After Being Blackened All Over the Internet, I Ruled the Military Variety Shows
Chapter 408 - 399: The Jiang Family’s Heirloom Ancient Painting

Chapter 408: Chapter 399: The Jiang Family’s Heirloom Ancient Painting

On the rare occasion of a family reunion, Jiang Wenhu was somewhat dissatisfied with Liu Chengyun showing up uninvited, but she wouldn’t show it openly.

Initially wanting to express concern for her daughter over a few words at the dinner table, she found no opportunity at all.

It was completely taken over by old Liu and her husband endlessly discussing ’investments,’ ’calligraphy and painting,’ ’collections’...

Only after finishing dinner and seeing that the two of them still showed signs of continuing, she couldn’t bear it anymore and chimed in, "Xixi is flying to Liangchuan to shoot a film tomorrow; it’s quite remote over there. Shouldn’t we prepare something for her to take along?"

Only then did Liu Chengyun come around, saying they’d chat another day, and awkwardly got up to bid goodbye.

As soon as he left, Jiang Wenhu twisted her husband’s arm, "If you’re talking business, do it outside, why bring it into the house? Xixi finally got a chance to come back, and all she’s hearing is your talks about investments."

Jiang Runcheng rubbed the spot where he’d been pinched red, feeling somewhat guilty, "We hadn’t even gotten to the main topic, and you already drove him away with your words!"

"What kind of main topic could there be?"

"Isn’t it because we’re planning to invest in calligraphy and painting? I just recalled that we have a painting in the house. Though it has no signature, it’s evidently quite old. I thought keeping it at home was of no use since it can’t be eaten or used, so I figured I’d take this opportunity to sell it at a high price."

"What painting? How come I don’t know about it?"

Jiang Lingxi and Jiang Lingxu, who stayed in the living room, also shook their heads in unison, "We don’t know either."

"It wasn’t anything precious; otherwise, it would’ve been taken by the bank for valuation when our family went bankrupt," Jiang Runcheng said, getting up, "I’ll bring it out for you to see."

Coming out of the bedroom, there was now a simple scroll painting in his hand.

It was clear it wasn’t preserved well; the edges were frayed.

After untying the string, Jiang Runcheng saw there were no water stains on the coffee table and directly spread it out there.

The three heads next to him moved closer.

On the already yellowed paper, a chestnut-colored steed rose, with a knight on its back in a nimble posture, his profile exuding heroic spirit.

The few willow branches and a peach blossom on the top left and bottom left of the painting revealed the season depicted in the painting.

Back when Jiang Wenhu married Jiang Runcheng, who was still a big boss, her family background was also good. She often frequented art galleries with other wealthy wives in her early years, but in recent years, the burden of life had pressed her to the point where she couldn’t breathe, so this sort of cultured activity naturally ceased.

But she still had an eye for art, "This is very well-painted!"

"What use is it to paint well," Jiang Runcheng snorted disdainfully, "This painting doesn’t have a signature or a seal. To put it bluntly, it’s a product with no identity. People recognize the signatures and seals left on paintings; we don’t even know who painted it. Old Liu said he knows craftsmen in this field who can imitate calligraphy and age the signature and stamp..."

Jiang Lingxu frowned, "Isn’t that deceiving people?"

Jiang Runcheng looked up at his naive son, "This painting is genuinely an antique, isn’t it? And when someone buys it, they’ll definitely like it for the painting itself. What I’m doing is just adding value to the painting, how is that deceiving anyone? A rare find to suit one’s heart, don’t you understand?"

Saying this, he prepared to roll the painting back up.

He was still planning on selling it at a high price, so he couldn’t let it get dirty or damaged.

A hand pressed down on the edge of the scroll.

Jiang Runcheng paused, turning his head to look at his daughter who hadn’t spoken.

"What’s up, little Xi?"

"I really like this painting." Jiang Lingxi met Jiang Runcheng’s eyes, "Why not..."

Jiang Wenhu intervened immediately, slapping her husband’s hand away, "Then let’s give this painting to Xixi."

Jiang Runcheng: "..."

He was about to say that he hoped to use this painting to turn things around; after all, investments have cycles, but if he went through the channel Old Liu found to handle it and sell it, he could get money right away.

But his wife’s glare stopped him, "Did you forget how much debt Xixi helped you pay back before? And you’re still reluctant to part with a painting?"

Jiang Runcheng wanted to say it was their son-in-law who helped pay, but without his daughter, he wouldn’t have a son-in-law in the first place.

He could only suppress his reluctance and nod, "Since little Xi likes it, then you can have it."

Shouldn’t have brought it out to show off!

After all, in his hands, it was just a painting.

Jiang Lingxi rolled up the painting, opened her suitcase to put it in, and then returned to sit on the sofa.

She didn’t know what politeness was!

Especially when the painting depicted Lingdang.

Jiang Wenhu was much happier compared to Jiang Runcheng, who was still somewhat regretful about giving the painting to his daughter.

All these years, she felt guilty toward her daughter and wanted to make amends, but her daughter always said she didn’t lack anything while they often needed her help instead.

Now there’s finally something the daughter likes that makes her happy.

She could tell her daughter genuinely liked that painting.

"How long will Xixi be gone to Liangchuan to film this time? It’s much colder there than here. I heard you need to wear a coat at night."

"If things go smoothly, a month, at most no more than two months."

"October, well that’s a bit better, just worry about snow, make sure to keep warm then."

...

This time, Jiang Lingxi truly understood what it feels like for parents to nag endlessly.

Though it felt pretty good.

But the originally spacious suitcase was opened again and stuffed full with newly added warm clothing and food and drinks.

Jiang Lingxi had reason to suspect that if there was still space in the suitcase, Mrs. Jiang would surely continue to fill it.

Only when she returned to her bedroom did Jiang Lingxi get a chance to glance at the messages she hadn’t had time to look at earlier, being busy listening to the nagging.

Shen Yunqing: [I got your destination from Director Wei, Huzi has already set off ahead of time, Changning is currently not in the Imperial City and will meet you at Liangchuan Airport.]

Jiang Lingxi: [Why did Huzi leave early? He could fly with me from the Imperial City.]

Shen Yunqing: [He’s transporting a large item, inconvenient for a flight.]

Jiang Lingxi: ?

But she quickly thought of something and typed to ask: [Did you make him drive your RV on the road?]

Shen Yunqing: [With an RV, it will be more comfortable.]

Jiang Lingxi: [Cat clasped fists.jpg]

After a while, Jiang Lingxi looked at the expressive sticker Shen Yunqing sent her, indicating ’no need to be polite,’ and couldn’t help but laugh.

She could almost imagine this person rummaging through suitable stickers for the sake of returning the courtesy.

[I received a painting today, a gift from my family. You’d never guess what it is.]

[Oh? What kind of painting is it?]

[It depicts me riding Lingdang. Jiang Runcheng said it was passed down from the Jiang family, and it should be genuine. I might have figured out part of the reason for coming here.]

Being online, Jiang Lingxi spoke indirectly, but she believed Shen Yunqing would understand her meaning.

Shen Yunqing indeed understood. Seeing the last sentence, his heart skipped a beat.

Before he could think about how to reply, another message appeared on the screen: [When I return from Liangchuan, I’ll think it’s necessary for us to have a good chat.]

...

[Alright.]

[It’s late, rest early.]

[You too.]

Before sleeping, Jiang Lingxi opened the mind map on her phone, something she would fiddle with whenever she had the whim or thought of something.

She titled the mind map: Not Just Luck, Nor Mere Coincidence.

Ever since she was reborn after her death, she’d met Shen Yunqing, Xia Zhi, and the monk-mage Wu Jue.

How Shen Yunqing managed to find the original owner before she arrived and bind her with a marriage certificate, why Mei Shuiqing used Jiang Xiyu to plot against the original owner, perhaps he’s targeting her, and now Chong Yin, whose true identity is a mystery, suddenly appeared in the film crew, and now she has a Jiang family heirloom painting of her and Lingdang.

These accumulating discoveries and pieces of the puzzle were becoming increasingly numerous and intriguing.

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