Chapter 83
To protect the ancient architecture, Xi Garden’s original layout wouldn’t be altered. Only interior modifications would be made, with some items added.
The setup could be completed quickly, as Shen You had already given Gu Shaoyu the list.
Most important was the safe. They needed the highest security level type, one that would require continuous cutting with a cutting machine for an hour just to make a hole in it.
Gu Shaoyu had experience with this matter and could handle the purchase and installation process from start to finish.
“Once you’re set up here, you can interface with our museum. We happen to be worried about not having enough hands to restore that batch of cultural artifacts.” Tu Guangsong said.
Tu Guangsong was the deputy director, so with his word, the matter was settled.
As long as she could collaborate with the museum, Shen You’s workshop would have established its reputation in the field.
Since the room only contained an old elm wood table and benches, they didn’t even have disposable cups for tea.
So the group had to go to the neighboring restaurant to discuss details.
This was the moment to test Gu Shaoyu’s emotional intelligence. While he didn’t understand professional matters, he was excellent at business liaison work.
The museum’s willingness to collaborate was due to Shen You’s previous donations and Professor Li’s influence. To deepen future cooperation, she would definitely need to demonstrate more expertise.
However, Shen You wasn’t in a hurry. Things were just beginning, she could take it slowly.
After the dinner, Gu Shaoyu arranged for a car to take the two prominent figures back, then returned with Shen You to Xi Garden to set up the workshop.
Shen You had just finished paying the bill at the restaurant and hadn’t walked more than a few steps when she encountered a familiar face.
A middle-aged man in a suit with a beer belly looked at her for a long while with narrowed eyes when he saw her.
Shen You had initially planned to pretend not to see him, but he smiled and called out to her:
“Xiao Shen, what are you doing here? Coming to eat with someone?”
Still maintaining that leadership attitude, he reached out to grab Shen You as he spoke.
Shen You quickly dodged, stepped back, and said coolly: “What else would I be doing?”
Seeing Shen You’s evasive attitude, his expression didn’t change at all. He maintained that kind but uncomfortably scrutinizing smile.
This person was Shen You’s former boss, Director Wang from the Jiangcheng branch office, Wang Sheng.
He enjoyed making empty promises and harassing young female employees.
When Shen You worked like a beast of burden at the company, her seat was right outside his office.
This old lecher would come out and stand beside her for no reason, reaching out several times to touch her face.
She would recoil in disgust each time, her hands going numb from restraint to avoid grabbing a file folder and smashing it into his face.
With family debt weighing on her back, jobs being hard to find, and monthly rent to pay, she simply couldn’t afford to be impulsive.
Later, whenever this old lecher came out, she would wander off to other departments while secretly looking for other opportunities.
She had planned to run away as soon as she found another position, but unexpectedly, the lawyer handling the inheritance found her first.
On the day she resigned, she had kicked open Wang Sheng’s office door and, under the shocked and bewildered gazes of several department managers, slammed her written notice on his desk with a thorough verbal assault.
Wang Sheng was the absolute authority in the branch office and had never encountered such behavior. His face had alternated between green and white.
When cheap labor suddenly became wealthy, he felt somewhat unbalanced and, together with Shen You’s direct supervisor, made some sarcastic remarks.
These old foxes were masters at needling people. They couldn’t be faulted for their words, yet they made people uncomfortable and difficult to respond to.
Their skill was truly impressive, but since she was resigning anyway, Shen You saw no reason to endure it. She confronted both of them.
Other colleagues watched the drama unfold, and many looked at Shen You with envy. With better opportunities available, who would want to eat empty promises at this terrible company?
No weekends, low pay with excessive work, no social insurance purchased, and they loved saying “if you won’t do it, plenty of others will.”
Colleagues who had suffered under oppression were delighted to see their leaders humiliated, although they didn’t dare show it on their faces.
Thus, the grudge was formed.
“How have you been lately? How’s the inherited shop doing?” Wang Sheng seemed oblivious to Shen You’s impatient mood and continued: “I’m going to the teahouse with some bosses to listen to opera. Would you like to join us? We could catch up. It’s been such a long time since we’ve seen each other.”
It appeared that Shen You hadn’t been doing well since resigning. He had heard that her antique shop had no valuable items, all junk. It was also located in the deepest part of Antique Street.
However, she had become quite a bit prettier, and her clothing and grooming were better than before.
Wang Sheng wore a confident smile and spoke in a lecturing tone: “Actually, I’ve always recognized your abilities, but you suddenly said you wanted to quit without discussing it with leadership first. That really wasn’t the right way to handle things. The person hired after you even got a five-hundred-yuan raise.”
“If you want to come back, it’s not impossible, but your old position is gone.”
He was giving Shen You an opportunity. If she wanted to return to work, she should quickly apologize and speak nicely.
Wang Sheng wasn’t content with just speaking. He stretched out his arms to put them around Shen You’s shoulders.
Looking at that greasy face, Shen You’s expression grew increasingly dark. She dodged the old lecher’s hands, but he moved closer: “Why are you being so distant? Don’t you recognize me anymore? Have you forgotten how much I took care of you when you worked at the company?”
Wang Sheng’s gaze was sticky. Previously, at the company with many people around, he couldn’t be too obvious. But now, away from the company, he had even fewer scruples.
“I remember now. You’re Xiao Wang, right? Resignation is resignation, why would I need to inform you? Who do you think you are?”
Shen You raised her voice.
“If I remember correctly, your daughter is a year older than me. Does she know what you look like when you harass young women outside?”
Wang Sheng was famously devoted to his daughter at the company. The car his daughter drove was more expensive than his own.
However, toward other people’s young daughters at the company, this old lecher wanted to grope and take advantage.
“With your company that doesn’t follow labor laws and your salary of just over three thousand, you still put on leadership airs? Get lost! Don’t touch me!”
The phrase “You’re Xiao Wang” and “get lost” left Wang Sheng stunned on the spot, unable to react for quite some time.
At the company, everyone called him Director Wang. Even the head office boss had never addressed him this way.
The young person who had seemed introverted and honest at the company was actually addressing him like this. It was simply turning the world upside down!
Wang Sheng glanced around to ensure no acquaintances had heard, confirming his dignity remained intact, then snorted coldly: “Preposterous! No matter what, I was your former boss. You don’t even greet me when we meet, this is your attitude! How can you accomplish anything in the future!”
His tone made it seem as if Shen You were an ungrateful traitor.
The commotion here also attracted passersby’s attention, including people from Wang Sheng’s dinner gathering.
Seeing that it was just a young woman dressed modestly, no one took Shen You seriously. They assumed she was someone Wang Sheng had called to provide entertainment, and their faces showed anticipation.
“Young people need gradual teaching. Come on, let’s all go to the teahouse together.” Joked a man with the same build as Wang Sheng.
Just then, Gu Shaoyu, who had arranged for the two professors and noticed Shen You hadn’t come out, came looking for her.
As soon as the earlier speaker saw Gu Shaoyu, his face immediately broke into a smile: “Young Master Gu, what a coincidence! The last time we met was at last year’s charity gala.”
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