Chapter 87: A man needs a job so that he won’t be looked down upon by women
Tong Zhongyuan didn't laugh. He couldn't laugh. He couldn't think of how to laugh at himself to counter the joke.
Eithans laughed a few times, but when he realized Tong Zhongyuan didn't react, his laughter softened and stopped. He asked in a voice a hundred times more shocked than before, "Jusus! You're not really getting married, are you?"
This time, there was no mockery in Eithans' voice, which only made him more embarrassed.
"No," he denied. "I wanted to ask you, do you think it's possible to move the London studio to Hong Kong?"
"Why? Why did you want to go to Hong Kong?"
"I'm not saying we have to go there, I'm just exploring the possibility. Most of the cultural relics we handle come from China, with Hong Kong being our main source. Moving to Hong Kong... might make communication easier? Would there be a higher level of trust?"
He could have answered the question fluently, but his joke disrupted his rhythm, making every word he said now contain a sense of guilt.
"No, no, no, Tony. What makes us convenient and trustworthy is not where we are, but your identity. You're a restoration expert at the British Museum, you're Chinese, and your mother was once a national treasure of China. Your identity is only valid in the UK. If you're in the UK and your company is in Hong Kong, it's just a nominal title, which is meaningless."
"It's not just a figurehead." He paused and said with difficulty, "I can go to Hong Kong."
"You're going to Hong Kong? Are you kidding me? Are you planning to resign from the British Museum?"
"No, I was just giving an analogy," he explained with all his might, "to explore a possibility. Or we could open a branch in Hong Kong. Hong Kong is the main battlefield for Chinese cultural relics, and the auction business is also mature. In addition to restoration and appraisal, we can focus on auctions."
"I don't think so. I know you're Chinese and have a special affection for China. But we're already very mature in London, with stable upstream and downstream operations. Our clientele is growing, and we have earned their trust. The waters in Hong Kong are complex, and we shouldn't rush into an unfamiliar market. It's not a good idea."
Tong Zhongyuan was silent for a long time. Eithans called out a few "hello" on the other end of the phone.
Eithans was right. He already had the answers to all the questions he asked. What else did he want to prove? Was he trying to convince Eithans or himself? If he had any sense, the discussion would have ended there. But the obsession had taken hold, following him like a shadow.
"If, and I'm just saying if, we move all our London operations to Hong Kong. How long do you think it will take?"
"Tony!" Eithans shouted. "No ifs! Why move to Hong Kong? Give me a reason! A reason why I absolutely must do it."
"I didn't," he replied.
Eithans was silent for a moment, then said, "If you want to move to Hong Kong, apply for a Hong Kong license, choose a location, find the right people, purchase new equipment, familiarize yourself with the Hong Kong market, and convince clients to choose you again, I think it will take you at least two years and one million pounds. If you're lucky, you'll keep 30% of your clients and lose 50%. The remaining 20% will belong to me, because I won't do such a stupid thing. So your best bet is just if."
Eithans hung up the phone and sent a photo of the bronzeware, adding, "Did I tell you? My first girlfriend was a super rich woman, but my mother told me..."
Tong Zhongyuan carefully examined the photos of the bronzes. They didn't all appear to be from the same dynasty, but they were relatively close. Taking into account the error rate of thermoluminescence, it wasn't impossible. There were two strange things. First, the bronzes were in such excellent condition. Three or four pieces in good condition was normal, but twenty pieces in good condition was a bit unusual. Second, all of these bronzes had ceramic molds for testing. Thermoluminescence identification is only an indirect method for bronzes, relying on the presence of ceramic molds within the bronze, a condition not all bronzes meet. These twenty pieces, however, happened to have both, as if they were specifically designed to pass thermoluminescence testing.
He thought of Qin Tian. She had returned immediately after receiving the call that day. He had asked if there was anything urgent, and she had said, vaguely, that it was nothing serious. He hadn't asked again. Now that he thought about it, the Shanghai Museum must have also received a batch of bronze artifacts from the same era.
Eithans was urging him to read it, asking him how it was going. He said he was still submitting his resume. Eithans laughed heartily and said, "Then take your time to read it."
He forwarded the photo to Qin Tian and sent a message.
"Please help me take a look at these bronze artifacts when you have time."
She didn't reply. Even at four o'clock, she still didn't reply to him.
He was getting a little restless. He knew she had entered the museum, and even if she was busy, she wouldn't have time to reply to a message. He was just about to go to the appraisal department when Song Suiyang came in with a gloomy expression, staring at him straight in the eyes, wanting to say something but stopping himself.
"What's the matter?" he couldn't help asking.
"It's not our department's business," she observed him, "it's Qin Tian's business."
"What happened to her?"
It seems that he really doesn't know. Song Suiyang thought, Qin Tian didn't tell him such a big thing. She was overthinking it.
"I heard she had an argument with Director Wang and even slammed the table. Director Wang lost his temper and told her to resign within three days."
Tong Zhongyuan said calmly, "Where did you hear that?"
"That's what Chen Yun said. She heard it from Secretary Guo. Secretary Guo is Director Wang's assistant."
"Let her change her career and become a storyteller. She has a bright future."
He threw down these words and walked out of the restoration room.
Yuan Junruo glanced anxiously at Qin Tian's office from time to time. After returning from Director Wang's office, she closed the door and never opened it again. He didn't know what he should do now, what he could do.
About an hour later, his phone rang. Qin Tian asked him to come into the office. This was unusual; Qin Tian had a quick temper. Usually, when someone approached him, he would just open the door and call for help.
He glanced at his other colleagues, stood up quietly, turned the doorknob, walked in sideways, and immediately closed the door.
After about ten minutes, he came out quietly again and returned to his workstation like a thief.
After finishing her duties, Qin Tian's energy drained away, and she slumped over the table. She hadn't eaten lunch or drunk water all day, and she was exhausted. She just wanted to lie down for a while. But then someone knocked on the door again. She simply kept silent and pretended to be dead. Could there be anything more urgent than Nan Bo right now? Even if there was, she didn't have the energy to care.
Tong Zhongyuan waited for a moment, but there was no sound from inside. He clearly saw Yuan Junruo coming out of her office. He turned the doorknob and pushed it open. Qin Tian was slumped over the office desk, his face pale.
Before Qin Tian could see who was coming, a projection came over her and a slightly cool hand rested on her forehead.
"What's wrong?" There was anxiety in his voice.
She raised herself up from the table and said, "I'm not feeling uncomfortable, just a little tired."
"Have you had lunch yet?"
She paused, wondering if she should ask so precisely.
"have eaten."
Don't take the initiative to show yourself to her, don't come to care about her. The trip is over. She is getting rid of her dependence on him, and she can solve all problems on her own.
He looked at her. Since he entered the door, she had kept her head down and didn't look at him.
"Wait me a moment."
Before she could answer, he had already hurried away. She slowly touched her forehead, where his body temperature still remained. Don't let her misunderstand, and don't give her room for imagination.
He returned shortly with milk and a cupcake, which he placed on the table, unscrewed the lid, tore open the package, and handed to her.
"Let's have some food first. Can we have dinner together tonight?"
Qin Tian didn't answer him. He picked up the bread and started eating it quickly and hastily. He looked at her silently. She was indeed hungry. It was already four o'clock in the afternoon, and she hadn't eaten lunch yet.
After eating a piece of bread, she felt her strength returning. She drank the last of her milk and wiped her mouth with a tissue. The color returned to her face, but she still felt deeply exhausted.
"Is there something you want to talk to me about?" she asked him.
"Wang Qiqing is looking for you?"
She was stunned. Regardless of how he knew it, he was not such a gossipy person.
"Is this what you're looking for me for?"
"No, but I want to know this more. Why did he look for you?" he said bluntly.
She held her head in her hands. What could she say? This matter was too complicated. She didn't want to waste time now, and he couldn't help her. She said evasively, "This is a long story. I'll tell you when I have the chance."
"Then I'll make it short."
She glared at him. Was she being too tactful? Couldn't he tell she didn't want to talk right now? He stared back at her. There was no sign of tact. They stared at each other for a few seconds, then she gave in. She briefly explained the whole situation, omitting Wang Qiqing's threats and simply saying she needed to give Nan Bo an explanation as soon as possible.
He frowned when he heard her say that the last casting was 2,700 years ago.
She finished, sighed, and said, "That's it. Let's have dinner another day. I have a lot of work to do these days. By the way, what do you want from me?"
He took out his cell phone and sent her the thermoluminescence identification report sent by Eithans.
"Take a look at the message I sent you."
Qin Tian picked up his phone and flipped through a few pictures, his face turning red.
"Where did you get these photos?"
"These are 20 bronze artifacts that were commissioned to our studio for appraisal. The thermoluminescence results all show they are 2,700 years old."
She zoomed in on each photo, examining the details. It was perfect, yes, but too perfect. Just like the three in the storage room. She flipped through the photos until she had seen them all. She put her phone down.
"My opinion is that it's all fake."
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