Jiangcheng wanted to continue probing for information, but the old man was adamant. As they were arguing, two people walked in from outside. The one in the lead was wearing a mandarin jacket and a long gown, leaning on a cane, and wearing gold-rimmed sunglasses. He had a straight posture and an extraordinary bearing.

Seeing this person, the old man who was being pestered by Jiangcheng seemed to have seen a savior, and hurriedly trotted over. "Shopkeeper, you've come at the right time. Two people came to the shop to make trouble and won't leave no matter how we try to get rid of them."

"We're not making trouble, we're here to sell a painting. Isn't the purpose of opening your shop to do business?" Fatty argued reasonably.

The old man blew his beard and glared. "You two youngsters, Song Keli's reputation is already in the gutter. You're bringing his paintings here to sell. Aren't you deliberately trying to cause us trouble?"

Hearing the name Song Keli, the shopkeeper seemed to become interested. He strode towards Jiangcheng and Fatty. It must be said that this shopkeeper was much more composed and calmer than the old man, but this composure only lasted for a very short time. After looking down and seeing the painting in front of him, the shopkeeper's expression suddenly changed.

Immediately, he took off his glasses, bent down, and his face was almost pressed against the painting, examining it inch by inch.

The shopkeeper's follower was very observant and immediately closed the shop door.

Fatty's heart thumped, thinking that these people might be planning to kill and rob them in broad daylight.

"Have you seen enough?" Jiangcheng asked with a fake smile. "If you like it, name a price, and we'll talk in detail."

After a moment, the shopkeeper finally moved his gaze away from the painting, his face showing an indescribable regret. "It is indeed the work of Mr. Song Keli. It was my poor judgment. What a pity, what a pity..."

"How about this, young man, I'll take this painting of yours." The shopkeeper raised his head and looked at Jiangcheng.

The old man standing aside was shocked when he heard this, and said in a flustered manner, "Shopkeeper, are you sure? This is Song Keli's painting. Right now, outside..."

The shopkeeper waved his hand, interrupting the unpleasant words that followed, and looked straight at Jiangcheng. He could sense that the one who really made the decisions among the two who came was this young man. "But young man, don't think too highly of it. I'm willing to take the painting, but the price definitely won't be high. After all, you've seen the situation outside."

"At most, I can only offer this much." The shopkeeper opened his palm and held up five fingers.

"Not selling." Jiangcheng refused promptly.

Jiangcheng's reaction made the shopkeeper frown. "Young man, to be frank, you won't find a second shop in all of Shanghai that dares to take this painting of yours. This is a one-time opportunity."

Jiangcheng pretended to hesitate.

"How about this, young man? There are student parades everywhere outside, and it's not convenient for you to carry the painting around. You can leave the painting with me first, and I'll keep it for you. As for the price..."

"Thank you for the shopkeeper's kindness, but there's no need. I'll go back and think about it." Jiangcheng didn't waste any words, cupped his fist and said decisively, "Farewell."

"I won't see you off."

Fatty hurriedly put away the painting and followed Jiangcheng's footsteps.

Watching Jiangcheng and Fatty leave, the shopkeeper narrowed his eyes slightly, waved his hand, and the follower came over. "Find two smart people to follow them and see where they live." The shopkeeper's voice was cold.

"It's already been arranged," the follower replied.

At this moment, the old man seemed to have understood something, and his small eyes suddenly widened. "Shopkeeper, could it be that painting..."

"Yes." The man with the stern face nodded. "I suspect it's the missing *Gui Jun Tu* (Ghost Steed Painting). Although I haven't seen the original, the overall feeling it gives me is indeed as the rumors say."

The old man understood even less, and said in a low voice, "But I've looked at this painting carefully, and the brushwork definitely comes from Song Keli."

"I naturally know that this painting is from the hand of Song Keli, because he imitated it. But since it's an imitation, the real *Gui Jun Tu* must be in his hands." The man looked outside the door. "And these two people were able to get this imitation, which means they have a close relationship with Song Keli. Following their lead, we might have a major discovery."

"But the rumors outside are that Song Keli is missing, and his former home has also been deserted," the old man said.

The man sneered, "After doing something like that, how could he not go out and hide for a while? I think he's probably being protected by the Japanese now. Saying it's protection is actually... heh heh, it's surveillance."

"Shopkeeper," the old man asked warily, "Are you saying that the two people just now... could be related to the Japanese?"

"Possibly," the man replied.

"I say, shopkeeper, why are we worrying about this?" The follower curled his lips indifferently. "We're businessmen. What's the difference between doing business with anyone, whether it's the Japanese or the yellow-haired, blue-eyed Westerners? Whoever gives us more money, we'll do business with them. This is the rule passed down from our ancestors."

"That's your ancestor's rule. Don't include me." The shopkeeper frowned. "A real man does certain things and doesn't do other things. I'd rather be a dog in peaceful times than a man in chaotic times. Don't you even understand this?"

The follower was stunned for a moment.

"I don't care where this *Gui Jun Tu* ends up, and I don't have the ambition to want it, but the bottom line is that it must stay on our land and must never be taken away by foreigners." The shopkeeper's words were sonorous and forceful.

"Down with the traitors!"

"Song Keli is unworthy of being a teacher, a disgrace to scholars!"

"Selling out friends for personal gain, may you die a horrible death!"

...

The parade came again, passing in front of the door with a whoosh, the crowd surging like the sea, the shouts louder and louder. The old man strode forward, tottering as he went to close the door, but was stopped by the shopkeeper. "What are you closing the door for?"

"I..." The old man's cloudy eyes blinked. He didn't know why either. It was just a subconscious action.

"Listen to them shout, let them shout. With more people like this, maybe... things will really be different." The man stood with his hands behind his back, facing the crowd.

...

"Doctor, why didn't you ask more questions? I felt that the shopkeeper was very interested in this painting," Fatty said as they walked.

"Yes, I saw it too. He must know something." Jiangcheng replied quickly, "Don't rush, let's keep him hanging. Let him cool off for a night, and we'll come back tomorrow. Besides, we don't have enough time today."

Fatty understood what Jiangcheng meant. The two hurried towards the back door of the teahouse. As they walked from the back door to the front door, they happened to bump into a Japanese man dressed as a rickshaw puller standing not far behind the door, craning his neck to look inside.

The moment he saw Jiangcheng and Fatty appear, before he could turn around and slip away, Jiangcheng waved him over and called out, "Not bad, you little brat, you're quite sensible. You knew to wait for me to come out."