Chapter 4031 — Wrath of the Pill Hall
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
That Wei Zhao, a mere newcomer from Qingyun Pavilion, had simply muscled his way into the post of honorary vice-chairman of the Hong Chamber of Commerce — if word of such a thing ever got out, it would sound like nothing short of legend.
"Mine is only an honorary vice-chairmanship, whereas you, Elder Hong, hold a vice-chairmanship with real power in your grasp. We are hardly on the same level at all. I shall be counting on Elder Hong's guidance from here on." Wei Zhao spoke modestly.
And that was the plain truth. The credit this time belonged entirely to Wei Zhao, but if one spoke of the greatest beneficiary, it was Hong Zhong all the same — from manager of the North Island branch he had vaulted straight to a vice-chairmanship at the Hong Chamber of Commerce headquarters, second only to the chairman and the executive vice-chairman, all but certain to be the third in command. Such a rate of promotion was no different from riding a rocket.
"Young Hero Lin, you do this old man too much honor," Hong Zhong said, shaking his head with a laugh. "With abilities as world-shaking as yours, Young Hero Lin, this old man — vice-chairman or no, even were I to seat myself in the chairman's chair, I would still have to lean on you." Then he sighed. "And yet, circumstances make the hero — that saying is not one jot false. I toiled with diligence for decades and stayed pinned as manager of the North Island branch, unable to advance a single step. Now, after one crisis, I have ascended to the vice-chairmanship in a single bound. Even thinking on it feels somehow unreal."
"There is an old saying in the mortal world: risk and reward are ever in direct proportion," Wei Zhao nodded.
"And that too is thanks to Young Hero Lin — only so were we able to turn peril into safety. Otherwise this old man would by now likely not even be able to hold on to his seat as branch manager; I would have become the scapegoat for those above me, and where would today's glory be?" Hong Zhong said, still shaken.
On the battlefield of business there are no flashing blades, yet the peril there is no less — nay, it surpasses the battlefield. This crisis had come out of nowhere, and even in recollection Hong Zhong could not help breaking into a cold sweat. Thank heaven Wei Zhao had been at his side!
As the two of them spoke, the new day's auction opened amid the clamor, and Hong Zhong promptly proposed, "Though our task is already complete, the Four Islands Auction is a rare opportunity. If Young Hero Lin has no objection, let us linger a couple more days here on the Far North Island. Whatever catches your eye along the way, Young Hero Lin need only say the word — this old man will surely secure it for you at auction, if only as a small token of thanks. Young Hero Lin must not refuse."
Seeing the other speak so earnestly, Wei Zhao could hardly decline. He nodded. "Very well, then. I thank you in advance, Elder Hong. As it happens, I would like to see what fine things there are!"
This favor was too great. If Hong Zhong were not permitted some private recompense, the man would likely feel uneasy about it; such feelings, pent up overlong, might prove no good thing, and would ill suit their long cooperation in days to come. Better simply to let him show a little gratitude and ease his heart — in any case, Hong Zhong did not look at all like a man short of spirit jade.
Compared with the day before, today's auction was a notch or two lower in scale and class, but as for the sheer bizarre variety of the lots, it was second to none — truly an eye-opener.
Many of the items even the several professional appraisers present could not make head or tail of; they could only pronounce vaguely that this object was extraordinary, and that its specific use would require the buyers to explore and uncover for themselves.