Chapter 194: Studying
“Why must I definitely have enough?”
Gu Yansheng said with a faint smile: “Yes, I have recruited several factories, but purchasing machinery takes time, recruiting workers takes time, production takes time, and sales also take time.
Three months’ time, is it definitely enough?
I have done my work, and anyone with eyes can see that I have done my work. Even if the Japanese know that the taxes I handed over were insufficient, they wouldn’t say I am holding a position without doing any work.
So, the data for these three months is indeed insufficient for me.”
Luo Junqiang took a deep breath, wanting to say something, but truly had nothing to say.
He had thought that Gu Yansheng’s situation should be the same as his, so either both hand it over or neither does to avoid risk—law doesn’t punish the masses, after all.
But now, damn it, he was the only one who would get beaten.
Gu Yansheng was clearly saying that if he wanted to have enough, he would; if not, he wouldn’t.
Seeing him silent, Gu Yansheng sighed, patted his shoulder in comfort, “Director Luo, yours is indeed a bit difficult to handle. Brothels and casinos are all cash settlements. Not to mention three months—I’m afraid the taxes you’ve collected in these two months are already enough to pass muster, right?
Wanting them to disappear is indeed difficult.
But the problem isn’t big. When the time comes, just tell Minister Zhou the truth. You only found out later—what can you do? You can’t forge accounts before the Japanese audit them, right?”
Gu Yansheng smiled and left.
Luo Junqiang frowned, looking at Gu Yansheng’s back. Why did it feel like there was meaning behind his words?
Back in West Shanghai, Gu Yansheng had a few days of leisure time, perfect for learning some knowledge about antiques.
Previously, he had asked Ma Shiqi to help find materials on antique experts; the materials had been gathered long ago. It was just that Gu Yansheng hadn’t had time.
As for the tax audit, that was internal affairs—such things were Wang Rusong’s specialty anyway. He would handle it as before; Gu Yansheng didn’t care.
Bringing Ma Shiqi along, and having Ma Shiqi bring the calligraphy and paintings, they drove to the concession to find contemporary antiques expert Pang Yuanji.
Pang Yuanji was from Nanxun, with a prominent family background—his family was known as one of the Four Elephants of Nanxun.
According to the materials Ma Shiqi found, Nanxun had the saying of Four Elephants, Eight Oxen, and Seventy-Two Golden Dogs for its wealthy families.
The so-called Four Elephants meant family assets exceeding ten million taels of silver.
Eight Oxen five million, Golden Dogs one million.
The Pang family’s ten million taels of silver, in today’s terms, was about 15 million silver dollars.
More than Gu Yansheng plus Li Shiqun plus Ding Mocun.
Whether Ding Mocun was included or not didn’t make much difference.
Mainly, it was clear that counting up several generations of the Pang family, not one was not a major corrupt official.
However, Pang Yuanji hadn’t collaborated with Japan. After the war of resistance began, he hid in Shanghai as a recluse.
From this point, being old and not dead might not necessarily make one a thief.
Pang Yuanji was 75, which was definitely a ripe old age nowadays.
Of course, another possibility for not collaborating with Japan was fear that the money would be confiscated by the Japanese.
The car arrived at the villa district in the concession.
Gu Yansheng had his men go call at the door.
His arrival was definitely a surprise to Pang Yuanji.
However, Pang Yuanji still came out to welcome him.
Leaning on his cane, he smiled and said: “A rare guest at the door. Director Gu, what business do you have with this old man?”
“Sorry to disturb you. I’m here to seek advice on some knowledge about antiques.” Gu Yansheng told the truth.
Not bad—he could walk on his own, with such a sturdy build. He could probably live another ten years or so; teaching knowledge would be even more feasible.
With an expert available, of course he wanted the expert to teach. Gu Yansheng had no need to find some disciple-level figure; he wanted the best.
Pang Yuanji’s smile slightly faded. “Director Gu, I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed. This old man’s home no longer has its former glory. Regarding donations, I truly am powerless.”
How many times had he been hit up for “autumn wind”?
The Pang family had a prominent background and assets that others coveted—it wasn’t surprising. No doubt the Japanese or puppet government people had come plenty of times too.
Gu Yansheng wasn’t in a hurry to explain and smiled: “Won’t you invite me in to sit?”
Pang Yuanji thought for a moment, stepped aside, and gestured invitingly.
“I’ve heard that Mr. Pang, you are the top collector in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang area?”
“That’s all in the past.”
Pang Yuanji led Gu Yansheng inside. As a lover of ink painting, there were many paintings hanging in the house—very eye-catching, making one stop and look.
In the living room, there was also a girl painting.
“Jing’er, greet the guest. This is Director Gu from the city government.”
The painting girl looked up and said flatly, “Hello, Director Gu.”
“Hello.” Gu Yansheng responded and continued looking at the calligraphy and paintings on the wall.
Pang Yuanji let Gu Yansheng look for a while, then said to him: “Director Gu, if you like any, feel free to take them. But I must tell you truthfully—these calligraphy and paintings are all copies I made in leisure time with my granddaughter; they are not originals.”
“Then where are the originals?” Gu Yansheng asked with a smile.
“Weren’t they all taken by you people?” Jing’er, the painting girl, interjected mockingly: “With so many officials in Shanghai, plus the lackeys who work for them, Japanese high officials, society presidents and managers—one piece per person—what family fortune could still be left until now?
Director Gu, did you just become a director? You’re coming too late.”
Jing’er sneered jokingly and continued painting with her head down.
“Jing’er, mind your manners.”
Pang Yuanji scolded her, then apologized to Gu Yansheng: “Truly sorry, Director Gu. The young girl and child doesn’t know better—please don’t take offense.”
He had to wait for his precious granddaughter to finish speaking before saying “mind your manners.” Clearly, this grandfather and granddaughter had coordinated plenty. Gu Yansheng smiled: “Miss Jing’er is not wrong. I truly haven’t been a director for long.”
“Hmph.” Jing’er sneered there.
Pang Yuanji cleared his throat and explained: “Director Gu, things aren’t as exaggerated as Jing’er says.
Most of the calligraphy and paintings weren’t taken by Shanghai people. It was when the Japanese entered Hangzhou—they bombed every day, hit my house, caused a big fire. Calligraphy and paintings are flammable; most of my life’s efforts were destroyed in the big fire.
The few hanging in the outer hall were desperately saved, but to settle the family in Shanghai, they were all sold one by one.
If Director Gu had come earlier, perhaps a piece or half could have been obtained, but now, the home truly has not a single valuable item left. Ashamed, ashamed.”
The days avoiding disaster in the concession apparently weren’t that easy either.
Gu Yansheng smiled: “Really none left?”
“Really none left.” Pang Yuanji sighed. “It’s not that this old man refuses to support the government—it’s truly gone.”
“Then I’ll add one for you. From today, you’ll have one.”
“Add one?” Pang Yuanji was stunned.
The painting girl was also a bit dazed and looked up at Gu Yansheng.
Gu Yansheng beckoned to Ma Shiqi, who brought down three long scrolls from the car.
Gu Yansheng casually pulled one out and handed it over. “Mr. Pang, since ancient times, becoming a disciple requires a gift. With my status, calling it apprenticeship isn’t quite right—calling it learning is more appropriate. This is tuition.”
“Tuition?” Pang Yuanji was greatly surprised, his mind not yet clear, but his hand involuntarily took the painting—after all, Gu Yansheng had offered it; he couldn’t leave him holding it forever.
Taking it, he somewhat regretted it. “Director Gu, what tuition?”
“Didn’t I say when I arrived? I’m here to seek advice on some knowledge about antiques—literary antiques, calligraphy and paintings, jade ornaments, porcelain from various dynasties, including interesting stories in the antique trade. Whatever Mr. Pang knows, you can teach and tell me. I have no foundation, so teaching will be troublesome—thus, I offer tuition.”
Gu Yansheng pointed to the scroll. “If one isn’t enough, I can add more.”
Gu Yansheng was so straightforward that he completely stunned the grandfather and granddaughter.
When had the city government or Japanese ever come bearing gifts?
“Learn knowledge?”
“Yes, learn it systematically from beginning to end. Treat me as someone who knows nothing at all—teach from the start. I’ll come when I have time and learn as much as I can.”
He really came to learn knowledge. Jing’er over there put down her brush and ink and looked on in wonder.
Pang Yuanji was also greatly surprised—the words at the door weren’t just an excuse.
Teaching wasn’t impossible, but he didn’t dare bet.
He handed the scroll back to Gu Yansheng. “So that’s it, Director Gu. But this old man is advanced in age and can’t teach anymore. Please find someone else.”
Gu Yansheng chuckled lightly. “You’re over seventy, but I see you walk steadily and vigorously—your health is good. No need to decline, Mr. Pang. I come sincerely and hope you treat me with sincerity too.”
This was hard to refuse. Pang Yuanji had to consider whether Gu Yansheng would get angry and seek revenge after being rejected.
Mainly, Pang Yuanji still didn’t believe that Gu Yansheng came only for learning.
More likely, like the others, he had heard the rumors that his family actually wasn’t bombed—the items had long been transported to Shanghai and hidden. The house burning was a fire they set themselves to cover tracks and avoid having assets seized.
Such malicious rumors were meant to make his family restless.
Who spread them?
Though the rumors were true.
Thinking it over, he came up with a reason. “Director Gu, it’s truly difficult because teaching this knowledge requires real objects for verification—learning while appraising. Now I have no genuine works here; without them, there’s no comparison, and your learning would be twice the effort for half the result.”
“I can provide genuine works, and there are so many antique shops in Shanghai. Even if we can’t buy, we can browse and learn. I believe with Mr. Pang’s connections, just browsing without buying and commenting a bit shouldn’t get us chased out by the shop owners, right?”
This time, there really was no reason.
Fine, then this old man will see how much time and patience you have to waste!
He didn’t believe Gu Yansheng wouldn’t reveal his true purpose!
“Alright then, Director Gu, I must remind you beforehand: learning this knowledge isn’t simple. Take painting—each dynasty and era is different; each person has different experiences, different feelings, so the paintings give different impressions. Even one person has several styles. It’s truly hard to learn.”
“If it were easy, everyone would know it, and I might not bother learning.” Gu Yansheng smiled and gestured: “Let’s look at the painting.”
Whatever Pang Yuanji thought, Gu Yansheng didn’t care—as long as he could learn something.
“Then let’s look. Director Gu, we look and learn, but when you leave later, still take them back. I won’t accept the tuition. Besides, heh, I can’t keep them either—once seen, they’ll be taken again.”
The scroll was unrolled on the table, and Pang Yuanji’s eyes lit up. “Oh? Qiu Ying’s Peach Blossom Paradise?”
“Who would dare take something I gave?” Gu Yansheng stood by the table looking at the painting, speaking calmly. “If someone comes demanding it, you can say I gave it. If you say that and they still want it, let them take it—then just tell me their name later.”
Pang Yuanji glanced sideways at Gu Yansheng. It seemed he needed to properly understand this Director Gu.
Jing’er also came over to look together.
Gu Yansheng was serious about learning—skills never overburden the body. The higher the official position, the more Japanese high officials one might contact. The higher up, the more time and financial strength they had to indulge in this kind of cultural pursuit.
Being able to chat a bit created an opportunity for conversation, right?
For example, taking a liking to antiques—through Pang Yuanji, he could contact Shanghai’s antique circle, which had people from all over. Wouldn’t that expand his connections?
It was also good for doing business.
After learning for a few days, Tsuda called them for a meeting to report on taxation.
Gu Yansheng and Wang Rusong went together.
Wang Rusong was a bit nervous. “Brother Gu, our taxation data is too poor. Will it work? Will the Japanese have opinions?”
Their taxation data wasn’t just failing to grow by thirty percent—it was even worse than three months ago.
Handing this over, it would be strange if the Japanese didn’t get angry. Wang Rusong felt a headache coming on.
Gu Yansheng was calm and composed. “What’s not workable? Director Wang, don’t worry. I’ll handle the explanations to the Japanese side. I’ll take responsibility for all problems.”
At the city government, Tsuda Shizue had arrived quite early today.
“Director Wang, Director Gu, hand over your account books.”
“Yes.”
Wang Rusong handed over the account books.
Tsuda Shizue flipped through and asked: “By what percentage has your data grown?”
“This…” Wang Rusong bent at the waist and looked toward Gu Yansheng.
Gu Yansheng said: “Your Excellency Tsuda, up to now, the taxation data in West Shanghai has not shown any growth.”
