In the Ming Dynasty 1498, my restaurant connects two worlds.

"Xiao Yi, you may not understand, but your Song family must have had a really good relationship with these people in history. You even managed to get your hands on Zhu Yunming's draft of 'First Journey to the Frontier'! The complete Zhu Yunming cursive script of 'First Journey to the Frontier' is now in the collection of the Princeton University Museum in the United States. Director Wang is always furious when he goes there."

"I never expected that Zhu Yunming actually practiced writing a draft beforehand when writing the cursive script 'Before Leaving the Frontier'! If that's the case, his draft shouldn't just be this short section, right? What about the rest? Xiao Yi, what about the rest?" Director Wang Fengqi held Song Xiao Yi's hand, his voice almost trembling with tears.

"Teacher Wang, this is the only one I found. I may have seen others when I was a child, but no one in my family paid attention to them and they were hung up everywhere. I don't know where my grandfather hid them."

This time, Wang Fengqi was genuinely furious, abandoning all pretense of decorum. "Damn it, what kind of people are in your family? How could you just leave such a treasure lying around like that? It's driving me crazy! This is the original draft of Zhu Yunming's cursive script 'Leaving the Frontier.' If we could piece it all together, its historical research value would definitely surpass the one stolen by the United States!"

"Xiao Yi, you have to find Lao Wang no matter what! I'm going to America to confront them! I'm going to get my revenge!"

"Feng Qi is right. This one hardly needs authentication; it's undoubtedly an authentic work. The technique and the sharpness of the brushstrokes are even superior to the complete version from America. The key is that I didn't expect Zhu Yunming to be so particular; he even stamped the manuscript. It's just a pity that he didn't leave a date."

"Mr. Wu, if we had kept the dates and pieced together the complete set, would it even be our turn?"

"Why... did I pay for this...?"

"Haha, that makes sense."

Song Xiaoyi thought to himself, "Getting a date is easy. I can just have Zhu Zhishan make one up. It'll be a piece of cake."

"Mr. Wu, how should we value this painting? Judging from Feng Qi's attitude, if I try to compete with him, he'll probably tear it up on the spot."

"You two, you'd better put away those little schemes of yours as soon as possible."

Hehe~

It turned out that Wang Fengqi had already given Dean Teng and Teacher Chen a signal, but they underestimated Old Wu's vision.

"Feng Qi, this old man won't argue with you, but you can't let Xiao Yi suffer a loss. The complete version of Zhu Yunming's cursive script 'Before Leaving the Frontier' is worth over 100 million, but it consists of nine poems and is over five meters in size. According to this calculation, this piece is about one-twelfth of that."

"However, this valuation certainly cannot be simply and crudely divided by twelve."

From the conversation, Song Xiaoyi roughly understood the value of the cursive script and the dilemma of the group. "Mr. Wu, teachers, I have a general understanding. I have a suggestion. Teacher Wang, please take a look and see if it is suitable."

"Xiao Yi, you speak."

"Since the complete version of Zhu Yunming's cursive script 'Leaving the Frontier' is worth over 100 million, how about we discount the estimate for this complete draft by 20%? Eighty million shouldn't be a problem, right?"

"No! The estimated value of the draft manuscript must be higher than that of the American one!"

There's nothing we can do about it. You asked for this yourself, and so many people are witnessing it.

"Okay, Xiao Yi understands. Let's tentatively value it at 1000 million. This piece is one-twelfth, worth 500 million. But if we can't find the remaining eleven pieces, the value of this piece will definitely drop significantly. So I was thinking, could we offer a discount and price it at 12 million? We can trade the other fragments at the same price, and then make up the difference when we trade the last piece after all 1.2 pieces are found."

No sooner had Song Xiaoyi finished speaking than Director Wang eagerly chimed in, "This is an excellent method, I agree!"

"But if the later parts appear in someone else's possession, our agreement will be null and void."

"I think it's okay."

"Hehe, it's like Zhou Yu beating Huang Gai—one is willing to hit, and the other is willing to be hit. We have no objection. Xiao Yi's compromise is indeed quite good."

Zhu Zhishan's cursive script manuscript was sold, followed by four newly added "Chicks Pecking Rice" paintings. The four new paintings feature chicks and hens in different poses and with varying patterns. Wu Lao found several different brushstrokes in these paintings.

As for why Song Xiaoyi brought out original works that were unmounted and without any provenance or collector's seals, and why they were still well preserved after hundreds of years, the group was no longer concerned.

On each painting, apart from those that Tang Bohu was forced to paint, there are additions by Zhu Zhishan, additions by Wen Zhengming, and additions by Gu Qian who took the initiative to participate. What is most remarkable is that the seals are complete, and even Gu Qian took the initiative to affix his seal!

This is a major discovery! We thought Gu Qian hadn't prepared a seal.

"Ah~"

Old Wu excitedly examined the paintings closely, then breathed a sigh of relief and continued, "These four paintings are from the same series as the previous three. It's as if I can see the scene of them being painted! The story is so complete!"

"These chicks are actually a self-deprecating portrayal of Tang Bohu, Wen Zhengming, and Gu Qian. Under the care of the mother hen Zhu Yunming, they frolic and their friendship deepens. Crucially, Tang Bohu's mood is getting better and better. In the earlier paintings, he was reluctant to be forced to paint the chicks, but in the later ones, it's clear that Tang Bohu actively painted them. His emotions are conveyed through the chicks on the paper..."

Song Xiaoyi looked at Zhu'er with a shocked expression. Is she really that amazing?

"When it comes to appraisal skills, Mr. Wu is still a cut above the rest."

"2000 million, still the same as last time, 500 million per piece. Don't even think about competing with the old man. Once they're all framed and the stories are added, I'll invite you all to my manor to admire them. Xiao Yi will come along too, and we'll prepare a family feast. Perfect, perfect~"

"Isn't it said that the more of the same painting you have, the less valuable it becomes? Isn't 2000 million too high?"

"I've never seen anyone sell paintings like this! These few are from the same series as the previous ones, and the storytelling is unique."

"In fact, when we look at other famous paintings, we often look at the stories behind them. A good story can enhance a painting. For example, the painting 'A Panorama of Rivers and Mountains' would be worth half its value if it didn't have the story behind its creation."

"These remaining four paintings complete the story, so, in a way, the old man probably got the better deal out of you for 2000 million."

"Alright, since you put it that way, Mr. Wu, I won't be coy. 2000 million, deal! From now on, Mr. Wu, I'll be at your beck and call!"

"Hahaha~, good! You're just like me, kid!"

Of the 6.6 million yuan from the Suzhou Museum, Song Xiaoyi needs to pay 20% tax, and will receive 528 million yuan. Wu Lao's 20 million yuan also requires a 20% tax, and he will receive 16 million yuan. The account balance has increased by more than 20 million yuan.

Regarding the provenance of the paintings involved in the huge transaction, the Suzhou Museum and Mr. Wu made a phone call to Song Xiaoyi to report the matter, thus avoiding any investigation or questioning.

[Ding! Detected that the host has completed the legal transactions of 5 Ming Dynasty artworks. The auxiliary space of the dining hall will be expanded by 5 cubic meters.]

Once the transaction is completed, the system space will be immediately expanded.