Chapter 5756

Zachary had reached a point of surrender deep within his heart. He knew that he couldn't match Peter's level. If he continued to engage with him in this matter, it would only bring him more trouble. Thus, he understood that the only way to resolve this issue was through Jacob. He had to find a way to make Jacob accept the reality. There was no other option. Therefore, he could only wait for Jacob to arrive in Dubai and then call him to plead his case. If that didn't work, he would give him all the cash he could gather, considering it a way to turn his luck around and learn a costly lesson. Meanwhile, news of Peter's actions in Antique Street spread once again. Initially, many people thought that Peter must have concealed something from the original blogger when he acquired the Northern Song bronze Buddha. However, once the video was released, everyone could see his exceptional character and ethical business practices. Based on his performance in the video, there was no one in Antique Street who could compare to him. It's worth noting that Peter had presented the other party with several different offers, with his most generous concession being to keep only 10% of the profit for himself. With such a strong commitment to honesty and integrity, it was nearly impossible to find anyone in the entire country who could surpass him. He could be considered a moral exemplar in the deceitful world of antiques. As a result, all the rumors about Peter in the Aurous Hill antique industry transformed into purely positive assessments. Whether it was fellow traders, collectors, or sellers looking to sell their antiques, they all held him in high regard. This helped Peter establish a strong reputation. Consequently, customers seeking appraisal services at Selected Artifacts Pavilion flooded in from the afternoon onwards. When it came to paid appraisal services, everyone naturally preferred to find a professional with exceptional expertise and high moral standards. After all, the antique industry was no stranger to stories of appraisers deceiving and swindling. There were always those cunning individuals with great expertise who, upon spotting valuable items, deliberately concealed the truth, described the items as poor, used manipulative tactics to brainwash customers, and ultimately purchased those items with significant potential at very low prices to make enormous profits. In comparison, Peter had a clear advantage. While Peter's reputation soared in Antique Street, another individual's fame rose as well. This individual was Timothy Carey, the current manager of Vintage Deluxe. However, Timothy Carey's newfound fame was entirely negative. He had become the laughingstock of the entire Aurous Hill antique circle. To reject a Northern Song bronze Buddha, not only did he fail to recognize its true age and value, but he also mistook it for a modern imitation from the Ming Dynasty. He confidently spewed incorrect information. Such incompetence from the manager of the largest store in Antique Street was truly embarrassing. Consequently, the comments under the online video underwent a complete reversal. Previously, everyone had praised Timothy Carey for his sharp eyes and criticized Peter for being fooled. But now, everyone flocked to the comments section to mercilessly mock Timothy Carey. One comment, posted in the morning, quickly became the most liked comment. It read, "Felix has already sold the bronze Buddha from the video for a whopping 20 million. Now, watching this video again, this Manager Carey is truly the biggest joke in the Aurous Hill antique circle! Mistaking a Northern Song item for a modern imitation, confidently spewing incorrect information, and driving away 20 million with such arrogance, Timothy Carey will be a source of laughter for me for years to come!" Many people replied to the comment, all mocking Timothy Carey mercilessly. One person said, "I laughed so hard when I watched the video last time. It's the same as feigning weakness to conquer strength!" Another person added, "Timothy Carey could make a name for himself in the entertainment industry. He could be the comedy representative of the Aurous Hill antique world!" Someone else chimed in, "Timothy Carey is truly unbelievable. His professional level is abysmal, yet he has the audacity to be the general manager of Vintage Deluxe. Can't Vintage Deluxe find someone else? If not, I'll be the general manager!" Another person sighed, "If I were Timothy Carey, I'd rather find a brick and hit my head until I can't bear it anymore. How can I still show my face in the antique circle after this?"

In the midst of it all, Timothy Carey, aware of the embarrassment he had brought upon himself, hid in the manager's office of Vintage Deluxe and refused to see anyone. He paced back and forth, wearing out the soles of his shoes. Lost and unsure of what to do, he felt not only ashamed but also incredibly anxious and angry. The shame was undeniable. He felt more embarrassed than if he were squatting in the middle of a busy street. The anxiety stemmed from his worries about his future. If Jasmine Moore found out about this, he would surely lose his job. And the anger, of course, was directed towards Zachary. He believed that he was in this situation because of Zachary's terrible idea. If it weren't for Zachary, he wouldn't be in such a dire situation. However, considering Zachary's current influence, he didn't dare to confront him. He could only hope that this matter would blow over quickly and pray that Jasmine wouldn't pay attention to it. This way, he could avoid the spotlight and salvage his reputation. At that moment, Jasmine indeed diverted her attention away from the news circulating on Antique Street. However, by chance, the news reached the ears of Lord Moore, who had retired to his home, spending his days immersed in writing. Though Lord Moore himself favored collecting calligraphy, paintings, and porcelain, paying little heed to bronzes, he maintained a wide network within Aurous Hill's antique circles. Thus, he learned of the developments from his own inner circle after lunch. Upon hearing that the former manager of Vintage Deluxe had returned and purportedly earned 20 million overnight, the old man's interest was piqued, prompting him to delve into the unfolding saga. As he watched Timothy Carey's video from the previous night, a surge of anger overcame him. In the old man's estimation, Timothy Carey's actions had brought shame upon Vintage Deluxe. With word spreading throughout Aurous Hill of the general manager's involvement in dubious dealings, Vintage Deluxe's reputation hung in jeopardy. Determined to rectify the situation, he promptly dialed Jasmine's number. Meanwhile, Jasmine sat in her office, meticulously reviewing progress reports for several key projects within the group. When the call from her grandfather came through, she answered respectfully, "Grandpa, is there something you need?" Lord Moore got straight to the point and asked, "What are you planning to do about Timothy Carey from Vintage Deluxe?" "Timothy Carey?" Jasmine recalled the video she had seen earlier that morning on her way to the office and smiled. "I used to think he might not have what it takes, but this morning I stumbled upon a video that made me think he might actually have some talent. Given more time, he might be able to turn Vintage Deluxe around." Lord Moore asked, "You didn't follow up on the developments, did you?" "No, I didn't. There's been so much happening in the company today that I haven't had a chance to pay attention. Why? Has there been any new progress?" Lord Moore said angrily, "Don't mention it. That kid spoke so confidently in the video, as if he knew what he was talking about. But this morning, the former manager of Vintage Deluxe, Felix Cole, sold the bronze Buddha from the video for 20 million! That bronze Buddha wasn't the modern imitation from the Ming Dynasty that Timothy Carey claimed it to be. It was an authentic gilded Northern Song Buddha! Now Vintage Deluxe's reputation has been completely ruined by him!" "What?" Jasmine exclaimed, "The bronze Buddha in the video is from the Northern Song Dynasty?" "Yes!" Lord Moore indignantly replied, "To mistake a Northern Song item for a modern imitation, how blind do you have to be? And he's the general manager of Vintage Deluxe, where the antique industry values professional expertise the most. Vintage Deluxe actually allowed such an incompetent person to be the general manager. People outside will surely think that Vintage Deluxe's standards are lacking!" As he spoke, Lord Moore's anger grew, and he continued, "And that kid's video comments are gaining popularity online. I saw that the number of likes has already exceeded ten thousand. The view count might have reached millions by now! This is a true embarrassment!" Jasmine also realized the severity of the situation and quickly said, "Grandfather, please wait a moment. I will have the Human Resources department investigate the situation, and once it's confirmed, they will begin the process of dismissing Timothy Carey. We won't let him stay at Vintage Deluxe any longer!"