Chapter 740: A Thief Never Leaves Empty-Handed
Wang Honghong slapped him on the forehead, and the "pa" sound was particularly crisp.
"You didn't steal, why are you running!"
In a panic, Hu Xing made random accusations, saying that he had caught Yang Fan stealing and that he was the innocent one.
Yang Fan had never seen such a shameless person before. After hearing what he said, his face turned red with anger and he was speechless for a while.
Hu Xing seized the opportunity and frantically shifted the blame:
"I don't know what the combination key is. I don't even know where the safe is. How could I have switched it?"
"Besides, I can't even read a single word, so why would I steal that rubbish?"
Hu Xing became more and more excited as he spoke, as if he regarded himself as Dou E, and wished that the snow in June would prove his point.
But no one present believed his lies.
"Bang!"
Zhou Liang burst open the door to the conference room, rushed in, and said excitedly: "Sister-in-law, we found the original painting!"
He raised the long cloth bag in his arms and shook it.
When he heard that it had been found, Gu Xue excitedly stepped forward, carefully took the calligraphy and painting, opened the cloth package, and found that it was indeed a rolled-up scroll.
He carefully pushed the scroll open, looked at it again and again, breathed a sigh of relief, and nodded to Ye Rou, saying, "It is indeed the original painting!"
Seeing that the painting was found, Zheng Zhiyuan breathed a sigh of relief.
Gu Xue was too embarrassed to talk about renting the calligraphy and painting. After carefully checking that the calligraphy and painting were not damaged, he handed them to Zheng Zhiyuan and whispered, "I'm sorry, senior."
Zheng Zhiyuan took the calligraphy and painting, and nodded when he heard it, his attitude still a little cold.
Gu Xue knew that he was in the wrong first, so he didn't dare to ask for forgiveness from his senior and retreated sadly.
Ye Rou asked Zhou Liang: "Where did you find the calligraphy and painting?"
"It's right under this kid's bed." Zhou Liang pointed his finger at Hu Xing.
The evidence is conclusive, and it is confirmed that Hu Xing stole the painting.
When Director Hu saw that it was indeed his nephew who stole the calligraphy and painting, he was furious. In a rage, he slapped Hu Xing hard and said, "You beast! Why did you steal the painting?"
Hu Xing's head was hit and he tilted it sideways. He ignored the pain and cried out in grievance:
"I really didn't mean to steal it. I just heard you and Director Gu say that this painting was precious, so I was curious and wanted to take a look. I'll return it after I'm done."
Ye Rou said calmly, "Call the police."
When Hu Xing heard that Ye Rou was going to call the police, his voice cracked with anxiety.
"Uncle, please save my nephew! I really didn't steal the painting, I just took a look! If I had stolen it, I would have taken it out long ago. Why would I hide under the bed and wait for someone to find it?"
Hu Xing's expression wavered slightly.
He really loves his nephew.
He has two daughters but no son. His mother said that he could not rely on his daughters, and without a son there would be no one to take care of him in his old age and see him to the end of his life.
His eldest brother's family was the opposite of his. They had three sons, and his mother decided to give his eldest brother's youngest son to him to raise.
Because of this, Director Hu's wife had a big quarrel with him. Seeing that he was unwilling to send Hu Xing back, she became cold towards him from then on.
His two daughters were not close to him, so Hu Xingquan was counting on his nephew.
Hu Xing was given whatever he wanted and was raised with great difficulty. He was like a biological son to me, even though he was not.
He couldn't bear it any longer, so he started to plead for Hu Xing:
"Comrade Ye, look, the calligraphy and painting aren't lost, and he knows he made a mistake. Why don't we just forget about it?"
"Expel him and send him back to his hometown in the countryside to farm. Never let him return to Beijing again..."
"Uncle!" Hu Xing didn't want to go back to his hometown to farm.
Director Hu glared at him and told him to shut up.
Ye Rou clapped her hands, her applause nonchalant. "Director Hu has a good plan."
Seeing that Ye Rou refused to give in, Director Hu suddenly pulled Hu Xing over and slapped Hu Xing on the back with his big hand like a palm-leaf fan.
"You damned child, apologize to Comrade Ye now!"
He hit Hu Xing with all his might, making him twist and turn like a water snake.
"Uncle, I was wrong, I was really wrong. I didn't mean to steal it. I was just curious and wanted to take a look. I planned to return it after I finished looking at it. I really didn't mean to steal it!"
He dodged and cried out in grievance, and the two of them chased each other, making it very lively.
Ye Rou remained silent.
"Enough!" The silent ancient scholar, unable to bear it any longer, finally spoke up to stop this farce.
He has a good temper and no one in the museum has ever seen him get angry. Even when Director Hu sidelined him, he never really got angry.
Director Hu was frightened by the sudden outburst of anger and stopped what he was doing.
Gu Xue's face turned pale and dark, and he said sternly, "Call the police, you must call the police!"
When Hu Xing heard this, he was so angry that he jumped up and down and yelled, "You old bastard, why did you call the police? Nothing was lost!"
"Whether the item is lost or not, you are still considered stealing!" Gu Xue scolded harshly.
Hu Xing was not convinced and wanted to curse, but suddenly he heard a "bang".
Yang Fan shouted sharply: "Teacher!"
Hu Xing looked over and his pupils shrank.
Director Hu was seen kneeling on the ground, his former pride gone, his eyes red.
"Comrade Ye, I know this is Hu Xing's fault."
"But after all, the calligraphy and paintings are not lost. I beg you to be magnanimous and spare Hu Xing this time."
"I will definitely keep an eye on him from now on and make sure he never dares to steal anything again."
He spoke with such sincerity and tears in his eyes that even Hu Xing was moved. He stopped yelling and cursing and looked at him with a touched face.
Ye Rou looked at Director Hu calmly and asked, "Director Hu, do you really think Hu Xing stole the calligraphy and paintings out of curiosity?"
Director Hu knew exactly what kind of person Hu Xing was.
His nephew has no interest in learning at all, so how could he be curious about a painting?
But he still nodded reluctantly.
Sun Baiqing sneered, as if he had never seen such a fool before. He said curiously, "Stealing calligraphy and paintings just out of curiosity, only a fool would believe such a thing!"
Wang Honghong also said, "It was such a spur-of-the-moment decision. How come he even prepared a replacement fake? I think he had it all planned!"
Seeing that Ye Rou was unmoved, Director Hu suddenly turned around and kowtowed to Gu Xue.
"Guxue, for the sake of our official business, please don't call the police. I'm resigning and will never interfere in the museum's internal affairs again. I'll leave everything to you. Please help me this time!"
"Get up!" Gu Xue couldn't bear his courtesy, but his expression no longer had the determination just now.
To put it bluntly, among the people present, Hu Xing was wrong, Director Hu was wrong, so was he not wrong?
If he hadn't been afraid of conflict and hadn't given in again and again, what happened today wouldn't have happened.
Besides, the calligraphy and paintings were not lost after all...
Gu Xue looked at Ye Rou and said, "Why don't you just call..." the police.
Before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by Ye Rou.
Ye Rou suddenly stood up, picked up the fake painting, shook it, and said calmly, "Director Gu, a thief never leaves empty-handed. How many fakes like this are there in the museum?"
This single statement revealed the secret, and Gu Xue was stunned. He slowly turned his head and looked at Hu Xing in disbelief.
Hu Xing lowered his head guiltily, avoiding his gaze.
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