Chapter 178 – Smashing the Antique shop! (1/2)
That evening, Deputy Bureau Chief Qin Yong treated Dong Xuebing to a dinner in a private room of Huiyang Restaurant.
Dong Xuebing does not know about Qin Yong’s background and only know he is transferred from the Provincial Public Security. He is currently in charge of the Patrolling teams and the Traffic teams. These are important departments, and his position among the deputies is among the top. He looks like he is a hardworking government official who wants to prove himself. He is more eager to achieve results than Dong Xuebing. Overall, the impression he gave to Dong Xuebing is quite good and they have lots of common topics due to their small age gap.
“Brother Dong, this dinner is to celebrate your success in solving the case. How can we not drink on occasion?”
“Ah… I can’t hold my liquor well.” Dong Xuebing was telling the truth.
“Then, we shall only drink a bottle of Beijing alcohol. You are from Beijing and should like this. The alcohol content is not high too.”
After all the food was served, the waiter poured the alcohol for them. Dong Xuebing felt giddy when he saw the full glass of Baijiu. He raised the glass for a toast. “Chief Qin, I know you can drink, and I will not lie to you. At most, I can only finish this glass before I get drunk. State Security has strict regulations forbidding us to drink and I have not drunk since I entered the government service.”
Qin Yong did not mind and said. “Actually, I also can’t drink much. Let’s just drink casually.”
After taking a sip, Qin Yong laughed. “I heard you are not married yet.”
Dong Xuebing replied. “Yes. I still have not met someone suitable.”
“Hahaha, our Yan Tai County is famous for beautiful women, and we have lots of pretty officers in our bureau. Brother Dong, you should look around or how about I ask my wife to introduce someone to you?”
“No need. Being single is also quite good.”
“You are right. Hahaha, marriage is the tomb of love.”
It’s not that Dong Xuebing does not want to get married. He wants to get married and have a child to please his mum. But his relationships with Xie Huilan and Qu Yunxuan were a mess. Dong Xuebing intends to get married to Qu Yunxuan, but she keeps avoiding this subject. He also wants to be with Xie Huilan. But Xie Huilan’s family will not agree. That’s why Dong Xuebing’s love life is in a total mess now. Also, after mixing around with beauties like Xie Huilan and Qu Yunxuan, he is not interested in average looking women. No many women would dare to claim they are pretty when compared to Sister Xie and Aunt Xuan!
“Here, Chief Dong, let’s have a toast.”
After entering the grassroots level, Dong Xuebing was prepared to be forced to drink. He knew this is common in these areas, and after half a glass, he feels tipsy. He finished the remaining Baijiu in his glass and rubbed his temples.
Qin Yong saw this and knew Dong Xuebing was not lying when he said he can’t drink. He stopped asking Dong Xuebing to drink and start to chat about their work.
Dong Xuebing is tipsy, but his mind is clear and listened attentively.
It was unclear if Qin Yong was slightly drunk or did it on purpose. He starts telling Dong Xuebing about the relationships between the bureau leaders and their characters. For example, Hu Yiguo is desperate for power, and Deputy Zhao Jingsong, who is close to Hu Yiguo, is particularly pervy and is interested in Office Director Hu Simin. Deputy Gong Zhongwei, who is close to Chief Liang, is someone that keeps a low profile and is not interested in moving up the ranks. He only wants to remain in his current position until he retires. Of course, Dong Xuebing did not really believe what Qin Yong said. He got to see with his own eyes for him to believe.
After leaving the restaurant, Qin Yong starts to dig information from Dong Xuebing jokingly. He jokingly asked what sort of connections Dong Xuebing has for him to be the Deputy Bureau Chief at his age. Dong Xuebing immediately sober up and insist he does not have any backings. To be honest, Dong Xuebing really does not have any background and he got his position is because of Xie Huilan. It is Xie Huilan who has lots of connections.
Qin Yong saw he could not get any info out from Dong Xuebing and changed the subject.
It was close to 7 pm when they return to their quarters.
Dong Xuebing immediately collapsed on his bed once he entered as his head was spinning.
Ring, ring, ring… Dong Xuebing’s phone rang, and he answered without looking at the caller display. “Hello?”
It was Qu Yunxuan. “You are drunk?”
Dong Xuebing was surprised. “Huh? How do you know? I only said one word.”
Qu Yunxuan giggled. “I know you better than you know yourself. I can tell from your voice when you are about to fall asleep, or you just wake up. I know how you sound like after you drink. You went out earlier? Don’t drink too much. It is not good for your health.”
Dong Xuebing replied: “Ok……, did you call because you miss me?”
“Hmph! Stop talking nonsense. You want me to beat you?”
“If you don’t miss me, why are you calling? Just admit it.”
“Go to hell. I have something to tell you.” Qu Yunxuan said. “The Auction Company is almost ready. I managed to contact two experts through a friend, hired the staff, and confirmed the office location. The only problem we have now is the first batch of auction items. Although many people had contacted me and wish to auction their items, their antiques are not impressive and valuable. There is nothing that will pull in the crowd.”
“Just look around or buy some.”
“I want our first auction to be impressive and build up our reputation. But the company does not have money left after paying the office and hotel ballroom rental and advertisements.”
Dong Xuebing thought for a while and asked. “What sort of antiques do you need?”
“This is a small auction, and an antique that is worth a few hundred thousand to 1 million RMB is enough.:
Dong Xuebing got up from the bed and rubbed the center of his brows. “Ok… Let me think of a solution.”
“You are going treasure picking again? But your county does not have many antiques.”
“Let me look around first. Wait for my call.”
Other than his career, Dong Xuebing is most concern about this company now. He had invested all his savings, and if the first auction fails, it will be hard for the company to make a comeback. The first auction must not fail as this concerns his future happiness.
After washing his face, Dong Xuebing sober up and went out to look for an antique shop.
Yan Tai County is not as prosperous as Beijing, and there are only a few antique shops around. It was already 7 plus in the evenings and most of the shops were closed. Dong Xuebing went to the town center and asked several people if there were any antique shops around. In the end, he could not find one. Just as he was walking along the streets, he saw two people riding bicycles pass him. It was Hu Silian.
“Eh, Chief Dong?” Hu Silian stopped her bike and said. “What a coincident.”
Dong Xuebing had met the man beside Hu Silian in the family quarters. “Director Hu is going shopping with your husband?”
Hu Silian was not in her uniform today and was wearing a bright colored dress. “Haha, no. My husband’s unit has an event today, and we went dancing at the ballroom opposite the plaza there. Chief Dong, you are going shopping?” Hu Silian’s husband also alighted from his bike. He had heard from his wife about what happened in the bureau today and is very polite to Dong Xuebing.
Dong Xuebing smiled. “I am looking for antique shops, but I can’t find one.”
Hu Silian smiled and asked. “Chief Dong, you are an antique collector? Let me go with you. I remember there is an antique shop nearby. It should still be open now.” Hu Silian turns to her husband and extends her hand. “Give me my bag and go back first.” Her husband quickly passes her the handbag and bid goodbye to Dong Xuebing. He seems to be very obedient to Hu Silian.
Dong Xuebing noticed this and thought to himself. Women in the government sector are different. If their husbands are of a lower rank than them, their status at home will be lower. Hu Silian and her husband reminded him of his relationship with Xie Huilan. When he is with Xie Huilan, her attitude is also overbearing.
“Brother Hu.” Hu Silian’s husband’s surname is also Hu. Dong Xuebing said. “If you got nothing on later, let go together. I feel bad to disrupt your date.” Dong Xuebing had sober up from the alcohol and knew that if he was seen walking along the streets with Hu Silian alone, there would be rumors. He is still new in the bureau and must avoid these rumors.
Hu Silian knew Dong Xuebing’s concerns and nodded to her husband. The 3 of them slowly walk towards the antique shop.
Although Dong Xuebing is not overbearing like Xie Huilan and other leaders, he is outstanding in his own way. He treats others with respect and addresses Hu Silian’s husband as “Brother Hu.” Hu Silian also feels good when he sees Chief Xiao Dong treating her husband with respect.
Bao Xuan Ge. This is an antique shop that specializes in porcelain and paintings.
After they entered the shop, Dong Xuebing noticed the porcelain items on display on a shelf. He does not know about paintings and calligraphy, and his target today is porcelain. He had made a profit from breaking the porcelain and inspecting the broken sections for authenticity the last time he was with Xie Huilan. Now, he still has 7 BACKS and he might get lucky. Dong Xuebing does not have high hopes as expensive authentic porcelains are seldom found in small shops and there are not many porcelain items around.
“Chief Dong, are you looking for painting or porcelain?” Hu Silian asked.
“I prefer porcelain.”
“Haha, me too. I love the antique collection programs on TV, and Blue and White porcelains from the Yuen dynasty are my favorite.”
“That’s right. I also like Blue and White porcelains.” Who does not like something that is worth over a hundred million?
Hu Silian is very observant, and she saw Dong Xuebing looking at the porcelain vases, she kept quiet and walk aside with her husband. They do not want to disturb him.
The owner of the shop walks over. “Are you all looking for anything?”
Dong Xuebing points to that shelf. “How much are these vases?”
“Oh, this container is made from a commoner’s furnace and is selling for 5,000 RMB. This small bowl is from the official furnace and it cost 30,000 RMB. That vase is also 30,000 RMB…” Dong Xuebing needs to know about the prices first. It will be useless if he can find an authentic porcelain item, and the owner is selling it for a few hundred million. Luckily, all the porcelain items there were not expensive. The owner must also know that his products were all inferior items.
After the introductions, Dong Xuebing start to examine the porcelain items.
About 10 minutes later, Dong Xuebing picked 3 items that he felt were authentic. Alright. Let’s start.
Crash! Dong Xuebing raised his hand and smashed a Dragon Spring porcelain piece on the floor. He quickly bends over and picks up a broken fragment.
The shop owner roared: “What are you going?!”
Hu Silian and her husband were shocked. “Chief Dong, what are you……”
Dong Xuebing ignored them and examined the fragments. From the broken sections, this piece does not look authentic. He immediately picked up another porcelain item and smashed it on the concrete floor, before picking up a broken part to study. The owner rushed forward and raise his fist to hit him. Hu Silian remembered Dong Xuebing had drunk before coming here and might be drunk. As a subordinate, she cannot see her leader getting beaten up in front of her. She pushed her husband and he ran over to stop the owner.