Chapter 7646
Everything's been taken care of.
Old Ming was completely desperate.
Little did he know that the seller had secretly filmed him and captured all the things he had done.
This time, we were really careless.
But can we blame him? If Xiao Chen hadn't suddenly appeared, this whole thing would never have been exposed.
It's all Xiao Chen's fault!
Where did this bastard come from? Why does he have to ruin his plans?
Damn it!
Yao Yuanlai shook his head: "Ming Lao, why are you doing this? Your skills are not low, why do you have to do such a heartless thing?"
"I knew it! I've been tricked so many times lately and you didn't even notice. Turns out you did it on purpose, conspiring with those bastards to scam me! I trusted you so much and never even considered that possibility!"
Qin Xiangdong's face was filled with even more murderous intent: "Ming, you know perfectly well how my Qin family has treated you!"
"For twenty years, I paid you two million in consulting fees every year, trusted you implicitly, and entrusted you with the appraisal of all the antiques in my house. Is this how you repay me?"
"You actually colluded with outsiders to swindle money from the Qin family! How can you face me and the Qin family?!"
Old Ming's legs went weak, and he knelt on the ground with a thud, kowtowing repeatedly until his forehead bled profusely. His voice was choked with sobs as he pleaded, "Boss Qin, I was wrong!"
I was confused for a moment, blinded by money. I shouldn't have lied to you, and I shouldn't have betrayed the Qin family!
"Please forgive me this time. I promise I'll never do it again. I'm willing to hand over all the money I swindled. Please forgive me!"
As he kowtowed, he turned to Qin Xianglan, his eyes full of pleading: "Miss Qin, please say a word for me, please plead for me with Boss Qin!"
I've served the Qin family for twenty years. Even if I haven't achieved anything great, I've certainly put in the hard work. I've followed your father through thick and thin, appraising countless antiques for the Qin family. Please, spare me this time!
Looking at his humble and pleading appearance, Qin Xianglan felt no sympathy in her eyes, only deep disgust and disappointment. She said in an icy tone, "Ming Lao, you have disappointed me too much."
My father treated you like a brother and trusted you implicitly, yet you repaid kindness with enmity, colluding with outsiders to swindle money. A person like you doesn't deserve our forgiveness at all.
Yao Yuanlai walked over step by step, looking down at Old Master Ming with a cold killing intent in his eyes. He said in a cold tone, "You, surnamed Ming, are really something. You even dare to deceive me, Yao Yuanlai, and you're stirring up trouble and corrupting the social atmosphere in the art collecting world."
Let me tell you, even if Boss Qin lets you off the hook today, I, Yao Yuanlai, will never let you go. I will make you utterly disgraced in the art collecting world and make you pay a heavy price for your actions!
Old Master Ming slumped to the ground, his face ashen, his eyes vacant, and his body utterly devoid of strength…
He knew he was completely finished. Not only had he lost the Qin family's trust and the annual consulting fee of two million, but he would also face retaliation from Yao Yuanlai. He would no longer be able to stand in the art collection world and might even bear legal responsibility, spending the rest of his life in prison.
Qin Xiangdong gave him a cold look, waved to the bodyguard beside him, and said in an icy tone: "Drag them both away, keep them under strict guard, hand them over to the police, thoroughly investigate their previous scams, and do not let any accomplices get away!"
"Yes, Boss Qin!" Several tall bodyguards immediately stepped forward, grabbed the seller and Old Man Ming who were slumped on the ground, and dragged them away.
The cries and pleas for mercy from the seller and Old Ming gradually faded away, eventually being completely shut out by the sound of the courtyard gate closing.
The courtyard returned to silence, but this silence no longer carried the previous heaviness and tension; instead, it carried a sense of relief.
Qin Xiangdong took a deep breath, slowly calming the anger in his heart. He turned to Xiao Chen, his expression complex, a mixture of gratitude, guilt, and a hint of admiration. He stood up, bowed deeply to Xiao Chen, and said in an extremely solemn tone, "Mr. Xiao, we are truly grateful to you today."
If it weren't for you, my 150 million would have gone down the drain, and I would have become a laughing stock in the entire provincial business community. The Qin family would have also lost face because of it.
"I am deeply grateful and will never thank you enough. I, Qin Xiangdong, will always remember this kindness."
Xiao Chen slowly stood up, sidestepped the bow, and said in a calm tone, without the slightest hint of arrogance: "Mr. Qin, you are too kind."
Xianglan asked me to take a look, and I was merely doing what I was supposed to do; there's no question of gratitude involved.
Yao Yuanlai also walked over quickly, his arrogance and impatience completely gone, replaced by sincere respect and apology.
He took out a gold-embossed business card from his pocket, respectfully handed it to Xiao Chen with both hands, and said sincerely, "Mr. Xiao, I was very rude just now. I was blind to your greatness. Please forgive me."
"I am Yao Yuanlai from the ancient city. I have some influence in the Northwest art collecting community. If Mr. Xiao ever visits the ancient city again, please give me the opportunity to properly entertain you. This is my humble apology."
Xiao Chen reached out, took the business card, glanced at it briefly, put it in his pocket, and nodded slightly: "Okay."
Han Jin also walked over, clasped his hands in a salute to Xiao Chen, and said with a solemn expression and sincere tone: "Mr. Xiao, I am Han Jin, a disciple of the Maoshan School, and I am usually good at feng shui and predicting good and bad fortune."
I witnessed Mr. Xiao's expertise in appraising antiques today, and it was truly an eye-opening experience. I am extremely impressed.
I was truly ashamed to admit that I was deceived by the jade's superficial appearance when I sensed its spiritual energy.
He paused, then continued, his tone even more sincere: "Mr. Xiao's appraisal skills are far superior to mine, and even far surpass all the appraisal masters I have ever met."
If the opportunity arises in the future, I hope Mr. Xiao will not hesitate to offer his guidance; I will certainly humbly learn from him.
Xiao Chen glanced at him, saw his sincerity, and nodded gently without putting on airs: "Mr. Han, you're too kind. It's just mutual learning."
Seeing that he was calm and unassuming, Han Jin was not annoyed at all; on the contrary, he respected him even more…
True strength never requires ostentation to prove itself. People like Xiao Chen are the ones who are truly worthy of following and respecting.
After finishing the matter, Xiao Chen didn't linger. He said goodbye to Qin Xiangdong, Yao Yuanlai, and Han Jin, and then left the riverside courtyard with Qin Xianglan.
As soon as they stepped out of the courtyard, they saw several men in black quickly enter. It was obvious that they were people arranged by Qin Xiangdong to handle the aftermath of the dispute between Elder Ming and the seller.
Behind them, the cries and pleas for mercy from Old Ming and the seller could be faintly heard, shrill and desperate, but they were quickly shut out by the closed door and could no longer be heard.
Qin Xianglan drove the car, and the car was quiet. She remained silent for a long time, her brows slightly furrowed, her expression complicated. She was clearly still feeling scared and angry about the scam she had just been exposed to.
After all, this was an inside job, unlike thieves from outside; it's truly chilling. (End of Chapter)