Chapter 160 - Jade Buddha Statue
Chapter 160 Jade Buddha Statue
Qin Haodong said, “Don’t worry, I’m ready for it. When I take it out, I’m sure it will satisfy your grandfather.”
Lin Momo said, “Can’t you show me what you have in mind? Do not be so mysterious.”
Qin Haodong laughed and said, “There will be no surprise if I tell you. This is the secret between Tang Tang and me. I can’t tell you for the time being.”
The little fellow then said, “Yes, yes, it’s my secret with Papa. I can’t tell anyone. I want to surprise Grandpa.”
Lin Momo cast a helpless glanced at Qin Haodong and said, “Well, do what you want to do, and I will see what you can do.”
Because Lin Xiaotian was old and liked to be quiet, he built a manor on the outskirts of Jiangnan City and lived there all the time.
Although Qin Haodong and Lin Momo came very early, many guests had already arrived at the manor by the time. Lin Zhiyuan and Lin Zhigao arrived early to greet the guests at the door.
Today, Lin Pingchao dressed up in an energetic-looking, wearing a brand-name suit at a very high price, following behind Lin Zhigao, and was like the core of the third generation of the Lin family.
When he saw Qin Haodong and Lin Momo coming with the little fellow, his eyes first flashed a trace of resentment, but he soon greeted them with a big smile, “Cousin, you are here.”
Lin Momo said, “Am I late?”
“No. I can handle this. Just go and have a rest in the hall, my cousin.”
In Lin Pingchao’s mind, he would like to hide Lin Momo so that he could show himself and leave a good impression to guests. Because today’s guests were all honorable ones. Many people even were important to Lin Xiaotian. As long as someone exaggerated him by a few words, it would definitely increase his impression in his grandfather’s mind.
Lin Momo also knew that his mind, but she didn’t care. She said, “I have to take care of Tang Tang. It would be left to you.”
Then, she took Qin Haodong to the manor together.
In the hall of the manor, although Lin Xiaotian was 80 years old, he was very energetic. Today, he wore a bright red Tang suit and sitting in the middle of the room to receive guests.
The old man had been in Jiangnan City for many years and had made many friends. Today, many senior officials and politicians, as well as elites from all walks of life came to visit him. These important people were left in the hall, and most of the other people went to the adjacent auditorium.
“Great-grandpa, I’ve come to see you!”
After entering the door, the little fellow jumped at Lin Xiaotian happily.
The old man was sitting on the chair smoothly, but when he saw the little fellow, he immediately smiled and stood up and hugged her in his arms. “Tang Tang, why don’t you come to see great-grandpa for so long? I missed you so much.”
“I missed Great-grandpa too.” The little fellow put her arms around the old man’s neck, and after a kiss on his cheek she said, “Great-grandpa, Papa and Mama are here too.”
“Your father is here?” Lin Xiaotian looked surprised.
“Yes, he’s coming. He’s over there,” the little fellow said and pointed back to Qin Haodong.
Lin Xiaotian glanced at Qin Haodong and then looked at Lin Momo with an inquiring expression.
“Grandpa, this is my boyfriend Qin Haodong, and Tang Tang’s godfather.”
Lin Momo did not speak much, but she introduced Qin Haodong’s identity in an all-around way and explained to the old man.
Qin Haodong went up and said, “Hello, my name is Qin Haodong, and I am Momo’s boyfriend.”
“Oh!” Lin Xiaotian nodded his head and began to look at Qin Haodong with burning eyes. A moment later, he nodded and said softly, “You are not bad.”
When he was speaking, his face was free of emotion, and it was not clear whether he really appreciated Qin Haodong or he just said polite words.
After greeting, Qin Haodong and Lin Momo sat down at one side, while the little fellow lay directly in the arms of the old man.
With the passage of time, more and more people came to offer birthday felicitations.
Towards noon, there was a commotion outside the door. Two middle-aged people walked into the hall together. Qin Haodong glanced at his two acquaintances. One was Qian Duoduo, president of Jiangnan Jade Association, and the other was Guo Feng, director of Jiangnan Antique Appraisal Center.
Although they were not official administrators, they were absolutely respected and authoritative figures in the antique and jade circles. So when they appeared, they were immediately surrounded and followed by many people.
The old man Lin Xiaotian had three hobbies in his life, jade, antique and painting. He had run the Lin’s Group for many years, so he had a very good relationship with Qian Duoduo and Guo Feng. They were old friends for many years. Seeing they entered the door, he got up to greet them.
Having said hello to the old man, Qian Duoduo and Guo Feng were just about to take their seats, they saw Qin Haodong sitting next to them.
Qian Duoduo strode to Qin Haodong and said with surprise, “Doctor Qin, you are here too.”
Guo Feng also followed him. After taking the Xuande Censor back last time, he had asked many experts to re-identify it and finally affirmed that it was the real Xuande Censor.
Because of this, he admired Qin Haodong’s ability to identify antiques, and came respectfully to say hello to Qin Haodong.
Both Qian Duoduo and Guo Feng were experts and masters in their fields, but it was unexpected that such two big men should be so respectful to this young man, which immediately aroused the guests’ curiosity about Qin Haodong.
Lin Xiaotian was also very clear about his two old friends. They were always proud, but now they took his new grandson-in-law so seriously, which made him become curious and look at Qin Haodong with a profound meaning.
After greeting, Qian Duoduo and Guo Feng just sat around Qin Haodong and exchanged views about jade and antique with him.
Qin Haodong did not know much about these two things. He relied entirely on spirituality to distinguish jadeite stone and antique. Of course, this kind of thing could not be explained clearly. So he basically did not speak much. While Qian Duoduo and Guo Feng talked endlessly.
However, because of this, he left an unfathomable feeling to these two people.
Time passed quickly. At 11:30 noon, Lin Momo helped Lin Xiaotian to the birthday banquet hall. There were more than twenty tables in the auditorium. There was a big character Shou which meant longevity in the middle. As soon as Lin Xiaotian entered the auditorium, the applause rang immediately.
After the guests had sat down, the host of the Lin family, who had been paid a lot of money, began to perform sensationally. He gave a full introduction to the life story of the old man. Next, the younger generations of the Lin family congratulated the old man on his birthday and presented their gifts.
The order of birthday congratulation was not very clear, but generally speaking, it was from outside to inside, from old to young. The first to offer birthday gifts were distant relatives of the Lin family, and finally turned to the two brothers Lin Zhiyuan and Lin Zhigao.
“Dad, I wish you a long life and all the best.”
Lin Zhiyuan said that then offered his gift, a very delicate evergreen. Although it was not valuable, it had profound implications. It was the most suitable gift for the birthday.
After him, Lin Zhigao delivered a longevity plaque after saying a few auspicious words.
According to order, it should be Lin Momo’s turn next, but Lin Pingchao came to Lin Xiaotian first and said, “Grandpa, I wish you a long life, such as the East Huaxia Sea, and Nanshan Mountain.”
After that, he waved his hand to the bodyguard behind him. The bodyguard brought up a silk box which was more than one foot high.
The box was inlaid with gold and jade, which seemed to be of great value only in packaging. It immediately attracted everyone’s attention and made people want to see what was in the box.
Lin Pingchao seemed to try to arouse everyone’s curiosity. He did not move very fast. He slowly opened the package of the silk box and gently took out a Jade Buddha Statue which was about 20 centimeters high.
The Jade Buddha Statue was crystal clear and white, delicate, moist and almost flawless. It looked like the fresh meat of a fat mutton. Its luster was like condensed oil. At first sight, it could be affirmed a good thing of great value.
“God, it is mutton-fat jade. This is the top grade mutton-fat jade…”
“Mutton-fat jade is not surprising, but such a big jade Buddha statue’s mutton-fat jade can be valuable…”
“He deserves to be the elder brother of the Lin family. It’s really hard to celebrate the old man’s birthday. How much does such a jade Buddha statue cost?”
Hearing the comments around him, Lin Pingchao smiled with a proud expression. He took the Jade Buddha statue in both hands and sent it to Lin Xiaotian.
“Grandpa, it is said that jade can support people. If you put this jade Buddha statue in your bedroom, you will surely live for more than one hundred years.”
Lin Zhigao also hurriedly said, “Pingchao has remembered father’s birthday. In order to congratulate you, he bought this Jade Buddha statue from an auction for 12 million yuan.”
Lin Xiaotian liked jade and antiques most in his life. When he saw this jade Buddha statue, he immediately smiled and received carefully in his hand and play it. After a while, he sighed and said, “Good thing! What a good thing! Pingchao is really considerate.”
After that, he turned to Qian Duoduo who was beside him and said, “President Qian, can you help me to see the Jade Buddha statue?”
Qian Duoduo was an expert on the identification of jade, a leading figure in the jade industry in Jiangnan City. He took the jade Buddha statue in his hands and looked at it for four or five minutes. Then he said, “It’s really good. It’s a fine mutton-fat jade. Besides, the art of carving is exquisite and lifelike. It’s a masterpiece of a famous expert.
If I am right, the value of this jade Buddha statue should be between 20 million and 30 million yuan. If he bought it with 12 million yuan, it’s a real bargain.”
Lin Pingchao said, “It was a small private auction at that time. Others would stop bidding at this price. Otherwise, I would buy it for grandpa’s birthday, no matter how expensive it would be.”
This fellow was not only sophisticated, but also good at flattering. He expressed his filial piety in a natural way.
Qian Duoduo did not return the jade Buddha statue to Lin Xiaotian after playing, but turned to Qin Haodong next to him, “Mr. Qin, please help me to look at the jade and see if I am right.”
After that, everyone stared at Qin Haodong. They did not understand how the young man could make Qian Duoduo, the president of the Jade Association, so respectful. Was the young man better at identifying Jade than he was?
Qin Haodong took the jade and looked at it from top to bottom. Lin Pingchao said proudly, “How about that? Is my jade Buddha statue good?”
His purpose in today was to show off at the old man’s birthday party and suppress Lin Momo. So he spent so much money to buy this. At the same time, he was very confident in the jade Buddha statue, believing that he would surely win the old man’s favor.
Unexpectedly, Qin Haodong smiled at him, and then raised his hand and fiercely threw the jade on the ground. Only hearing a click, the mutton-fat jade Buddha statue of more than 10 million suddenly became fragments.