Chapter 27

Listen, my fellow patrons, if you can, I hope you will support me more, by favoriting and voting, to help the official rankings achieve better results!

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"Letian, tell me the truth, where did you get this thing from?" Li Leming held the scroll in front of him with great excitement, unable to put it down.

"I found it, and knowing you like calligraphy and paintings, I gave it to you!" Li Letian said with a smile.

"Nonsense, do you think I don't know your weight and measure? Tell me the truth, where did you get this calligraphy from!" Li Leming put down the scroll, his face returning to normal, and stared at Li Letian with a serious look.

Originally, Li Letian was thinking of holding out a bit longer, but remembering that his older brother knew him well, he resumed his playful smile and said, "Big brother, I knew you would ask this. Actually, this is something Su Mu asked me to give you. But don't worry, he said it's for Big Brother Li, not for the Secretary of the Municipal Political and Legal Affairs Commission."

Su Mu? Li Leming's brows furrowed slightly. If this had been said before last night, he wouldn't have believed it, but now he believed it a bit. Why? Because of Su Mu's miraculous appraisal skills and his unparalleled ability to identify antiques. If something came from his hands, it must be genuine. And it might really be a lucky find, but how did he know I like these calligraphy and paintings?

"Letian, tell me the truth, have you said anything to Su Mu?" Li Leming said in a deep voice.

"No! Absolutely not!" Li Letian shook his head and said, "Big brother, don't you trust me? Although I sometimes act irresponsibly, I know what to say and what not to say. I have never told Su Mu that you like calligraphy and paintings. Even before I came here, I didn't know what was inside this thing.

Moreover, big brother, Su Mu might just be guessing. How would he know you like calligraphy and paintings? Not to mention, in the entire Qinglin City, how many people know you have this hobby? Isn't that right? Besides, if he gave you the wrong thing, he would be in big trouble.

If you ask me, you're just being too suspicious. Su Mu said it's for Big Brother, and he's doing it for my sake. Of course, if you don't like it or don't want it, give it to me, and I'll throw it back to him without a second thought!"

After a series of words, Li Leming's worries were swept away. Yes, how would Su Mu, a deputy town mayor, know my preferences?

"Throw it back? You must be dreaming. This is what Su Mu gave to me, your big brother. What does it have to do with you? You're my real younger brother, but I've never seen you give me anything!" Li Leming said loudly.

If it were something else, Li Leming would never do this, but Su Mu's gift really made him like it, unable to put it down.

"What's so good about it that you're so excited? Is this calligraphy very valuable?" Li Letian asked curiously.

"Yan Zhenqing's genuine 'Elegy for My Nephew,' it's a great piece. Look at these characters, forget it, you wouldn't understand. Isn't Su Mu looking for you? Go quickly, don't hover in front of me, it's annoying." Li Leming waved his hand.

"Alright!" Li Letian stood up with a smile. He really didn't understand these calligraphy and paintings and didn't bother to think about them. He shouted upstairs, "Sister Doudou, let's go!"

Zheng Doudou smiled and walked down the stairs with Li Leming's wife. After a few more words, she left the municipal party committee compound with Li Letian, heading quickly to the party school.

"Su Mu, Su Mu..."

Li Leming silently repeated Su Mu's name in his heart, his fingers tracing the scroll. Without hesitation, he turned and walked into the study to begin studying the 'Elegy for My Nephew.'

Su Mu never intended to use the 'Elegy for My Nephew' as a gift to open the door to Li Leming. People like Li Leming are not easily swayed by a simple gift, even if it's something they like. Su Mu's initial idea was simple: to form a good connection.

As long as this good connection is formed, it provides an opportunity for future interactions. In the political arena, having more friends and expanding one's network is always better than making enemies.

Squeal!

The tires screeched as Li Letian, sitting in the driver's seat, waved his hand, "Su Mu, get in the car!"

Su Mu threw the cigarette butt on the ground and stomped it out, then smiled and sat in the back seat, "Tell me, where do you want to go today? I'll be your free tour guide."

"Let's drive first!" Zheng Doudou said.

"Alright!"

Li Letian laughed and started the car, asking as he drove, "Not bad, Su Mu, how did you know my big brother likes calligraphy and paintings? Is the thing you gave him very valuable?"

"How would I know that my big brother likes calligraphy and paintings? It was just a token of my appreciation. Whether it's valuable or not, I have no idea. But about the plan we discussed last night, I think I can have the proposal ready in a few days. When it's done, you can take the things I've prepared for you to the provincial capital."

"The things you prepared for me, could it be..." Li Letian said with surprise.

"Exactly!" Su Mu smiled.

"Haha, I didn't expect you to have it ready so soon. I thought it would take some time," Li Letian laughed. "Next, let's go to the antique market, maybe we'll get lucky there."

"I have no objections, what about Doudou?" Su Mu asked.

"Whatever!" Zheng Doudou said indifferently. She had no interest in what Su Mu and Li Letian were discussing. Her task was to complete her mission, and the rest were trivial matters. Besides, she didn't think the two of them could accomplish anything significant.

But when she truly found out later, Zheng Doudou was shocked and felt a bit regretful. If she had known then, she would have joined in, and she would have become a billionaire.

For the rest of the day, Su Mu led the two of them around Qinglin City. They didn't have the same luck at the antique market as they did in the past few days and didn't find anything good. It's not that there were no genuine antiques, but Su Mu didn't have enough cash to buy them.

Qinglin City in summer is scorching. Because it was so hot outside, Su Mu didn't go out in the afternoon. Instead, at Li Letian's suggestion, he spent two hours in a bar. After leaving the bar, Su Mu took Li Letian to the bank and handed him the key to the safety deposit box.

With so many antiques, Su Mu would never leave them in the party school dormitory. Since he couldn't carry them with him, he needed a safe place to store them, and the bank was the best choice.

"These boxes contain the things I've found in Qinglin City over the past few days. There are a few quite good pieces. When you go to the provincial capital, just find Ye Xi. I've already told her, and I'll write the specific steps in the proposal for your reference," Su Mu said with a smile.

"No problem! Hehe, what's the point of playing in Shengjing City? If you ask me, we should go to the capital, where the market is much bigger!" Li Letian said playfully.

"That's up to you, figure it out. I'm only responsible for providing ideas. You can't expect to get something for nothing, can you?" Su Mu said with a teasing smile.

"Don't worry, I'll take care of all the official matters!" Li Letian said confidently.

"That's good!"

At this moment, Su Mu's phone suddenly rang. He smiled and answered, but before he could speak, a hurried voice came from the other end.

"Town Mayor Su, it's Lin Chen, something big has happened!"