Chapter 3094: If It Stinks, It Stinks

As soon as Xiao Changkun spoke, Zhou Liangyun on the side couldn't help but laugh.

He had never heard of anyone regretting donating money to a charity and wanting it back. Today, he had seen it all.

However, the operator was obviously more experienced than him, and only heard the explanation from the opposite side slowly: "Sir, according to the relevant national regulations, public welfare donations for charity, disaster relief, and poverty alleviation cannot be revoked at will..."

Xiao Changkun said hurriedly: "I really clicked wrong. I originally wanted to donate 30,000, but I accidentally pressed an extra zero, so I donated 300,000. You should reflect this to your leaders and return 270,000 to me."

The operator said apologetically: "I'm really sorry, sir. We have strict financial regulations here, which means we don't have the power to use the charitable donations in the account at will. Every expenditure here requires a clear approval process. If you believe that the act of donation is a major misunderstanding, you can hire a lawyer to submit an application to the court. If the court supports it, the act of your donation will be revoked in accordance with the law. By then, we can return the money to you based on the court's judgment."

"So troublesome?!" Xiao Changkun was anxious and said hurriedly: "Look, it's only been half a day. I donated too much. Can't you just return the part I donated too much to me? It was my money in the first place. Isn't this justified?"

The operator explained: "Charitable donation itself is a very serious and very strict thing. And because there are relevant regulations that donations can be tax-exempt, we must follow the corresponding legal procedures. Think about it, if a company donates ten million to us at the end of the year to avoid taxes, and tells us after the tax year that they donated wrong and wants to take the money back, wouldn't that mean we are helping this company evade taxes?"

Xiao Changkun blurted out: "But I am an individual, not a company!"

The operator added: "Individuals also involve tax issues. Personal income is also subject to personal income tax. If you donate the part of the income that needs to be paid as personal income tax, and then want it back on the grounds of donating wrong, we cannot bear the legal responsibility involved. So the only way for you to get the donation back is to revoke it through the People's Court or an authoritative arbitration institution."

Xiao Changkun felt despair and said depressedly: "Returning money requires a lawsuit. That will take years and months. This money is for saving lives. My wife is sick and needs this money for surgery. Can't you accommodate me?"

The other party replied: "I'm really sorry, sir. This is a matter of principle and really cannot be solved. And I am just an operator and don't have such great power."

Xiao Changkun still didn't give up and said: "Then can I go to meet your leader?"

The operator replied: "It's past working hours now. If you want to meet the leader, you can come to the foundation during working hours on working days."

As she spoke, the other party added: "However, to avoid you making a wasted trip, I still suggest you consult a lawyer first. A lawyer will give you a very professional suggestion."

Xiao Changkun felt irritable. Naturally, he was unwilling to give up the 300,000, but now he understood that it was meaningless to continue consuming with the operator here, so he had to say: "Fine, fine, I'll consider it first."

After speaking, he hung up the phone indignantly.

Seeing Xiao Changkun still sulking after the call, Zhou Liangyun didn't want to continue entanglement with him, so he smiled and said: "Mr. Xiao, I'm already closed here. If you have nothing else, I'm going to lock the door."

Xiao Changkun came to his senses, looked at Zhou Liangyun, rubbed his hands awkwardly, and said: "Boss Zhou, actually I have one more thing I want to ask you for a favor. It's a small matter that is just a lift of a finger for you, but it's a matter of life and death for me. I hope you won't refuse..."

Zhou Liangyun smiled: "I definitely can't promise you in advance, but you can tell me about it."

Xiao Changkun hurried to the front, with a flattering face, and said: "Boss Zhou, Zhang Ermao's Moments post, I believe you must have seen it. To tell you the truth, that Moments post has a very bad impact on me and has already affected the foundation of my Calligraphy and Painting Association. You see, you earned a lot this time. Even if you donated ten million, don't you still have ten million left? The net profit is also 9.7 million. So I want to beg you to help me refute the rumor on Moments, just say that everything Zhang Ermao posted on Moments is groundless."

Zhou Liangyun thought secretly: "The reputation of being suspected of fraud will definitely have a great negative impact on Xiao Changkun. If I don't help him completely clear this suspicion, he will indeed have a hard time in the Calligraphy and Painting Association, and may even be expelled. He is Ye Chen's father-in-law, and I should leave him some room."

But thinking of this, he realized another problem: "Zhang Ermao exposing this matter must also be Ye Chen's intention. This shows that Ye Chen intends to teach his father-in-law a lesson. If I let Xiao Changkun off without Ye Chen's consent, it might go against Ye Chen's ideas..."

After thinking through this layer, Zhou Liangyun said tactfully: "I'm sorry, Mr. Xiao. I might not be able to promise you this. After all, I don't know what the situation is, and I have no way to verify whether what you said is right or what Zhang Ermao said is right."

Xiao Changkun said hurriedly: "Zhang Ermao is just slandering. He is used to cheating people in the antique street. He doesn't say a word of truth. You must not believe him!"

Zhou Liangyun nodded and said: "To tell you the truth, I really don't want to get involved in this muddy water, and I don't want to get to the bottom of it. Whether you or he is true or false, if you insist that the content he posted is not true, then I suggest you confront him face to face. As long as you can win against him in the confrontation, then you will naturally be innocent, and your reputation will not be affected."

Xiao Changkun said awkwardly: "I... I have already broken up with Zhang Ermao. I don't want to confront him face to face."

After speaking, he looked at Zhou Liangyun and begged: "Boss Zhou, look at me. I am definitely more reliable than Zhang Ermao. Zhang Ermao cheats people all day long. Will he donate to charity? No! But I will!"

As soon as this was said, Xiao Changkun realized that his operation of asking for money back just now was a bit of a slap in the face, so he hurriedly rounded it up: "Of course, donating 300,000 in one breath, my economic condition really doesn't support it, but you heard me on the phone just now, I am willing to donate 30,000. This is not a small amount!"

"Yes..." Zhou Liangyun gave a dry laugh: "It's not bad to be able to donate 30,000. After all, love cannot be measured only by the amount of donation."

After speaking, he added: "However, I really can't help you with the matter you just mentioned. To tell you the truth, I am a newcomer, and the last thing I want is to cause trouble, let alone get involved in muddy water. So please find another way, Mr. Xiao."

Xiao Changkun still didn't want to give up and said hurriedly: "Boss Zhou, it's fine if you don't want to post on Moments. I'll bring our Chairman over later, and you can explain this matter clearly to our Chairman. Just say there is no such thing as fraud. As long as our Chairman has your word, he can convince everyone when he returns to the Calligraphy and Painting Association."

Zhou Liangyun shook his head: "I'm sorry, Mr. Xiao. I can't do this kind of thing either. Please find someone else."

As he spoke, he didn't want to continue consuming with Xiao Changkun, so he opened the shop door directly and said to him: "Mr. Xiao, are you leaving? If you don't leave, I'm leaving first. Please help me lock the door from the outside when you leave."

Xiao Changkun knew this was an order to evict guests, so he could only say helplessly while walking out: "How about this, Boss Zhou, you think about it carefully. I'll come to find you tomorrow morning. If it really doesn't work, I can give you some money. You wait for me to get the 300,000 back, and I'll give you 100,000. Don't think it's too little. If you earn 100,000 more, you earn 100,000. Who would have trouble with money, right?"

Zhou Liangyun smiled noncommittally and said: "Mr. Xiao should get the 300,000 back first."

Xiao Changkun nodded: "Good! I'll handle this matter early tomorrow morning. Oh no, I'll go find a lawyer to consult now!"

Zhou Liangyun smiled: "Then I won't see you off."

Xiao Changkun waved his hand: "You stay, I'm leaving first."

After speaking, he couldn't wait to turn around, left the antique street, and planned to find a law firm to consult.

Seeing him leave, Zhou Liangyun returned to the shop. In fact, he didn't intend to leave. He just didn't want to get entangled with Xiao Changkun just now, so he said he was leaving.

However, to avoid trouble, he still hung a closed sign outside the door and locked the door from the inside.

At this time, a man suddenly walked outside the door and asked through the glass door: "Boss, can you still look at things?"

Zhou Liangyun didn't look back and was just about to refuse, when he suddenly realized that the person speaking was Ye Chen.

So, he turned around to look, and sure enough, he saw Ye Chen standing outside the shop door.

A smile appeared on his face, and he walked two steps quickly to open the door, smiling and asking: "Mr. Ye, we haven't seen each other for a long time!"

Ye Chen knew that Zhou Liangyun was continuing his own persona. According to the setting of his current identity, he naturally knew himself, but since he was fired by Jiqing Hall, he had no contact with him.

So, Ye Chen also smiled and said: "Boss Zhou, long time no see. You are now a boss yourself."

Zhou Liangyun said very modestly: "Small business, not worth mentioning. I don't know what brings Mr. Ye here?"

Ye Chen took out an amulet made of giant clam and said: "I accidentally got an item and want to ask Boss Zhou to take a look."

Zhou Liangyun nodded, made a gesture of invitation, and said: "Mr. Ye, please come in."

Ye Chen stepped into the shop, and Zhou Liangyun closed the shop door again. Then he smiled and said to Ye Chen: "Young Master Ye, you come to me, does your father-in-law know?"

Ye Chen smiled: "He doesn't know. I was waiting at the teahouse opposite, and only came down after he left."

After speaking, he asked Zhou Liangyun: "Uncle Zhou, what did my father-in-law come to you for?"

Zhou Liangyun smiled: "First he said he donated all the money and begged me not to call the police. I told him I didn't intend to call the police, so he hurriedly called the charity and wanted them to return the money. The other party said it needed to go through legal channels, so he planned to find a lawyer. Before leaving, he wanted me to help him refute Zhang Ermao's Moments post. I didn't agree, but I didn't completely block the possibility."

Ye Chen shook his head and smiled: "It seems that it is really hard to change one's nature. I thought he could truly realize his mistake. I didn't expect that what he thought about in his head, besides money, was his position."

Having said that, Ye Chen added: "Uncle Zhou, don't pay attention to him in the future. Don't leave him any room in this matter. If he has the ability to get the donated money back, that's his ability. As for his reputation, if it stinks, it stinks."