Fred said: "Well, bring this painting to me for a look. After all, we cooperate most with the Li family's auction house. Since it is someone sent by the Li family, we still have to give it some face."
Cisse agreed and put the scroll in Fred's hand.
Fred took the scroll, unpacked it, and spread it out on the table. When he opened it halfway, Jacqueline's naked upper body was exposed.
As Sir Owen's butler, Fred was also a knowledgeable person, especially in antiques. Although he only opened half of the painting, he already recognized that it was Picasso's wife Jacqueline.
Suddenly his body felt as if he had been struck by lightning, his whole body began to tremble slightly, and he became cautious when opening the scroll.
He opened the entire painting and saw a complete Jacqueline. He was sure that this was Picasso's painting and shouted excitedly: "Perfect, it's so perfect!"
Sir Owen poured himself a glass of red wine and was sipping it slowly beside him. After hearing Fred's words, he said with some dissatisfaction: "Dear Fred, it's just a painting. How can I make you lose your temper like this?"
What kind of ancient paintings don’t we have in our treasure room?”
"No, we really don't have any here!" Fred shouted excitedly, "Sir, this is a painting by Picasso. Look, this is Jacqueline!"
After hearing Fred's words, Sir Owen immediately put down the wine glass in his hand and said with disbelief: "Fred, are you kidding me? This is not what a gentleman should do."
"Sir Owen, why am I kidding you? Look, this is Picasso's wife Jacqueline."
After confirming that Fred was not joking with him, Sir Owen walked over quickly, and his expression became extremely excited when he saw the painting in front of him clearly.
"Oh my God, it was my sincerity that moved God to send me Picasso's scroll."
Sir Owen took the white gloves sent by a servant and put them on his hands, and then began to examine the painting carefully.
A few minutes later, he shouted excitedly: "Dear Fred, I confirm that this is the authentic work of Picasso. It is so perfect."
Although he is not a professional appraiser, he has collected countless antique treasures over the years and has certain attainments in appraising ancient paintings.
Fred said: "Sir, just in case, let's bring in the appraiser Gerald."
"You're right, this is Picasso's painting, we can't be careless." Sir Owen took a deep breath, calmed down his excitement, and said to a servant next to him, "Invite Mr. Gerald as quickly as possible.
come over."
"Okay Sir."
The servant agreed and quickly walked out of the living room. A few minutes later, a blond and blue-eyed white man came in. He was Gerald, Sir Owen's personal treasure appraiser.
Although Gerald is Owen's personal appraiser, he has a very high reputation in the field of international antique appraisal. So far, there has never been any error in the works he has appraised.
After entering the living room, Gerald saw the excited Sir Owen and Fred, and asked doubtfully: "Dear Sir, have you found any treasure?"
Sir Owen said excitedly: "Dear Gerald, come and see, Picasso's painting, this is Picasso's painting!"
When Gerald heard about Picasso's paintings, he perked up and quickly walked to the table. Then he took out his white gloves and magnifying glass from his pocket and examined them carefully.
After a full five minutes, Sir Owen couldn't bear it any longer and asked: "Dear Gerald, tell me quickly if this is a genuine Picasso?"
Gerald stood up and said excitedly: "Dear Sir, I can swear to God, this is definitely Picasso's masterpiece."
Sir Owen exclaimed excitedly: "Great, so great, I finally own a Picasso work."
Fred was relatively calm and said: "Dear Sir, have you forgotten that this painting does not belong to you now, but to Mr. Qin who is waiting outside the door."
Sir Owen slapped his forehead and shouted: "God, forgive me, I asked the distinguished guest to wait outside the door. My dear Fred, let's go out together quickly and invite the most distinguished guest in."
Outside the manor, Uncle Cheng said to Qin Haodong: "Mr. Qin, Sir Owen's status is very distinguished. Are you sure he will meet us after seeing the painting?"
"Uncle Cheng, don't worry, I believe Sir Owen will come out to greet us soon."
According to the information Qin Haodong got from Tian Ye, Sir Owen is very eager to get a Picasso work, and I believe he will definitely come out to greet him after seeing his painting.
While the two were talking, the door suddenly opened, and Sir Owen hurried out with Fred and Gerald, followed by four or five servants.
Sir Owen came to Qin Haodong, put one hand on his chest, bent down slightly, and performed a standard gentleman's courtesy.
"Dear Mr. Qin, please forgive me for my neglect of you."
Qin Haodong said: "Sir Owen, I'm glad to see you."
"Dear sir, beautiful lady, please come with me."
Greeted by Sir Owen and a group of servants, Qin Haodong and Nalan Wushuang walked into the manor together.
Uncle Cheng had a look of shock on his face. He was very aware of Sir Owen's status in Hong Kong Island, and he didn't understand what kind of magic Qin Haodong used to make him come out to greet him in person.
As the butler of the Li family, he naturally knew that he was not suitable to participate in such an occasion, so he did not follow into Sir Owen's manor, but returned to the car to wait.
After entering the living room, Sir Owen warmly welcomed Qin Haodong and Nalan Wushuang to sit down, gave them each a glass of fine red wine, and then said with a smile on his face: "Dear Qin, this painting of yours is so perfect.
.
I have always longed to own a Picasso painting, and I would like to ask how you can transfer this painting, or in Chinese terms, it is called reluctantly giving up."
Although Sir Owen is from the Empire on which the sun never sets, because he grew up in Hong Kong Island, he not only speaks Chinese very well, but also knows a lot about Chinese culture, and even uses idioms.
Qin Haodong said: "Of course, I have long heard that Sir Owen has collected many Chinese antiques here, so I would like to exchange Picasso's paintings with you."
Sir Owen said: "Mr. Qin, I am very willing to become friends with you and do some exchange of collections. Do you have a target that you have chosen?"
Qin Haodong spread his hands and said, "I don't know this yet, because I don't know what Sir Owen has in his collection."
According to Tian Ye, he did not directly state the purpose of his trip.
"It doesn't matter. I can let you choose. As long as the items are suitable, we can make an exchange that satisfies both of us."
Sir Owen said to Fred next to him: "Bring us the catalog of our collection and let Mr. Qin choose it."
"Okay, sir."
After Fred finished speaking, he turned around and went out. He didn't have much time and walked in with a catalogue, which recorded the collections in Sir Owen's treasure house.
"Mr. Qin, please take a look."
Fred politely sent the catalog to Qin Haodong.
"Thanks!"
Qin Haodong smiled at Fred, then opened the catalog and looked through it quickly.
Sir Owen's collection is indeed very rich, with almost thousands of pieces, almost including antiques from all over the world.
The first part of the catalog is full of European works of art. It can be seen that in Sir Owen's heart, these collections have a higher status.
However, Qin Haodong didn't care about these things at all. He flipped through it quickly and found the bronze head of the twelve zodiac animals he dreamed of - the chicken head in the last few pages of the catalog.
He suppressed the excitement in his heart and said: "Sir Owen, I was lucky enough to take a photo of the snake head you auctioned at yesterday's auction. As a Chinese, I have special feelings for this zodiac bronze head.
I want to take them all back to China in my lifetime.
I just saw that there is a bronze head of the twelve zodiac signs in your catalog, and I decided to exchange this Picasso painting for the chicken head, what do you think?"
Sir Owen said: "Dear Qin, as a friend I should fulfill your wish. These twelve zodiac bronze heads are your Chinese treasures. I also like them very much, so I am a little reluctant to part with them."
Qin Haodong smiled slightly. He knew very well that this foreigner was not reluctant at all. Just like Tianye said, Chinese antiques were not paid much attention to by him. This can be seen from the order of the twelve zodiac bronze heads in the catalog.
Sir Owen said this because he was not satisfied with the price he quoted. It is true that if Picasso's paintings and the twelve zodiac copper capitals were exchanged for Chinese coins, a twelve zodiac copper head would cost about 5,000.
It’s about 10,000 yuan, and this Picasso painting is worth at most 10 million Chinese coins.
Although exchanges between collectors focus more on the reputation of the collection, the value cannot differ too much.
He said: "Sir Owen, I am very sincere. How many Picasso paintings do you think will make you reluctant to part with this bronze head of the Chinese Zodiac? Two or three?"
After he finished speaking, Sir Owen's eyes suddenly lit up and he said excitedly: "Dear Qin, do you think you still have Mr. Picasso's paintings in your hand?"
Qin Haodong smiled and expressed his acquiescence, but he did not say how many Picasso paintings he still had. This was also a kind of negotiation, and of course he would not reveal his trump card in advance.
Sir Owen thought for a while, stretched out a palm and said: "5! As long as you have 5 Picasso sketches, I will exchange this twelve zodiac bronze heads with you."
Qin Haodong said: "Sir Owen, five pictures are really too many. You must understand that these are Picasso's paintings. If they can be included in your treasure trove, they will definitely help you become the world's first-class collector."
Although he has 10 such sketches in his hand, and although he can draw one of these sketches in a few minutes, Sir Owen has so many treasures here that he does not mind exchanging some more and taking them back to China.