Chapter 32 Shoddy Workmanship
As Yang Long's voice fell, a murmur of discussion erupted in the hall.
"What? Yang Long actually got the 'Chuguan Tu' painting?"
"I heard it was worth at least 1.5 million! I was wondering which rich man would spend that much on an old, worn-out painting. Turns out it's Young Master Yang."
"The Yang family is indeed wealthy, a second-tier family in Qingzhou City with considerable financial power. Liu Xin marrying into the Yang family is a great benefit for the entire Liu family."
"Absolutely, the Liu family might even soar to new heights."
Envious whispers filled the air.
Liu Xin, hearing these comments, felt immensely proud.
She glanced at Chen Yang and Liu Ran, smirking, "Chen Yang, what gift did you bring Grandma? Oh, you didn't buy anything, did you? That would be so embarrassing for Liu Ran! Even though Liu Ran is an ugly duckling, you still need to show some effort if you want to marry her. Even a gift worth a few thousand yuan would suffice."
The Liu family relatives snickered.
"Exactly, not bringing a gift at all shows that Liu Ran is worthless."
"Liu Ran used to be passable, but now disfigured, she's truly hideous. No wonder Chen Yang doesn't want to spend money on a gift."
"It's just fate! Liu Xin has good fortune, finding someone like Yang Long, a prominent young master. As for Liu Ran, she's truly destined for a lifetime of poverty and obscurity."
Liu Ran lowered her head, hearing these remarks.
Chen Yang's brow furrowed.
He let out a cold laugh, stepped forward, and declared loudly, "I also brought a gift. Today, we are officially announcing to all relatives that Liu Ran and I are married. Therefore, a gift is essential. And the gift I've brought is also the 'Chuguan Tu' painting by He Peng."
As Chen Yang finished speaking, the entire hall buzzed with excitement.
Many people stood up and gathered around the table of the Liu family matriarch.
It wasn't unusual to receive gifts.
But now, the two new grandsons-in-law had brought the same gift!
This was indeed unusual!
It was an ancient painting.
Only one could be genuine; the other must be a fake!
With so many people watching, the one who presented a fake would face immense embarrassment.
Chen Yang produced a simple cylindrical tube from his back and placed it on the table.
Yang Long blinked, his expression initially flustered, but then he burst into laughter.
He looked at Chen Yang, pointed at the tube on the table, and roared with laughter, "Chen Yang, you're such a disgrace! It would be better if you didn't bring a gift than to bring a fake painting! Do you know what this painting is? It's the 'Chuguan Tu' by the great Song Dynasty painter He Peng, bearing the emperor's seal! How dare you, a mere delivery man, try to buy this painting as a gift!"
Liu Xin, proudly clinging to Yang Long's arm, sneered, "Chen Yang, you're really not improving. You used to be unambitious, just drifting along. Now you've even learned to deceive and pretend to be rich! Look at the tube for your painting, it looks like something you bought for three yuan at a roadside stall!"
Loud guffaws of ridicule erupted from the surrounding guests.
Even Liu Ran couldn't remain seated.
She hadn't expected Chen Yang to bring such a gift.
Liu Ran knew that Chen Yang couldn't afford a genuine ancient painting.
Yet, both of them had brought the same ancient painting!
Not wanting Chen Yang to be humiliated in front of everyone, Liu Ran nervously tugged at his arm and whispered, "Chen Yang, maybe we should just... just leave."
"No need!" Chen Yang quietly held Liu Ran's delicate hand and smiled, "Today, we're not going anywhere. We'll have the banquet right here. Ran'er, just stay quietly by my side."
Seeing the calm in Chen Yang's eyes, Liu Ran's heart warmed slightly.
She then felt even more reassured. After all, no matter how much others ridiculed him, Chen Yang was her legal husband.
She would stand firmly by his side.
Liu Ran nodded and stepped back behind Chen Yang.
Chen Yang's expression was impassive. He glanced at Yang Long and Liu Xin opposite him and sneered, "I never expected that the esteemed Young Master Yang would be so stingy as to not even buy a real painting. Giving Grandma a fake painting clearly shows you think the Liu family are all blind and can't tell it's a fake."
Yang Long's face turned pale. He glared at Chen Yang and sneered, "Nonsense! How could mine be fake! You, a delivery man, must have bought a fake from a roadside stall!"
"Exactly!" Liu Xin chimed in with a cold laugh, impatiently adding, "Chen Yang, your thick skin is getting thicker by the day. How could my Long Ge buy a fake painting to fool Grandma on such an important day? Only you, being broke but trying to show off, heh, how ridiculous."
Chen Yang directly unrolled Yang Long's painting and spread it on the table.
Yang Long was extremely nervous. He had indeed planned to buy a painting yesterday, but first, it had been bought by someone else, and second, it was too expensive. He figured a counterfeit worth tens of thousands would suffice, as no one would pay much attention anyway.
But he hadn't expected Chen Yang to unroll it.
Chen Yang lightly brushed his finger over the painting and said, "Young Master Yang's painting looks quite new. Judging by the texture of the canvas, it's clearly modern fiber paper that has been deliberately aged with charcoal. The craftsmanship is also poor, too crude. Anyone can tell it's a faux antique.
"Furthermore, while this painting looks identical to the real 'Chuguan Tu,' the brushwork and colors are subpar. He Peng was renowned for his grandeur and power. His style was simple yet magnificent, and this sense of majestic scenery was conveyed through color.
"In addition, the signature and seals are clearly faked.
"Overall, Young Master Yang, this fake painting likely cost you no more than twenty thousand yuan, right?
"You've always claimed to be the heir of the Yang family, yet you're so cheap on such an occasion! Even if you were unwilling to spend 1.5 million on the real piece, you should have at least spent a hundred thousand on a high-quality replica, something that couldn't be easily detected.
"You're treating Grandma and all the relatives as if they were blind and illiterate."
Chen Yang's voice was not loud, and his pace was unhurried.
However, every syllable and sound carried weight.
His words instantly spread throughout the hall.
Everyone who heard Chen Yang's analysis nodded in agreement!
"This Yang Long probably really thinks the Liu family are all illiterate and don't understand ancient paintings."
"Haha, presenting a fake painting as an engagement gift on such an occasion clearly shows the Yang family doesn't value this daughter-in-law much."
"How ironic that Liu Xin thought she had hitched herself to a phoenix!"
"Heh heh heh, this is truly laughable now."
Yang Long was rendered speechless by Chen Yang's retort.
He couldn't understand how Chen Yang, a lowly delivery man, could analyze ancient paintings with such expertise!
Liu Xin, hearing the surrounding mockery, was furious.
She abruptly snatched the painting Chen Yang had brought and shrieked, "Who do you think you are, Chen Yang! You're a worthless delivery man, and you dare to critique Brother Long's gift! Let me see what you've brought! Your painting is probably not even worth two hundred yuan!"
As she spoke, Liu Xin fiercely pulled at Chen Yang's painting...