"Director, I have two apprentices who want to be transferred to the painting shop. They are now full-time employees of XC District Materials, mainly because I can use them more easily." Zhang Junping said slightly embarrassed.

"This is no problem!

There are no other requirements? I mean, if the city agrees to your plan, what are your requirements?" Cao Xiangqian asked with a smile.

"Well, speaking of requirements, there are two points."

"Haha, tell me your request. When I report to the city later, I can mention it to the leader." Cao Qianqian smiled at the two of them and asked.

"First, it would be best if the city could provide one million US dollars in foreign exchange support.

If not, I will have to find someone to cooperate in the early stage.

Second, give us those granaries in department stores."

"Granary? You are talking about Nan Xincang? What do you want it for?" Cao Xiangqian could understand the need for money, but Cao Xiangqian was a little confused about the granary.

“In the entire BJ City, there is no place that is taller, larger, more spacious, and more suitable for an art exhibition hall than Nanxincang.

Nanxincang has a history of six hundred years and is antique. After a little tidying up, it becomes an exhibition hall full of historical atmosphere.

Now that the department store has basically abandoned it, it just happened to be used as an exhibition hall for me." Zhang Junping explained with a smile.

"You inquired very clearly! OK, I will report this matter to the city leaders.

Are there any other requirements or difficulties?" Cao Xiangqian asked again.

"No more! Then I won't delay the director's work..." Zhang Junping said goodbye and left at the right time.

………

Back at the painting store, Zhang Junping first went to the old store manager to explain the reason for his late arrival before returning to his office.

The painting desk has been moved back.

There is also an additional bookcase behind the desk, both of which are Huanghuali pieces from the Ming Dynasty.

It seems that the old store manager has a special liking for Ming Dynasty huanghuali furniture.

There is also a phone on the desk, which is basically complete.

As soon as Zhang Junping sat down, Lu Guozhong knocked on the door and came in.

"Manager Zhang, this is the 10,000 yuan you lent to the finance department yesterday.

You give me the IOU and I'll charge the account." Lu Guozhong put the money on Zhang Junping's desk and said respectfully.

"Oh! Here is the IOU!" Zhang Junping took out the IOU from his pocket, handed it to Lu Guozhong, and said with a smile: "Chief Lu, you take this money back and it will be used as money for me to buy the painting.

All these ten thousand yuan will be exchanged for me to calligraphy and painting by modern calligraphy and painting masters."

"Manager Zhang, I wonder whose calligraphy and paintings you need?"

"Callifications and paintings by modern and contemporary artists, including works by Mr. Bai Shi, Mr. Daqian, Mr. Beihong, Mr. Baoshi, Huang Binhong, Lin Fengmian, Pan Tianshou and other modern and contemporary artists are all acceptable.

Just calculate the price according to our normal selling price. If I can sell the works of these masters of calligraphy and painting, I have already benefited from it." Zhang Junping said with a smile.

"Okay, I know about Store Manager Zhang! I'll have someone bring the calligraphy and painting to your office right now."

Just as Lu Guozhong was about to leave with the IOU and cash, Zhang Junping stopped him again: "Chief Lu, please do some statistics on the calligraphers and painters who have often come to us to sell calligraphy and paintings in the past few years.

Looking back, when we distribute Chinese New Year benefits, we will also give them a copy.

Once the statistics are complete, send them over as soon as possible so that I can prepare them."

"Okay, I'll do the statistics right away!" Lu Guozhong agreed and turned around to go out.

After sending Lu Guozhong away, Zhang Junping habitually wanted to make himself a cup of tea.

Although he cannot taste the quality of tea, he is used to drinking a cup of tea in the morning.

As a result, he found that there was no kettle in his office.

At this moment, Zhang Junping began to miss his days in the Materials Bureau.

There are apprentices waiting on me, and I make tea for myself in advance every morning.

I just had a drink when I got to the office.

Now……

Zhang Junping could only go out and ask Lu Guozhong, "Chief Lu, do we have any extra thermoses? Get me one."

"Ouch! Manager Zhang, I'm looking back to you for making such a low-level mistake.

I'll get you a thermos right away!" Lu Guozhong was stunned and quickly apologized to Zhang Junping.

He took out a thermos filled with hot water from his office and said, "Manager Zhang, I will bring it to your room."

"No, I can just take it myself.

You are in charge of both finance and purchasing, so you have a lot to do.

Besides, this is not a big deal." Zhang Junping said with a smile.

Very generous and didn't take it seriously at all.

However, it was different to Lu Guozhong's ears.

Store Manager Zhang is beating himself up. If you don’t take me seriously, don’t blame me for taking advantage of you.

Zhang Junping returned to Zhang Junping's office with the thermos and took out a bone china teacup from the space.

I took the tea cup and went to the faucet downstairs to clean it carefully. Then I went to the boiler room and took the hot water and scalded it several times.

Zhang Junping was still a little worried and went directly to the canteen of the painting shop.

"Manager Zhang, what are your orders?"

"Master Ma, I have a cup here. Give me the pot and put it in it for a while."

"Manager Zhang, do you want to disinfect it?"

"Yes! I bought this cup abroad. It has a history of nearly a hundred years and can be considered an antique cup.

So I thought about disinfection." Zhang Junping explained with a smile.

"Okay, leave it to me. I'll cook it for you first, and then soak it in white vinegar for you.

Make sure it's as clean as new." Master Ma assured, patting his chest.

"Okay, please, Master Ma." Zhang Junping thanked him and left the backyard.

Come to the business hall on the first floor in front.

The facade of the painting shop is a two-story Western-style building. The first floor is a business hall. It sells famous calligraphy and paintings, the four treasures of the study: pens, inks, paper and inkstones. It also sells various painting tools, including Chinese paintings and Western paintings.

The second floor is the office area and framing studio.

There is also a quite large yard at the back with about ten houses, which are used as warehouses, water boilers, and canteens.

Seeing Zhang Junping come in, a young woman in her thirties hurriedly came over and asked, "Manager Zhang, what are your orders?"

This young woman is considered the beauty of the art shop. She is Chen Lijun, the sales supervisor on the first floor.

"Sister Chen, bring me a knife of various types of rice paper, a set of good brushes, and a pen holder.

After issuing the ticket, just hand it over to Section Chief Lu." Zhang Junping smiled and ordered Chen Lijun.

"Manager Zhang, do you think you should issue an invoice for loss or..." Chen Lijun hesitated, you asked me to issue an invoice, what invoice should I issue?

Is it wear and tear, or is it a ticket for defective products sold at a discount?

"Sister Chen, you should have heard that I am not short of money.

So, you can just issue invoices according to normal sales." Zhang Junping glanced at Chen Lijun and said with a smile.

"Oh! I understand, I'll have someone bring it to you right now." Chen Lijun nodded in agreement.

"Well, thank you, Sister Chen!" Zhang Junping smiled politely.

"Manager Zhang, I heard that you were the one who contacted us about our year-end benefits this year. What are they?" An aunt in her forties came over and got close to Zhang Junping.

This is the salesperson in the sales hall who is responsible for collecting calligraphy and paintings. Her name is Guo Meizhen.

Seeing Sister Guo, Zhang Junping knew that the former painting shop was still glorious.

Sister Guo must have been pretty when she was young, but now that she is in her forties, her figure is severely out of shape.

That's when everything starts to get huge.

Yeah! It’s the Chinese version of Kardashian.

"Sister Guo, what kind of benefits do you want?" Zhang Junping asked with a smile.

"Manager Zhang, what do you mean, can I just send you whatever I want?" Guo Meizhen said with a hearty smile.

"That's really possible!"

"Well, how about some rice? My children loved steamed rice the most when they were young.

No, when I came back from going to the countryside, I have lost a lot of weight." Guo Meizhen said with a distressed expression on her face.

"You can have this!" Zhang Junping smiled and nodded.
To be continued...