Taking the tea Li Long poured him, Sun Benchuan nodded slightly and said, "Thank you."
Li Long could tell that he plainly looked down on the brick tea in his hands, but that expression vanished in an instant. Then he lowered his head, took a sip, and said:
"Mm, it has a rich flavor. Very warming."
Li Long actually rather admired this exceedingly polite Sun Benchuan. Beneath his wool overcoat was a suit, the sort cut to show off his figure. Such suits looked good, but they really did not keep you warm.
Wearing so little in weather this cold, either the man was naturally full of yang energy and unafraid of the cold, or he cared more about appearances than comfort and was simply toughing it out.
The assistant beside him was much more direct. He disdained the brick tea and did not drink any.
Li Long asked:
"You must have had a tiring journey, Mr. Sun? After all, transportation here in Northern Xinjiang can't compare with Inland China."
"We flew here," the assistant, Luo Liwei, said. "Only the stretch from Wu City to here was difficult."
Sun Benchuan continued:
"Actually, I would have liked to take a good look at the magnificent scenery here. Every place has its own scenery. Inland China has its delicate beauty, and Northern Xinjiang has its vast, boundless expanses. Each has its own character.
"It's just that our schedule was tight this time, so we came by plane."
These two could not be of low standing if they could fly. Ordinary people, or ordinary businessmen, were not eligible to fly at this time even if they had money. Li Long therefore attached still greater importance to Sun Benchuan.
Whatever his impression of the man, the fact that he had traveled by plane alone