Chapter 20

Wu Di sat in the backseat of the Range Rover, looking at the exquisite interior and smelling the faint leather scent, unable to help but shake his head.

"Hehe, kid, I have a long memory. You actually dared to yell at me this morning, so now I'm going to give you a little more trouble. Do you know who bought this car? Do you know why they bought an SUV? Do you know who gave the old lady the idea? Do you know who arranged for the older sister to come? Now, allow Mr. Zhong Qi to introduce to you the mastermind behind all this—the future great director, Oscar winner, Palme d'Or winner, and Golden Horse Award winner, Master Zhong Qi."

"Uncle, actually, it was Grandpa who didn't allow you to buy this car, so you had Mom buy it for Little Uncle. You even said you could often borrow it and trade it for your X5."

"Damn, you brought a little spy. Dou Dou, that's unfair."

"No, one is Uncle, the other is Little Uncle. The older one can't bully the younger one."

Chang Lao's place was very far, in the mountains of Yanqing. Zhong Qi explained to Wu Di:

"Uncle Chang used to be a top-level figure, but he went into the cultural front. He has always been a top-notch appraiser. After retiring, he had nothing to do and found the city air unpleasant, so he bought a house in the mountains of Yanqing. The old man knows he has this hobby, and since I run an auction house, I always send good things to Uncle Chang to look at. That's why we have to make this trip. But, Xiao Wu, I have something to tell you, and you shouldn't get angry."

"Don't rush, you said you have a friend who runs an auction house, so it's you."

"Hehe, I have shares in many companies, kid. I'm a man with a story."

"Less talk, what's the matter?"

"Damn, you're the one interrupting."

"Stop talking, confess and you'll be treated leniently, resist and you'll be punished severely."

"Your painting might not make it to the auction."

"Ah? Why? It shouldn't be fake, right?"

"Uncle Chang, like Zhang Daqian, loves Shi Tao's paintings. When good things are brought to Uncle Chang, he will keep them if they suit him, and he pays more than the auction price, but he keeps very few. Your painting, he will definitely want, but Uncle Chang is turning eighty next month. The old man's idea is that if the painting is real, it will be a birthday gift."

"Oh, then just give it."

"Think about it, this is worth tens of millions."

"So expensive? Oh, but to me, tens of millions and millions are the same. The kids in Kaoshan Village don't need me to worry, I have a car, and I'll buy a house with my commission in a few days. What do I need so much money for? Besides, if the old people need something, shouldn't the children provide it?"

"You don't want to get married, raise children, or live a good life?"

"What is a good life? I don't lack food or clothes, and I can earn money. What's the value of giving a painting?"

"Alright, I won't tease you. If the painting is to be given away, I'll give you money, and it will count as me buying it, okay?"

"No, don't mention money, it makes me angry."

"Then go back and find the old man."

"Fine, if you give me money, I'll find him tonight."

"I think you just haven't seen money. Anyone who has money and has suffered wouldn't be so casual. You'll regret it in the future. Hurry up, Uncle Chang always takes a nap at 1 PM, for two hours. I don't want to wait that long."

Wu Di thought it might be because he hadn't seen much money, or maybe it was because of that piece of glass. The most likely reason was that he had the ultimate treasure—the Heavenly Book!

They rushed and arrived at Uncle Chang's villa on the hillside just before 1 PM. Zhong Qi ran with the painting, and Wu Di had to pull Ou Dou Dou to run as well. Even with just a quick glance, Wu Di felt this place was a paradise on earth.

"Uncle Chang, I've brought you something good."

Before entering the hall, Zhong Qi started shouting. Wu Di heard a strong voice from inside:

"Brat, are you afraid Uncle Chang will sleep? I'll sleep until I'm fully rested before I look. I didn't sleep well last night, Old Yang, let's sleep for three or four hours first."

Zhong Qi wasn't as restrained as at home. As he walked in, he said:

"By the time you wake up, this thing will be ruined. Oh, what a coincidence, Uncle Yang is here too. Wu Di, Dou Dou, come over, I'll introduce you."

The villa was an imitation of ancient architecture, like a quadrangle, all on one level. Wu Di was standing in the second hall. He saw two fat old men standing in the middle of the hall and felt a bit disappointed. Weren't the people living in paradise supposed to be slim and ethereal? No matter which one was Uncle Chang, they didn't fit the image of ethereal. It was also because Wu Di didn't care about politics. If he were an old Beijingite, he would know that Uncle Chang, who used to be a top-level figure, was the fat old man often seen on TV a few years ago.

The two old men didn't look eighty at all. Wu Di felt they were around fifty, even younger than his father. Without waiting for Zhong Qi to introduce them, one of the fatter old men walked over:

"Are you Ou Dou Dou? Ou Xingfu, what a lucky child. Come, Grandpa Chang doesn't have much, but here's a bracelet for you."

"This can't be, it's a nine-eyed heaven pearl blessed by a living Buddha. This child can't handle it."

"Go away, come, little one, Grandpa said to wear it, and you must accept it."

The old man put the bracelet on Ou Dou Dou and then said to Wu Di:

"Are you Wu Di, the godson of that stubborn old man? The old guy never owes anyone, but I think he's in trouble this time."

The old man waved his hand, and a maid handed him a jewelry box. He opened it, revealing a white jade Guanyin, and handed it to Wu Di with a smile:

"I haven't gone out for many years, so I haven't received good things. It's not as good as nephrite, but it's still something. Don't be picky, little one."

Wu Di was about to refuse, but seeing Zhong Qi's signal, he accepted it with a smile:

"I'll wear it later. Old people say it can protect one's safety."

"Good, no wonder the stubborn old man likes you."

Old Yang came over, took out a pair of walnuts and a brush, and handed them to Wu Di and Ou Dou Dou with a smile:

"I'm not as rich as Uncle Chang. Here are some small things, just for fun."

Wu Di thanked him repeatedly, and Ou Dou Dou said sweetly:

"I'll use this brush to practice calligraphy and come back to compete with Grandpa in a few years."

The two old men laughed.

Zhong Qi, with his sharp eyes, saw the walnuts in Wu Di's hand and couldn't help but exclaim:

"Old-style lion head! Uncle Yang, my heart is bleeding. You never let me see them, but now you give them away so easily. That's not fair!"

It was truly heart-wrenching, making the listeners sad.

"Brat, what did you bring? Bring it over quickly, I still need to take a nap."

"Here I come, grand entrance!"

Zhong Qi handed the oil paper-wrapped painting to Uncle Chang.

"Painting? Why is it wrapped? Silk painting?"

"No, it's a painting, not a silk painting. It was just dug out from a brick inkstone."

"Oh, then we need to hurry. Let's go to Uncle Yang's studio."

Uncle Yang's studio was in the west wing of the first courtyard. They quickly walked over, and Uncle Chang carefully opened the oil paper, saw the sponge-like material in the creases of the painting, nodded, and laid the painting on the table to examine it.

Zhong Qi quietly explained to Wu Di that Uncle Yang was a master of mounting, also seventy years old, and a good friend of Uncle Chang. He often stayed with Uncle Chang, sometimes for half a year, and had set up a workshop here because he often brought work to do.

Uncle Yang leaned in, took a look, and said:

"Shi Tao, landscape painting."

"Right, a good piece, well-preserved. This painting is mentioned in 'The Catalogue of Paintings and Calligraphy of the Great Wind Hall' and 'Research on Shi Tao.' According to records, it disappeared after being collected by Yin Jianding. There are imitations from the late Qing Dynasty, and some even say it was fabricated. I didn't expect the real painting to be here."

"Look, there's Yin Jianding's seal."

Uncle Chang examined it with a magnifying glass for a while, straightened up, and said:

"Shi Tao's paintings are based on nature, depicting natural landscapes. His landscape paintings are mostly of the scenic spots of Huangshan. He strives to make his brushwork similar to the rock formations of Huangshan. Huangshan is known for its pine trees, which are unique, so Shi Tao developed special techniques to capture their essence, making his pine trees as vivid as those painted by Mei Qing, known as the 'two wonders.' Huangshan is also famous for its cloud sea, so Shi Tao excels in painting cloud mountains. His compositions are skillfully 'cut,' with a unique structure, blending skill and simplicity, and creating a sense of danger. Shi Tao believed that painting begins and ends with a single stroke. He used very bold strokes for the rock outlines and very fine strokes for the moss and reeds, creating a stark contrast but a vivid effect. He used reverse strokes to depict mountains and trees, giving them an ancient and simple quality. Shi Tao's ink techniques are unique, allowing him to fully capture the misty atmosphere of the mountains. He liked to use raw paper or Korean paper with wet brushes, creating a misty effect without clear outlines. Or he would use light ink to outline and then use ink or indigo water to dye it, using the blur to capture the misty atmosphere of the mountains. All these characteristics can be found in this painting, confirming it as a genuine and high-quality piece. Little Zhong, I'm going to keep this as the highlight of the auction?"

"Hehe, Uncle Chang, Wu Di took this painting out of a brick inkstone. This trip is specifically to bring it to you. I wish you health like these mountains and pines, forever young. But, as agreed, I'll come to your birthday party next month without a gift."

"Good, come empty-handed, and bring the whole family. I won't let the kids organize it; we old guys will gather, and you young ones can gather too. Oh, did you bring the brick inkstone? It might help us understand the origin of the painting."

Wu Di quickly took out two brick inkstones from his backpack. Uncle Chang looked at them and sighed:

"Zhang Tingji? What a good piece, how could you destroy it, Little Wu?"

"It was on the table, and I accidentally dropped it."

Uncle Chang shook his head, thought for a moment, and couldn't help but ask:

"Does Little Wu usually play with antiques?"

"No, this was just a gift."

"Oh, in that case, it's fine. If you collect, you should let Little Qi teach you; there are many nuances. Of course, we welcome you to bring things for us old guys to look at. Uncle Yang, can this brick be restored?"

"No problem, leave it here. You chat, and I'll deal with the painting quickly."

"Haha, Uncle Yang is kicking us out. Well, I'll go to sleep. You three, are you leaving or staying?"

Zhong Qi complained:

"We haven't even eaten yet!"

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