Yuan Kang scoffed, "Yes, if you can produce 200,000, I'll not only call you grandpa, but I'll also admit in the class group chat that you are my grandpa."
"The premise is, do you even have that much money?"
"Idiot, it's not that I'm looking down on you, but you'll never see 200,000 at once in your life!"
"Brother Kang, you already know he's an idiot, why bother with him?" Hong Hong said with disgust.
"You're right." Yuan Kang burst into laughter, then looked at the middle-aged woman and said, "Big sister, I come from a scholarly family and understand antiques and calligraphy. I can appraise the scroll you have. If it's real, I don't mind helping you out!"
The middle-aged woman was overjoyed and quickly handed the scroll to Yuan Kang, explaining, "This is a family heirloom. It's said that my husband's great-great-uncle was a eunuch in the palace. He brought this painting back when he retired."
Yuan Kang unrolled the scroll and examined it carefully.
After a moment, he gave his verdict, "Although your painting is old, it's a fake. It's a replica of the 'Prince Delivering Offspring' by the painting sage, Wu Daozi."
"What? A fake?" The middle-aged woman's face turned pale. "Impossible, something from the palace is also fake?"
Yuan Kang smiled, "This work is definitely a fake, there's no doubt about it, because the genuine article is in Japan's National Art Museum. It's an priceless masterpiece!"
"If you don't believe me, you can search online. You'll definitely find information about the 'Prince Delivering Offspring' painting."
While the middle-aged woman was searching online for the 'Prince Delivering Offspring', Yuan Kang continued, "Although your painting is very realistic, the signature is very stiff, not Wu Daozi's personal signature."
"It's obvious that this is a poorly executed replica."
The middle-aged woman found information about the 'Prince Delivering Offspring' online.
After reading it, her face turned ashen, unable to accept that the painting was a fake.
She had been hoping to use this painting to save her son's life.
Yuan Kang said, "Big sister, I see you're in a difficult situation. Since we've met, it's fate. I'll help you! However, I can't offer you 200,000. I can only give you 20,000!"
The middle-aged woman steeled herself, "20,000 it is!"
Chen Nan spoke up, "I'll pay 200,000!"
Yuan Kang burst into laughter, "Idiot, do you have that much money?"
Hong Hong said with disgust, "He might be talking about ghost money!"
*Swish!*
Without a word, Chen Nan produced two checks, each worth 100,000.
Yuan Kang's laughter abruptly stopped.
His scalp tingled, and he stared at the two checks in shock, his breathing slowing down.
"Remember our agreement, you have to admit I'm your grandpa in the class group chat!" Chen Nan gave Yuan Kang a playful look.
Yuan Kang was dumbfounded.
He couldn't fathom how Chen Nan, a nobody who had just been released from prison, could produce 200,000.
If he had known this would happen, he wouldn't have bragged earlier.
Chen Nan looked at the overjoyed middle-aged woman, "Big sister, this is a 200,000 check. Just take it to the bank and transfer the money to your account."
"There's a bank nearby. You can get the money first, and then give me the painting. It's not too late!"
The middle-aged woman, still somewhat doubtful, took the two checks and went to the nearby bank.
Yuan Kang asked incredulously, "Chen Nan, I don't know where you got the 200,000, but you spent 200,000 on a fake... Did your head get kicked by a donkey? Or squeezed by a door?"
"Yes, I admit the painting is old, but at most it's worth 50,000. And you, you bought it for 200,000!"
"I'm rich, and I like it. What's it to you?" Chen Nan laughed heartily.
He had been thinking about how to spend this ill-gotten wealth, and now the opportunity had presented itself. It was like falling asleep and someone handing you a pillow!
"Sir, thank you, thank you for saving my son's life. Here is your painting." The middle-aged woman, weeping with joy, handed the scroll to Chen Nan.
She had already withdrawn the 200,000 from the checks into her bank card.
Chen Nan took the painting and smiled, "Hurry up and get your son treated!"
The middle-aged woman, full of gratitude, left the antique market.
"200,000 for a fake painting, and he's smiling. I really don't know if he's sick!" Yuan Kang grumbled.
Chen Nan grinned, "Come on, call me grandpa."
Yuan Kang's face filled with hostility, "Do you dare to accept it if I call you grandpa?"
"Better not!" Chen Nan sighed. "If I had known your father would have a son like you, I would have regretted not splattering him on the wall."
Yuan Kang was furious, veins bulging on his forehead, "Do you believe I'll beat you up right now?"
Chen Nan looked at him disdainfully, "100,000 yuan per punch, do you dare to throw a punch?"
"Pah, idiot, big idiot!" Yuan Kang spat viciously. He wanted to fight Chen Nan, even if he lost, it wouldn't be a big deal.
But he knew Chen Nan's personality. If he made the first move, Chen Nan would cling to him like a mad dog.
"The real idiot must be you," Chen Nan sneered. "You come from a scholarly family, and you don't even know who the person who signed this scroll is?"
Yuan Kang scoffed, "Do you know?"
Chen Nan shrugged, not denying it. "I not only know, but I also know this painting is probably not cheap!"
Yuan Kang sneered, "See that Mo Xuan Pavilion in the distance? That's the most authoritative antique shop in Jizhou. We can go there to appraise its authenticity and see who's right."
Chen Nan's lips curved upwards, "Then let's go appraise it?"
In fact, this matter didn't need appraisal at all. After all, he had practiced calligraphy for two years in prison and was very familiar with Liu Gongquan's handwriting.
But he still wanted to know how much this painting was worth.
"Alright, I'll accompany you." Yuan Kang didn't believe Chen Nan's luck was that good, and followed Chen Nan into Mo Xuan Pavilion.
Seeing an old man in his seventies, with white hair and beard, sipping tea, his eyes lit up. "Old Master Qi, you're at the shop today!"
"Why are you here today, kid?" Old Master Qi smiled kindly.
Yuan Kang said with a smile, "I was just wandering around and happened to meet my classmate who bought a painting. So I thought I'd find someone to check its authenticity. Who knew you were here, sir. Could you please take a look for me?"
Old Master Qi was very amiable, "Take it out and let me see!"
Chen Nan opened the scroll and spread it flat on the sofa.
"Although I think the painting is well done, it's a typical fake," Yuan Kang sneered. "But my classmate insists it's a real treasure."
Old Master Qi held a magnifying glass, his face filled with excitement, "Your classmate is right, this is indeed an extremely rare treasure!"
Yuan Kang was dumbfounded.
It was a treasure?
Before he could react, Old Master Qi excitedly looked at Chen Nan, "Young man, I'll offer ten million, will you sell this painting?"