My Manor

Such a cocktail party was a rare opportunity for many. It offered both business prospects and the chance to gain favor with influential officials.

In China, after all, it's a world that revolves around officials. For centuries, China has been structured around the hierarchy of scholars, farmers, merchants, and artisans, with officials consistently ranked a level above ordinary people. In the United States, money is everything, but in China, money pales in comparison to power.

For Chinese people, the real business happens at the dinner table. The friendships formed there are the ones that truly matter. Almost everyone holds a glass, swirling it as they chat, but it's the wealthy businessmen who focus most on the high-ranking officials. A solid connection with the right person could make all the difference. If you manage to align yourself with the right official, even if you don't make a direct fortune, the smallest advice or reminder could be a great merit. Even someone new, like An Jia, is looking around for those kinds of opportunities.

At that moment, a taxi slowly pulled up at the outer edge of the event. Suddenly, with a loud pop, thick smoke billowed from the front engine of the car. A man in loose taxi driver's attire got out, looking helpless, made a phone call, and then walked off to a distant area, occasionally lighting a cigarette.

Though the camera's distance prevented a clear view of his face, the red glow from his cigarette was visible from time to time, unnoticed by the security at the outer perimeter.

In fact, if anyone had looked closer, they might have realized that there was no cigarette butt at all. It was just a glowing red light, seemingly moving in sync with an electric hydraulic rod, disappearing and reappearing every ten minutes or so. This was, indeed, a high-tech maneuver.

The taxi driver, at an almost impossible speed, disappeared into the surrounding woods and quickly made his way toward the distant parking lot. He moved like a shadow, silent and swift, heading straight for the villa.

Jiang Hai, however, was completely at ease about Azarina's methods. This wasn't to say that the Soviet Union's KGB was stronger than their own security forces, but simply that everyone had their own expertise. Azarina's approach was more professional than that of most security personnel, even those from the capital city. So, Jiang Hai didn't bother with the An family, allowing them their moment of arrogance.

Instead, he led Qi Li toward the long table in the middle of the room, eyeing the spread before him.

He had to admit, Du Famen was rich. The people in the court were also quite sincere. Despite the cocktail party being held in Du Famen's name, the ingredients presented were top-tier. No, in fact, they could be considered some of the finest in the world.

The long buffet table was loaded with all sorts of delicacies, but the sashimi stood out the most.

Bluefin tuna sashimi—a whole tuna, just as large as the ones that came into Jiang Hai's manor—was laid out. Its head and tail remained intact, but the meat had been sliced into thin, delicate pieces and arranged neatly around the fish's center.

Next to the tuna were lobster sashimi and Arctic scallop sashimi. There were also nigiri sushi made with mullet roe and sturgeon roe, all of which had a chilling effect just by looking at them.

Jiang Hai didn't care for raw food, so no matter how luxurious these dishes were, they didn't interest him.

Beyond the sashimi and sushi, there was also a chocolate fountain, various fruit plates, cold dishes, braised beef, salads, and red sausages. Jiang Hai wasn't sure what some of the items were, but it didn't matter—if it was delicious, he'd try it. He moved along the table, sampling the dishes as he went.

As he was eating, a figure appeared in his path.

"Hey, I've been looking for you. You're late," said Du Famen, his face breaking into a wide grin. He was still wearing the same white robe that Jiang Hai had seen him in before. With enthusiasm, he patted Jiang Hai on the shoulder.

Jiang Hai was slightly confused by Du Famen's warm attitude. Their relationship was more of a buyer-seller dynamic; they had only met a few times. So, this level of friendliness was a bit unexpected.

"Late? It's fine. I'm not here to meet anyone; I'm here to eat," Jiang Hai mumbled, stuffing a slice of ham into his mouth.

Du Famen smiled knowingly. "I can see you're not here for the company, but you've missed the best food."

"Really? Well, I don't eat raw food," Jiang Hai replied, waving his hand dismissively. "Besides, I've got bluefin tuna at my manor."

"Don't worry, I won't deceive you. Just try it. If you don't like it, we'll move on." Du Famen led him to a plate of sashimi with a mysterious glint in his eye.

Jiang Hai looked down at the fish slices. Unlike the obvious bluefin tuna or lobster, these were thin slices of fish without the heads or tails to give away what they were.

"What is this?" Jiang Hai asked, intrigued.

"This, my friend, is a supreme delicacy," Du Famen said, smiling as he picked up a piece, dipped it in a nearby sauce, and popped it into his mouth with visible satisfaction.

Curious, Jiang Hai followed suit. He picked up a piece with his chopsticks, dipped it in the sauce, and took a bite.

At first, he noticed a slight fishy smell that made him frown. But not wanting to disappoint Du Famen, he chewed lightly. Suddenly, his eyes widened in surprise.

The texture was unlike anything he had ever experienced. The fish was tender yet chewy, unlike any fish he had eaten before. The initial fishy taste vanished after just a few chews, leaving behind a pure, fresh flavor that was both smooth and elastic. It was unlike any fish Jiang Hai had ever tasted, so much so that he immediately reached for a second piece.

"This is delicious!" Jiang Hai exclaimed, his satisfaction clear on his face. Du Famen laughed and began eating with his hands.

"What kind of fish is this? Why is it so delicious?" Jiang Hai asked between bites.

"This is pufferfish," Du Famen replied, smiling.

Jiang Hai froze, his chopsticks halting mid-air.

Pufferfish? He'd heard of its deadly reputation. It was different from soaking in wine—this fish could actually kill if not prepared correctly. He was cautious, his fear of death kicking in.

"Don't worry," Du Famen reassured him. "The chef who made this is licensed, and he ate some himself an hour before serving it. It's perfectly safe. Besides, do you think anyone would let an accident happen at an event like this?"

Jiang Hai relaxed slightly, but his hesitation remained. "I was thinking of getting some to raise myself, but it seems like that won't happen."

"Don't worry, this is just one of the top dishes here, not even in the top ten," Du Famen said, leading Jiang Hai away. "Come, let me show you something even better."

They arrived at the teppanyaki station, where the chefs were cooking up a fresh batch of fried fish. When the plate was presented, several guests, intrigued, stopped to gaze at the delicacies.

"This fish is an expensive ingredient in China," Du Famen explained. "Try it. I know people say it's best braised, but I prefer it this way."

Jiang Hai picked up a piece and took a bite. Instantly, a completely different taste filled his mouth—fresh, tender, and unlike the pufferfish.

To be continued...