Chapter 73: Someone Who Must Not Be Offended

Zhu Senlin’s heart was seething with anger. To be honest, he had already begun to favor Zhang Can, so when he heard that Zhang Can had been framed by Old Su in such a way, he was naturally infuriated. Besides, if Old Su had such a notorious reputation, what boss would still want to hire him?

It was one thing to set traps when doing business for the boss, but Old Su had used such underhanded tricks against someone else, and right in the shop, no less—scheming against Zhang Can with a rigged appraisal. If Old Su had at least handed over the money he got from framing Zhang Can to the shop as business revenue, Zhu Senlin might have forgiven him this once. But Old Su had done it all for himself—unforgivable! What’s more, the person he’d crossed now was Zhang Can, the very person Zhu Senlin most wanted to draw to his side.

But there was something else that kept turning in Zhu Senlin’s mind—who was the mysterious master that Zhang Can met when he tried to end his life? Was there really someone of such skill in Jincheng? He’d never seen one. The crowd at Tang Yuan’s auction today included the very best appraisal experts in Jincheng, but none of them fit the description of the enigmatic person who had saved Zhang Can.

Zhu Senlin’s thoughts stayed tangled around this “possibly imaginary” figure Zhang Can had mentioned. Still, both Zhu Senlin and Wang Qian were utterly convinced by Zhang Can’s words; they didn’t doubt him for a moment.

For someone that skilled, having an odd temperament was perfectly normal. The more Zhang Can refused to say, the more they believed him. Besides, Zhang Can’s keen eye and appraisal skills were so extraordinary that Wang Qian and Zhu Senlin couldn’t believe Old Su alone could have taught him. The only explanation was exactly as Zhang Can had said.

That day, Old Shizhai was anything but peaceful.

After Wang Qian’s security guards brought Old Su back, they left. Old Su returned to the shop, anxious and angry, muttering curses to himself. He ignored his niece Su Xiu when she questioned him, acting as if he were about to lose his mind.

When he saw Zhang Can, Wang Qian, and Zhu Senlin enter the shop one after another, he suddenly rushed forward and grabbed Zhang Can by the collar, his face flushed and neck bulging with rage. “Zhang Can, you little bastard, did you do this on purpose?”

This provoked both Wang Qian and Zhu Senlin. Wang Qian stepped forward and kicked Old Su so hard he cried out in pain, releasing his grip on Zhang Can and collapsing to the ground, clutching his wounds.

Su Xiu, terrified, her face ashen, hurried forward and cried, “What… what are you doing? Why are you hitting people? I… I’m calling the police!”

Wang Qian spread his hands casually and said, “Go ahead.”

With Wang Qian backing him, Zhu Senlin’s courage grew. He too stepped forward and kicked Old Su over, cursing, “Old Su, enough! You rotten scoundrel, pack your things and get out! You owe me half a million—if I see you again, I’ll have people beat you within an inch of your life!”

Zhu Senlin’s actions left Su Xiu and the other staff stunned. If Su Xiu was going to call the police, it was against Wang Qian, but she had no idea who Wang Qian really was. She did, however, know Zhu Senlin’s status. In today’s society, everything comes down to connections and influence. If Zhu Senlin himself was dealing with her uncle, what good would calling the police do? Besides, she didn’t even know exactly what had happened. If Zhu Senlin took such measures, there had to be a reason.

Su Xiu no longer dared to call the police. Old Su rolled on the ground twice before climbing up, his face twisted with surprise and pain. He turned to Zhu Senlin and asked, “Old… Old Zhu, what are you doing? What did I do wrong?”

“Wrong? Think about it, you know what you’ve done. I’ll spread the word in our circle—after today, you’re finished in this business. Go back to the countryside and farm!”

Zhu Senlin hurled these words at him, leaving Old Su no way out but to leave the antiques world entirely.

Old Su was stunned, his face ashen, his body trembling. He turned his gaze to Zhang Can. Zhang Can’s face was dark and forbidding—he hadn’t said a word, but the look in his eyes was terrifying. Old Su’s heart skipped a beat. Did Zhang Can know everything?

But that was impossible. The uncle and nephew who had posed as He Fugui and company were his relatives from his hometown—there was no way they would leak anything. In fact, he’d spoken with them just last night and everything was fine. Zhang Can couldn’t possibly have found out from them. As for Jincheng, he was the only one who knew; not even his niece Su Xiu had any clue.

Yet Zhang Can’s expression was so chilling. Old Su had never seen him look like this before. In fact, he seemed unfathomable—nothing like the naive country boy who had come to apprentice under him.

Zhang Can was cold and silent. Although Wang Qian and Zhu Senlin had both attacked Old Su, neither had said anything—if Zhang Can himself didn’t speak up, they certainly wouldn’t either. This was Zhang Can’s business to settle; only that way could he satisfy his own need for revenge.

Wang Qian understood this kind of thinking best: vengeance, if not exacted personally, would never feel complete.

“Old Su!”

After a long silence, Zhang Can finally spoke, his voice icy, “Thirty thousand to you may not be much, but to me, you know perfectly well it would have driven me and my family to utter ruin. Even if we aren’t related, I was half your apprentice for three years, always respectful. I didn’t earn much, but I never failed to treat you with respect. I just can’t understand—how could you be so ruthless to me?”

Old Su trembled again, fear finally clouding his face. He tried to defend himself, stammering, “No… no… I didn’t cheat you. That Jade Hu Spring wasn’t something I used to trick you. I don’t know He Fugui; I didn’t bring him in. All this just happened to you…”

Zhang Can replied coldly, “Did I say anything about that?”

Old Su froze, suddenly regretting his words. Indeed, Zhang Can had never directly accused him of setting a trap—though the implication was clear—but he hadn’t said it outright. Yet Old Su had blurted it out, betraying a guilty conscience.

Even a fool could see who was responsible.

Zhang Can sneered, “Old Su, to tell the truth, even though you framed me and drove me to the brink of death, in the end, because of what you did, I met the greatest benefactor of my life and learned skills even more astonishing. Making money in antiques now is as easy as waving my hand. Your three hundred thousand is nothing to me—a mere trifle. Yes, I always pay back debts, good or ill. By bringing you to this state, my revenge is done.”

Old Su’s face turned to ash. Since Zhang Can knew everything, there was nothing left to say. What he couldn’t understand was, who could Zhang Can have met? He had seen Zhang Can spot bargains many times, always thinking it was luck or carelessness on his part. But now he realized it was skill—a skill that startled him.

Looking at his own situation, a lifetime’s hard work ruined, penniless, and even if Zhu Senlin didn’t chase him for the half-million debt, he couldn’t take a step forward. At his age, even the lowest menial job would be hard to find. Zhu Senlin was right: when word got out, no boss would dare hire him. A ruined reputation scares everyone. Moreover, in the world of antiques, victory goes to the skilled—who would want a teacher who couldn’t even see through a trick?

Old Su’s hands shook as he nearly begged for mercy, hoping Zhang Can might return his two hundred thousand. But how could he say it?

Zhang Can merely stared at Old Su, cold and unmoved. Even if Old Su begged, the money would never be returned. After a moment, Zhang Can reached into his pocket, pulled out a stack of bills, counted five notes, and tossed them in front of Old Su. “Old Su, for the sake of the past, here’s five hundred yuan for your travel expenses. Go back to the countryside.”

Old Su shook all over, tears streaming down his face. He wanted to show some backbone, but didn’t dare. With trembling hands, he picked up the five hundred yuan and clutched it tightly.

Su Xiu was terrified. Though she didn’t know the details, it was clear her uncle had done something wrong to Zhang Can. She hated Zhang Can, but now realized she couldn’t afford to cross him. In the past, she’d always thought Zhu Senlin couldn’t do without her uncle, and if he left, Old Shizhai would collapse. But now it was obvious—the shop would survive just fine without him.

When Su Xiu caught Zhang Can’s cold, steely gaze, a chill ran through her. She had always been at odds with him, always finding fault, always making things difficult. Now she realized the one truly in control was not her uncle—but Zhang Can.

Wang Qian, of different standing, recovered his composure and sat by the chair, watching the scene unfold with calm detachment.

Zhu Senlin, however, was unrelenting. He kicked Old Su twice more, cursing, “You rotten old man, get out! I won’t keep someone as black-hearted as you in my shop!”

In this trade, the greatest taboo was disloyalty. A boss could accept a worker of lesser skill, but loyalty was non-negotiable.

Old Su had done his dirty work behind Zhu Senlin’s back, using the shop’s reputation for his own shady dealings—not for the shop’s benefit. That was unforgivable.

More importantly, Zhu Senlin wanted to show Zhang Can he meant business—Zhang Can alone was worth a hundred Old Sus.

Old Su truly had no face left. Tears welled up in his clouded old eyes. He turned to Zhang Can and choked out, “Zhang Can, forgive me… forgive my greed…”

Zhang Can replied indifferently, “Old Su, the five hundred I gave you is charity. Think about how you treated me when I returned to the shop in despair. You must have known what would become of me, yet you didn’t offer a word of comfort, not even a hundred yuan. What do you think you deserve from me now?”

He paused, then continued, “I’ve always repaid debts, kindness with kindness, resentment with resentment. Had you given me even a word of comfort or a hundred yuan back then, I’d have left you some way out, let you live out your old age in peace. But now—well, go back to the countryside and reap the consequences. Some mistakes can’t be made; some people can’t be crossed.”