Chapter Forty-Five: The Rosewood Tea Tray

It was only after coming to India in person that he finally understood the true flavor of Indian food. Many of the vegetables were burnt, and every dish seemed to be a mush, heavily seasoned with curry powder and all manner of mysterious spices. The result was so nauseating that he could barely bring himself to eat.

Liu Qingshan felt immensely grateful that he would only be staying here for two days. Perhaps others might grow accustomed to it with time, but he knew with certainty that he never could. It was not mere prejudice; the presentation of many of the so-called delicacies was enough to kill his appetite.

Take, for instance, that ferocious-looking whole stewed crocodile—drenched inexplicably in a thick layer of bitter melon juice, which gave the reptile’s flesh once more the lurid green of its living state. He didn’t need to taste it to feel the horror of revulsion rising in his stomach.

Then there was the even more ostentatious and sophisticated elephant trunk. The carving on it was exquisitely detailed, the three-dimensional sculpting full of noble artistry. Yet for some reason, it was served atop a bed of lettuce leaves that resembled nothing so much as rotting vegetable scraps.

Naturally, the overwhelming scent of curry was ever-present.

And the so-called world-renowned, signature local dish—grilled steak—was enrobed in a bizarre green sauce that made it look decidedly unappetizing.

Liu Qingshan knew, of course, that what unsettled him so profoundly was nothing more than a difference in culinary customs.

The decor of this restaurant, however, was impeccable. He’d heard that visiting foreign dignitaries all dined here, and even celebrities like Schwarzenegger had graced its tables—the establishment was renowned far and wide.

But the menu consisted of nothing but curry-based dipping sauces, with main courses like flatbreads and rice to be eaten by hand—hardly dishes to delight the eye.

Fortunately, individual servings were the norm here, and, being a high-end venue, utensils were provided and the custom of eating with one’s hands was dispensed with.

The only dish Liu Qingshan found remotely palatable was the roast chicken. Though it, too, was marinated in spices, it had been slow-roasted in a special oven, and the fragrance of the chicken was mouthwatering, the meat tender and delicious.

Even though Kunal called him “master” with great deference, perhaps because of his age, Liu Qingshan received far less attention than Yu Rongguang and Lu Huiguang.

That suited him just fine—he preferred not to be surrounded by people, so he could quietly savor the exotic atmosphere.

Moreover, alcohol did not seem to be pushed here, so no one came over repeatedly to offer toasts.

Most of the time, he spoke quietly with Aishwarya and Kunal, and found the company quite enjoyable.

But the calm did not last—Karam Singh himself soon came looking for them.

It was clear that, after conversing with Yu and Lu, the powerful head of Treasure Films had discovered something important.

“I’ve been kept in the dark for so long—so everything Kunal told me was true after all!” Karam, as he liked to be called, was only in his thirties, but there was none of the arrogance of a superstar or rich heir in his tone.

“Oh? Why do you say that, Mr. Karam?” Liu Qingshan feigned ignorance.

With a smile, Karam waved his hand. “The dancing has started. If you find it too noisy, Mr. Liu, we can continue our conversation in my private suite.”

Liu Qingshan had no reason to refuse and rose to follow him out.

Karam was well-versed in social nuance, and before leaving, he called over Kunal and Aishwarya as well.

The group sat down in an office that had been converted from a presidential suite, where an attendant soon arrived carrying a tray.

On it was a miniature tea set. Though small, it was precious—made from gold-threaded nanmu wood, complete and elegant.

“This set has only been used a few times. It was a gift from a friend in China. I’m told it’s crafted from your country’s national wood, golden-thread nanmu. Not an antique, but still quite rare!”

“I imagine your friend from China must be someone extraordinary. In our country, new golden-thread nanmu is already hard to come by, let alone a set made from the finest full ‘dragon gall’ patterned wood!”

“Oh? I didn’t expect Mr. Liu to be such a connoisseur, able to recognize the wood so precisely at your age!”

“To be honest, I’m hardly an expert. It’s just that I happened to see a very similar piece two days ago, with the same texture. If it were made from a different wood, I’d never have guessed!”

Liu Qingshan had seen something like it just before coming, at Yu Chenhui’s. It was a small, portable tea set as well.

Yu Chenhui’s main base was in Shandong; his residence in Chang’an was that of an old friend. That tea set never left his side, whether visiting friends or filming.

“So Mr. Liu is fond of tea?”

Karam seemed quite pleased with Liu Qingshan’s openness—he found it very much to his taste.

“To say I’m fond is putting it nicely. Half a year ago, I was only an extra. I only picked up the habit two days ago—before that, I knew nothing about it.”

“How so? An extra? That can’t be!”

“It’s true. At that time, I was struggling to pay for my only relative’s medical treatment. I smoked the cheapest cigarettes, let alone could I afford such luxuries!”

He recounted once more the story he had told before.

Karam’s mouth fell open in unconcealed astonishment. “So you really have been keeping a low profile all these years, following your master’s wishes!”

Liu Qingshan chuckled wryly and shook his head.

“In Chinese martial arts, we call that sudden enlightenment ‘mingwu’. I had no idea I possessed such skill until that moment.”

“It’s the same in India—we have a similar concept, which probably comes from ancient Buddhism. I suppose we share common roots.”

“Perhaps. I know little about religion.”

“You’re too modest, Mr. Liu! Let’s do this: I had some copies made of this tea set. Since you like this kind of thing, I’ll have a set sent over to you right away!”

“How can I accept? If you commissioned them, they must be valuable—far too precious for me to accept.”

“There’s nothing to worry about. Don’t forget, India is famous for its rosewood—it’s easy for us to use.”

“That makes me even more hesitant! Indian small-leaf rosewood? I hear only old stock remains, and the new wood is mostly cultivated—not nearly as valuable!”

“So you really do know a thing or two, Mr. Liu! I admire your skills. Wild rosewood is nothing special to me, and besides, Treasure Films will still be in your debt.”

“Is this about Kunal’s training? Then I definitely can’t accept your gift. He’s my friend—it wouldn’t be right to turn helping him into a transaction.”

“It’s not just about Kunal. I’d like to ask you to help train a few more martial artists. Everyone knows the Hong Kong stunt teams are world-famous. Bollywood is thriving, but our fight choreography is a real weakness.”

“So you want me to help Treasure Films train some more professional talent?”

“That’s exactly it. I’d originally wanted to approach Jackie Chan, but then I heard you’re actually the top master among Chinese stunt teams, so I thickened my skin and came to ask you personally!”

“Have you called Brother Jackie yet? I don’t belong to any stunt team, and I can’t offer the same resources he can.”

“I thought of that, too. I haven’t called him yet—I wanted to talk with you first before making that call.”

Liu Qingshan smiled and nodded, turning to Kunal.

“What are your thoughts? If you take on the responsibility of forming this team, it’ll definitely affect your acting career—and the training process will take at least two or three years!”

He didn’t answer Karam directly, but decided to seek Kunal’s opinion first—a subtle hint to Karam, and also a way to help Kunal negotiate for better terms.

Kunal’s attitude was clear: “Treasure Films is my home company, and Mr. Karam has been a patron to me. I must take on this responsibility!”

Karam, a master of negotiation, immediately made his offer:

“Don’t worry, Mr. Liu. For any delay in Kunal’s acting career, Treasure Films will provide the best possible opportunities afterward, ensuring he can make an impressive return to Bollywood. We’ll take this even more seriously than you!”

Liu Qingshan shrugged.

“Since you have a detailed plan, Mr. Karam, I’ll give my answer regarding Kunal before Brother Jackie agrees. In two months, there’s an action film shooting in Hong Kong, directed by Wilson Yip. The three stars are the renowned Ren Jiahua, Zhen Zijian, and Hong Dabao. I’m lucky enough to have been invited as well. I can take Kunal and a few others to that crew for a period of training.”

Karam was overjoyed. “I hadn’t expected the very first project would be with such big names! And isn’t Hong Dabao’s team, the Hung Family Class, even more formidable than Chan’s?”

“It’s not a matter of which is stronger—the two teams are different in character, each with its strengths.”

“And there’s also Zhen Zijian’s team, the Zhen Family Class—they’re pretty famous too!” Kunal seemed even more excited.

Liu Qingshan reminded them, “But there’s a caveat—there probably won’t be any suitable roles for you in this film, Kunal. You’ll likely be there only as an intern stuntman, and it won’t be a paid position.”

“That’s not an issue. They can only participate as students at this stage,” Karam said, waving his hand. “Treasure Films will cover all costs, and we’ll even pay the production a training fee!”

“No need for a training fee. It’s a bad precedent—if it becomes the norm, there could be problems with future collaborations.”

“Ah, you’re right to consider that, Mr. Liu. In that case, please inform the relevant crews that anyone coming to India in the future will be treated with the utmost hospitality by Treasure Films!”

“These are minor details. Brother Jackie will surely do everything he can to help. I think you should call him as soon as possible, Mr. Karam.”

“Yes, yes, Mr. Liu, stay here for a moment, I’ll be right back!”

Once Karam had left, Liu Qingshan turned to Kunal.

“Is Treasure Films really so good to you? You need to remember there’ll be several years without leading roles—it could seriously impact your career.”

Kunal replied firmly, “Mr. Karam signed me when I was sixteen. In ten years, Treasure Films has invested a tremendous amount in me.”

“Then that’s good! Once you’re capable of leading a team, you’ll have free rein in Bollywood’s stunt world. Spending two or three years is definitely worth it.”

“What does ‘free rein’ mean?”

“It means you’ll have the personal advantage of acting independently, backed by your own skills.”

“Then, Master, how likely do you think I am to succeed?”