Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
Chief Fang asked, “Are you satisfied with your current life?”
Lin Fan replied, “Yes, I am.”
The leader added, “Do you have any requests to ask from the government? Do you think there’s anything that we’ve done badly?”
Lin Fan replied, “Nope, I’m good.”
“Master Lin’s artworks are extraordinary. Each time I look at them, I’m in awe.”
“No, no. You speak too highly of me.”
…
The atmosphere was a little strange as they asked and replied to each other’s queries.
Chief Che was a little nervous. He looked at Lin Fan but to his surprise, Master Lin asked him something.
“Chief Che, why are you looking around? Did something happen? If there’s a problem, let me have a look at it.”
After hearing that, Chief Che felt like dying. He was trying to drop hints but Lin Fan didn’t understand at all.
The leader had been there for almost ten minutes and they didn’t offer him a seat or a cup of water. Furthermore, he had asked so many questions just to prompt him for an artwork. Since the leader liked it so much, he should just draw one for him.
Then, the problem would’ve been solved. It would make the leader happy and he would have a good impression of Lin Fan. He would definitely soar with flying colors next time.
Fang Zheng Yan looked at Lin Fan and Lin Fan looked at him in awkward silence. Suddenly, they had nothing to talk about anymore.
It was getting awkward.
What made Chief Che anxious was that Master Lin still pretended to be dumb and stunned. It seemed like he didn’t understand what was going on.
*cough*
Chief Che cleared his throat and smiled, “Master Lin, let’s have a seat and talk.”
“Huh?” Lin Fan pretended to be dumb again. “Isn’t the leader here for an inspection? Aren’t you going somewhere else?”
Then, Chief Che really felt like killing himself. Was Master Lin really that dumb? If someone was visited by a notable leader, they’d be thanking their ancestors for the lucky opportunity.
The shop owners outside just looked at each other.
“D*mn, Master Lin is crazy. He immediately rejected the leader and didn’t even offer him a sip of water.”
“Besides Little Boss, who would dare to do that?”
“That’s a little embarrassing.”
As the secretary, Lil’ Dong had to do something for the leader. He knew the purpose of their visit.
It had initially been a simple task but he hadn’t expected Master Lin to not get the hints. He was probably someone insensible.
Hence, he felt that it was time to ask for it since the leader didn’t seem like he was going to do so.
“Master Lin, our government unit office lacks an artwork that is as magnificent as yours. As the leader is here, I can only humbly request for an artwork. I wonder if Master Lin could draw one for us to hang it in our office…” Lil’ Dong thought about it and said. It looked like Master Lin wasn’t going to get the hint and he had to make it clear to him.
Indeed, when he said that, Fang Zheng Yan was delighted. He had said it so directly and there was no way Lin Fan wouldn’t understand it. However, Fang Zheng Yan still pretended. “Comrade Lil’ Dong, how could you ask for Master Lin’s artwork so directly? Master Lin’s artworks have been collected by the national museum. His artworks are extraordinary and highly priced. If the others are to find out about this, what would they think of us?”
Lil’ Dong lowered his head and replied, “Yes, yes. It’s my mistake. Master Lin, please don’t take it to heart. It’s just that Master Lin’s artworks are really incredible.”
Their intention was clear. Master Lin would definitely just laugh and wave his hand. He would probably say, “It’s okay. For my artwork to be hung in your office, that’s my honor.”
If he was to say that, the matter would be over.
However, everyone was stunned by what happened next. Master Lin just smiled.
“Oh, so that’s it. That’s a small matter. I will call Zheng Zhong Shan, also known as Elder Zheng, Yue Qiu Ju Shi and Elder Tao of the Chinese Arts Association. I’ll ask if anyone has any artworks for the leader. Wouldn’t that be okay? Their artworks aren’t worse than mine. They’re more majestic than mine. The leader will definitely like it.”
“Chief, you don’t know how good Elder Zheng is at art. If I tell him that a leader wants an artwork, he would definitely send one over. It’s his honor to do so after all, right?”
He emphasized ‘Elder Zheng’ a lot as if the others didn’t understand it.
To others, who was Elder Zheng? How could his artwork be compared to Master Lin’s? The leader wanted Master Lin’s artwork, not those of Elder Zheng’s or Yue Qiu Ju Shi’s.
However, Fang Zheng Yan was stunned when he heard ‘Zheng Zhong Shan’. He anxiously asked.
“Master Lin, you know Elder Zheng?”
“Elder Zheng?” Lin Fan was stunned. He asked curiously, “Leader, you’re referring to Zheng Zhong Shan, Elder Zheng?”
Fang Zheng Yan looked at Lin Fan’s stern expression. He had referred to Elder Zheng a little intimidatingly.
“Yeah, that Elder Zheng.”
Lin Fan smiled, “That’s right. Elder Zheng is the President of the Chinese Arts Association. He is absolutely incredible. Since the leader has made a request, I have to give you some face. I will call Elder Zheng and ask him to give an artwork. If he dares not to give it, I’ll say your name. He would have to give one to you, wouldn’t he?”
Fang Zheng Yan was stunned. There was sweat all over his forehead. If the matter would really develop to that stage, then it would be better to just forget about it.
Furthermore, he still wanted to increase his rank to become a member of the standing committee. He had to become one out of the nine people. There were four more years to go and he didn’t want this matter to stain his record.
Furthermore, he felt that Master Lin didn’t know the background of Zheng Zhong Shan. If that was really the case, he would be doomed.
With Elder Zheng’s ability, if he had wanted to prevent Fang Zheng Yan from becoming a member of the standing committee, he could absolutely do so.
Hence, Fang Zheng Yan didn’t dare to think too much about it.
“Master Lin, forget it. Save the trouble. We’re government officials and we have to serve the citizens. How could we use our identity to request for artworks from these Masters? This time, the inspection is to check on the citizens. I shan’t disturb you any further,” Fang Zheng Yan said anxiously. If this matter was to reach Elder Zheng’s ears, who knew what would happen.
“It’s not troublesome at all. It’s just a phone call. Chief, don’t leave yet. We can discuss it further,” Lin Fan immediately said when he saw that Fang Zheng Yan wanted to leave.
Fang Zheng Yan looked at his watch, “Master Lin, the inspection is about to be over. We have to go to the other shops. If there’s an opportunity in the future, I will talk to you about Chinese Arts. If you have anything to report, you can tell Chief Che about it.”
Chief Che was stunned. What was happening? The matter didn’t seem too logical. Why did the leader want to leave so badly?
Meanwhile, the secretary, Lil’ Dong kept his mouth shut. He was stunned. Obviously, he knew who Elder Zheng was.
If the matter was made known to Elder Zheng, things would definitely become worse.
Lin Fan thought to himself, “Why is he leaving? I’m not done acting awesome yet.”
Fraud Tian looked at Lin Fan and gave him a thumbs up, “Incredible…”
Lin Fan smiled calmly. He had almost had to give in to him.
If he was to give his artwork to the leader, what would the public think of him?
It’d seem as if he was afraid of the authority and had to give in to their requests.
It might also seem like he was trying to curry the leader’s favor.
This wasn’t something that Master Lin would do.
It didn’t matter who the person was, he wouldn’t give any of them his artworks.
…