Late Ming Dynasty: The Counterattack Begins with Sea Pirates

After more than ten days of hard work, I finally managed to copy three of the five paintings.

Shen Er ran to the master, his expression showing little excitement but mostly helplessness.

Master Chi was naturally puzzled, and he asked Shen Er why he had such an expression.

Shen Er replied with some helplessness: "Sir, you should go and see for yourself."

Upon receiving the news, Chi Honghai immediately put down his work and rushed to Manager Li's room.

The room's doors and windows were wide open; painting requires plenty of sunlight.

As he reached the door, he understood why Shen Er had that expression.

The door panels, pillars, and beams were all covered in graffiti of various colors, making it look like a modern abstract graffiti artwork.

Under the table, wherever there was enough space for a person, was piled up with all kinds of minerals and plants for mixing colors.

Manager Li's arms and face were smeared with dried paint.

At first glance, it looked like some wild man from the mountains had broken into the house.

In short, apart from the table which was relatively clean and tidy, the entire house was in a state of disrepair.

Chi Honghai stood at the door, watched for a while, and didn't move much.

He sighed.

As for artists, I can understand. Art is about expression, about being a little unrestrained.

Manager Li, who was bent over, heard the noise outside the door and straightened up to take a look.

"Sir, I'm still working on these paintings. I've already finished three. Would you like to take a look?"

"Shen Er, go to the next room and get another table."

"Yes, sir."

After waiting for a while, Shen Er carried a long table from the next room and placed it at the door.

The three of them stood around the painting that Manager Li had copied, examining it for a long time, but couldn't find anything wrong with it.

"Bring the original over so we can compare them."

Manager Li turned around, took the original painting from the table, and placed it on the table outside.

Bright sunlight shone on the two paintings, and the mineral pigments on them reflected starlight.

It made people very happy.

Chi Honghai bent down and carefully compared the marks on the two paintings.

After pondering for a long time, I finally figured out a bit of the truth behind it.

If someone with my level of connoisseurship, and who knows whether something is genuine or fake, still has to go through a lot of trouble to figure out even the slightest thing about it.

The level of this imitation is truly masterful.

Since I'm like this myself.

That foreigner was like an old farmer who didn't know what longan was.

What can you possibly figure out? Even if you manage to come up with something, you're a person from the Ming Dynasty. The final interpretation of the painting rests with you, not with that foreigner.

After comparing the three images in turn.

Chi Honghai was very satisfied with Manager Li's work.

With a wave of his hand, he threw three hundred taels of silver, wrapped in a sack, in front of Manager Li.

"Our imperial court has its own credibility. As agreed, it's one hundred taels per piece. Take it."

Manager Li was delighted and stepped forward to open the sack, taking a look inside.

I lifted it up with a little force and found it to be quite heavy.

He then wiped his hands on his clothes and picked up the sack full of silver.

Clearly, Manager Li hadn't done any work.

Even carrying about 75 jin of silver was a strenuous task for him.

But, after all, it's money, pure silver. No matter how heavy it is, can it be heavier than life itself?

Looking at the somewhat disheveled Manager Li, Chi Honghai couldn't help but chuckle.

Manager Li also realized that his behavior seemed inappropriate. He looked at the "court official" in front of him, who was inherently adept at handling situations, and this was exactly what he was doing.

"My lord, the imperial court's favor is indeed substantial. I, a humble servant, cannot ask for so much. I will only take half, and the rest will be my humble offering to the court. What do you think, my lord?"

If you don't agree to this price, it wouldn't seem like you're working for the imperial court.

Chi Honghai accepted half of the silver from Manager Li with a smile.

"I will remember Manager Li's loyalty to the court, as stated in the report. Rest assured, the court will not forget you. In the future, the court will consider your Tongren Hall's needs in this regard."

"Thank you, sir. But sir, what about the remaining two paintings?"

"The remaining two will be left for now; we'll deal with them later."

"Shen Er, send someone to escort Manager Li back to Guangzhou Prefecture."

"Manager Li, remember what I told you. I was able to go to Tongren Hall the first time, and I can certainly go a second time. Whether it's to cooperate with the manager or to clean house, it depends on whether you understand the situation."

"I understand. I will not utter a single word about matters of the imperial court."

Manager Li bowed respectfully, then Shen Er blindfolded him and led him onto the boat.

After arranging everything, Shen Er ran back to Chi Honghai.

"Is the matter finished?"

"Reporting to your master, it's all done. I've given instructions to the men on the ship."

Chi Honghai nodded.

"Tell Pang San to move all the stuff we robbed from the warehouse last time onto the ship. Once it's ready, come with me to the Portuguese."

Shen Er knew that his master was going to make money off that Portuguese man again.

After the young man turned around to arrange things, Chi Honghai carefully tidied up the eight paintings and put them away separately.

He first rolled up the three fake paintings and placed them on the table.

The other five original works were taken into his room.

When Wu Wanruo opened the door, she looked at the painting in his arms and sensed that something was wrong.

It's worth noting that none of the jade and precious stones on the ship were kept in the house.

Today, these five paintings in my arms are definitely not ordinary.

She carefully took the painting from Chi Honghai's hand.

Without even looking, he said.

"These five paintings must be works by famous artists."

Chi Honghai found his wife's words somewhat surprising.

"My lady, you knew these five paintings were by famous artists without even looking at them?"

"You usually don't even bring rare and precious items into the house, so these paintings you've brought today, they can't be ordinary things, can they?"

Chi Honghai walked up to her and smiled, then seemed to remember something and left without looking back.

Wu Wanruo was left in the room to carefully store the five paintings.

A moment later, Chi Honghai came in carrying a cloth bag and placed it on the table.

Judging from the sound of it falling on the table, it didn't seem to be any kind of object.

When Chi Honghai untied them, he found the books he had bought when he went to Guangzhou a few days ago.

Before Wu Wanruo could react, Chi Honghai pulled Wu Wanruo's right hand and strung a jade bracelet on it.

"This jade bracelet was carefully selected by me in private, and it suits you perfectly."

Wu Wanruo looked at the emerald green bracelet on her wrist, but her mind was on the books that Chi Honghai had bought.

She walked to the table and began to look at the titles of the books one by one. Each time she picked up a book, she would softly read the title and skim through the contents.

"These books were bought when I went to Guangzhou Prefecture... I don't know much about them, so I bought everything the shop had."

Chi Honghai felt a little embarrassed, after all, the wedding had indeed been a bit rushed.

He didn't give Wu Wanruo anything special. If there was anything valuable, it was the bracelet that had just been put on her wrist.

This book really doesn't deserve much recognition.

But Wu Wanruo was more interested in these books.

After all, a man who knows what you like is the one who cares about you the most.

She turned her head to look at Chi Honghai.

"My husband knows me well, and I am delighted. However, this bracelet..." As she spoke, she began to remove the bracelet from her wrist.

Upon seeing this, Chi Honghai covered her wrist with his hand, his heart racing, and said in a somewhat urgent tone.

"My wife doesn't like it?"

"What girl doesn't love beauty? It's just that, given the current situation, my husband, you need it more than I do."

Chi Honghai grabbed Wu Wanruo with his other hand.

"We don't need this bracelet. As for the rest, your husband has plenty of ways to handle things. My wife, just wear it with peace of mind. I can't let you suffer any grievances while you're with me."

As he spoke, he sighed softly, "This marriage has already wronged you."

Wu Wanruo broke free from Chi Honghai's grasp and used her index finger to cover Chi Honghai's mouth.

A series of knocks sounded on the door.

"Madam, is the master inside? The men on the ship are all ready!"