Chapter 1419 Qin Xuelan's Motive
Following the sound, they saw Qin Xuelan, dressed in a red dress, walking in from outside.
Qin Xuelan, clad in a red dress, had a face full of frost. The lace-trimmed hem revealed her slender, shapely calves.
"Sister Qin?"
Everyone was stunned.
Tian Shijie hadn't expected Qin Xuelan to show up here, let alone stop them from selling the antique painting.
"Sister Qin, why are you here?"
Tian Shijie spoke.
"I heard you were planning to sell that painting 'Falling Geese in the Sunset Glow' by Tang Bohu, so I rushed over to stop you."
Qin Xuelan took a breath and said in a deep voice.
Her beautiful face was filled with a serious expression.
"Sister Qin, why won't you let us sell the painting?" Wei Linlin asked, confused.
"Linlin, this painting is a national treasure, and it should remain in our Xia Kingdom. What if it's sold to this foreigner and taken abroad? That would be a huge loss for our Xia Kingdom!"
Qin Xuelan spoke again.
Tian Shijie and the others were taken aback.
"Sister Qin makes sense."
"My grandfather told me that antiques can be circulated and traded within the country, but they should never be sold to foreigners. This is the loss of national treasures."
They were all patriotic individuals who had received patriotic education and immediately showed expressions of shame.
Chen Xuan glanced at Qin Xuelan in surprise. He hadn't expected this woman to be so patriotic; he had underestimated her.
After all, places like Yufangzhai were purely commercial antique groups, prioritizing profit and only selling antiques to the highest bidder, without any so-called patriotism.
"Then, we'll listen to Sister Qin and not sell this 'Falling Geese in the Sunset Glow' painting."
After a brief discussion, they decided that the 'Falling Geese in the Sunset Glow' painting absolutely could not be sold.
"Don't do that! We've already agreed to sell this painting. How can you back out? Four hundred million is an astronomical price, you won't find another chance like this with a lantern. Once this opportunity is gone, it's gone. You must consider it!"
Gong San became anxious upon hearing that Tian Shijie and the others wouldn't sell.
If this four hundred million deal went through, he could earn over a million in commission and become a millionaire, so naturally, he was unwilling.
"I'm truly sorry, but our ancestors' antiques absolutely cannot be sold to foreigners."
Tian Shijie refused Gong San decisively, shaking his head.
Gong San looked at Diana helplessly and said, "Miss Diana, shall we leave for now?"
Diana's expression instantly turned cold: "Why are you so untrustworthy? We had already agreed on the price, but now you're going back on your word!"
"I apologize, but we don't sell our paintings to foreigners," Tian Shijie said.
"You wait, this matter is not over!"
Diana twisted her waist and turned to leave, with Gong San following closely behind.
Tian Shijie paid no mind to Diana's threat, as this was Kyoto, this was Xia Kingdom. How could they be bullied by foreigners?
"Miss Qin, do you have anything else?"
Chen Xuan said with a half-smile.
Qin Xuelan was startled by Chen Xuan's gaze: "I have a few small matters..."
Chen Xuan grinned, realizing that things were indeed not that simple.
"What is it? Hurry and tell me."
Qin Xuelan felt Chen Xuan was mocking her with his gaze and really wanted to slap him to stop him from being so smug!
However, considering the current situation, she took a breath and suppressed her impulse. "Mr. Chen, I've actually come to ask for a small favor."
"What kind of favor?"
Chen Xuan asked with a smile.
"It's very simple. I want Mr. Chen to take the 'Tianqing Three-Legged Plate' with me."
"To do what?"
"Just say whether you'll help or not!"
Qin Xuelan sounded impatient.
Chen Xuan was even more displeased. He was asking for a favor, yet she was acting high and mighty. She should remember she was the one seeking help.
"What if you ask me to do something illegal or against the law? What if I get arrested?"
"You... Fine, I promise it's nothing illegal or against the law."
Qin Xuelan gritted her teeth.
"Since Miss Qin has asked, I am naturally willing to make the trip. However... there should be some reward for helping, right?"
Chen Xuan said with a smile.
Qin Xuelan replied, "Mr. Chen, don't worry, I will definitely give you a satisfactory reward. After all, my Qin family doesn't let people work for free."
"Then I'm relieved," Chen Xuan smiled.
Seeing this, Tian Shijie and the others quickly said, "Sister Qin, can we join in the fun?!"
"Sister Qin, you must be here for the treasure-contending competition between the Qin family and the Gu family! We want to witness the spectacle!"
They all looked eagerly at Qin Xuelan with expectant eyes.
Qin Xuelan found it difficult to refuse and immediately agreed: "Of course. However, Shijie, you don't need to beg me. Your grandfather is also a judge this time. If you want to go, just ask your grandfather to say something."
Tian Shijie pouted: "My grandfather has gone crazy recently. He insists that academic studies are more important and wants me to focus on university first. As for antiques, we can consider them later. He definitely won't take me with him."
"If that's the case, then I can't take you."
"No, Sister Qin!"
"Alright, alright, I'll take you."
Qin Xuelan smiled charmingly.
"Sister Qin, you're too kind!"
They all cheered, seemingly excited about participating in the treasure-contending competition.
Chen Xuan looked at Qin Xuelan's gentle smile and muttered to himself, why did this woman look at him as if he were her father's sworn enemy, yet she was so friendly to everyone else?
What intrigued Chen Xuan was, what exactly was a treasure-contending competition?
As they chatted and laughed, they arrived downstairs.
Wei Linlin felt a pang of regret after spending three hundred thousand and achieving nothing, as that was three hundred thousand yuan!
However, at least the prospect of attending the treasure-contending competition somewhat eased her regret.
Getting into the car, Chen Xuan couldn't help but ask, "What is a treasure-contending competition?"
Tian Shijie said excitedly, "The treasure-contending competition is a grand event in Kyoto's antique street. It all started from the conflict between the Qin family and the Ma family in Kyoto."
"Ma family?"
Chen Xuan blinked.
He had no knowledge of this Ma family.
"The Ma family is very powerful, especially in antiques. It can be said that one-third of the antiques in the entire country are in the hands of the Ma family. Even the Kyoto Museum has to borrow antiques from the Ma family for its exhibitions. Their profound heritage is unimaginable. During their peak, they were almost one of the Nine Gates of Kyoto!"
"Good heavens... Even the Kyoto Museum has to borrow antiques from them for exhibitions?"
Chen Xuan gasped.
The Kyoto Museum was the museum with the richest collection in Xia Kingdom.
This Ma family was truly formidable!
"It's a pity that some issues arose in between, which severely damaged the Ma family's reputation and greatly weakened them, preventing them from becoming one of the Nine Gates of Kyoto," Tian Shijie sighed.
"Could this matter be related to the Qin family?"
Chen Xuan seemed to sense something.