Chapter 89: Another Fortune
Chapter 89: Another Fortune
Nie Zhan gently stroked the five-clawed golden dragon engraved on the inkstone, a smile playing on his lips. "We won't need an appraiser for this inkstone. Once the experts verify the authenticity of the painting, we'll pay her for both items."
"Boss, what if they turn out to be fakes?"
Nie Zhan admired the inkstone and intended to keep it for himself. "The fragrant scent it emits is so soothing that it must be authentic. The ink probably contains various medicinal herbs beneficial to the body. This ancient craftsmanship has long been lost, and it's impossible for anyone nowadays to replicate it."
"Boss, she's asking for 20,000 green coins for the inkstone."
"It's worth that price," Nie Zhan affirmed.
Upon hearing that Nie Zhan was willing to pay the full asking price of 20,000 without haggling, Gu Wenfeng felt that they were making money a little too easily. No wonder Lu Jiaxin was so determined to go treasure hunting. However, he also admired her for donating the inkstone and ink slab despite knowing their value.
Aware of his thoughts, Lu Jiaxin smiled and explained, "This inkstone is of the finest quality, which is why it was once offered as a tribute to the emperor. As for the others, they would fetch at most a few hundred each."
In truth, she had quoted a price far higher than her initial expectation of 5,000 green coins for the inkstone. She hadn't expected Nie Zhan, with his vast wealth, to agree without even attempting to bargain.
Gu Wenfeng was astonished. "Is there such a big difference?"
Lu Jiaxin laughed. "The inkstones and ink slabs we found are in pristine condition, which is why they command a high price. Those that are chipped or damaged might only fetch enough to buy a canvas bag."
It was indeed a world of difference. Outsiders truly needed to be cautious when dabbling in such pursuits, or they might end up losing their entire fortune.
Changing the subject, Gu Wenfeng asked about their earlier conversation. "Regarding the ancient ink, you asked Wang to keep it confidential. Why didn't you request the same for the painting?"
Lu Jiaxin shook her head. "I've been staying in the ancient capital for so long, and now I've come to Yangcheng. I need a plausible explanation for all this. My family already knows that I found an ancient painting in the ancient capital and came here to sell it."
"You're not afraid of attracting unwanted attention?" Gu Wenfeng inquired.
Lu Jiaxin shared his desire for a quiet windfall, but she knew it wasn't realistic. "Even if Wang and Chen keep quiet about the painting, it won't stay a secret for long. Once people see that we've come into a large sum of money after dealing with Wang, it won't be difficult to guess where it came from."
Gu Wenfeng frowned, feeling a headache coming on. "With such a large sum of money involved, there could be dangers if word gets out."
The 70,000 green coins they were about to receive were equivalent to over 100,000 yuan. In a place like Yangcheng, where all sorts of people mingled, having such a substantial sum could easily make them targets for robbery or even murder.
Initially, Lu Jiaxin had intended to use green coins for her business transactions, but after spending a few days in the city, she realized how naive she had been. Even with Gu Wenfeng's protection, carrying such a large sum of money on them would be a dangerous proposition. "Once we get the money, let's go to Yuexiu District. You can open a bank account there and deposit the money. We can withdraw it when we need to use it."
People would kill for wealth, and she didn't want to deal with thieves or robbers, no matter how skilled Gu Wenfeng was. Even if he could handle cold weapons, he would be at the mercy of firearms, which were prevalent in the modern era. The restrictions on wooden crossbows were not as stringent as they would become in the future.
Gu Wenfeng was taken aback. "Put it in an account under my name? No, Jiaxin, that's not appropriate."
Lu Jiaxin felt helpless. It wasn't that she didn't want the money in her name, but being underage, she couldn't open a bank account yet.
The account book she had in Si Jiucheng had been arranged by her mother through connections. At present, she couldn't deposit or withdraw money outside of that city, so she had to rely on Gu Wenfeng.
Gu Wenfeng felt that he was being too trusting. "Aren't you afraid I'll run off with the money?"
Lu Jiaxin wasn't worried about that. A fugitive monk might escape, but the temple would remain. Moreover, if he absconded with the money, his parents and siblings would never be able to hold their heads up high again.
"The items that were originally meant to be divided among you are worth far more than 70,000 green coins if sold," Gu Wenfeng pointed out.
He had no intention of running away with the money. "Those items would be more meaningful if donated to the state."
Lu Jiaxin smiled and replied, "By the time you leave, I'll have spent it all, and I might even be in debt."
"What business are you planning to do?" Gu Wenfeng asked.
Lu Jiaxin teased, "You'll see when the time comes."
The next morning, experts arrived to appraise the painting. After a thorough examination, both experts confirmed that the painting was indeed created by Wang Zhenpeng. This outcome was within Secretary Wang's expectations; after all, she wouldn't dare deceive her boss with a fake, as the consequences would be unbearable.
Once the painting was verified as authentic, Secretary Wang took the briefcase from the bodyguard and handed it to Lu Jiaxin. "Here's 70,000 green coins. Please count it."
Gu Wenfeng was surprised. "I thought it was 50,000. You can give the remaining 20,000 after you've authenticated the items."
Secretary Wang smiled and explained, "My boss said it's genuine, so there's no need to trouble the experts further."
Lu Jiaxin took the briefcase and placed it on the table. She opened it to reveal a stack of green bills. Gu Wenfeng, standing behind her, narrowed his eyes. In his thirty-plus years, he had never seen so much money, especially in green coins.
Secretary Wang carefully rolled up the painting and placed it in a specially made wooden box.
Lu Jiaxin glanced at it and asked, "Secretary Wang, why are all the green coins in 50-unit denominations?"
Secretary Wang explained, "I asked Manager Chen, and he mentioned that the 100-unit green coins are not as convenient for use in the mainland, so I specifically withdrew the 50-unit ones."
Lu Jiaxin randomly drew out a stack and started counting, the bills flipping so fast that they left afterimages. Not only Secretary Wang and her bodyguard but even Gu Wenfeng was astonished. He wondered how many more talents this young lady had that he didn't know about.
Lu Jiaxin counted five stacks of bills before putting them away and nodding. "It's all here. Thank you, Secretary Wang."
Before leaving, Secretary Wang took out a business card from her backpack and said with a smile, "Miss Lu, this is my phone number. Please contact me if you come across more good items in the future."
This wasn't something Nie Zhan had instructed; it was her personal initiative. She believed that antiques had potential for appreciation, so she wanted to acquire a few pieces for herself.
Lu Jiaxin took the card with both hands and assured her, "Rest assured, if I find any treasures, I'll definitely get in touch."
After seeing Secretary Wang off, the two immediately packed their belongings and left in the car they had arranged beforehand, anticipating the arrival of the experts.
In the car, Gu Wenfeng kept glancing at the luggage bag at his feet, aware that Lu Jiaxin had stuffed all 70,000 green coins into it.
Noticing his nervousness, Lu Jiaxin struck up a conversation to distract him. "Brother Gu, what is your greatest wish?"
Without hesitation, Gu Wenfeng replied, "I hope our country becomes strong and no longer bullied by foreign powers."
"Foreign powers," Lu Jiaxin echoed, a solemn nod. "With the current open policies, our economy will develop rapidly, and our country will grow stronger. By then, no nation will dare to bully us."
Encouraged by her assertive tone, Gu Wenfeng's spirits lifted. "What about you, Jiaxin? What is your greatest wish?"
Lu Jiaxin hesitated for a moment before deciding to be honest. "I want to be a happy, carefree grasshopper, eating and sleeping to my heart's content."
Gu Wenfeng let out a sound of surprise, amused by how her current behavior contradicted her aspiration.
The car hit a bump, jostling Lu Jiaxin slightly, but she was in too good a mood to care about such a minor inconvenience. "I have to make money," she said. "My father has been bewitched by that vixen, and he won't be giving me any more spending money. I just need to earn enough to cover my expenses for the next five years. After graduation, if I can make enough for a lifetime, I'll happily become that carefree grasshopper."
(End of Chapter)
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