“The higher-ups at Homer’s headquarter talked to me on the phone and said they wanted to meet you, Mr. Laine, and turn your relationship from one of enemies into one of friendship.”
Rowan said with a smile. There might not be many people in the world who could make Homer, a proud automobile company, how its head.
“I have some business to take care of in Swallow Capital for the time being and I can‘t leave. Plus, we don’t have any big grudges with Homer, so you can just talk to them. In the meantime, you can just run Lane Automotive without worries. If something goes wrong, I’ll back you up,” Jasper said in a flat tone.
“Okay, Mr. Laine, I’m relieved now that I have your word,” Rowan said with a smile on the other side of the phone.
After a brief conversation, Jasper hung up the phone. At this moment, Dean came back with a pot of fine tea. “Here, Mr. Laine, please enjoy.”
“Thanks.” Jasper took the dragon-patterned teacup and said suspiciously, “I remember that you didn’t like tea before.”
“Sigh, I don’t know why, but ever since grandpa passed, I started gaining an interest in tea. Maybe… I have been with my grandfather for a very long time and I’ve been influenced by him into liking tea.”
When Gale was alive, he liked to drink tea the most. Every time he talked to Jasper, he would always make two cups of tea. When Dean saw the tea, he would think of Gale. After all, he was not emotionless.
“I asked someone to buy this tea for me. Although it is very valuable, it is still far worse than the tea leaves that the old master collected. Even if it is the same leaves, the taste is always different.” Dean lowered his head to make the tea, his face looking like he was fondly recalling the past.
“Tea leaves absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, so they contain the essence of the sun and the moon. They are exposed to the Wind and the sun every day. After they are picked, they would be roasted. When drinking tea, you are not only tasting it, you also need to savor it and deliberate the taste over. and over again. Inside this little teacup are other things besides the sophistication of the world.”
Jasper looked down meaningfully at the tea leaves that had spread in the cup.
“Once upon a time, I also drank tea with Old Master Hurlbutt, but things are different now. The person who is drinking tea with me right now is you,” Jasper sighed and decided to not continue with this heavy topic.
Dean chuckled and his smile was laced with some sentiment. It was unknown whether he was missing Old Master Hurlbutt or if it was something else.
At this moment, a yell sliced the air and broke the silence in the room. “Open the door!”
Dean calmly went to open the door.
Outside the door were the experienced old foxes from Haddock Chamber of Commerce.
“Dean, how is it? Have you considered it thoroughly?”
The person in the lead was Rio Potter, who was in the lumber business. He was 58 years old, so he was considered the more experienced one in Haddock Chamber of Commerce.
Other than that, there were two more people behind him. One of those two was called Dio Potter, who was Rio’s brother. He was also in the lumber business.
The other man was named Jethro Meister, and he was in the tea business.
Back then, Rio had some authority in the Haddock Chamber of Commerce, but because he was scared of Old Master Hurlbutt, he rarely showed his face. However, after Gale passed away, Rio united his friends in the Haddock Chamber of Commerce and started getting restless. Come to think of it, Gale’s position in Haddock was unshakable. When he was alive, no one inside Haddock dared to cause trouble. However, the problems within Haddock were now exposed.
When Old Master Hurlbutt was alive, Haddock only looked peaceful on the surface. In reality, Haddock was never peaceful. Gale was very aware of this back then. Hence, when he abdicated his position to Dean, he told Jasper to help him out.
“Mr. Potter, you and the others should sit down first.”
After Dean opened the door, his eyes became shifty and he looked very nervous.
“Hmph, you’re still pretty respectful to your seniors.”
In the Haddock Chamber of Commerce, there was an unwritten rule. Those with less experience had to respect their seniors with more experience. However, Rio and others were deliberately bullying Dean on the basis of their seniority.
“Where’s the tea? Hurry up and bring the tea here.”
As soon as Rio sat down, he saw the empty teapot, which Jasper and Dean had finished an hour ago.
“Okay, please wait,” Dean responded. Then, he put in new tea leaves, filled the pot with water and pushed the teapot in front of the three of them.
“Why are you standing there? Pour us the tea!” Rio shot Dean an angry look.
From the moment they entered the door, they had been putting pressure on Dean.
At first, Dean was naturally nervous in front of these old foxes. However, after Jasper came to his house and he had understood what Jasper was trying to tell him, Dean’s face gradually turned cold. He understood that he needed to have the determination to not fall short before others could support him.
“Drink it if you want, but if you don’t want to, then forget it.”
Dean’s tone was cold and there was no expression on his face.
“Do you think you’re grown now? How dare you speak to me like that? Inside the Haddock Chamber of Commerce, the juniors need to serve tea to the seniors, don’t you know that?!” Rio roared, his face was equally icy.
“Potter, I’m already respecting you by addressing you as my senior. Don’t forget that I am the president of the Haddock Chamber of Commerce. I’ve never forgotten my manners as a junior since you stepped into my door. On the contrary, you’ve been taking advantage of your seniority and purposely inciting quarrels. What are your intentions?”
Dean’s eyes meet Rio’s.
“You still have the nerve to mention Old Master Hurlbutt? Look at what you’ve done to Haddock after you come into power! Listen here, Old Master Hurlbutt must have been blind to give you this position. In my opinion, only I can do a good job in this position.”
“Alright, enough nonsense. I’m asking you right now, are you going to give up your position?”
Rio was already a hot-tempered man, so he went into the topic immediately.
“No!”
Dean’s eyes looked resolute, and his face was icy.
