Chapter 4826 — Still Not Enough Premium Goods
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
"Replying to Vice President Lin, after I heard what happened to Steward Chai, I applied for a transfer here myself. Otherwise, when a new dynasty comes, its own ministers come with it—with Steward Chai gone, I'd have been left all alone, and life would surely have been hard." Cui Mingshan glanced bitterly at Chai Laoshi.
He was a living example. Back at the Waihu Branch, before Wei Zhaotong arrived, he had been a vice steward in fine style; but the moment Wei Zhaotong came, he was promptly kicked aside and became a thorough idler. If not for the good fortune of meeting Wei Zhao, that great patron, he might well have spent the rest of his life warming the cold bench.
"Old Cui's luck hasn't been bad, actually. A vice steward's transfer doesn't need the approval of all the headquarters higher-ups, but besides needing a higher-up to push for it, there also has to be a corresponding vacancy. And around that time, the vice steward here at the Morning Star Branch had applied early to be transferred back to the Central Island headquarters because of his dismal performance—he'd rather go back and take a sinecure than wear a sour face here—so it just happened to open a spot for Old Cui," Chai Laoshi added with a smile.
"Not bad at all. The two of you coming over together means you can look out for each other and keep an even firmer grip on the situation. This branch posting is a hot seat for anyone else, but for you two it's a rare opportunity. Work hard from here on, and if you run into trouble, come to me or Elder Hong anytime. We're all our own people—we won't stand by and do nothing," Wei Zhao said with a nod.
Originally, neither Chai Laoshi nor Cui Mingshan could ever have hoped for a lateral transfer to East Continent, but after the business with Wei Zhaotong and the string of events that followed, the two of them had been thrust squarely into their present positions, rising a good notch in the process. Others could not replicate such a success story even if they tried—truly, the times make the hero.
"Thank you for your care, Vice President Lin!" Cui Mingshan was overjoyed. Like Chai Laoshi, he had no backing to speak of; though he too counted as one of Wei Zhao's and Hong Zhong's faction, before this he could at most have been considered Chai Laoshi's hanger-on. Now he had finally won Wei Zhao's formal recognition—something he had dreamed of all along.
"All right, Old Cui, we can reminisce later. You said the list was ready?" Chai Laoshi asked.
"That's right. These are the lots for this auction gala. Please have a look, Steward." Cui Mingshan promptly handed over a list. Though this was core confidential business of the association, easily exploited by competitors if leaked, Wei Zhao was plainly no outsider in their eyes, so there was no need to be secretive.
Wei Zhao sat unhurriedly to one side, drinking his tea, while Chai Laoshi took the list and glanced over it. His brows knitted at once, and for a long while he did not look up.
After a long silence, Chai Laoshi shook his head and sighed. "The grade still isn't enough. Can't we find some way to bring in more scarce goods? This auction gala is vital to our branch—those rivals in the other merchant associations are all waiting for us to slip up. We can't afford any mistakes." (To be continued.)