He unexpectedly becomes a father at the start of his life, and the mother of his child is a national

Yu Mobai also went through the list of people in his mind who could open their mouths and who could take out 300,000 yuan of spare money without batting an eye. He came up with only two or three people.

But these people are also collectors, and most of their money is tied up in calligraphy, paintings, and antiques. They may not have much spare cash. Even if they did, if you asked to borrow it, you would owe them a favor.

In the art world, favors are hardest to repay. If someone asks you to appraise a piece or asks you to give them a painting, even if you're not happy about it, you can't refuse, and it's not worth it.

Yu Mobai grew increasingly agitated, abruptly standing up from his chair and pacing back and forth in his not-so-small study.

I walked back and forth, my shoes scraping against the floor, making a slight sound, but I just couldn't suppress the restlessness in my heart.

His gaze unconsciously swept across the study wall, which was covered with his favorite paintings collected over the years. As he looked at each one, he suddenly stopped in his tracks.

My gaze was fixed on the painting "Solitary Angler on a Cold River".

This painting was a treasure he found three years ago at a small private auction.

To acquire this painting, he spent a long time bidding against others, and finally spent 300,000 yuan to get it.

The author was Chen Zizhuang, a renowned figure from the late Qing Dynasty. Although not a top-tier master of calligraphy and painting, his skill in brush and ink was truly solid.

The painting technique is superb. With just a few strokes, it fully captures the artistic conception of a lonely figure on a cold river. When he first saw it, he couldn't take his eyes off it.

It's also thanks to his keen eye that Chen Zizhuang's works have seen a steady rise in market value over the past few years. Several knowledgeable old friends of his have come to his home to look at his paintings.

I stared at the painting for a long time and told him that if this painting were put on the market now, it would be worth at least 500,000 yuan, and if someone really liked it, the price could go up even further.

Five hundred thousand.

As soon as those two words crossed his mind, Yu Mobai's eyes lit up instantly, and the furrowed brows that had been furrowed relaxed immediately.

He stood frozen in place, staring at the painting "Solitary Angler on a Cold River," his mind racing with calculations.

He had 1.2 million yuan in cash. If he were to use this painting, "Solitary Angler on a Cold River," as collateral for He Muqing, even if it were valued at 500,000 yuan,

The total comes to 1.7 million, far exceeding the 1.5 million price tag of Haolin's painting.

Even if the gallery takes a cut, after deducting all fees, He Muqing can still make a considerable profit. She has no reason not to agree to this deal.

Of course, he knew perfectly well that the painting he bought for 300,000 was now worth 500,000, but he only used it to pay off a debt of 300,000. Anyone with eyes could see that he had obviously lost 200,000.

But so what?

As long as he could acquire the "Lotus and Fish Playing" painting, this small loss was nothing to him.

After all, he knew better than anyone how sought-after Haolin's paintings were.

He fought tooth and nail for that painting, "Autumn Wind in Ten Thousand Valleys," but ultimately failed to snatch it, and regretted it for a long time.

This painting, "Lotus and Fish Playing," is even more outstanding than the previous one in terms of both brushwork and artistic conception. As long as he can get his hands on it, he would be willing to lose even more than 200,000 yuan.

The more Yu Mobai thought about it, the more reliable it seemed. He felt it was the best solution at the moment, and the anxiety in his heart instantly turned into uncontrollable excitement, causing his heart to beat faster.

He didn't dare to delay for a moment, immediately picked up the phone on the table, quickly flipped through the contacts, and called He Muqing again.

The phone was answered after only a couple of rings, and He Muqing's cheerful voice came through the receiver:

"President Yu, is there anything else you need?"

"Manager He, it's me, Yu Mobai."

Yu Mobai spoke, his voice still carrying a hint of urgency. He quickly composed himself, carefully choosing his words, and asked about the most important matter first.

"Manager He, I just wanted to confirm with you, is Haolin's 'Lotus and Fish Playing' still in the gallery? Has it been reserved by someone else?"

"It's still here, don't worry." He Muqing's tone was relaxed.

"You contacted me before, saying you were interested. After I hung up the phone, I put the painting away in the VIP room and didn't put it out in public at all, so no one else could see it."

Upon hearing this, Yu Mobai's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, instantly settled back into his stomach. He let out a long sigh of relief, his joy barely concealed.

"That's great, that's great. Manager He, I have something to tell you. I've taken care of the money; I've raised it."

"Oh?" He Muqing's tone carried a clear hint of curiosity.

"President Yu's efficiency is truly impressive. He's raised the entire 1.5 million in such a short time?"

"That's how it is," Yu Mobai said directly, without beating around the bush.

"I have 1.2 million in cash on hand right now, which I can transfer to you immediately. For the remaining 300,000, I'd like to use a painting from my collection as payment. Is that alright?"

He Muqing was visibly taken aback, her tone tinged with surprise: "Use a painting as payment?"

"Yes, a painting as payment." Yu Mobai quickly added, afraid she would disagree, and hurriedly explained the details of the painting.

"I have a painting by Chen Zizhuang called 'Solitary Angler on a Cold River,' an authentic work in perfect condition, without a single flaw."

I bought it for 300,000 three years ago, and now it's worth at least 500,000 in the market.

"I'll use this painting to offset the remaining 300,000 yuan. I won't take a single penny of the difference; consider it a tip for the gallery's hard work. What do you think?"

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone, with no immediate reply.

In fact, He Muqing knew perfectly well that she knew about the painting "Solitary Angler on a Cold River" that Yu Mobai was talking about.

She had seen the painting in person when she visited Yu Mobai's house before. It was indeed an authentic work by Chen Zizhuang. The brushwork was superb, and it was well-preserved, with even the silk edges showing little wear.

In the past two years, the prices of Chen Zizhuang's works have risen sharply. Let alone 500,000, they could even sell for 600,000 if they find a collector who likes them. Yu Mobai's estimate is still conservative.

This is easy to calculate: 1.2 million in cash, plus a painting worth 500,000, even if it only amounts to 300,000...

The gallery is guaranteed to make a profit, and they even get a good painting for free. Such a good deal is hard to find even with a lantern.

"President Yu," He Muqing said with a smile, snapping out of her reverie.

"Your painting is worth at least 500,000 on the market now, but you're only offering it for 300,000. Don't you feel like you're losing out?"

Upon hearing this, Yu Mobai smiled, his tone full of certainty, without the slightest hesitation: "Whether it's a loss or not, I know in my heart."

As long as I can get Haolin's painting, I'm willing to suffer this loss.

Manager He, let me ask you this: are you willing to make this deal?

"Since Chairman Yu has shown such sincerity, how could I let you down?" He Muqing smiled even more heartily and agreed on the spot.

"Here's the arrangement: whenever it's convenient for you, bring the painting to the gallery. We'll inspect it in person, and once everything is in order, we can complete the transaction and you can take the painting with you."