Chapter 23: Reunion with Zhou Huan

  As soon as I knew the other's identity, I immediately became like a deflated balloon, and my whole body started trembling. Liangzi and Liu Bao were slightly better off, but they weakly hid their kitchen knives behind them. As an ordinary citizen, I didn't know how to react either.

  "How about it? Name a price! I've decided on this painting." Zhang Zhuang said again, seeing that we didn't react.

  I think this time we're beat, just a few ordinary people like us have no need to compete with them, Zhang Zhuang has money and power, and is also considered a figure who can make it rain in this area, if not, we can only admit defeat, if they turn against us, we may not even get a penny.

  I was just about to speak when I felt someone tug at me from behind, and then I saw Liangzi take two steps forward and say: "Zhang Ge, it's not that the brothers are unwilling to sell, but this painting of ours has already been entrusted to a friend for auction. It's too late to stop it now. If you want it, you can go bid on it yourself when the time comes."

  Liang Zigang finished speaking, and I felt that Zhang Zhuang's eyes suddenly became much sharper. He immediately asked: "Auction... where was the auction entrusted to?"

  "Wanbao Auction House, it was just reported today, so... sorry about that, Zhang Ge." Liang Ziblack said with a dark face.

  I suddenly feel that Liangzi is really not just a troublemaker, in this situation he seems to have more initiative than me, it seems that his family situation has some influence.

  Zhang Zhuang stared at Liangzi for a while, then said to us with great displeasure: "Since it's the goods of Wanbao Auction House, I won't break the rules either. It seems that I underestimated you guys. Well, let's just meet at the auction."

  After he finished speaking, he turned around and got on the car, surrounded by the crowd and whizzing away. At this moment, I felt like I had made another turn in the Ghost Gate, seemingly a few simple conversations, but actually there was danger at any time. I was really afraid that Zhang Zhuang would get angry earlier, if it were true, I'm afraid we would have to shed blood again.

  We waited until the other car was out of sight, then we walked back to the restaurant. Lao Lu said with a smile: "Still, Brother Liang is not tempted by beauty, but we must be careful, offending these people will not bring us good fortune in the future."

  Li Zidong lit a cigarette and said seriously, "It's not necessarily that we have to be afraid of them. We're not easy to bully either. If all else fails, I'll bother my old man again. Alright, alright, let's not talk about it anymore. Hurry up and take the photo and send it over. It seems like this time we can't avoid selling it."

  I fully understood Liangzi's meaning, so I patted him on the shoulder and gave him some encouragement. Then I told Liu Bao to quickly take a photo, which we could send to Mr. Tuo. If that scoundrel found out we had tricked him and came back, things would be difficult to handle.

  Liubao took many photos of the painting from front and back before sending them to Lao Lu, who soon received a call from Mr. Tuo, asking us to bring the painting to the scene in two days' time, specifically reminding Lao Lu that we must arrive on time with the painting.

  With only two days left, everyone was idle and avoided trouble. None of us went home, we all squeezed into Liubao's bedroom to play poker and drink beer, waiting for the auction day to go out.

  After two days, Liubao's car was finally returned. It seems that the driver arranged by Lao Er is indeed efficient, and the car has been restored to its original state in such a short period of time.

  At five o'clock that afternoon, we set off towards the auction location. The painting was still stuck to Liangzi's belly with double-sided tape. Although he felt very uncomfortable, there was no other way to ensure safety. After leaving the city, the car drove for more than half an hour before arriving at the auction site.

  I got off the car and took a look, the sign on the board read 'Wanbao Resort Villa', this should be a private club or something, decorated very beautifully, with grass, trees and spray, looking at the owner of the villa is a rich man, there is a large parking lot in front of the door, now it's packed with high-end cars of various brands.

  As everyone got off the bus, I was just thinking that our car was a bit shabby compared to others when two people who looked like service staff walked up and respectfully said to us: "May I ask which one of you is Mr. Qiu Ye?"

  "I am..." I stepped forward and replied.

  The waiter smiled and looked at me before saying: "We have been waiting for a long time, please follow me." After finishing speaking, he led the way into the villa.

  We didn't say a word, and followed the waiter in. I found that the interior of this villa was really not ordinary luxury, with all kinds of equipment available. In the middle was a corridor, next to which was an artificial lake. I thought to myself, these rich people really know how to enjoy themselves. This place can satisfy any service you want as long as you're willing to pay for it.

  After walking a certain distance with the service staff, we entered what looked like a dining hall. It was a two-story rectangular building with transparent upper and lower floors. On the first floor, there were about a dozen tables placed along the wall. The layout of the second floor was similar to that of the first floor, but it was clearly much more upscale. If you look down from the second floor, the view must be very broad.

  The walls around the room were hung with all sorts of colorful placards, some were porcelain vases, some were incense burners and other things, while the largest and most eye-catching one was the painting on our bodies. It seems that this painting is indeed not small, it should be the finale of this auction without a doubt.

  As we followed the waiter to the second floor, I found that all the rooms here were semi-enclosed private rooms. Each room's door was replaced with a curtain, which means if you sit inside the room, people on both sides can't see you, but if you stick your head out to look at the first floor, you'll be exposed in front of others.

  The waiter stopped in front of a private room directly opposite the gate, bowed and gestured an invitation to us. I didn't hesitate, smiled at him and pushed open the door curtain to enter. Inside the private room, there was an ancient eight-immortal table, four taishi chairs, and two beautiful women wearing cheongsam dresses standing respectfully on both sides.

  When we came in, one of the beauties immediately pushed the armchair back a bit and smiled invitingly for us to take a seat.

  The service here is impeccable, we were all clearly new to this kind of place except for Liu Bao. Liangzi was probably being his usual lecherous self, staring at the waitress's long legs with eyes wide open. I quickly gave him a tap to calm him down, not just because it was embarrassing but also because today is a serious business trip and the outcome is completely unpredictable. If we get kicked out by security for harassing the staff that would be a disaster.

  Then the four of us sat down stiffly, and soon the door curtain was opened. Someone brought in a pot of tea and four snacks. A beautiful woman came forward to pour tea for us. Liangzi quickly stood up and smiled humbly, saying: "Oh my, this is so embarrassing, I'll do it myself." As he spoke, he went to grab the teapot from the girl's hand, but in reality, he was trying to touch her hand. I got angry and coughed loudly, and only then did he reluctantly sit back down.

  Just after finishing the first cup of tea, the door curtain was lifted again and a sixty or seventy-year-old man with a ruddy complexion walked in. His eyes scanned us all and he clasped his fists in greeting: "My surname is Wan. Due to being busy with things, I didn't personally welcome you esteemed guests. Please forgive me, haha, please contain your anger."

  I saw this man in a Tang suit, with the appearance of a businessman, and also surnamed Wan, he must be the boss here, so I quickly stood up and smiled: "Boss Wan, you're too polite, it was Mr. Tuo who helped us through the process before, we only came to visit today, it's really our fault..."

  The old master looked at me with a very appreciative expression and said, "This must be Mr. Qiu Ye, right? Good, good... young people are indeed promising, I wonder if Mr. Qiu Ye has brought that treasure painting together?"

  At this time, I gave Liangzi a wink, and saw Liangzi walk up to Boss Wan, unzip his jacket and expose his belly.

  Mr. Wan was taken aback by the tape all over him, and then immediately reacted with a smile: "This... is necessary, it's necessary to be extra cautious with such precious things. Since everyone has arrived, please take a seat for a moment, I'll go attend to other guests, excuse me."

  Liang Zi saw him leave and quickly put his clothes back on. A beautiful woman behind him seemed unable to hold it in, covering her mouth as she burst out laughing.

  I'm also embarrassed to death, after seeing Mr. Wan leave, I saw that our door curtain was lifted and hung on both sides, with three burly men standing on each side of the door with their hands behind their backs, thinking that they must be afraid we would run away, it seems this place is not simple at all.

  In our position, we don't need to go out of the package room, and we can clearly see every person who comes in. We also don't know what process it is, so we sit down and continue drinking tea. At this time, we see wave after wave of people starting to walk in, some three or five people, some seven or eight people. These people seem to be quite familiar with each other, politely greeting each other before finding their seats to drink tea. It seems that everyone has their own specific position, as there is no service staff leading the way.

  People kept going in, and before long the first floor was almost full. I had been watching but hadn't seen a single familiar face, and none of these people seemed to be heading up to the second floor either. Just as I was wondering about this, there was a commotion at the entrance, and then Mr. Takada came in supporting that Japanese old man, Yamamoto Toshi, followed by over a dozen men dressed in uniform, each one looking spirited and alertly scanning their surroundings.

  Mr. Tak and Yamamoto Toshi made a slight bow as they entered, as if knowing we were there, and their eyes met ours at the same time. Then Yamamoto Toshi bowed very politely to us, and was supported slowly up to the second floor, entering the second private room on our right side. The remaining companions lined up neatly outside the door on both sides, and soon a waiter brought tea, but their door curtain was closed.

  I was peeping through the door curtain at them when I heard Liangzi shouting loudly, "Ah ah look, the fox spirit, the fox spirit has also arrived."

  What the heck is this fox spirit? I immediately looked towards the door, and saw Zhou Huan walking in. She was wearing a tight-fitting dress that showed off her curves, and beside her was the black-faced captain, followed by several team members I had never seen before.

  Zhou Huan and Hei Lian Dui Zhang also clearly saw me, Hei Lian Dui Zhang glanced at me and then looked away, but Zhou Huan smiled at me with that captivating smile of hers and nodded slightly in my direction. I even vaguely felt like this woman was giving me a sly glance, thinking to myself how she had also come here, could it be that she too wanted this painting...