The Versatile Master Artist

”They are classmates in the same school, and it seems the grades given by the teacher are also quite similar.”

The bald man was always puzzled.

He couldn’t figure out why Brother Hao had to treat Gu Weijing differently when there were so many outstanding young people.

Is it really true that flowers at home are not as fragrant as wildflowers? Does Brother Hao prefer the fiery young painters?

”Similar grades?”

Brother Hao was amused by his answer.

”Grades... What artists want aren’t grades, it’s that sudden flash of talent, that kind of divine insight, that one-in-a-million aptitude.”

Brother Hao flicked the calendar photo in his hand.

”With just this skill, even Miao Angwen isn’t qualified to carry Gu Weijing’s shoes. Probably none of the young painters in the whole of Yangon, none of them are qualified.”

”Boss, is he really that good?”

The bald man glanced at the mural photo on the calendar, his tone skeptical.

Photos inherently don’t have the expressiveness of the mural original. The bald man, who follows the route of bravery and toughness, is by no means the cultured man like Brother Hao with an art background.

Given the bald man’s current status, he no longer needs to personally hack people.

Unfortunately, his educational level has remained at the level of a street gangster.

As for using a watermelon knife on others, and throwing a couple of Thai punches, the bald man is an expert. When it comes to appreciating art... it’s really too difficult for this big gangster sir.

The bald man could only tell that the painting was ”quite powerful”.

As for how good it is, he lacks the ability to make an accurate judgment.

”Is he really that good? This is someone who can make... even Old Sir Cao Xuan, praise that not even he is as good! You may not believe my judgment, but you must believe Elder Cao’s judgment.”

Brother Hao sighed softly: ”For a young person that Master Cao Xuan values, the whole world’s art stage must pay attention to him. Such a person, how could Miao Angwen compare?”

The middle-aged man stepped in front of the three-meter-long ornamental fish tank in the box, gazing at the beautiful swimming tri-colored koi within.

”The Taisho tri-colored koi, produced in Japan, the best among the world’s wild ornamental fish. Legend has it that she’s the manifestation in the human world of the daughter of Sekkan God, who possesses both art and wisdom, according to Japanese mythology. They only live in Lake Biwa in Japan, and among a hundred thousand, there will only be one koi so brilliantly red and white, like the one in this tank.”

”That young man named Gu Weijing is like such a koi. While the other young people I’ve had my eyes on before, including Miao Angwen, were just beautifully ordinary koi.”

Brother Hao looked down at the fish tank.

”You want to tear off his arm like grilling and eating the koi fish. Ordinary koi being grilled is one thing, but grilling and eating such a treasure, don’t you think it’s a waste?”

”Understood, Brother Hao, Gu Weijing is your ornamental koi.”

The bald man understood why Brother Hao was particularly lenient with that young man.

Someone capable indeed has the capital to make others tolerant.

Just like this koi, with a market value of at least fifty thousand dollars; even the water for it is airlifted from Lake Biwa in Japan.

Not something that can compare to those inexpensive koi sold by the Yangon River for a few US cents each.

”But your koi isn’t willing to swim into the tank obediently. He doesn’t even want the Bentley. The gifts I prepared, he didn’t even take.”

The bald man pouted.

He took out a set of car keys with the shiny silver letter ”B” from his waist and placed it on the table.

”Yes, that’s the spirit, that’s the feeling. This is the true feeling of a great painter, remarkable. I really want to see his expression when he refused you, what kind of captivating artistic beauty that must be.”

Brother Hao took out a bag of fish food from beside the fish tank, crushed it into powder, seemingly indifferent to Gu Weijing’s refusal.

”Truly beautiful.”

The middle-aged man softly praised, watching the koi nibbling at the food emerging from the artificial mountain in the tank.

It’s unclear whether Brother Hao was admiring his koi, or praising Gu Weijing’s pure artist temperament.

”You want to be gentle, do you want me to increase the offer?”

The bald man’s tone was somewhat displeased.

Just a poor student, who even looked down on a Bentley, what else is needed to impress him?

A Rolls-Royce?

A seaside villa in Phuket Dao?

Even if Brother Hao liked this young man, the price is too exaggerated.

Even the works of someone like Yakai Ichiro, one of Asia’s top ten great painters, aren’t that expensive.

”No, it’s not about money. If he’s unwilling to accept the Bentley, then even if you exchange it for a Rolls-Royce or a more expensive gift, the effect will be very limited.”

Brother Hao, as if possessing mind reading ability, laughed lightly and shook his head, answering the bald man’s confusion.

”Isn’t there a way to buy him off?”

”How could there not be, it’s just that everyone has their price, we just need to find the right way to bid, you needn’t concern yourself with this for now, I’ll play with it myself.”

Brother Hao focused on feeding the fish.

He seemed to think of something suddenly and changed the topic.

”Right, that Miao Angwen, how has he been performing lately?”

”Just like a normal newcomer, neither good nor bad, his understanding is okay. Currently learning the art forgery techniques of the post-Renaissance Milan School with an elderly painter, and he tried painting a symbolic imitation, but it failed to meet the shipping standards and was kicked back by risk control, it still needs some polishing.”

The larger the underworld gang, the more their operation tends to be corporate-like.

Brother Hao dabbles in high-end art forgery, smuggling, and money laundering, earning real big money.

Even his subordinates involved in forgery are vetted by professional older painters to ensure quality. Fake paintings not meeting the shipping standard are sent back for rework.

They’re pursuing a quality path and can’t afford to destroy Brother Hao’s reputation.

”I don’t care about how his painting is; I want to know about the young man’s character, what are his hobbies?” the Underworld Godfather asked.

”Just like that, you should be very clear what young people who have had their hands stained with blood after taking the oath are like, Brother Hao.”

The bald man snickered.

”He likes money, likes women, likes the limelight. Just a kid. Originally planning to drop out of school, but Brother Hao, you heard that the wife of renowned artist Yakai Ichiro is running a masterclass in Fitz this year, and Miao Angwen got selected, so you let him continue his studies.”

Brother Hao has always taken good care of his younger subordinates.

Upon hearing Miao Angwen was selected for Mrs. Sakai’s masterclass, not only did he not demand him to drop out, but he also relieved him of numerous forgery learning pressures.

”But this Brother Miao, having seen the worldly splendor, finds it difficult to bear solitude now. Several times he told me he doesn’t want to attend school anymore, just wants to focus on working for Brother Hao.”

”Idiot, mud can’t be made into a wall.”

Brother Hao frowned.

Being Mrs. Sakai’s student, focusing on studies not only greatly benefits Miao Angwen’s future. Such a good opportunity is also beneficial to Brother Hao himself.

Much like how Brother Hao wants to build Gu Weijing into the national painter of Yangon to launder tons of money.

The higher Miao Angwen climbs, the more Brother Hao can leverage from him.

As for a forgery painter... it’s dispensable for Brother Hao now.

He couldn’t even hold still after earning just a bit,

truly a fate for a deadbeat slacker.

Not to mention talent and potential, even in terms of character’s calm and stability, Miao Angwen is far behind Gu Weijing.

Brother Hao’s gaze passed over the Bentley car key returned by Gu Weijing, he sighed.

”Sigh, truly you get what you pay for.”

”Tell Miao Angwen, study well with Mrs. Sakai, money and women won’t lack for him. If he can surpass Gu Weijing at Fitz’s campus recruitment, I’ll reward him thirty thousand dollars. But if he drops out on his own, I’ll throw him to feed with crocodiles.”

”Understood. If he drops out, feed him to the crocodiles.” The bald man nodded.

This was not even a hint of threat, Brother Hao has always done what he says.

Say he’ll kill your whole family, he kills your whole family. Say he’ll throw you to the crocodiles, he won’t shoot you dead, he’ll tie you up and throw you into a crocodile pond in Myanmar’s primeval jungle.

”Since he’s Gu Weijing’s classmate and likes the limelight, give him more pocket money every month, let him throw parties, ask out female classmates...”

”Boss, you want to provoke Gu Weijing to envy?”

The bald man scratched his head.

They in the underworld know this tactic very well.

Some people won’t be tempted even if you place a pile of gold in front of them, but watching someone in a similar situation begin to live lavishly after following Brother Hao, they can’t help but itch with envy.