Chapter 243: Fake Painting
Xu Youyou didn’t even need to ask others for the price of such a treasure, she knew it must be priceless.
"If you want to sell it, you can go through the He family. No one is better than them at finding buyers," Lu Jingyao suggested.
Although he didn't know what agreement the current head of the He family, He Zhilan, and Xu Youyou had reached, but seeing the two's interactions, it was obvious that the new head of the family respected Xu Youyou very much, and even vaguely intended to give priority to Xu Youyou.
If He Zhilan wasn't a woman, Lu Jingyao would have almost suspected that she was pursuing Xu Youyou several times because of how enthusiastic she was towards her.
"I don't plan to sell it." Xu Youyou said.
She is not as short of money as before. Besides, she has reached an agreement with Mr. Zheng just a few days ago to sell the butterfly-patterned plate to him for 300 million yuan. Xu Youyou feels that this trip to France has been a complete success.
As she looked at the cloisonné unicorn, she somehow thought of the catastrophe that happened a hundred years ago. For someone who loves money like her life, she couldn't help but feel the desire to make contributions.
"I plan to donate this cultural relic to the country," said Xu Youyou.
Lu Jingyao was not particularly surprised to hear this, and said, "The return of overseas cultural relics is indeed a big deal, but there are many tricks involved in when and how to donate them."
It was the first time Xu Youyou had heard of this, and she asked, "I thought I could donate whenever I wanted? Is it possible that it would not be accepted?"
Lu Jingyao chuckled and reminded, "The He family knows the ins and outs best. If you have nothing else to ask for, you can donate at any time, but Mr. Xie's matter has not been resolved yet."
Xu Youyou paused after hearing this, she only knew that there was a huge hatred between Xie Ran and Xing Zuan. Xie Ran made a comeback abroad in his previous life, and only after he became powerful did he return to China to seek revenge.
Over the past year or so, Xie Ran can be said to be Xu Youyou's most important employee. If Xu Youyou could help him get revenge in advance, she would be willing to donate a few more priceless treasures.
"Then I will try harder abroad." Xu Youyou said.
Lu Jingyao suddenly asked: "Do you know why many wealthy businessmen and dignitaries like to collect antiques?"
Xu Youyou thought this was a bit strange, and asked back: "Isn't it because it has collection value? Or is it because you like the artistic value hidden in antiques?"
Lu Jingyao on the other side of the screen shook his head and said, "There has always been a superstitious saying in the circle, that is, borrowing luck. You should know better than me that a large proportion of the value of antiques is determined by the original owner. The higher the status of the original owner, the higher the value of the antique will be."
What Lu Jingyao said was common sense recognized by everyone in the antique circle. Xu Youyou keenly noticed his intention of using this as an opening remark: "Could it be that buyers collect antiques in order to borrow luck from the original owners?"
Lu Jingyao nodded: "Many people do believe this statement without a doubt. They think that no matter what the final outcome of the first generation master is, as long as they can leave their names in history, they are already people of great luck. If they can borrow a little bit from it, it may help them overcome the difficulties."
Xu Youyou instinctively doubted this statement: "But there are still many people who collect antiques and their businesses go bankrupt, and some even jump off buildings to commit suicide. This doesn't seem like they have overcome difficulties."
Lu Jingyao smiled and said, "It's just a saying. No one knows whether it's true or not."
"Then what does this have to do with my donation of cultural relics?" Xu Youyou couldn't help but ask.
Lu Jingyao said: "I am now hoping that this statement will come true. The more antiques and cultural relics you get, the stronger your luck will be, and the safer it will be."
Xu Youyou couldn't help but let her mind wander as she listened to these sweet words. In her previous life, Xie Ran was able to get revenge even without the help of this so-called metaphysics. The conditions in this life were even better, so even if the time for revenge was advanced, it should be a sure thing.
Xu Youyou spent three days in a row shopping in the second-hand market. She had a very good eye and actually found a few treasures. Although none of them could compare to the value of a cloisonné qilin or butterfly-patterned flower-mouth plate, the total value of so many treasures was over 100 million.
Xu Youyou even met Chen Moli again and refused the guide service she kindly offered. She was devoted to treasure hunting. The more things she found, the more she couldn't help but sigh in her heart that compared to the antique markets in China where almost all goods are from Yiwu, there are more opportunities abroad.
In the final analysis, most foreigners do not know the value of these treasures that have been passed down from China. During the long process of inheritance, if the elders do not tell the truth, the younger generations who inherit the treasures are very likely to circulate them on the market at the value of ordinary items.
On the day Xu Youyou was planning to leave Paris, Lu Jingyao finally finished his domestic affairs and flew over.
"I really doubt whether you have collected all the treasures in Paris." Lu Jingyao looked at the Paris villa, which was almost half of the room filled with precious cultural relics.
Xu Youyou said: "It's a pity that we only found one in Paris. Many treasures are probably still hidden in the hands of private collectors."
When Lu Jingyao heard this, he couldn't help but think of the humiliating history of a hundred years ago, and said, "Are you planning to donate all these cultural relics?"
Xu Youyou nodded slightly.
Lu Jingyao didn't try to persuade him further, but just looked at one of the flower and bird paintings, observing it carefully for a long time.
“I never thought that Mr. Huang Quan’s works would also spread overseas,” Lu Jingyao said with emotion.
Huang Quan was a court painter of Western Shu during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. He was particularly good at detailed peony paintings. The painting in Lu Jingyao's hand now was a peony painting.
Xu Youyou sighed and said, "Although this painting is so realistic that it can be mistaken for the real thing, it is not the real thing. It is a copy made by later generations, but it is a masterpiece."
Lu Jingyao paused when he heard this. It was not that he doubted Xu Youyou's appraisal skills, but that there were many stamps on this painting.
The person who stamped the document was none other than Emperor Qianlong, who was famous for his love of stamping.
At first, Xu Youyou also thought that this was an authentic work of Huang Quan. She even thought that this painting was a painting within a painting, just like a calligraphy and painting she had bought in the past.
When she was browsing at a second-hand market, she immediately noticed that the thickness of the painting was wrong, so she bought it without hesitation. After returning to her residence, she took it apart and found the peony painting inside.
She was extremely excited at first, but after waiting for a long time, the system did not give her any reward for finding a bargain.
In the past few days, Xu Youyou received a lot of rewards for finding bargains. Even if she bought porcelain from the late Qing Dynasty at a low price, the system would give her a symbolic reward.
This time, I spent 20,000 euros to buy Huang Quan's peony painting. Logically speaking, the system should not have no reaction at all.
Xu Youyou almost chased the system to ask.
The system reluctantly explained: [This is a fake painting that once defrauded Emperor Qianlong. The painter is not famous. Its market value should not exceed the 20,000 euros you paid.]
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