Marvel Salted Fish Kryptonian

Henry, following Givenchy, certainly didn't think the fashion mogul needed to fight all the battles himself. He should stick to his traditional job, assistant work. In other words: odd jobs.

But you always have to know what the other party wants to do first so that you can cooperate. So Henry asked, "Sir, who are we looking for? What should I do?"

"Wait a moment, I'll make a phone call first. I need to know where she is so I know where to go to meet her."

In the public telephone area, Givenchy dialed a few numbers, made some inquiries, and then said to Henry with a smile, "Great, they will be at the farm these days. We can just go over and find them."

"A farm? Do you want to drive or fly?"

"It's in Upperville, Virginia. Do you know how to get there? We're going to Oak Springs Farm."

Henry recalled the map of the United States he had memorized, as well as the timetables for various modes of transportation, and said, "The fastest way is to fly from Los Angeles International Airport to Washington Dulles International Airport.

"United Airlines has a flight this afternoon. If we go directly to the airport, we'll have plenty of time and can even find a place to have lunch.

"After arriving, it will take about another hour to drive to Shangwei Town. If all goes well, we will arrive before dinner time.

"We can also choose to spend the night in Shangwei Town and visit again tomorrow during the day. Perhaps this will be less rude. I don't know the other party's personality, so I don't know what to do."

After answering, Givenchy was stunned for a long time before he said in a daze: "Are you serious?"

Henry spread his hands and smiled without saying anything. There was no point in explaining to others that his memory was comparable to Google's future map traffic navigation.

Givenchy reacted and said, "No, let's just stay as guests for one night. Not everyone has the opportunity to enjoy dinner prepared by the Mellon family's exclusive chef."

"The Mellon family?" Henry asked. "Is that the Mellon I'm thinking of?"

Givenchy said, “Yes, Paul Mellon, Oak Springs Farm is his home. He also runs the famous Rokeby Stables in Europe and America nearby, which has many champion horses.

"But the person we're looking for isn't him. It's his wife, Rachel Lambert Mellon, a renowned horticulturist, art collector, and philanthropist.

"The Lambert family is one of the most prestigious families in the United States. Rachel herself was even commissioned by President Kennedy to redesign the White House Rose Garden."

……

If there is a name that is hidden in the financial circles of the United States, or even the world, it must be the Jewish Rothschild family.

But in the industrial sector of the United States, the Mellon family is above the old families such as Rockefeller, DuPont, and Ford. The Carnegie family is not even close to them. Even the emerging rich man Howard Stark who passed away unexpectedly last year has to look up to him.

Even Rachel Lou Lambert is not just any girl from an ordinary family. Her father was the president of Gillette Razor Company and the founder of Warner-Lambert Pharmaceuticals, and her grandfather, Jordan Lambert, was the inventor of Listerine mouthwash.

Simply put, this couple is the epitome of America's old money, the blue-blooded aristocracy. They rarely step out into the public eye, yet they can easily stir up the political arena.

Henry asked doubtfully, “Can I meet such a person?”

"Why not? You are the representative of Audrey Hepburn now," Givenchy said.

Chapter 187 Mellon

Henry recognized those names, and it certainly wasn't because he had nothing better to do than to investigate who the real rich people were in the United States, so that he could mask himself and go to their houses to extort money when he was hungry.

But when I accompanied Ms. Audrey Hepburn to a fundraising banquet for UNICEF in New York, I inevitably got to know who the wealthy people who were generous and generous in the charity circle were.

Some names may not be on the invitation list, but because they are well-known in the charity circle, no one knows whether they will show up uninvited. Therefore, the information provided by the PR company will usually include the names of these people.

Henry also perfectly demonstrated his ability as a super assistant, remembering the advice Old Tom had given him during their time in Alaska. There are many legal and convenient ways to get into business in the United States, but you have to know how to do it.

The transportation process is also very simple. You just need to know the phone number of the United Airlines counter at Los Angeles Airport and make an appointment to purchase your ticket in advance.

Then find out the phone number of the car rental company at Washington Dulles International Airport, make an appointment in advance and specify the arrival time of your flight.

Just two simple phone calls made their trip incredibly smooth. They no longer had to queue at the airport counter or wait for the car rental company to dispatch a vehicle.

Of course, Givenchy contacted the other party in advance and told him the approximate time of arrival, and the other party naturally invited him to dinner.

This alone reveals the immense influence of this fashion tycoon. He could easily visit the homes of those invisible wealthy individuals and be treated like a distinguished guest. Even Audrey Hepburn herself probably didn't receive such treatment.

Givenchy did invest a lot of money, though. He bought a bottle of Louis XIII, a French cognac, at the airport. Compared to a bottle of fine wine that can be bought for just a few dozen ounces, even an unsophisticated person would feel dazed when holding something like this that costs thousands of ounces.

So even if I work on a crabbing boat, I can't drink more than a few bottles of this wine...

As expected, Henry drove to Oak Springs Farm before dark.

There is no such arrangement as you might imagine, with a sentry every three steps or a guard every ten steps. Instead, it is a farm that looks ordinary but has a sense of history.

The most important thing is that the architectural style is not the modern minimalist style, which claims to emphasize design but is weird and not practical at all.

Come to think of it, my stereotype of big houses in Europe and America comes from the South American thugs in the movies. They are in the U-turn business, so naturally they need enough force to protect themselves.

The owner of this place runs a legitimate business, not a life-threatening one. While there is a security team and some not-so-secret surveillance cameras, it's not the kind that requires them to be constantly armed and on guard.

The Mellons stood at the door of the big house to welcome the distinguished guests. After the car stopped, a Mellon waiter naturally opened the door and welcomed Givenchy, the big boss of the fashion circle.

Henry looked around, unsure where to park the car. When the Mellons came to the driver's seat, Henry smiled and asked, "Hello, where should I park the car?"

"Sir, please leave the car to us. No need to trouble the guests."

"Well, well, I'm just an assistant. No need to bother." Henry didn't quite understand the rules of this kind of family. Although they were occasionally seen at fundraising banquets, the rules at banquets were different from the rules for visiting people's homes.

The Mellon family's waiter said politely: "Everyone who comes in is a guest, please don't worry, sir." After all, this is the driver's seat, not the passenger seat, so he would not take the initiative to help the other party open the car door.

Henry, like a country bumpkin, got out of the car tremblingly and handed it to the Mellons' waiter.

In just that brief moment of contact, Henry saw mutant features. Strange scales on the arms and backs of the hands, but he had no idea what their abilities were. The mutant waiter then parked his car in the garage without saying anything.

Givenchy, who was greeting the couple at the door, called out to the assistant who had just gotten out of the car, "Henri, come here. I'll introduce you."

After the assistant came in, Givenchy introduced them: "This is Mr. Paul Mellon, and this is Mrs. Rachel Lambert Mellon."

This wealthy couple had a very aristocratic demeanor, without the slightest hint of incongruity that shouldn't be seen at their age, and certainly no sign of slovenliness or unkemptness.

Compared with traditional European aristocrats, they only lacked titles, but their lives were probably even better than theirs.

From their attitudes and expressions towards others, one doesn't see the arrogance of Tony Stark, but rather pure kindness. One can only say that having lived peacefully to this age, they've become immortals, if not spirits.

"Good day, sir and madam. I'm Henry Brown, assistant to Ms. Audrey Hepburn."

Henry didn't offer a business card or a handshake. The disparity in status between them was too great, and he was the younger generation. If the elders didn't express anything, it was best not to be overly sentimental.

And to be fair, Henry didn't really want to deal with this old money. Power and nobility were always symbols of trouble.

In the eyes of these people, I was just an agent of Audrey Hepburn. Givenchy was the one who could talk to them, so I could just be a nobody.

It was just like Henry's principle of following Ms. Hepburn and attending those fund-raising banquets: just listen, don't speak, and pretend you don't exist until someone specifically asks you a question.

As expected, although the Mellons' attitude towards Henry was not overtly contemptuous or disgusted, a sense of alienation lingered, as if there was an unfathomable chasm between the two classes of people.

Henry certainly had no objection to this. He was just helping Mr. Givenchy drive and book plane tickets. He was nothing special.

Paul Mellon said to Givenchy cordially, "Come on, let's talk at the table. Knowing you were coming, I had our chef make all the necessary preparations to treat you well."

"Haha, I have more than one friend who has praised your chef's cooking skills. I must try it today."

The two men walked in front. Ms. Rachel Lambert did not ignore Henry, the little guest, but affectionately took his arm and led him in. At the same time, she asked, "How is Ms. Hepburn?"

He wasn't sure how far to go, but thinking that he had come with Givenchy to ask for help, he knew that they would know the reason sooner or later.

Henry said honestly, "She just had surgery yesterday, and it went very smoothly. She's currently recuperating at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center."

"Oh, what disease is it? Can you tell me?"

"It was a rare form of appendix cancer. Hospitals in Switzerland and New York couldn't find the cause, but thanks to the skill and expertise of the doctors at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, they successfully resolved the issue."

"God bless the good man." Mrs. Rachel Lambert, who is probably older than Ms. Hepburn but in better health, prayed for her.

Chapter 188 Oak Springs Farm

In fact, since Henry drove into the area, Oak Springs Farm has shown its extraordinary features.

Different from Chinese courtyards and European royal courtyards, the courtyard here is like a botanical garden, with different personalities in different areas.

However, in each individual area, subtle ingenuity can be seen everywhere, allowing living plants to complement inanimate sculptures, supports and railings, forming a harmonious whole.

All of this was personally directed and managed by Mrs. Rachel Lambert, who is worthy of the title of gardener.

Compared with this diverse courtyard, the farm buildings themselves are just a few low houses with gray tiles and white walls. They don’t even have a second floor or attic, and can be said to be extremely simple.

But once you enter, you'll find that it's not the case at all. The house is filled with artworks and the walls are covered with paintings.

Or it should be described this way: using artworks as furniture and classic paintings as wallpaper.

Clearly, every scene and every object resembles something you would see and use in an ordinary home: curtains, window frames, cabinets, chairs, lamps, vases, etc. Even the cups, plates, and teapots displayed in the glass cabinets are exquisite pieces that exude a harmonious aesthetic.

It can be said that apart from the paintings on the walls, there are no real decorations in the house, and everything can be used. However, everywhere shows off the wealth that mortals cannot reach.

As you enter the door, you can see a wall full of famous paintings from the Renaissance, including "Mona Lisa's Smile", "Madonna of the Flowers", "Madonna and Child with St. John", "The Childhood of Bacchus", "Sleeping Venus" and so on.

This probably includes all the famous paintings by Giorgione, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Bellini, Titian and others.

Most of Michelangelo's works are on the walls of the church. The Mellon family is not crazy enough to pry open the walls of the church, otherwise it would be perfect.

Henry was stunned by the wall for a long time before he realized that several people around him were staring at him.

Henry quickly collected his thoughts, sorted out his expression and said, "Sorry, I lost my composure."

Givenchy laughed and said, "It's okay. They always like to play little pranks on new guests. And your behavior is exactly the kind that satisfies their eccentric mentality."

Henry, who was very cooperative, smiled and asked, "Well, which one?"

"Are you wondering if the paintings on this wall are real?"

Henry smiled wryly and said, "It's hard not to think so. Even in a museum, you might not be able to find such a complete collection of paintings from this period. If it were an ordinary family, it would be fine, but this is the Mellon family's Oak Springs Farm."

Paul Mellon stood up and said proudly: "More than 90% of the artworks circulating on the market and seen in museums and art galleries are fakes.

“Perhaps a better way for museums or galleries to put it is that most of the works they display are replicas, rather than fakes.

"Of course, I don't deny that some fakes are so good that even museum experts can't tell them apart. But don't misunderstand me as someone who would take the real thing home and display it casually.

"Articles like these, carrying the weight of history, should be treasures belonging to all of humanity. To properly preserve them, they should be stored in an environment with constant temperature and humidity. Any damage would be a disrespect to human history.

"Some wealthy individuals like to display authentic artefacts, wantonly trampling on our history. The question is whether the authentic artefacts they spend so much money on are as genuine as the sellers claim.

"I've seen people show off to me more than once, saying that the works in the museum are fakes and that they have the real ones. But after taking a look, I just think it's ridiculous.

"People like this don't even have the most basic appreciation skills, or they don't care whether the things they hold are real or fake; they just want to show off the power they hold.

"My husband and I have been committed to the development of the National Gallery and have donated many artworks. We are determined to avoid this kind of mistake of disrespecting history.

“But if you look elsewhere in the house, you’ll see Impressionist or non-Impressionist, 19th- and 20th-century works, which my wife Rachel collected. These are more recent and contemporary works, and they’re not deliberately displayed with reproductions.

"But I have to say that many times, after hearing my explanation, guests still stubbornly believe that the Mellon family would not collect fakes, and think that I am joking or avoiding the main point. So that's it." Paul Mellon shrugged.

"In other words..." Henry pointed to the Renaissance-themed wall in front and asked, "Are all these fakes?"

Paul Mellon graciously admitted, “Yes. But most replicas or imitations in museums or art galleries will deliberately change the size or leave marks in conspicuous places.

“So, these things you see are all high-quality imitations that I purchased or asked someone to make, and I use them to greet new friends.

"And most of my friends who know the inside story are happy to play along with me, hiding it from the others who don't know. So I hope you don't mind."

Rich people's bad taste, what else could Henry say? This is like the Hogwarts sorting ceremony in the Harry Potter novels. Everyone knows what it's about, but they all make up nonsense just to scare the new students who don't know.

Henry was the newbie who just entered school today and was fooled by some old men and women.

"But..." Henry said uncertainly, "Can I take a closer look?"

Paul Mellon waved his hand, and his wife, Rachel Lambert, asked carefully, "Henry, do you think there's something wrong?"

Henry walked up to the painted wall, sniffing here and there. Then he turned and asked, "Does your appraisal also conclude that Leonardo da Vinci's 'Lady with an Ermine' is a fake?"

"Do you think there's anything different about 'Lady with an Ermine'?" Rachel asked.

Henry explained: "The aging of oil paintings is different from that of other artworks. There are no chemical materials that can be used quickly. However, the aging techniques are relatively simple. It is nothing more than baking in the oven and then ironing it flat.

"Finally, the painting is smoked to give it the aroma of age. They don't use wood to create the smoke, but rather commercially available cigarettes. But there's a subtle difference between the smoked aroma and the actual aroma of centuries of sedimentation.

"I smell Marlboro, West, Winston, Lucky Strike, etc. here. But the painting itself doesn't have those smells."

What Henry was referring to was Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece, "Lady with an Ermine", which he thought was problematic.

"Are you sure?" Paul Mellon asked with a frown.

"Think of me as having a dog's nose. It works pretty well most of the time."

Chapter 189 Private Jet Borrowing

The incident before the painting didn't dampen everyone's appetite. Paul Mellon didn't comment on the painting, perhaps because he had seen many young people like Henry who were eager to attract attention.

Henry certainly wouldn't dwell on it. Perhaps it was just a different aging technique. Besides, even if he had truly found a bargain, no one would let him take the painting. In fact, after he expressed his doubts, he felt a little regretful.

Old money like Paul Mellon and Rachel Lambert can't be compared to a young kid like Tony Stark. I've embarrassed him in person, but I hope it won't bring any changes to Ms. Hepburn's situation.