Chapter 200: Teacher Zhang Did Not Make a Mistake
Hearing Zhang Zhigang personally admit it was a genuine antique, Lin Xinghe and Hua Yao collapsed to the floor!
After such a major appraisal disaster, Yuanxi Auction House would surely be forced to suspend operations for investigation!
Even if Yuanxi managed to avoid suspension through Cheng Yuan’s connections, its reputation would surely plummet to rock bottom!
The Treasure Holders and VIP guests would be completely disappointed with Yuanxi!
They had worked themselves to death for so many days, and it was all for nothing!
Lin Ruoxi’s face was also a mask of despair. She had thought that by besting Huanya Auction House, she had finally escaped the Lin Family’s control and could stand on her own two feet!
She never expected such a heavy blow to fall so swiftly, leaving them completely defenseless!
Everyone thought Yuanxi was finished, headed for a crushing defeat. Some VIP guests had even stood up, preparing to leave.
However, the VIPs in the front two rows didn’t leave. They were all staying out of respect for Shen Jiangnan and the Hu and Zhu Families. Even if it was just for show, they had to stick it out until the end.
Director Qian gently patted Cheng Yuan’s shoulder and sighed. "Younger Brother Cheng, no one could have imagined Teacher Zhang would make such a huge mistake. It’s alright if Yuanxi is gone. You’re still young and can make a comeback. You absolutely must not give up on yourself."
Cheng Yuan grinned. "Don’t worry, Director Qian. How could I possibly give up on myself? Besides, Yuanxi won’t be finished. On the contrary, it will use this opportunity to make its mark and become the number one auction house in Dragon Country!"
Cheng Yuan was far too calm. Director Qian and the VIPs in the first row exchanged glances, completely baffled by his confidence.
On the main stage, Zhang Han gave Zhang Zhigang a look of grudging respect. He truly hadn’t expected Zhang Zhigang to be so frank in accepting responsibility.
In fact, Lin Xingyu had already arranged for several other Antique Appraisers to be on standby. If Zhang Zhigang had tried to argue, they would have stepped forward.
Now, that wasn’t necessary.
Of course, even if he admired Zhang Zhigang’s character, Zhang Han had no intention of letting him off the hook easily.
After all, he had taken money from Lin Xingyu—a very large sum!
"Teacher Zhang! Do you think paying me back is enough to solve the problem? This Yuan Blue-and-White Porcelain has great sentimental value to me! It’s the only heirloom my grandfather left me. Its value can’t be measured in money!"
Zhang Han was putting on a very convincing performance, his face already streaked with tears!
Lin Xingyu’s second contingency plan now had its chance to shine. A reporter and a cameraman started striding toward the stage.
"Hello everyone, I’m Reporter Wang Liang from the Dongshan Variety Channel, and I’m here to expose this crooked business, Yuanxi! I’m here to expose Zhang Zhigang, this fraud who’s just fishing for fame..."
The Yuanxi staff panicked and hurried to block them. "You can’t come on stage! Please leave! Yuanxi Auction House is not accepting interviews!"
Wang Liang was a fast talker and protested loudly.
"What? Got a guilty conscience, do you? Trying to kick people out? The people know what’s right and just! Even if you throw me, Wang Liang, out of here today, you can’t silence the voice of the masses!"
The chat rooms of the major streamers also exploded.
"What is Yuanxi doing? Are they trying to kick them out? To destroy the evidence?"
"I came for the Pearl of Luocheng. I can’t believe the company behind it is such a den of thieves! From the looks of it, this ’Pearl of Luocheng’ person can’t be any good either!"
"Yuanxi is disgusting! You messed up, and now you won’t even let people report on it? Are you trying to handle this under the table? Are you trying to bully us, the common people?"
...
「At the Lin Family residence in the Provincial City.」
The core members of the Lin Family were all gathered together. Lin Xingyu was screen-casting Veteran’s livestream onto the television.
Seeing this scene, Lin Jianan praised him with satisfaction, "The second son has done well! Yuanxi is completely finished this time! Eldest, you need to learn from your younger brother! Even though it cost tens of millions, as long as we can crush Yuanxi and get Ruoxi to come back, with the reputation of the Pearl of Luocheng, she can definitely marry into a powerful second-tier family! She might even be able to marry into a first-tier family! The rise of our Lin Family is just around the corner!"
...
「At the Yuanxi Auction House.」
Many of the VIP guests stood up to protest.
"If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear! I think we all have a right to know! Why aren’t you letting the reporter do his job?"
"I came here out of respect for the City Lord! What you’re doing, Yuanxi, is smearing his good name!"
It was clear the situation was about to spiral out of control.
Cheng Yuan slowly stood up and pressed his hands down slightly. The protesting VIPs immediately fell silent. This was a man favored by the City Lord himself; they couldn’t afford to offend him.
In a deep voice, Cheng Yuan said, "Don’t stop them! Let our friend from the press report the facts!"
"Yes, sir!"
The staff already knew that Cheng Yuan was the true chairman of Yuanxi, so they naturally didn’t dare to defy his order.
The reporter finally made it onto the stage smoothly. He walked up to Zhang Han and they began their coordinated performance.
"Mr. Zhang, may I interview you?"
"Reporter, my mind is a mess right now. Let me collect myself. You should interview Teacher Zhang first. Only when Teacher Zhang admits his mistake in front of the entire province’s audience can my interests be guaranteed!"
Wang Liang put on an understanding expression. He and his cameraman strode over to Zhang Zhigang. "Teacher Zhang, please, in front of the entire province’s audience, admit your mistake!"
Zhang Zhigang’s old face flushed bright red!
’This reporter is going too far, isn’t he?’
’I just admitted my mistake!’
’And now he wants me to do it again in front of the entire province?’
’How am I supposed to carry on in this field after this?’
But no matter how unwilling he was, Zhang Zhigang had to speak. After all, it really was his mistake!
Just as Zhang Zhigang was so frustrated he could have coughed up blood, Cheng Yuan’s voice rang out from behind him. "Reporter Wang, I suggest you interview Mr. Zhang here first! I guarantee you’ll get a much more explosive story!"
Wang Liang instinctively glanced back at Cheng Yuan, dismissing him completely. "Who I interview is my own business. I don’t need pointers from outsiders."
With that, Wang Liang turned to pressure Zhang Zhigang again. "Teacher Zhang, what’s the matter? You dare to do it but not to admit it? This is unbecoming of a master of antiquities!"
Zhang Zhigang sighed. ’Fine, so be it. If I lose face, I lose face. At worst, I’ll just retire from the Jianghu and leave worldly affairs behind.’
"I..."
Just as Zhang Zhigang was about to admit his mistake in front of the entire provincial audience, Cheng Yuan suddenly rushed forward, snatched the microphone from his hand, and shouted, "Teacher Zhang did not misappraise! Teacher Zhang made no mistake!!"
Tears streamed down Zhang Zhigang’s face. He was truly moved. Things had already reached this point, yet Cheng Yuan was still willing to stand up for him!
’But Cheng Yuan is being a little irrational!’
’The best strategy right now is to sacrifice the pawn to save the king!’
’That way, Yuanxi would still have a sliver of a chance to survive!’
Seeing Cheng Yuan adamantly deny that Zhang Zhigang had misappraised, the guests below all curled their lips in disdain. ’Isn’t this a bald-faced lie? Teacher Zhang himself had already admitted it. Mr. Cheng is really... demeaning himself!’
Zhang Han was ecstatic. ’Mr. Lin’s plan can finally be put into action!’
"And who are you? Spouting such baseless nonsense? Can you represent Yuanxi? Can you bear the responsibility?"
Cheng Yuan’s tone was perfectly calm. "I am the chairman of Yuanxi, Cheng Yuan! Of course I can represent Yuanxi! And I am telling you, taking full responsibility, that Teacher Zhang did not misappraise!!"