After the storm, the sky clears up after the rain.
The next day brought a rare sunny autumn day in Beijing, and Chen Cheng once again visited the little western-style building.
As soon as he parked his car, Chen Cheng noticed there were different cars parked in front of the courtyard than last ti, which inevitably aroused his curiosity.
"Has Mr. Jin switched to this line of business?"
With puzzlent, Chen Cheng went upstairs to the study.
Upon entering, he saw Jin Baogen hugging a porcelain vase and wiping it, his face still betraying no emotion.
"Mr. Jin."
Chen Cheng called out and walked over on his own initiative.
Jin Baogen did not even lift his head, rely pointing towards the usual seat while wiping the vase and saying, "You’ve handled things very well this ti."
"It’s all learned from you, sir." Chen Cheng chuckled, rubbing his hands and sitting down in his old spot, yet his eyes were fixed on the porcelain vase in Jin Baogen’s hands, asking, "That vase looks pretty good, what’s its story?"
Jin Baogen then glanced at Chen Cheng and returned to ticulously wiping the body of the vase, and stated indifferently, "Jun kiln, from the Song Dynasty."
Hearing this, Chen Cheng exclaid, "Wow, from the Song Dynasty? That must be worth quite a bit of money, right?"
"It’s worth a little money."
Jin Baogen spoke casually, placing the porcelain vase carefully into a velvet-lined box, closing the lid, and pulling out a cigarette, "I called you here today because there’s sothing I want to tell you."
Chen Cheng nodded.
"Well, now that you are no longer engaging in bond issuance and have successfully transitioned." Jin Baogen lit the cigarette and continued somberly, "However, the rules of the gathering must not be discarded."
Chen Cheng thought for a mont, "Is it my turn?"
"Yes. Where do you plan to invite the mbers of your alliance to have so fun?" Jin Baogen took a deep drag.
"Ss~ That’s, well..."
Chen Cheng’s eyes moved rapidly, and half a second later, he spotted Jin Baogen’s mocking smile again.
"Isn’t that up to your arrangent, Mr. Jin?"
Jin Baogen chuckled, "Go and find Xiao Hai, and let him take you to Yanqing."
"Okay." Chen Cheng readily agreed, then added, "Eh? Does that an we have to go to Hebei?"
"A little further away, but you’ll enjoy it more." Jin Baogen pushed the box with the vase towards Chen Cheng, "Take this with you on the way."
Chen Cheng thought for a mont, "By the sound of it, you won’t be going?"
"It was I who led you into this world, and what you are to do next is of no concern to ." Jin Baogen looked at Chen Cheng with satisfaction, "Let the new era be ushered in by you yourself."
Chen Cheng nodded solemnly, "Alright, okay."
He paused, sowhat puzzled, "But this vase... why bring it to Yanqing?"
Jin Baogen flicked the cigarette ash off, "Place it over there for , when spring cos, I will retire there with Aunt Cui."
Chen Cheng realized that Jin Baogen was thoroughly prepared to retire.
"Tending fish, listening to folk songs, and admiring flowers," Jin Baogen said with a smile, "Been busy all my life, ti to enjoy so blessings."
Chen Cheng watched the genuine smile erge on Jin Baogen’s face, feeling a complex mixture of emotions inside.
He knew that Jin Baogen’s "retirent" was not just about living out his days in ease.
It was more like a farewell, a complete severance from the past.
"Mr. Jin, have you truly decided?" asked Chen Cheng.
"An individual should always look forward."
Jin Baogen took a deep draught from his cigarette, then slowly exhaled, the smoke swirling around him as he said, "I am old now, this trillion-dollar world belongs to the young."
He stubbed out the cigarette he had smoked halfway, "Alright, let it be like this. Go get familiar with the environnt over there first."
Chen Cheng stood up, holding the box, and looked back at Jin Baogen once more deep and long.
"Is there anything else?" asked Jin Baogen.
"Nothing much, just curious about those cars in the yard."
"Oh, that. Recently a company is restructuring, and they’ve asked to dispose of so assets." Jin Baogen said smilingly, "What about it?"
Chen Cheng joked, "I thought you were going to enter the second-hand car market."
"Ha ha ha, you little guy!" Jin Baogen pointed at Chen Cheng and then waved his hand.
Chen Cheng then left the study.
While going downstairs, he couldn’t help but look back once more; the tightly closed door seed to be signaling the end of an era.
A gust of autumn wind blew, picking up several fallen leaves that twirled in the air, eventually settling on the ground.
Chen Cheng took a deep breath, started the car, and the roar of the engine shattered the tranquility of the courtyard.
He knew that the era of Jin Baogen had ended, and his own era was just beginning.
...
...
Returning to Big Willow Tree, Chen Cheng walked into Wanbao Hall holding the box.
"Xiao Ling." He called out.
Zhao Ling hurried over, "Boss."
"Where’s Xiao Er?"
"Er-jie is out learning to drive and hasn’t co back yet." Zhao Ling replied.
Chen Cheng: "Alright, pour a cup of tea. Also, call Xiao Hai over."
"Right away, boss."
In a short while, the tea was ready, and Chen Donghai had also arrived.
"Mr. Chen."
Chen Cheng took a sip of tea and pointed at the box, "Mr. Jin asked to deliver this thing to Yanqing."
He paused for a mont, "Is there any property out there?"
Chen Donghai reported truthfully, "There’s a private club."
"A club?" Chen Cheng was intrigued.
Chen Donghai nodded, "It’s not open to the public usually, it’s used by Mr. Jin to entertain so of his friends and so... well-connected leaders."
Chen Cheng stroked his chin, rattling off in thought, "Let’s go have a look then."
He stood up and gestured to the box, "Be careful, it’s an antique."
Chen Donghai nodded cautiously, picked up the box after him, and followed Chen Cheng as they drove toward Yanqing.
...
...
An hour and a half later, beside Songshan Nature Reserve.
When Chen Cheng arrived at the private club, he finally understood what Jin Baogen ant by "retirent."
This was not so much a club as it was a small holiday village.
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