Shen Qingxiu was somewhat like Van Gogh. He lived his whole life in poverty. His only hobby was painting. According to later generations' statistics, he had painted at least a hundred paintings of cats.
However, because his wife couldn't stand his behavior, most of his paintings were torn up by his wife. There weren't many paintings that were completely preserved.
After Shen Qingxiu's death, his wife took the paintings to sell. Only then did people recognize his exquisite painting skills. Shen Qingxiu became famous, and the prices of the remaining paintings kept soaring.
The painting on the poplar - wood frame had neither a signature nor a seal. But through the dirty black oil stains,
Xu Qingqing could tell that it was a white cat waving its little paw to hook a plum blossom branch. It looked extremely cute.
The kitten's fur was fluffy, and its big, round amber eyes gave the impression that its fur would tremble when the wind blew.
Xu Qingqing casually asked, "Boss, how much do you sell the wooden frame of the screen behind you for?"
"You mean this screen?" The boss turned around in surprise and looked at the poplar - wood screen behind him.
Even those who didn't know much about antiques could tell that it was just ordinary poplar wood, with no collection value.
It was the first time someone had asked about this screen.
"Yes, the wooden frame of the screen." Xu Qingqing emphasized the words "wooden frame".
"My house is being renovated in a simple style. I think this frame would match well as a clothes - rack in the living room."
Xu Qingqing said with a smile.
Hearing Xu Qingqing's words, the boss's eyes lit up. He had placed this screen at the back because of its poor material and no one had bought it.
He thought it would never be sold, but unexpectedly, someone came specifically to buy this wooden frame.
Although he wanted to sell it quickly, the boss still pretended to be in a difficult situation and said, "Beauty, to be honest with you."
"I've been using this wooden frame here. It's quite convenient for me to hang things on it. If you're really sincere, I'll sell it to you for 500 yuan."
"500 yuan?" Xu Qingqing shook her head.
A frame made of poplar wood, and he was asking 500 yuan for it. This boss was really greedy.
"Boss, with 500 yuan, I could order a frame from a furniture factory. Besides, this is second - hand. Be cheaper. 250 yuan at most."
Xu Qingqing bargained fastidiously.
"Okay." The boss waved his hand and agreed.
Actually, he had set such a high price just to let Xu Qingqing bargain.
250 yuan, although not a very nice number, could still earn him quite a bit.
"This screen is actually a combination of a painting and a frame. I'll give you this painting for free too." The boss smiled as he carried the screen over, pretending to be a kind person.
On one side, Father Lu handed over 250 yuan. The boss took the money, with a hint of joy on his face, but he pretended to look like he had suffered a loss.
"Thank you, boss. Wish your business thrive."
Xu Qingqing smiled as she picked up the screen. She and Father Lu quickly left. They found a quiet corner, put down the screen, took out the painting, and examined it carefully.
"Qingqing, did you really buy this to be a clothes - rack? I can customize a brand - new one for you." Father Lu looked at the wooden frame with a hint of disgust.
It had no good shape and no fine workmanship.
"Uncle Lu, what I bought wasn't this wooden frame. I bought the painting on the frame." Xu Qingqing raised her eyebrows and smiled as she placed the painting in front of Father Lu.
"Take a look. Isn't this painting really well - painted? It's the work of the great painter Shen Qingxiu."
"That boss didn't recognize its value. He mistook a pearl for a fish eye."
"Shen Qingxiu?" Father Lu looked at the painting in surprise, hardly believing that this dirty painting without a signature or a seal was actually by Shen Qingxiu.
He had once specifically bought a painting by Shen Qingxiu as a birthday gift for a junior who liked kittens. Naturally, he knew how expensive Shen Qingxiu's paintings were.
"Then why did you say you wanted to buy the frame just now instead of directly saying you wanted to buy the painting?"
Father Lu was full of doubts again.
"If I had directly said I wanted to buy the painting, the boss would have thought too much. This is clearly a screen. Why would I want to buy just the painting?
"He would definitely suspect that this painting was a treasure. So I deliberately said I wanted to buy the frame to dispel the boss's doubts so that he wouldn't be suspicious."
Xu Qingqing explained with a smile.
People in the antique world were very scheming. One had to be careful when speaking and acting.
"I see. Qingqing, you really know a lot."
After hearing Xu Qingqing's explanation, Father Lu understood her intention.
This was just like the round - about tactics he used when doing business with clients in the business world.
"Amazing! I've really broadened my horizons today!"
"Uncle Lu, you're making me blush." Xu Qingqing covered her face with a smile and handed the painting to Zhang Beichen, asking him to take it to the appraisal room.
"It's almost 12 o'clock. Let's go back."
Liu Tianjing walked around the competition venue, looking for the stall that matched the description. Finally, she found it.
The stall owner was a burly, muscular man. Even in late autumn, he only wore a short - sleeved shirt, standing out among the people wearing thick coats. There was a black lotus tattoo on the man's left arm.
Everything matched what Liu Chengcheng had said.
Liu Tianjing sent a location to Liu Chengcheng.
"This is the one!" Liu Tianjing walked over and exchanged the secret signal with the man. "Hello, the lotus tattoo on your arm is really nice."
The big and strong man squinted his eyes and looked at the black wooden lotus plaque hanging on Liu Tianjing's bag. He immediately understood that the girl in front of him was the client he was here to help cheat.
"The lotus on your bag is also nice."
The man replied coldly and casually pushed a vase in front of him.
"Do you want to take a look at this vase? It's definitely an authentic one."
This was a civilian - kiln vase with a pea - green glaze. The lighter - colored ones were as pale as the green lake water. The outline of the pattern was drawn with blue - and - white pigment, and the raised pattern was fired.
Although it was a civilian - kiln vase, Liu Tianjing had already paid a deposit of 100,000 yuan. She thought this was the weapon that could crush everyone at the competition.
"Are you so confident, boss? The more you say it's authentic, the less I believe it."
Liu Tianjing tried hard to suppress her excitement and chatted with the man like a normal customer.
"I think it's just so - so. It's too ordinary. Be cheaper, or I won't buy it."
Another customer beside Liu Tianjing, hearing that she didn't want the vase, volunteered, "Please let me take a look at this vase. I like this pattern."
Liu Tianjing was stunned. She turned to look at the person who had spoken.
It was an old man wearing a gray Chinese tunic suit and a black woolen hat. He had graying beards and was holding a magnifying glass in his hand.
He looked like a professional buyer.
Liu Tianjing's alarm bells went off immediately. She felt a strong sense of crisis. Before the big and strong man could pick up the vase, she snatched it and held it in her hand.
"I'll take this vase. How much is it?"