Chapter 19

At this moment, staring down at the child who was making a fuss, Qi Xiang suddenly felt a headache. Especially when he noticed the scrutinizing gazes of the people around him, he felt an overwhelming pressure.

He remained calm, trying to quietly move his foot away.

Unexpectedly, the child seemed to have singled him out. Seeing that Qi Xiang wasn't picking him up, the child decided to take matters into his own hands. His chubby little hands tightly gripped the hem of Qi Xiang's pants, and then, miraculously, he wobbled and stood up.

The child seemed quite pleased with his achievement, shaking his little legs and giggling.

Seeing this, Qi Xiang didn't dare to move, afraid that if he pulled his foot away, the child might fall. If that happened, he probably wouldn't be able to leave here alive today.

Qi Xiang stood there stiffly, not daring to move, and looked at Chen Futu and the others for help, hoping someone would come over and take the child away to ease his predicament.

Chen Futu seemed to have heard Qi Xiang's silent plea and slowly walked over. However, instead of picking up the child, he asked, "Who are you?"

Though it was a simple question, Qi Xiang felt an overwhelming pressure. He had a vague feeling that if he answered improperly, he might face a catastrophic disaster.

"I..." Qi Xiang was about to answer.

At that moment, Jiang Baiwan stepped forward and said with a smile, "Uncle, this is the secretary I brought. He's still young and doesn't know much. If he does anything impolite, please bear with him."

In a critical moment, it was still the boss Jiang who could be relied upon.

Qi Xiang was immensely grateful and immediately noticed that the pressure from Chen Futu had diminished significantly.

"Secretary..."

Many people around them also withdrew their ambiguous gazes. A secretary, with a much lower status, was not in the same league as them and posed no threat, so they didn't need to pay much attention.

At this point, Chen Futu smiled and said kindly, "Young man, it seems my grandson likes you. Why don't you play with him for a while?"

"Uh... Okay!" Qi Xiang was quick to understand and bent down to carefully pick up the child.

The chubby child wasn't light, but he was very clean, with soft, tender skin and a milky scent. If it were a child from an ordinary family, Qi Xiang might have been tempted to pinch the child's chubby cheeks.

But considering the potential risk...

Qi Xiang tried his best to control this impulse and held the child awkwardly. In contrast to his clumsy movements, the child was very excited, constantly clinging to him, grabbing and playing around.

Without anyone to play with, the child laughed heartily, his laughter innocent and joyful.

Seeing this, some people exchanged glances. In their memory, the child had never been this lively and happy...

For a moment, the atmosphere in the hall became somewhat strange and fell into silence.

However, Chen Futu quickly reacted and said jokingly, "Young man, it seems you're quite good with children. Why don't you quit your secretary job and come work as a nanny for my family? A million yuan a year, with room and board provided..."

For a moment, Qi Xiang was truly tempted.

A million yuan a year, with room and board, was a dream job for many people. An ordinary person might struggle their whole life and still not earn such a salary.

Qi Xiang only thought about the salary and benefits, but he didn't notice the strange expressions on the faces of some people around him.

As the saying goes, "At the prime minister's door, even a seventh-rank official is powerful." Throughout history, countless examples have shown that the close associates and intimates of those in power are not to be offended.

The powerful eunuchs of the Ming Dynasty were a typical example. They followed the emperor from his days as a prince, and once he ascended the throne, they became powerful eunuchs.

In such a situation, figures like Liu Jin and Wei Zhongxian, known as the "Nine Thousand Year Old," emerged.

Not to mention ancient times, even in the present day, a leader's driver or secretary is often seen as a potential candidate for a future position. Many leaders themselves have been promoted and recognized through their roles as drivers or secretaries to other high-ranking officials.

This is a common trend in the political world.

If Qi Xiang really became the nanny for Chen Futu's eldest grandson, then in ten or eight years, when the grandson grew up and no longer needed a nanny, the ten years of close relationship would surely bring Qi Xiang great wealth and a bright future.

At that time, many of the people present might have to change their attitude from disdain to flattery...

However, it seemed that Chen Futu was just joking. After saying this, he turned and said, "Zhongliu, Zhongwu, let's go to the study to see the gifts you brought."

"Okay..." Jiang Baiwan and Yun Zhongwu nodded quickly, giving Qi Xiang a meaningful look.

In fact, many people understood that Chen Futu might not have been joking. However, given the size and influence of the Chen family, they would never act rashly, especially concerning their third-generation eldest grandson. They would be extremely cautious.

They wouldn't let Qi Xiang step into the Chen family's door without thoroughly investigating his background and confirming his integrity.

Qi Xiang didn't realize this. Seeing that Chen Futu had changed the topic, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

A million yuan a year was definitely tempting. But the thought of taking care of a child with unpredictable moods, who might start crying at any moment, made him feel a headache.

Most importantly, earning a million yuan a year, for him now, seemed... not that difficult!

While Qi Xiang was pondering, the people in the hall also shifted their focus. He hesitated for a moment and then hurriedly followed, holding the child. After a while, they arrived at... the study?

Qi Xiang looked around and thought that calling it a library wouldn't be far off.

The study was about 300 square meters, with bookshelves arranged neatly. Next to the bookshelves were comfortable and cozy sofas and chairs, as well as potted green plants.

Moreover, there were some decorative items on the walls and in the corners.

In short, it was a comprehensive study that combined aesthetics, reading, and relaxation.

In one corner of the study, a dozen gifts were neatly arranged. Out of hundreds of guests, only a few had the privilege to bring their gifts here. The rest, after being registered, would be stored in a dedicated warehouse.

"You all are too considerate..." Chen Futu scanned the gifts and said with a scolding tone, "I've repeatedly emphasized that your intentions are enough. There's no need to make it so complicated."

Jiang Baiwan and the others smiled and nodded, but they would probably do the same next time.

Chen Futu shook his head and asked curiously, "Zhongliu, you said your gift is special. How is it special?"

"Open it and you'll see," Jiang Baiwan said with a smile, giving Yun Zhongwu a challenging look, "It's definitely much better than the junk someone else brought."

"Brother Jiang, your words are a bit too broad," Yun Zhongwu said with a smile, "The item I brought is from Old Wei. If you say that, won't Old Wei be upset?"

Suddenly, some people moved aside, revealing Wei Ye's lonely figure.

"Fire at the city gate, and the fish in the pond suffer. You two are fighting, why drag me into it..." Wei Ye felt wronged but smiled and waved his hand, "Whether the gift is good or not, it's not up to me to decide, but to the one who receives it."

"Old fox..." Many people thought in disgust.

Wei Ye's skill in deflecting the issue was excellent, like a master of Tai Chi, effortlessly redirecting the pressure back.

"I think Uncle will like it," Yun Zhongwu said confidently. Without waiting for a reaction, he quickly picked up his gift and opened it.

As the packaging was removed, a lustrous, warm white color immediately caught everyone's eye.

Qi Xiang looked closely and saw a tower that shone brilliantly under the light, exquisitely beautiful and elegant.

The tower had seven layers, about half a meter tall, entirely carved from ivory. Each layer of the tower was intricately detailed, with visible bricks and stones, and even the intricate structure of the tower was carved, showing meticulous craftsmanship.

At the top of the tower, a pearl was embedded, adding a milky white glow that gave the ivory tower a sacred aura.

However, what attracted everyone's attention even more was the base of the ivory tower. On the base, there was a hollow door, and inside, a fist-sized Buddha statue sat in a meditative posture.

It was the statue of the Buddha Mother, the Buddha of Compassion.

The Buddha Mother sat on a lotus, wearing light, flowing robes, with a sash tied around her waist and a belt around her body. Her wrists were adorned with white conch bracelets, and her eighteen arms were spread out like a peacock's tail, looking solemn and sacred.

At first glance, Chen Futu's expression turned serious, and he asked softly, "Is this the Pagoda of the Buddha Mother?"

"That's right, it's an ivory-carved, seven-layered Pagoda of the Buddha Mother," Yun Zhongwu said with a hint of pride, glancing at Jiang Baiwan before continuing, "It's Old Wei's treasure. I pleaded and sincerely requested, and only then did Old Wei agree to transfer it to me..."

Hearing this, many people sneered inwardly. From Wei Ye's expression, it was clear he wasn't very willing. But he had no choice.

However, it had to be admitted that this item was indeed Old Wei's prized possession.

Qi Xiang examined it carefully and found that the pearl's glow and the ivory tower's luster, under the light, blended seamlessly, making it exquisitely transparent.

Especially when viewed from the front, the soft light seemed to focus on the Buddha statue, creating a faint, ethereal halo behind it.

This light-gathering effect was truly dazzling, making people's eyes dazzled and entranced. To Qi Xiang, this item was already a treasure.

Yun Zhongwu was indeed ruthless, willing to spend several million to buy the pagoda as a gift, showing his greater ambitions...