Chapter 1: Your painting is not true

Perhaps, this is my second half of life

Yan Wanru

There seems to be something wrong!

"What the hell!" A loud shout came from behind me. Turning around, I saw a middle-aged man with a sharp nose and a thin face, seemingly the owner of an art shop. He incredulously pointed at my right hand: "Do you know how much this painting is worth? Selling you wouldn't even cover the cost! Are you out of your mind?"

As soon as I finished speaking, the shop owner handed over two appraisal certificates, saying, "You can see for yourself whether it is an authentic piece! One is the appraisal issued by Mr. Zhao Lindong! The other is the certificate from the Beijing Collectors Association after instrument testing!"

Before long, the feeling of faintness gradually dissipated

The boss was furious: "Two hundred? That's not even enough to cover the appraisal fee! What do you mean by that? Forget it, forget it! I can't be bothered to waste my breath with you! Go! Call your parents! I will discuss the compensation matter with them!"

I took a deep breath, restrained my chaotic thoughts, pulled out my phone from my pocket, and glanced at the date displayed on it

Xiao Liu's cousin appeared on the program "Antiques Appraisal"; the landscape calligraphy painting acquired from the countryside was appraised by experts at several hundred thousand.

How is business today

It was actually last summer

I am dizzy! I wondered why it sounded so familiar! Isn't this the television program I watched with my parents last night? Yan Wanru personally revealed her experiences over the years, and one part mentioned a painting by Qi Baishi, which was also highlighted in the description

Having slightly adjusted to the light, I opened my eyes once more

What is all this about?

Having finished the work at hand, I removed my white gloves, informed Boss Dou briefly, and opened the glass door with one hand to step outside

With a sigh of relief, I temporarily set aside the deep-seated doubts, opened my wallet, counted out two hundred yuan, and gently placed it on the glass display case inside.

I frowned displeased and said: "I haven't provoked you or offended you, so why are you cursing at me?"

I direct my attention to Yan Wanru; compared to those so-called experts, I am more inclined to trust those who have engaged in charitable work

I have returned to the summer vacation of one year ago

Bang!

This is a serious problem

I felt dizzy, and cold sweat and a chill suddenly seeped from my forehead, akin to the reaction when blood sugar is low. Instinctively, I half-squatted, pressing my hand against my forehead, taking deep breaths of the hot air. It was just a thunderclap, wasn't it? I have always been in good health and cannot understand what is happening to me

Beijing Antique Market

I spread open my right hand and picked up the piece of Xuan paper in my palm, laying it flat. A dark-colored bird leaped into my view. Then I looked at the tattered scroll in Yan Wanru's hands and was momentarily stunned. From the murmurs of the onlookers, I gradually realized the situation: it turned out that Yan Wanru had her eyes on a painting by Qi Baishi in the shop and was ready to purchase it. Just at that moment, I had barged in and torn off a piece of the painting.

"Please let go of me! I never said I wouldn't compensate you!" I shook off his hand that was gripping my upper arm and pondered, "800,000? You can't just claim it's an authentic piece and have it be so, can you? Besides, I was pushed into the room by someone else; this cost shouldn't fall solely on me." I appeared calm on the surface, but my heart sank; nearly a million, how could my family possibly bear that?

This is ... ...

Of course I saw it, hehe, I didn't expect that an appraiser and bibliophile like Yan Wanru would also take notice, and it just happens to be in our antique market

What is going on here

I shook my head with a sense of sorrow and walked straight down the corridor, not daring to think any further

Within the antique market, all the lights, without exception, flashed wildly several times before extinguishing completely

Unfortunately, I was not present that day, haha. However, to be honest, there are hardly a few people in all of China who are as wealthy as Yan Wanru; for her, one million is merely a drop in the bucket, and she simply does not care about it.

Wang Datou went to Yunnan to gamble on stones and heard that a piece of jadeite rough had appreciated, making him wealthy overnight

I am a conservative, cautious, and honest person; the term "audacity" has never appeared in my dictionary. I also know that the prospect of amassing great wealth will never come to me. All I can envision is another scenario: emerging from university, competing with numerous graduates for a job that pays 2,000 yuan a month, marrying a wife who would not even entertain any improper thoughts from a rogue, taking out a loan to buy a house, and becoming part of the "moonlight clan" that pays off loans month after month. Day after day, year after year, my hair will turn white, I will lie bedridden, until I step into that cold, cheap urn.

The crowd gathered at the shop entrance is growing larger, with many people leaning against the glass wall outside, making a commotion. I had no time to think, as the shop owner tightly grasped my arm, shouting that I needed to compensate him. "Let me tell you! This is an early work by the esteemed Qi Baishi! It is an authentic piece! I just negotiated the price with Teacher Yan! Eight hundred thousand! Not a cent less! If you can't come up with it, I will have no choice but to call the police!"

I believe that two hundred is quite a lot. I spread the torn rice paper flat on the cabinet and the drawing table, pointing at the birds on it: "This painting of yours is not very realistic"

Could it be that I have really returned to a year ago

I took a deep breath and once again confirmed today's date on my phone

At that moment, I caught a glimpse of a stunning face from the corner of my eye. It was a young woman, who was holding a painting with its center hollowed out, lamenting deeply: "Perhaps this painting is not destined for me."

I know I am foolish, but I still reached out to stop her: "Thank you, but this has nothing to do with you. If compensation is to be made, it should be from the person who hit me."

Boom

It can be said simply, but money is not so easy to earn

I found myself squeezed into an antique shop filled with a dazzling array of collectibles. Feeling a bit awkward with my arms, I blankly lowered my head, only to realize that my long-sleeved shirt had been replaced by a short-sleeved T-shirt. The pair of athletic sneakers on my feet had also transformed into the canvas shoes I bought for thirty yuan from a street vendor last year. Surrounding me were throngs of people, all staring at me with wide-eyed astonishment

Suddenly, I was taken aback, and a familiar scent surged in my mind

I am well aware that, in fact, Yan Wanru had no need to take the blame upon herself. Her actions were merely a result of her sympathy for me when she saw that I was unable to provide the money. Reflecting on this, I couldn't help but feel a sense of frustration. My father has told me more than once that one must conduct oneself with integrity; one must bear the consequences of their own actions, and even if one cannot bear them, they must still take responsibility.

Suddenly, the evening glow outside the window was tinged with a deep gray-black hue, and thunder and lightning descended without warning

It seems to have stirred quite a few people, but that is not surprising, after all, it is the calligraphy and painting of Bai Shishi and Tu Shusheng

One year ago

Today is no exception

Did you watch television last night? Yan Wanru went to the Central Station for an interview

Her remark made me feel a bit embarrassed

Boss Dou, who specializes in the jade business, is a very kind middle-aged man. Although his business is quite ordinary, he has an excellent reputation among people. Many customers who often stroll around here are familiar with Old Dou. Even if they do not purchase his jade items, they habitually come to chat with him about the latest happenings in their circle.

Old Li's nephew acquired a set of pottery at a bargain price in Panjiayuan and made a profit of several tens of thousands upon reselling it

I was momentarily taken aback, as a cacophony of voices overlapped in my ears, chaotic and disordered, much like having fallen into Tiananmen Square during the National Day celebrations. Moreover, just as I was about to fall, my right hand grasped a wad of paper, the nature of which I could not discern

This sight is quite alarming, it startled me completely

But immediately afterward, I felt a heavy push from the side behind me. To maintain my balance, I stumbled forward a few steps, furrowing my brow but saying nothing. The power had just gone out, so collisions were inevitable. I opened my eyes, but the blinding light made me instinctively close my eyelids again

As evening approached and the stalls were about to close, the owner of the calligraphy and painting shop at the southernmost end leisurely entered the store with two familiar customers

I nodded with a wry smile

It is actually Yan Wanru!

Yan Wanru, holding a signature pen, paused for a moment, then looked up at me and asked, "Are you sure?"

I suspect that I am dreaming; just a moment ago, the antique market was desolate, how could it be so lively now

On the way down the stairs, I couldn't help but sigh. If I could be as wealthy as Yan Wanru, I would certainly do the same as her: buy a villa as grand as the library, collect a plethora of cherished antiques, sponsor a group of children who have lost the opportunity for education, and establish several Hope Primary Schools

Yan Wanru looked at me and nodded, saying, "This painting is indeed an authentic work by Mr. Qi Baishi; otherwise, I wouldn't be preparing to buy it." After saying this, Yan Wanru hesitated for a moment, took out a stack of checkbooks from her bag, and continued, "The painting was damaged while it was in my possession, so I should be responsible. How about this: I will compensate half of the value."

Qi Baishi's calligraphy and painting

Snap

Then, the scene fell silent. The shop owner, with a nose that was neither a nose nor an eye that was an eye, was glaring at me, implying that I should quickly take out the money. Yan Wanru and the appraisal expert with the surname Liu did not leave either, standing quietly beside me. Outside the shop, a layer of people was tightly packed, and it seemed that there were also reporters taking photos and senior executives from the antique market.

"Let's make do with it." Old Dou greeted them with a smile, pushed a few round stools for them to sit on, and turned back to remind me to put away the counted goods. I responded affirmatively, opened the door of the safe leaning against the corner, and carefully moved the valuable stone carvings one by one inside.

Yes?

I actually knew about that incident a year ago, as it was secretly told to me by a shop owner on the second floor

Beside her was a relic appraisal expert I had seen on television, who also sighed, "What a pity, what a pity"

Messages like these drift into my ears almost every moment, and I can't help but feel a sense of wistfulness. I often ponder how wonderful it would be if such good fortune could strike me. My name is Gu Jing, I am twenty-one years old, and I am a sophomore at Beijing University of Information Science and Technology. My family is not affluent, so I can only work at the Beijing Antique Market during the winter and summer vacations to earn some living expenses for the next semester