True to his nature as the man who once kicked his niece and sister-in-law out of the family home, Liu Weiwen shamelessly said, “Yes, we’ve long known about that Zhang Daqian painting among Big Brother’s belongings. But we were thinking of you! What if the painting turns out to be fake? After all, your father bought quite a few counterfeit antiques in the past. We can handle that kind of loss, but can you?”

Hearing this, Liu’s mother smiled and puffed up her chest. “Don’t worry about us. We’ll get it appraised to verify its authenticity. No need for your concern.”

“Sotheby’s has a branch here in Hong Kong,” Gu Xicao kindly reminded them. “If you need, you can take the painting there now for an appraisal. If you want to sell it, they’ll likely offer a fair price.”

???

Liu Weiwen and Jin Liu clearly hadn’t expected Liu’s mother to respond this way—or for Gu Xicao to provide such a direct suggestion.

“S-Sister-in-law, you should think this through. The painting might not be real. If it’s fake, we won’t buy the apartment, and you’ll lose a lot.” Liu Weiwen panicked and tried to stop them.

Liu’s mother, however, was resolute. “Don’t worry about us. We’ll handle it ourselves. We’re going to the auction house now for an appraisal!”

Even Liu Suxiang was surprised. She pulled her mother aside and asked, “Mom, why are you in such a hurry to get it appraised?”

“It’s bound to happen sooner or later. The sooner we confirm it, the better,” Liu’s mother said quietly. “And if it’s real, selling it early is better than keeping it at home and attracting thieves.”

She gestured toward Liu Weiwen and Jin Liu.

Understanding her mother’s reasoning, Liu Suxiang immediately agreed, “Alright, let’s go now.”

The couple exchanged glances, their faces darkening.

Jin Liu quickly plastered on a smile. “Sister-in-law, don’t be so impulsive. Sotheby’s is such a high-end place. Do you think they’ll pay attention to you? And what if someone swaps the painting for a fake? You’d have nowhere to cry about it!”

“That won’t happen,” Gu Xicao said, pulling out a business card. “I happen to know someone with good connections. She might know someone at Sotheby’s. Let me lend a hand and make a call.”

Liu Suxiang was overjoyed. “Thank you so much, Master! Here’s the phone!”

Watching Gu Xicao make the call, Liu Weiwen and Jin Liu were fuming.

Jin Liu gritted her teeth. “What kind of ‘master’ is she? So arrogant!”

“How would I know? She’s probably just pretending. If she really knows rich people, why would she waste time fortune-telling for poor folks like Liu’s mother and daughter?” Liu Weiwen grumbled, both angry and worried.

On the phone, Gu Yueluo responded enthusiastically. “Sotheby’s has a manager who works with our family. I’ll call them now. You’re looking to appraise a Zhang Daqian painting, right?”

“That’s correct. If possible, the owner is considering consigning it for auction,” Gu Xicao replied.

Gu Yueluo laughed. “That’s fantastic. Zhang Daqian’s paintings are rarely seen on the market these days because collectors are so reluctant to part with them. This could cause a stir. I’ll make the arrangements; you just need to bring the painting over.”

Gu Xicao thanked her and hung up.

Liu’s mother and daughter looked at her nervously. “How did it go?”

“My friend is contacting them now. We just need to bring the painting over,” Gu Xicao said.

“Bragging much! This is Sotheby’s we’re talking about, not some corner store. Do you think they’ll just see you whenever you show up?” Liu Weiwen scoffed, finally feeling relieved.

He had initially worried that Gu Xicao might really know someone important. But hearing her words now, he felt reassured.

From his own experience visiting Sotheby’s, it always took several days to arrange for someone to assess an item.

If even someone as wealthy as him found the process troublesome, what could a random fortune-teller possibly accomplish?

“Unless she knows someone from the Four Major Families.”

“What you believe has nothing to do with me,” Gu Xicao glanced up and down at Liu Weiwen with amusement, sneered, and turned to Liu’s mother. “Auntie, take the painting with you. Let’s go now.”

“Alright, alright!”

Liu’s mother, understanding the principle of trusting the capable, immediately went back to the house to fetch the painting and followed Liu Suxiang and the others to leave.

“Hey, sister-in-law! Are you really going?!”

Seeing them about to get into a taxi, Liu Weiwen hurriedly ran over. “Think carefully! What if you get cheated and don’t even realize it?”

“Second Uncle, as long as it’s not you cheating us, it’s fine.” Liu Suxiang rolled up the car window and said to the driver, “Driver, you can go now.”

Without saying a word, the driver stepped on the gas, leaving a cloud of exhaust behind.

Liu Weiwen and his wife stared at the car tail lights disappearing into the distance, dumbfounded.

Jin Liu covered her mouth with a handkerchief, coughed a few times, and anxiously said, “What do we do now, hubby? Someone else has already offered two million for that painting!”

“What do we do? How would I know? The most important thing now is to catch up with them!”

Liu Weiwen stopped thinking and rushed to grab his car keys to follow Gu Xicao’s group.

To catch up with the taxi, Liu Weiwen ran multiple red lights and finally arrived at the auction house. He and Jin Liu rushed to catch up with Liu’s mother and grabbed her arm.

Liu’s mother stumbled and nearly fell. Turning around, she realized it was Liu Weiwen and his wife. Annoyed, she shook off Liu Weiwen’s hand. “Second brother, what are you doing? What does this have to do with you? I already said, whether the painting is real or fake, it has nothing to do with you!”

“Sister-in-law, don’t say that.”

Liu Weiwen forced a fawning smile. “We’re family, after all. Big Brother has been gone for so many years. It’s our fault for not taking care of you and Ah Xiang. But this is a big deal. You need to think it through. Who knows where Ah Xiang found this woman who’s spouting nonsense? What if she’s a con artist and swaps your painting for a fake?”

“You strawberry apple orange! Don’t act all high and mighty. You didn’t say this earlier, but now that she’s gone out of her way to help us, you show up to make trouble? Do you really think I’m that gullible and easy to fool?”

Liu’s mother scolded him furiously, pointing a finger in his face. “I’m warning you, don’t follow us again, or I won’t be polite!”

Liu Weiwen never imagined the timid, easy-to-bully sister-in-law he remembered could turn into such a shrew. Passersby began to glance their way.

Feeling embarrassed, Liu Weiwen and Jin Liu’s faces flushed red.

Clinging to her husband’s arm, Jin Liu fumed indignantly. “Alright, Sister-in-law, you’ve taken our kindness for nothing. Let’s see what your so-called master can do. This is Sotheby’s Auction House! Everyone who enters here is either rich or powerful. Do you really think someone like you can get immediate service? Are you the Queen of England?”

“Excuse me, are you the guests referred by Ms. Gu?”

Just as Jin Liu finished her tirade, several men in sharp suits walked out of the auction house.

The man leading the group appeared to be in his early thirties, with a polished demeanor and gold-rimmed glasses. He paused when he saw Gu Xicao’s group but maintained a polite attitude. “Who is Ms. Gu?”

“That would be me.”

Gu Xicao raised her hand. “But the person who needs the appraisal is her.”

“No problem. It’s a bit windy outside; let’s talk inside.” The man invited them in, and Gu Xicao and her group followed.

Seeing the man, Liu Weiwen and Jin Liu froze.

Jin Liu whispered hesitantly, “Hubby, isn’t that Manager Sun from the auction house?”

“Maybe it’s someone who looks like him. It can’t really be him. Besides, someone like Manager Sun wouldn’t have time to entertain ordinary folks like them.”

Liu Weiwen’s face turned pale, then flushed, and he quickly followed, wanting to see what was going on.

However, the two security guards at the entrance stopped him.

“What are you doing? We’re regular customers here! Let us in!”

Liu Weiwen’s face turned red with anger as he tried to push past the guards.

The security guards, however, remained firm. “Sorry, do you have an appointment?”

“An appointment?!”

Of course, Liu Weiwen knew an appointment was required. But seeing his sister-in-law and niece being respectfully invited in while he was left outside made him furious. “Those people who just went in were my sister-in-law and niece. They can go in, so why can’t we?”

“Wait here. We’ll confirm inside.”

One guard glanced at the other before heading in. Liu Weiwen and Jin Liu tried to use the opportunity to slip in, but the remaining guard discreetly revealed the gun at his waist.

The couple immediately fell silent.

After a while, the guard returned, his expression complicated. “It’s been confirmed. The guests said you’re relatives, but you’re not close. You’ll have to wait outside.”

“What?!”

The couple was livid.

Jin Liu stomped her foot in frustration. “It’s all that niece’s fault! I told you she’s petty and vengeful. We’re her elders, but she leaves us out of something this important? How can this work without us supervising?”

“This painting is indeed a work by Zhang Daqian,” the appraiser said, putting down the magnifying glass and removing his gloves, his face filled with delight. “Moreover, it was completed in 1977, making it a rare masterpiece.”

Liu’s mother’s heart raced as she stammered, “Does that mean it’s worth a lot?”

“Valuable? Absolutely. This painting, being splash-ink style, has significant market value. It could sell for at least 2.3 million.”

2.3 million?!

Liu’s mother and daughter were overjoyed!

Liu’s mother gritted her teeth and said, “No wonder your second uncle suddenly became so kind. It turns out he knew this painting was valuable!”

“Exactly, Mom. Thank goodness we had Master Gu’s help,” Liu Suxiang said with lingering fear. Had it not been for her suspicion and the master’s assistance, they might have traded away 2.3 million for 1 million. Knowing the truth would have driven them mad with regret.