The Charismatic Charlie Wade

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!”