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âAre you sure Tang Bohu has seen black stockings?â
Yang Hao pointed to the black stockings on the womanâs legs and asked.
âUhâ¦..â
The stall owner was stunned, then slapped his forehead: âShit, I knew there was something off about this painting!â
âBro, a hundred!â
âA hundred what?â
Just a moment ago, the stall owner was calling out a price of over a million, and in the blink of an eye, it became just a hundred, the word âmillionâ completely dropped. The price change was as if he was joking around.
Yang Hao, with an expression of speechlessness, waved his hand. This âPortrait of a Ladyâ and the widely circulated online âThe Three Heroes Battle Lu Buâ were damn from the same series, primarily for laughs.
If he gave this painting to Guan Weimin, the old man would probably cough up blood.
âBro, you can tell you have an eye for good stuff.â
âI actually have a genuine piece here, come with me.â
The stall owner still refused to give up, pulling Yang Hao into another room. Then, with great care, he took out a framed piece of artwork from a cabinet: âBro, have a look at this. Gao Qifengâs âLion Painting,â an absolute original.â
âBut when it came into my hands, the scroll was damaged, so I made a frame and preserved the painting as a whole.â
Yang Hao didnât know much about painting and calligraphy, and didnât even know who Gao Qifeng was, but the Fiery Eyes skill indeed provided a verdict of authenticity.
âHow much for this painting?â asked Yang Hao.
â3.6 million!â
The stall owner set his price, then said with a grin, âRecently, there have been several buyers whoâve seen it. Someone offered 3.5 million, but I didnât sell.â
âThe market for Gao Qifengâs works has been on the rise these past years. If it were to go to an auction, it could easily fetch four or five millionâ¦â
The stall owner continued to boast, while Yang Hao silently Googled this Gao Qifeng.
It turned out he was a prominent painter of the Republic era, one of the âLingnan Three Masters,â and one of the founders of the Lingnan School of Painting.
His paintings had previously sold for as much as over twenty million, with the lowest at over two million.
In that case, the stall ownerâs price of 3.6 million wasnât outrageous, although Yang Hao knew it was definitely negotiable.
But haggling wasnât the Systemâs style, after all, this money was surely counted as part of the temporary boyfriend expenses.
âBro, if you really want it, Iâll let it go for 3.5 million, and we can be friends.â
Seeing that Yang Hao remained silent for a long while, the stall owner promptly dropped the price by a hundred thousand.
Yang Hao gave him a speechless look, internally scoffing: Canât you maintain a bit of dignity and not drop your price so quickly!
âBrotherâ¦â
âStop!!â
âIâll take it!â
Just as the stall owner was about to speak again, Yang Hao stopped him, fearing the guy might lower the price further on his own initiative.
âTaking it?â
The stall ownerâs eyes suddenly lit up. Indeed, there were previous offers for the painting, but the highest was only 2.8 million.
He had been mentally prepared to settle for 3 million.
But now, the deal was closed for 3.5 million.
Of course, the stall owner was thrilled.
â3.6 million, right?â
âJust do a transfer!â
Yang Hao said with a stern face.
âAh?â
âRight right, 3.6 million!!â
The stall owner was initially startled, then quickly nodded in agreement.
In his mind, he was thinking that the big bro hadnât heard his offer to lower the price!
Lucky me!
Ten thousand more in profit!
Tonight itâs definitely Red Romantic Foot Bath City!@@novelbin@@
Yeah, this time Iâm getting five!!
The stall owner was blissfully thinking that this was a ten thousand yuan profit, no small sum.
Yang Hao was also secretly relieved: Thank goodness I reacted quickly, or else you really would have discounted that price even more!
Ten thousand yuan, after all!
We canât be so wasteful even if we own a lot of land, right!
The transaction was completed very pleasantly.
Before leaving, Yang Hao took another look at the âPortrait of a Ladyâ hanging on the wall: âBoss, just gift this one to me.â
âNo problem!â
The stall owner promptly took down the âPortrait of a Lady,â rolled it up, and put it into a rather fancy-looking yellow silk pouch.
After all, the man had just spent 3.6 millionâa small giveaway was nothing to the stall owner.
âTake care, Yang!â
âIâll contact you when I have some good stuff!â
The stall owner waved goodbye with a beaming smile.
Evening.
Guan Weimin got home early upon learning that his daughter was bringing her boyfriend Yang Hao home for dinner.
He was a chief physician and usually had the autonomy to leave work early unless there was something keeping him.
At the moment, Xu Yanfen was busy in the kitchen. She had been quite satisfied with Yang Hao since their last meeting.
Although he was a bit older and had a daughter, the man was indeed wealthy!
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And he also looks good, seems to have a decent character.
Plus that 688-square-meter bridal house, so grandiose; having a husband like this, our daughter will at least not have to worry about food and clothing for life, no need to fret over money anymore.
âOld Guan, drink less today, donât get Hao too drunk,â Xu Yanfen said while cutting vegetables.
âI know, Iâve got it under control.â
âBesides, Hao can hold his liquor pretty well. Last time it seemed he didnât drink much, and even if he does drink freely, I might not be able to outdrink him,â Guan Weimin said as he took out two exquisite small wine cups and rinsed them under the tap.
âLately, Mengmeng has been going to work and coming back on time every day, I thought the two had split up.â
âFortunately, she brought him back to us,â Xu Yanfen said with a smile. After retiring, she really hoped her daughter would marry soon and give birth to a grandchild for her to look after â otherwise, the days were simply too boring.
âMengmeng is still young; thereâs no need to rushâ¦â Guan Weimin said, shaking the water off the wine cup.
âMengmeng may not be in a hurry, but a man like Hao, do you know how many young women are eyeing him?â
âHe could be snatched away by someone else in the blink of an eye!â
Guan Weimin gently shook his head, âIf heâs yours, nobody can take him away.â
Ding dongâ¦
Just as the couple was talking, someone rang the doorbell.
âTheyâve arrived so early.â
âI havenât even finished preparing the food yet!â
âYou go open the doorâ¦â Xu Yanfen urged as she wiped her hands, stepping out of the kitchen.
âMengmeng can open the door herself!â
Although Guan Weimin muttered this, he still hurried to open the door.
However, standing at the door was not his daughter and âson-in-law,â but instead their next-door neighbor Zheng Guangrong and a man who looked to be about thirty years old.
âOld Guan!â
âI heard the noise and knew you were back!â Zheng Guangrong said cheerfully.
âOld Zheng, whatâs this situation?â Guan Weimin asked, looking baffled at his neighbor and the young man.
âItâs just that my nephew Hai has come back from abroad.â
âHe brought a painting for you to appraiseâ¦â Zheng Guangrong said, shaking the scroll in his hand and then pointed to the man beside him, introducing, âRight, this is my nephew Zheng Xiaohai; heâs been working in France and has recently come back to develop his career in China.â
âHello, Uncle Guan.â
Zheng Xiaohai, in a suit, greeted politely.
âAh, hello.â
âPlease, come in.â
With the guests already at the door, Guan Weimin couldnât just turn them away, so he invited the two inside to talk.
Anyway, appraising the painting could be done quickly.
âItâs Old Zheng whoâs come.â
Xu Yanfen originally came out to welcome her âson-in-law,â but to her surprise, it was her neighbor Zheng Guangrong and an unfamiliar young man.
âYanfen, this is my nephew Hai, just back from France,â Zheng Guangrong said.
âSingle!â
He specifically emphasized the word âsingle.â
If it had been before, Xu Yanfen might have been interested; after all, this neighborâs young man was a returnee from abroad and his conditions should be good.
But times had changed, and she already had a son-in-law.
âAuntie, hello, I heard from Third Uncle that you like playing the piano.â
âI have brought a score from France as a gift for you,â Zheng Xiaohai said, presenting a scorebook with a gentlemanly smile to Xu Yanfen.
âThank you.â
âYou even brought a giftâ¦â
Xu Yanfen accepted the scorebook and thanked him politely.
âOld Guan, you entertain the guests, I have stew in the pot!â Xu Yanfen put the scorebook on a nearby shelf and then went back to the kitchen.
Right now, she really wasnât interested in this returnee.
âOld Zheng, letâs go to the study to look at the paintingâ¦â
Guan Weimin led Zheng Guangrong and Zheng Xiaohai, the uncle and nephew, into the study.
âUncle Guan, is Mengmeng not at home?â
Upon entering the study, Zheng Xiaohai suddenly asked.
âYou know our Mengmeng?â Guan Weimin looked at Zheng Xiaohai quite surprised.
âIâm high school classmates with Feng Lina; Iâve known Mengmeng for a long time,â Zheng Xiaohai said with a smile.
âI see.â
Guan Weimin nodded: âMengmeng should get off work soon; sheâll probably be home before six oâclock!â
âSix oâclock?â
Zheng Xiaohai glanced at his Rolex Datejust; it was five-fifteen.
âUncle Guan, does Mengmeng work at the Jiangcheng Second Hospital?â
âI am about to go pick up something near the hospital; I can give her a ride home,â Zheng Xiaohai offered. He had once encountered Guan Mengmeng twice in the elevator while visiting his uncleâs house last year and became interested in the girl with the explosive figure.
This time, returning to China to develop his career, the first thing that came to his mind was to establish a connection with the girl who had left a deep impression on his heart.
However, Guan Weiminâs following words dashed his pleasant fantasy to pieces, âNo need, Mengmengâs boyfriend will be coming back with her!â