Rebirth: 1977

Ye Tianshui hasn't seen the grandfather and grandson of the Zhai family for more than a year.

What he is doing now has nothing to do with Grandpa Zhai and his grandson.

Sang Nianzhong, the former "bridge" between them, has been managing transactions in several jade mines, operating several antique shops, and running a "handicraft" factory. He doesn't have many opportunities to see Ye Tianshui.

If Ye Tianshui hadn't met Mr. Zhai by chance a few days ago, he wouldn't have thought of them.

"Hello, Chengji, come on, help your grandfather get in the car, it's almost time for us to go there now."

Ye Tianshui saw that the current Zhai Chengji was much calmer and more reserved than the young man he knew at the beginning, and it could be said that he had been reborn.

Mr. Zhai was wearing a Zhongshan suit, his gray hair and beard were neatly trimmed, his eyes were sparkling, and he looked full of energy.

"Mr. Ye, thank you for taking us to participate in such a grand ceremony."

Mr. Zhai sat firmly in the back row and thanked Ye Tianshui politely.

The opening ceremony of the museum is indeed quite solemn, but it is not grand. It is completely judged based on the participants' feelings and how much they like it.

It depends on one's opinion. It is really boring for outsiders who don't understand to look at those dead things.

Just like Ye Tianshui, even though he has so many antique calligraphy and paintings in his hands, he just can't like them.

Mr. Zhai is a professional on this trip. In his eyes, being able to participate is a great honor.

"Mr. Zhai, it has been decided that you and Chengji will work at the museum. After the ceremony today, you will go through the employment procedures with the museum."

Ye Tianshui did not come to tell you after he had settled the matter. It happened that Mr. Wu passed away, Zi Lan resigned, and a series of other things happened, so he was very busy during this period.

"What? Mr. Ye, can we really go to work at the museum?"

Zhai Chengji was ecstatic and asked in disbelief.

Ye Tianshui started the car and slowly drove onto the main road.

"I promised Mr. Zhai, and I won't break my promise."

He answered with a smile.

"But, Mr. Ye, is it appropriate for me to work in a museum at my age?

So, Mr. Ye, you can tell the curator that if they need me, I will definitely go to help.

I would be very grateful if you can just let Chengji transfer his job there."

Mr. Zhai knew that at his age, he couldn’t handle working every day, and he would also feel bad about just taking a salary for nothing.

"Mr. Zhai, you don't have a pension. Although you get work from time to time, it's not guaranteed.

I have agreed with the curator that you don't need to go to the office every day. If there are things that the inheritance cannot solve, or some important identifications and repairs that require your guidance, you can usually just stay at home.

After you have worked for two years, you will receive a retirement salary. If the museum needs you again, you will be rehired and paid additionally.”

It was truly a special case that Ye Tianshui negotiated such treatment for Mr. Zhai.

Mr. Zhai, who is nearly seventy years old, could only be employed on a temporary basis and was paid for a day's work.

But he already had a good reputation in the antique industry, and the curator had also heard of him.

Therefore, there is an agreement that "one can only receive retirement pay after working for two years."

The museum is a public institution, and by then, Mr. Zhai will be able to live out his days with just a pension.

Restoring ancient paintings and antiques is a meticulous and exhausting job. As you get older and your eyesight deteriorates, you can no longer do it.

In the final analysis, Mr. Zhai will be the museum's mainstay. When the country has its own appraisal institutions and auctions, his word will be as important as nine tripods.

"Mr. Ye, thank you for thinking so far for my grandfather."

Zhai Chengji was very grateful in his heart. This would first relieve the pressure on him.

"No need to thank me, Chengji. Your job is a technician. You have to repair the various broken antiques in the museum yourself. You may even be asked to take on an apprentice.

I won't advise you not to keep your skills to yourself. If you think your Zhai family's ancestral craft cannot be taught to others, you can do so at your own discretion.

However, you must learn all of your grandfather's essence and don't let the inheritance end in your hands."

"Master Ye, do you mean that the country will not force us to teach others the crafts passed down from our ancestors?"

Mr. Zhai asked in surprise.

He actually hesitated between working in a museum and giving up his ancestral craft.

After all, the old saying 'Teach your apprentice and starve yourself' is not groundless.

In the end, work is more important than anything else.

Ye Tianshui promised carefully: "No one will force you, just teach them the normal techniques and give them guidance.

By the way, the ancient paintings on the back seat are those I brought for you. You will copy them on the spot when the time comes. It will not only be a test for you, but also an important part of the ceremony for the guests to observe.

Would you like to open it and take a look now?"

"It's easy to damage the ancient painting if you open it in the car, so it's okay to look at it on site.

Sir, whose original work are you bringing?"

Mr. Zhai gently stroked the two painting boxes. They felt heavy in his hands. The material of the boxes that held the scrolls was extraordinary, and the paintings inside must be priceless.

Ye Tianshui: “······I didn’t see it.”

There were several paintings by famous painters in the box. He just took them and left. I really don't know who these two paintings belong to.

······

Wu Pingtao took office on November 15, and his archival materials in Pengcheng were transferred directly through organizational connections.

When he returned to Beijing, he was already prepared to take up his post in Meihua County. Su Xin brought back some of the clothes that he left behind when he returned to Beijing to attend Mr. Wu's funeral.

Given Su Xin's temper, she didn't want to come back for the funeral, and she had a good reason. She was six months pregnant and it was inconvenient for her to go back and forth.

It was Su Jianxin who did the work. After all, Mr. Wu’s funeral was not just the Wu family’s business.

How many eyes are watching them? Giving the elderly the final respect is also giving the young couple some face.

Ye Tianshui called his brother-in-law Hua Zijian and asked him to send Su Xin home.

Zi Lan resigned from her job and stayed at home. She could have gone to Hong Kong Island later to take care of her pregnancy, but Ye Tianshui's "Yuntian Shuise Hotel" in Hong Kong Island opened on December 4th, so their family had to go to Hong Kong Island at the end of this month.

Ye Tianshui wanted to take this opportunity to ask Hua Zijian to bring his girlfriend home so that they could meet each other.

His wedding was scheduled for the Spring Festival of 1984, and Zi Lan would not be at home at this time.

Hua Minglei was very satisfied with Wu Pingtao and originally wanted to let him train for a few more years before handing over the work of the China Merchants Group to him.

Who would have known that Wu Pingtao would be transferred away with just a transfer order without any consultation with him.

He called Ye Tianshui:

"Master Ye, was it your idea to transfer Xiao Wu's job?

Can't he stay in Pengcheng? I will definitely use him in the future.

You know, I need young, hard-working and capable cadres like this."

"Leader Hua, you misunderstood. How could I interfere in whether my brother Tao stays or leaves?

The deputy county magistrate of Meihua County was his younger brother, who died in office under unclear circumstances. The Wu family always wanted to get to the bottom of it.

In addition, Meihua County is also where he had worked as a sent-down youth for ten years. He has feelings for that place. Now that reform and opening up are underway, he wants to do his best to remove the label of a poor county from Meihua County.

I heard from Brother Tao that among the people who follow him, there are people who are capable of taking over his job.

People have the motivation to strive only when they have ideals, and we have fulfilled his sincere wishes."