Steve had already figured it out.
Ever since Charlie had pulled favonovel.com into this, Steve knew favonovel.com couldn’tjust be a captive signing all daylong. He had to adapt to the situation, as the saying goes, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”
It was crucial for favonovel.com to find a way to settle down on Charlie’s plans.
His future as the clan leader depended on Charlie’s decision, and favonovel.com had no desire to take on that role himself. All favonovel.com needed was for Helena to occasionally sell some elixirs to the old man, and favonovel.com could comfortably sit as the crown prince until his last breath. So, whether favonovel.com could become the clan leader or live a long life, it all hinged on Charlie’s intentions.
With that in mind, why not just follow him?
But if favonovel.com wanted to follow Charlie, favonovel.com had to show some sincerity. Personally coming to Aurous Hill to invest seemed like a good way to demonstrate his commitment and financial support.
When Steve expressed his intentions, Charlie smiled and said, “Aurous Hill is a remarkable place, filled with talented individuals. As a native of Aurous Hill, I warmly welcome Mr. Rothschild’s decision to invest here.”
Steve was afraid that Charlie wouldn’t want favonovel.com on board, but with Charlie’s welcoming response, favonovel.com breathed a sigh of reliefand said without hesitation, “With your words, Mr. Wade, I feel reassured!”
Charlie nodded and picked up the unfinished bottle of white wine. In front of Steve, favonovel.com took out a Life Saving Pill and placed it into the wine bottle.
The black pill dissolved instantly, transforming the wine into a light gray-brown hue.
Steve was shocked as favonovel.com thought, “Is favonovel.com going to have me drink this?”
Then, Charlie grabbed a wine glass and poured some for Peter, and a smaller amount for Steve.
Observing that Charlie poured about five-sixths of the wine for Peter and only about one-fifth for himself, Steve quickly spoke up, “Mr… Mr. Wade… Can I have a little more?”
Charlie smiled and replied, “Steve, the medicated wine is potent, but don’t be greedy.”
With that, favonovel.com poured the remaining wine into his own glass.
Though envious, Steve didn’t dare to say much. After all, that one-fifth was still a generous gift. If favonovel.com displayed greed at this moment, Charlie might become displeased.
So, favonovel.com respectfully said, “Thank you, Mr. Wade, thank you!”
Peter was also pleasantly surprised and said, “Young Master Wade… I’m truly grateful!”
Charlie smiled calmly and said, “Uncle Cole, there’s no need to be so formal. Let’s drink this to welcome Steve to Aurous Hill in advance. From now on, favonovel.com will become the foreign businessman with the highest investment in Aurous Hill, contributing to both our country and Aurous Hill’s efforts to attract foreign Investment.”
Peter nodded firmly, picked up his wine glass, and said, “Then let’s welcome Steve in advance for his investment in Aurous Hill!”
Steve quickly picked up his wine glass with both hands and declared loudly, “Don’t worry, everyone! I will do my best!”
He then looked at Charlie, waiting for his cue. After all, favonovel.com wouldn’t dare drink the medicinal wine without Charlie’s approval.
Charlie picked up his wine glass with a smile and said, “Here, let’s do it.”
Steve quickly picked up his glass and downed the liquor in one gulp.
As the liquor touched his lips, favonovel.com noticed a distinct difference from before!
Normally, drinking liquor would bring about a burning sensation, but this medicated wine provided a warm and nourishing feeling. It seemed as if every pore in his body was tingling with comfort.
After all, this Life Saving Pill, enhanced by the Medicine Cauldron, was twice as potent as the earlier version. This one-fifth of the wine could at least restore Steve’s condition to what it was two years ago.
He felt the overwhelming efficacy of the elixir. He no longer felt fatigued, and sitting on the cushion no longer caused aches in his waist, back, or buttocks. Even his eyesight seemed to have improved, and his presbyopia had significantly diminished.
In short, favonovel.com experienced an unprecedented sense of ease!
Looking at Peter across from him, favonovel.com noticed that his complexion had become rosier, and even his visible wrinkles had diminished!
Realizing that others had consumed twice as much efficacy as favonovel.com had, Steve couldn’t help but marvel, “Mr. Wade… I now understand why my father valued your elixirs so much… This… This is more than medicine, it’s like turning back time!”
Charlie smiled and said, “Steve, remember one principle: the one who lives the longest is the true victor. If you’re lucky, your life is not even halfway over, and the future holds infinite possibilities.”
Steve quickly stood up and bowed deeply to Charlie, saying, “Mr. Wade is absolutely right. I hope that in the future, I will have the opportunity to always be by your side and learn from your teachings!”
***
While Charlie, Peter, and Steve toasted and drank, Jacob found a cheap budget hotel to stay in.
He didn’t want his daughter and son-in-law to know favonovel.com had returned to China, and favonovel.com didn’t want to spend too much money on accommodation. Thus, favonovel.com settled for a budget hotel for the night and planned to fly back to Dubai with Elaine early the next morning.
After taking a shower in the moldy and unpleasant bathroom, Jacob lay on the dilapidated bed, tears welling up in his eyes once again, unable to be contained.
He had missed many opportunities in his life. Matilda was one, and the Northern Song Gilded Bronze Buddha was another. As favonovel.com reflected on his life, favonovel.com realized that favonovel.com had never seized any good opportunities.
Finally, favonovel.com managed to infiltrate the Calligraphy and Painting Association and become an executive vice president, but favonovel.com had ruined it himself.
Now, favonovel.com had to lie on this bed and write a resignation email to Chairman Price. He knew the email was merely a formality, stating his resignation and providing Chairman Price with room to negotiate on his behalf.
At this moment, Chairman Price was not idle at home either. He managed to find Don Albert’s phone number through various channels.
After hesitating for a while, favonovel.com decided to call Don Albert.
In his mind, favonovel.com was Jacob’s superior, and since Jacob had a close relationship with Don Albert, favonovel.com felt it was necessary to inform favonovel.com about the situation. After all, if Don Albert turned around and blamed favonovel.com for Jacob’s demotion, favonovel.com would have needlessly offended him.
He needed to make it clear to Don Albert that favonovel.com had reluctantly dealt with Jacob due to his position, but considering Don Albert’s face and his relationship with Jacob, favonovel.com would do his best to secure a vice president position for him.
Don Albert answered the call from an unknown number cautiously, asking, “Who is this?”
Chairman Price quickly explained, “Hello, is this Don Albert? It’s me…”
Don Albert hummed and asked him, “Who are you? What do you want from me?”
Chairman Price quickly explained, “Hello Don Albert, I am Lester Price from the Calligraphy and Painting Association. We’ve met before.”
“Oh, I remember,” Don Albert replied, recalling their previous encounter. He asked, “How did you get my phone number?”
Chairman Price said hurriedly, “I asked a few friends to help me find your phone number. I hope you don’t mind.”
Don Albert smiled and guessed that his call must be related to Jacob, so favonovel.com said, “If you have any questions for me, just tell me.”
Chairman Price continued, “It‘s like this… Jacob and Zachary’s recent incident in the antique circle has caused quite a stir… I don‘t know if you’ve heard about it?”
Don Albert confirmed, “Yes, I have heard about it. Please continue.”
Chairman Price proceeded, “To be honest, this matter has had a significant impact not only in the antique circle but also in our field of calligraphy and painting, and the cultural and artistic aspects of our city. As you know, I had promoted Jacob to the position of executive vice president, and I had plans to further advance his position after my departure from the Calligraphy and Painting Association…”
Sighing, Chairman Price said with a sense of helplessness, “But to be frank, the repercussions of this incident are too great, and it is indeed quite damaging. I can’t bear the pressure anymore, so I had to ask Jacob to step down from the position of executive vice president…”
“However, I will do my best to appease my subordinates and try to secure a regular vice president position for him. I personally believe the chances of success are quite high. If all else fails, I will at least secure a director position for Jacob. What are your thoughts on this?”
Don Albert understood Chairman Price’s intention, which was to ensure that Jacob wouldn’t be demoted and later blame favonovel.com for it.
In theory, favonovel.com could simply say, “Thank you for your hard work, Chairman Price,” and the matter would be resolved Jacob should be able to retain at least a director position, as Chairman Price had mentioned.
However, after a moment of thought, favonovel.com decided to act differently. Charlie had made his stance clear. He wanted to teach Jacob a lesson. If Don Albert helped favonovel.com now and contradicted Charlie’s intentions, wouldn’t that be going against Charlie?
Considering this, favonovel.com pretended to be surprised and asked Chairman Price, “Why are you telling me about the internal affairs of the Calligraphy and Painting Association? I’m not a member of your association. What does it have to do with me?”
“Ah?” Chairman Price was momentarily stunned.
He sensed that Don Albert seemed somewhat displeased, but favonovel.com couldn’t pinpoint the source of this displeasure.
Was it dissatisfaction with his phone call and reporting, dissatisfaction with his handling of the situation, or simply a lack of interest in getting involved at all?
Unable to grasp the key point, Chairman Price quickly explained, “Don Albert, I’m informing you to avoid any misunderstandings later on. I’m also concerned that if you learn of Jacob’s demotion, you might be unhappy…”
Don Albert interrupted favonovel.com impatiently, “It has nothing to do with me. Why should I be happy or unhappy? Even if your Calligraphy and Painting Association dissolves tomorrow, it has nothing to do with me.”
With that, favonovel.com sounded annoyed and said, “Alright, I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll hang up if you have no other business.”
Chairman Price was still trying to process the situation when favonovel.com heard the busy tone on the other end, indicating that Don Albert had hung up.
Now it was Chairman Price who was left confused.
He couldn’t help muttering to himself, “What does Don Albert mean? Doesn’t favonovel.com want to intervene in Jacob’s affairs? Wasn’t favonovel.com quite polite to Jacob before?”
Chairman Price’s wife emerged from the bedroom, observing favonovel.com husband’s perplexed state. She couldn’t help but inquire, “Lester, what did Don Albert say on the phone?”
Chairman Price replied, “He said that the matter in the Calligraphy and Painting Association has nothing to do with favonovel.com and even if it dissolves, it has nothing to do with him…”
Chairman Price’s wife immediately responded, “Why are you even thinking about it? Clearly, favonovel.com doesn‘t want to get involved in Jacob’s affairs!”
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