Chapter One Hundred: The Big Shots Were Still on Their Way, Part 5

"The market value of one of my paintings is now around twenty-three million. Since we're from the same hometown, I'll knock three million off for you. You said you'd buy it at ten times the price, so I'll charge you two hundred million. Not a bit more, not a bit less."

"Why don't you just go rob someone?"

Second Brother Yang cursed outright.

A painting for more than twenty million—Yang Xiaofan really had the nerve to say it.

Yang Xiaofan took another sip of tea and said nothing else, while Qin Nuanyu could not help suppressing a laugh beside him.

It was true: for ordinary people, it was hard to imagine a painting being worth twenty-three million. Only legendary masters of the highest caliber—artists of Van Gogh's stature and other internationally renowned names—would dare command prices in that range.

But those paintings all had real collectible value.

As for Yang Xiaofan, to the average person, he was someone they had never even heard of.

Yang's father seemed to think Yang Xiaofan was teasing Second Brother Yang, so he coughed lightly and shot him a glance.

"Xiaofan, stop fooling around."

Qin Nuanyu could not hold it in any longer. She smiled and explained:

"Uncle Yang, Xiaofan isn't fooling around. He's telling the truth. The average auction price for one of his paintings really is above twenty million."

Yang's father's brow furrowed even deeper.

"Nuanyu, how are you getting in on this nonsense too?"

Qin Nuanyu smiled again.

"Uncle, I'm really not joking. If you don't believe me, ask Mr. Zhang. Since he's been to the auction house, he should know exactly what range Xiaofan's paintings usually sell for."

At that, everyone turned to stare at Zhang Shiyi.

It was obvious they were all waiting for his answer.

Everyone, including Yang's father, thought Zhang Shiyi would deny it. Unfortunately for them, Zhang Shiyi could only smile bitterly and nod.

"That's right. Mr. Yang's paintings really do average over twenty million. And recently, because the auction allotments have been reduced, the average price has climbed to around twenty-five million."

"What! Twenty-five million? For one painting? How could that be?"

Second Brother Yang blurted out a denial, only to receive a frown and a disdainful glance from Zhang Shiyi.

"What? Do you think I, the president of a major corporation, would lie to you? If you don't believe it, take the high-speed train to North River City yourself and see with your own eyes whether Mr. Yang's paintings are really worth that money. So many wealthy people across the country are chasing after them. He is now the foremost painting master in the entire nation!"

Hearing Zhang Shiyi confirm it so emphatically, everyone was completely dumbfounded.

The whole room fell so silent that even the drop of a pin would have been audible.

A painting by Yang Xiaofan could actually sell for more than twenty million?

Were they being mocked?

A painting!

Wasn't that just a piece of white paper with some colored lines painted on it?

How could it be worth that much?

At that moment, every pair of eyes fixed on Yang Xiaofan was filled with shock and confusion.

They suddenly realized that they and Yang Xiaofan were no longer on the same level.

They were like ants at the foot of a mountain, mere specks of dust.

Whereas Yang Xiaofan was a towering peak, rising into the clouds, so high they could not even see the summit.

Yang's father was stunned.

Yang's mother was stunned.

Second Brother Yang was stunned.

Yang Xiaomei was stunned.

Yang Xiaoyun was stunned too.

And everyone else felt as though, in their overwhelming shock, their souls had been driven from their bodies.

Only those who had walked along the edge of life and death could understand that sensation.

After quite a while, Zhang Shiyi spoke again.

"Mr. Yang, I don't know this village bumpkin beside me. I'm here sincerely to beg for one of your paintings, and I hope you'll grant me this wish. Whatever conditions you want, just name them."

At first, Yang Xiaofan had not planned to agree. Although the other man had truly come asking for a painting, he could not casually break the rules.

Who, after all, came asking for his paintings without sincerity?

If they were not sincere, why would they spend more than twenty million to buy one? Wouldn't that be insane?

Of course, there were also collectors who wanted them purely for their collectible value.

If he agreed to one person and broke the rules, then everyone would come begging for paintings. He would not only be driven insane by it, but it would also affect the auction house's business.

Breaking market rules was a very serious matter.

Still, the other man's fervent admiration for him, and the fact that he had so thoroughly humiliated the village chief, made Yang Xiaofan feel quite pleased.

In that case, making an exception once would not matter.

Thinking of this, he nodded.

"Fine. Since that's the case, I'll paint one for you. But since you're buying it privately and requesting it in person, my price will be a little higher than the auction house's."

Zhang Shiyi instantly flushed red with excitement and said eagerly,

"Fine, fine, no problem! I'll pay twenty-five million. Also, I recently developed a villa complex in the best location in the city, called Skyleaf Villas. I'll give you one villa there. How does that sound?"

Yang Xiaofan nodded.

"All right."

"Then I'll transfer the twenty-five million to you right now. As for the villa, you can go whenever you like. I'll have my people arrange everything for you at any time. What do you think?"

"All right!"

"Good! I'll transfer it to you right away."

Zhang Shiyi decisively transferred twenty-five million to Yang Xiaofan, leaving everyone present staring in utter disbelief.

This man had truly spent that much money just to buy one of Yang Xiaofan's paintings?

Good heavens, twenty-five million, plus a villa—nearly thirty million in all!

Thirty million!

Had this man gone mad?

That was obviously impossible. Zhang Shiyi had started with nothing and, relying on his own abilities, had risen to where he was today, becoming one of the county's handful of top-tier tycoons. Surely his mind was sharper than all the villagers here put together?

There was only one explanation.

Yang Xiaofan's paintings were truly worth that price.

At that moment, Second Uncle Yang felt utterly broken. He almost wanted to kneel in front of Yang Xiaofan and slap himself hard across the face.

Why on earth had he just been so foolishly pretentious?

Before Yang Xiaofan, he was worth less than a fart.

Yang Xiaomei was even more devastated, her heart practically bleeding.

Why?

Why had she once been so stupid as to reject a superlative, one-in-a-million, perfect husband like Yang Xiaofan?

Why?

Had her brain been filled with water?

If she could start over, she would definitely choose Yang Xiaofan!

Even if her parents beat her to death and flayed her alive, she would still marry Yang Xiaofan!

And just as everyone was reeling in shock, several more cars pulled up outside.

These cars were no less impressive than Zhang Shiyi's. They were all top-of-the-line Maybachs. Among them was even a customized, fully loaded Range Rover."