Today, my dad asked me to come. I brought a few boxes of American ginseng and dendrobium, also gifts from Huang Wuye. What do you think, your daughter said they're all garbage? Should I call her back and ask why she gave me trash?" Zhang Haimin's face alternated between red and black: "Zhang Zhili, I never expected you to know Huang Wuye? It's really beyond my expectations. But, dealing with these people without the backing of the authorities, sooner or later, you'll be swallowed up without a trace left. Do you know that?" Zhang Zhili nodded deeply, looking "sincere" as he continued to look at this cousin. Seeing Zhang Zhili seemed to be taking it in, Zhang Haimin became even more pleased. After all, in his eyes, Zhang Zhili was a mental patient who didn't know anything. He must have done something else besides pleading with him to resolve Huang Wuye's matter, perhaps settling the matter for Huang Wuye. Now, as long as he restrained Zhang Zhili, setting up the next trap would still allow him to easily pocket the two million. In any case, money that went into his pocket would never be spit out! Look at you idling at home, only to be ridiculed as living off others! Your cousin is showing you a clear path! Huang Wuye deals with earthwork business, and I can also find you a job on the construction site, where you can easily earn several million a year!" Zhang Zhili wore a pensive expression: "But it takes money, right?" Zhang Haimin nodded: "Right, two million!" Zhang Zhili frowned. Zhang Haimin continued to coax: "Don't worry, that's the price for others! Can your family afford it? The two million your father-in-law gave me definitely can't be spent for nothing. You just need to cover the cost for the construction site!" Zhang Zhili fell silent, as if he understood. He nodded: "How much is that?" Zhang Haimin thought Zhang Zhili was really interested, grinned, and said, "Just one or two hundred thousand! I know you don't have that money. Just go back and tell your father-in-law. He can still afford one or two hundred thousand. If I remember correctly, the Tang family prepared over three million for expanding the medicinal garden! Where can you make money from a medicinal garden!" "A construction site is a good business. You invest the money, and you'll break even in a year." Zhang Zhili narrowed his eyes, realizing how much money the Tang family had saved. This guy was aiming to exhaust all the money from his family. "Uncle, with a relative like you, I really thank the ancestors of my father-in-law for eight generations!" Zhang Haimin's expression changed. Why did it feel like this was not a slip of the tongue, but an insult to him? Just as he was about to add fuel to the fire, from afar, the Chief of Security, Shen Hong, was busy with his phone as he walked towards the bathroom. After walking past, he turned back with a surprised face: "What a coincidence! How come you're here!" Ignoring Zhang Haimin, Shen Hong firmly shook Zhang Zhili's hand: "Zhang Zhili, what a coincidence to meet you here!" Zhang Zhili smiled and nodded: "Indeed, it's a coincidence." Shen Hong said, "Are you here for dinner? Come on, let's go to my private room. I mentioned inviting you for drinks earlier, but I didn't know when you would be available. Today, I'm hosting, with a few bottles of twenty-year-old Maotai. Let's drink together, just the two of us, and a few of my friends." Zhang Haimin was already dumbfounded, flustered on the sidelines. He never imagined that Zhang Zhili not only knew Huang Wuye but also his immediate superior! And he was still so familiar? Zhang Haimin couldn't help but suspect that the person in front of him was not the mentally ill son-in-law of his cousin's family, Zhang Zhili. Could he have mistaken him for someone else, perhaps the offspring of some wealthy family? Zhang Zhili nodded and asked, "Chief Shen, does the Security Department handle the business of setting up construction sites?" "No, who said that?" Zhang Zhili said, "A relative of mine." "He said that if I give him three million, the Security Department can set up a construction site for me to play with!" Shen Hong was furious: "Nonsense! Who said that? I've repeatedly stated that no money transactions are allowed. Whoever has the audacity to do so is asking for trouble! You tell me, I'll skin him alive when I get back!
"Zhang Zhili was already about to leave the corridor, but suddenly, taking advantage of the opportunity to pass a cigarette to Shen Hong, he turned back and gave Zhang Haimin a meaningful look. Zhang Haimin felt as if he had been struck by lightning, feeling thoroughly uncomfortable.
As soon as Shen Hong and Zhang Zhili left, Zhang didn't even go to his daughter's banquet. Instead, he went straight to Tang Dapeng's house to apologize. Turning around the corner, Zhang Zhili cheerfully changed the subject: "Shen Director's treat must be for important guests. Is it inappropriate for me to go?" Shen Hong laughed heartily, "You're also an important guest of mine, come along, it's no problem!"
"It's just as well I can introduce you to some friends, you wouldn't mind, would you?"
Zhang Zhili could tell that Shen Hong was intentionally mentoring him, introducing him to some influential acquaintances. This kind of reciprocity meant that in the future, when Shen Hong needed antiques appraised, Zhang would be there to help.
Although Zhang Zhili wasn't particularly interested in this kind of networking, he knew not to refuse others' kindness. He chuckled, "Old brother, you're giving me so much face, how could I not reciprocate? Zhang brother, if you were the chief at Tianyuan Pavilion, what are you doing now?" Shen Hong asked.
"I'm a doctor, my medical skills are far better than my appraisal skills!" Zhang Zhili laughed.
Shen Hong was slightly surprised, but then laughed, "Well, that's quite a coincidence! I have a friend at the table who isn't feeling well, maybe you can take a look at him! But let's agree, if you're confident, then speak up, if not, don't say anything!"
"No problem!" Zhang Zhili agreed.
As they spoke, the two entered a large private room where many people were seated. Although they were dressed casually, their demeanor and aura showed that they were people of high status. Especially the middle-aged man sitting at the head of the table, wearing what seemed like a regular polo shirt but exuding a shrewd and competent air with his gold-rimmed glasses.
"Shen, where have you been for so long? Planning to sneak away and escape the drinking?" One person turned to the shrewd man with a smile: "Liu Shishou, I'm about to expose him."
"This guy Shen is the most dishonest when it comes to drinking, always trying to slip away with some excuse. If it weren't for you today, he probably would have left already." Liu Shishou responded with a smile.
Shen Hong rolled his eyes, "Old Jin, your character hasn't changed, always love to tattle."
"Since when did I ever back down from drinking? Let's see who collapses first later." After Shen Hong and Zhang Zhili sat down together, Shen Hong introduced to everyone: "This is my little brother, he's a doctor with superb medical skills and also knowledgeable about appraising antiques. He helped me out a lot last time. The chief of Tianyuan Pavilion, Qigao Ming, also holds him in high regard!"
Zhang Zhili thought to himself that Shen Hong's actions were quite casual, actually bringing him to such an occasion. However, recalling what Shu Yanyan had said before, about Shen Hong's different family background, he felt reassured.
"Shen, you brought a doctor to treat Liu Shishou, you should find someone reliable for that. How can you bring a greenhorn, who plays with antiques, instead? Calling a doctor an appraiser, that sounds polite, calling it a sideline, that's impolite!" Someone joked.
Shen Hong laughed, "Oh come on, I brought a kid up here to play around, so that you guys can find him for appraisal in the future!"
With that, Shen Hong directly embraced Zhang Zhili and sat him down, boldly saying, "Come on, brother, show them what you've got, let them know how capable you are!"
Everyone could tell that Shen Hong's words were just a joke, so naturally no one took it seriously. Moreover, Zhang Zhili's age looked like that of a freshly graduated medical student, so everyone just thought Shen Hong was mentoring a junior, bringing someone familiar along.
Zhang Zhili also smiled faintly, sweeping his gaze over everyone, observing for a moment. He was almost familiar with the ailments of each person, but he didn't rush to prove his abilities. Instead, he looked with interest at the elderly man sitting to the right of Liu Shishou, whose hair was all white, and seemed to be an old Chinese doctor."