Chapter 139 Losing a Huge Sum of Money
Upon arriving at the scene, Jinran looked around with curiosity, like a country bumpkin visiting a grand garden.
The appraisal meeting was held in a rather inconspicuous bungalow.
However, the room occupied a huge area and was crowded with people. Everyone was talking quietly to each other. Some people were holding hands and gesturing carefully.
Professor Gu whispered to Jinran, "Those gestures are part of a transaction. Although the country hasn't fully opened up yet, the atmosphere isn't as strict as before. There's a saying that gold is valuable in times of chaos, and antiques are valuable in times of prosperity. The antique industry is starting to recover."
Jinran obediently nodded in agreement.
Professor Wang said angrily, "This was originally a good thing, but some criminals took advantage of the loopholes and sold off our country's precious treasures."
Jinran learned some industry secrets from the experience, and also understood that there were many intricacies behind what made an appraisal event of this scale possible, and how it could attract wealthy tycoons.
Jinran acted as the mascot, following closely behind the two professors and greeting them every step of the way.
A moment later, a middle-aged man who looked very sophisticated stood at the front of the stage with a smile and said into the microphone: "Welcome everyone to Mr. Chen's appraisal meeting. I won't waste any time. Let me start by bringing out my collection. This piece is also a lucky draw item. How about I give it to the most valuable treasure recognized today?"
Everyone below applauded and cheered loudly.
Professor Gu instructed Jinran, "This Mr. Chen is a ruthless man. We must not offend him."
Mr. Chen then took out a small bronze tripod and said with a smile, "This is a landscape painting by Zhang Daqian."
People gradually approached to watch, but no one tried to touch it.
Professor Wang watched it again and again, enjoying it immensely.
Jinran felt that she didn't actually have any of these modern famous paintings and calligraphy in her space.
She also joined in the fun and took a look. This landscape painting by Zhang Daqian, the shrimp by Qi Baishi, and the horse by Xu Beihong were later sold at very high prices, comparable to the price of a courtyard house.
It seems I should collect them if I have the chance.
Jinran was truly amazed today. Everyone was showing off their favorite items, introducing them one by one, and boasting to each other.
Finally, the landscape painting by Zhang Daqian was acquired by an old man, because he presented a tripod from the Ming Dynasty, which drew screams from everyone.
Wow, they really have some tricks up their sleeves.
It quickly came to an end, and then came the transactions that both parties had their eye on.
Jinran's snuff bottle caught the eye of a Hong Kong businessman, who offered an outrageous price.
Jinran kept looking at Professor Gu, her eyes pleading, "Save me, save me. Raise the price, raise the price!"
Professor Gu lent a helping hand, cutting off Jinran's path to wealth. He displayed the unrestrained, boisterous manner of a wealthy old man from the mountains.
"Not for sale, no matter the price."
Jinran's signal was wrong; she clearly wanted help to raise the price. She had plenty of those things.
In the end, the Hong Kong businessman gave up and, to put it more tactfully, said to Jinran, "This is my business card. If Miss Shen changes her mind, you can contact me anytime. Of course, if you want to visit Hong Kong, you can also contact me. I am a very qualified tour guide."
I must say, his Mandarin is anything but ordinary.
Jinran looked dejected, while Professor Gu stood tall and proud. Professor Wang seemed to have taken some kind of stimulant.
The three people, each in a different state of mind, walked out.
Gu Siyan looked at them and asked Jinran calmly, "Did you go to the field to steal sweet potatoes? You were just helping to guard the gate and didn't get any."
Jinran said it wasn't funny at all, and was actually quite annoying.
After getting in the car, Professor Gu drove the two professors home and then told Jinran to go home for dinner.
Jinran didn't go, but when Professor Wang got out of the car, he said, "Write a summary about the antiques and calligraphy and paintings you saw today, and give it to me later."
After everyone left, only Gu Siyan was left in the car, and Jinran burst into tears.
She has a hard life, and she also suffers financial losses.
Gu Siyan pulled the person into his arms, suppressing a laugh as he asked, "Don't cry, don't cry, tell me what happened?"
Jinran's crying was so comical that Gu Siyan held back his laughter.
Jinran said, sobbing, "Someone offered eight thousand yuan for my snuff bottle today. I was very tempted. Eight thousand yuan! That's enough for my dad and me to save up for a lifetime. But I held back."
Then he put on a heroic expression that showed he wouldn't bow down for money.
She added, "It was already bad enough, but Professor Wang still assigned me homework. I hate homework the most. Why did I choose the history department? No... no, I was assigned there by someone else."
Gu Siyan couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Jinran stared at him in shock and asked incredulously, "Are you laughing at yourself, you heartless man?"
Gu Siyan explained, "No, no, I just think you're both pitiful and adorable."
Jinran pestered him relentlessly, and Gu Siyan coaxed her along. The two of them pushed each other and held each other tightly, eventually kissing passionately.
Knowing when to stop, Jinran forcefully restrained her licentious behavior and solemnly said to Gu Siyan, "If my mother finds out, she will definitely break your legs. No matter how many you have."
Gu Siyan: "Does it really have to be at this time that I have to bring up my mother-in-law?"
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