Chapter 168 This Should Have Been His End
At the beginning of February, the air is already filled with the flavor of the New Year. People are even busier during the weekend.
Qin Tian got out of the taxi and helped Qin Yunjie into the corridor. The aunt upstairs had just returned from buying groceries and greeted her enthusiastically.
"Xiao Qin, your dad?"
"right."
"Oh, I don't see you often. Would you like to come over and celebrate the New Year with me?"
"No, you'll live with me from now on."
The wind in London Harbor is bitingly cold in winter.
Tong Zhongyuan confirmed the wax seal on the seal and nodded to the staff.
A huge cargo ship carrying 255 precious cultural relics from the Shanghai Museum slowly left the port.
Watching the freighter going further and further away, he called Ming Yuanxing.
"The Shanghai Museum's artifacts have already left the port. I've already made preparations for the artificial reproduction."
"Okay. I'm ready here too. Let's wait for news together."
Tang Zhixu lay on the sofa, waiting for lunch. From the kitchen came the smell of fried hairtail and the sound of his mother complaining about his father.
The phone vibrated, and the blind date girl sent another message.
"It's almost New Year's Day, have you confessed yet?"
He looked at the words, a little confused. As for that, a good young woman, she could have any man she wanted.
"Are you planning to wait for me to get rejected and then take advantage of the situation?"
Once again, I was not blocked and the other party sent me a hahaha laughing emoticon.
"Yeah. The reason you don't dare to confess is because you don't have the confidence that it will succeed."
Tang Zhixu threw away his phone, turned over and faced the wall behind the sofa.
The guy left, and Qin Tian was very sad. But he knew that she had really made up her mind. He knew her, and she would never look back on what she had decided to do.
What about him? Is there any need for him to wait and see? Alas, he finally gave up. It's all because of this New Year's holiday, the pressure to get married has made him lose his balance.
With only two weeks until the Lunar New Year, the museum has lost interest in its work and even the number of visitors has dropped significantly.
After Tong Zhongyuan's departure, Song Suiyang refused to restore the Yuan blue and white porcelain. Ming Yuanxing approached the National Museum of China to accept it, but the museum, perhaps unwilling to give up, used the Lunar New Year holiday as an excuse to postpone the receipt. The unrestored Yuan blue and white porcelain remained in the collection room of the Shanghai Museum. The restoration table Tong Zhongyuan had once used was now empty, the artifacts he had revived returning to their proper places.
The restoration staff had returned to their usual nine-to-five routines. While Song Suiyang didn't dare touch the Yuan blue and white porcelain, she volunteered to repair smaller, less valuable artifacts. But with the Lunar New Year approaching, she was tired. She was working later and later each day.
Everyone was waiting for the New Year, and no one noticed the damp smell of wind and rain.
Ming Yuanxing turned down some meetings and commendations in the city and reduced his business trips. He was waiting for a result. To be honest, he was not surprised after seeing Tong Zhongyuan's USB flash drive. Wang Qiqing joined the museum later than him and was promoted faster than him. There have always been rumors about him. But due to the difference in professional ability, Wang Qiqing finally stayed at the position of deputy director. Now it seems that the big tree he relied on may have retired. He knew he was unwilling to accept it. Their relationship over the years was neither good nor bad, and they were not too close. However, after working together for more than 30 years, he was still one of the people who knew him best. Wang Qiqing had problems, but he didn't think he would be bold enough to collude with overseas counterfeiting gangs.
Regardless, he still stopped Wang Qiqing from investigating Nanbo's case. He couldn't take any risks, even if there was even the slightest suspicion. This matter was life-threatening to Tong Zhongyuan and Qin Tian, especially Xiaotong, who was no longer in China.
Wang Qiqing also sensed a storm brewing. After withdrawing from the NMB's case, he had a vague feeling that something was amiss, a nagging sense of unease. Yet, all was calm within the museum, and Tong Zhongyuan, who had displeased him, had returned home. The Chunhua Collection, the Western Zhou chime bells, and the Tianmu scroll were all awards for meritorious service. It was a perfect end of the year, another year closer to a safe retirement.
On Monday, his secretary Guo Jie submitted his resignation. He was shocked to realize that his right-hand men were not as loyal as he thought.
"Xiao Guo, what are you doing? Where are you going after you resign? The Shanghai Museum is already a top museum in China."
Guo Jie lowered his head: "Director Wang, I want to go out and study..."
Wang Qiqing wouldn't believe a word of it. Guo Jie was already 34 years old, with a family. He had less than five years until retirement, and after he retired, Guo Jie would be a strong contender for the deputy director position.
He suggested that he and Guo Jie have dinner together that evening to have a good chat. Guo Jie's attitude was very reluctant, and he realized that he was not the only one feeling uneasy during this period. Guo Jie seemed even more confused than him. He became more and more uneasy.
He consoled himself, believing he had nothing to fear. His actions were innocent, and there was nothing to worry about. As for some past events, they were long past, and he hadn't broken any rules. But Guo Jie, he knew too much. It wasn't that he was afraid of trouble, but he was afraid he'd cause trouble and spread rumors.
At dinner that evening, Guo Jie said listlessly, "I'll take annual leave after handing over my work this week. I won't be here after the New Year. Director Wang, don't worry. This is really a family matter. Thank you for coming and taking care of me all this time. I have nothing but gratitude for you."
Wang Qiqing didn't say anything else, just said some polite words, and they parted ways amicably.
But accidents always happen earlier than planned. On Wednesday morning, an uninvited guest walked into the Shanghai Museum's office area, alarming almost all employees.
The police walked into Deputy Director Wang's office and the secretary's office next to it.
Wang Qiqing witnessed the scene firsthand and collapsed into a chair. His heartbeat was so rapid that he ignored his dignity. Fearing imminent death, he walked out of the office and asked someone to call 911.
On that day, two people from the Shanghai Museum were taken away in quick succession: Guo Jie, the deputy director's secretary, was taken away by police, and Wang Qiqing, the deputy director, was taken away by ambulance.
This scene was so explosive that it shook the entire Shanghai Museum. Rumors spread like a tinderbox, spreading to every corner of the museum.
The colleague who accompanied Wang Qiqing to the hospital reported that Deputy Director Wang had contracted hyperventilation and had been treated and returned home. Speculations abounded, but no one could verify their authenticity. However, the next day, the day after, and a week later, Wang Qiqing still hadn't returned. Even Ming Yuanxing blocked a visit organized by the union.
Finally, rumors about him began to piece together. Some said he wasn't home and had gone to the police station. This was because Guo Jie had betrayed him. As Wang Qiqing's secretary, Guo Jie's actions were naturally directed by Wang Qiqing.
Tang Zhixu was also thrust into the spotlight, with almost everyone trying to get some information out of him. After all, he was Wang Qiqing's top officer, a trusted and trusted lieutenant. To outsiders, they appeared to be close. However, Tang Zhixu remained incredibly tight-lipped, not revealing a single word.
Only Qin Tian knew that Tang Zhixu had never been Wang Qiqing's confidant, but he would not betray him. What kept him silent was not loyalty, but the bottom line.
In fact, Wang Qiqing did go to the police station, but it was not Guo Jie who gave him away, but Zhou Qiang.
Two days ago, she received a call from Wang Yijian.
Wang Yijian is still calm beyond his age, but within his calmness there is an unconcealable excitement.
"Teacher Qin, there's been a breakthrough in Zhou Qiang's case. The police said he's signed a confession to several charges. I've asked a lawyer, and a case involving such a large sum of money would take at least 15 years. And the person he identified wasn't you! It was from your museum... Ah, I'm sorry, I shouldn't be so happy..."
"Is it Director Wang Qiqing?"
"You already know? Yes, he said that he was unwilling to accept the Shanghai Museum's rejection of his donation, so he tried every possible way to find a way out and found Director Wang's Secretary Guo. Secretary Guo introduced him to Director Wang, who accepted his gift and pointed him in the right direction. He suggested that he find an unknown small museum to donate to. So he found our Kongbo Museum."
Such accusations do not constitute a crime, and Wang Qiqing was released after cooperating with the conversation.
Just when people were speculating that Wang Qiqing might wait until after the New Year to return to work at the Shanghai Museum, three days before the New Year, on an ordinary morning, all employees received a system notification from the Shanghai Museum's Human Resources Department.
Wang Qiqing will retire early and will no longer serve as deputy director.
That was the last time the Shanghai Museum’s staff saw the influential Deputy Director Wang in this bronze-shaped museum.
Wang Qiqing held a cardboard box containing his personal belongings from his years of work. He straightened his back, intending to walk this final leg with his usual dignity. However, the road from his office to the exit was long and muddy, and he recognized every face along the way. In the past, when they saw him, they respectfully addressed him as Director Wang, and some would even smile until he passed. But today, none of them came forward. They stopped, staring at him with indescribable expressions, or turned their heads away, pretending not to notice. Those who were usually close to him walked away with their heads lowered.
Tang Zhixu looked at him from afar and watched him leave the Shanghai Asia Museum where he had worked for nearly 30 years.
He didn't see Tang Zhixu, but in his vision with his head raised, he saw the shadow of his old friend.
Under the huge glass dome, Qin Tian's eyes were calm in the crowd. The moment she looked at him, her eyes didn't ripple at all, as if she had expected him to leave with the cardboard box.
The cardboard box in his hand became heavier and heavier, and his straight back gradually bent. When he walked out of the Shanghai Museum, his back looked like a real old man.
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