddaughter’s life!"
He suddenly stood up, grabbing Cai Chao, "Where is this Zuo Wen???"
...
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