Another day passed in the blink of an eye.
Jiang Tiansheng still led his men out, continuing to wander the antique market, searching for any possible clues.
At 9:30, Gu Zian arrived punctually.
Chen Fan left the hotel and got into his Bentley, heading towards the Sun family’s residence.
"Mr. Long, how should I introduce you later?"
Gu Zian's expression was respectful, even more so than the previous day.
Two days had passed since he was poisoned, and the three-day deadline was fast approaching. He felt his body becoming increasingly unwell and couldn't help but worry about not waking up each time he slept.
Even when engaging in intimacy with women, his mind was preoccupied with this, leading to a lack of interest.
"Chen Fan," Chen Fan said indifferently.
There was no need to publicize his identity as Mr. Long.
Not many people in Jinling had likely heard of the name Chen Fan.
After all, it was hundreds of kilometers away from Hangjiang, not even in the same province.
"Alright."
Gu Zian nodded.
"What industry does the Sun family engage in, and what is their ancestral background?" Chen Fan asked.
"The Sun family is involved in real estate and energy. As for their ancestors, they were once powerful court eunuchs in the previous dynasty. After the change of regime, the Sun family experienced ups and downs, accumulating considerable wealth in real estate and energy in recent years!"
Gu Zian explained, a hint of disdain in his tone.
Chen Fan caught the nuance.
With ancestors who were court eunuchs, a lineage like that would be somewhat looked down upon by families like the Gu family, with their scholarly and martial traditions.
"So, the young master Sun's enthusiasm for collecting is actually a way to associate himself with refinement?"
"Mr. Long... Mr. Chen sees it clearly," Gu Zian said. "Sun Mingen is a boor. What he likes most is showing off. He always invites a crowd of people to play with any limited edition luxury cars or new antiques he acquires. He spends a lot of money, letting those people flatter him."
Chen Fan smiled and remained silent.
Gu Zian's mockery of the young master Sun clearly indicated his disdain for the man.
But was Gu Zian himself significantly better than that young master Sun?
As they spoke, the car arrived outside a grand gate.
The gate was extremely wide, resembling a triumphal arch. After a security guard inquired, they were allowed to pass.
Upon entering, the roadside was lined with rockeries, exotic stones, pine trees, and green plants, creating a pleasant scenery.
This place resembled a private garden more than anything.
However, judging by its size, layout, and scenery, the Sun family's old residence must have been exceptionally valuable a century ago.
In today's bustling city, it would be priceless.
No wonder Zhong Hao said that the possibility of the Sun family relinquishing this residence was minuscule.
A heritage manor like this would certainly not be sold by the Sun family unless they were in dire straits.
Three minutes after driving in, they reached a parking area where about a dozen luxury cars were already parked.
Security guards were waiting there, directing Gu Zian to park. Then, they warmly led the way ahead.
It was evident that the young master Sun was indeed a hospitable host.
Soon, they arrived outside a building with a Chinese architectural style.
Voices could be heard from inside.
An old man resembling a butler stood at the entrance and bowed to Gu Zian, saying, "Young Master Gu, welcome, welcome. My young master has been talking about you for a long time. May I ask your friend's name?"
"Chen Fan," Chen Fan replied.
"Welcome, Mr. Chen. Please come in. My young master and several other guests are already inside!"
Upon entering the gate, they found themselves in a large hall. In the center of the hall was a display stand, and along the walls were also display stands.
Each display stand held an antique.
Looking around, there were quite a few, likely between three to five hundred items.
About ten people were gathered around the central display stand, examining a few of the collectibles.
"Tsk tsk, it's incredible. Young Master Sun, your Xuande censer is absolutely stunning. The glaze is full and round, the opening is even. Tsk tsk, with this kind of condition, how did you acquire it?"
"Indeed, congratulations, Young Master Sun. Your private collection has gained another treasure, truly enviable!"
"Young Master Sun, your discerning eye is simply superb. If I had your vision, I would have become rich long ago, haha..."
"..."
A chorus of fawning compliments filled the air.
A fat man, surrounded by the crowd, chuckled proudly and said, "It's actually quite simple. I just throw money at it. If I don't buy cheap stuff, I won't end up with fakes, right?"
"Haha, Young Master Sun, what you say is truly a golden maxim."
"I admire you the most, Young Master Sun. You're always so direct with your words, it puts us to shame!"
"..."
"This fat man is Sun Mingen."
Gu Zian whispered, then strode forward with a laugh, saying, "My dear Young Master Sun, what good stuff have you acquired again? I've come specifically to feast my eyes!"
"Oh, Young Master Gu is here?"
Sun Mingen parted the crowd and strode forward, warmly shaking Gu Zian's hand.
"Haha, welcome, welcome. Young Master Gu, you are a rare visitor. Actually, it's nothing much, just spent tens of millions on a few small items, not worthy of Young Master Gu's refined taste!"
"Let me take a look..."
Gu Zian played along, catering to his preferences.
Sun Mingen felt greatly honored. Holding Gu Zian's hand, he led him towards the central display stand. "Of course, of course. I'll be your guide, Young Master Gu. Let's look at this one first. A Ru ware celadon glaze washer, acquired for eight million. Give me your expert opinion..."
The Gu family and the Sun family were both families with over a hundred years of history. However, compared to their heritage and family reputation, the Sun family was significantly inferior. They had only re-emerged in the last twenty to thirty years, otherwise, they wouldn't even catch the Gu family's eye.
The Gu family could be called a distinguished clan, but the Sun family could not!
Gu Zian and Sun Mingen exchanged pleasantries with enthusiasm, creating a lively atmosphere.
Chen Fan, however, did not follow. With his hands behind his back, he began to survey the various collectibles displayed in the hall.
At a glance, they all appeared to be genuine antiques.
However, for the most part, their condition was rather mediocre, not even considered fine pieces among similar antiques.
This was likely the tuition fee paid by the wealthy young master Sun Mingen. The sellers dared not sell him fakes, but these genuine pieces in less-than-perfect condition would certainly not be cheap.
"Sir, please have some water. If you need anything, please feel free to call us."
A young and beautiful maidservant approached and offered Chen Fan a cup of hot water.
Sun Mingen's hospitality was once again evident.
Of course, this hospitality might simply stem from his fondness for being flattered by his guests.
Chen Fan accepted the hot water and slowly examined Sun Mingen's private museum.
There were many items, but very few of them were truly exquisite.
Soon, Chen Fan's gaze fell upon a piece of calligraphy hanging on the wall.
His eyes gradually narrowed.
This was Huang Tingjian's "Cold Food Festival Poem."
Huang Tingjian was a master calligrapher of the Song Dynasty. Any piece of his that circulated in the world was worth a fortune.
This particular piece held some interest.
"See anything?"
A clear voice suddenly sounded from the side.
Chen Fan turned his head and saw a woman dressed in a beige trench coat, tall and slender, with a delicate and beautiful face.
He shifted his gaze back to the "Cold Food Festival Poem" and casually said, "The calligraphy is good."
"Just good calligraphy?"
The woman's eyes sparkled with intelligence as she smiled. "Here, it's just you and me appreciating Young Master Sun's collection. Everyone else is just joining the fun, trying to butter up Young Master Sun."
Chen Fan uttered an "oh."
The woman, seemingly bored, continued, "Is this a genuine work by Huang Tingjian?"
"Fake!" Chen Fan didn't seem bothered by her interruption and casually replied, "However, the person who imitated Huang Tingjian's genuine work was a master calligrapher in his own right. There's no trace of artificiality, and he formed his own style. It's quite rare!"
"Oh, I only knew it was fake. I didn't expect it to have such a backstory. Do you know who the imitator was?"
The woman asked curiously.
"I do," Chen Fan nodded, but did not elaborate.
The woman waited for a moment, but receiving no answer, she became slightly annoyed. "Who wrote this forgery? Do tell."