A thousand enlightenments in one night, starting from being a menial apprentice.

Chapter 24 Tang Wanhong

Duan Rong put down the knife in his hand and tightened the scroll under his armpit. At first glance, he saw that the painting was an ink painting of fish playing in the water. With just a few strokes, the strange rocks, fish and water plants came to life. Although there was no water in the painting, it seemed as if the whole picture was filled with clear water. Although Duan Rong did not understand painting, he could see that it was good.

Moreover, the drawing paper had turned yellow and had several insect holes and tears.

Duan Rong took a few steps closer and gently placed his hand on the scroll beside the painting. He immediately cursed in his mind: What kind of unskilled junk is trying to fool your uncle?
No wonder even I can tell it’s good? It seems that people still need to know their own weight. If even a layman like me can tell something is good, can it really be a good thing?

Although Duan Rong cursed in his heart, his face remained calm. He just waved his hand and said, "Anything else? Change another one."

Guan Kui was stunned for a moment, looked at Duan Rong strangely, silently put away the scroll on the counter, and replaced it with a landscape painting.

Duan Rong touched the edge of the shaft with one hand, took a look, and shook his head.

Guan Kui was a little surprised. The two paintings he took out were actually quite impressive. Whether it was the brushwork, painting skills, or the aging skills, they were all impressive.

Even though he has been working as a waiter for nearly twenty years, it is impossible for him to tell the authenticity of something with just one glance. At least he needs to look at it carefully and verify it continuously.

This customer is so straightforward, could it be that he really has met an expert?
Guan Kui was suspicious and took out another one and spread it out on the counter.

This time it is a painting of chrysanthemums in ink. The brushwork is sparse and quite freehand. There is just a single chrysanthemum blooming among the weeds, which looks a bit monotonous and simple.

Duan Rong came closer and put his hand on him, and his expression suddenly changed!
Object: Ink chrysanthemum painting.

Weapon spirit level: 5th level.

Devouring requirements: Host's mental strength level 5 (not met).

Swallowing effect: Level 4 of Danqing Miaobi, Level 2 of Wangpobianbi, and Level 1 of Yiranchengchengfan.

When Guan Kui saw Duan Rong's expression change, his expression also changed. "This kid really knows!"

There are three paintings, two are fake and one is real, and you can tell they are all real at a glance. This must be done by an expert!
He is so young, but he has achieved such accomplishments. Either he has inherited the knowledge from his family, or he has been blessed by his ancestors!

"What's your price for this painting?" Duan Rong raised his head and asked Guan Kui.

"Ah..." Guan Kui hesitated. At this moment, his contempt for Duan Rong had disappeared, and instead he admired him very much.

He himself was an apprentice in an antique shop and knew only too well how difficult this business was. It required knowledge, vision, and experience. Even if someone taught you hand-in-hand, you still had to have the right material to succeed.

The person in front of me looks young, but in terms of attainments, I'm afraid he is not inferior to Manager Tang!
Guan Kui admired him and immediately quoted the real price. "Three hundred taels!"

As soon as Guan Kui finished speaking, the blue cloth curtain was lifted, and a fat, short middle-aged man came out with a smile and said, "Guan Kui, why don't you serve tea to the guests!"

Guan Kui's face turned red, and he immediately realized that he had just violated a taboo. He immediately agreed, walked out of the counter and went to make tea.

How can you reveal the bottom price as soon as you ask?
"This kid has never seen the world and doesn't know any etiquette!"

After Tang Wanhong finished speaking, she walked to the counter, rolled up the ink chrysanthemum painting and put it aside.

Duan Rong's eyes rolled and he understood what Tang Wanhong meant. She thought the previous offer was too low!
But he didn't care at all. What he was thinking about was the painting in his hand.

A 5th-level spirit weapon should be quite old, and it is a real antique. Three hundred taels, although not low, is not high compared to the price of antiques in the previous life!
Duan Rong thought about it for a moment and understood the reason.

The prices of antiques in the past, like house prices, were inflated.

After the prosperity of industrial and commercial civilization, currency became rampant, antiques became investment items, and their prices were all copied!
This world has not developed a strong industrial and commercial civilization, and martial arts is the mainstream. Even among the rich, how many people are willing to follow the culture and collect antiques?
It’s normal that the price can’t go up!
However, for him, three hundred taels was not a low amount.

Guan Kui brought over some tea, and Duan Rong took only a sip before putting it down. He then moved the tea away, unfolded the scroll under his armpit on the coffee table, and said straight to the point: "Boss, please take a look at this painting of a lady. If you like it, I'll sell it to Guibaozhai. This is a legacy from my ancestors, and if I didn't need the money urgently, I really wouldn't be willing to sell it!"

Tang Wanhong was stunned by what Duan Rong said.

It turns out that wanting to buy a painting is fake, and having something in hand and wanting to sell it is real.

I have been asking for so long just now, are you just exploring the market?
Tang Wanhong understood Duan Rong's intention and couldn't help but glare at Guan Kui. He saw someone coming in with something and he was so stupid. All my efforts in teaching you were in vain!

Tang Wanhong lowered her head and looked at the painting unfolded on the coffee table: it was a picture of a lady with a graceful figure and a blood-red dress. The skin color and the blood color formed a bright and strong contrast. The brushwork returned to its original simplicity, without any fuss, and was outlined in lines.

Although this painting is of a person, Tang Wanhong can see a certain natural rhythm from the lines.

"This technique..."

Tang Wanhong has been immersed in antiques for decades and has become an expert. She can tell at first glance that this painting is no ordinary piece.

Tang Wanhong moved his gaze to the signature, only to see that the signature seal was four crooked characters "Wanwei Taoist" in seal script.

Tang Wanhong suddenly felt a chill from the back of her head to her heels, and her heart was beating fast: Wanwei Taoist? Is this... the work of Fan Yunlin?
impossible!
Tang Wanhong looked carefully at the lady in the picture again. His big round face was almost stuck to the lady's body...

Duan Rong's eyelids twitched. "This fat guy, could he be a pervert... Can't he control himself?"

Tang Wanhong finally raised his head, and a strange light flashed in his eyes.

He could conclude that this was Fan Yunlin's authentic work!
Get it, no matter what the cost, you must get it!

Although Tang Wanhong was ecstatic in his heart, his fat face remained expressionless. He picked up the teacup and took a sip.

When he first picked up the teacup, his hands were still shaking a little, but after taking a sip of tea, his hands were as steady as a rock.

Tang Wanhong put down the teacup, looked at Duan Rong carefully again, and said, "There is nothing wrong with the stuff, but I don't know if it came from a legitimate source."

Duan Rong snorted coldly upon hearing this, rolled up the scroll on the coffee table, and was about to leave. Tang Wanhong immediately pulled him back and said, "When doing business, how can you just turn against someone so easily?"

"Young people are quick-tempered. Come, come, sit down, and let's discuss this slowly." Tang Wanhong pushed Duan Rong to sit on a royal chair and said with a smile, "My friend just said that this painting was passed down from your ancestors?"

"Why, doesn't it look like it?" Duan Rong asked back rudely.

Duan Rong knew clearly that the other party was afraid that the thing was not obtained legitimately and there would be trouble later. At this time, if he showed a little weakness, it would actually prove that there was something wrong with the source of the thing. The more he acted like a big shot, the more reassured the other party would be.

(End of this chapter)