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

Beijing. The lobby on the first floor of the National Museum of China.

The crowds were so large that even layers of security couldn't stop the people from watching the spectacle.

For safety reasons, all spectators on the second and third floor terraces were evacuated to the first floor.

Please maintain a safe distance!

"Please do not cross the line. Those who do will be asked to leave!"

"Tian Si, let me, Old Wu, handle this. Trust me!" Old Wu was just as confident as Song Xiaoyi.

Mr. Wu's confidence came from Song Xiaoyi.

Who gives Song Xiaoyi her confidence? For now, it's her older sister.

"Mr. Yamamoto, there's an old Chinese saying: 'It is impolite not to reciprocate.' Since we're going to gamble, how about we bet bigger?"

"Wow!! It's Elder Wu! Elder Wu from Xun Gu Zhai has come forward!"

"Keep it up, Mr. Wu!"

"Mr. Wu, Yamamoto knows you. Just tell me how the betting works."

Old Wu waved his hand, signaling Wu Fei to bring up the twenty paintings and calligraphies he had received this time, along with the previously acquired "Chicken Pecking Rice" painting, which had already been framed.

"Let's raise the stakes. These twenty-seven pieces in total, as you can tell from the inscriptions, are all works from the same period as 'The Six Dynasties's Golden Powder Ode'. There are works by Zhu Yunming, Tang Yin, Wen Zhengming, and even half a small regular script version of 'The Yellow Court Classic' by Xu Zhenqing."

"I spent 100 million on these, and there are transaction records to prove it. Of course, if they were auctioned, their value would definitely far exceed 100 million. You can also have someone authenticate them on-site to determine whether they are genuine or fake. I'm betting on these other Chinese paintings and calligraphy works that were looted by your Yamamoto family."

"If you win, you can take it all. If you lose, please return what your invading Japanese army looted. I only want what is of equal value; I won't take advantage of you."

Why should I bet with you?

"Then why should we gamble with you? That's a huge double standard. If you can't afford to gamble, then go back to where you came from."

"Exactly! Live a simple life! If you can't afford to gamble, then get out!"

Since Xiao Yi told me to stall for time as much as possible, let's go big. These dozens of paintings will keep them busy for a while.

Yamamoto's face flushed red. "Fine, I'll bet you! I'll wager Tang Yin's 'Landscape in a Sudden Rain'!"

"What did you say?!"

"You really did steal Tang Yin's 'Landscape in a Sudden Rain'!"

"Robbers! Invaders!"

"You're dreaming if you can just trade one 'Landscape in a Sudden Rain' painting for twenty-seven of Mr. Wu's calligraphy and paintings!"

Brother Bohu's "Sudden Rain on the River and Mountains"? Song Xiaoyi quickly searched and found that it was painted in 1508 and had not yet been published.

Mr. Wu's phone vibrated again.

"Mr. Wu, don't want 'Landscape in a Sudden Rain'! That one is a fake."

If I, Song Xiaoyi, say it's a fake, then it's definitely a fake. I'll even turn a genuine work into a fake. I'll write this down in my notebook.

"Um."

"Yamamoto, I don't want 'Landscape in a Sudden Rain,' you can choose another one."

"Mr. Wu! How can we not want 'Landscape in a Sudden Rain'!"

......

"Are you all stupid?! If you don't understand, don't interfere with Old Wu's resistance against Japan!"

"Could it be... that you mean... Old Wu is trying to lure the snake out of its hole?"

"Shh~"

"You don't want 'Landscape in a Sudden Rain'? Then what do you want?"

"Have him choose a work from before 1498. Either one by Tang Yin or Zhu Zhishan will do."

"You can exchange two of your earlier works, which may not necessarily be by Tang Yin."

Yamamoto thought for a moment, "How about Zhu Yunming's small regular script of Tao Yuanming's 'Returning Home' scroll?"

"Zhu Yunming's small regular script calligraphy of Tao Yuanming's 'Returning Home' scroll was indeed looted by the Japanese devils!"

"No, I only want the paintings."

I can have Zhu Yunming rewrite all his calligraphy when I have time. I want yours, are you stupid?

What do you think of Tang Yin's "Travelers Among Mountains and Streams" scroll?

"Most studies on 'Travelers Among Mountains and Streams' point to it not being painted by Tang Yin, yet you still have the nerve to bring it out."

"Then the only option is Tang Yin's album leaf titled 'Wandering in a Winter Forest with a Staff'..."

"That's it!"

"Okay! I'll take this one! Send someone to deliver it right away."

"Once the bet is completed, if Yamamoto loses, I will naturally fulfill the bet."

"No. Send someone over. Anyway, it will take you some time to authenticate all twenty-seven pieces."

......

"Yes! It must be done on the spot, who knows if Xiao Ri will renege on the debt."

Old Wu thought his plan had succeeded, but Yamamoto wasn't stupid either. Yamamoto suddenly felt that Old Wu was deliberately stalling for time!

They definitely have ulterior motives!

Okay, you want me to get it appraised? I refuse!

"No! Mr. Wu, Yamamoto trusts your appraisal skills. Therefore, there is no need to appraise these twenty-seven paintings and calligraphy works. Whether they are genuine or fake, Yamamoto will accept them. With so many people here as witnesses, even if they are fakes afterward, Yamamoto will not pursue the matter."

"Tch~, you make it sound so grand, but it's not even certain who wins or loses yet."

"Hahaha! Shameless!"

"Isn't that always the case?"

"snort!"

Yamamoto caught a fleeting glimpse of panic in Old Wu's eyes, which only fueled his confidence! They were stalling for time, but he wouldn't let them have their way. "Now let's get down to business. You see, would you like to authenticate my piece first, or yours?"

"Master Tian, ​​which painting do you want to appraise first?" Old Wu asked, walking up to Master Tian.

"It doesn't matter which one you authenticate first, or you can authenticate ours first."

Dean Shan personally brought out "Ode to the Golden Powder of the Six Dynasties" and placed it on the prepared long table.

"No, I've decided to have mine appraised first!" Yamamoto thought to himself. "I'm going to do the opposite! You want to stall for time? I won't let you have your way. You want to appraise yours first? I'll appraise mine first!"

-------------

Jinling Taoye Ferry.

Panting, Song Yunqiu went up to the second floor of the "Immortal Realm" and found Song Xiaoyi. "Xiaoyi, Mr. Zhu and Young Master Tang are back!"

"Alright! I'll go first! Leave this celestial communicator here. If it's an immortal who marked Elder Wu calling, answer it and tell them I'll be back in a bit."

"What if it were another immortal?"

"I won't answer!" Song Xiaoyi's last two words came from the kitchen.

Mom, you two absolutely have to succeed!

"Brother Xiao Yi, I have not failed you!"

"Did it work?"

"It's done!"

"Okay! Where should I write it?"

"Bo Hu's inscription is written on the back of the signature. Mine is written on the back of the signature."

"Okay! You guys go to sleep first, I'll make you a special meal when I get back tonight!"

Back on the second floor of the small restaurant, I indeed missed a phone call from Mr. Wu!

"Brother Yi, the old immortal surnamed Wu sent a message saying that the delay has failed and that you should speed things up."

"Alright, we've accomplished our mission! Sister, take Song Hao back to the Song residence in our Great Ming Dynasty and prepare a feast. We'll have a celebration banquet tonight!"

"A victory celebration banquet?"

"Oh, I just need an excuse to drink!"

Watching Song Yunqiu return to the kitchen, Xiao Yi dialed the phone: "Hey, Mr. Wu! How far along is the scene?"

"The first one we're examining is the one by Xiao Rizi. All five experts on the other side have completed their examination and unanimously agree that Xiao Rizi is an authentic work."

"Where is our team of experts?"

"As you instructed, I did not go forward."

"Okay, thank goodness I made it in time! You do this... like this..."