Chapter 46: A Visit to Chen Lao

Lu Chen put down the newspaper, got up, and had a meal with Shen Wanyu.

Only then did he return to the bedroom, take a shower, and change back into a suit.

He stood before the full-length mirror and straightened himself up.

"Let's go."

After going downstairs, Lu Chen nodded slightly toward Butler Wang.

Butler Wang drove personally, carrying Lu Chen as they headed toward Chen Lao Zhuangyuan.

Lu Chen flipped through the documents Shen Wanyu had organized while in his seat, a flash of sharp light appearing in his eyes.

He then frowned, his fingers tapping incessantly on the seat, crossing his legs unconsciously, and even taking a 555 cigarette from his pocket to light it.

He opened a crack in the car window and gazed outside.

The bustling, noisy streets outside made Lu Chen frown; he withdrew his gaze and returned it to the documents at his side.

"Butler Wang, contact Li Xuanhua in a moment and see how much liquid capital we have left, and how much time is remaining until the meeting?"

Lu Chen was silent for a moment, rubbed his brow, and then asked.

"No need for the exact figures, a rough estimate will do."

"There are about 30 minutes left; I have enough time to make a call to Manager Li."

Butler Wang paused slightly and pulled the car over to the side of the road in front of a shop with a telephone.

He got up, exited the car, and walked quickly into the shop.

A few minutes later, Butler Wang returned to the car, started the engine, and only spoke once the vehicle began moving again.

"Aside from the funds Manager Li withdrew, the company has 67 million USD and 23 million GBP."

Lu Chen nodded slightly, closed his eyes, and tapped his fingers lightly against the seat.

Before long, Butler Wang pulled the car smoothly to a stop at the entrance of Chen Lao Zhuangyuan.

A middle-aged butler stood at the gate, stepped forward quickly, and opened the car door.

Lu Chen put the documents into a file folder, got out, and straightened his suit.

He glanced at Butler Wang, then followed the unfamiliar butler as they walked into the Zhuangyuan.

Butler Wang nodded slightly and walked toward the trunk.

As he walked, Lu Chen recalled Chen Lao's demeanor that day at Professor Li's house.

His body paused slightly, and after Butler Wang caught up carrying the gift, he continued forward.

Soon, an open wooden door appeared in his field of vision.

He could vaguely see an old man wearing a Tang suit, leaning on a sofa and sipping tea.

Lu Chen took a deep breath and put a smile on his face.

The butler bowed slightly, led Lu Chen into the reception hall, and whispered a few words into Chen Lao's ear.

The voice was not loud, but Lu Chen could hear it; it was a brief introduction of him.

Chen Lao nodded slightly, looked at Lu Chen, and waved his hand, signaling for him to sit.

Not until both butlers had exited the reception hall and closed the wooden door.

Sunlight shone through the reception hall windows into the antique room, seemingly casting Chen Lao like a statue.

"So you are the little Lu from old Li's family; I'm getting on in years, and my memory isn't what it used to be."

Chen Lao poured a cup of tea, placed it gently in front of Lu Chen, and then spoke.

"There are cigars on the table, light one up yourself; we're all our own people, no need to be so formal."

"Chen Lao, you are still robust in your old age; you are a role model for us juniors to learn from."

Lu Chen responded with a smile, and without standing on ceremony, he took a cigar from the pine cigar box on the coffee table and began to preheat it.

"What was it you wanted to see me about today?"

A look of confusion appeared on Chen Lao's face, his pupils rolling slightly upward as if he were recalling something.

After a while, he nodded slightly, a smile appearing on his face.

After taking a sip of clear tea, he also took a cigar from the cigar box and began to preheat it.

"I learned from Uncle Li that you have been lacking in liquid capital recently?"

Lu Chen's hand, which was preheating the cigar, paused, and a flash of sharp light crossed his eyes.

He did not look up at Chen Lao, but instead focused intently on preheating the cigar again.

"Hahaha, I originally heard from old Wang that you were a Sun Wukong, and it's really true."

The cigar in Chen Lao's hand paused slightly, and he let out a hearty laugh.

After sipping his clear tea, he picked up the cigar again to preheat it.

"Don't say it, kid, you're quite sharp."

Chen Lao looked up at Lu Chen, nodded slightly, then looked back down to continue his actions.

"My little tricks really can't escape your discerning eyes, sir."

Lu Chen smiled, took a puff of the cigar, and then looked at Chen Lao.

He slowly exhaled the smoke and adjusted his posture.

It was a bit more casual than before, but he still sat straight.

"Are you really going to get involved in this Nitan, kid?"

Chen Lao took a puff of his cigar, slowly exhaled the smoke, leaned back on the sofa, and crossed his legs.

His sharp gaze pierced through the smoke toward Lu Chen.

"Chen Lao, it's not getting involved, but rather giving the Nitan a new way to live."

Lu Chen paused slightly, a look of seriousness flashing in his eyes.

His body straightened involuntarily, and the hand that was about to smoke a Cigar was placed on his knee.

He met Old Chen's gaze.

There was a trace of sincerity in his eyes.

His tone was steady and powerful.

"Oh? Change the way of living? That's an interesting way to put it. We have also thought about changing Nitan, but..."

Old Chen uncrossed his legs and leaned his body slightly forward.

His sharp gaze fell upon Lu Chen's face.

There was a hint of depth in his tone.

"Kid, Nitan is not as simple as you think; it cannot be changed just by handling a few old fellows like us."

"You are overthinking it, sir; I have already spoken with Miss Luosha."

Lu Chen paused slightly, raised his hand to take a puff of his Cigar, and slowly exhaled the smoke, blocking Old Chen's sharp gaze.

"She did not oppose me entering Nitan, and I have also brought the blueprint for the entire plan."

Lu Chen reached out to pick up the briefcase left behind by Steward Wang and took out a document bag sealed with wax.

He placed it on the coffee table and gently pushed it in front of Old Chen.

"Oh? Even Luosha agreed to your plan, kid?"

Old Chen did not pick up the document bag immediately; instead, he took a puff of his Cigar before pressing his hand onto the bag.

He slowly exhaled the smoke.

"Then I must see what kind of ability you have, kid, to be able to persuade Luosha."

Old Chen unhurriedly took out a small knife from the side and scraped off the wax seal.

He muttered something under his breath.

"That little girl Luosha is much more accommodating than that fellow; we suffered quite a lot back then just to see him."

He opened the document bag and pulled out a stack of documents printed from a typewriter.

Old Chen placed his Cigar on the crystal ashtray, picked up the magnifying glass at his side, and looked up.

"Kid, turn on the lamp next to you for me."

Lu Chen nodded slightly and reached out to pull the floor lamp beside the sofa.

Old Chen leaned back against the sofa, shifted into a comfortable position, and began to read silently.

Lu Chen did not make a sound, but instead smoked his Cigar and sipped his clear tea in silence.

From time to time, he refilled Old Chen's cup.

After a long while, Old Chen finally looked up at Lu Chen.