Chapter 197: 【197】Does this handsome guy really know how to tell fortunes?_1
 

Tang Feng had barely sat down when the door to the private room was pushed open.

A group of waitresses dressed in traditional attire, qipao, entered carrying dishes.

Without even considering the quality of the dishes, the waitresses alone were a sight to behold.

These waitresses were almost uniform in height, and their appearances were all above average—it was obvious they had been carefully selected.

True to a five-star hotel, even the quality of the waitresses was high.

When the waitresses placed the dishes on the table and lifted the lids, they made mouths water.

Braised shark fins, West Lake vinegar fish, Buddha jumps over the wall… the dishes were almost national banquet level.

Tang Feng hadn’t felt hungry before, but upon seeing these delicious dishes—appealing in color, aroma, and taste—his stomach couldn’t help but embarrassingly grumble.

Fortunately, he hadn’t forgotten where he was and restrained himself from eating before the host had started.

“Don’t just stand there, everyone, hurry up and eat while it’s hot. Help yourselves,” Zhou Kai said as he picked up his chopsticks and took a bite of the West Lake vinegar fish.

The others, who had been waiting, began to reach for their chopsticks as well.

The liquor served during the meal was also special Moutai, said to cost over ten thousand a bottle—and there were a whole seven or eight bottles arrayed on the table.

For Tang Feng, this was quite an eye-opener.

After three rounds of drinks, the atmosphere in the private room grew more lively.

Only then did Zhou Kai set down his chopsticks, turned to him, and asked, “Tang, I heard from Rui that you have quite the research in antique appraisal and physiognomy skill?”

Tang Feng set down his chopsticks as well and replied respectfully, “Research is a strong word, I just know a little bit about it.”

Zhou Kai took out a cigarette from a pack on the table, pulled one out, and offered it to Tang Feng.

Tang Feng reached out to take it.

Zhou Kai lit the cigarette for him, and then lit one for himself as well.

This small gesture attracted the attention of everyone at the table.

Given Zhou Kai’s status in the Zhonghai Business Community, the number of people he would light a cigarette for could probably be counted on one hand.

What were the merits of this young man that he received such a favor?

Especially Mao Anyi, for her heart was greatly shaken.

She had come to the banquet with their Deputy Director, who could only sit at the end of the table and pour drinks, not even qualified to go up and offer a toast.

Yet Tang Feng was receiving such treatment—the difference was night and day.

“Young people nowadays are actually interested in these things? That’s quite rare,” Zhou Kai said with a smile, exhaling a puff of smoke as he looked at Tang Feng.

“Yes, I guess I’m a bit of an oddity. I don’t really care for the things most young people like. Instead, these ancient antiques suit my taste,” Tang Feng said. Initially nervous, he gradually relaxed as he found Old Zhou to be quite approachable.

“Good, good, being odd is great. I’m an oddity too. Come on, let’s two oddballs have a drink,” Zhou Kai said, picking up his glass and clinking it with Tang Feng’s.

To Tang Feng’s surprise and honor, he hastily drained his glass.

His tolerance for alcohol wasn’t great, and his head was beginning to feel fuzzy.

Putting down his glass, Zhou Kai continued, “I have indeed encountered some difficulties recently. I was thinking of finding a fortuneteller to give me a good reading, and since Rui recommended you, I’ll trouble you to take a look for me.”

Upon hearing Zhou Kai getting to the point, Tang Feng became earnest, trying to think of how to respond.

At that moment, a middle-aged man seated next to Zhou Kai suddenly spoke up, “Old Zhou, I actually know a fortuneteller, nicknamed Semi-immortal Niu, who is quite accurate. Would you like me to introduce him to you?”

Following the voice, Tang Feng saw the man was in his fifties.

With a square-jawed face that radiated a sense of justice.

However, his eyes occasionally flashed a sharp cunning, as if a simple roll of his eyes could hatch a hundred schemes.

It made him seem a little too shrewd.

Bingrui leaned in and whispered an introduction to him.

The man’s name was Xi Yongchang, the father of Xi Shijing who had introduced him to a pig-butchering scam; his family was in the construction business for real estate, controlling nearly twenty percent of the construction crews in Zhonghai.

Put it this way, anyone in Zhonghai doing real estate had to cater to him.

After hearing Xi Yongchang’s offer, Zhou Kai laughed and waved his hand dismissively, “Thanks for your kind offer, Old Xi, but to trouble two masters for one problem isn’t necessary. Since we’ve invited Tang here today, let’s first see what he has to say.”

Xi Yongchang hadn’t given up and continued to persuade, “That Semi-immortal Niu gave me a reading once, and it really was quite accurate.”

“Fortunetelling is something for which you need the right person, preferably an older fortuneteller with a good reputation, otherwise you might commit a taboo.”

Tang Feng felt there was an insinuation in his words, as if he was taking a dig at him.

What did he mean by an older person with a good reputation?

Was he belittling his youth? His lack of fame?

Zhou Kai laughed and looked up, “Ha ha ha, Old Xi, aren’t you putting me in a tough spot?”

“Had you mentioned it earlier, I would have trusted someone you recommended. But since we’ve already invited Tang today, it wouldn’t be right to send him away empty-handed, would it?”

“But…”

“No buts, let’s first hear what Tang has to say,” Zhou Kai cut him off.

Zhou Kai putting it this way was essentially a polite refusal.

Xi Yongchang’s brows furrowed slightly, evidently unhappy about being publicly rebuffed and losing face.

He immediately signaled with his eyes to a woman seated next to him.

The woman was dressed in a red dress, looking very seductive, especially with bright red lipstick on her lips—she carried a certain allure.

Even though Mao Anyi was prettier, her conservative dress and slight austerity meant that the leering gazes of the older men at the table were mostly fixated on the other woman.

For these sleazy middle-aged men, looks were secondary; what mattered most was brazenness.

This woman certainly fit that criterion.

Noticing Xi Yongchang’s signal, the woman immediately understood.

She started with a “giggle,” drawing the attention of everyone else before she turned her doe-eyes on Tang Feng.

“I wouldn’t have guessed, but this charming young man can also tell fortunes? Why don’t you give me a reading first?”