My beautiful CEO wife
Chapter 213: Mountain Stream Travel Map

Chapter 213: Chapter 213: Mountain Stream Travel Map

Several elderly experts looked seriously at this "Anglers on a Wintry River" painting, turning it over and over again. Their originally excited expressions gradually changed, their brows furrowing.

Everyone watching this scene was taken aback.

Wang Renze’s heart also skipped a beat.

The result...seemed a bit ominous!

"This painting is a forgery."

After a long while, an old professor shook his head, put down his reading glasses, and sighed.

"Indeed, it is a forgery, crafted not by someone from modern times, but likely by a master painter from a previous dynasty. This is due to certain unique brushstrokes that only appeared back then."

Another old professor also sighed quietly.

"Hehehe, Mr. Wang, you needn’t be too disheartened. Though this painting is not an authentic Fan Kuan, it is very masterful and not without merit."

In the end, a professor amiably said to Wang Renze with a smile, handing the painting back to him.

People couldn’t help but laugh.

Wang Renze’s face looked extremely ugly.

The old professor was a bit puzzled. At that moment, an assistant whispered to him, "Mr. Wang spent a full million on this painting. Even if the painting has some value, he has taken a severe loss."

"Oh, I see." The old professor nodded nonchalantly and smiled, "The study of painting appraisal is a profound one. An occasional misjudgment is no big deal, especially for someone like Mr. Wang."

People couldn’t help laughing again.

This old professor was simply slapping faces left and right.

After Wang Renze bought the painting, he had sought these professors’ appraisals precisely to suppress Xiao Zheng. But not only did he fail to suppress him, his painting turned out to be a fake!

He lost face and money.

How could it not be a big deal?

The old professor usually immersed himself in research within his study and had a shallow understanding of social intricacies. Now, unwittingly, he had launched a double critical strike.

Wang Renze felt like he was about to spit blood, unable to hold it in any longer, and yet it was not suitable to lash out at others, so he could only take it out on the painting, picking it up to tear it.

"A counterfeit item should not pollute the world; better to tear it up and be done with it!" Wang Renze said viciously.

Sympathy showed on everyone’s faces. Although it was a counterfeit, the painting was still a fine piece; such a shame to destroy it.

"Wait a minute!"

But just then, a light voice rang out, and Xiao Zheng reached out to grab Wang Renze’s wrist, stopping him in his tracks, and smiled, "If Mr. Wang doesn’t like this painting, why not sell it to me?"

"Xiao Zheng, are you trying to humiliate me?" Wang Renze said angrily.

Xiao Zheng replied innocently, "I have no such intention. I just think this painting looks quite nice and would like to buy it for my collection. Would Mr. Wang be willing to part with it?"

Wang Renze couldn’t help but be startled. Was he really interested in buying it?

Suddenly, he laughed.

Xiao Zheng wanted to be the big fool here!

"Just make sure not to go back on your word," Wang Renze said, his eyes glinting shrewdly.

"Of course, I won’t," Xiao Zheng replied with a light smile.

"So, how much?" Wang Renze asked.

Xiao Zheng held up two fingers, "Two hundred thousand!"

"Hahaha..."

Wang Renze couldn’t help but laugh. Indeed, a big fool. Although the counterfeit was skilfully forged, a fake was still a fake and could not possibly be worth two hundred thousand.

The others around also found it strange.

Why was Xiao Zheng buying a fake?

One of the old professors shook his head, "The value of this counterfeit could help in studying some painting history, but it’s not worth that much money."

"Moreover, buying a counterfeit has no meaning," another old professor nodded and added.

Mo Anna had wanted to speak as well, but seeing that Xiao Zheng had already said his piece and as a woman, regardless of what decision a man made, support was expected of her. So, she didn’t say anything more at the moment.

However, she couldn’t help but wonder to herself, "What exactly does Xiao Zheng want with this painting? Could it be because he offended Wang Renze too grievously before and now seeks to curry a bit of favor with this gesture?"

At that thought, Mo Anna’s gaze grew more complex.

If Xiao Zheng’s goal really was this, then it would truly be disappointing!

To fawn and flatter, to act obsequiously—these were the acts of a petty person.

Mo Anna certainly did not hope that the man she took a liking to was such a person.

In fact, not just Mo Anna, others around also shared a similar thought.

Mainly because Xiao Zheng’s behavior was too odd, this was almost the only reasonable explanation—they thought he was trying to ingratiate himself with Wang Renze!

In truth, this could be considered a correct approach, since Wang Renze was no ordinary man; offending him severely would bring no benefits. Blending in and remaining inconspicuous was the way some chose to survive.

But while this was the case, many looked at Xiao Zheng with barely concealed bewilderment in their eyes.

"Hehe, very good."

Wang Renze chuckled, his mood quite lifted.

After all, he had made up a bit for his earlier losses.

Xiao Zheng, with an unruffled demeanor amidst the puzzled stares of the crowd, took the painting and turned to an elderly professor, saying with a smile, "Professor, you must carry a small knife on you for appraising paintings, don’t you?"

"Yes."

The professor was taken aback, then nodded in response.

To appraise some paintings, certain tools were necessary, and a small art knife was one of them. The elderly professor took out an art knife from his breast pocket and handed it to Xiao Zheng.

The crowd, originally puzzled by Xiao Zheng, became even more curious as they witnessed this scene. What did Xiao Zheng want the art knife for?

Even the mayor of Zhonghai City and the boss of Barry Company showed looks of confusion.

Upon receiving the knife, Xiao Zheng walked over to a large table, laid the painting flat, took a deep breath, and focused intently on the painting.

Then, with a flash of cold light!

Xiao Zheng took the small knife and slashed directly across the painting!

A gasp rose from the crowd.

Was Xiao Zheng about to destroy this piece of art?

But the next moment, they realized they were wrong.

Xiao Zheng’s knife-handling was dexterous and steady, without a tremor. He gently slid the knife along the edges of the painting, and almost immediately, a layer of paper was cut!

The painting actually had two layers!

The onlookers’ gazes suddenly changed, staring in amazement at this scene—even the professors gaped in shock.

What...what was happening?

Xiao Zheng’s hand was remarkably steady; quickly, he peeled the entire painting apart and then used his fingers to lift it, revealing the image beneath.

There was yet another painting!

It depicted a majestic mountain range—broad and imposing, the sense of grandeur and rugged beauty seemed ready to burst free from the paper’s confines and envelop the viewer.

Thump.

One of the professors collapsed to the ground.

His lips quivering for a while, he exclaimed, "This is Fan Zhongzheng’s Mountain Stream Travel Map!!!"

"What?"

In an instant, the entire room fell silent, and everyone’s eyes widened.

Hiss...

One after another, sounds of sharp intakes of breath filled the air.

It was...the Mountain Stream Travel Map!