"Chen Feng, you've gone too far with this joke."
Wang Ziwei, standing beside him, gently tugged at Chen Feng's sleeve.
"Teacher Wang, it's alright. This painting is genuine, and Grandma will love it," Chen Feng replied calmly.
"You're just a deputy town mayor. Even with any unofficial income, you wouldn't have that much money. How could you possibly have an original Dong Qichang painting? I understand how you feel right now, your male pride kicking in, not wanting to lose face in front of my family and pretending to be richer than you are. But the thing is, my family isn't ordinary; they've seen a lot of the world and can't be easily fooled. How about this, you quickly go get the painting back, say you made a mistake, and I'll handle the rest."
Wang Ziwei advised Chen Feng.
"Teacher Wang, since things have gotten to this point, I won't hide anything. Actually, I'm not just a deputy town mayor; I'm also a company owner, though the company isn't registered under my name. With the company's funds, obtaining an original Dong Qichang painting is not difficult."
Chen Feng continued to maintain a calm demeanor.
"What? You own a company too?"
Wang Ziwei looked at Chen Feng with curiosity.
"Yes, Teacher Wang. I work as a deputy town mayor while also running a pharmaceutical company."
Chen Feng nodded in response.
"A pharmaceutical company? So, you do have some business acumen, knowing that pharmaceutical companies are highly profitable. Hmm, it seems I've underestimated you. You not only have talent in the political arena but also in the business world. Since that's the case, I'm relieved."
Wang Ziwei said with a smile.
At that very moment, Wang Ziwei's grandmother meticulously examined Dong Qichang's painting.
"It's an original Dong Qichang."
Wang Ziwei's grandmother exclaimed in disbelief.
"Grandma, did you perhaps misread it? Shall I go get your reading glasses for you?"
Wang Ziwei's two elder brothers looked at their grandmother with disbelief.
They had initially thought they could suppress Chen Feng and expose him as a scumbag who wanted to latch onto a wealthy woman.
Little did they know that Chen Feng was indeed no ordinary young man, actually possessing an original Dong Qichang painting.
Let's put it this way, anyone who could possess an original Dong Qichang painting was truly not an ordinary person.
"You two can be mistaken about other things, but I will never be mistaken about Dong Qichang's paintings. You don't understand Dong Qichang's art. In reality, the authenticity of Dong Qichang's paintings isn't determined by sight but by smell. An original Dong Qichang painting has a unique ink fragrance, an aroma that remains unchanged for a thousand years."
Wang Ziwei's grandmother said excitedly.
With the addition of this original Dong Qichang painting from Chen Feng, she now possessed two such masterpieces.
In China, to possess two original Dong Qichang paintings, she was likely the only one.
"But Chen Feng is merely a deputy town mayor. How could he possibly have the financial strength to acquire an original Dong Qichang painting?"
Wang Ziwei's two elder brothers questioned him directly.
"Brother, we've all underestimated Chen Feng."
Wang Ziwei quickly explained.
"Underestimated Chen Feng? How so?"
Wang Ziwei's two elder brothers asked, bewildered.
"Chen Feng isn't just a deputy town mayor; he also owns a company, a very profitable pharmaceutical company."
Wang Ziwei said excitedly.
There was nothing more delightful than her beloved man being a man of substance.
"Chen Feng, is what my sister is saying true? Do you really own a highly profitable pharmaceutical company?"
Wang Ziwei's two elder brothers remained skeptical.
Chen Feng was too young. How could someone so young own a successful company?
What were the ages of bosses of profitable companies? Weren't they all middle-aged men in their forties or fifties?
"Yes."
Chen Feng replied concisely.
"Chen Feng, is there any point in lying? You alone run a pharmaceutical company? Do you know how difficult it is to start a pharmaceutical company? Without pharmaceutical patent formulas, how can you start one? Many pharmaceutical companies today collaborate with medical universities to monopolize drug formulas. Would a medical university collaborate with you alone? Without collaboration from a medical university, how can you obtain pharmaceutical formulas for production?"
Wang Ziwei's two elder brothers retorted.
Wang Ziwei, standing beside them, couldn't help but worry for Chen Feng.
She had almost forgotten that the Wang family from the capital had stakes in several major pharmaceutical companies in China, as well as international ones.
In China, the alliance between government and business was common.
The Wang family of the capital was a prominent political family. Even if the Wang family didn't co-invest with businesses, businesses would actively seek collaboration with the Wang family.
In essence, for businesses to grow, they needed government backing.
Concurrently, the government also needed businesses; political funding often required support from the business sector.
Therefore, the Wang family had a thorough understanding of pharmaceutical companies.
From her two brothers' questions, Wang Ziwei felt that Chen Feng's pharmaceutical company was likely fictitious.
To avoid further awkwardness, Wang Ziwei quickly advised Chen Feng to drop the discussion about the company.
"Teacher Wang, you don't think I'm talking nonsense, do you?"
Chen Feng asked with a smile.
"Chen Feng, it's not about whether it's nonsense or not. Pharmaceutical companies are truly different from other companies. For other companies, you can get them running quickly with money. But pharmaceutical companies also need drug formulas..."
Wang Ziwei whispered, advising Chen Feng.
"I have the formulas. They are traditional Chinese medicine formulas, which are better than Western medicine formulas. As for Western medicine formulas, it's exactly as your two brothers described; without collaboration with medical universities, it's impossible to obtain them. Without formulas, you can't start a pharmaceutical company."
Chen Feng explained calmly.
"That does make sense. By the way, Chen Feng, quickly tell me how you obtained this Chinese medicine formula so I can have a clearer understanding."
Wang Ziwei asked curiously.
"This Chinese medicine formula is a family heirloom from a university classmate. I paid to buy out the formula."
Chen Feng replied, a mix of truth and falsehood.
In reality, Meidao Pharmaceutical had acquired the company at a low price from a joint venture of university classmates and provincial leaders.
The acquisition of the company itself wasn't costly. The main expenses were for controlling pharmaceutical materials and advertising. However, it didn't matter; no matter how high the costs, significant profits could be made. That was the allure of the pharmaceutical industry!
"Chen Feng, I didn't expect you to be so lucky. Since that's the case, please explain it to my two brothers quickly."
Wang Ziwei said excitedly.
Chen Feng didn't hesitate and directly explained the situation of Meidao Pharmaceutical.
Wang Ziwei's two elder brothers stared with wide eyes.
Though they said nothing outwardly, wicked thoughts began to form in their minds.
Chen Feng was merely a deputy town mayor without significant influence; they could certainly devise a plan to seize his Meidao Pharmaceutical.
A Chinese medicine that could completely cure kidney diseases was undoubtedly an extremely lucrative venture.
Chen Feng immediately sensed the greed in the eyes of Wang Ziwei's two elder brothers, but he did not make a scene.
There was no need to cause a stir; if he did, neither Wang Ziwei nor the Wang family would stand up for him.
What he needed to do now was to remain vigilant against any schemes by Wang Ziwei's two elder brothers.
A week later, Chen Feng was studying in the library at Capital University when he received a call from an unfamiliar number in the capital.
Chen Feng instinctively answered, and upon realizing it was Wang Zihao, Wang Ziwei's elder brother.
"Chen Feng, you need to return to the provincial capital as soon as possible. Zi Shan and I are already there, and there's a very important matter we need to discuss with you."
Wang Zihao stated directly.
Chen Feng's heart sank.
What was bound to happen, had arrived.
Meidao Pharmaceutical was in danger!