Chapter 93

When returning from Tu Shou's house to Wudao Village, it was already evening. This trip was absolutely beneficial, not only did he get to see the various precious antiques collected by Old Tu, but he also learned a lot about how to deal with people and situations from him.

In fact, this was the key point. Despite Old Tu's upright and incorruptible character, he actually knew better than anyone how to handle people and situations, especially in the antique business. He started as an apprentice at the age of twelve and has been in the trade for over sixty years. What could he not know?

The wisdom of such an old antique expert sometimes proved to be more useful than the six-character mantra.

As Zhang Tianyuan was about to leave, he invited Old Tu to visit Shangpu. Old Tu said he would definitely come, but not now, as he had some matters to attend to.

When they returned to Wudao Village, Xu Gang and She Lin were sitting at the village entrance playing with a dog. It was a very beautiful Tibetan Mastiff, though Zhang Tianyuan didn't know if it was purebred. When they saw Zhang Tianyuan return, Xu Gang and She Lin both came over. The Tibetan Mastiff seemed to recognize Zhang Tianyuan and showed some affection, but unexpectedly, Shen Luo flew out of his arms and started to fight with the dog. It seemed the little guy didn't want to share Zhang Tianyuan's affection with a "dog," showing how selfish he could be.

Seeing that the eagle and the dog weren't really fighting, Zhang Tianyuan relaxed and laughed, "Why are you two still standing at the door? It's already dark. Are you afraid I was eaten by Old Tu?"

"Nonsense, with all the treasures you brought, who wouldn't be worried?" Xu Gang scolded.

"Alright, alright, I'm sorry for making you worry. Let's go back, I'll treat you to some late-night snacks." Zhang Tianyuan smiled and patted Xu Gang and She Lin on the shoulder.

The kitchen in Wudao Village was very sophisticated, almost like the imperial kitchen of the Northern Song Dynasty. The food here was no worse than that of a five-star hotel, and might even be better.

Zhang Tianyuan invited the two to have late-night snacks in his room.

As they drank, Xu Gang asked She Lin, "She Team, what are your plans for the future? Do you want to continue being a vagrant? I heard you don't have a job, and you don't even have a girlfriend. What kind of life is that?"

"Xu Gang, don't talk nonsense."

"It's fine, what he said is true. After I was discharged, I found it hard to adapt to society. I became a security guard, but I ended up seriously injuring a thief. Although I was commended, I was still fired. I don't know what the real reason was, and I didn't want to know. Later, I became a driver, but I injured an unreasonable cop and was detained for a long time, losing my job again. Then I became a bodyguard for a wealthy person, but I was accused of molesting his wife, so I quit. Since then, I've been living on the relief from my comrades." She Lin sighed.

"Can you tell us what you used to do?" Xu Gang asked.

"I can't say, it's a state secret. But I can tell you, it was a very brutal job, very bloody and violent. Even now, I often have nightmares." She Lin smiled bitterly.

"How about this, She Team, we're all familiar now. Why don't you join us as a bodyguard? I need someone like you around me. You don't have to think too much, just protect me and the things I carry." Zhang Tianyuan said suddenly.

"Right, that's a good idea. Tianyuan is now a tycoon, worth millions. Hiring you as a bodyguard won't be a loss. You'll probably earn a lot of money in the future, and you won't be at a disadvantage by staying with him." Xu Gang put down the chicken wing he was eating.

"This..."

"What are you hesitating about? Just consider it as helping me. We're life-and-death friends who have been through danger together. I trust you, and I wouldn't want to be stabbed in the back by anyone else." Zhang Tianyuan said.

To be honest, She Lin was really moved. Although he had no family burdens—his parents lived comfortably on their land, and his brother had a good family—he still needed some goals in life. At twenty-eight, he didn't have a girlfriend and couldn't live a normal life, relying on his comrades for support. This wasn't right.

If he followed Zhang Tianyuan, he believed Zhang Tianyuan wouldn't treat him badly. They had known each other for a while, and Zhang Tianyuan was a good person, as he could see with his special eyes.

The only thing he was conflicted about was Liu Mengxun. If he had a choice, he would rather be her bodyguard, but that seemed unlikely now.

"Is there something else you're worried about, She Team?" Zhang Tianyuan asked.

She Lin hesitated, then said, "To be honest, Miss Liu once saved my life, and I want to repay her. If I become your bodyguard, I..."

"Ha, that's even better. Haven't you noticed? Tianyuan and Miss Liu are getting close. If you become Tianyuan's bodyguard, you'll be protecting her boyfriend. You'll have plenty of opportunities to repay her. Besides, are you also interested in Miss Liu, which is why you're hesitant?" Xu Gang laughed.

"No, you misunderstand. I only have gratitude for Miss Liu, not romantic feelings. Besides, she's not suitable for me." She Lin shook his head.

"Then it's settled. From now on, you'll be my bodyguard. I'll pay you ten thousand a month, and if you get injured or make a significant contribution, there will be additional rewards. How about that? It will also help your family live better." Zhang Tianyuan smiled.

The reason Zhang Tianyuan was so eager to have She Lin as his bodyguard was that he needed a reliable and loyal person by his side. He was just starting in the antique business and had already encountered many issues. For example, at the imperial tomb tourist area, if it weren't for She Lin, Mother Yi would have fought with Zhang Tianyuan.

Moreover, Zhang Tianyuan's ambition was not just to be a wealthy person. He wanted to expand his antique empire, which would inevitably involve mergers or acquisitions, and he would make many enemies. Although society is governed by law, who could guarantee that there wouldn't be desperate people?

With She Lin by his side, his safety would be much more secure.

It wasn't that Zhang Tianyuan was cowardly; his life was precious, and he couldn't afford to lose it. If spending over a hundred thousand a year could ensure his peace of mind, why not?

"She Team, we're not forcing you, but you should know that Tianyuan doesn't easily trust people. If he wants you to be his bodyguard, it means he trusts you a lot. Think about it, there's no downside. We also believe you can do this well." Xu Gang added.

She Lin was moved, but he was a cautious person and didn't like making decisions when his emotions were high. When emotions were high, people tended to overlook things and might make irreversible mistakes.

So he neither refused nor immediately agreed, but smiled and said, "I need to discuss this with Phoenix. After all, we came here together."

Zhang Tianyuan knew She Lin well. Discussing it with Lan Fenghuang was just an excuse to calm down and think carefully, so he didn't push further. He smiled and said, "Alright, let's not talk about it now. Cheers! Let's get drunk tonight!"

The next day, due to the drinking, the three of them woke up late. When they got up, washed up, and were about to eat something, Zhao Liangde came and said there were guests.

The guests were none other than Yang Yijun and his nephew Yang Zhao, as well as a familiar pair—the old woman and her granddaughter who had bought the purple sandalwood dragon-headed cane at the auction. Zhang Tianyuan couldn't remember their names, though.

Zhao Shenluo was quite polite to these guests and arranged for them to be entertained in the special guest tea room.

However, his attitude was much worse compared to how he treated Zhang Tianyuan, who could directly enter the "imperial palace" reserved for the Zhao family. These guests couldn't.

At that moment, Zhao Shenluo was talking to the guests. It was clear that his condition had significantly improved, and he no longer looked sickly. More importantly, after a few days of treatment, he could walk without assistance.

As soon as Zhang Tianyuan entered the tea room, he heard the old woman exclaim, "Mr. Zhao, you are truly blessed. Anyone who calls you a sickly person, I, this old woman, will argue with them."

"Ha, Aunt Zhu, you're too kind. I just met a remarkable person." Zhao Shenluo laughed heartily, his voice full of energy.

"Remarkable person? Can this old woman have the honor of meeting him?"

It turned out the old woman's name was Zhu Ling, a lady from a family of antique appraisers. During the turmoil, her family managed to survive and has continued from the Ming Dynasty to the present. They were a true noble family, even more prestigious than the Liu family and more impressive than some so-called nobles abroad.

"Alas, the remarkable person left after curing my illness, without even taking a fee." Zhao Shenluo was lying, as Zhang Tianyuan had told him not to publicize the matter.

"Are there still such remarkable people in modern society? I don't believe it." Yang Yijun said.

"Whether you believe it or not, it doesn't change the fact. Some people do dirty deeds but think they are high and mighty, with no sense of shame." Zhao Shenluo looked coldly at Yang Yijun, whose attitude was much worse than his attitude toward Zhu Ling. He probably disliked such people, and more importantly, Yang Yijun denied Zhang Tianyuan's existence, which he couldn't tolerate.

The atmosphere became awkward, but it eased when Zhang Tianyuan entered.

"Brother, these people are here to see you. They say they have business to discuss." Zhao Shenluo, seeing Zhang Tianyuan, was very warm, even standing up from his seat and walking over to support Zhang Tianyuan's arm, making him sit beside him.