Chapter 20: You’re at a Big Loss

Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Tang Zhengqi just gave Chen Guanglei a sidelong glance and ignored him. Instead, Tang Zhengqi turned to Xu Yang and asked, “Mr. Xu, I’m interested in buying this painting from you. Are you willing to sell it?”

Xu Yang’s heart skipped a beat. He thought, ‘I would be willing to sell it if someone wanted to buy it. However, it would depend on the price the other party offered. If the other party was willing to pay the system-suggested price of fifty million, I’d sell it. If the other party couldn’t meet that price, I wouldn’t. After all, fifty million was the system’s suggested price. It was my bottom line, and it couldn’t be compromised.’

Thinking of that, Xu Yang replied, “Of course, I’m willing to sell, as long as the price is right.”

Tang Zhengqi thought for a moment and said, “Mr. Xu, if you sell me this painting right now, I can offer you fifty million.”

“What! That much!”

Before Xu Yang could even respond, Chen Guanglei exclaimed.

‘Damn, Xu Yang had pretty incredible luck. He had bought a painting for five thousand yuan and was now selling it for fifty million. That was a thousandfold profit, all within less than half an hour.’ Chen Guanglei thought.

Zhao Yulu’s expression also changed drastically, and her gaze toward Xu Yang transformed. She thought, ‘Xu Yang had become an instant multi-millionaire. If I’m still his girlfriend, considering how much he loved me, this fifty million would essentially be mine. Buying cars, houses, luxury items like clothes and bags—none of it would be an issue. I wouldn’t need to borrow money or invest anywhere.’

Gao Chengwen and the young man weren’t surprised. They knew that paintings by Wu Daozi were indeed worth such sums. Now, Gao Chengwen regretted it even more. The genuine Wu Daozi painting was right in front of him, and it was only five thousand yuan. He hadn’t bought it.

Thinking of that, Gao Chengwen felt a dizzying sensation, almost falling to the ground.

The young man looked at Xu Yang with a mix of envy and jealousy in his eyes.

Tang Zhengqi continued, “Mr. Xu, I’m not only the vice president of the Antique Appreciation Association but also a shareholder in an auction house. If you were to auction this painting at our auction, it might fetch more than fifty million. Perhaps an additional ten million or so. Of course, it could also go for less than fifty million depending on the bidders who show up. But the likelihood of that is low. Once news gets out that a genuine Wu Daozi painting is on the block, many antique enthusiasts will be eager to bid.”

Xu Yang inquired, “When is your next auction?”

Xu Yang was looking for quick cash. He wouldn’t be interested if it was too long apart.

Tang Zhengqi replied, “It’s on the fifteenth of next month.”

Xu Yang shook his head and said, “That’s too long. How about you give me fifty million right now?”

Xu Yang thought since he had already reached the system’s suggested price; he could sell now. As for waiting until next month, he wasn’t interested. He wanted the money in hand to buy a car and a house. After all, he had the system, and there would be plenty of opportunities to make money in the future. There was no need to wait so long for an extra ten million.

Unable to hold back, Zhao Yulu said, “Xu Yang, are you crazy? Waiting until the fifteenth of next month could earn you an extra ten million. Can’t you be patient?”

Waiting for a month to make ten million was an incredible opportunity. Even with the information about Obsidian Tech that Chen Guanglei had provided, Zhao Yulu wouldn’t be able to make that much money with the amount she could borrow.

Xu Yang responded, “I don’t want to wait. It’s better to have the money in hand.”

Zhao Yulu was about to speak again, but Chen Guanglei interrupted her, “Yulu, ignore him. He’s so short-sighted. This is the thinking of a poor person. He only looks at the present and doesn’t look at the long term.”

Chen Guanglei would only be happy if he scorned Xu Yang like that.

Zhao Yulu agreed and said, “True, even with money, his short-sightedness will make him remain a poor guy sooner or later!”

Xu Yang ignored them and turned to Tang Zhengqi. Xu Yang asked, “Can you give me the money now?”

“Of course.” Tang Zhengqi nodded and asked Xu Yang for his bank account number. He proceeded to transfer fifty million directly to Xu Yang’s account using his phone.

Looking at the money received, Xu Yang couldn’t help but smile. Now he could buy a car and a house. He decided to go tomorrow and make the purchases with his wife.

“What a fool. He has money and doesn’t know how to make more!” Chen Guanglei sneered.

That’s what Chen Guanglei wanted, to belittle Xu Yang.

Xu Yang glanced at Chen Guanglei and retorted, “Is it any of your business? If you have the ability, try making fifty million!”

Xu Yang had initially ignored Chen Guanglei, but Chen Guanglei kept calling Xu Yang a fool. Earlier, when no one had identified the painting as genuine, it was fine. But now that it had been confirmed as authentic, and Xu Yang had earned fifty million, he wasn’t going to put up with it.

“You!” Chen Guanglei’s face turned red, but he couldn’t come up with a retort.

Indeed, Chen Guanglei could not pick up a windfall and make fifty million like Xu Yang had.

Then, Chen Guanglei snorted coldly, “You’re just being lucky!”

Xu Yang retorted, “Even if I was being lucky, would you be able to do the same? You won’t even have the chance!”

Chen Guanglei was so angry that his face turned ashen and he could not speak. The situation was really not favorable to Chen Guanglei because Xu Yang had really discovered a treasure and earned fifty million yuan. No matter what Chen Guanglei said, he was at a disadvantage when the other party retorted.

Finally, Tang Zhengqi collected the painting and exchanged phone numbers with Xu Yang. He said, “Mr. Xu, if you ever come across more antiques or need to auction something, feel free to contact me. I’ll give you a special discount.”

Xu Yang agreed and said, “Alright, thank you, Mr. Tang.”

“Have a nice day, Mr. Gao.” After exchanging pleasantries with Gao Chengwen, Tang Zhengqi departed.

Xu Yang looked at everyone and prepared to leave as well.

At that moment, the man who had sold him the painting, Guo Shan, rushed in and taunted Xu Yang, “Hey, you’re not leaving yet? How do you feel about the painting I sold you? It must feel like you’ve made a huge profit, right?”

Under normal circumstances, Guo Shan wouldn’t have come over to taunt Xu Yang. But today, he was in a good mood and believed that Xu Yang wouldn’t have another chance to make money off him. So he decided to try taunting Xu Yang a little now might satisfy his own ego.

However, Guo Shan realized that the expressions of the people around him were strange after he spoke. He touched the back of his head, turned back to look, and then asked bewilderedly, “What’s going on? Why are you all looking at me like that?”

Another young man smirked and said, “Guo Shan, you’ve taken a big loss. The painting you sold him for a cheap price is genuine!”

“What!” Guo Shan’s face turned pale. “That’s impossible! How could it be real? I bought it for five hundred yuan from a street vendor, and the owner even had it appraised as a fake. How could it be real?”

Guo Shan just couldn’t believe it. If it was true, he had suffered a massive loss. After all, Wu Daozi was a master painter. Even though he knew next to nothing about antiques, he understood the basic market value of paintings by such artists. Genuine works were easily worth tens of millions.

The young man couldn’t help but gloat, “Heh, the painting was bought for fifty million just now. Do you still think it’s fake?”