60: Chapter 6 Suspicious Points

After a while, Tian Jun called back. "Da Ping, give me the information. An old classmate of my Bureau Director happens to be in the Kyoto Anti-Drug Squad."

Chen Shaoping recounted the contents of Today's Intelligence 2 to Tian Jun and urged him to pay strict attention to the timing.

With Intelligence 2 handled, Chen Shaoping was relieved of one task. Checking the time, it was already 12:30 AM.

He decided to go find Cai Guoqiang first and wait for He Qixiang's arrival; that way, the meeting would seem more natural.

Chen Shaoping and the others' rooms were on the 16th floor. He took the elevator and quickly reached the 18th floor.

The elevator was located in the middle of the hallway, while Room 1818 was at the end of the corridor to the right of the elevator.

"Ding-dong, ding-dong!"

Chen Shaoping rang the doorbell.

Cai Guoqiang opened the door wearing a bathrobe, with a cigarette dangling from his mouth.

His expression didn't change at all, as if he had expected Chen Shaoping to come.

"Director Cai, I'm here to apologize," Chen Shaoping began. "The incident on the show must have put you in a difficult position. However, if a similar situation arises in the next episode, I will still stand my ground."

His apology was a ruse, primarily serving as a pretext for the meeting.

Furthermore, Cai Guoqiang had indeed helped him get onto the show, and he didn't want to make things too difficult for him.

Cai Guoqiang gave a dry chuckle, his expression looking slightly unnatural. His hands trembled slightly as he fiddled with the tea set.

"I thought you were here to demand an explanation. Don't you feel wronged?"

"Regarding Lin Xin's behavior on the show—if I couldn't even tell that she was acting on her own initiative, then I wouldn't be fit to be on this program."

"I was just worried that things would get too tense with her, making it hard for you as the show's Chief Director."

Chen Shaoping spoke sincerely, wanting to see if there was actually a relationship between Lin Xin and Cai Guoqiang.

Cai Guoqiang sighed and complained, "After the show ended, I went to the Deputy Station Director hoping to have her replaced, but I wasn't successful."

"She was only ordered to write a 300-word self-reflection, and the matter was just brushed aside."

"You're the Chief Director of the show, yet you can't even replace a host?" Chen Shaoping was surprised. It seemed there was indeed a reason why Lin Xin dared to be so arrogant on the show.

However, since she had no connection to Cai Guoqiang, he could handle her without reservation.

As the two were chatting animatedly, the room's doorbell rang again.

Cai Guoqiang told Chen Shaoping to focus on the competition and not to worry too much.

Young people with talent should be bold when necessary, but that boldness must be justified.

Chen Shaoping was closer to the door, so he got up to open it.

The door opened to reveal a slightly plump old man in a Tang suit, holding a brocade box. He looked at Chen Shaoping in confusion and asked, "Isn't this Cai Guoqiang's room?"

"Yes, it is. I also have some business with Director Cai. Please, come in." Chen Shaoping politely ushered the old man inside.

"Old He, come in quickly."

Cai Guoqiang called out from inside the room after hearing the voice.

He Qixiang walked in, clutching the brocade box tightly, with Chen Shaoping following closely behind after closing the door.

Seeing He Qixiang's posture and how tightly he held the box, Cai Guoqiang had already guessed seventy to eighty percent of his intent.

He teased with a smile, "Scavenged something good again? If you didn't come here to show it off to me, you wouldn't be able to sleep tonight, would you?"

He Qixiang looked immensely proud and said loudly, "That's right. I'm here to broaden your horizons."

With that, he took the painting out of the brocade box.

Since the hotel room didn't have a long table, the two simply spread the painting out on the bed.

As the painting was unfurled, Chen Shaoping leaned in as well.

He saw several vividly colored, lifelike little birds seemingly leaping off the paper.

The birds were so realistic they appeared to be chirping in harmony with one another.

Aside from finding the image vivid, Chen Shaoping knew absolutely nothing about the technicalities of art.

He saw Cai Guoqiang holding a magnifying glass, his expression solemn as he carefully examined the painting inch by inch.

Chen Shaoping guessed that Cai Guoqiang likely hadn't spotted any flaws and couldn't tell at all that this painting was an imitation—a forgery.

"How is it, Old Cai?" Seeing Cai Guoqiang so engrossed, the pride on He Qixiang's face intensified.

"Stop your yapping, I'm not done looking yet."

Chen Shaoping found the two old men's behavior amusing.

It seemed no different from children showing off their toys to each other.

"It's indeed good, very good. Where did you find this?" Cai Guoqiang remarked with a sigh of admiration after finishing his inspection.

He Qixiang wanted exactly this reaction. He grinned and said, "Beautiful, isn't it? If you want to see it in the future, just come to my house."

Seeing He Qixiang's smug look, Cai Guoqiang felt a surge of irritation.

But wait, why did those words sound so familiar?

Weren't those the exact words he had said to He Qixiang a while back when he acquired an imperial snuff bottle?

He muttered inwardly that this old fellow certainly knew how to hold a grudge.

Seeing them in the middle of a heated discussion, Chen Shaoping picked up the magnifying glass from the table and walked over to the painting to take a closer look.

He Qixiang was startled and barked, "Kid, antiques aren't for people your age to play with. If you break it, you can't afford to pay for it. Get over here and put that magnifying glass down!"

Chen Shaoping did as he was told and walked over. He gave a slight chuckle with a hint of disdain, taking this opportunity to speak.

"Old He, for something worth 50 yuan, I really can afford the compensation."

The teacup He Qixiang had just brought to his lips fell to the floor with a 'clatter,' shattering into several pieces. He didn't even notice the scalding tea splashing onto his pant leg.

His face darkened, and his eyes widened as he stared fixedly at Chen Shaoping.

"You brat, if you don't understand, don't talk nonsense here. Aren't you afraid of making a fool of yourself?"

If Cai Guoqiang had questioned the authenticity of the painting, he would have felt a bit better.

But to have someone who knew nothing about it speaking so recklessly...

How could he not be infuriated? If it weren't for Cai Guoqiang's sake, he would have lost his temper long ago.

Cai Guoqiang was stunned by the words.

He admitted that Chen Shaoping was talented in poetry, but just from the way he held the magnifying glass, it was clear he was a layman.

He didn't believe Chen Shaoping had any knowledge of ancient paintings.

"Little Chen, apologize to Old He quickly. You can say this stubborn ox has a foul temper, but you can't talk nonsense about his items being fake."

Chen Shaoping remained unhurried and chuckled. This was exactly the effect he wanted; the angrier He Qixiang got, the better.

That way, when he pointed out the suspicious parts of the painting, He Qixiang would do everything in his power to verify them just to prove him wrong.

"Old Cai, did you not see it either? You looked for so long; I thought you noticed but didn't say anything just to save face for Old He."

He Qixiang's right hand trembled as he pointed at Chen Shaoping, so angry he could hardly catch his breath.

"You greenhorn, you... you're infuriating me! You say this painting is wrong—where is it wrong?"

"If you don't give me a proper explanation today, don't blame me for being unkind to you."

Cai Guoqiang hadn't expected Chen Shaoping to be so bold. He gave him a look that said 'you're on your own.'

You're the one talking nonsense, so deal with the consequences yourself!

Chen Shaoping stopped smiling and became serious, not daring to provoke He Qixiang further.

Looking at He Qixiang's current state, he was genuinely afraid the old man might pass out from rage, which would be a huge problem.

He then pointed to the inscription on the painting and said solemnly, "Old He, Old Cai, the point of suspicion in this painting lies in the single dot atop this character for 'Bird'."