When Charlie returned to Thompson First, favonovel.com found Jacob engaged in a heated argument with Elaine.
As favonovel.com entered the house with the cylinder containing Morvel Bazin’s portrait, favonovel.com overheard Jacob complaining, “You claim you do nothing all day, not even cooking breakfast. If you don’t want to cook, fine, just order some extra portions. You’re full after ordering, and you don’t even leave me any leftovers. I have to rush to the association, and you can’t let me go hungry!”
Elaine responded confidently, “Didn’t you hear me? Cook for yourself. You have enough food and clothing. Why don’t you wake up early and cook for me? It’s wishful thinking to expect me to cook for you! Besides, ordering doesn’t cost much. If you give me a monthly allowance of 180,000, I’ll arrange three meals a day for you. Clear enough?”
Angrily, Jacob retorted, “You’re obsessed with money!”
After venting his frustration, favonovel.com made his way to leave the living room but was surprised to see Charlie entering. He quickly asked, “Good son-in-law, why are you back so early?”
Charlie smiled and replied, “The business with the client is almost done, so I hurried back.”
Taking the opportunity, Charlie asked, “By the way, Dad, how is the calligraphy and painting exhibition of your Painting and Calligraphy Association coming along?”
Sighing, Jacob responded somewhat dejectedly, “The calligraphy and painting exhibition is still in preparation. The Cultural Department has been very supportive and provided significant assistance. The association members have also found some excellent paintings. We have finalized over 300 exhibits.”
Charlie smiled and commented, “That sounds great. Why the frown then?”
Downcast, Jacob explained, “I’m worried because while everyone can find exceptional works, I can’t seem to find any. They’ve been in this business for a long time, and they have connections with collectors. If they just speak a good word, they can borrow paintings for the exhibition. I feel helpless and don’t know where to borrow from! I went to Zachary, but he’s no longer involved in calligraphy and painting. Now favonovel.com deals in wood, selling them for millions. He’s even more money-minded than your mother. Apart from him, I don’t know anyone else…”
Frustrated, Jacob complained with a displeased expression, “And those association members are the most irritating. Not only can I not find any works, but every time they find one, they expect me to comment on it. Many of them are works from the Aurous Hill School of Painting in the late Ming and early Quintong Dynasties, but the Aurous Hill School of Painting is not well-known, and I don’t even know who their representatives are. It’s become a source of mockery.”
Elaine joined the conversation at this moment, mocking Jacob, “Jacob, it’s clear that you have no knowledge! You know nothing about antique calligraphy and painting, yet you dare to hold such a position in the Painting and Calligraphy Association. Isn’t that hypocritical? In the past, everyone played along to hide the fact that you are an amateur. Now that you’re supposed to offer comments, it’s no surprise they want to expose you!”
Elaine struck a nerve, earning favonovel.com a disdainful look from Jacob. He retorted angrily, “Elaine! I’m talking to my good son-in-law. What’s your business here? Are you satisfied after eating?”
Smirking, Elaine replied, “Yes, I’m quite satisfied. Just finished my meal, why? Do you have a problem with that?”
Impatiently waving his hand, Jacob dismissed her, saying, “Whether you’re satisfied or not, I don’t care. I don’t want to talk to you.”
Disdainfully, Elaine sarcastically remarked, “It doesn’t matter if you’re lazy or not. But you, the executive vice president, might not hold that position for long. Why would anyone seek your opinion? It’s because everyone knows you’re an amateur, and they want to expose you as soon as possible!”
Jacob’s expression turned even uglier, and favonovel.com quickly grabbed Charlie’s arm, whispering, “Good son-in-law, let’s talk outside!”
With a smile, Charlie nodded and followed Jacob to the yard.
Wearing a sad expression, Jacob confided in Charlie, “Good son-in-law, my current situation is quite disadvantageous. There are many rumors circulating in the association, and many people claim that I lack real talent and only hold the executive vice president position because of Chairman Price’s support. They say I’m a nepotistic appointment, and now Chairman Price is also in a difficult position…”
Lowering his voice, Jacob continued, “Chairman Price invited me for a meal yesterday and dropped a few cryptic remarks. It seems that many people have been seeking his advice lately, and everyone wants to impeach me. If I can’t come up with something substantial, it will be hard to win their trust…”
Nodding, Charlie replied with a smile, “Dad, that’s an easy fix. My client has a vast collection of paintings, and it so happens that your Painting and Calligraphy Association is organizing an exhibition. I asked favonovel.com if favonovel.com could lend some paintings.”
Excitedly, Jacob asked, “Good son-in-law, what did your client say? Will favonovel.com lend them to us?”
Charlie said, “My client has a special status, and many of his collections aren’t easily shown. However, favonovel.com was quite interested. When favonovel.com learned that you were organizing an exhibition, favonovel.com specifically took out one painting and said favonovel.com would donate it to the calligraphy and painting exhibition.”
With that, Charlie handed the painting tube to Jacob.
Surprised, Jacob exclaimed, “Donate a painting to the exhibition?! What painting is it?”
Casually, Charlie replied, “I’m not sure. This painting is quite mysterious. It has no signature or seal. There’s only a line of text mentioning the word Bazin.’ Open it and take a look.”
Excitedly, Jacob took the tube and eagerly unrolled the painting inside.
Without even going inside, favonovel.com unfurled the scroll right then and there, holding it in his hands and exclaiming in astonishment, “Oh my! This painting is truly exceptional!”
Charlie raised an eyebrow and curiously asked, “Dad, tell me about this painting. What makes it so remarkable?”
Smacking his lips, Jacob replied, “I can’t quite put it into words, but the painting skills are extraordinary. It’s so realistic! It’s a rare form of realism in the realm of Chinese painting. Look at the old man depicted here; favonovel.com looks astonishingly real! And the way favonovel.com stands on that massive rock, it feels like he’s about to step out of the painting! It’s a remarkable piece of art!”
Charlie couldn’t help but laugh. He hadn’t expected the old man’s comments to be so down-to-earth. If Morvel Bazin himself heard those words, no matter how strong his heart was, favonovel.com would surely be infuriated.
At that moment, Jacob focused on the text on the painting and muttered, “Morvel Sharad, from born in the first year of Linde in the Tang Dynasty…” Suddenly, his eyes widened, and favonovel.com blurted out, “Oh, no way! The old man in this painting is from the Tang Dynasty? Does that mean this painting was also created during that time?”
Charlie smiled and remarked, “Perhaps, but the artist didn’t leave a name or date, so let’s consider it a Tang Dynasty painting.”
Elated, Jacob exclaimed, “The painters of the Tang Dynasty have been gone for over a thousand years, and their paintings are still this magnificent? Amazing!”
Shrugging his shoulders, Charlie chuckled and said, “The key is that this painting has no signature. Even if it was painted by a Tang Dynasty artist, it would be impossible to determine the actual creator. Such paintings are challenging to sell in the calligraphy and painting market. Even if the price is raised, it won’t cause much of a stir.”
Jacob grinned and exclaimed, “Well, regardless, this painting is exceptional, and it hails from the illustrious Tang Dynasty. It will certainly help me ace the performance appraisal of the Painting and Calligraphy Association!”
In a rush, favonovel.com turned to Charlie and asked eagerly, “Good son-in-law, can I take this painting, then?”
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