Xiang Jin did not hesitate when the organizing committee offered a price, because the price was already a pleasant surprise for her.
A painting can cost a million dollars, easily solving the financial difficulties of many people. If she had known about this method earlier, she would have done it after being released from prison. Why wait until now?
After negotiating with the other party, they agreed to pay half the fee upfront. Xiang Jin would then send the original painting over, and the other party would pay the remaining balance upon receiving the painting.
However, the other party also made it clear that one million was the buyout price. Soon they would package the painting and put it up for public sale internationally. How much it would sell for at that time would be the organizing committee's business, and Xiang Jin would have no right to interfere.
Xiang Jin naturally knew the rules of the game and didn't say anything more, but she hesitated when it came to signing her name.
She didn't want to use the name Mu Xin. In reality, many people already knew she was Mu Xin, and if Murong Xiao and Xiang Qi found out, it would inevitably cause more trouble. After thinking for a moment, she wrote her new pen name in the corner of the painting: Unfinished Steamed Bun.
The original painting was packaged and handed over to Zhouzhou for shipment. When Xiang Jin came downstairs, she received 500,000 yuan from the organizing committee, and her mood instantly improved.
She transferred 400,000 yuan to Bai Ningshuang: "I need money to take care of Aunt Jiang's affairs. You can keep this for now. I'll find a way to make up for it later if it's not enough."
Two seconds later, Xiang Jin received a row of exclamation marks.
Bai Ningshuang: Sister!!! Did you rob a bank?! Where did you get so much money? You didn't ask Master Xiao for it, did you?! You absolutely mustn't wrong yourself!!!
Xiang Jin smiled and said, "No, I earned it myself." Then she recounted how she sold her paintings.
Bai Ningshuang: One million?! You've really ripped off your sister! Do you know how much those paintings you drew under the guise of Mu Xin were being sold for? At least three hundred!
Xiang Jin: "...Is that so?"
Nobody has ever told her this!
Bai Ningshuang was speechless and choked with sobs: "My conscience hurts so much, you've stabbed a knife into my heart."
As they chatted, Xiang Jin went to sit down in the dining room.
Aunt Yang began arranging breakfast.
It was still the same nutritious and delicious chicken porridge, along with eggs, steamed buns, fruit, and some appetizers to cleanse the palate. Xiang Jin ate slowly with her head down, while Aunt Yang next to her hesitated to speak.
"Is there anything you want to say?"
"No." Aunt Yang rubbed her hands together. "This morning, the young master had someone bring your mother to the villa, and Miss Xiangqi is showing her around right now."
Although the lady's mother looked very elegant and beautiful, a typical wealthy and aristocratic lady in Beijing's social circle, for some reason, Aunt Yang felt a little uncomfortable, especially with the way she looked at the villa as if it were something she could take for granted.
Her eyes held ambition and greed, completely different from the pure and innocent look in the wife's eyes.
"Where is Murong Xiao?" Xiang Jin asked casually. This was a good opportunity to curry favor with Xiang Qi. Why wasn't he with Li Shuhui?
"Madam doesn't know?" Aunt Yang asked in surprise.
"What do you know?"
"Young Master had a huge tantrum last night, smashing everything in the living room. He somehow injured his hand; it was covered in blood. Butler Feng took him to the hospital overnight..."
"Clatter." The spoon in her hand fell to the ground, and Xiang Jin's face visibly paled.
Was it the noise she made after she went upstairs last night?
She knew he was throwing a tantrum, but she didn't know he was injured.
I wonder how serious the injury is. If he didn't come back all night, I imagine...
"Don't worry, Madam. Miss Xiangqi said that he is much better now. She took care of the young master at the hospital last night. However, she needed to leave someone at the hospital, so Butler Feng did not return."
"So Xiang Qi accompanied him to the hospital..." Xiang Jin silently picked up the spoon. The chicken porridge, which had been so fragrant and sweet, now tasted bland.
Aunt Yang dared not speak.
The atmosphere in the villa has been subtle lately. What exactly is going on between the young master and his wife is something that the workers dare not speculate on, but they are biased towards Xiang Jin and sincerely hope that the young master and his wife can live a harmonious and happy life.
"Since Xiangqi is here with me, I probably don't need to do anything. I'm a little sleepy, so I'll go upstairs to rest first."
"Why are you sleeping so early in the morning, Ah Jin? You don't think you can disregard the rules of the Xiang family now that you're married, do you?" Just as Xiang Jin was about to go upstairs, Li Shuhui's familiar voice rang out behind her. She was dressed in a snow-white mink coat, looking noble and elegant, while Xiang Qi beside her was even more dazzling.
Meeting Li Shuhui's gaze, Xiang Jin quickly suppressed the worry in her eyes, replaced by calm indifference. Li Shuhui was not to be outdone; her gaze held provocation, threat, and even smugness.
She entered the Murong family villa with impunity, and soon Xiang Qi would replace her, while Xiang Jin could do nothing about it.
You have to obediently follow her orders.
"Ah Jin, your mother is talking to you. Are you mute? Have you forgotten all the rules the Xiang family taught you?" Seeing that Xiang Jin remained silent for a long time, Xiang Qi began to give orders.
Xiang Jin glanced at Aunt Yang and the others, choosing to hold back for the time being. She calmly called out, "Mother."
"Um."
Li Shuhui sat down in the dining room with an air of superiority: "This porridge is not bad. Go and serve it to your sister and me."
She adopted an arrogant and condescending attitude, clearly intending to intimidate Xiang Jin.
What does it matter if she's Madam Murong or the wife of the richest man? She wants to make Xiang Jin understand one thing: as long as Jiang Anqing is in her hands, even if Xiang Jin becomes a phoenix in the sky, she can only obediently listen to Li Shuhui and let her do whatever she wants!
Xiang Jin naturally understood this principle, so she stood there calmly without taking any action.
Aunt Yang immediately understood and chimed in, "How can that be? Madam isn't feeling well, I'll go instead." With that, she turned and went into the kitchen, and Zhou Zhou, who had just finished sending the package, quickly followed, busy setting out the dishes.
Soon, the porridge was served.
Li Shuhui looked at her coldly, her tone commanding: "I said, let her serve it."
Aunt Yang hesitated, "Well... Madam recently had a miscarriage, and the young master said she needs to rest, so..."
"What? Just because you married into the Murong family doesn't mean you're no longer a member of the Xiang family, Xiang Jin. I raised you with so much care and hardship, and now you won't even let me serve you a bowl of porridge?"
"Yes, Jin, you're usually the most filial at home, so why are you putting on airs now? Your mother just wants you to serve her a bowl of porridge, not to go through hell and high water. Is it really that difficult?" Xiang Qi added fuel to the fire from the side.
Xiang Jin smiled.
"You want to drink porridge? No problem."
She calmly turned and went to the kitchen, ladled out two bowls of porridge, and placed them in front of Li Shuhui and Xiang Jin.
Li Shuhui looked at the porridge in front of her and shook her head: "Chicken porridge? I don't like it. Go heat up a cup of milk. It should be 45 degrees Celsius. Too high a temperature will destroy the nutrients, and too low a temperature will be bad for your stomach."
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