Chapter 137 - Good Stuff
Boss Zhu led the way, and the group of six quickly reached their destination. The area was bustling, so Boss Zhu took them through a back entrance, up a narrow set of stairs, directly to the third floor. The first and second floors were crowded with vendors, creating a cacophony of noise. In contrast, the third floor was a haven of tranquility.
This level was entirely composed of private rooms—four in total. It was common knowledge that these rooms were reserved for dealing in particularly valuable treasures. Boss Zhu ushered them into one of the private rooms, and upon entering, they were struck by its spaciousness. Bookshelves brimming with volumes lined the walls, and a circular sofa occupied the center of the room. Next to the sofa stood a tea table, upon which tea was steeping, and at its heart, a sandalwood burner emitted a fragrant smoke. The walls were adorned with the calligraphy and paintings of notable figures.
Lee Tiankuo cast a cursory glance at the surroundings before dismissing them; the artwork was clearly counterfeit. After all, who would hang genuine masterpieces in a commercial establishment?
“Boss Zhu, let's dispense with the pleasantries,” President Chen said with a smile. “You wouldn't have invited us here unless you had some treasures to show. Please, bring them out for us to see.”
“Not a problem, just give me a moment,” Boss Zhu replied and stepped out to have a waiter come in and serve tea.
“Boss Zhu really is a major player; he's got a few treasures,” President Chen remarked, a twinkle in his eye. “I've heard he recently acquired some impressive items.”
“He's probably gone to his office,” chimed in Zhang Tao. “I've heard he has a custom-made safe there, costing him millions from overseas. That's where he keeps all the treasures.”
As President Chen and Zhang Tao engaged in lively conversation, Lee Tiankuo remained preoccupied with the tabletop. Meanwhile, Zhang Tongtong and Su Ming were huddled together, whispering quietly. Zhang Tao looked on with delight at the scene—his daughter was at the age to find a boyfriend, and Su Ming, who had merely come to accompany President Chen, had inadvertently turned into an exceedingly suitable son-in-law.
After a short wait of about fifteen minutes, the door swung open, and Boss Zhu re-entered, beaming as he approached with several boxes in hand.
“I understand you're looking for a gift for an elder, and naturally, you wouldn't settle for anything ordinary. I have a selection of items here for you to consider.”
As Boss Zhu spoke, he unveiled the first box to reveal a painting.
The group leaned in for a closer inspection and were astounded to discover it was a Tang Bohu original.
“Boss Zhu, you've got quite the knack for acquiring rare pieces. How did you manage to obtain a Tang Bohu painting?” President Chen exclaimed, well aware of the high market value of Tang Bohu's work, not to mention the fact that his paintings were considered priceless treasures rarely sold.
“Nothing is impossible. I stumbled upon it by chance in a rural area,” Boss Zhu replied with a satisfied grin. “However, based on the style, it appears to have been painted during Tang Bohu's youth, before his technique had fully matured.”
Lee Tiankuo perked up at this and scrutinized the painting with great interest.
President Chen and Zhang Tao also studied the artwork attentively.
Zhang Tongtong, however, seemed unimpressed and listlessly shifted her gaze to the other boxes.
“This is no forgery,” Lee Tiankuo finally declared after a thorough examination, giving a nod of approval.
Zhang Tao breathed a sigh of relief, relieved to have found a gift option that met his satisfaction for the day.
“But…” Lee Tiankuo paused, “If I'm not mistaken, there used to be a significant stain in the lower right corner, which has since been expertly cleaned and restored. Without that stain, the painting's value would undoubtedly be higher.”
Boss Zhu was taken aback, not expecting Lee Tiankuo to be such a connoisseur.
“You're quite impressive! Indeed, the painting had a stain previously,” Boss Zhu admitted openly, without any attempt to conceal the truth.
Zhang Tao's face fell slightly upon hearing this; his grandfather was an expert in these matters.
“Let's move on to the next item,” Boss Zhu suggested with a chuckle, setting aside the small box next to him and revealing its contents.
To their surprise, it contained a pearl.
“And this is…” Lee Tiankuo carefully donned a pair of gloves and examined the object closely. “Could this be a pair of Night-Luminescent Pearls?”
“They're quite remarkable, but my grandfather isn't fond of such items,” Zhang Tao commented, shaking his head in disinterest.
“No worries, I have more treasures to show you,” Boss Zhu assured them, undeterred.
Zhang Tao, with an air of mystery, carefully opened the last box, revealing a tiny wine cup.
“This is…”
Lee Tiankuo's eyes sparkled with recognition.
This artifact was thought to be lost to time.
Crafted from porcelain, the small wine cup was a relic of a bygone era.
The technique used to fire such pieces had vanished long ago.
The ceramic was so delicate, as thin as a cicada's wing, that it would break upon the slightest touch. In ancient times, only the Wang Clan nobility possessed such treasures.
Yet, a century ago, during a dark chapter in history, the artisan who mastered this craft destroyed it to prevent its secrets from spreading.
Since then, the technique had been lost.
Now, such porcelain was exceedingly rare on the market.
The cup was modest in size, so its price wouldn't be exorbitant, but it wouldn't be cheap either.
Lee Tiankuo refrained from handling it directly, instead examining it closely within the box.
“Boss Zhu, we've come with genuine intentions this time. Please, name your price,” President Chen said with a smile.
Boss Zhu returned the smile and leisurely held up four fingers.
President Chen glanced at Zhang Tao, who in turn looked to Lee Tiankuo.
After scrutinizing the piece for a full thirty minutes, Lee Tiankuo finally nodded in approval.
Su Ming watched on, internally marveling.
Four fingers likely meant 40 million.
They might not be experts in this field, but they were no strangers to the headlines.
Blue and White Porcelain carried a hefty price tag, especially when crafted using a technique that had disappeared.
A decade ago, an auction that captivated the nation featured a royal blue and white porcelain bowl that fetched an astronomical 300 million.
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