I took a sip; it had a faint bitterness and a hint of mustiness, but I couldn't discern any other flavor.
Since she said this brew cost several hundred, I could only pretend to savor it.
Fortunately, she didn't ask for my opinion. If she had, the awkwardness would have been unbearable.
She continued, "I attended Ruili Middle School for three years of high school and was the leader for two of them. Zhou Yingying used to be my follower; she was fiercer than anyone when it came to fighting and causing trouble. After I graduated, she naturally took over. However, I know her; she has no bottom line in her actions and broke many of my rules. Today, I went to the school for some business, and someone told me about your situation. Then, I bumped into you. I also heard she harmed Teacher Li, causing him to lose his job and almost get imprisoned. Is that true?"
I replied, "I'm not clear about that. I rarely attend classes, and I don't know much about what goes on at school."
I didn't want her to know about my father's situation. They still had connections, and I had to resolve this matter myself to clear my father's name.
Lan Ya said, "If you're not in the position, you don't plan its politics. I've left the school, so I can't manage these things anymore. I just happened to run into you today, and if I hadn't, I wouldn't have intervened."
She went on, "I heard you frequent the jade gambling street. Do you have any research on stones?"
I gave a wry smile and said, "I just like it; research is out of the question. I have a master who teaches me stone cutting, and I'm following him."
Lan Ya: "That's good. Stone cutting masters are usually experts, as they see a lot. Learn well and give it a try if you're interested."
My expression probably looked even more bitter as I said, "Jade gambling requires money. Without money, I can only watch. But yesterday, a visitor from out of town gambled two small roughs in one day and won nearly four hundred thousand."
Lan Ya: "In Ruili, a single stone can fetch millions or tens of millions. If it's a piece of imperial green jade, that's an astronomical figure. A few hundred thousand can only be considered a small gamble."
Seeing her say it so nonchalantly, it was as if that money meant nothing.
She took out an envelope from her bag and said, "Here's some money. Buy yourself some decent clothes. You're my junior, and with such a good figure and demeanor, this attire is unbecoming. It makes me, your senior, lose face."
I quickly pushed it back, "You are my senior, it's true, but we are not related by blood or by acquaintance. What is it for me to spend your money? Please take it back. I'm learning a trade from my master, and I don't have occasions for nice clothes. This outfit is appropriate."
Her face immediately fell. "Take it if I tell you to. Don't just learn stone cutting in the future. Follow skilled gamblers and learn their knowledge of jade gambling; that's the most important thing. You might cut hundreds of tons of stone and not earn as much as a single gambled stone. Don't you understand this logic?"
Of course, I understood. My master worked so hard yesterday. Although he received a red envelope of one or two thousand yuan, the gambler pocketed hundreds of thousands in one go. My master might not earn that much even after cutting dozens of tons.
I nodded and tucked the money away. She handed me a business card: General Manager, The Grand World Nightclub. I looked up at her. She had only left school about half a year before me, so how had she become a general manager?
I knew The Grand World; it was one of Ruili's top nightclubs. I never imagined that my senior sister in front of me was the boss of The Grand World.
Seeing my surprised gaze, she smiled and said, "Don't be surprised. I was the owner of The Grand World when I was in the second year of high school, not now. So, people must have dreams and dare to do things others wouldn't. If you only focus on the money for a single stone cut, you will never see the wealth within the stone! Take the money and get some new clothes. Go to my place, soak in a hot spring, and let my image designer give you a makeover. Don't do anything else these days; buy all the books about jade from the Xinhua Bookstore and study them thoroughly."
After she finished speaking, she stood up. "You know the address. I'll wait for you at noon."
Then she got up and left. This time, it was my turn to be bewildered.
This morning felt like a dream.
I walked out of the teahouse. Lan Ya had already disappeared. I took a few steps and pulled out the envelope from my pocket. It was filled with hundred-yuan bills, at least three thousand yuan. This shocked me greatly. I had expected a few hundred, as three or four hundred yuan would be enough for men's clothes, and buying books wouldn't cost much. This much money startled me.
This was almost two years' salary for my father when he was working, and that was without eating or drinking.
I went to a clothing store and looked for a long time, but I couldn't find anything suitable. In my life, my mother always bought my clothes. I had never even bought a pair of socks myself.
Perhaps the sales assistant saw me staring blankly at the pile of clothes and came over to ask what kind of clothes I was looking for. I couldn't describe it, so I asked her to help me choose. After a long time, she selected a casual jacket and a casual suit for me, along with a pair of casual pants and jeans.
Then she also helped me pick out a pair of soft leather shoes from the shoe counter and didn't leave until I had tried them on.
Holding the clothes and shoes, I saw that it was almost time and hailed a pedicab to take me to The Grand World.
It wasn't that I didn't want to walk; it was a bit far, and carrying so many things was inconvenient.
This cost me over five hundred yuan, which pained me immensely.
Keep in mind that a hundred yuan could last a month at home, and I had spent over five hundred yuan in one go.
When I arrived at the entrance of The Grand World, the security guard wouldn't let me in. Indeed, I was dressed so raggedly that it was no wonder they wouldn't let me in.
I asked him to announce me to Lan Ya. He looked at me askance, "Lan Ya is your name to call? Believe it or not, I'll hit you?"
I said, "Will you announce me or not? If you don't, you might be the one getting hit!"
Seeing my defiant tone, he grabbed his walkie-talkie and said, "Security office, security office, someone is here to deliver something for the boss."
He saw me carrying so many bags and assumed I was delivering something to the boss.
After waiting for a while, I heard over the walkie-talkie, "Let him in. Escort him to the Furong private room on the third floor."
The security guard looked at me with confusion, unable to understand why someone who looked like a beggar like me could not only enter to see the boss but also be escorted to a private room.
Looking down on people, that's probably what they meant.
I handed him my belongings and said, "Let's go, what are you waiting for? Do you want to be scolded!"
The security guard reluctantly took my things and, with a hundred unwilling steps, escorted me to the private room.
I didn't see my senior sister in the private room. The waiter had already prepared hot water and asked me to go in and shower, saying that after I showered, I should press the doorbell, and a designer would come to give me a makeover. Then, he went out.
I walked towards the bathtub in the suite. Beside it were bath towels, a bathrobe, and a pair of slippers. I took off the clothes that I myself found shabby and, completely naked, submerged myself in the bathtub.