SAG -Chapter 83 Wanting to Buy the Flower

“Sir, Haiman red wine is produced by a winery under Prince Hyman of the United Kingdom. The 1996 vintage is currently considered the best. This wine is highly famous worldwide, and the British royal family serves it at many banquets,” the waitress explained.

Hearing this, Zhang Ran’s eyes looked somewhat strange.

At that moment, Qian Li said, “Don’t try to fool us. The 1996 Haiman sells millions of bottles in China every year, doesn’t it? Who knows whether yours is real or fake? Uncle Zhang, there’s no need to order such good red wine. This stuff is practically everywhere now, and nobody knows what’s real anymore.”

Zhang Ran smiled.

He understood what Qian Li meant.

This was similar to the 1982 Lafite from his previous life.

And if nothing unexpected had happened, this might even have something to do with him.

“Miss, please rest assured. Our wine is absolutely authentic. If it’s fake, we’ll compensate ten times the price,” the waitress hurriedly said.

Zhang Ran waved his hand and smiled.

“Alright, then. We’ll take the 1996 Haiman.”

The dishes arrived quickly.

Before Zhang Ran and the others had chatted for long, almost everything had been served.

“Brother Qian, Sister-in-law, I’ll toast you. Thank you for taking care of them all these years.”

Zhang Ran raised his glass.

“You really don’t have to be so polite. We’ve always treated Siyan like our own daughter. These were all things we should have done.”

After a few rounds of drinks, both Zhang Ran and Qian Zhengkun had drunk quite a bit.

The initial unfamiliarity between both sides had faded considerably, and their conversation became much more casual.

“These siblings really had it hard all these years. But things are better now that you’re back. At least you can help them a little,” Feng Meili sighed.

Qian Zhengkun shot her a look, signaling that she shouldn’t say something like that at this moment.

Zhang Ran said, “Don’t worry. I failed them in the past, but that absolutely won’t happen again.”

“Brother Zhang, let’s not talk about that. We believe you. Come, drink.”

Qian Zhengkun raised his glass.

When everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, Zhang Ran was about to go out and settle the bill when Qian Zhengkun suddenly said, “Brother Zhang, there’s something I’d like to ask you.”

Zhang Ran immediately replied, “Brother Qian, please go ahead.”

Qian Zhengkun paused briefly before saying, “Brother Zhang, do you still remember the pot of Qingxiang Orchid you had Xiaoli bring over last time?”

Zhang Ran froze slightly, then quickly asked, “I remember. What about it?”

“It’s like this. A friend of mine wants to buy a pot, but he doesn’t know where to find one. So he asked me to ask you,” Qian Zhengkun said.

Without hesitation, Zhang Ran said, “Brother Qian, now you’re treating me like an outsider. It isn’t worth much. I’ll send you another pot tomorrow.”

Qian Zhengkun hurriedly said, “No, no, that won’t do. Just tell me how much it costs. I’ll pay you.”

Qian Zhengkun actually had another intention.

He wanted to pay Zhang Ran for the pot of Qingxiang Orchid Zhang Ran had already given him.

At first, he hadn’t known its true value.

But now he did.

The Qingxiang Orchid was definitely not as cheap as Qian Li had relayed from Zhang Ran.

If it really hadn’t been worth much, he would have accepted it.

But since it was valuable, he felt embarrassed taking it for free.

Yet asking him to return it to Zhang Ran was also difficult.

Ever since the Qingxiang Orchid had been placed in their home, he and his wife had slept extremely well every night.

When they woke up in the morning, they felt energetic and refreshed, without the fatigue they used to feel.

Zhang Ran looked at Qian Zhengkun and vaguely understood his thoughts.

After thinking for a moment, he said, “About one thousand yuan.”

This was basically the same as giving it to Qian Zhengkun for free.

If he really had to name its true price, even Zhang Ran himself couldn’t say exactly how much it was worth.

Hearing this, Qian Zhengkun immediately knew Zhang Ran was just making up a number.

“Brother Zhang, there’s really no need to do this. Although I don’t know the exact price, this flower definitely isn’t cheap. Don’t worry, that friend isn’t short of money.”

“Brother Qian, it really isn’t worth much. How about you just give me two thousand yuan?” Zhang Ran said.

Zhang Sicheng and the others watched the two men in confusion.

They felt that Zhang Ran’s quoted price was already very expensive.

But judging from Qian Zhengkun’s expression, he seemed to think the price was far too low.

At that moment, Feng Meili said, “Brother Zhang, Old Qian and I both understand your kindness, but we can’t let you lose money either.”

“We asked Old Zheng about it. This flower is worth at least five hundred thousand yuan, and it simply can’t be found on the market.”

She saw that Zhang Ran kept trying to gloss over the matter, so she stated it directly.

The real reason was that she and her husband didn’t like taking advantage of others.

They knew Zhang Ran was grateful to them.

But gratitude was one thing.

They couldn’t just accept something so valuable as though it were nothing.

The moment she said this, Zhang Sicheng, Qian Li, and the others were all dumbfounded.

“Mom, this flower is worth that much?”

Qian Li cried out in shock.

She truly hadn’t expected that a single pot of orchid could be so valuable.

She had even once wondered whether its fragrance could be turned into perfume.

If it really were made into perfume, how much would it have to sell for?

Zhang Sicheng and Liu Lu were also stunned.

They hadn’t expected the three pots of flowers Zhang Ran had casually brought home to be worth a total of one and a half million yuan.

And judging from Zhang Ran’s situation at the time, it seemed he had picked them up as a bargain somewhere by the roadside?

Qian Zhengkun answered Qian Li’s question.

“At least that much. The actual price should be even higher.”

For a moment, Qian Li didn’t know what to say.

After opening and closing her mouth, she finally said, “Uncle Zhang, you really are generous.”

Zhang Ran smiled.

“What generosity? It’s something for our own family to use. Who calculates the price of something like that?”

“Besides, in my hands, this thing really isn’t worth much.”

“Alright, how about this?”

“Brother Qian, I can provide one pot at the price you mentioned.”

“But the pot of Qingxiang Orchid at your home stays as it is. Otherwise, I won’t agree.”

Qian Zhengkun immediately said, “How can that be? No, no. That’s far too valuable. We’ll keep the flower, but we must pay you.”

Zhang Ran spread his hands.

“Then there’s nothing I can do. I won’t be able to find another Qingxiang Orchid.”

Seeing Zhang Ran acting so “shamelessly,” Qian Zhengkun and Feng Meili didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

How could there be someone who didn’t like money?

Still, warmth filled their hearts.

They knew Zhang Ran wasn’t doing this to ask them for a favor, nor for any other purpose.

He was simply thanking them.

Although they had never expected anything in return when helping Zhang Siyan and Zhang Sicheng, Zhang Ran’s attitude made them feel extremely comfortable.

It was also from this moment that they truly began to accept Zhang Ran.

Qian Zhengkun had never asked where Zhang Ran bought the orchid.

Old Zheng had already searched through the entire Shanghai market and even asked around within his circle, but he couldn’t find anything called a Qingxiang Orchid.

If Zhang Ran had only found three by chance, that explanation might have worked before.

But now it no longer made sense.

Clearly, Zhang Ran either had his own special channel—or this was something only he possessed.