Chapter 1992: Chapter 1952: The Gift Is Too Valuable!

The two professors, Han and Li, couldn’t make sense of the third painting, but judging from all three oils, they were all clearly done by the same hand.

From the brushwork, this was indeed an authentic piece.

But whose work it actually was, the two of them truly had no idea.

"Did you ask Dr. Ye where he got this painting from?" Han Yu asked.

"Professor Han, we did ask. Dr. Ye said he picked it up from a street stall."

The so-called street stall was most likely in Panjiayuan in the Capital City.

The stalls at Panjiayuan sold all kinds of antiques. Of course, these collectible antiques were a mix of genuine and fake, with most being fake.

Now that Ye Qiu was claiming he’d fished this up there, it made the two professors even more doubtful.

Generally speaking, collectors and out-of-town tourists all liked to go to Panjiayuan, and so did the two professors. They would sometimes bring their students over to look around.

You could say the fakes there were really abundant, even to the point of being indistinguishable from the real thing. The two professors often brought students there and they truly could learn a lot.

"So he said he bought it in Panjiayuan?"

"Probably not. I didn’t hear Dr. Ye say he bought it in Panjiayuan."

"The painting is a fine one, and it’s authentic, but as for which master it’s by, I can’t tell right away. I’ll need to study it more closely."

The two of them took photos with their phones, and earlier the two women had already examined the two paintings with magnifying glasses.

The mounting was in the Capital City Faction style, that much couldn’t be wrong, but the painting style itself didn’t look like Capital City Faction; it was more similar to Jiangnan Faction.

Domestically there were many painting schools, all heavily influenced by local environment.

And this painting also seemed to fuse styles from many traditional Chinese painting schools.

It was indeed a rare masterpiece.

When the two elders of the Cao Family heard it was authentic, they naturally felt relieved. Of course, they knew that since Dr. Ye had saved Third Great-Grandfather’s life, that was already the best gift of all.

As for the three paintings, they truly hadn’t considered how much they might be worth.

Now, hearing the two professors talk, it sounded anything but simple.

"The first two Longevity Pictures are each worth at least several million, and the third one is even more valuable," Han Yu said.

"Professor Han, they can’t be that expensive, can they?" One elder of the Cao Family asked in disbelief.

The paintings and calligraphy from earlier were at most several hundred thousand to a million or two. They hadn’t expected these to be worth several million, even over ten million.

"That’s how it is. Many collectibles simply can’t be measured in money. In prosperous times they can be worth even more. We originally wanted to study them in detail ourselves, but it looks like we’ll have to invite other professors to take a look."

The two wanted to take the three paintings away for research, but they were too valuable; they didn’t dare, and the Cao Family might not be willing to let them take them either.

So they simply left the Cao Family first.

After the two professors left, the elders hurried off to discuss it with other members of the Cao Family.

Several elders of the Cao Family were present. When they heard what was going on, they were genuinely stunned.

Originally, Ye Qiu had cured Third Great-Grandfather’s illness, and they hadn’t even paid him his medical fee yet. Now he had sent paintings worth that much money—how were they supposed to pay Dr. Ye’s medical fee later?

"The three paintings are all here. We think they’re too precious. Either we send them back to Dr. Ye, or we deposit them at a bank or somewhere else for safekeeping. Otherwise, if they really get stolen, the loss would be huge."

Paintings worth several million, even over ten million each—if people found out, they would definitely attract the attention of those with ill intentions, and theft was entirely possible.

The Cao Family members crowded around the three paintings. They were indeed rare genuine works, no wonder Professors Han and Li had been so shocked.

"Since Dr. Ye has already given them, he won’t take them back. But these three paintings are so valuable, I suggest we send them to the bank for safekeeping, and better yet, buy insurance. If they really go missing, at least we can get compensation."

"Aren’t we going to let Third Great-Grandfather see them? They’re all his gifts."

Of course, everything was being handled centrally by the Cao Family. All the gifts received at this birthday celebration might add up to tens of millions. You could imagine how valuable this grand birthday feast was.

Of course, in future, whenever these guests had major events in their own families, the Cao Family would have to reciprocate with gifts as well.

For instance, the Jinling branch of the Cao Family had sent quite a few gifts this time. Although they were also Cao Family, the accounts were basically kept separate.

"Then I’ll go call Third Great-Grandfather."

Someone went to fetch Third Great-Grandfather.

At that moment, Third Great-Grandfather was drinking tea and chatting with some elderly gentlemen of the Capital City.

Right now, Third Great-Grandfather felt as if he’d been reborn.

How good that feeling was, only he himself knew.

"Third Great-Grandfather, could you come over for a moment?" 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

They called Third Great-Grandfather and headed toward the storeroom.

When he arrived, Third Great-Grandfather still didn’t know what was going on.

"Third Great-Grandfather, these are all gifts from the guests. Among them, these three paintings should be the most valuable. How do you think we should handle them?"

"Three paintings? Who sent them?"

"They were sent this afternoon by Dr. Ye. We don’t even know where he bought them."

"That can’t be."

Third Great-Grandfather hadn’t expected Ye Qiu to send him such expensive gifts.

At a glance, although he didn’t know how to appreciate paintings, he could tell they really were very good.

He especially liked the third one.

"I’d like to hang this one in my room. I really like it."

"Third Great-Grandfather, that might not be a good idea. The two painters, including Professor Han, said this one is even more valuable, possibly over ten million. Hanging it in your room would just be inviting thieves."

Over ten million?

Third Great-Grandfather had thought a few million would already be impressive. He hadn’t expected it to be worth over ten million. How could this Dr. Ye give him such an expensive gift?

It made him feel too embarrassed to accept it.

"Then we’d better give it back to Dr. Ye."

Dr. Ye curing his illness was already a life-saving grace. He’d never imagined that he would now give such an extravagant gift on top of that. What was his intention?

He truly couldn’t figure it out.

Give it back to Dr. Ye?

Some members of the Cao Family had the same thought, but others felt that since Dr. Ye had already given it, he definitely wouldn’t take it back.

"Third Great-Grandfather, since Dr. Ye has already given these, he surely won’t accept them back. It would be better that when Dr. Ye has some big happy event in the future, we give him a gift of equivalent value."

In fact, this suggestion was pretty good.

They could also see that the relationship between Ye Qiu and Cao Ling was good. Maybe the two of them would get married in the future, and then the Cao Family would have to prepare a grand gift for them.

"Then handle it as you see fit," Third Great-Grandfather could only say.