Period drama: Old Cao's carefree life

Chapter 244 Decisively Begin the Backstabbing

"Hmm? Mr. Cao, you've finished talking with your father?" Luo Mengyun stood up happily. Originally, she just wanted to go out for a walk, but after finding him who shared the same interests, she felt an urge to talk and share.

"Yes, it's all over." Cao Weida smiled from the bottom of his heart. He didn't know why, perhaps it was because of preconceived notions, but even though Luo Mengyun hadn't done anything special, he found it so pleasing to the eye.

Is this love?!

It's all that guy's fault for being so lustful! What were you thinking?!
He walked over and asked curiously, "Miss Luo, what book are you reading?"

"Look, Pushkin's poetry collection, I read it every day!"

Luo Mengyun looked at the sky with longing, "I yearn for freedom, I yearn for Pushkin's courage to not bow down in the face of life's hardships, I yearn for his optimism towards life. Just like this cage in the sky, it seems to bind us, but we must also have the courage to break free from it."

"."

You're probably being a little too artsy.
Cao Weida chuckled inwardly, "I actually prefer his deep affection for his country and people, and of course, I also really like the hopeful attitude he showed in the face of adversity in his poems."

"I especially like his book 'If Life Deceives You,' with its simple and gentle writing style, which guides us to hold on to our expectations for the future amidst suffering, and to look forward to a bright and open life that transcends hardship and embraces light."

"."

An hour later, Cao Weida took his leave, carrying a box containing the Yongle cup.

It's not advisable to talk too much on a first meeting; he understands the principle of moderation.

Besides, only when others feel reluctant to part with you will they look forward to the next meeting.

He hadn't used these tactics on his other women before, but that didn't mean he was completely clueless about them.

Luo Mengyun, however, felt a little reluctant to part with him. She had finally found someone she could talk to so well, and she hadn't had enough of talking to him yet.

Only after Cao Weida left in his rickshaw did she reluctantly turn her gaze away, secretly wondering when Brother Cao would come again.

She's already looking forward to their next meeting.
Luo Yunxuan, who had witnessed all of this, had a complicated expression on his face. What exactly had they talked about in that short hour?
"Dream Clouds".

"Hmm? Father, what's wrong?"

"Looks like you two had a really good chat. It's only been a short time, and you're already so reluctant to part?" His words were full of jealousy, and he suddenly regretted his earlier promise.

After only one meeting, his carefully nurtured daughter treated him like this. What will happen if this continues?!

"Oh dear, Father, what are you saying? There's no reluctance at all!" Luo Mengyun said coquettishly, her face blushing like a sunset.
"I just think that Brother Cao speaks with great refinement and has a lot of knowledge."

"Oh? Really? I didn't see how knowledgeable he was. I know him, he's just a rough, illiterate man who never went to school and can't even read a few characters. What common ground could you possibly have?"

Professor Luo's eyes twitched, and he felt even more regretful, his heart sinking.

It hasn't been that long, and they've already changed how they address each other, now they're even calling him "Brother Cao"!

He had a bad feeling in his heart, as if he could see a carefully watered cabbage being approached step by step by a greedy wild boar.
So he decisively began to betray them.

"That can't be, Father, are you mistaken?"

Unaware that her father was harboring a bit of jealousy, Luo Mengyun blushed, oblivious to the hint of jealousy in her words, her eyes filled with confusion:

“I talked with Brother Cao so much, whether it was interpreting poetry and songs, understanding astronomy and geography, or experiencing local customs and culture. Brother Cao could talk about everything fluently. How could he be an illiterate person who can't read many characters?”

"Many of his views are very novel and refreshing to me. I think you must have been deceived."

Luo Yunxuan was somewhat surprised and doubtful. Could Cao Wei Da really be so knowledgeable?

He knows his daughter well. She has been carefully nurtured in terms of knowledge, so he can tell whether she has real talent or is just talking nonsense.

Moreover, he has a somewhat petty-bourgeois personality, and it's impossible for her to look at him differently if he doesn't have real talent and ability.

'Could it be that I misjudged him?' he wondered, then sighed inwardly: 'Indeed, nothing can be trusted with hearsay.'

Even if he misjudged Cao Weida's knowledge, he could not hide what Cao Weida wanted to do from his eyes!

He naturally disliked a pig that wanted to steal his little cabbage.

So he said cryptically, "So he's really knowledgeable. No wonder he was able to marry five concubines."

"Oh my god, Brother Cao actually married five concubines?! How old is he?!" Luo Mengyun exclaimed, covering her mouth in shock.

Luo Yunxuan felt a surge of pride. Cao Weida's family already had five concubines. With this barrier in place, he didn't believe his daughter would be seduced by that boy.

But he didn't know that, as the saying goes, life is unpredictable and the world is ever-changing; who can say for sure what will happen in the future?

"."

Meanwhile, Cao Weida, who had left in a rickshaw, had arrived at Ono Oda's residence.

When Cao Weida took out the Ming Yongle blue and white porcelain cup, Ono Oda stared at him blankly, his eyes saying: That's it?!
Clearly, he shared Cao Weida's opinion and couldn't see anything special about the cup.

"Ono-kun, I've had this 'Ming Yongle Blue and White Porcelain Cup with a Pressed Hand' appraised by the most professional experts. It's truly a rare and exquisite piece! Its market price can reach 12000 silver dollars!" 8000? That was a friendly price from someone's friend. The market price should be higher.

Moreover, this price isn't inflated; if you find something you like, this price isn't too high.

"What?! Twelve thousand silver dollars?!"

Ono Oda was astonished, staring at the small cup in his hand with disbelief. He never imagined that this unassuming cup could fetch such an astonishing price.

"Ono-kun, don't underestimate this cup. This cup only existed during the Yongle era, and very few of them survive!"

"This cup is called the Ming Yongle Blue and White Porcelain Pressed-Hand Cup. Do you know why it's called the Pressed-Hand Cup?"

"Appreciate further details!"

Ono Oda shook his head blankly, but his interest was piqued, and his ears perked up.

Just kidding, it's 12,000 silver dollars! He'd better listen carefully to why it's so valuable, so he can brag about it to others later.

At first, Cao Wei Da didn't know either, but Professor Luo was incredibly knowledgeable!
Before leaving, he specifically sought advice, and now, as he explained, he spoke with absolute confidence:
"This cup is named the 'Hand-Pressing Cup' because it fits perfectly in the tiger's mouth!"

"Come on, let me demonstrate for you."

He held the cup between his thumb and forefinger, saying, "You see, it fits perfectly between a normal person's thumb and forefinger, and it's very comfortable to hold."

Ono Oda took a closer look, and sure enough, the size was just right.

"Secondly, it's quite heavy! Here, have some to sit on."

Ono Oda took it and tossed it around; it was indeed very heavy, and the weight in his hand felt very comfortable.

"This is the official kiln of China. You should know about official kilns, right? This is the first time a commemorative mark has appeared. It was made in the Yongle period. Look at the bottom of the cup. Yes, this is it."

“Before the Yongle era, such as the Hongwu era, there were no marks or reign titles, and the number of those made was very small, with even fewer surviving examples.”

"Let me put it this way, there are fewer than five of these cups in existence!"

Ono Oda nodded in sudden realization: "So, Cao-san, I understand. Scarcity makes things valuable, right?"

"Ono-kun's intelligence remains as sharp as ever, that's for sure."

"Wow, this is a real treasure!"

After realizing the preciousness of this small cup, the more I looked at the hand-pressed cup, the more beautiful it became, and the more I liked it.

I carefully placed the hand-pressed cup back into the box.

"Cao Sang, you did a great job! If anything like this happens again, you can report it to me anytime!"

"Also, he asked you for help, and you put in time and effort, so you should know how to earn some money for drinks, right?"

In the business partnership, Cao Weida did not hold any shares, and he had previously helped him come up with so many money-making ideas. If he didn't let Cao Weida make money, he would feel a little guilty.

"Thank you for your consideration, Ono-kun. Don't worry, even if I don't say anything, the Lou family won't be ungrateful."

"Okay, that's good. I'm relieved. Alright, you can handle this matter."

"Ono-kun, besides the eight famous restaurants in Beiping, Fengzeyuan Restaurant is also highly regarded. How about we have a drink there?"

"."

Inside a private room at Fengzeyuan Restaurant.

After a hearty meal, everyone enjoyed themselves immensely. After the banquet, Lou Yaozu and Ono Oda secretly discussed the matter and reached some agreements.

When the two came out, Lou Yaozu and Ono Oda had incredibly happy smiles on their faces.

It should be noted that the pleasant atmosphere was entirely due to Ono Oda's concern for Beiping's industrial system and his consideration for the development of Beiping's industry, and absolutely not because of the 'Ming Yongle blue and white porcelain cup'!
After finishing, Ono Oda gave Cao Wei Da a wink, then got into his carriage and left first.

"Mr. Cao, the fact that this matter could have ended so perfectly today is entirely thanks to your great help! This is just a small token of my appreciation."

A check for five thousand silver dollars was pushed in front of Cao Weida.

Cao Wei raised an eyebrow, picked it up without ceremony, and flicked his fingers across the paper, producing a crisp sound.

"Chairman Lou, you're too kind. I'll accept your kind offer then!"

"Haha~~ Of course, of course! I'll need Mr. Cao's continued support in the future!"

"Alright, alright, that's all for today. I'll be going now, and I'll bother you again another day."

"Mr. Cao, take care! Wu De, hurry, drive Mr. Cao home!"

(End of this chapter)