Chapter 79
Considering the partnership matter, Gu Shaoyu decided not to act as recklessly as before. He didn’t stay long at the second drinking session and returned home early.
After entering the door, he saw his mother, Mrs. Gu Yueshu, sitting on the sofa. She wore a string of deep green jade around her neck, radiating a strong presence.
From her posture, Gu Shaoyu immediately understood that she had been waiting for him.
He greeted her and waited for Yueshu to ask her questions.
“You went to discuss cooperation today? Tell me about the contract details.” Yueshu looked at Gu Shaoyu. “Mom doesn’t have any other intentions. I’m just afraid that people will exploit your resources for nothing.”
Finding a business partner to provide money and connections, then kicking them out when it came time to harvest the fruits, was not an uncommon occurrence.
During these past few days, Gu Shaoyu had stopped going out to drink and party. Instead, he made phone calls to contact people about business matters. The family had observed all of this.
For families like theirs, spending small amounts of money on entertainment meant nothing. What they feared was problems arising in business.
Yueshu saw that her son had not done anything outrageous, so she allowed him to proceed.
However, after hearing from her daughter that he had been in contact with a young girl named Shen You, she couldn’t help but worry.
The other party came from an ordinary family in the county town, and her family still bore the burden of guarantee matters.
Their family certainly looked down upon that kind of background.
Nevertheless, since she had inherited an antique shop and could produce Ru kiln porcelain, and since her son liked her, as long as she was a well-behaved person, it wasn’t entirely unacceptable.
Discussing cooperation was different, though. The other party obviously had her eyes on their family’s resources.
After examining the contract, Yueshu’s face turned cold.
“The studio has no decision-making power, and her name is on everything. With her kind of family background, when she uses you and borrows our family’s influence, what will you gain once things are accomplished?”
Any discerning person could see that the money from profit-sharing was the smaller benefit. The real advantages were the network of contacts the studio would access and the reputation it would gain.
The truly valuable thing was the studio itself.
Gu Shaoyu frowned as he took back the contract, his tone carrying an unusual seriousness.
“Did my sister tell you this? You only heard about her background but didn’t investigate anything else?”
“The fact that she values the connections I have and is willing to work with me shows she thinks highly of me. Our family’s resources really aren’t substantial enough to be exploited.”
Listening to her son’s words, Yueshu felt even more frustrated.
“I can see you’ve been completely bewitched! She’s an antique shop owner without any foundation, yet she can pull you into partnership. Are we the ones reaching above our station?!”
“Mom, if you want to put it that way, then yes, we really are.”
“You know what kind of significance the houses around South Lake West Slope Book Study have. Previously, when our family wanted to hold a jewelry auction exhibition there, you know how much effort we put in.
We couldn’t secure Xi Garden and had to choose a slightly inferior location nearby. She obtained long-term usage rights to it.”
Hearing this, Yueshu was genuinely stunned. “Are you telling the truth?”
“I have no need to lie to you about this kind of thing.” Gu Shaoyu spread his hands. “Don’t keep believing everything my sister says without question.”
“I’m only thinking of your best interests! That’s why I waited here to ask you about it.” Yueshu replied.
“What you’re questioning isn’t just her. You don’t trust me and don’t dare let go. The studio is my personal participation. In the future, don’t expect the family to interfere.”
Seeing that Yueshu still had more to say, Gu Shaoyu decided to speak plainly.
“You value the studio’s decision-making power, but you should also consider why. Can I restore cultural artifacts? Or does anyone in our family know how to replicate traditional crafts? The person who can support this studio is Shen You.
The connections in the museum and collector circles are also hers. People recognize her abilities. As long as she’s willing, she can kick me out at any time. I’m the most easily replaceable among all the partners!
If I haven’t guessed wrong, her next step will be to contact Professor Li and Mr. Zhang. Tell me, what grounds do I have to discuss decision-making power?”
Yueshu was someone who had navigated the business world. When these pros and cons were laid out, she naturally understood.
If the studio developed successfully, Gu Shaoyu would benefit from following along. However, if she interfered, he would have to voluntarily withdraw to preserve his relationship with Shen You and avoid making things too ugly.
She had not expected her usually carefree younger son to actually be so clear-headed. Perhaps she had managed him too strictly before.
Still, regarding the studio’s decision-making power, she naturally hoped her son could obtain it.
Having her son serve as a supporting role to a girl from the county certainly didn’t sit well with her.
She sighed. “Mom understands now. In the future, I won’t interfere with your cooperation with her.”
Soon, the agreed-upon opening time arrived.
Early in the morning, the [Lan City] dimensional antique shop began operating.
To ensure customers could safely reach the shop, shortly after dawn, Wen Zhi used his authority to come over and clear out a wave of alien species.
When Shen You ran downstairs, she happened to see a lean man in black clothing standing tall outside the door. He was holding a long sword in his hand, a casual smile on his face.
She suddenly froze until the person walked into the courtyard, and only then did she snap back to reality.
“Why are you here so early?” Her breathing was slightly unsteady as she spoke.
“Like you, I’ve always honored the terms of our transactions.” Wen Zhi lowered his gaze, his voice very soft.
At this moment, the distance between them was somewhat close. In the end, it was Wen Zhi who first looked away and took a step to the side.
“I have something to attend to later and need to go to the Great Qi side. Do you have any other matters to handle here?”
Shen You shook her head. “No.”
He had almost finished clearing the entire area. The estimate was that Lan City would remain peaceful for quite some time.
Wen Zhi nodded. “Good, then I’ll leave first.”
Watching his figure walk out through the wooden door, Shen You’s gaze fell on the shop system interface.
Reaching level 5 provided one official employee position, and only then could the door permissions be granted.
For some unknown reason, she suddenly felt the shop was somewhat cold and empty.
She opened her playlist, turned up the volume, and went to the alley entrance to buy a serving of cold mixed noodles.
On her phone were messages just sent by her parents. They had returned to the county town yesterday evening and had already started packing things at home today. They had not mentioned anything to relatives and neighbors.
Only her aunt had asked her mother about the bracelet on her hand. She was not too satisfied that Shen You had only brought them protective charms.
The aunt also wanted to encourage her mother to ask how much that bracelet cost. The implication was that she wanted Shen You to give her one too.
Shen You’s mother knew how much it cost and would never agree. She had only casually deflected with a few words.
Around nine o’clock, Fang Qi arrived.
She set down her bag and poured out everything inside with a clatter. It was all gold bars and diamonds, absolutely dazzling.
“We were afraid it wouldn’t be enough for the exchange, so these past two days we sent people to find the original bank’s vault.”
Fang Qi looked at Shen You nervously.
Finding these items had been very difficult for them, but they also knew that supplies were more precious.
The gold alone was worth over a million, plus the jewelry. Shen You only understood Hetian jade and jadeite. She wasn’t familiar with diamond and colored gemstone prices and could not distinguish their quality.
However, looking at that diamond necklace, if it was genuine, it would probably not be cheap.
She would need to have Gu Shaoyu appraise them later.
“It’s enough.” She tapped twice on the tablet connected to the system and transmitted the items they wanted to the garage.
“The asthma medication you requested.” She handed these two bottles of medicine separately to the other party.
This time, half of the antibiotics and medications stocked in the shop, medical equipment, and all 50 bottles of alcohol newly updated in the procurement mall were taken out.