Chapter Fifty-Five: Catching the Adulterers

“What? The Guanyin statue was chosen by Fatty Zhou for you? How is that possible? There’s no way he has such an eye for things!” Upon hearing what Zhang Wei said, Yue Ming pointed incredulously at Fatty Zhou’s face, utter shock written all over his features.

Fatty Zhou was also taken aback for a moment after hearing Zhang Wei’s words. Although he had been present when Zhang Wei bought the gold-inlaid jade Guanyin statue, the purchase had been Zhang Wei’s decision alone; he hadn’t offered any advice at all.

But Fatty Zhou was a quick-witted man. Noticing the subtle look Zhang Wei shot him, he instantly understood—Zhang Wei was deliberately giving him credit to save face! Naturally, he was happy to play along.

“My brother here was buying a collectible for the first time. As his older brother, of course I helped him out, picked out something good for him. What’s wrong with that?” Fatty Zhou patted his round belly and straightened his back as he spoke with pride.

“I was present when Mr. Zhang purchased the gold-inlaid jade Guanyin. It was indeed Mr. Zhou who selected the piece for him—I can vouch for that,” Manager Wang chimed in without the slightest hint of embarrassment, vouching for the story.

Manager Wang had, in fact, been there the entire time when Zhang Wei bought the statue, and he remembered clearly that Zhang Wei had chosen it himself, without any input from Fatty Zhou. But this was exactly where Manager Wang excelled; only the three of them had been present at the time, and Zhang Wei was now giving the credit to Fatty Zhou. Wang instantly understood the reason: after Fatty Zhou and his wife had bought several fakes, Zhang Wei wanted to help him save face.

The Fatty Zhou couple were big spenders in Manager Wang’s eyes, so he certainly wasn’t about to offend them. He simply went along with the story and offered a little white lie. If it could earn him the favor of such a wealthy client, he didn’t mind telling a few fibs.

At first, some of the surrounding customers were skeptical about Fatty Zhou having chosen the statue. But with Manager Wang’s testimony, no one voiced any more doubts, and several even began to look at Fatty Zhou with newfound respect.

“Mr. Zhou, you have quite the discerning eye! To pick such a flawless gold-inlaid jade Guanyin statue.”

“Mr. Zhou, you’re a real friend. One day you’ll have to pick something out for me too—maybe I’ll catch some of your good luck.”

Hearing such flattery from those around him, Fatty Zhou’s face broke into a broad grin, regaining the dignity he had lost earlier. With a look of pride, he replied, “Oh, it’s nothing, really. Let’s all keep in touch and share our knowledge in the future!”

Zhang Wei saw the joy on Fatty Zhou’s face and the grateful glance he sent his way. He nodded back with a knowing smile. Zhang Wei had shifted the credit for the purchase to Fatty Zhou, partly to earn his goodwill, and partly to keep a low profile.

After all, nobody here knew him. Even if they learned he’d bought the statue himself, at most they would praise his luck, which benefited him little. Far better to let Fatty Zhou take the credit, ensuring he would remember the favor and perhaps bring him along next time something good came up.

After a round of compliments to Fatty Zhou, no one brought up the purchase again. Manager Wang, meanwhile, seized the moment to say, “Ladies and gentlemen, Master Qian and our other guests have arrived, and it’s getting late. The auction is about to begin. Please follow me to the back hall.”

With a beckoning gesture, Manager Wang led the group toward a room behind the collection hall. Fatty Zhou was about to follow when he was pulled back by Wu Qian, who grabbed him by the ear and snapped, “Fatty Zhou, haven’t you lost enough money already? Don’t even think about joining the auction. We’re going home!”

“Honey, the auction is nothing like what just happened. Everything up for auction will be authenticated by Master Qian himself—there’s no way to buy a fake,” Fatty Zhou explained, clutching his ear.

“Don’t bother with your excuses. Your monthly—no, your yearly—allowance is already spent. Don’t even think of getting another cent from me!” Wu Qian’s face was dark with anger.

Wu Qian kept such tight control of Fatty Zhou’s finances, partly to prevent him from keeping a mistress, partly to keep him from ruining himself with his hobbies. No matter how Fatty Zhou pleaded, she refused to let go of his ear or allow him to join the auction.

“Dear, you’re killing me!” Fatty Zhou cried, baring his teeth in pain. “Let go, will you? I won’t go, all right? Let’s just settle up and go home!”

Zhang Wei and Liu Yurou could only laugh helplessly at their antics. Liu Yurou had planned to attend the auction herself to try her luck at marrying into money, and now that the chance was gone, she couldn’t help feeling disappointed.

As for Zhang Wei, he didn’t care either way. He had bought the Guanyin statue only because of the “triple price buy-back” policy at Chenxiang Pavilion, which would let him turn a quick profit. At the auction, even though everything was genuine, the prices would only ever be higher than the market rate—there was no quick money to be made. He certainly wasn’t about to spend a fortune bidding.

Under Wu Qian’s relentless insistence, Fatty Zhou had no choice but to settle the bill and leave. Even after learning that all the items they had picked were fakes, the couple still paid a hefty five million yuan, and Fatty Zhou even covered the three hundred thousand yuan for Zhang Wei’s Guanyin statue as well.

Had Fatty Zhou not offered to pay the three hundred thousand, Zhang Wei would have borrowed the money from him anyway. Although he had earned over a million yuan this month, under Zhongtong Company’s policy, salaries were paid around the 15th, and commissions only on the 25th—his money hadn’t yet reached his account. Fatty Zhou’s offer saved him from having to ask.

With the collections bought by Zhang Wei and the Zhou couple, there were ten items in total—far too many to fit in an Audi A8. They hired a secure transport van instead. Even though only Zhang Wei’s piece was authentic, the others couldn’t bear to throw away the remaining nine fakes, so they brought them home as decorations.

The four of them left Chenxiang Pavilion, with Wu Qian dragging Fatty Zhou by the arm in front, afraid he might bolt at any moment. Zhang Wei and Liu Yurou followed behind, chatting idly as they walked.

“Zhang Wei, that gold-inlaid jade Guanyin statue is so valuable—are you planning to keep it for yourself, or will you sell it?” Liu Yurou tugged on Zhang Wei’s arm, her face filled with envy.

“Neither,” Zhang Wei replied, turning to her with a mysterious look. “I plan to give it to you.”

“Really?” Liu Yurou’s face lit up with surprise and delight. She shook his arm excitedly, almost kissing him on the cheek in her joy.

“Of course not,” Zhang Wei said, suddenly changing his tone. “I was just teasing.”

The smile froze on Liu Yurou’s face. Realizing she’d been played, she clung to Zhang Wei’s arm with her left hand and pinched him hard with her right, scolding him in a playful, coquettish voice, “Zhang Wei, you jerk! How dare you tease me—”

Click!

Before Liu Yurou could finish her sentence, the sound of a phone camera shutter snapped nearby. Both she and Zhang Wei turned to see someone sitting in a car, taking their picture.

Zhang Wei frowned when he recognized the person in the car: it was Li Mengfei, Murong Xuan’s cousin, sitting in a red sports car. He waved his phone with one hand and made a peace sign with the other, grinning mischievously at Zhang Wei and Liu Yurou.

Looking at Li Mengfei’s smug expression and the phone in his hand, Zhang Wei couldn’t help but think of one word—blackmail.