Sifang Teahouse is an old establishment; it’s said to have existed since the late Qing dynasty. After the founding of the country, it was converted to a public-private partnership, and only in recent years did it return to private ownership. But the furnishings inside, it’s said, have barely changed over the years.

Locals love drinking tea. Almost every town, big or small, has a teahouse. The tea is locally produced and incredibly cheap—the whole point is for a few friends to gather and slurp away, savoring the taste!

But in today’s Fuping County, Sifang Teahouse is actually considered high-end.

A cup of tea costs one yuan, a pot five yuan, with complimentary snacks.

However… if you bring your own tea leaves, there’s a ten-cent water fee.

It was just after nine in the morning, not yet ten, and the place was anything but empty. The first floor’s scattered tables were about two-thirds full. David Brooks went in, found a busy waiter pouring water, and asked a question.

The young waiter’s eyes visibly lit up. “Oh, you mean that lady comrade! Upstairs, in the private room ‘Peony Listening to the Waves’!”

David Brooks thanked him and headed upstairs.

The wooden stairs creaked with every step.

Faint conversations from downstairs drifted up to his ears.

Sure enough, there was a private room upstairs called “Peony Listening to the Waves.” David Brooks walked over and knocked on the door, and heard a voice from inside: “Come in.”

He pushed the door open and entered. Inside, a young woman immediately stood up.

Whoa… she’s not short.

Even if she’s not quite 1.7 meters, she’s not far off.

And the key thing is, this girl really is as the rumors say—truly striking and spirited. Her brows and eyes are clear and bold, her whole frame is beautiful and striking. But her aura is cold and tough, with a sense of unapproachable dignity. One look and you know she’s highly educated and proud. At the moment, she wore a dark brown wool coat with a red plaid scarf, her ponytail tied high, making her features look even colder.

She’s attractive, but not exactly approachable.

Even though he’d already been fired, the original host had still worked as a temp in the county government’s car team for four months. In that place, if you wanted to know anything, there wasn’t a single driver in the whole county who didn’t have the scoop, or anyone they couldn’t find out about.

As the county’s richest man, Henry Carter’s entrepreneurial story, how much money Henry Carter actually had, details about Henry Carter’s children, and rumors about him having a mistress—these topics were always trending.

It’s said this girl was smart and domineering from a young age.

What’s more, her father is a multimillionaire, she herself graduated from a prestigious university, and she really is beautiful. No matter the era, it’s only natural for someone like her to be a bit proud.

Anyway, I’m the one living off my wife.

A strong wife? That’s fine by me.

“Hello, I’m David Brooks. You must be Comrade William Carter?”

“That’s me. Please, come in! …Close the door!”

Chapter 2: Three Questions

There wasn’t even a hint of a smile on her face.

For some reason, it felt like a job interview from a past life.

But he wasn’t uncomfortable—after all, in the two years before he transmigrated, David Brooks had gone on a double-digit number of blind dates.

And almost none of them were pleasant.

He’d thought a lot about blind dates. When you’re young, you miss the right person because you’re distracted. When you’re older, you’re more guarded, pure love is hard to find, and you’re pressured to get married—so you just put yourself out there like meat at the market, to be judged and picked over!

Naturally, you’re either called too fat or too skinny.

All normal.

I’ve heard you programmers go bald really badly. Are you wearing a wig?

You’ve been working for almost ten years and still haven’t gotten any shares?

No way, who drives a Mercedes these days? I only ride in Porsches!

Me? I make 3,500 a month, but I’m a girl! All the guys I know make over 100,000 a month, even the lowest make seventy or eighty thousand. You only make a bit over 30,000 a month? Heh…

And so on.

David Brooks kept a smile on his face, closed the door behind him, and walked over.

“Please sit. Pour yourself some tea if you want!”

Before David Brooks could sit, she straightened her coat and sat down herself.

Her face was calm.

She seemed very good at, and used to, ordering and arranging things for others.

David Brooks sat down with a cheerful, obedient look, and really did as told, pouring himself a cup of tea.

Then, he took out his cigarettes and a box of matches, and asked, “Is it okay?”

William Carter frowned slightly. “Better not. I won’t take up too much of your time!”

As expected.

This girl… really is proud!

David Brooks wasn’t annoyed. He just put his things back in his pocket, still smiling.

“Shall we begin?” she asked.

David Brooks was taken aback. Is this really going to be like an interview?

But he quickly replied, “Of course. Do you… need me to do anything?”