"Yes, this includes Qin Ruilin's profits over the past six months, as well as the profits from your various businesses in Pengcheng..."
After hearing Yunman's explanation, Zhuang Rui realized that Qin Ruilin had made more than 50 million yuan in profit in just over six months, and that Pengcheng's several businesses, though seemingly insignificant, also made several million yuan in profit every month.
However, the most profitable institution was actually the museum that Zhuang Rui originally thought would lose money. After deducting all expenses, the museum's net profit reached 12 million yuan in just one month.
If you showed the financial statements of Zhuang Rui's museum to the owners of the more than 300 private museums in China, I guarantee they would be tempted to jump off buildings.
It's important to understand that many private museums in China are still struggling to survive. Zhuang Rui's museum can generate such revenue solely from ticket sales, something those people wouldn't even dare to dream of.
"Give Director Huangfu fifty million, and after deducting necessary expenses, deposit the rest into my account..."
After learning about his assets, Zhuang Rui said to Huangfu Yun, "Brother Huangfu, this 50 million is for acquiring antiques over the next six months. You and Director Zheng will decide which antiques to acquire. If you're unsure about anything, come back to me..."
Zhuang Rui had complete faith in Huangfu Yun's character, and the other deputy curator was also quite famous in the collecting world. Zhuang Rui wasn't afraid that the two of them would collude to swindle him out of his money.
After managing his various businesses, Zhuang Rui truly stayed home for over half a month, spending the entire time with Qin Xuanbing, only occasionally making phone calls to Huangfu Yun, Zhao Hanxuan, and others.
In the first week of August, Qin Haoran and his wife came from Hong Kong and, together with Zhuang Rui's family, held a wedding banquet for Zhuang Rui and Qin Xuanbing in a very small setting.
Although Zhuang Rui's wedding banquet didn't have a large number of attendees, it was a very high-profile affair, as even Old Master Ouyang was present, which was considered a great honor for the Qin family.
Time flew by and it was already the end of August. Qin Xuanbing's belly was already very noticeable. She was only four months pregnant, but her belly looked about the same size as some women who were six or seven months pregnant.
"Dr. Liu, are you... are you telling the truth?"
At the hospital that Ouyang Jun had introduced, Zhuang Rui was looking at a female doctor in her forties with a look of ecstatic joy. This Dr. Liu was a well-known obstetrician and gynecologist in China and also Xu Qing's chief physician.
Since the best time to check the baby's gender is after the 20th week of pregnancy, Zhuang Rui brought Qin Xuanbing to the hospital for an ultrasound examination a few days before the start of school.
However, what the doctor just said almost made Zhuang Rui's brain freeze with joy. The reason he questioned Dr. Liu was simply because he wanted to hear the doctor's diagnosis again with his own ears.
"It's true, Mr. Zhuang. Congratulations! Your wife is pregnant with twins, a boy and a girl..."
Dr. Liu, who has been an obstetrician and gynecologist for over twenty years, has only seen two cases of twins (one boy and one girl). She can imagine Zhuang Rui's surprise and joy.
It's important to know that the chances of having twins (male and female) are extremely low, less than one in a thousand.
"Haha, honey, now we have a son and a daughter..."
Zhuang Rui was so excited that he wanted to wrap Qin Xuanbing up and spin her around. But after he stretched out his hands, he realized it was inappropriate. He was so excited that he didn't know what to do with his hands.
Chapter 766 News
In late August, the weather in Beijing had already cooled down. In Zhuang Rui's courtyard house, all kinds of flowers were in full bloom, filling the air with fragrance, creating a scene reminiscent of spring.
Although the sandstorms in Beijing are quite severe, they don't affect Zhuang Rui's little courtyard. Even Ouyang Zhenwu, who holds an important position, comes here to stay for a couple of days from time to time.
Ouyang Zhenwu moved a deck chair under the tree to cool off, played with his adorable grandson, and watched the golden eagles flying all over the garden. He was very envious of his nephew and said that he would come here to live permanently after he retired.
Old Master Gu, who had just returned from Xinjiang, was also invited by Zhuang Rui to stay for a few days. He became chess friends with Ouyang Zhenwu, and the two could often be seen sitting under a tree drinking tea and playing chess. Of course, Zhuang Rui was always the one serving the tea. ...
"That kid's gone mad. Ever since he came back, his mouth has been grinning from ear to ear. Look at how happy he is. So what if he had twins..."
Ouyang Jun sat in the pavilion by the pond, holding his one-month-old son, watching Zhuang Rui wander around the yard with his phone in his hand, a look of disdain on his face.
"Wife, how about... we have a few more? We can't let this kid outdo us..."
Ouyang Jun handed the child to Xu Qing, but his right hand was still restless, giving his wife's bulging breasts a hard squeeze.
"You...you don't even know where you are..."
The big star was both amused and exasperated by her rogue husband, hoping her son wouldn't take after him, otherwise he'd ruin countless women.
"Hey, Liu Chuan, let me tell you, my wife is pregnant with twins, a boy and a girl! Huh? Get lost, you uncultured bastard! Twins are a boy and a girl..."
"Boss, hehe, do you know what my wife's pregnant with? Get lost, your wife's the one carrying a monster! My wife's carrying twins, aren't you jealous? I'm not going to talk to you anymore, I'm going to call the third brother..."
"Third Brother, my wife is pregnant! What? What does her pregnancy have to do with you? Nonsense, you're going to be an uncle! Let me tell you, my wife is pregnant with..."
After returning from the hospital, Zhuang Rui was clearly in a state of excitement.
After settling his wife in and sharing the good news with his mother and everyone else, Zhuang Rui started wandering around the yard with his phone in hand. He couldn't sit still any longer; only by walking around could he release his excitement.
"Ouch!"
The little golden eagle flapped its wings and flew down from the big locust tree, landing on Zhuang Rui's shoulder. As if sensing Zhuang Rui's mood, the little guy was also very excited, pecking at Zhuang Rui's hair with its sharp beak.
Little Golden Feather is now over two months old. Its weight has increased from just over half a pound at the beginning to more than four pounds now, making it much larger than most adult small falcons.
The white down on Jin Yu's head has now turned a light golden yellow, and his gaze carries a hint of the demeanor of a king of the sky.
The original "chirp chirp" sound has now turned into "yah yah!"
It was a sound, but sharper and more penetrating, somewhat similar to the low growl of the white lion.
About two weeks ago, Little Golden Feather grew tail feathers, a total of six, and all the down on its back disappeared, replaced by brown and gray-white feathers. Although they were relatively short, they could faintly reveal a metallic luster.
The little guy's beak has become even more curved. It had been constantly rubbing against hard objects for a while, as if it had shed a layer of skin. Now, its curved, sharp beak looks quite like that of an adult golden eagle.
Similarly, Jin Yu's claws also underwent a molt, becoming even sharper. Even without exerting force, as long as it grabs Zhuang Rui, his clothes are definitely in danger.
Fortunately, Ouyang Wan made a few finger cots and put them on its paws. Although the little guy felt very uncomfortable for the first few days, he gradually got used to it with Zhuang Rui's comforting words.
As for flying, the little golden eagle did not encounter any obstacles. Zhuang Rui had read in a book that a bird's first flight must be forced, preferably by throwing it off a mountain.
Zhuang Rui originally planned to drive Jin Yu to the Great Wall, then find the highest beacon tower and throw him off.
Who knew that this little guy, who was always jumping and hopping around, somehow learned to fly without any instruction. One day, after splashing down from the artificial hill in the pond, he learned to fly.
After learning to fly, the little golden eagle refused to live with the white lion.
Zhuang Rui hired a craftsman to build an extremely modern bird's nest for the little creature in the branches of the big locust tree in the central courtyard. It was like a small house with a roof, and it was almost as if they had installed an air conditioner for it.
Now Zhuang Rui's courtyard house has become the golden eagle's domain. It even snatched away and hid many of the old master's chess pieces, hiding them in the big locust tree in the middle courtyard.
Although Little Golden Feather is mischievous, it is very perceptive and never hurts anyone. Both children and adults love it.
Especially Ouyang Wan, sometimes if she didn't want to go to the backyard to call her son, she would just call out to Jin Yu, and the little guy would immediately fly to the backyard and summon Zhuang Rui.
Moreover, since Jin Yu moved into the courtyard house, all the rats that used to live there have disappeared. Zhuang Rui once said with a smile that the eagle's cry is definitely more effective than the cat's meow.
The only downside is that the pigeons in the front yard can no longer be kept. Although Jin Yu listens to Zhuang Rui and doesn't go out to harm other people's things, it wipes out all of its own pigeons in just a few days.
"Hehe, Jin Yu, your sister-in-law is about to give you two younger brothers and sisters, aren't you happy?"
Zhuang Rui was bursting with excitement and had nowhere to vent it. When he saw Jin Yu land on his shoulder, he quickly grabbed it and started rubbing the little guy's feathers vigorously.
In his excitement, Zhuang Rui started talking nonsense. If the golden eagle called Qin Xuanbing "sister-in-law," then Zhuang Rui's child would be his nephew. Isn't that complete utter rubbish?
"Duh..."
Jin Yu cried out in dissatisfaction, but its body was held by Zhuang Rui, and it couldn't fly away even if it wanted to. It could only protest by crying out.
"Alright, Xiao Rui, let go of Jin Yu. Mom knows you're happy, and Mom is happy too..."
Looking at her son, Ouyang Wan felt very gratified. Since her husband's death, Ouyang Wan had devoted all her energy to her children. Zhuang Rui having children meant that her husband's bloodline had been continued.
"Hehe, Mom, I'm just happy. Go play by yourself..."
Zhuang Rui released the golden eagle, and the little guy flapped its wings and flew to Ouyang Wan's shoulder, barking angrily at Zhuang Rui a few times.
Little Golden Feather is somewhat different from White Lion. Although White Lion listened to Ouyang Wan and others since it was a child, it was only loyal to Zhuang Rui and always ignored others.
But the little golden eagle was different. It was very good at pleasing people and would often fly over people's heads to do their hair. Even Ouyang Jun's one-month-old son would smile non-stop whenever he saw the little golden eagle.
"Hey, you've got a temper now, watch out or there won't be any extra food today..."
Zhuang Rui smiled and pointed at Jin Yu. The little guy immediately shrank his neck, looking pitiful. The extra meal Zhuang Rui mentioned was not food, but rather using spiritual energy to cleanse its body.
Once, when Zhuang Rui was chatting with Huangfu Yun, he heard him say that the reason why birds can talk is because birds have large mouths and fleshy, soft, short, and round tongues, which are somewhat similar to humans. Huangfu Yun suggested that Zhuang Rui train them more, and maybe this intelligent little golden eagle could also start talking.
Zhuang Rui checked online and found that it was true. He often used his spiritual energy to massage the little golden eagle's head and throat, but it had been more than a month and there was no effect.
"Alright, you play with Xiao Jinyu, Mom's going to make some soup for Xuanbing..."
Ouyang Wan gave her son some instructions, then got up and went to the kitchen. The little golden eagle flew to Zhuang Rui's shoulder and used its sharp beak to give him a hairstyle in a flattering way.
"Go, bring me the phone..."
The phone that Zhuang Rui had just placed on the stone table suddenly rang. Before Zhuang Rui could finish giving instructions, the little guy flew over, grabbed the phone with its claws, flapped its wings vigorously, and handed the phone to Zhuang Rui.
"Good job, go have some fun..."
Zhuang Rui smiled and infused a trace of spiritual energy into the little golden feather before pressing the answer button.
"Brother, I have good news for you..."
Huangfu Yun's voice came through the phone.
"Good news? I haven't called you yet, have I?"
Zhuang Rui was a little confused. It seemed that he hadn't told Huangfu Yun that his wife was pregnant with twins yet.
"What? Let me tell you, a batch of Tang tri-colored pottery was recently unearthed in Hebei. The quality is quite good, and after several experts' appraisal, it is undoubtedly genuine Tang tri-colored pottery. I wanted to ask you what you think, whether you want to buy it..."
What's missing in Zhuang Rui's museum now, in the ceramics exhibition hall, is Han and Tang dynasty ceramics, especially Tang tri-color pottery, which is extremely rare.
Zhuang Rui recently tasked Huangfu Yun with acquiring more Han and Tang dynasty porcelain from various auction houses and private collectors.
However, such rare items are few and far between. Only those in good condition can be opened to the public as museum collections. Huangfu Yun spent a lot of time searching but couldn't get his hands on a single one. Recently, he received news that someone in Hebei wanted to sell it, so he immediately notified Zhuang Rui.
"Who are they?"
Zhuang Rui frowned. Tang tri-color pottery was already rare, and most of it came from Shaanxi and Henan. If it was said to have been unearthed in Hebei, Zhuang Rui immediately became suspicious.
Moreover, porcelain is fragile. Even if it is obtained by tomb raiding, usually only a few complete pieces can be found in a large tomb. The word Huangfuyun used refers to a batch, which Zhuang Rui is not very optimistic about.
Upon hearing Zhuang Rui's words, Huangfu Yun, on the other end of the phone, quickly replied, "It's organized by the largest black market boss in Hebei and the Beijing-Tianjin area, so it's highly credible..."
Chapter 767 Truth or Falsehood (1)
The city of Beijing is a melting pot of all sorts of people, and there are many kinds of black markets. Some people have a smattering of antiques, but they make up unreliable items to fool newcomers.
Just like the black market Zhuang Rui attended last time, the boss had some connections, and besides, he was only selling fake antiques. Even if he got caught, he wasn't afraid. He was a master of deception, moving from place to place after each hit, fooling whoever he could.
However, there are also well-organized legitimate black markets. These black market owners have close ties with many well-known collectors and tomb raiding gangs across the country. They care a lot about their reputation, and many items are appraised by experts beforehand. You can often find some pretty good stuff there.
Most of the bronze artifacts collected by collectors in China today come from these black markets, and some of them are nationally protected cultural relics.
These people know how to conduct business within certain circles and rarely smuggle their goods out of the country. This way, they attract less attention, and since they also have powerful connections, the police tend to turn a blind eye to them. Otherwise, they would have been taken down long ago in the capital.