Chapter 59 How much for your sister?
With the last artwork sold, the auction quickly came to an end.
The crowd dispersed to continue viewing the paintings on the side.
Lou Hongjian, the gallery owner, had just had his painting auctioned for a huge sum of money, and he mustered his spirits to thank the buyer.
"Mr. Nie."
Lou Hongjian found a buyer in front of a painting and greeted him.
He recognized the person in front of him at a glance.
Haicheng is a complex place with various factions. In addition to the military and political department headed by Commander Lou, foreign countries have also established consulates here. Furthermore, there are some gray forces that are not in the open and should not be underestimated.
The leader of these shady forces is Nie Zhengyun.
He oversaw all the casinos and nightclubs in Haicheng, and had his hands on all sorts of shady businesses. But he didn't look as fierce as people imagined. Instead, he wore a refined silk robe and had an elegant appearance, looking more like an ordinary scholar.
Of course, an ordinary person can't become a gang leader.
Lou Hongjian looked at the middle-aged man in the plain black robe before him and sensed an aura somewhat similar to his father's. This aura was not something that could be concealed by his amiable appearance.
He was a little nervous: "Mr. Nie, I didn't expect you to like my painting. Ten thousand yuan, you are very generous."
Nie Zhengyun looked away from the painting in front of him, then turned to look at him with a faint smile. "You're too kind, Third Young Master. I'm just supporting charity."
"Charity?... Oh, yes, charity."
The shock of ten thousand yuan was so great that Lou Hongjian almost forgot that the ten thousand yuan was to be donated to the Haicheng Orphanage.
Realizing this, he quickly calmed down.
There are rumors that Nie Zhengyun has no children, is passionate about charity, and has donated most of his wealth.
Doing charity is good, that's wonderful. It's much better than giving him money for no reason.
Lou Hongjian relaxed: "Mr. Nie, are you here to do charity?"
“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Third Young Master go horse racing,” Nie Zhengyun said. “20 times, and I still often hear people talking about Third Young Master.”
It would have been better if he hadn't brought it up; the moment he did, Lou Hongjian's face stiffened again.
He hadn't forgotten that he had once won 40,000 silver dollars in a horse race.
He later learned that the racecourse he had visited was owned by the Green Gang. Forty thousand silver dollars wasn't a huge sum, but it wasn't a small amount either; it was undoubtedly money taken from the Green Gang's pocket. An ordinary person might have already been punished and drowned in the river at the dock.
Nie Zhengyun noticed his nervousness and chuckled, "It's just a little money, nothing to mention. Consider it my treat for Third Young Master to drinks."
From a distance, Nie Zhengyun and Lou Dashuai met eyes, exchanged a calm glance, and then looked away.
“I saw an advertisement for San Shao Gallery in the newspaper. I was passing by on my way and decided to stop by and take a look.”
"I see." Lou Hongjian felt relieved. "Mr. Nie also enjoys looking at paintings?"
"fine."
"Mr. Nie, is there a painting you like? I'll give it to you."
"You're too kind, Third Young Master."
"Mr. Nie just spent 10,000 silver dollars to buy only my painting, which is a bit too much."
Nie Zhengyun: "Hmm, no need."
As he spoke, his gaze returned to the painting hanging in front of him, and he began to admire it attentively.
Compared to the young master Lou beside him, the painting in front of him seemed to attract his attention more.
Lou Hongjian quickly turned his head and glanced at it. Coincidentally, the painting hanging on the wall was also his own.
This is his gallery, which displays many of his own paintings. This particular painting is of Mao Mao.
The little girl lay in the flowerbed, fast asleep with her eyes closed. Sunlight shone on her, and all around her were colorful flowers. In the bright and beautiful scene, she wore a pure white gauze dress, like a little angel who had fallen to earth, and every strand of her hair shone with golden light.
The realistic oil painting has delicate and romantic brushstrokes. Everyone who sees the painting can't help but stop and want to poke the little girl's fair and soft cheeks through the painting.
Nie Zhengyun watched intently.
"Mr. Nie likes this painting?" Lou Hongjian proudly introduced, "This is my sister."
"younger sister?"
"That's right."
"Oh." Nie Zhengyun said with a hint of surprise, "Such a cute child, I thought it was just your imagination."
Lou Hongjian was proud.
This is his little muse, and besides the one in front of him, there are many other paintings of Mao Mao on display.
Nie Zhengyun became interested: "Third Young Master, how much for your sister?"
Lou Hongjian: "..."
Nie Zhengyun: "I mean, this painting."
"This is not for sale."
"Not for sale?"
“These are not for sale; they are the museum’s prized possessions,” Lou Hongjian said firmly. “Apart from these, everything else is for sale.”
Not even one?
"Can't."
He cherishes his little sister so much; it's fine for others to see her, but how can he bring her home to look at her all the time?
Nie Zhengyun said regretfully, "Then forget it."
He said he'd let it go, but his gaze didn't leave the portrait; he continued to look at it with great interest.
Of all the paintings in the gallery, only this one caught his attention.
Lou Hongjian didn't want to disturb him while he was looking at the painting. Just as he was about to end the small talk, a childish voice suddenly came from behind him.
"elder brother!"
He turned around and saw a cute little girl running out of the painting with her short legs, coming closer and closer, and then jumping straight onto his long legs.
"Third brother!"
Lou Hongjian looked down and exclaimed, "Mao Mao? What brings you here?"
"Brother is selling paintings!" Mao Mao said happily. "I've come to play with my brother."
Lou Hongjian couldn't wait to play with his sister. He reached out and ruffled her hair, saying hurriedly, "Wait a minute, brother will be right away."
"oh!"
Nie Zhengyun's gaze shifted from the painting to the living, breathing little girl in front of him.
Seemingly sensing his gaze, the little girl turned her head to look at him, her chubby little face appearing even whiter and softer than in the painting.
Their eyes met, and they stared at each other for a moment.
Mao Mao tilted her head and greeted him obediently, "Hello, Uncle."
Nie Zhengyun smiled, a few soft wrinkles appearing at the corners of his eyes: "Kid, do you know who I am?"
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