Chapter 106: Getting Promoted?

Wudaokou, Imperial Treasure Studio.

Old Wang hung up the phone again, then looked at Elder Gu and Elder Ji in silence. He had just used the speakerphone, so both of them heard everything clearly.

"That little punk is out dating," Old Wang cursed.

"He sure has some nerve." Old Gu also nodded in agreement. Dealing with a treasure worth over a hundred million, that kid was unexpectedly unhurried. He really had some composure.

"Heh, this young man is destined for greatness. Whatever. If the emperor isn’t in a hurry, why should we eunuchs worry?" Elder Ji shook his head.

"You’re the eunuch."

"Yeah, you’re the eunuch."

The two old men glared at Elder Ji in anger.

Elder Ji laughed heartily, not offended at all. After a moment of thought, he said, "Let’s ask Li Qiuyu how much this thing is worth."

"I don’t know him well," Old Wang quickly shook his head.

The Li Qiuyu that Elder Ji mentioned was a true master in the collecting circles of Jiangsu and Zhejiang. He was also a doctoral advisor in the history department at Jiangcheng University, having mentored a large number of outstanding students. At the same time, Li Qiuyu was the president of the Jiangcheng Calligraphy and Painting Association. He held numerous titles, including contemporary painter, calligrapher, historian, and ancient text expert. But the most important point was that he used to be Elder Pan’s student! Therefore, if he were to set a price, it would be definitive—unless they took it to an auction house instead.

"I do have his phone number, but the old man is hard to deal with." Elder Gu shook his head. Even though they were all in the antique circle, Li Qiuyu was far too aloof. Moreover, as Elder Pan’s student, there was no telling what kind of trouble he might cause once he learned about Elder Pan’s painting.

"Then I’ll ask a few fellow collectors over in Capital City."

As a master collector, Elder Ji’s identity had always been mysterious. Even Elder Gu and Elder Wang could only guess at his background, never knowing the exact specifics. They only knew that Elder Ji had previously lived in Capital City and relocated to Jiangnan after retiring. His children were either in Capital City or Xiangdao.

Elder Ji found a number and dialed. The call was quickly connected. "Elder Ji, what are your instructions?" The person on the other end of the line was actually speaking with an obsequious smile, eagerly asking for his instructions.

Elder Ji chuckled and jokingly scolded, "What instructions could I possibly have? I have a painting by Elder Pan. Elder Pan didn’t leave a formal seal, only a one-centimeter hidden seal. The inscription on the painting says it was gifted to Miaohua. How much do you think this painting is worth?"

"What? Gifted to Miaohua? Is it the one from the Spring Festival of 1959?" The person on the phone actually stated the specific inscription details.

"Yes, yes, yes. How did you know?" Elder Ji asked, puzzled.

"Ms. Miaohua has been looking for this painting! She’s been searching for over twenty years!" The person on the phone said in pleasant surprise. "People in the circle thought this painting had been destroyed!"

"Who is Miaohua?" Elder Ji asked curiously.

"Xiangdao. The Zhu family. It’s the elegant moniker of Old Madam Zhu!"

"The Zhu family..." Elder Ji opened his mouth in shock.

There was no one across the Greater China region who didn’t know about the Zhu family in Xiangdao. And now, Old Madam Zhu was the only remaining member of the Zhu family alive. She was practically a living legend!

"I understand. The painting is in my hands right now. Help me contact them, and call me back!"

Elder Ji lost his enthusiasm, for the painting’s rightful owner had been found! Elder Pan had painted this piece during the Spring Festival of 1959 and gifted it to Old Madam Zhu! At that time, Old Madam Zhu must have been a young woman or a newlywed. Regardless, if Old Madam Zhu was Miaohua, then she was the rightful owner. That meant he couldn’t keep this painting for his own collection. However, this painting could now fetch a much higher price.

"Old Madam Zhu of Xiangdao..." At this moment, Elder Wang and Elder Gu were also clicking their tongues in astonishment.

In the last century, Old Madam Zhu went to Xiangdao. She must have left in a hurry, leaving the painting behind in the mainland. In that era, communication was underdeveloped, and items like scroll paintings were not easy to preserve. It would have been completely normal for it to be destroyed. Old Madam Zhu had searched for this painting for years and had likely long assumed it no longer existed in this world. Therefore, if this painting were to suddenly reappear now, its price would undoubtedly hit the absolute ceiling.

"As for the price, I’ll help Lin keep an eye on it. After all, I’m the one who contacted the buyer for him." Elder Ji suddenly laughed. "But we must make him treat us to a good meal at the most expensive restaurant in Jiang City. Otherwise, I won’t let this kid off the hook!"

"Yes, yes, yes. The most expensive restaurant in Jiang City."

"Well, give him a call and tell him not to rush over. Let’s wait until the buyer arrives and we can all get together. I’ll take this painting with me and appreciate it for a couple of days first. Hahaha!" Not afraid of handling a hot potato, Elder Ji grabbed the painting, turned around, and left.

Elder Gu and Elder Wang could do nothing about him, but they both knew deeply that Elder Ji’s character was beyond question.

Elder Wang called Lin Jian, telling him there was no need to rush over. Elder Ji had taken the painting home, and the buyer would likely arrive soon. Lin Jian only needed to show up then.

Lin Jian naturally had no objections. Besides, he still had a bunch of things to do today. Just as Ye Ziqiu was getting into the car earlier, she told him not to leave today because there would be a meeting later, and as the deputy supervisor of the security department, he had to attend! So, Lin Jian had to attend a meeting at the company in the morning, though he would be free at noon and in the afternoon. However, he had also made an appointment last night with that unseen assassin, promising to give the guy three pills right here. He wondered when that guy would arrive.

Soon, the two of them arrived at the company. Ye Ziqiu took the elevator from the underground parking lot, while Lin Jian returned to the security room. After changing his clothes, he checked the duty log.

"Lin Jian, the HR department notified us right before we got off work yesterday that new security guards will be joining the company today. We need to go to the HR department to pick them up when our shift starts later."

"Hmm, how many did they hire?" Lin Jian asked curiously.

"I’m not sure of the exact number. We’re only responsible for picking them up."

"Got it. I might be in a meeting this morning, so you go bring them down."

"You’re really going to a meeting?" Liu Fei asked in utter astonishment.

Lin Jian looked at him oddly. "Can a meeting be fake? Did you hear some gossip again?"

"Yeah, I heard something." Liu Fei didn’t hide it and said directly, "I heard rumors from the HR department that you’re going to be promoted to security department supervisor and concurrently serve as the deputy minister of the newly established administration department.

"Yeah, the company underwent a restructuring. The previous multiple departments have been reorganized into five major divisions.

"Ranked first is the administration department, which includes security, legal affairs, dormitories, logistics, the cafeteria, the motor pool, and so on.

"Then there’s the HR department, finance department, information department, and marketing department—making five major divisions in total. Each major division has numerous smaller sub-departments underneath it. For places like the security department or legal department, their leaders can only be called supervisors from now on, not ministers!

"Not only are you being promoted to the security department supervisor, but you’re also being simultaneously promoted to the deputy minister position of the administration department, which ranks first among the five major divisions. You might end up managing even more things."

"I’ll be too busy for that!" Lin Jian didn’t expect the company’s restructuring to be such a huge undertaking.

However, this was also Ye Ziqiu’s style. She was an action-oriented, progressive woman who continuously improved and explored new management models.

"You can’t just say things like that recklessly. President Ye values you highly, so just accept it," Liu Fei reminded him in a low voice.

"Alright, I understand, Liu."

"Oh, right, this month’s payroll is out. You have to go to the finance department yourself to collect your payroll card."

"I haven’t even been here for a month, have I?" Lin Jian asked in surprise.

"The company has fixed paydays. It’s calculated by the day. Salaries are issued on the twelfth of every month, and today is the twelfth. So, you’ll be paid for however many days you’ve been at the company."

"Understood." Lin Jian smiled. "I’ll have to take this payroll card home to my mom tonight."

"By the way, Lin Jian, you... you shouldn’t stay away from home so much. Don’t make your mom worry. Yesterday, your mom even talked to me..." Liu Fei suddenly stopped mid-sentence and turned his head to look elsewhere.

He had let something slip. At this moment, Liu Fei wished he could slap himself in the face.

Lin Jian suddenly raised his eyebrows. "Liu, you’re still in contact with my mom?"

Hearing this, Liu Fei’s courage suddenly surged. He stiffened his neck and retorted, "Your family and I are old neighbors! Can’t old neighbors keep in touch?" At this moment, his face flushed completely red.

Lin Jian suddenly burst into a smile, nodding as he said, "Alright, alright, alright. I didn’t say you couldn’t. Why are you getting so anxious? But the two of us need to have a good talk!"

The moment he heard the words "a good talk," Liu Fei’s hair stood on end.