Chapter 52

"Xiao Wu, bring over the quilt and wrap up the jade carving, then carry it inside."

"Ah?"

"Xiao Li, confiscate everyone's communication devices. If anyone has contacted someone outside just now, control them immediately. At the same time, notify the police to control the contacted individuals. No matter what means you use, I want you to ensure that no information leaks out."

"Xiao Si, call your father immediately. You must appear in front of me in two hours. No, in one hour, meet at the Changping exit of the Badaling Expressway. Xiao Liu, prepare the car immediately. We're heading back to Beijing. Notify the traffic management department that the Badaling Expressway from the Fourth Ring Road to Zhongnanhai will be under traffic control in one and a half hours, leaving one lane open. Xiao Wu, come with me inside."

Old Chang issued a series of commands like a mighty general. The entire villa suddenly became chaotic, with figures darting out from all directions. Nannies and doctors were gathered in an empty room.

Wu Di followed Old Chang into the bedroom. Old Chang, looking exhausted, said:

"Xiao Wu, do you know what this jade carving represents?"

"What does it represent?"

"Rivers and mountains! The beautiful rivers and mountains of our country! Do you think possessing it would be a blessing for you?"

"Rivers and mountains, three thousand miles of beautiful rivers and mountains? I understand, Old Chang. You can handle it as you see fit."

Old Chang picked up a black phone in the corner of the room and said sternly after connecting the call:

"Please transfer me to the General Secretary's office."

Wu Di didn't hear what Old Chang said next. He was stunned by the mention of the General Secretary's office. Was it necessary to involve the highest level? Considering the fear in Lu Zigang's heart back then, if he hadn't been unwilling to see his three years of hard work destroyed, if he hadn't been unwilling to see this miracle disappear from the world, perhaps they wouldn't have seen this astonishing scene today.

The call was short but seemed long. When Old Chang and Wu Di left the bedroom, the convoy to Beijing was already prepared. Old Chang had Xiao Liu carry the jade carving and sit in the middle car, then he and Wu Di got into the same car. Chang Linlin, Zhong Qi, and Old Yang got into the car behind. A convoy of three Audis left the villa.

An hour later, the three cars met up with Zhong Lao's car. Old Chang sent Wu Di to Zhong Qi's car and brought Zhong Lao over.

What happened next left Wu Di with a lifelong memory. He saw the top leader who often appeared on TV, saw the complete picture the jade carving revealed on the vast square, and saw the small buildings in Zhongnanhai hidden among the green trees. Everything was like a dream.

He remembered the old man holding his hand, patting his shoulder, and laughing:

"Old Zhong, a tiger comes from a tiger's den, and this adopted son is no ordinary person!"

He also remembered a row of old men lining up to shake his hand and express their gratitude.

He remembered at least three old men who often appeared on TV taking photos with him.

He remembered... Apart from his silly smile, he couldn't remember anything else.

This state continued until he woke up the next morning. He lay in bed, dazed, and suddenly shouted, then covered his face with the quilt. What a loss, a huge loss! A treasure worth a fortune was taken away by a group of old men. Wu Di lay in bed, lost in thought. In ancient times, this was called presenting auspicious omens, which would bring promotions and wealth. With Old Chang and Zhong Lao around, he wouldn't be at a disadvantage, right? This thing cost him a lot of money! What? You say it was only a few ten thousand? Humph! In a small city, a dual-income family wouldn't save that much in two years!

Do you have the ability to exchange a few ten thousand for such a treasure?

Getting up, washing his face, and brushing his teeth, he realized that overthinking was futile, and this matter was over.

In the dining room, Wu Di bit into a fried dough stick angrily, thinking about what else he needed to do. After paying Zhong Qi for the house, he still had over two hundred million left, which was enough. He needed to reinforce his knowledge of jade gambling, as he couldn't rely on the reputation of a super-lucky person forever. Also, he needed to determine whether the dizziness was due to seeing through himself or the time running out, and he could try it again, or perhaps with a beautiful girl?

Wu Di's evil smile startled Zhong Qi, who had just walked over.

"Damn, are you in heat or something? Smiling so lewdly!"

"Get lost, I'll transfer the money to you after breakfast to pay you back, so you don't keep complaining about being broke!"

Wu Di, whose secret was revealed, blushed slightly, but Zhong Qi didn't notice.

"Damn! You have money to pay me back? Kid, tell me, what else do you know that I don't?"

"Of course, Xiao Wu has money to pay you back! Xiao Wu, you did well yesterday. The higher-ups asked what reward you wanted, and your godfather decided for you to get one billion RMB. Ha ha, you're a rich man now!"

"Ah?"

Two "ahs" were uttered simultaneously, followed by Zhong Qi's bitter and angry words:

"Working hard for decades isn't as good as Xiao Wu sleeping one night! Give me my money back!"

"The money is in my custody. Do you want it back? Fine, after breakfast, we'll settle the accounts carefully."

"This, this, Mom, how could I ask you to pay me back? I know the money is safe with you, all invested in the stock market, and hasn't lost..."

"Brat, you're getting too smart, asking for a beating!"

The old lady was embarrassed and angry.

"How much did your godmother invest?"

Wu Di whispered in Zhong Qi's ear, who held up three fingers.

"Three million?"

Zhong Qi shook his head.

"Ah! Three hundred million?"

The old lady grabbed a feather duster and secretly walked behind Zhong Qi, raised her hand high, and lightly hit Zhong Qi's head. She was about to hit Wu Di, but the two of them scattered like bees from a disturbed hive.

"The blueprints will be ready in three days. The procedures for starting work can be handled by Director Qu. The stones are all sold, so there's nothing else to do."

Wu Di leaned back in the car seat, counting his fingers. He decided to visit Old Yuan. Wu Di took out a set of agate Go stones and drove straight to the Second Machine Factory project.

Old Yuan was still the same, but his smile was more genuine when he saw Wu Di. After exchanging pleasantries, Old Yuan closed the door and asked:

"Xiao Wu, can you handle projects outside the city?"

"Sure, I'll be on a business trip in a few days."

"I have an old friend in Tiancheng who is developing a city square and is about to purchase equipment. Are you interested in checking it out?"

"Sure, I'm definitely interested."

"Let me contact him."

A moment later, Old Yuan covered the phone and asked Wu Di:

"Do you have time today?"

"Ah? Yes, I do."

"Then let's go now."

On the high-speed train, Old Yuan introduced the project to Wu Di. The developer was a state-owned enterprise under the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission. The project was large, divided into three phases, and the first phase included seven sets of equipment. His friend was in charge.

Wu Di pondered in the car whether his improved luck had brought the heavenly book, or whether the heavenly book had brought him luck. A series of good things had been happening to him recently, and even projects that used to take a year to sign were now so easy!

Old Yuan's friend was a sturdy middle-aged man, Mr. Wang Qingfeng, who was very enthusiastic, shaking hands with both hands. After the three of them sat down in the office, Mr. Wang directly took out the equipment list and asked:

"Xiao Wu, which part can you handle?"

Wu Di flipped through the list and pointed to an item:

"I mainly handle this part."

"Such a small part? No problem, just wait for the notification. The bidding will likely be in two months."

Mr. Wang turned to chat with Old Yuan, suggesting that Old Yuan work for him after retirement, which Old Yuan found appealing. Wu Di, bored, looked around the room and suddenly noticed a piece of porcelain on a display cabinet on the right wall.

The display cabinet was placed artistically, and from Wu Di's current position, he couldn't see it without turning his head, which was why he noticed it only now. But just one glance made him unable to sit still, as the porcelain on the display cabinet was too dazzling.

Wu Di apologized and asked Mr. Wang if he could look at the display cabinet. Mr. Wang laughed:

"Xiao Wu, were you bored listening to us? I used to work at the Second Machine Factory, and Uncle Yuan was my teacher! Feel free to look at anything in this room. Nothing here is valuable. We'll go out for lunch at eleven and let you try Tiancheng's seafood."

Wu Di suppressed his excitement, walked slowly to the display cabinet, and bent down to examine the porcelain, marveling at it.

Cloisonné enamel four-panel landscape hollow heart gourd bottle! The hollow heart is entirely painted with rouge enamel landscapes, with four panels on the gourd's waist, each depicting a different season in cloisonné enamel, full of poetic charm and artistic appeal.

The walls are evenly and neatly made, the colors are rich and bright, the painting is exquisite and lifelike. The shape is dignified and elegant, a grand and precious piece.

Wu Di took out a pair of white gloves from his bag, put them on, and gently picked up the bottle, examining the base. The inscription was clear, with blue and white double circles and the characters "Da Qing Qianlong Nian Zhi" (Made in the Qianlong era of the Great Qing). The color was natural, and it was undoubtedly genuine.

Wu Di turned the bottle and examined it again. The colors were still vibrant, and there were no flaws. A treasure! If it were auctioned, it would likely fetch over two hundred million. Wu Di lightly touched it with his pinky, and the information was clear. His judgment was indeed correct.

A genuine Qianlong cloisonné enamel four-panel landscape hollow heart gourd bottle!

Wu Di couldn't help but admire it, then suddenly thought:

"Such a valuable item, how could it be placed here so casually? Does Mr. Wang not recognize its value?"

Once this thought arose, it was like a surging wave, hard to suppress. What should he do? Wu Di tried to calm his breathing and put the bottle back. When he turned around, he was startled to see Mr. Wang and Old Yuan smiling at him.

"Ha ha, you like that bottle? If you like it, take it. It's not worth much, and I took a big loss on it!"

"A big loss? I think giving it to me would be the real big loss!"