Chapter 40: The Secret

Looking at the 5,000 yuan in front of him, the Middle-aged Man had a look of disbelief: "Young man, are you sure you want to buy this calligraphy?"

Ye Bufan smiled slightly: "I've already taken the money, so how could it be fake?"

"Alright, I'll take the money. This calligraphy is yours now."

The Middle-aged Man happily accepted the 5,000 yuan, originally thinking he had lost money this time, but he didn't expect to get it back.

After receiving the money, he happily left the antique shop, while Ye Bufan rolled up the scroll and put it away.

The Shop Owner saw that although Ye Bufan was dressed plainly, he was extremely generous, so he immediately came over and said, "Young man, do you still want Yan Zhenqing's calligraphy? I have many more here."

Ye Bufan shook his head and said, "No, one is enough."

The Shop Owner said, unwilling to give up, "Young man, to be honest with you, this calligraphy was originally fake."

Ye Bufan didn't want to waste much time with him, so he casually said, "How could that be? I think this is Yan Zhenqing's authentic work."

The Shop Owner said, "Young man, I'm not lying to you. This was something an Old Madam brought up when I participated in a treasure appraisal program last time.

Experts have appraised it, and not only is this thing a fake, but its craftsmanship is extremely crude and it's completely worthless.

The Old Madam originally wanted to take it home to paste on the wall, but I bought it for 50 yuan."

He told all his honest thoughts, just wanting Ye Bufan to greatly regret it, and then buy another piece of calligraphy from him.

Unexpectedly, Ye Bufan shook his head and said, "Sometimes the results of expert appraisals are not necessarily accurate."

"Young man, you are really too stubborn."

The Shop Owner said, taking out dozens of calligraphies and paintings from under the counter and placing them on it, "Look, all the calligraphies and paintings here are authentic. Pick any one you like, and I, your elder brother, will definitely sell it to you at the lowest price."

Ye Bufan said, "No need, I already have one."

"Young man, don't be in such a hurry to leave." The Shop Owner stopped Ye Bufan, took out a scroll, unrolled it, and said, "Take a look, this painting is Ji Xiaolan's authentic work. If you collect it for a few years, its value will definitely double."

Ye Bufan glanced at the calligraphy. It was filled with a faint Spiritual Qi, confirming that it was indeed Ji Xiaolan's authentic work.

It was probably this painting that the Middle-aged Man had taken a fancy to earlier, which reminded him of the joke about selling a cat in a bowl. It seems this Shop Owner is trying the same trick again, still trying to lure him in.

He was looking for Magical Artifacts; calligraphies and paintings were just a way to earn some small money. So, he didn't bother to waste words with the Shop Owner and turned to walk out of the shop.

The Shop Owner had been busy for a long time, but Ye Bufan didn't even glance at it, which made anger surge in his heart, and his face immediately darkened: "I say, is there something wrong with you?

You bought such a fake for 5,000 yuan and treated it as a treasure. I really don't know if your head was kicked by a donkey or if you're blind?"

These words were very unpleasant, even having the implication of a personal attack.

Ye Bufan originally didn't want to bother with him, but hearing these words, his face also darkened. He turned around and said, "Holding a treasure in your hand, yet treating it as junk and forcing it on others. Am I blind or are you blind?"

"You're not going to say this thing is a treasure, are you?" Bai Laoshu's face was full of disdain. "Kid, let me tell you, no one who wants to find a bargain from my Bai Laoshu's hands has been born yet."

It turned out this fellow's surname was Bai. He had a pointed mouth and monkey-like cheeks, and was extremely cunning. Those familiar with the antique street all called him Bai Laoshu.

Ye Bufan held up the scroll in his hand and said, "That's right, this is a great treasure, but unfortunately, you didn't see it."

Bai Laoshu's eyes darted around, and he said with a cunning face, "Since you're so confident, how about we make a bet?"

He had been in the antique business for more than ten years and believed he couldn't have misjudged. Moreover, this painting had been appraised by experts, so how could it be any kind of treasure?

For such a cunning merchant, Ye Bufan didn't mind teaching him a lesson, so he said, "Okay, tell me how to bet."

Bai Laoshu's expression lit up with joy. Since this kid wouldn't fall for any tricks, winning a sum through a bet was also a good idea.

He said, "If you can prove that this painting is a treasure, I'll pay you 200,000 yuan in賭金; otherwise, you pay me 200,000 yuan."

In his opinion, this kid in front of him was an adorably foolish fat sheep, and he had to bite him hard.

"Okay, but words alone are not enough. We should at least write a note, so you don't renege later."

"No need. With me, Master Yang, here, no one can renege in Jubao Garden."

As soon as his voice fell, a Middle-aged Man of about 50 appeared at the entrance of the antique shop.

This person was wearing a long robe, with an elegant temperament, clearly not an ordinary person at first glance.

"Master Yang, why are you here!"

When Bai Laoshu saw the Middle-aged Man, he immediately went up to him with a fawning expression.

"Master Yang is here! Master Yang is here! Quick, make way!"

There were many people strolling idly on the antique street. Just in the short time Ye Bufan and Bai Laoshu were talking, more than a dozen onlookers had already gathered at the entrance.

Seeing the Middle-aged Man walk over, these people moved to both sides, clearing a path.

"Who is this?"

"You don't even know him? This is Yang Ziqian, the Great Master and chief appraiser of Jubao Garden, and also the president of the Jiangnan Antique Association."

"Master Yang is someone who holds absolute authority in Jubao Garden. With him as the notarizer, no one dares to renege, otherwise, they won't be able to leave Jubao Garden."

After entering, Yang Ziqian nodded to Bai Laoshu, then looked at the scroll in Ye Bufan's hand, "Young man, could you lend it to me for a look?"

"Certainly."

Ye Bufan handed over the scroll in his hand.

Yang Ziqian unrolled the scroll and took a look, then frowned slightly, "Young man, listen to my advice, it's better not to make this bet."

Hearing him say this, Bai Laoshu's face immediately fell. He had wanted to make a fortune from this big fat sheep, but with Master Yang's interference, it would all be for naught.

However, given Master Yang's status, he dared not voice any complaints.

But just then, Ye Bufan said, "Mr. Yang, this calligraphy is not as simple as it appears on the surface; in fact, there's more to it than meets the eye. You just need to act as a notarizer."

Yang Ziqian was slightly taken aback. He naturally knew Bai Laoshu's character and didn't want this Young man to suffer a loss.

But after hearing Ye Bufan's words, he said with interest, "Alright, I'd like to see if there's any antique that I, Master Yang, cannot comprehend.

I'll act as the notarizer for this. You two can start the bet. If anyone loses and doesn't acknowledge it, I, Master Yang, will take full responsibility."

Seeing Ye Bufan insist on the bet, Bai Laoshu was overjoyed. It was still possible that he might have misjudged.

But the appraisal experts on TV said it was a fake, and now Master Yang, Master Yang, also couldn't see any mystery, so it was clear that this kid was just mentally ill.

He said triumphantly, "Alright, now that Master Yang is the notarizer, no one needs to worry about reneging. Why don't you show us what 'more to it than meets the eye' means?"

Ye Bufan took the painting and first removed the wooden shafts on both sides.

Bai Laoshu sneered, "Kid, you're not going to tell us there's a hidden compartment inside the painting, are you?

To tell you the truth, we've already checked for such common tricks, and there's absolutely no way there could be one."