The congratulatory gift was... a collision?
Not only did the guests exchange bewildered glances, but even Old Madam Jiang couldn't help but pause in surprise.
She quickly smiled and said, "It seems you are all good children, knowing that Grandma likes to draw."
Madam Jiang had no intention of displaying the painting to the public. In her eyes, no matter whose painting was more valuable, they were all the same. It was a congratulatory gift from her grandson, a token of his goodwill, and there was no need for it to become fodder for gossip.
Moreover, for an artist, painting itself is neither noble nor lowly.
Jiang's aunt jumped out and said, "Mom, why don't you open it and take a look?"
As she spoke, she winked at Jiang Xibai, signaling him to seize the opportunity to make a good impression.
Jiang's younger sister was convinced that Jiang Xibai was the better one.
Jiang Xibai understood, turned around and took out the scroll from the long sandalwood box held by the butler, smiled and stepped forward, saying, "Grandma, you have always liked Master Qu Henian's paintings. This painting is an authentic work by Master Qu Henian, named 'Pine and Crane Longevity Picture'."
He did not mention where he obtained the painting, but only introduced its origin and name.
However, Qu Henian's original works are enough to amaze and attract attention.
In the Chinese art world, Qu Henian is a leading figure, famous for his ink paintings. Among them, his most prized work, "Clear Sky After Rain," was lost overseas during the turbulent years of war and was auctioned for over 100 million yuan at a Sotheby's auction!
If this is truly an authentic work by Qu Henian, it would be worth at least tens of millions!
Of course, in the eyes of an artist, money is too vulgar, and Qu Henian's authentic works cannot be compared with mere vulgar objects.
The painting "Pine and Crane Longevity" is so meaningful just from its name, and it fits today's theme perfectly!
The Jiang family's adopted son is truly thoughtful.
Because Madam Jiang is quite famous in the domestic art world and is one of the few ink wash painters, there are quite a few art connoisseurs attending the birthday banquet today.
Even today, there are descendants of Qu Henian present, who are now leading figures in the Chinese art world.
Qu Songbai, dressed in a traditional Chinese long gown and wearing glasses, exuded the air of a scholar. Upon hearing this, he said with great excitement, "The 'Pine and Crane Longevity Painting' is indeed my grandfather's work, but it was lost in the war... Young Master Jiang, may I take a closer look at it?"
Being addressed as "Young Master Jiang" by a prominent figure in the art world like Qu Songbai was enough to stir a flicker of excitement in Jiang Xibai, despite his best efforts to control himself.
Especially—
Jiang Xibai presented the "Pine and Crane Longevity Painting" to the birthday banquet partly because of this Mr. Qu.
He wants to become Master Qu's apprentice!
If he could become Master Qu's last disciple, who wouldn't think highly of Jiang Xibai?!
Jiang Xibai paused slightly, a faint blush rising to his fair cheeks. His gaze toward Qu Songbai was filled with reverence. He nodded and said politely, "Elder Qu, you flatter me. I was just borrowing your work to present to you. In fact, this 'Pine and Crane Longevity' painting is a work of your Qu family. Of course, you can see it if you wish."
Jiang Xibai's words were simply excessive politeness.
It even carried a subtle, almost imperceptible...meaning of ingratiation.
In other words, the flattery was exceptionally refined and unconventional.
Although the "Pine and Crane Longevity Painting" is said to be the work of the Qu family's ancestors, it had long been lost to the outside world. The Qu family was powerless to protect these paintings at the time. Now, Jiang Xibai probably spent a lot of money to buy them back. Qu Songbai, with the integrity of a literati, would naturally not have the audacity to say that these are his own.
He simply wanted to see his ancestors' works and pay his respects.
But who wouldn't be pleased with Jiang Xibai's words?
Qu Songbai appreciated the gesture and his gaze towards Jiang Xibai softened.
Seeing this, the guests thought to themselves, "This fake young master of the Jiang family is quite something! He's already gained Old Master Qu's special favor. He's probably got a bright future ahead of him!"
Hmm, we should be polite to the fake young master.
You can no longer call people "young master" like that.
At this moment, all the glory was focused on Jiang Xibai!
That's the protagonist's halo!
He's a born favorite!
However, Qin Ge remained calm and composed, his face still displaying a serene and elegant expression. Even when Jiang Xibai presented Master Qu Henian's painting as a congratulatory gift to Old Madam Jiang, he did not show the slightest sign of disappointment. In fact, there was even a hint of a smile on his lips.
Guests who happened to notice the boy wanted to rub their eyes, wondering if they were seeing things!
It's not that my eyes are playing tricks on me.
Because Qin Ge was genuinely smiling.
There was a hint of something ambiguous in that smile, as if he had thought of something interesting and was waiting to see a good show.
However, this smile was something that Old Madam Jiang particularly appreciated.
Seeing that Qin Ge remained neither sad nor happy, neither humble nor arrogant, and did not lose his composure in front of others because Jiang Xibai presented him with a famous painting, thus avoiding being looked down upon, but instead continued to smile and remain calm, this made Old Madam Jiang, who already doted on this grandson, appreciate Qin Ge even more.
As for Jiang Xibai...
This child is indeed filial, but he may also have his own selfish motives.
Old Madam Jiang was aloof and proud, but she was not a mean person. Although she disliked Jiang Xibai's petty schemes, she would not expose them in public and embarrass him.
As for what they really think, they have their own scales to weigh it.
…
As Qu Songbai put on his glasses to study the "Pine and Crane Longevity" painting, Jiang's aunt, always eager for a good show, chimed in: "Qin Ge, didn't you also give us a painting? Why don't you open it and let us all take a look?"
She has always doted on Jiang Xibai, and now she wants to use Qin Ge to pave the way for Jiang Xibai and make her presence known in front of Qu Songbai.
—Only through comparison can we see the difference!
If the painting Qin Ge gives is not presentable, wouldn't that be a perfect way to show Xi Xi's filial piety and excellence?
Then, Master Qu will probably think more highly of Xixi, and the possibility of Xixi becoming Master Qu's last disciple will be even greater!
Jiang Ziwei inherited her mother, Old Madam Jiang's, aloofness and pride, but also possessed the spoiled nature of being pampered growing up. She was also quite accomplished in the arts, and her husband's family was also a family of scholars for generations. Therefore, Jiang Ziwei was proud and willful. She didn't even think much of her own brother, believing that her father was a businessman who reeked of money. Among the younger generation of children in the Jiang family, she only liked one person, Jiang Xibai.
Jiang Ziwei couldn't bear to see Jiang Xibai's artistic talent go to waste, especially now that his true identity had been revealed and he was no longer a member of the Jiang family. Jiang Ziwei was afraid that Jiang Xibai would be bullied, so she naturally had to make more plans and considerations for him.
This is also the source of their hostility towards Qin Ge.
In Jiang's aunt's eyes, Qin Ge was stupid and clumsy, not even a fraction as good as Jiang Xibai. She would never admit that he was her nephew!
Jiang Ziwei's younger sister caused trouble time and time again, and the old lady's face finally darkened. She shouted, "Jiang Ziwei!"
The voice carried a deep warning.
Jiang Ziwei, the youngest daughter of the Jiang family, was scolded by her mother, Old Madam Jiang, in front of others. Although she was only called by her name, the warning in her tone was enough to make Jiang Ziwei, who had become increasingly spoiled and arrogant, feel extremely wronged.
She gritted her teeth, suppressing her awe of her mother, and snorted coldly at Qin Ge, directly stating, "What Xi Bai gave my mother was Mr. Qu Henian's 'Pine and Crane Longevity Painting,' so what you gave her can't be much worse, can it?"
From the moment he opened his mouth, he already concluded that Qin Ge's gift was inferior to Jiang Xibai's.
Qin Ge smiled knowingly, but the smile didn't reach her eyes. "Auntie is joking. The gift I gave is probably not worth much. This painting is one I painted myself. Naturally, it can't compare to Mr. Qu Henian's original work."
He pronounced the last two words quite heavily, as if he were hinting at something.
Jiang's younger sister didn't catch that; she was too busy mocking Qin Ge. "Haha, you drew this yourself? You were raised in the countryside, what do you know about art? You—you dare to draw?"
The mockery on her face was undisguised. "Is this probably just a three-year-old's scribbles?"
Although Jiang Ziwei's words may be true, she is still his junior. How can an elder embarrass a junior in public like that?
Besides, it's not his fault that this real young master was raised in the countryside; he was clearly born with a silver spoon in his mouth...
The guests felt that Jiang Ziwei had gone too far.
No one spoke.
So, the Jiang family's young aunt, whose laughter echoed throughout the banquet hall, gradually realized that something was wrong. It seemed... a little awkward.
Jiang Ziwei stopped laughing and looked sullen.
Especially the old lady Jiang's eyes were sharp as knives.
She finally shut her mouth.
At this moment, Qin Ge had his hands in his pockets, his expression revealing no anger. He never took idiots seriously, and Jiang Ziwei was just a clown jumping around in Qin Ge's eyes. He said casually:
"I believe my drawings are better than a three-year-old's scribbles; at least they're not fakes."
--What?
—A fake?!
—Who is the fake?!
Everyone was taken aback.
Jiang Xibai immediately looked at Qin Ge and retorted with a hint of excitement, "Don't talk nonsense! This painting cost 30 million to buy, how could it be a fake?!"
The guests whispered among themselves.
Thirty million?
That's quite expensive.
However, something feels off.
—Isn't Young Master Jiang a painter? Aren't all artists aloof? Aren't all paintings priceless treasures in the eyes of artists, without distinction of value? Why does Jiang Xibai keep talking about money?
Now I finally know where the awkwardness in Jiang Xibai's appearance came from.
A murmur rippled through the banquet hall.
Everyone's talking about whether the "Pine and Crane Longevity Painting" is a fake, whether Jiang Xibai was ripped off, and how Qin Ge knew it was a fake—could he just be making it up?
…
Don't ask Qin Ge how he knew.
—He's the man who has the script in his hand!
In the original storyline, Jiang Xibai was also fooled, buying a fake painting and presenting it as a gift on the day of Old Madam Jiang's birthday banquet, stealing the limelight. Later, after Jiang Xibai became a disciple of Qu Songbai, Qu Songbai told his last disciple that the painting was actually a fake, and took the opportunity to warn and teach Jiang Xibai how to distinguish the dynasty and authenticity of paintings.
Qu Songbai would not expose Jiang Xibai for buying a fake painting as a gift for Old Madam Jiang, thus ruining the old lady's birthday banquet.
However, since Qin Ge has already said it, Qu Songbai, given his character, would certainly not lie through his teeth and would definitely tell the truth.
Therefore, in response to Jiang Xibai's fierce rebuttal, Qin Ge simply said in a cold and casual tone, "With the descendants of the Qu family here, whether this painting is real or fake can be determined by Elder Qu with a single examination. Why is Young Master Jiang so agitated?"
Jiang Xibai's face stiffened slightly. Realizing that his emotions were too abnormal, he adjusted his breathing and slowly returned to normal, saying, "I was just in a moment of panic."
Immediately, Jiang Xibai looked at Qu Songbai, who was studying the "Pine and Crane Longevity" painting, and pleaded, "Please, Elder Qu, clear my name."
Jiang's aunt chuckled from the side and chimed in, "Xixi, don't be afraid, he doesn't know anything..."
painting.
Before he could finish saying the last word, "painting," Qu Songbai shook his head solemnly and said, "This is indeed not the work of our ancestors, but a very realistic copy."
No matter how nicely it's described, it's still just a fake.
Jiang Xibai's mind went blank for a moment, and his face turned deathly pale. "What?!"
Jiang Ziwei exclaimed in surprise, "How is that possible?! Qin Ge was right..."
Meanwhile, Qu Songbai's words also caused quite a stir among the guests.
"Is it really a fake?"
"That's right, even Elder Qu has seen it. Those are things from the Qu family's ancestors. Who could be more familiar with them than him? If someone says it's fake, then it definitely can't be real!"
"Oh, so that means Jiang Xi wasted 30 million just to buy a fake?"
"That's not all, they even gave this fake to Old Madam Jiang as a congratulatory gift!"
"Tsk, he really is a fake young master, buying counterfeit goods, giving away counterfeit goods... No wonder he's like that!"
…
After Qu Songbai stated his judgment, he was very curious about how Qin Ge knew that the painting was a fake.
It should be noted that even though he is a legitimate descendant of the Qu family and a leading figure in the art world today, he only dared to make this judgment after observing the painting closely and studying it carefully, based on several factors.
And Qin Ge...
How could the boy be so sure that the painting was a fake when he stood far away and didn't even touch it?
Qu Songbai asked the question.
Qin Ge naturally couldn't say that he was the man who had the script. He touched the tip of his nose and said, "Because I had seen the real 'Pine and Crane Longevity Painting' before."
This answer makes sense.
This gave everyone a sense of "aha!"
Seeing the boy's refined features and clear eyes, and his composed yet confident answer, without a trace of vanity or fabrication about being a genius...
Qu Songbai couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration.
He said, "You just said that you painted a picture yourself and gave it to Old Madam Jiang as a congratulatory gift?"
Qin Ge nodded gracefully, "Exactly."
Qu Songbai asked, "May I take a look?"
"Please go ahead." The young man gestured for him to proceed. Even when facing the nation's top master painter who wanted to see his paintings, he showed no sign of timidity.
How could the butler allow this master to do it himself?
He took the painting and slowly unfolded it in front of the people.
It was a painting titled "The Eight Immortals Celebrating Longevity"!
The interplay of reality and illusion creates a lifelike effect, like ink splashes forming a painting, exuding a vibrant and lively spirit within its grand scale…
Even someone who doesn't understand painting would have to exclaim "Wonderful!" upon seeing it!
Qu Songbai's eyes grew brighter and brighter as he looked, until finally he stared intently at Qin Ge, as if he had discovered some treasure, and asked, "Would you like to become my disciple?!"
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