Chapter 3137: Painting a Big Picture

When Pei heard his wife once again taking on more than she could handle, he felt a surge of irritation and said sarcastically, "Spare me, Huang Qiuyun. Hasn't this matter been messed up enough by you? If you go and talk to them, I'm afraid I'll lose my position as President of the Calligraphy and Painting Association!"

Huang Qiuyun didn't get angry at his sarcasm and said, "Husband, I messed this up, so please give me a chance to make amends."

Pei asked her, "Tell me first, how do you plan to talk to them about this? They have long held grievances against Xiao Xiao Changkun, and they are happy he was kicked out. If you want to bring him back, they certainly won't agree. Besides, don't forget, the position originally reserved for Xiao Xiao Changkun has already been filled by someone else. How can you make that person willingly step down?"

Huang Qiuyun asked him, "Husband, do you know what 'concealing the death' means?"

Pei replied subconsciously, "Isn't that when an ancient emperor dies, the news isn't announced immediately, and they take the opportunity to finish the political struggle—those who need to seize the throne do so, and those who need to rebel do so?"

"Exactly," Huang Qiuyun said. "Our situation is similar. Think about it: among those people in your Calligraphy and Painting Association, who knows that you aren't getting promoted this time? They must all think you are about to be promoted, right?"

"Yes," Pei said. "I only just found out the news myself; they probably won't know for a while."

Huang Qiuyun said, "That's it. When you treat them to dinner tonight, you must still act as if you are about to be promoted. Let them think that your position as President will be vacated soon. Once they think that, they will feel that since you are treating them to dinner, you must be planning their promotions. Just like when you originally planned to demote Xiao Xiao Changkun—Xiao Xiao Changkun steps down, and everyone else moves up a rank. Now that you are acting as if you are being promoted, they will definitely feel that everyone can move up another rank. In this way, won't the director's position you wanted to save for Xiao Xiao Changkun be vacated?"

Pei pondered for a moment and then said, "The logic holds, but the final result is that someone must take a step back to vacate the position for Xiao Xiao Changkun!"

Huang Qiuyun said, "Whoever occupies the position intended for Xiao Xiao Changkun should be the one to vacate it first."

She then asked, "Who took that position later?"

Pei said, "Little Liu, Liu Haitao."

Huang Qiuyun hummed and said, "You just need to promise Little Liu that if he is willing to give up his position to Xiao Xiao Changkun this time, then once your transfer order comes down, a new vice-president position will open up in the association. You can then help him bypass Xiao Xiao Changkun's director position and promote him directly to vice-president. If you put it that way, he will definitely agree."

Pei asked, "What if I still can't promote him in the end? What if he comes looking for me to settle the score?"

Huang Qiuyun hurriedly said, "You're stupid! Isn't there still Master Hong Wu? When you have dinner tonight, you should lay the cards on the table. Just say that Master Hong Wu wants Xiao Xiao Changkun back and has specifically requested that he be given a respectable position. Considering everything, let Little Liu sacrifice himself for now, and then pin this sacrifice on the other vice-presidents as well, letting them know that Little Liu is making this sacrifice for everyone. Everyone will owe Little Liu a favor. Once Little Liu realizes you won't be promoted for a while, he won't just hold a grudge against you alone."

She continued, "Besides, if Little Liu wants to cause trouble later, he'll have to weigh Master Hong Wu's influence. By then, it will be him against Master Hong Wu, you, and the other vice-presidents. Do you think he would dare to offend so many people at once? He'll have to swallow this bitter pill."

Pei's eyes lit up upon hearing this, and he exclaimed, "Good idea! As long as Little Liu is willing to vacate the director's position, I can give Master Hong Wu a satisfactory answer regarding Xiao Xiao Changkun. As for the other vice-presidents, they certainly won't dare to object. Whoever objects is going against Master Hong Wu, and they will all have to weigh the consequences."

Huang Qiuyun said, "If you think this method is feasible, notify them quickly to have dinner together tonight. I'll book a private room at a hotel now and send you the address!"

Pei said without hesitation, "Good! Let's do as you say! Let's get past this hurdle first!"

While Pei was actively preparing for the dinner, Ye Chen took Xiao Xiao Changkun and Ma Lan to a restaurant near Tang Chen Yi Pin.

Xiao Xiao Churan had to work overtime at the Dihao Group that evening. Seeing that it was dinner time and it would take too long to go home and cook, Ye Chen decided to take the old couple out to eat.

After sitting down at the restaurant, Xiao Xiao Changkun sighed and muttered, "I never want to go out again. This trip to Dubai has worn me out; I've lost half my life."

Ma Lan complained from the side, "If you hadn't been messing around, you wouldn't be in this state. Giving away something worth over ten million—I still feel frustrated thinking about it."

"Hey!" Xiao Xiao Changkun waved his hand. "Stop talking about it, let me live a few more years."

After saying this, he remembered something, looked at Ye Chen, and asked, "Good son-in-law, do you think Master Hong Wu can help me get back into the Calligraphy and Painting Association?"

Ye Chen smiled and said, "A small matter like this shouldn't be a problem for him."

Xiao Xiao Changkun nodded and said, "If I can get back into the Calligraphy and Painting Association, I'll be satisfied. If I can't, what I'll do in the future is still a question... It's worrying..."

Ye Chen called the waiter to order a few substantial dishes and then said to Xiao Xiao Changkun, "Dad, stop thinking about it for now. Just wait patiently for news."

"Okay."

On the other side, Pei, accompanied by the vice-president of the Calligraphy and Painting Association and the newly appointed director, arrived at the hotel booked by his wife, Huang Qiuyun.

Seeing Pei bring his wife, everyone assumed this dinner was a farewell banquet before his promotion, so someone said, "President Pei, you and your wife treating us to dinner—this must mean your promotion is imminent, right?"

"Yes!" someone hurriedly echoed. "President Pei, don't forget us old brothers when you get promoted!"

Pei sighed and said, "Everyone, to be honest, I didn't invite you all to dinner today because of my own affairs."

Everyone was puzzled and asked, "Then what is it for?"

Pei said, "This afternoon, the famous Master Hong Wu of Jin Ling called me. He wants Xiao Xiao Changkun to return to our Calligraphy and Painting Association and asked me to handle this as soon as possible."

"Ah?!" Upon hearing that Xiao Xiao Changkun was to return, everyone felt reluctant.

One of them said, "President Pei, Xiao Xiao Changkun has poor professional ability and poor moral character. It was hard enough to kick him out; we absolutely cannot let him come back now!"

Others nodded in agreement.

Not only did they dislike Xiao Xiao Changkun, but they also didn't want him to threaten their current positions upon his return.

Pei said helplessly, "Let me put it this way: Master Hong Wu's influence in Jin Ling is sky-high. If we don't take his words seriously, he will definitely come to handle it himself. Who among us can withstand that pressure?!"

Everyone looked at each other in dismay.

Master Hong Wu's strength was indeed extraordinary.

Moreover, there were rumors in the underworld that he was now a man of the Ye family in Yan Jing. This meant he could access resources from the Ye family, and his connections were even stronger. If he really wanted to dominate a personnel transfer in the Calligraphy and Painting Association, it would certainly be easy.

At this moment, Huang Qiuyun spoke up, "Everyone knows that Xiao Xiao Changkun was previously the executive vice-president, and the incident he was involved in last time was never officially determined by judicial departments, so strictly speaking, it doesn't count as a scandal—it's just a rumor. If Master Hong Wu operates from above to let him return as executive vice-president, I believe everyone will have to return to their original positions."

As soon as Huang Qiuyun said this, everyone's expressions became tense.

Except for Pei, everyone else was a direct beneficiary of Xiao Xiao Changkun's resignation. If Xiao Xiao Changkun returned to his old position, everyone would have to return to their previous roles, and this promotion would be all for nothing.

Pei saw that the atmosphere had been set by his wife, so he said, "I think, for everyone's consideration, I will try my best to ensure Xiao Xiao Changkun does not return as executive vice-president. My current idea is to first resolve a director's position for him. If Master Hong Wu is satisfied, we can minimize the losses."

Upon hearing that Xiao Xiao Changkun would be a director, Little Liu asked nervously, "President Pei, if you let Xiao Xiao Changkun be the director, doesn't that mean I have to give up my position to him?"

Pei said, "Little Liu, it's true that you have to give up your position, but it might not necessarily be you who has to step down. If your position doesn't satisfy them, we might have to promote someone else."

Pei continued, "We must reach a consensus: whoever steps down is doing so for the sake of everyone here. Everyone must remember this favor and find an opportunity to repay it in the future."

Everyone nodded. In this situation, there didn't seem to be any other good way.

Pei then looked at Little Liu and said, "Little Liu, if you have no objections, I'll start with your position. If giving your position to Xiao Xiao Changkun satisfies them, then this matter ends here. Everyone will remember this favor. Once I receive my transfer order, my position will be vacated for the executive vice-president, and others will move up in order. But don't worry, the vice-president position that opens up will definitely be reserved for you. You can bypass Xiao Xiao Changkun's director position and become a vice-president directly!"

Upon hearing this, Little Liu felt much more relieved. In his view, Pei would be promoted soon, and vacating a vice-president position was inevitable. Moreover, as long as he agreed to this, he could make the President and all the vice-presidents owe him a favor. This was a great thing, so giving up his position to Xiao Xiao Changkun didn't seem unacceptable.

Thinking of this, Little Liu said without hesitation, "President Pei, since it's a sacrifice for everyone, I, Liu Haitao, am duty-bound. Let Xiao Xiao Changkun have my position!"