8:00 AM
Old Tang's car drove towards the gate of the Bai family's old house.
"Old Bai, has that painting been prepared for me yet?"
Old Tang came over excitedly, but Old Bai gave him a cold glance and continued to tease the little bird in the cage under the corridor.
The birds fluttered their wings happily in the cage, and Old Bai chuckled twice.
"This little bird can't go a day without going out for a walk. I didn't take it out this morning, and it stayed in its cage without moving. I thought it was dead."
Old Tang's initial excitement was immediately dampened by Old Bai's cold water.
"I have no interest in talking to you about bird stuff. Just tell me, are you going to give me that painting or not?"
Old Bai tossed the last bit of birdseed to the little bird, clapped his hands, and then turned to look at Old Tang properly.
"Ye Bai's price is astronomical. What price can the Huadu Museum offer?"
“The price is negotiable. I heard from Lao Zhou that a wealthy businessman who wishes to remain anonymous has offered to buy this painting and donate it to the museum. Name your price.”
Thinking of what his granddaughter had said yesterday, Old Bai pondered for a while and then held up one finger.
"One hundred million!" Old Bai's heart trembled slightly when he shouted out this price.
Buying a painting for 100 million is indeed an astronomical price.
"Okay, I'll call Lao Zhou back right away!"
Old Tang took out his phone and immediately dialed Old Zhou's number, looking somewhat anxious.
It seemed as if they were afraid he would change his mind.
Old Bai couldn't help but wonder if 100 million was too low. Could his granddaughter possibly fetch an even higher price?
It took Tang Lao less than two minutes to call Lao Zhou before the other party readily agreed.
At this moment, Bai Lao thought to himself that he had really lost money on this painting.
"Old Zhou is all set. How about this, I'll take you to the Huadu Museum, and we'll exchange the money for the painting, how about that?"
"Don't rush, what I want to sell is not 'Clouds, Rain, Mountains and Rivers,' but another painting!"
Old Tang paused, his wise eyes turning cold: "Old Bai, you're not trying to fool me, are you? I've already made an agreement with Old Zhou, and I'm even going to give you my own treasured Go set. You can't go back on your word."
“When did I go back on my word? I’m selling Ye Bai’s paintings, and they’re even more magnificent than ‘Clouds, Rain, Mountains and Rivers.’ Come with me to the study to see them.”
Old Tang was full of suspicion. The two had known each other for decades, and he had seen all of Old Bai's collection. To be honest, very few of them met his standards.
But recently, for some reason, Lao Bai was able to obtain Ye Bai's paintings, which not only made him envious but also made him even more curious.
Upon entering the study, Mr. Bai took out a painting scroll from a wooden box and laid it flat on the table.
Upon seeing this painting, a look of astonishment flashed across Old Tang's cloudy eyes!
"Old Bai, tell me honestly, do you know Ye Bai?"
Old Bai feigned a calm demeanor: "How could I possibly know him?"
Old Bai thought to himself smugly, "Heh heh, there's no need to even know him, he's just a member of my Bai family..."
Old Tang squinted at the old fox in front of him.
Don't you recognize me?
If you don't know Ye Bai, how can you own two of Ye Bai's masterpieces?
He was already amazed by the previous painting, "Clouds, Rain, Mountains and Rivers," but now, seeing this painting, he felt that it was far superior to the previous one in terms of both artistic conception and attitude.
Buying such a masterpiece as Night White for 100 million is really a great deal.
"If you don't know Ye Bai, then where did you get these two paintings?"
Old Bai carefully rolled up the scroll and put it back in the box. He then slowly sat down on the mahogany table in front of his desk, picked up the yew teapot beside him, and took a sip of tea.
"This is confidential, and I won't tell you easily. I won't go see Lao Zhou. You can take the painting, and I'll give you an account; you can transfer the money directly there."
Old Bai handed Old Tang a piece of paper that had been prepared in advance on the table. Old Tang glanced at it and nodded, saying, "Since you trust me so much, I won't refuse. This money can be transferred today. Remember to check it."
*
Huadu Museum
Inside an office, an elderly man with gray hair, around seventy years old, sat at his desk, his brow furrowed as if he had something on his mind.
The secretary knocked and came in.
"Director Zhou, Old Tang is here!"
"Quickly, please invite Old Tang in!"
A moment later, Old Tang slowly walked in, leaning on his cane.
"Mr. Tang, thank you for coming in person."
"Director Zhou, the painting has arrived. Please take a look."
A young man followed behind Old Tang and handed over the wooden box.
Director Zhou carefully held the box, brought it to the desk, opened it, and took out the scroll.
The moment he opened the scroll, he looked at Old Tang with a puzzled expression.
"This...this is not the painting 'Clouds, Rain, Mountains and Rivers'."
Old Tang, with a pipe in his mouth, walked over to the sofa and sat down with a smile.
"Although it is not the 'Clouds, Rain, Mountains and Rivers' painting, it is indeed a work by Ye Bai. Moreover, this painting is far more valuable than the 'Clouds, Rain, Mountains and Rivers' painting, and it is in no way inferior to the 'Red Spider Lily' painting. Keeping it in the Huadu Museum collection will better reflect its preciousness."
Director Zhou examined it carefully with a magnifying glass for a while.
"Judging from the brushstrokes and painting technique, it does indeed resemble Ye Bai's work." He got up and drew all the curtains in the room before examining the painting.
The scene gradually began to change, and Director Zhou was so surprised by the view on the scroll that he couldn't stop smiling.
"It's really...it's absolutely amazing!"
Old Tang chuckled: "Ye Bai's work will definitely cause a sensation in the world. Director Zhou, Old Bai only asked for 100 million, you've made a fortune."
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