Chapter 62: Sixty-two, containing Heaven and Earth Chapter 62: Sixty-two, containing Heaven and Earth The boss’s eyes flickered to the counter, scanning its contents, “Alright, since I’m not doing any business today anyway, I’ll take a loss this once, but you can only choose from what’s inside this counter.” Inside the counter were small trinkets like seals, calligraphy brushes, inkstones, and the like, not worth much money. If she could really produce a hundred thousand to buy the painting, let alone choose one, giving her two wouldn’t be a problem.
Song Yan Ning nodded, walked to the counter, and surveyed the items within. Her gaze eventually settled on a calligraphy brush, and she raised her hand to point at it, “I’ll take this brush.”
The boss looked at the calligraphy brush Song Yan Ning was pointing at and felt a secret joy, “Okay!” He had acquired that brush, too. The person who sold it to him had said that the brush and the bronze jade pieces were all dug up from the ground.
Having been in the business for so long, he knew the seller was trying to pull one over on him. Bronze ware was a significant cultural relic; if it were genuine, he wouldn’t dare to collect it. The seller realized he couldn’t be easily deceived, so he sold those items to him at a low price, and everyone was clear about that. The brush had been a throw-in when he bought those items.
“Grandpa, the bank card,” Song Yan Ning said, extending her hand to Yang Lisheng.
Yang Lisheng took out the card and handed it to Song Yan Ning, who then looked at the boss, “Boss, I’ll pay with a card.”
“Okay!” The boss replied with a smile, stepping behind the counter to fetch the card machine. He really hadn’t expected this young girl to make a purchase, and what was even more surprising was that her family agreed to it.
After receiving the money, the boss wrapped up the painting and the calligraphy brush for Song Yan Ning, handing them over with a cheerful grin, “Young lady, make sure you look after your items well, once they leave our shop, there are no returns or exchanges.”
“Got it,” Song Yan Ning replied, slipping the brush into her small bag and carrying the box with the painting out of the antique shop, along with Yang Lisheng and two others.
As they had walked some distance from the antique shop, Wu Tingfeng could no longer contain his curiosity and turned to Song Yan Ning, “Little sister, why did you buy that painting? It’s obviously not authentic.” Even if he didn’t understand art, he could tell the painting wasn’t genuine. Not to mention the chaotic strokes, it lacked even a basic signature, which was a clear sign of a low-quality forgery.
Yang Lisheng and Li Meixiang also looked at Song Yan Ning, curious to know as well.
Song Yan Ning smiled, “This painting has more to it than meets the eye.”
“Are you saying there’s another painting hidden within this one?” Wu Tingfeng asked in surprise. He had heard stories of an old man who bought an ancient painting at Pan Garden, only to discover that hidden within it was a genuine piece by Tang Bohu, but such incidents were rare.
“Yes,” Song Yan Ning nodded.
“How could you tell?” Wu Tingfeng, Yang Lisheng, and Li Meixiang all looked at her, full of curiosity.
“I’ll tell you when we get back.” When she had seen the painting, she had sensed a faint layer of Spiritual Energy on it. However, at first glance, the painting didn’t seem like an ancient painting. So she stepped closer for a careful look and discovered that the energy seemed to emanate from the middle of the painting, leading her to suspect that there was something amiss. After carefully examining it again, she noticed a small thread at the edge of the painting, confirming her suspicions.
“Is the calligraphy brush authentic too?” Wu Tingfeng asked, looking at the small bag on Song Yan Ning’s back. He really couldn’t fathom how someone so young could know so much.
“Yes,” Song Yan Ning acknowledged with a nod.
Wu Tingfeng let out a hearty laugh, “Little sister, you are truly amazing!” Thinking about how the antique shop’s boss had been swindled without realizing made him feel much better about his own frustrations. If the antique shop’s boss knew he had sold two authentic pieces for a hundred thousand, he’d probably be green with regret. Should he find some time to go and break the news to the boss? That seemed like a good idea, he happily decided.
“Little sister, could you help me pick out a vase? I want to gift it to someone. My father is sick, and I’m trying to get Dr. Xu Bowen from Beijing, who’s a famous doctor, to treat him. Dr. Xu particularly likes collecting antique vases, so I was planning to buy an antique vase for him. I never expected to end up buying a fake,” Wu Tingfeng said, still a bit gloomy about the shattered vase, after all, he had paid two hundred thousand for it.
“Xu Bowen? You mean the one from Chaoning Hospital?” Yang Lisheng asked. Xu Bowen was his disciple, whose Medical Skill he had taught.
Wu Tingfeng nodded, “Yes, Dr. Xu Bowen is highly skilled, only he can cure my father’s illness.” Otherwise, he wouldn’t have gone through all this trouble to come here for an antique vase.
“Call him and have him visit your home, I want to see him,” Yang Lisheng said, sounding somewhat angry. He had passed his Medical Skill onto Xu Bowen for the purpose of healing and saving people, not for personal gain.
“I didn’t manage to buy the antique vase, I’m afraid he might not come,” Wu Tingfeng said uneasily. What good would a phone call do if Dr. Xu wasn’t willing to agree?
“Just call him,” Yang Lisheng said sternly.
“Alright,” Wu Tingfeng relented, taking out his phone and dialing Xu Bowen’s number.
Soon, Xu Bowen’s voice came through the other end, “This is Xu Bowen.”
“Hello, Dr. Xu! This is Wu Tingfeng. I’d like you to come to my house, someone wishes to meet you,” Wu Tingfeng said, somewhat forcefully.
Xu Bowen’s brows furrowed, “I’m not available, some other time.” Did he seem like someone to be beckoned and dismissed at whim?
“Tell him Yang Lisheng wants to see him,” Yang Lisheng interjected from the side. Xu Bowen had really disappointed him.
Wu Tingfeng nodded, “Dr. Xu, a Mr. Yang Lisheng would like to see you.” Wu Tingfeng was unaware of Mr. Yang’s relationship with Dr. Xu Bowen.
“Who did you say?” Xu Bowen sounded surprised. Wasn’t his teacher always residing in Yang City? Why had he come back?
“Mr. Yang Lisheng,” Wu Tingfeng repeated.
“I understand. I’ll be there shortly,” Xu Bowen said. He could decline others, but he had to meet his own teacher.
Wu Tingfeng sighed with relief, pocketed his phone, and looked towards Yang Lisheng, “Mr. Yang, how do you know Dr. Xu?”
“I’m his teacher,” Yang Lisheng disclosed without concealing, as they were going to meet Xu Bowen shortly anyway, and Wu Tingfeng would find out.
“You’re Dr. Xu’s teacher?! Are you also a doctor?” Wu Tingfeng’s eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at Yang Lisheng. If he was the famous Dr. Xu Bowen’s teacher, his Medical Skill must be even greater.
“Yes,” Yang Lisheng replied with a smile, nodding.
“Mr. Yang! Would you look at my father’s illness?” Wu Tingfeng asked eagerly, waiting for his response. If his Medical Skill surpassed that of Dr. Xu, his father’s illness would surely be no issue.