Chapter 96: Freeloading off a Painting

After they finished eating and rested for a short while, the two set off.

Chen Feng drove, and the two of them chatted and laughed all the way to the provincial museum.

Xiuzhou had several museums, and the provincial museum was undoubtedly the largest.

It was about one-thirty in the afternoon, and there weren’t many people visiting the museum.

Today wasn’t a holiday, and the museum was open most of the day except for Mondays, so the visitors were spread out, and the number of people was naturally not very high.

Chen Feng had initially been looking forward to the cultural relics on display in the museum. However, after looking around, not a single relic gave him a feeling similar to that of the “Orchid Pavilion Preface.”

Many of the exhibits were labeled as replicas, but most of them should have been authentic, some even thousands of years old. Yet, none of them gave Chen Feng that feeling.

Chen Feng was a little disappointed by this.

He had been quite optimistic at first, thinking that if a living artist like Master Wang Yi could create a “genuine article” like the “Orchid Pavilion Preface” that could bring about gratifying changes to his body and mind, then the artworks created by even more brilliant artists in history should have the same effect.

But now it seemed that Chen Feng’s idea was probably wrong.

Because he didn’t find the result he wanted after looking around, Chen Feng’s mood wasn’t very good. As a result, he just gave the subsequent exhibits a cursory glance, lacking interest.

Wu Mengting, who was with him, noticed his strangeness and asked with concern, “What’s wrong? Are you not feeling well?”

Chen Feng quickly shook his head. “No. I just find these things boring. Let’s go to the art gallery instead. I think there’s an exhibition by some famous painter there today.”

Wu Mengting had originally wanted to continue browsing the museum, but hearing Chen Feng say this, she had to nod in agreement. “Alright. Last time we only saw Master Wang Yi’s calligraphy and painting exhibition. We haven’t carefully looked at the artworks collected by the art gallery itself.”

“Yes. Let’s go have a good look this time.”

So, the two of them quickly left the provincial museum and drove to the provincial art gallery, where they had seen Master Wang Yi’s calligraphy and painting exhibition last time.

In Chen Feng’s view, since the artworks collected by the provincial museum had no effect, the collections of other museums in Xiuzhou would probably be the same.

Thinking again that the “Orchid Pavilion Preface” was a piece of calligraphy, Chen Feng felt that instead of wasting time going to other museums, it would be better to go back to the provincial art gallery.

The distance between the two places was not far, only four or five kilometers, and it took about ten minutes to get there.

The provincial art gallery had many exhibition halls.

After the two entered, they began to wander through the exhibition halls one by one.

To Chen Feng’s frustration, after visiting three consecutive exhibition halls, he still hadn’t found the calligraphy, painting, or other artwork he was looking for.

Then the fourth exhibition hall, nothing. The fifth exhibition hall, also nothing.

By the time they reached the sixth exhibition hall, Chen Feng had already lost hope. As it turned out, a painter’s exhibition was being held here.

It should be the one Chen Feng had found online.

According to the introduction on the sign at the entrance, the painter’s name was Song Yi, an oil painter, fifty-eight years old this year. He had graduated from a famous art school in the country, then studied in France, and later made a name for himself in Europe.

One of his oil paintings had once been sold at a Zurich auction house for 1.6 million US dollars.

This time, he had brought a total of fifty-two paintings for this exhibition, and it could be said that each one was a masterpiece.

After a brief look at the introduction, the two of them walked in to browse.

Chen Feng didn’t have much hope at first, but as he looked at the paintings one by one, he suddenly stopped in shock in front of one of them.

It was a painting titled “Autumn Sky,” with vibrant colors, layer upon layer, dominated by golden yellow and dark blue, depicting the autumn sky in a very abstract way, like layers of whirlpools.

Below this whirlpool-like sky was a winding, abstract river, and a dark forest.

The painting was very abstract, one might even say distorted.

Therefore, it was certain that this Song Yi was an abstract painter.

Chen Feng stood there for more than ten minutes, until Wu Mengting pushed him, and he finally came back to his senses from that dizzy state.

“What’s wrong with you? You were so engrossed, you didn’t even react when I called you,” Wu Mengting looked at Chen Feng with confusion.

“I was engrossed,” Chen Feng said with a happy smile. “I really like this painting and want to buy it. I just don’t know if it’s expensive. If it’s over a million US dollars, I definitely can’t afford it.”

“You’re buying again?” Wu Mengting’s eyes widened.

Chen Feng nodded affirmatively. “I’ll contact Director Huang right now. I’ll look for this painter, Song Yi.”

Chen Feng was determined to get this “Autumn Sky.” As long as the price wasn’t too outrageous, he planned to buy it.

Just like the “Orchid Pavilion Preface,” he also felt that this painting should have great collection value.

After buying it, as long as the price wasn’t too outrageous, he probably wouldn’t lose money in the future.

Director Huang of the art gallery had exchanged contact information with Chen Feng last time.

Chen Feng stepped out of the exhibition hall and stood in the corridor to make the call. As soon as he explained the situation, Director Huang enthusiastically said he would contact Song Yi’s side immediately.

A few minutes later, Director Huang personally brought over Song Yi’s representative, his agent, who turned out to be a big-nosed white old man.

Chen Feng’s spoken English was average. After a brief exchange with the white old man, he learned that his name was Lehman and he was the agent for the great painter Song Yi.

Then Chen Feng got straight to the point and asked for the price of “Autumn Sky.” The other party didn’t beat around the bush and directly quoted 1.2 million US dollars.

Chen Feng was speechless at this price. According to the current exchange rate, it was over eight million yuan in China.

This was too damn expensive!
Chen Feng directly shook his head three times: “No! No! No!”

Then, he awkwardly haggled in English, at most 3 million RMB.

The other party also repeatedly shook his head, saying “no!” and then stated that the lowest price was 1 million US dollars.

There was no way to negotiate.

Wu Mengting, on the side, helped to haggle in fluent English, but it had little effect.

Seeing this, Chen Feng had to give up the purchase. He said to him with regret, “Your price is too expensive, I can’t afford it.”

Such an honest statement left the other party speechless as well.

“Thank you for your trouble. I’m very sorry. We can exchange contact information. In the future, if I have money, or if you are willing to lower the price, we can contact each other.”

Seeing this, the foreign old man had to exchange contact information with Chen Feng, and then left with a look of disappointment.

“Director Huang, I’ve troubled you again this time, I’m really sorry. I should have just quoted a price on the phone first, I’m sorry to have made you run around for nothing.”

Chen Feng apologized to Director Huang, the middleman, with some embarrassment.

Director Huang waved his hand and smiled. “It’s nothing. It’s just a few steps. For Mr. Chen to frequently visit our gallery and even purchase artworks is a form of affirmation of our work. It seems Mr. Chen, you are very fond of calligraphy and painting.”

Chen Feng nodded. “Yes. I’m very interested in artworks like calligraphy and painting. Like Master Wang Yi’s ‘Orchid Pavilion Preface’ last time, and Song Yi’s ‘Autumn Sky’ this time, they are both works I personally like.”

“Mr. Chen, you are truly a man of refined taste. I wonder which aspect of calligraphy and painting Mr. Chen is more interested in. I know many calligraphers and painters, and I can introduce one or two to Mr. Chen.”

When Chen Feng heard this, his eyes lit up. This Director Huang was in charge of coordinating exhibitions with artists at the art gallery, so of course he knew many artists.

Chen Feng could totally go through him to see the works of those calligraphers and painters.

So, Chen Feng quickly thanked him, “That would be wonderful, I couldn’t ask for more. I’m interested in almost all calligraphy and painting, but of course, the prerequisite is that it must catch my eye. If it’s convenient for Director Huang, you can introduce me to a few talented calligraphers and painters. I can pay them a visit.”

Director Huang readily agreed, “Okay. Let’s add each other on WeChat first. I’ll send you the information after I’ve organized it. We can contact each other on WeChat.”

Chen Feng quickly took out his phone, opened WeChat, and added him as a friend. Then he thanked him again, “I’ve really troubled Director Huang this time. I wonder if you’re free tonight, I’d be honored if you’d join me for dinner.”

Director Huang waved his hand. “I’m a bit busy these few days. Let’s talk about dinner later.”

Chen Feng smiled and nodded. “Okay. I’ll owe you one.”

Director Huang also smiled. “You’re too kind. Let’s stay in touch.”

Director Huang didn’t exchange too many pleasantries with Chen Feng. After speaking, he nodded to him and left.

“Brother Feng, why are you suddenly so interested in art collection?”

Wu Mengting was quite puzzled. No matter how she looked at it, Chen Feng seemed to have no connection to art.

Last time, it was because of her that he had come to see the calligraphy and painting exhibition.

“I’m just interested in calligraphy and painting that catches my eye. Collecting is just a side effect.”

Chen Feng told the truth.

Wu Mengting was still full of doubt. She kindly advised, “The art world is very deep. You don’t know anything, you’ll be cheated. Like this ‘Autumn Sky’ just now, I don’t think it’s a masterpiece. And this painter, Song Yi, is only slightly famous in Europe, not a great painter, and he’s even less well-known in our country. For the other party to quote 1.2 million US dollars is really a bit outrageous. It’s obvious they wanted to rip you off.”

“Okay. I know, I’ll remember what you said.”

On the surface, Chen Feng humbly accepted Wu Mengting’s advice, but in his heart, he thought: If I didn’t have so little money right now, I would have bought it when the other party offered it for 1 million US dollars.

He didn’t know the specific commercial value of this painting, let alone its artistic value. He only knew that this painting could bring him great enjoyment and positive changes to his body and mind.

That was enough!

He still had over ten million yuan. If he was destined to only have a few months left to live, he wanted to spend most of it.

Not on some meaningless extravagance, or on some meaningful charity.

He just didn’t want to die young without having enjoyed anything properly.

Buying “Orchid Pavilion Preface” and “Autumn Sky” could bring him great pleasure to his body and mind, and even improve his mental and physical state.

Of course, he was willing to spend the money.

As for not wanting to spend 1 million US dollars on “Autumn Sky” this time, it was mainly because the price the other party offered seemed a bit outrageous to him.

Besides, even if he didn’t spend money to buy it, he could still enjoy the benefits that “Autumn Sky” brought to his body and mind.

Song Yi’s exhibition was going to last for five days, and today was only the first day of his solo exhibition.

At worst, starting today, Chen Feng would just come over every day to “freeload” off the painting.

“Let’s continue looking at the paintings.”

As Chen Feng spoke, he eagerly took the lead and went back in.

Song Yi had over fifty paintings on display this time, and Chen Feng hoped that among these works, there would be others that could surprise him.

Unfortunately, Chen Feng’s expectation was destined to be in vain.

After looking at all fifty-two works, besides “Autumn Sky,” none of the other paintings brought him any surprises.

Although he was a little disappointed, Chen Feng was also able to be content. He immediately returned to the front of the painting “Autumn Sky.”

However, before “entering the trance,” he gave Wu Mengting a heads-up, saying that he would get engrossed when looking at paintings and asked her not to wake him up, to let him look at the painting in peace.

Although Wu Mengting was very puzzled, she still agreed.

So, Chen Feng stood in front of the oil painting “Autumn Sky” and looked at it with concentration. He soon entered the dizzy “trance-like” state.

When he came to his senses from this state, he suddenly realized that more than a dozen people had gathered around him, all staring at “Autumn Sky” just like him.

Seeing this, Chen Feng guessed that it was probably because he had been too engrossed and “obsessed” with looking at the painting just now that he had attracted these people to join in the fun.

But it was clear that besides Chen Feng, no one else saw anything special.

However, there were also a few who pretended to know what they were talking about, whispering about how amazing this “Autumn Sky” was, that it had a hint of Van Gogh’s “Starry Night,” and so on.

Chen Feng didn’t want to look at paintings with this group of people who pretended to know what they were talking about. He immediately pulled Wu Mengting, who had been waiting by his side, and squeezed out of the crowd.

“How long was I looking at the painting just now?”

After leaving the crowd, Chen Feng asked about the time, which he was more concerned about.

Wu Mengting thought for a moment and said, “About half an hour, I think.”

After speaking, she asked with great curiosity, “Are you really that engrossed in this painting? You stared at it for half an hour without moving. If I didn’t know the truth, I would have thought you were a shill hired by Song Yi’s side.”

When Chen Feng heard it was only half an hour, he was secretly a little disappointed, but then he thought that he had gotten this for free, and he immediately became happy again. He said with a smile, “Just like the saying goes, ‘You are not a fish, how do you know the happiness of a fish?’ That’s my situation right now. I just feel very relaxed and comfortable all over my body when I look at this painting. Master Wang Yi’s ‘Orchid Pavilion Preface’ gave me the same feeling before. Otherwise, why do you think I spent so much money to buy it?”

“Really?” Wu Mengting was still a little skeptical.

Chen Feng said seriously, “I’m not lying to you. There’s no need.”

Only then did Wu Mengting nod with a mix of belief and doubt. “Alright. I believe you.”

Chen Feng smiled. “Speaking of which, I really have you to thank. If you hadn’t brought me to the art gallery last time, I wouldn’t have known that I have a connection with these two pieces of calligraphy and painting.”

Wu Mengting said with some worry, “I’m just afraid you’ll spend money recklessly on calligraphy and painting in the future and get scammed. If that happens, it’ll be my fault.”

Chen Feng quickly said, “You don’t have to worry about that. This time, when the other party offered to sell it to me for 1 million US dollars, didn’t I not buy it?”