Reborn As Super Heiress

Chapter 445: Chapter 441: Qin Lianshan

”It is said that the Hidden Mist technique not only prevents one from seeing the true nature of things but also provides good protection to the items it conceals.”

”However, this concealment method is very troublesome to implement. It requires many rare materials and a special recipe, which is rumored to have been lost during the Ming Dynasty. I never imagined that in my lifetime, I would actually get to see such a thing.”

Elder Qin, while examining the ”Li Duanduan Drawing” in his hands, said with emotion:

”Us old fools were not discerning enough and were mistaken. If it weren’t for that sharp-eyed girl, such a fine painting would have been ruined by that stubborn mule!”

After Elder Qin finished speaking, he did not forget to give Elder Wu a sidelong glance. Elder Wu chuckled twice, scratching his head awkwardly before sheepishly looking at Elder Yu and stammering:

”Old brothers, since this painting isn’t fake, about the matter we discussed before...”

”Weren’t you going to tear it up? And now you’re eagerly hoping it can be exchanged for money to treat your granddaughter’s illness? I’m no longer interested in the painting, you can keep it for yourself,” Elder Qin said coldly, without even looking at Elder Wu.

Elder Wu’s face suddenly changed, and he pleaded urgently:

”Hey, Elder Qin, why are you going back on our agreement? How can you not want such a fine painting after I offered to sell it to you? If you think it’s too expensive, I can lower the price a bit more, okay? Just do me this favor, will you? My granddaughter is waiting on this life-saving money, and as a grandfather, you can’t just stand by and watch her die.”

Elder Qin looked at Elder Wu as if he were looking at an imbecile: ”Are you stupid? Why would you sell such a fine painting? Keep it for your granddaughter’s dowry! Have you forgotten? Just now, Professor Ma bet with the young lady. He lost, and now he’s footing the bill for your granddaughter’s one million surgery!”

Elder Qin’s words reminded everyone present, and they all looked towards Ma Liwen.

Ma Liwen had been so sure the painting was a fake, he even boasted that he would buy the ”Li Duanduan Drawing” for five thousand yuan.

Now that Huo Sining had uncovered the painting, Ma Liwen’s face alternated between shades of green and white, his mouth opened and closed, but he was at a loss for words.

”Professor Ma, I hope you will keep your promise. I don’t think you would want to tarnish Elder Lu’s reputation, would you?”

Huo Sining looked at Ma Liwen disdainfully. The man really lacked integrity, being so loud and brash before but now completely silent, not even uttering a word after he had been proven wrong.

”I... I don’t know what you’re talking about! When I said this painting was a fake, I naturally meant the imitation on the top layer, not the one underneath. If you put it that way, you didn’t win, and I didn’t lose!”

Ma Liwen argued for a few sentences, then suddenly turned and dashed out, quickly disappearing from everyone’s sight.

Damn, that guy is truly shameless. Indeed, there is no one more invincible than he who is utterly lowly. He flaunted victory like there was no end, but when he lost, he dodged his debts and ran away. Just how low can his integrity go!

Huo Sining raged inwardly, seeing Ma Liwen run off and immediately feeling frustrated.

”Don’t worry, he can’t escape this debt!”

Ouyang Jun knew exactly what Huo Sining was thinking, and patted her shoulder, smiling with a sly expression.

Under the introduction of Ouyang Jun, Huo Sining finally found out that this Elder Qin was named Qin Lianshan, and he was none other than Ouyang Jun’s maternal grandfather, Qin Tian’s own grandfather.

What made Huo Sining even more astonished was the fact that Elder Qin was also the president of the Jade Association, and the other few were also senior members of the Imperial Capital Jade Association, with significant positions within the association.

Huo Sining greeted each of them in turn, and after the incident just now, the members of the Jade Association didn’t put on airs but were instead extremely friendly. It was clear they had a very good impression of Huo Sining.

Elder Qin was especially interested in Huo Sining; in his view, whether it was stone gambling or treasure appraisal, girls generally fell somewhat short - it wasn’t that they lacked insight, but they just didn’t have the same boldness.

For example, he knew some young ladies in his circle who were decent at playing with antiques; trifling with minor stuff was all right, but when it came down to major events, they were basically clueless about everything.

However, Huo Sining had shown herself to be fearless in the face of danger just now, and even more, she was rational and logical, with a strong and assertive speaking manner. This impressed Elder Qin quite a bit, so he looked at Huo Sining with a smile and asked out of curiosity,

”So you are the closed-door disciple that old guy Zhou Shitao took on a while ago, right? You’re pretty amazing to be so adept when you’ve been under his tutelage for less than a month, aren’t you?”

Huo Sining felt somewhat embarrassed; she wasn’t that great, but because she had a cheating tool, she could see through the surface of the counterfeit to what was underneath.

Of course, she would never admit to this and could only evade the heavier issues with a vague and perfunctory response,

”I originally just wanted to make Professor Ma give up out of difficulty, but he wasn’t fooled at all, so I had no choice but to push the duck onto the shelf. Honestly, I was just bluffing and had no confidence whatsoever.”

To Elder Qin and the others, Huo Sining’s words sounded modest. They had all examined the painting too, but none had noticed the problem, yet this young lady effortlessly saw through it, making them feel inferior with their supposed expertise.

Elder Qin didn’t notice the perfunctory nature of Huo Sining’s response; his gaze lingered on her, and he suddenly remarked with a sigh of realization: ”No wonder...”

No wonder that old fellow Zhou Shitao had been looking for a suitable disciple for years and finally took a fancy to this young girl, taking her on so publicly as his closed-door disciple.

Calm and composed, decisive in action, and with clear judgment, such an excellent seedling was appealing not only to Zhou Shitao but even to himself.

”Gu Xu has found a partner, so you guys should hurry up as well. Once all of you are married and settled, we old folks can finally rest easy!”

Elder Qin took a discreet look at Gu Xu and Huo Sining and quietly nodded. Although the girl’s background wasn’t high, her talent and nature were commendable. He viewed her more favorably than the fragile young ladies of the Imperial Capital. The second young master of the Gu Family had a good eye for choosing a wife; no wonder he could control such a big conglomerate.

Upon hearing Elder Qin’s words, Qin Tian’s face immediately fell; his grandfather really had a knack for touching on the touchiest of subjects, turning the conversation towards him out of the blue, truly caught in the crossfire even when lying low.

The hearts of both bachelors, Qin Tian and Ouyang Jun, took a ten thousand-point hit, and they looked at the lovey-dovey couple before them with mournful eyes.

Huo Sining pursed her lips with a smile, and was just about to speak in their defense, when suddenly and at that moment, another bachelor, Song Hui, barged in energetically, asking as he walked into the room, ”What are you all talking about?”

Ouyang Jun and Qin Tian inwardly sensed trouble, and their eyes angrily glared at Song Hui in unison.

Unaware of what he had walked into, Song Hui was puzzled while Elder Qin switched into nagging mode, beginning his marital chant,

”I’m telling you guys, it’s time to get it together, stop fooling around all the time, you...” Here, a thousand words are omitted...