Period drama: Old Cao's carefree life

Chapter 143 Make a good relationship
"You little rascal, all you ever think about is my meager fortune," Lord Rui scolded with a laugh, then gave the servant a meaningful look.

Soon, a tray covered with a high-domed brocade cloth was brought out.

Prince Rui gently lifted the brocade cloth, revealing a blue and white porcelain vase.

Cao Weida's eyes were immediately drawn to it, his gaze filled with admiration and affection.

Is this the blue and white porcelain from the imperial kilns of Jingdezhen during the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty? It's absolutely gorgeous!
This is the artistic legacy passed down from our ancestors!
When it comes to aesthetic judgment, we really can't question our ancestors in any way!
"Grandpa Rui, may I take a look at it?"

"Of course, but we have to be careful. This porcelain is precious and fragile, so we have to be careful. Money is secondary; it would be such a pity if it got chipped or broken."

"Don't worry, I will be careful." Cao Weida nodded quickly. Porcelain and the like are fragile, so it was only right for Old Master Rui to remind him. He naturally didn't feel dissatisfied.

If he were to accidentally bump or damage such a treasure, the money involved would be secondary; he would feel guilty, as it would be a desecration of his ancestors!

I carefully picked up the porcelain bottle and gently felt the texture of the porcelain.

He felt that the touch was delicate and pure, as smooth and silky as touching silk.

The tire is of moderate thickness, giving it a substantial weight when held in the hand, and it has a stable center of gravity.

Its colors are elegant and profound, vibrant and eye-catching, with distinct layers, making it irresistible to him.

He knew nothing about antiques, but he simply believed that good things were good things.
"It's so beautiful!" Cao Weida couldn't help but exclaim.

Then, he didn't know how to praise her anymore.
"Haha." Master Fan couldn't help but burst into laughter, "I thought you were going to come up with some kind of boastful word, but all you said was 'good-looking'?"

Prince Rui couldn't help but laugh, but neither of them showed the slightest disdain. On the contrary, Prince Rui admired Cao Weida's frankness even more.

Some people, once they gain power, always like to show off, pretending to know everything and talking big, but they don't realize that in the eyes of outsiders, they are nothing more than clowns trying their best to show off and demonstrate how capable they are.

On the contrary, being open and honest, admitting what you don't know and what you like, is an attitude that others admire more.

“It’s alright if you don’t understand, Fan Wu, you can help Cao’er take a look.”

"Alright, since you've spoken, I'll share my humble opinion. But I must say, my abilities are limited, so please don't laugh at me if I'm wrong. That's all I'm capable of."

"Master Cao, please place the porcelain on the table."

There's a rule in the world of antiques: porcelain should not be handled by anyone else. Although Cao Wei Da knew nothing about antiques, he was still aware of this rule, thanks to the information explosion of later generations.

He gently placed the porcelain on the table, adopting an attitude of attentive listening.

In the original work, Master Fan lacked systematic knowledge of appraisal and had a shallow understanding of the age and craftsmanship of antiques, often being misled by superficial appearances.

In addition, his pride and boastfulness, and his tendency to always consider himself an "expert," made him prone to subjective judgments during appraisals. He even lied to save face. Ultimately, it was for this reason that he was framed by Lan Yigui and, for the sake of his last shred of dignity, ended his ill-fated life with a single shot.

However, as a descendant of the Manchu people, Master Fan had been exposed to antiques since childhood and had a certain understanding of their basic styles and common patterns. When it came to professional terms, he was quite knowledgeable.

He picked up the porcelain and began to boast:
“Master Cao, look at this porcelain. The body is smooth with almost no graininess, and the glaze is thick, lustrous, and natural, as warm and smooth as jade, with absolutely no orange peel glaze texture.”

"The patterns are made with cobalt blue, which diffuses naturally and evenly. The darker areas have a black tin sheen and are recessed deep into the body of the body."

"Overall, she looks youthful yet graceful, elegant and beautiful."

"Yongle imperial porcelain inherited the legacy of the Yuan dynasty and paved the way for the Xuande dynasty. It produced a variety of exquisite pieces, which are still highly valued today. It is a masterpiece unlike any other in history. Its ancestor was the Song dynasty, and its brilliance is truly remarkable." These words are highly revered!

"It's only because Prince Rui is kind and benevolent that such good things would not easily be released."

Papapapa~~
Prince Rui clapped his hands lightly and said with a kind smile, "Fan Wu, you've still got some sense. Only you spoke up, otherwise, I really wouldn't have been willing to take him out."

These Manchu bannermen valued hierarchy above all else. In front of Prince Rui, Fifth Master Fan dared not be presumptuous. He humbly cupped his hands and said in a low voice, "Prince Rui, you flatter me. In front of you, I am just a novice and far inferior to you."

“I’ve already agreed on the price with Master Cao. Your price is fair, so I didn’t try to bargain. Nine thousand silver dollars, Master Cao has already agreed.”

Prince Rui did not reply immediately, but instead shut out those around him and said, "You all go out. Fan Wu, you go out too. I want to talk to Cao'er about some other business."

Master Fan raised an eyebrow, winked at Cao Weida, and stood up with a smile, saying, "Alright, I'll wait outside first. Just call me if you need anything."

As he spoke, he led all the servants out of the house, and thoughtfully closed the door behind him.

After everyone had left, Cao Weida said, "Master Rui, what are your instructions?" Master Rui looked at the Buddhist beads in his hand, remained silent for a moment, and then said, "I dare not presume to give instructions. To be honest, when Fan Wu first came to talk about this matter, I did not intend to sell these family assets. Although my Prince's family is not as prosperous as before, we still have some money left over thanks to the blessings of our ancestors."

Cao Weida nodded. He knew a little about the Rui Prince's mansion. Old Master Rui was one of the few Manchu nobles who had not squandered his wealth.

In addition to this mansion and those antiques, there are also two shops on the interface. The business is not particularly good, but it can cover the daily expenses of the mansion without any problem.

Although Old Master Rui's eyes were cloudy, his mind was clear.
"I can give you this treasure without asking for a single penny, in exchange for a promise from you, Master Cao."

He even changed his address back to 'Master Cao,' which showed his serious attitude.

But Cao Wei Da didn't buy into his approach.
"Old Master Rui, I'm not short of money. Although I, Cao Weida, am no big deal, you think you can exchange a mere nine thousand silver dollars for a promise from me? Heh."

Cao Wei Da didn't consider himself a good person, but he was definitely not someone who would easily break his promise.

The old man clearly understood his current importance; otherwise, if you put an ordinary person in his shoes, would the old man still make the same choice?
It's all just a matter of treating people differently based on who they are.

"I think we should forget about it. I'll pay for it."

“Young people are just too impatient,” Old Master Rui said. Although he was a little disappointed that Cao Weida wasn’t interested, he was also more at ease.

After all, those who don't make promises lightly are the ones who are trustworthy and keep their word.

If such a paltry sum of money could easily persuade Cao Wei to agree, then Cao Wei should be more concerned about whether this deal is actually worthwhile.

"Don't rush, if the price isn't enough, we can talk about it again."

Cao Wei leaned back and said with great interest, "Oh, then I'd really like to hear what kind of conditions you're going to offer."

"What if I added my second daughter-in-law, two boxes of antique paintings and calligraphy, and a two-courtyard siheyuan?"

"Don't worry, my second son died young, and his wife is still a virgin. She's promised to you as a concubine. Those two boxes of antique paintings and calligraphy and the two courtyard houses are her dowry. What do you think?"

Cao Weida couldn't help but laugh, "Old Master Rui is really generous. He's giving away gifts, antiques and paintings, and even a house. And that person is your second daughter-in-law. With such a huge investment, I dare not accept it without feeling guilty. I'm afraid it would be too much for me. I think I'd better pass."

He considered himself a greedy and lustful man, and naturally coveted Ru Qiulan, who looked very much like Feng Lazi, but he would never make a promise for a woman.

Even if Ru Qiulan's dowry is exceptionally generous, it won't work.

Anyway, once Grandpa Rui dies, Ru Qiulan will be kicked out, and then we can use some tricks to take her down.

In this way, not only can he not make any promises, but he can also win the heart of the beauty and take the 'dowry' she takes with her.

Old Master Rui's heart skipped a beat. He could tell that Cao Weida wasn't pretending; he genuinely had no interest in the conditions he had offered.

This made him feel a little frustrated, and he chuckled dryly, "Look how impatient you are. Why don't you listen to what I have to say before making a decision?"

Cao Wei Da shrugged indifferently, "Then you go ahead and say it, I'm all ears."

"Well, this actually involves family scandals, and I didn't want to air them in public."

Say it or not, I don't want to listen!

Cao Weida was initially quite interested in what Master Fan said, but now it seems he was right. Old Master Rui is not a kind person; he's using his second daughter-in-law as a bargaining chip.

Therefore, Cao Wei Da was somewhat displeased, and his expression became somewhat impatient.

Although I'm not exactly busy with a million things to do every day, my time is still very precious, you know? Who has time to waste here with you? Wouldn't it be better for me to spend this time with my woman?
I don't know that my two concubines have been clamoring to have children for us lately?
Old Master Rui noticed Cao Weida's impatience and dared not waste any more words, so he quickly said:

"To be honest, my health is deteriorating rapidly, and I'm afraid my days are numbered."

"The nature of my eldest son and daughter-in-law... if I close my eyes, this entire Prince Rebecca..."

"As for me, I'm not using Ru Qiulan as a bargaining chip. She's been by my side for so many years, I've long treated her like my own daughter, but my eldest son and daughter-in-law have always..."

“If I leave, Rulan’s life will become difficult. My first wish is to find Rulan a reliable man, and the second is to establish a good relationship for my Rui family.”

"Just a good deed?" Cao Wei Da smiled brightly. "Then the cost of your good deed is quite high."

(End of this chapter)