Chapter 3334

"Old Brother Qiu, what is this?" Zhao Desan couldn't help but ask, looking at Qiu Qiming with curious eyes.

Qiu Qiming opened the box carefully and said with a smile: "Little Brother Liu, this is a pair of jade bracelets. Do you think it's okay?" After saying that, Qiu Qiming gently opened the lid, revealing the pair of jade bracelets hidden inside.

Zhao Desan instinctively cast his gaze into the opened box and saw a pair of emerald green, reflective jade bracelets resting quietly on the golden silk satin fabric lining the box. Although Zhao Desan didn't know much about the classification and quality of jade, just looking at it, he felt the texture of this pair of jade bracelets was very different from those he saw on the market when he went to buy watches with Sister Wu last time. Those jade bracelets on the market looked finely crafted, but they didn't give people the feeling of being completely clear and naturally formed like this pair. Whether it was the joints or the patterns formed during the jade's own formation process, they were so natural, smooth, and pearl-like. If one were to use women as a metaphor, those expensive jade products on the market were at best beauties who were heavily made up and packaged; it was purely artificial beauty with no sense of nature at all. This pair of jade bracelets was like a beauty born with natural beauty, comparable to a fairy descending to earth. That kind of beauty and temperament were natural and innate; the two simply couldn't be compared. Looking at this pair of top-grade jade bracelets, Zhao Desan couldn't help but reach out to hold the box and gently touch it with his hand. That silky and delicate feel was something he felt for the first time.

"Be careful, little brother." Qiu Qiming couldn't help but urge from the side, which showed how valuable this pair of jade bracelets was.

After carefully examining and pondering it, Zhao Desan carefully placed it on the coffee table and couldn't help but say: "It's really a good thing!"

Hearing Zhao Desan's evaluation, Qiu Qiming showed a proud look on his face and said: "Little Brother Liu really has an eye. To tell you the truth, this pair of jade bracelets was a dowry given by my wife's maternal family. It's a family heirloom passed down for several generations!" As he spoke, Qiu Qiming carefully closed the box again, as if afraid it would be damaged.

Zhao Desan couldn't help but ask curiously: "Then this thing must be very valuable, right?"

Qiu Qiming said: "That's for sure. There have been folk jade collectors who spent a lot of money to buy it, but I didn't sell it."

Zhao Desan said: "Then it certainly can't be sold. It's a dowry from sister-in-law's maternal family, how can it be sold? Besides, you don't lack money, Old Brother Qiu."

Qiu Qiming laughed and continued: "I didn't expect Little Brother Liu to be so knowledgeable. I heard from my wife that this jade bracelet is their family heirloom, passed down from the Qing Dynasty. It was carved from mutton-fat jade brought back from Hotan, Xinjiang, by a frontier ambassador at that time. Moreover, this pair of jade bracelets was also carefully crafted by the most famous craftsmen at that time. Later, I don't know how it ended up in the hands of my wife's family members, and then it was passed down only to men, not women, until now."

Zhao Desan knew that mutton-fat jade from Hotan, Xinjiang, was known as the top grade of jade, with extremely scarce production. Things are valuable because they are rare, so it was extremely precious. Moreover, the pair of jade bracelets Qiu Qiming brought was so historical, it must be even more precious. He couldn't help but sigh: "That's really too precious." As he spoke, he pushed the wooden box toward Qiu Qiming and said: "Such a precious thing, how can you give it to me, Old Brother Qiu? I can't accept it." Although Zhao Desan had accepted bribes a few times, the largest sum was the 500,000 in the bank card sent by Zhang Hui, the daughter-in-law of Lin Dafa, when he was at the Yuyang Coal Bureau. Although this money would certainly not be taken seriously by some big leaders, Zhao Desan had only been in officialdom for a short time and didn't have the guts to accept such a valuable thing all at once.

Hearing Zhao Desan say this, Qiu Qiming suddenly showed an extremely awkward expression on his face and said: "Little brother, this I... I'm not giving it to you..."

Sweat! Hearing Qiu Qiming say this, Zhao Desan immediately felt his face burning. He realized that he was like a peacock spreading its tail, being overly sentimental. He laughed even more awkwardly than Qiu Qiming, not knowing what to say for a while.

Seeing this, Qiu Qiming quickly said: "To tell you the truth, little brother, I want to give it to Minister Su. I feel that such a precious thing is only worthy of a woman with status like Minister Su. I don't know what you think, Little Brother Liu?" When Qiu Qiming heard him say to start from this aspect while eating with Zhao Desan yesterday, he immediately thought of this treasure at home. Although it was a priceless rare treasure, his wife had always been reluctant to wear it, and it wouldn't play any role at home. It would be better to give it to Su Qing. If he could successfully sit in the position of deputy bureau chief with her help, it wouldn't be a loss.

Zhao Desan frowned slightly and said with some concerns: "Such a precious thing, and it's also sister-in-law's family heirloom, giving it away like this, I'm afraid it's not good, right?"

Qiu Qiming said nonchalantly: "Hi! It's okay. Anyway, your sister-in-law doesn't wear it. Besides, how is she worthy of such a good thing? I think such a good thing is only worthy of Minister Su."

Being told this by Qiu Qiming, Zhao Desan felt it was true. Such a precious thing was really only worthy of being owned by a noble woman with high power like Sister Su. Moreover, Sister Su clearly felt very pained when she shattered the jade bracelet on her wrist last time. If this gift was sent over, it would definitely have a multiplier effect. After thinking about it, Zhao Desan said: "That's also fine. Then you can just give it to my cousin. Maybe it will have a multiplier effect."

Seeing Zhao Desan confirm his idea, Qiu Qiming pushed the box to Zhao Desan with a smile. Seeing Qiu Qiming's move, Zhao Desan couldn't help but widen his eyes and ask curiously: "Old Brother Qiu, didn't you say you were giving it to my cousin? What are you doing?"

Qiu Qiming said with a smile: "I still have to trouble you, Little Brother Liu, to run this errand for me."

Zhao Desan then understood that Qiu Qiming wanted him to give this thing to Sister Su on his behalf, so he quickly shook his head and said: "This won't do, this is not good, old brother..."

Qiu Qiming couldn't help but interrupt Zhao Desan's words and asked: "Why?"

Zhao Desan explained earnestly: "Old brother, think about it. You are the one asking my cousin to do something for you, not me. If I give this thing to her, what does it count as? Moreover, even if I plead for you, if you don't show up yourself, won't it make my cousin feel that you have too much of an air?"

Hearing Zhao Desan's meaningful explanation, Qiu Qiming pondered for a moment, feeling that what Zhao Desan said was also right. So, while taking the box back, he said with an awkward smile: "Also, then... then I'd better send it to Minister Su myself?"

Zhao Desan nodded and said: "It must be that you need to show up yourself. I can only help you talk to my cousin. Only then is it appropriate. I believe Old Brother Qiu is not the first time asking someone to give a gift, you should understand this rule, right?"

Qiu Qiming nodded with an awkward smile and said: "Also, also, what Little Brother Liu said is right."

"Creak"—just at this moment, the office door was suddenly pushed open. Zhao Desan instinctively looked toward the office door and saw Liu Yue's figure appear in his eyes again. He quickly gave Qiu Qiming a wink. Qiu Qiming immediately and stealthily picked up the box and put it into his briefcase without changing his expression.

"Liu Yue, what's wrong?" Zhao Desan asked Liu Yue.

Liu Yue still had that cute, smiling look and said gently: "Director, District Mayor Wu called and said your cell phone couldn't be reached, asking you to call her back."

"Okay." Zhao Desan nodded in response.

Seeing that Zhao Desan had something to do, Qiu Qiming tactfully stood up and said: "Then Director Liu, you go ahead and get busy. I won't delay your work."

Zhao Desan stood up with him, winked at him, and said: "Captain Qiu, just do as I said."

Qiu Qiming nodded with a smile and said: "Okay, then Director Liu, goodbye."

Zhao Desan said: "Okay, Captain Qiu, take care, I won't see you out."

Qiu Qiming nodded with a smile and turned to walk out of Zhao Desan's office.

After Qiu Qiming left, Zhao Desan pondered for a moment about Qiu Qiming giving a gift to Sister Su, then quickly came back to his senses, walked to the desk, picked up his cell phone, and saw that Sister Wu couldn't reach him because the phone had run out of power and shut down automatically. So he charged the phone and dialed Sister Wu's cell phone number from the landline on the table.

"Hello..." The call was connected, and Sister Wu Min's gentle female voice came through.

"Hello, Sister Wu, it's me, Comrade Xiao Zhao. Liu Yue said you called me just now?" Zhao Desan identified himself.

"Oh, Comrade Xiao Zhao, yes, why was your phone turned off?" Wu Min asked.

"It ran out of power and shut down automatically." Zhao Desan explained, then asked: "Sister Wu, do you have something for me?"

"It's like this, Comrade Xiao Zhao. In a while, I might need your help to drive Sister to the municipal government. Xiao Li is not feeling well today, and other drivers are busy. Do you have time?" Wu Min said, getting straight to the point. In fact, as a dignified District Party Secretary and District Mayor, even if her full-time driver was ill and inconvenient to drive, finding a driver to take her to the city was like child's play for someone with as much power as her. It was just that Wu Min still wanted to find an opportunity to spend more time with Zhao Desan.