Chapter 732 - 335: Choosing Sides

Old Yang also watched the online trailer of the "Oil Painting" interview.

Not only did he watch it, but he also played it back carefully several times.

When Lady Tang Ning mentioned the issue of "succession," he didn’t miss a single change in her expressions and glances.

Lin Tao, those university Ivory Tower artists and professors, may not lack life experience, but their thoughts are relatively purer.

Unlike Old Yang, a worldly-wise person who rolls in the dust, adept at discerning the subtleties of fame and fortune.

This is his profession.

Old Yang could see at a glance the resentment and dissatisfaction Lady Tang Ning harbored towards little Gu Weijing in front of the camera.

Understandable.

Couldn’t be more reasonable.

In newspapers, when children inherit wealth, a few percentage points more or less can lead to fights and even murder for hire.

The artistic stature of Elder Cao is worth more than a hundred millionaires.

After Picasso died.

Lovers, ex-wives, wives, and children fought fiercely, competing to the point of life and death, and there were several suicides with revolvers. The entire art world was lamentably pitiful.

Great family doors are always unfortunate; Elder Cao is no exception.

When Elder Cao made that bet under the Great Golden Pagoda in Yangon, Myanmar, Old Yang had already predicted this inevitable scene.

It’s not about getting more or less money.

There’s only one position, akin to ancient officialdom, this is called the rivalry of succession, this resentment is only slightly less intense than avenging one’s parents’ murder.

Tang Ning being angry is within expectations and logical.

Old Yang completely understands this painter, who was adored and radiant from a young age.

Her anger is entirely justified.

If something is hers, why should it be shared with some random kid?

People just choose not to be saints.

Whether it’s Tang Ning or Gu Weijing, Old Yang hopes to avoid entanglement whenever possible.

They are both disciples under the seat of Cao Xuan, the Old Immortal, while he is merely a tea-serving attendant.

Even if preferential treatment is given to one over the other, it is Master Cao’s own decision.

When deities fight.

He, the little ghost, need only greet them with a smile.

If he can remain neutral, he’d gladly be an all-smiling mediator.

Regrettably.

Lady Tang Ning is unwilling to live in peace with Gu Weijing.

The interview with "Oil Painting" is merely a visible strategy.

Behind the scenes, two weeks ago, Tang Ning directly called Old Yang, indeed making a move.

"Master Cao is getting older, sometimes not as astute as before. As his personal assistant, Old Yang, you should be more mindful; it’s your duty, responsibility, and obligation. My teacher devoted his entire life to art, becoming simpler the older he gets. But this world is corrupt; don’t let unsavory people take advantage of Elder Cao."

"Otherwise, in the end, the teacher will be heartbroken, and we fellow disciples will be too."

"If you, Old Yang, could help the teacher guard against these, preventing harm, keeping those who shouldn’t be here away, we’d all sincerely appreciate your kindness," Tang Ning’s tone was quite playful over the phone, "In the future, I plan to open my own gallery, and I might need an experienced professional to be a co-founder."

Old Yang responded with laughter only.

He could hear Tang Ning’s underlying wish for Old Yang to trip up Gu Weijing.

There are numerous ways to ruin an art student.

Things like badmouthing Gu Weijing in front of Elder Cao, lowering his impression scores, are petty tactics.

High risk, low reward.

Too primitive.

Old Yang can’t be bothered to use them, nor does he look down on using them.

Helping Gu Weijing easily get acceptance letters from world-renowned schools is just a favor that’s done with a wave of a hand.

Ensuring Gu Weijing mysteriously cannot enroll at the Hamburg Academy of Fine Arts, regardless of how good his grades are, is also merely a matter of uttering a light sentence.

It’s easier to deal with Yama than meddlesome devils.

No need for any overt methods.

Old Yang will indeed make it seem like he’s laboriously preparing an application for Gu Weijing, approving scholarships, only needing to tweak the background materials slightly during submission reviews.

What ordinary people don’t know is.

Every Southeast Asian student applying to German universities needs a special school review and interview according to policy.

The interviewer will rate this person.

Including language skills, family conditions, criminal records, etc., using a complex unpublicized scoring system, those passing the basic security review can get student visas issued by the German Foreign Ministry.

Old Yang only needs to portray Gu Weijing in the materials as diligent, frugal, hardworking, though from a poor background, ambitious and forward-looking, these are mostly truths.

Casually mention the school has already decided to provide him with top-level scholarships, and the student himself will maintain his studies while working at Hamburg.

These can also be truths.

Submitting this background data that resembles an inspirational story from the movie "The Road to Harvard" works well.

Preferably, add a couple of sentences expressing his frustration with the chaotic political environment in Yangon, Myanmar, and his yearning for the affluent welfare life in European Union developed countries.

Such a politically correct good student, to get a German student visa, naturally just needs to...

Wait until the next life, perhaps.

Background checks to catch suspected terrorists, that’s incidental.

The main purpose of such interview reviews is actually to assess the student’s family environment, to determine their propensity for immigration.