As Marulan smoked a marijuana cigarette, he looked through the hazy smoke at the Chinese man sitting opposite him named Song Heping.
He was very young.
That was Marulan's first impression of Song Heping.
Although he had known Song Heping's age beforehand, he found him to be even younger upon meeting him.
Over the years, Marulan had been through numerous negotiations, including those with government officials, yet this was the first time he had such a young opponent sitting across from him.
"Want one?"
When Song Heping just sat down, Marulan offered him a marijuana cigarette.
"It helps to perk you up."
"I don't smoke cigarettes," Song Heping waved his hand with a smile, declining.
Marulan was taken aback for a moment.
Then he got the message.
Song Heping was not unfamiliar with what passed as a cigarette here.
It seemed a bit impolite to directly refuse by saying he doesn't partake in this kind of thing.
After all, in Colombia, marijuana was as common as cigarettes.