"I'll go find it right away." As Shi Shuai spoke, he disappeared, and Xiao Lin stood in front of the tea-colored glass. From there, he could view the central lake in its entirety. He stood above the water's surface, with the spot where Xiao i's body was found ten ters to his left, and to his right was primarily greenery, marking the edge.
Beigong has always been well-concealed, invisible from the outside. Even from the sightseeing spot on Xuefu Road, it rely appears as an artificial mountain shrouded in green, which he had confird before coming.
"Captain, I've brought the finance personnel."
The finance officer at Beigong was an old man, already bald, and likely couldn't see clearly unless one stood directly in front of him due to his severe nearsightedness.
His body trembled, unsure where to place his hands and feet. Shi Shuai grabbed his right hand and led him to stand before Xiao Lin. The finance officer, who had been locked in his room, had no idea what was happening outside.
He had a room to himself and barely left to manage affairs. His working hours were from six to nine, as Yan Fengying had devised the settlent period.
As long as he completed the previous day's accounts and cleaned them up within three hours, he could go ho. Every quarter, he spent three full days doing quarterly statents, every six months a statistic, and an annual report each year.
Listening to the finance officer explain his work process, Xiao Lin invited the finance officer to sit beside him. "How long have you worked at Beigong?"
"Just two years!" The finance officer looked like a bookworm, clueless about anything outside his job scope when asked.
"Beigong has been in operation for four years, aning you took over with a two-year accounting cycle. Were there any issues during the handover?"
"No! Only a one-and-a-half-year accounting cycle." The finance officer, finally not trembling, rubbed his hands together and glanced occasionally at Shi Shuai, then at Xiao Lin, and finally lowered his head. "There were no handover procedures. Manager Yan told to start with the business accounts from my first day at work. I am completely unaware of the previous financial situation."
"Shi Shuai, take the finance officer to his office and bring all the ledgers back to the office. Try to find the ledgers from the initial business period."
"I only have the ledgers from when I took over. I don't know where the others are."
"Ah!" Xiao Lin thought for a mont and called the finance officer back. "There shouldn't be any issues with the ledgers from your two years, right?" It seed that finance officers of this age were experienced hands. Beigong could hire him, so his skills must be decent. Even if he faked accounts, it would be hard for outsiders to detect.
"No, no, I wouldn't tamper with them. Every entry is aboveboard." The finance officer flatly denied it, his emotions appearing unusually agitated.
"That's good. Operating profits and taxes are complentary, and the equivalent reports of fixed assets and liquid funds should also match, right?" Xiao Lin only picked a part to say, not probing the old man, just making a casual remark.
"Yes, yes, taxes are filed yearly, and there are invoice vouchers."
"Hmm, that's good. Since you're so sure, I don't think there'll be any issues. But if I find you've tampered with anything or there's a mismatch, your license could be revoked!" Xiao Lin mused aloud, making the finance officer next to him tense. "Shi Shuai, please escort the finance officer out."
The finance officer's shaky steps were heavier than when he ca in. Who would believe he wouldn't tamper with anything?
Generally, sowhat experienced finance people wouldn't falsify accounts themselves. They know if discovered, their license could be revoked, or worse yet, they might face imprisonnt. Unless it's a boss's request, they usually wouldn't take such a risk, just like a lawyer needs their license to practice. Without it, there goes their credibility.
Beigong has been operating for four years, the finance officer for two years, and the previous one for a year and a half. So where did the other half year go? Was there a gap in between or from the start?
"Young Master Xiao, Elder Sun has arrived."
"Ah, the old man ca quickly!" Xiao Lin stood up from the sofa and went to the door to welco Elder Sun.
The Sun Family is one of the four great families, not due to political or business clout but by their standing in academia, indirectly related to politics, with a certain status.
"Haha, you said there's sothing good, and I wouldn't slow down on my way here," Elder Sun was a straightforward person, almost always unable to part with the things Xiao Lin managed to gather. Each ti, there would be significant discoveries. "What is it this ti?"
"It's not sothing good, I wouldn't dare have you co all this way just to have underlings handle it. Only, my eyes can't discern its authenticity, so I wanted you to personally appraise it and not bla for being capricious!"
"Oh, what even you, with those sharp eyes, couldn't recognize piques my interest," Elder Sun teased Xiao Lin, taking over the piece in his hand and putting on his glasses.
"Elder, why are you still smoking so much? It's bad for your health." Xiao Lin didn't mind Master Sun's actions and lit another cigarette himself.
"As long as you, young lad, are around, what are us old ones afraid of?"
"Ah, you shouldn't say that. Even with around, you all have to take care of yourselves. Honestly, all of you are so stubborn, it gives young Lin a headache!"
Elder Sun burst into hearty laughter, his voice loud and vigorous. "Got it! You're so naggy for soone so young, I bet when you're old you'll be worse than us! Now, take over there, my student was stopped by your people outside. What's going on?"
"I'll explain slowly, let's first check out the things we can touch." Elder Sun had arrived on the scene so quickly, Xiao Lin felt half relieved. He imagined that the matter in Beigong had already reached certain ears; this sudden assault carried risks. Just relying on Yao Zheng's word to Secretary Luo before making this sudden move could have easily resulted in nothing. But the outco was surprisingly different, making him pay attention to Yao Zheng's intentions at the ti.
Upon seeing those items displayed in the glass case, Elder Sun was imdiately astonished. "Can I take them out for a look?" It's really hard to discern authenticity through the glass, due to the refraction of the lights and so age-identifying markings being at the base. Although you can identify so things from the patterns and designs, the feel is also an important thod for assessing artifacts.
"Where's the key?" Xiao Lin turned to the service staff gathered around.
"There's no key, it was built in during renovations." Soone answered Xiao Lin. It was a young person, about the sa age as him.
"What's your position here?"
"Assistant Manager."
"Good, go and disable the security facilities."
"I..." The assistant wanted to retort but under Xiao Lin's glare quickly left, returning shortly. "It's done."
"Elder Sun, step back a bit." Xiao Lin protected Elder Sun behind him. "Be careful not to hurt yourself."
"I'm fine, just be careful not to damage the items inside." Elder Sun obediently stepped back a few ters but still reminded Xiao Lin.
Xiao Lin found a hamr, wrapped its head with a napkin, layer by layer until its shape couldn't be discerned, then aid at the bottom right corner of the glass case and struck.
"Ah!" The female staff on the side scread involuntarily at the sound of shattering glass.
The swing was slow, but the force on the target was actually heavier than a quicker strike. Such impact concentration would focus on a single point, and the cracking lines that extended wouldn't scatter everywhere due to speed. The second strike landed on the sa point. The nearest edges began to fall, shattered into small pieces orderly breaking in a straight line without scattering outward.
Elder Sun watched, smiling slightly and stepped forward. "Wait a mont, let take it out, be careful with your hands."
"Xiao, you're getting better." Elder Sun didn't compete with Xiao Lin but watched him take out the largest item and place it on the ground. Elder Sun didn't have the sa strength as Xiao Lin, and it was sowhat difficult for him to lift this item.
About the size of a chair, the square cauldron placed on the ground reached his shin height. On the display shelf, its actual size wasn't apparent, but now it revealed itself. The color was consistent, with traces of clay from when it was excavated still present. Despite so minor damage, the genuine historical impression left Elder Sun thrilled.
"Young man, go let my students in."
"Elder, I'm afraid that's not possible yet. It's not that I don't trust your people, but there's another place you need to see." Elder Sun understood Xiao Lin's way of handling things. When Xiao Lin said not yet, there was no need for further discussion. "See if these items are worth researching or if they qualify as national first-class cultural relics."
"These are more than just first-class relics; so trace back to imperial tis. They are priceless treasures. What kind of place is this to have such items? Any of these could fetch a fortune on the black market. The owner here is too bold, just leaving them out in the open. Isn't he afraid soone will inform the authorities? This could lead to execution.
National treasures belong to the country, possessing them privately is a capital offense.
"If Elder Sun believes these are worth researching, I'll have them sent to you. It's safer that way." Xiao Lin didn't answer Elder Sun's question, but called his people to move all the relics out, loading them onto military vehicles at the entrance, racing to the address given by Elder Sun.
"Ha ha, Elder, co with , there's another place you need to assess." Xiao Lin led Elder Sun outside. "But it's a bit slippery, so be careful." (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian (qidian) to vote for recomndations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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