CHAPTER 331: CHAPTER 116: HARVEST

Entering May in Mo City, the seaside breeze began to blow. Su Ziceng, coming out of the airport, saw not only the driver waiting for her but also several campaign vehicles driving past her sightline.

The Fei Family’s campaign vehicles had become a landscape in this coastal city. The beach project had become an excellent political chip for Mr. Fei. In Su Ziceng’s memory, before her rebirth, the beach project in Mo City was not invested in by Hang Fei families, it seemed to be planned by the government.

However, since Mr. Fei went into politics, it indirectly counted as the government having a hand in it.

After returning home, Su Ziceng organized her achievements from the past month, wanting to personally hand them over to Su Qingzhang. She personally felt quite satisfied with this draft proposal.

From Yan Wuxu’s words, Su Ziceng also roughly knew that in the past month, Su Qingzhang had suffered several losses to the Fei Family in many occasions. Now with Mr. Fei’s election momentum being strong, Su Qingzhang was considering whether to, like most people, drop his pride and also place some of his chips on Mr. Fei.

The history of Mr. Fei’s rise and the Su, Hang families were different - even a wily old fox like Su Qingzhang despised his character. Mr. Fei originally had a wife, but later took a liking to a government official’s daughter from Bianjing City, who later became Mrs. Fei, now also climbing up step by step using his father-in-law’s connections.

"Let me bow down to that old geezer of the Fei Family? In your dreams," Su Qingzhang cursed Chang Mei who was trying to persuade him. Chang Mei had reliable information that Mr. Fei had been confirmed as the next chairman of the Mo City council, and would also serve as the deputy governor of the province. As such, Su Family’s every move in Mo City would have to depend on the Fei Family’s mood in the future. Seizing the chance before the news was announced, Chang Mei wanted to prepare early to avoid falling into the hands of the Fei Family.

The partially closed door was pushed open again, and Su Qingzhang snorted heavily.

Su Ziceng, seeing the still furious Su Qingzhang, knew that bringing up the matter of Subi Auction House right now was ill-timed. But she hadn’t discussed business with Su Qingzhang alone either. Thinking this, the hand that was on the doorknob withdrew, and the step she was about to take faltered.

Inside the room, Su Qingzhang sat on his office chair with his back to the door. Su Ziceng could hear his snorting breaths of anger.

"Courage, courage," Su Ziceng muttered to herself. This month, from the head of the culture department to a mad homeless person, she had encountered all kinds of people. Moreover, the image of Mr. Deng flashed through her mind, she inadvertently straightened her back. Even if the most legendary leader of the country sat opposite her, she could still converse at ease, let alone her own father Su Qingzhang.

"Ziceng?" Su Qingzhang, not hearing any movement behind him, turned his chair around and caught the upright and bold appearance of Su Ziceng.

"Dad," Su Ziceng, while still filled with the courage in her chest, walked swiftly to sit in front of Su Qingzhang.

"Whether to get straight to the point or to beat around the bush," Su Ziceng was weighing in her mind what kind of opening would be better.

Su Qingzhang saw the documents in Su Ziceng’s hand; he gestured for Su Ziceng to pass them over.

After over ten pages of documents, it took Su Qingzhang about twenty minutes to finish reading. He read very carefully, with his eyebrows sometimes furrowing and sometimes relaxing. Su Ziceng sat opposite him, akin to a pupil waiting for a teacher’s evaluation.

"The plan is very well made," said Su Qingzhang, easing the tension Su Ziceng had been carrying for many days.

Su Qingzhang was indeed very satisfied with this plan. If the previous night auction was like a magic show performed by Su Ziceng, merely a momentary sensation, then this development material from Subi Auction House could be seen as a magnificent meteor shower, refreshing the sight and inducing beautiful hopes.

"I am surprised that you have learned to anticipate others’ thoughts, which is a prerequisite for becoming a successful businessperson," said Su Qingzhang. He is not one to dwell in romantic dalliances of young lovers, so after his reflection, he quickly sensed something unusual in the material.

Using patriotism as a lever to mobilize public opinion and even public attention is a clever tactic compared to the wealthy and powerful Christie’s. This is a typical advantage of being in one’s own country.

"I’ll take the material for now and give it to the finance department for a feasibility analysis tomorrow. I have some matters to attend to lately. You should spend more time with Wuxu since she is due to give birth in half a month," Su Qingzhang, busy with no time to accompany Yan Wuxu, noticed her frequent demands to return to her "maternal home." Now that Su Ziceng has returned, and while she is not occupied, he asked her to look after Yan Wuxu.

Having received the advice, Su Ziceng didn’t immediately stand up. In the past, in the presence of Su Qingzhang, Su Ziceng would have preferred to leave sooner. Yet, seeing Su Qingzhang’s hair increasingly gray under the dim light, she suddenly felt a sense of filial guilt intensify.

"In Japan, I met a very stubborn collector," Su Ziceng started casually, narrating her story.

Su Qingzhang doesn’t enjoy listening to ramblings, but he couldn’t bear to send away his daughter who had never been close to him over the years. Besides, he was quite interested in her experiences in Japan this time. He wanted to know who it was that gradually changed his daughter.

It was a collector living on the outskirts of the Capital City, whose home was almost filled with collections from various countries and eras. Compared to the orderly and neatly arranged collections, the collector himself was rather unkempt, having grown long white hair resembling a white ape from a distance, with a temper as peculiar as a monkey’s.

"Why bother pleading with those Japanese," hearing Su Ziceng’s tone, she must have begged many in Japan. Although Su Qingzhang wasn’t overly indulgent towards Su Ziceng, he wouldn’t allow outsiders to bully her.

"No, quite the opposite. I got along very well with that collector. He just refused to provide the collections for Subi Auction," Su Ziceng recalled the elderly collector, her face showing the joy of a successful prank.

After a brief recollection, Su Ziceng spoke earnestly, "That old collector said, many things cannot be measured by money or power. Those treasures he collected throughout his life, he only wishes to leave to descendants who can appreciate them. He allowed me to write a name on some of those collections."

"Name?" Su Qingzhang disregarded those whimsical Japanese notions.

"After he passes away, those collections will be left to those who cherish them, according to the names. That is the principle by which that collector operates." Su Ziceng had chosen a bronze mask from the Maya era, to which the collector had readily agreed.

After finishing her story, Su Ziceng blinked and stood up, closing the door behind her.

Su Qingzhang sat in the study room, reflecting on what Su Ziceng had said about principles; unexpectedly, this marketplace still had people who operated by principles... And the person to teach him this was his seemingly capricious daughter.

Truly his daughter, Su Qingzhang, he cupped his face in his hands and began to smile with relief. (To be continued. If you like this work, please feel welcome to vote a recommendation ticket or monthly ticket at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation.)