Chapter 516: Reporting to the Police (Two-in-One, Supplementary Update)

Half an hour later, the group arrived at the famous Zhongguancun.

It is called a "village," but it is actually ridiculously large; the Desheng Technology Park is just one of its zones.

Wang Qizhi's childhood friend is the Deputy Director of the park's Working Committee, a Deputy Division Chief level position. In other places, at the age of thirty-something, this rank would be considered very high. But in Beijing, if you drop ten bricks from the city wall, the twentieth one you hit won't even be at his level.

After meeting and exchanging introductions, Wang Qizhi was not at all reserved and handed over the sheets of paper Lin Sicheng had written:

"Luzhou, I don't have high demands, just find me a place according to this!"

He Luzhou took them in his hand and was stunned for a moment: "Who wrote this?"

"How about it, is the planning detailed enough?" Wang Qizhi said quite proudly, "My student wrote it."

Detailed? It was more than that.

These papers were filled with the kind of details that seemed inconspicuous but were actually extremely critical. If one were not a professional in park design, let alone planning, they wouldn't even be able to think of them.

This was also absolutely not something that the professional design companies outside could design.

It wasn't that they didn't know how, but that they didn't want to: the more detailed the design, the greater their workload and the higher the difficulty.

After reading it carefully once, He Luzhou raised his head and looked at Lin Sicheng.

Among the five people, this one was the youngest. Wang Qizhi had introduced him first as his student.

Since they had just met, it wasn't easy to ask in detail, so He Luzhou explained:

"There are only two floors in the entire park that basically meet the requirements. Although they are not in the same building, the rent is about the same: the highest in the park." Wang Qizhi was startled: "So few?"

Before coming, he had specifically looked into it; the Desheng Technology Park has four zones, totaling forty-two buildings and one hundred and twenty-eight sections.

With so many office buildings, weren't they supposed to be able to pick and choose after arriving?

As it turned out, his childhood friend told him: only two floors met their requirements. What about the rest?

He Luzhou did not speak.

Because Wang Qizhi didn't understand at all, and anything he said would be in vain.

Just for the load-bearing capacity, only six buildings met the requirements. Adding in the floor level and ceiling height, only two floors in two of the sections qualified.

That wasn't even counting the fresh air system, which was installed as a whole and couldn't be modified; they would have to wait until they renovated to install a new set. And as for the floors above and below, what the neighboring companies did and how many employees they had—don't even think about it.

He Luzhou returned the papers, but not to Wang Qizhi; he returned them to Lin Sicheng:

"Little Lin, the load-bearing, floor level, ceiling height, as well as the distance from the street and surrounding roads are all fine. I can help you coordinate those. As for the rest, you will have to renovate them yourselves."

Lin Sicheng took them: "Thank you, Director He, I understand!"

These papers were written for Wang Qizhi to see, and Wang Qizhi had insisted on bringing them out. If one were to find a place according to the requirements on them, it would be no different from making things difficult for others. Sure enough, this kid understood.

He Luzhou pointed at the park: "Qizhi, Little Lin, let me take you to see the places first!"

Wang Qizhi nodded, then frowned.

Before, he was just surprised that Lin Sicheng could think so thoroughly and didn't feel it was difficult.

But looking at his friend's attitude, it seemed it wasn't easy to handle?

"Luzhou, is it very difficult?"

"The difficulty is indeed quite high, mainly because the cost is too high: if you renovate according to your requirements, just the framework alone will cost at least two to three thousand per square meter!" They needed shockproofing, soundproofing, electrical circuit modification, and fresh air system modification... it was equivalent to renovating everything except the load-bearing columns. If they rented one thousand square meters, plus soft furnishings and equipment, it would be close to ten million.

"Is there a cheaper way?"

"Yes, don't touch the framework, renovate in place!" He Luzhou thought for a moment, "But the Artron Art Testing Center and the Cultural Heritage Protection Online Laboratory basically followed the paper you wrote, first modifying the framework and then decorating."

Upon hearing Artron and Cultural Heritage Protection Online, Wang Qizhi stopped talking.

Everyone who deals in calligraphy and painting and ancient book collections knows what Artron does: it has the world's largest database for authenticating paper-based artworks and contains the world's largest high-definition image library of calligraphy and paintings.

Many people haven't heard of Cultural Heritage Protection Online, but Wang Qizhi knew it very well.

This is directly under the National Cultural Heritage Administration and built by the Chinese Academy of Cultural Heritage; it is a national-level cultural relic technology protection platform that integrates testing and research. Let me emphasize one point: all categories!

Since Artron and Cultural Heritage Protection Online both did it this way, it meant this money definitely could not be saved.

Wang Qizhi stopped feeling the pinch: "Ten million it is!"

He Luzhou looked at him in surprise: Brother, that's ten million, not one thousand.

"Qizhi, is your school quite powerful?"

What school?

The leaders at Xida weren't brain-damaged; why would they run to Beijing to set up a research center?

Wang Qizhi's mind was full of the renovation plan and he didn't have time to explain.

He Luzhou took them to see both places.

One was in the Desheng Gate Main District, just one kilometer away from the Chinese Academy of Cultural Heritage, and the Cultural Heritage Protection Online Laboratory was in this area.

The other was in the Jiaochangkou Innovation District, right next to Gulou Street, and around the corner was the Beijing Library.

The Artron Art Testing Center was right here, two floors, three thousand two hundred square meters.

After seeing them, the five people's opinions were surprisingly unanimous: just rent the Jiaochangkou Innovation District.

Because the area in the Desheng Gate Main District was too large; to rent it, one had to take a whole floor, nearly three thousand square meters.

According to Lin Sicheng's plan, the framework renovation alone would cost over ten million, and with everything else, the center couldn't be built without thirty or forty million. Jiaochangkou was just right, one floor of sixteen hundred square meters: one laboratory of three hundred square meters, one testing room of three hundred square meters, and one restoration room of three hundred square meters. Of the remaining seven hundred square meters, five hundred would be for storage and two hundred for office space.

It's just that the rent is a bit high; in other places it's two yuan per square meter, but here it's three point eight.

They would also need to set up a few dormitories and a canteen, but there were talent apartments nearby, and renting half a floor would be enough.

Once decided, they rented it. After a quick lunch nearby, the five people followed He Luzhou to the park office.

Standard contract, in duplicate. Lin Sicheng signed his name and stamped the seal.

The seal was for the private entity: Northwest University Lin Sicheng Cultural Relic Restoration and Protection Research Center.

This was to facilitate the subsequent handling of various procedures: no matter which bureau they went to or what kind of qualifications they applied for, having a foundation was definitely better than being a natural person. Not to mention anything else, just the "BTA Slow-Release Technology" alone could get many auditing units to give them the green light.

For example, the Quality Inspection Bureau, or the Environmental Protection Bureau.

After stamping it, Lin Sicheng handed it to He Luzhou.

He glanced over and was suddenly stunned: No way... this Center, it's actually a private institution?

It's not that there aren't private research institutions in the Desheng Technology Park, but they are all in the Cultural Relics Protection area. They are all small studio types, with the largest being only two hundred square meters.

In the Technology Park, there are five research centers that are close to medium-sized, with areas exceeding one thousand square meters and laboratories and testing rooms exceeding two hundred square meters.

Among them are the Artron Center and Cultural Relics Protection.

As for private ones, this is the first.

He Luzhou took a look at that official seal, then stared at Lin Sicheng for a few moments.

No wonder, that design draft was written by him?

Thinking to himself, He Luzhou sent them downstairs. Wang Qizhi expressed his thanks and said he would find time another day to invite him for a drink.

He Luzhou was noncommittal; he shook Wang Qizhi's hand and looked at Lin Sicheng, who was not far away: "Qi Zhi, what's the background of that student of yours?" Wang Qizhi was baffled: "He's just my student, Graduate Student Year One, what other background could he have?"

He Luzhou was stunned: Isn't that nonsense?

Which student hasn't even graduated yet and can establish a research center named after himself at a university?

Which student who hasn't graduated can run to Beijing, spend tens of millions, and set up some research center?

That's tens of millions...

Seeing his skeptical expression, Wang Qizhi realized belatedly: "It's hard to explain in a word or two. How about this, you find some time tonight, and we'll have a couple of drinks. I'll slowly brag to you—" "Brag?"

"Right!" Wang Qizhi nodded with a smile, "I'm definitely telling the truth, but you certainly won't believe it..."

By the end, of course, it becomes bragging.

He Luzhou was half-believing and half-doubting, watching them get into the car.

Wang Qizhi rolled down the car window and waved.

After talking about it so much, he had become numb; Wang Qizhi was no longer as excited as before.

What's more, the thousand-catty burden was still pressing on his shoulders.

After leaving the courtyard, he directed Zhao Da: "Boheng, go to Building 6, Jiaochangkou District."

As he spoke, Wang Qizhi took out his phone again and contacted an acquaintance: "Sicheng, let's go to Artron to take a look and learn from them!"

The place they newly rented was right here, in the same building as Artron, but not in the same block, nor on the same floor.

Lin Sicheng was noncommittal: "Okay, Teacher!"

This center that Artron set up in the Technology Park mainly does appraisals, and it's extremely comprehensive and high-end.

All the instruments are the most advanced and expensive ones on the market.

One can learn from it, but it's definitely impossible to copy.

It wasn't far, and they arrived in a few minutes.

A woman around thirty years old was waiting downstairs.

She was introduced by a friend; Wang Qizhi didn't know her either, but she was very polite, calling him Professor Wang at every turn.

Wang Qizhi introduced them briefly, saying they came to look at their renovation layout.

The woman agreed readily and led them to the thirteenth floor.

As soon as they entered the door, there was a reception area with several circles of sofas, where a few guests were sitting sparsely.

They were all holding objects in their hands, either boxes or scrolls; one look and you could tell they were here for appraisals.

Wang Qizhi took a glance and asked casually: "Manager, how much does an appraisal cost here?"

"It mainly depends on the type and the project: if it's a basic appraisal, such as image comparison, small Calligraphy and Painting is 1,500, and medium to large pieces range from 3,000 to 6,000. If it's ancient books, it starts at 8,000..."

"If it's instrument testing, such as XRF, Multi-spectral Analysis, etc., it's 6,500 each time."

"What about manual appraisal?"

"It starts at 12,000. If a certification report is required, it's 50,000 per copy. If it's for valuation, we charge 3% of the market valuation..." Zhao Xiuneng added: "Do you do judicial appraisal?"

"We do, but it requires a commission document from the judicial department: 20,000 per item for full-item testing; if you need to appear in court for cross-examination, it starts at 60,000 per item..." Wang Qizhi was stunned: Good heavens, isn't this just like picking up money?

No wonder Zhao Xiuneng kept muttering: In research, how can anything be as fast as making money through appraisals?

Suddenly, even Wang Qizhi felt a bit tempted.

Of course, it was just a moment of temptation. Wang Qizhi understood at least that whether at the current stage or in the future, no matter how many centers Lin Sicheng opens, his primary goal is definitely not to make money.

There was nothing to see regarding the instruments; Wang Qizhi understood them all generally. Furthermore, they weren't doing Calligraphy and Painting research for the time being, so even if he looked, he wouldn't use them.

They mainly looked at the overall renovation and the zoning design.

After walking around and asking a few questions, Wang Qizhi finally understood: Why did Lin Sicheng repeatedly emphasize that a research center is very expensive, very, very expensive?

For just this one center, Artron invested over 70 million.

Lin Sicheng didn't plan to buy that many pieces of equipment, nor did he plan to recruit that many people; he could at least save more than half.

But even if he saved more than half, it would still be nearly 20 million.

"Lin Sicheng, why do I feel that just selling those Three Imperial Seals isn't very safe?"

Wang Qizhi rested his chin on his hand, "How about we ask General Manager Zhao to borrow some?"

Zhao Xiuneng nodded without hesitation.

It would be a loan, not an investment for shares. Even so, Zhao Xiuneng wouldn't be able to lend it out even if he wanted to.

"Let's just sell things instead, sell two more pieces, three or four would also work, like the Double Crane Furnace, or those few paintings!"

Lin Sicheng explained to Zhao Xiuneng again, "It's not about being distant with Senior Brother, but about expanding our reputation..."

Since they decided to develop comprehensively, they would have to take on appraisal and Artifact Restoration business sooner or later.

But the center has neither qualifications nor fame; if they wait for customers to come to the door, they would be waiting until the end of time.

Lin Sicheng's plan is to take a few rare items with significant influence and put them up for auction in the name of the center.

Then, by participating in a few academic forums and lectures, the reputation will naturally rise.

Zhao Xiuneng understood, of course, and supported it two hundred percent. Because he doesn't understand research; appraisal and Artifact Restoration are his strengths.

The faster these two businesses are handled, the more he can demonstrate his own value.

"Fine, I'll listen to you, Junior Brother!"

The group discussed as they looked around, then requested the floor plan and interior design blueprints of the Artron Center to examine; Wang Qizhi even took a few photos. By the time they left, it was nearly six o'clock, and the number of guests in the reception area had not decreased but instead increased significantly, nearly filling all the seats.

Wang Qizhi couldn't help but exclaim: "A casual appraisal costs thousands or tens of thousands. Appraising a few dozen items a day means hundreds of thousands; it's like picking up money."

It was indeed very profitable, but not something one could envy: because Artron was the undisputed number one in the country.

The Forbidden City was certainly stronger than them, but the Forbidden City was not open to the public.

"General Manager Zhao, does this count as a monopoly?"

Zhao Xiuneng pondered for a moment: "If we're talking about machine appraisal, then yes, it certainly does; outside of the Forbidden City, there is no one stronger than Artron. If it's comprehensive appraisal or human eye appraisal, then it certainly doesn't count: for example, the major auction houses and antique companies."

"At the very least, Rongbaozhai's fees are much more expensive than theirs!"

This was the truth: a painting stamped with a Rongbaozhai seal starts at one hundred thousand yuan.

As for who is stronger or weaker, Zhao Xiuneng reckoned that Artron was still a bit stronger.

In Lin Sicheng's words, this thing called eye appraisal depends entirely on one's conscience...

As the group talked, they passed through the reception area.

They had just reached the door and the manager had pushed it open when a voice suddenly came from behind: "Wait, you wait a moment..."

As she spoke, the person rushed over and blocked their path.

It was a woman, looking to be around forty or fifty, with regular features, dressed well, and possessing quite a bit of temperament.

It was just that her expression was not quite right; she was aggressive, scanning them with a cold, sideways glare.

Wang Qizhi was completely confused: this woman had a distinct Beijing accent, but he didn't know her.

Zhao Xiuneng didn't know her either. Needless to say, Lin Sicheng had only been to Beijing a few times.

So, who was this fierce look of hers directed at?

After sizing her up for a few moments, Wang Qizhi lifted his chin: "Is there something you need?"

The woman said with a cold face: "Compensate me for my painting?"

Wang Qizhi was stunned for a moment: "Compensate for what?"

"The painting!" the woman said with conviction: "Lin Liang's 'Eagle and Goose Painting'!"

What the hell?

Wang Qizhi was a bit dazed: is this woman sick?

I'm just walking along perfectly fine, and you want me to pay for a painting?

She must have mistaken me for someone else...

Just as he was cursing under his breath, the woman sneered and pointed behind him: "You are absolutely in this together, don't play dumb with me..."

Wang Qizhi turned his head subconsciously: at the very back, Hu Pangzi was curling the corner of his mouth, looking quite disdainful.

Feng Sanjiang looked sheepish and whispered an explanation: "Professor Wang, this General Manager Huang must be looking for me and Hu Hai, but this matter is actually a misunderstanding..." Misunderstanding... you can misunderstand my foot.

Wang Qizhi realized belatedly: this woman wasn't here for them, but for Feng Laosan and Hu Pangzi.

One hundred percent, these two bastards must have set this woman up before and happened to run into her today.

He sighed and looked at Zhao Xiuneng: Old Zhao, do you remember what I said before?

These few bastards are full of trouble, and sooner or later they will cause problems, and there will be more and more of them.

See, how many days has it been?

Zhao Xiuneng didn't really care: in the antique business, to put it bluntly, that's just how it is. You can't enter this line of work without having been cheated or having cheated others. It's nothing more than seeing whose eye is sharper and whose cultivation is deeper...

Seeing that Lin Sicheng wanted to say something, he stepped in first and held Lin Sicheng back.

This wasn't like before, when Lin Sicheng had plenty of skill but little fame.

He was about to make a name for himself in Beijing, so it was best for Lin Sicheng to avoid such messy underworld affairs from now on.

Besides, he, as a Senior Brother, wasn't a pushover; he could wave his hand and dismiss such a small scene...

Zhao Xiuneng waved his hand: "Master Feng, come over here and explain what exactly is going on?"

Feng Sanjiang walked over, unhurried: "General Manager Zhao, we met this General Manager Huang at the Liulichang three years ago. At that time, she had a 'Eagle and Goose Painting' by the early Ming court painter Lin Liang. Many people said it was a replica, and in the end, I felt bad about it, so I bought it at a low price."

Zhao Xiuneng was almost laughed to anger: You felt bad about it, my ass?

Even though he knew these words were meant for the woman to hear, it still made him hot under the collar.

You cheat people, and you still claim to feel bad?

Zhao Xiuneng kept a straight face: "When was it copied, and who copied it?"

"I don't know who copied it, but as for the time, it should be from the mid to late Qing Dynasty."

"What kind of paper?"

Feng Sanjiang paused: "Liuji Xuan!"

Zhao Xiuneng let out a "Huh."

The so-called Liuji Xuan is the Wang Liuji fine-skinned rice paper produced by the Cao paper mill in Anhui during the Qing Dynasty.

Aside from paper supplied to the imperial court, Liuji Xuan was the highest-quality paper for flower-and-bird paintings in the Qing Dynasty.

The freehand flower-and-bird paintings of Bada Shanren, the splashed-ink Landscape Pattern of Shitao, and the boneless paintings of Yun Shouping all used this type of paper.

Because the process was too complex, the price was extremely high, and furthermore, it had a unique characteristic: the ink tones could reach nine levels of gradation.

Ordinary painters were reluctant to use this paper and couldn't use it well. If one failed to control the brush, the painting would be ruined.

So there was no need to guess: it definitely wasn't copied by some unknown person.

"How much did you buy it for?"

Feng Sanjiang did not hide it: "Seven thousand!"

Zhao Xiuneng was stunned for a moment, while Wang Qizhi tightened his face.

Heh!

Before, they thought this group of swindlers only swindled by selling things out; they never expected that they could actually swindle by buying things back?

Seven thousand yuan, at most you could buy a sheet of Liuji Xuan paper, let alone a painting?

Zhao Xiuneng didn't ask where the painting was; it must have been sold.

He also didn't ask how much it sold for: just based on the early Qing Dynasty Liuji Xuan paper, as long as the painting wasn't so bad that the brushwork was a blur, as long as it was passable, it would be at least tens of thousands of yuan. Even if he asked, could he really make Feng Laosan and Hu Pangzi spit that money back out?

Even if they spit it out, it would be useless: just looking at this woman's posture, you could tell she regarded that painting as an authentic work by Lin Liang.

Lin Liang's paintings have never gone for less than a million...

Eh, that's not right?

Thinking of this, Zhao Xiuneng suddenly paused: It's possible that these two swindlers really did sell that imitation as an authentic work by Lin Liang.

Because that is exactly what they do...

Seeing Zhao Xiuneng not speaking, the woman said with a cold face, "Are you two putting on a double act?"

Zhao Xiuneng felt a breath catch in his throat.

Damn it, is this the first time he's encountered a situation where he didn't know what to say?

The woman sneered, "Can't say anything now, right? No matter how well you act, it's useless: I have the original invoice for that painting, and photos, none of you will get away!"

Zhao Xiuneng was expressionless: "And then?"

"What 'and then' do you want? That painting has already been submitted to the Duoyunxuan autumn auction, with a floor price of 1.2 million... Come on, you calculate it, how many years will each of you be sentenced to?"

Sentenced, my foot.

Do you think having an invoice means you have a reasonable and evidence-based case?

Zhao Xiuneng frowned: "You should call the police!"

The woman looked stunned: "What?"

"I'm telling you to call the police!" Zhao Xiuneng said dismissively, "If the police can handle this matter, I'll take your surname!"

Is this the first time seeing such arrogant swindlers?

The woman was trembling with anger: "You think I don't dare to call?"

Zhao Xiuneng waved his hand: "I know you dare to call, hurry up and call!"

Lin Sicheng sighed: This matter really does require calling the police.

But for this woman, calling the police is indeed of no use.

To put it simply: the antique and jewelry industry has always followed the principle of "silver and goods exchanged, eyesight is the proof, once bought it is final, no regrets." It is not just an unspoken rule; legal clauses are also based on this principle.

Why did Liu Yan swindle the Henan Zhu Brothers out of a genuine Qianlong piece for 200,000, only to turn around and sell it for over 80 million, yet the Court ultimately ruled that the Zhu Brothers lost the case?

It was based on these sixteen characters.

And why has Feng Sanjiang, having been a swindler for so many years, never been sent inside?

Because they operate as a gang, with clear division of labor, meticulous planning, and extreme vigilance; by the time the victims realize they have been swindled, it is often long after the fact. When they turn back to find them, this group has long since vanished without a trace.

Including the entire process and the identity of everyone in the gang, Feng Sanjiang set everything up extremely cleverly.

Just like the time they swindled the Hong Kong businessman Chen Weihua, Feng Sanjiang's fake Identity Card and Hu Pangzi's fake passport could actually be checked in the public security system; what kind of concept is that?

The most critical thing is that they walk the line throughout the entire process, which is the sixteen characters mentioned earlier. Because of this, of the ten cases involving Feng Sanjiang and Hu Hai, at least half or more were the kind that the Court had no way to judge.

Added to the fact that too much time had passed and there was no key physical evidence, even if the Judge wanted to convict them, there was no way.

Therefore, Lin Sicheng had long anticipated today's scene, and Feng Sanjiang had expected it too: things like this will happen in the future. It is indeed as Wang Qizhi said, there is quite a bit of trouble. But compared to Feng Sanjiang as a person, this bit of trouble counts for nothing, and it was solved easily. It is not just as Zhao Xiuneng thought, that Lin Sicheng kept this group because of Feng Sanjiang's extremely high appraisal skills and Ding Aqin's extremely high Artifact Restoration skills.

Feng Sanjiang is a person who has great use.

But it is not a free favor: it is not that these few swindlers can just flap their lips and say they want to go straight, and Lin Sicheng will help them wash their records without asking for anything in return. If you make a mistake, you must admit it; if you take a beating, you must stand at attention. Whatever debts were owed before, every single cent must be paid back later.

I imagine those three should be mentally prepared...

Thinking this to himself, Lin Sicheng took two steps forward and walked in front of the woman: "What is your surname, miss?"

The woman looked him over a few times: "And who are you?"

"I am their boss!" Lin Sicheng pointed at Feng Laosan and Hu Pangzi, "The two who bought your painting back then?"

"Boss?" The woman squinted, "Who are you trying to fool?"

If it were the one who provoked her to call the police earlier, there might be a slight possibility, after all, he is quite old and has quite the air about him.

But you?

You don't even have a few hairs on your chin...

"I'm really not lying to you, I really am their boss. Of course, I wasn't before..."

Lin Sicheng explained patiently, "Hu Shifu and Hu Shifu are no longer in the antique business, they have changed professions to do appraisals..." "What antique business, that's fraud!" the woman glared, "Fine, since you are the boss, then pay the money!"

"Miss, let me tell you the truth: you just keep saying pay the money, but without proof or evidence, how should this money be paid? Shouldn't we find someone to uphold justice? Therefore, it is better to call the police first."

Lin Sicheng smiled: "Besides, blocking the way here and making a scene prevents others from doing business; if you don't call, the Center will have to call." "If you don't call the police and we insist on leaving, how will you stop us?"

The woman was a bit dumbfounded: Are swindlers these days all this arrogant?

Call it is.

Just as this kid said, she is a woman, and the other side has five men; if they want to leave, can she even stop them?

The woman held the door handle and took out her phone: "Hello, is this 110? I've been swindled..."

Taking advantage of the time she was on the phone, Lin Sicheng waved his hand and walked to the side, with Feng Sanjiang and Hu Hai following with their heads hung low.

Wang Qizhi also wanted to follow, but Zhao Xiuneng gave him a look, meaning for him not to get involved for now.

However, they were not far away, about seven or eight steps, so they could basically hear what the two were saying.

Lin Sicheng had a smile on his face: "Master Feng, Hu Shifu, how do you plan to handle today's matter?"

The two looked at each other, and Feng Sanjiang was concise: "Pay!"

Lin Sicheng was not surprised at all, and nodded with a smile: "Good!"

Having said only three sentences, the three people stood there quietly, speaking no more, as if waiting for that woman to call the police.

Wang Qizhi looked completely bewildered: "That's it?"

"Otherwise what?"

Zhao Xiuneng sighed: when it came to managing subordinates, he was still a bit lacking...