Lydia might not be an expert on tea, but he sure understands the unique sentiment that Maria holds for
the Mother of Pu’er.
In his view, the Mother of Pu’er stands as a sort of spiritual nourishment for Maria, a centuries-spanning
emotional anchor. And so, he grasps why Maria’s heart longs to recapture the essence of the Mother of
Pu’er’s flavor.
With conviction, he tells Maria, “Once Erlang Mountain transitions, you can make this place your
nurturing ground. With your expertise, let’s see if we can nurture even finer tea strains.”
Maria, with a wry smile, voices her concerns, “Breeding’s a vexing endeavor. My grasp of technological
techniques is limited, and as for artificial propagation, it’s a decade-long commitment at the very least.”
Lydia breathes a sigh of relief, replying, “No worries. Should you succeed, your achievement will be
cherished by tea enthusiasts. And even if cultivation evades us, remember, the taste of the Mother of
Pu’er has etched itself forever in your memory.”
Maria’s lips curve into a smile, “Young Master speaks the truth.”
As they talk, Lydia steers them back to Celestial Group’s production hub nestled at the foot of Erlang
Mountain.
Though the factory has shuttered for the day, by the entrance stands a mild-mannered, bespectacled
middle-aged man, his anxious demeanor betrays the waiting game. Standing alongside him is the
security guard who previously had a tête-à-tête with Mandra.
The security guard gazes at the middle-aged man with skepticism and queries, “Director Garza, who’s
got you waiting? Is the chairman headed here for an inspection?”
Addressed as Director Garza, the middle-aged man is Nicolas Garza, the man running this processing
plant.
Taken aback by the security guard’s words, Nicolas motions dismissively, “I’m anticipating the arrival of
two esteemed guests.”
Eric, of course, is a man of significance to Nicolas.
Within Celestial Group, two principal ventures reign supreme, the crafting and commerce of Pu’er tea.
While Eric oversees the latter, Nicolas shoulders the responsibility for the former. A few years past, in
his quest for Nicolas’s loyalty, Eric granted him three shares.
Now, the Banks Group aims to acquire Celestial Group in its entirety. This deal means that not only can
Eric divest himself, but all equity holders have a chance to cash in on this transaction. That said, Eric
already shared with Nicolas the impending buyout by Banks Group. Needless to say, Nicolas’s spirits
are soaring.
Years of partnership with Eric have led to this point. Nicolas had hoped for Celestial Group to go public
– a moment that would afford him the golden opportunity to cash out his shares.
Alas, Celestial Group’s repeated failure to go public dashed his hopes time and again. The years
passed with Nicolas no longer viewing these three shares as a tangible asset. In the end, their worth
was confined to paper and ink, registered in the company’s name.
Why did he stay on? Eric’s generous treatment.
Though the long-term prospects of the shares dimmed, the steady income from his wages and
bonuses was satisfactory enough for Nicolas.
Today, the pendulum of fortune swung wildly as Nicolas learned of Banks Group’s staggering 700-
million-dollar buyout offer. Waves of elation nearly swept him off his feet. Those three shares, pegged
at 700 million, translated into a pre-tax valuation of 21 million. Once the 20% personal income tax was
deducted, his net gain would still surpass 16 million. It was like hitting the lottery fourfold. A windfall,
making him rich overnight!
However, his euphoria’s life was short-lived. Eric revealed that the tea experts dispatched by Banks
Group were en route. Nicolas’s task? Treat these experts with reverence, sparing no effort to please
them.
Without hesitation, Nicolas hastened to the factory gates, prepared to provide exemplary service to the
“experts.”
When Lydia pulls up in his car, Nicolas’s eyes capture the license plate, confirming the arrival of the two
experts. His readiness to greet them is palpable.
As the security guard approaches, he halts Lydia’s car, chiding, “Young man, why the return? Didn’t I
emphasize that an appointment with the group is a must?”
Nicolas is taken aback by the conversation’s nature. That the security guard is familiar with Lydia
strikes him as odd.
He intervenes, guiding the security guard aside before addressing Mandra, “Greetings! Are you the
experts from the Banks Group?”
Lydia points to Maria beside him and jests, “I might not be, but this lady’s the real expert.”
With a baffled expression, the security guard inquires, “When did you two become experts?”
Nicolas interjects hurriedly, “Jack, you must extend due courtesy to a VIP. They’re here to oversee the
inspection. Open the gates without delay.”
Though bewildered, the security guard follows the factory manager’s lead, allowing the entrance to
open.
Turning to Mandra, Nicolas introduces himself, “I’m Nicolas, the plant’s director. Matters large and small
here fall under my domain. Whatever you need to investigate today, I’ll wholeheartedly assist. There’ll
be no secrets.”
Lydia nods, advising, “Great. Arrange a place for us to sit and chat.”
Nicolas blurts, “No problem at all! Follow me to my office.”
Lydia inquires, “Shall you drive, Director Garza?”
With a quick nod, Nicolas confirms, “Absolutely.”
“Excellent,” Lydia replied, “Lead the way.”
“Understood!” Nicolas hopped into a sleek black Audi, guiding Lydia to the factory’s office building.
Once there, he warmly invites Lydia and Maria into his office. As he brews tea, he queries, “So, what
brings you two here this late?”
Lydia casually questioned, “I heard your tea base is centered around Mount Erlang, right?”
“Exactly,” Nicolas affirms, launching into an explanation, “Our base is intricately tied to the Mount
Erlang mother tree. These privately contracted tea hills around us? They’re all linked to this place.
However, the tea quality and yield dwindled due to poor cultivation and management. Now, things are
turning around with improved cultivation, and the tea’s quality is on the rise.”
Maria’s ears perked up upon hearing “mother tree.” Eagerly, she inquires, “Director Garza, can you
explain the significance of the Erlang Mountain Pu’er tea’s mother plant?”
Nicolas elaborated, “Esteemed guests, on Erlang Mountain, there’s a Pu’er tea tree that’s over a
thousand years old. The tea trees spanning tens of miles around it have all been grafted from this
ancient one. When we took over, we initiated breeding efforts, and the foundation of our endeavors was
this thousand-year-old Pu’er tea tree.”
Maria’s excitement was palpable, “Director Garza, would it be possible for you to show us this
thousand-year-old tea tree? Such a sight could greatly influence our future breeding direction.”
Nicolas readily agreed, “If you’re interested, then let’s go right away!”
He paused, then added, “Though, it’s getting dark outside. By the time we reach the mountain, it might
be nightfall. Would the darkness hinder your assessment of the tea tree?”
Maria didn’t hesitate, asserting, “No, the view will tell us everything we need to know!”
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