Everyone had not expected the master seller to be even more anxious than Chen Feng, the buyer. If Chen Feng hadn’t been so certain about the unique comfort the painting brought him, he would have suspected that there might be something wrong with it, or that it was not worth 3 million yuan.
But Chen Feng knew the miraculous nature of the painting, and to him personally, such a miraculous item really wasn’t very expensive at 3 million.
After all, the artist was regarded as a genuine master of calligraphy; his works were definitely valuable, and there was no doubt about it.
So, Chen Feng readily agreed to conduct the transaction immediately.
The two parties drafted the transaction contract right there in the office of Director Huang of the art gallery.
Wu Mengting did not expect Chen Feng to decide to buy so impulsively, and for 3 million to purchase a single piece of calligraphy. She couldn’t help but quietly advise, "Although Master Wang Yi’s calligraphy is valuable, you should still be cautious about spending 3 million on a single piece. It would be better to have an expert authenticate it before completing the transaction."
Chen Feng confidently said, "Don’t worry, in my eyes, this piece is worth 3 million. As for authenticity, I can tell."
Seeing this, Wu Mengting had no further advice to give.
The transaction contract was standard and easy to handle; they just downloaded and printed it out.
Neither party invited a lawyer; after both reviewed the contract, they each signed their names.
Next came the payment.
The art gallery did have a POS machine, but for safety’s sake, Chen Feng still went to the bank with Ms. Zhai to make the transfer.
After returning to the art gallery, Chen Feng and Ms. Zhai, accompanied by Director Huang, instructed the staff to take down the copy of the "Lanting Preface" from the display wall.
It was framed in an aluminum alloy frame with a layer of heat-shrink film for protection on the front.
Chen Feng could tell at a glance that the calligraphy had not been tampered with, and that was enough for him.
After two staff members carefully took down the calligraphy from the wall, Director Huang enthusiastically asked, "Mr. Chen, do you want to take it with you now, or shall we help you transport it back?"
"No need, I’ll take it myself."
Chen Feng stepped forward and took the calligraphy directly from the hands of the staff members, tucking it under his arm.
Ms. Zhai frowned upon seeing Chen Feng’s action and could not help but say, "Mr. Chen, this piece is a proud work of Master Wang Yi. Please make sure to cherish and maintain it well once you get home."
Chen Feng smiled and nodded, "I will, don’t worry."
He then nodded to Director Huang and, amid the varied expressions of the onlookers, left the art gallery with poise.
In doing so, he managed to show off a bit.
The visitors to the exhibition generally knew something about Master Wang Yi. His works were not cheap. So, being able to buy one of his pieces on the spot really marked someone as wealthy.
As for those who understood the value of the "Lanting Preface," they could only describe Chen Feng, the nouveau riche, with envy, jealousy, and hatred.
Director Huang and a few others felt exactly this way.
Chen Feng, who had bought the calligraphy as casually as if he was buying vegetables, was undoubtedly a real rich man.
Wu Mengting followed Chen Feng out of the art gallery feeling somewhat dizzy. Only after getting into the car did she sober up and finally confirm that Chen Feng had indeed spent 3 million on the spot to buy a piece of Wang Yi’s calligraphy.
Even though her family was well-off, 3 million was not an amount she could easily come by.
It was then that she finally acknowledged Chen Feng as someone wealthy.
Before, she knew that Chen Feng had money but didn’t grasp the extent.
Now, she had a very concrete understanding of the level of Chen Feng’s wealth.
The two reached the parking spot where Chen Feng had parked his car, and he directly slid the 3-million-worth calligraphy horizontally into the trunk—it fit just right.
Chen Feng then turned to Wu Mengting, who was somewhat stunned, and said, "Call Lin Wan and see where she is."
They hadn’t seen Lin Wan at the art gallery earlier.
"Oh, okay, I’ll give her a call."
Wu Mengting quickly took out her phone and called Lin Wan.
"Where are you?... Ah, you went to the museum."
Lin Wan had gone to a museum not far from the art gallery to do a live stream. Her earlier live stream of Wang Yi’s calligraphy exhibition had few viewers, so she left the art gallery and, upon the suggestion of a wealthy patron during the live stream, went to the nearby museum instead.
"She has to stream a bit longer. She said we could go back first."
"Alright then. Let’s head back."
Chen Feng was not the least bit polite; besides, their place was not far from there, and he was also eager to go back and look at the "Lanting Preface."
Wu Mengting had no objections, even though she somewhat hoped that Chen Feng would accompany her to the museum.
But then she thought of the calligraphy worth 3 million in the trunk and could not voice her desire.
It really wasn’t safe to have such an expensive piece lying unwatched in the trunk.
At least that’s what Wu Mengting believed.
As the car started, Wu Mengting couldn’t help but ask curiously, "Brother Feng, what made you think of buying this piece of calligraphy?"
"I find looking at this calligraphy very comfortable. Plus, Master Wang Yi is a renowned calligrapher in the country, so buying his work now should pay off."
Wu Mengting nodded slightly and said, "Although I don’t fully understand the commercial value of his works, if Ms. Zhai wasn’t lying earlier, your 3 million purchase of his proud work, especially the acclaimed copied version of the ’Lanting Preface,’ shouldn’t be at a loss, because this calligraphy has great potential for appreciation."
Chen Feng laughed and said, "Appreciation, that I’m not too concerned about. I mainly just like the piece. It’s really well written, and looking at it makes me feel relaxed."