Chapter 625 - 11: Physical Fitness
Even though he knew Ivan was different from ordinary people, Chen Zhou didn’t dare show it.
And because he had glimpsed an unusual secret, he even restrained his senses, fearing Ivan might notice.
After all, tea couldn’t be drunk all afternoon, so Feng Tan ordered a plate of snacks, and after everyone had eaten, the gathering reached its end.
Before leaving, Harrison politely asked once more, hoping Chen Zhou would sell those Gold Coins.
Chen Zhou didn’t reject it too abruptly, just saying that if he ever needed money, he would prioritize considering Harrison.
As a member of the Royal Family, Harrison’s manners were impeccable, and upon receiving a negative response, he immediately exchanged contact information with Chen Zhou and invited him to visit his castle if he had time.
Although Chen Zhou could see that the number Harrison left wasn’t his direct line, but more like a channel to an assistant or butler, he was still left with a strong impression of this courteous middle-aged nobleman.
One must know, he was just an ordinary person, incomparable to Harrison who was born with a silver spoon in terms of wealth, status, or age.
Despite the vast disparity in identity and status, Harrison was still able to treat him equally, which was already rare for a noble.
It’s often said that the 21st century strives for equality, but in truth, inequality often exists in various settings.
Even a minor leader in a cement factory could act bossy toward him, while workers below flattered obsequiously.
In comparison, regardless of what Harrison truly thought, he at least maintained his courteous demeanor.
...
After Harrison left first, Ivan also exited the teahouse.
His proficiency in Chinese was the worst, and he spoke with a stiffness unique to Russians. Since he wasn’t interested in the Gold Coins, his demeanor seemed somewhat aloof.
However, out of courtesy, Ivan still invited Chen Zhou to visit Moscow if he had the time.
According to him, he owned a large private zoo on the outskirts of Moscow, housing brown bears, Siberian tigers, lions, cheetahs, and other beasts, offering the chance for close contact and interaction with them.
Besides, Ivan was an enthusiast of horse racing, skilled in skiing and playing golf.
Even though he was already 65, approaching old age, Ivan was still full of energy.
His visit to Jingbei was specifically for a golf match with friends, and it was precisely because of his encounter with Harrison on the course that he coincidentally ended up at the teahouse.
Naturally, Ivan’s words seemed impeccable, yet Chen Zhou couldn’t help feeling there was something fishy.
People often say that with the advent of the information age, the Earth has become a global village, with networks linking people from every corner of the world together.
But for Ivan, a person closely associated with 10003, to emerge among a global population of 8.2 billion and sit across from him, this was clearly not something that could be explained as mere "coincidence."
Watching Ivan’s tall, upright figure walking away, Chen Zhou, guided by intuition, felt he would soon meet this mysterious Slav again.
Through the teahouse’s glass window, he glanced at the gray sky, feeling that the gaze that once observed him from above the endless firmament had yet to move away.
It seems that once entangled with the "Space-Time Administration Bureau," one would carry an extraordinary mark, making it difficult to break free throughout life.
...
After the two guests left one after another, Feng Tan finally relaxed.
He enthusiastically invited Chen Zhou to take a stroll with him through Pan Garden, and to rest at his home for the night, returning to Balin Town the next day.
Although Chen Zhou had been frequently traveling nationwide in recent months, he had seldom stayed in any major city for long, nor had time to shop or enjoy famous attractions.
Feng Tan’s enthusiastic invitation was hard to refuse, considering he was a senior relative of Feng Yingxuan’s, effectively an uncle to him, and since he had provided free appraisal services today and introduced him to two notable figures, it was difficult for Chen Zhou to decline the invitation.
After leaving the teahouse, the two of them began to stroll through the Pan Garden market in the afternoon.
By then, the sun was setting, the weather cooler, the lights at the stalls were on, and the number of treasure hunters from all over the country had noticeably increased.
Feng Tan led Chen Zhou from the northwest gate, heading straight for Section Two of Pan Garden—
This area specialized in antiques, folk goods, and ancient currency, which was also Feng Tan’s area of expertise in appraisals.
Though real goods were hard to find in the small antique stalls, in Pan Garden, one of the nation’s top antique markets, occasionally good items could still be found if one had a keen eye.
Antique enthusiasts often pursued the joy of finding a hidden gem; even if something was worth three yuan, buying it for one yuan brought joy.
In communication with Harrison and Ivan, Feng Tan had to restrain himself somewhat.
But when interacting with the junior Chen Zhou, he truly exhibited his knowledge of antiques, both guiding Chen Zhou around and explaining the origin, rarity, and appraisal techniques of various ancient currencies.
However, as the conversation went on, it somehow shifted to Chen Zhou himself.
Feng Tan occasionally asked about Chen Zhou’s family background, his education, job, income level, and then casually inquired how long Chen Zhou had known Feng Yingxuan, and whether they’d dined or shopped together.
In short, it resembled quite a bit the prying inquiries of family elders pressuring for marriage, making Chen Zhou quite uncomfortable.
Originally, Chen Zhou had planned to stay at Feng Tan’s place for the night, but after these probing questions, for fear of being "interrogated," he found an excuse to rest at a nearby hotel after dining with Feng Tan around 8 PM.