A Dish Best Served Cold (The Man In Rage)
Chapter 429 A Windfall

Xing Tian was completely stunned. The diamond ring fell to the ground with a clang. Then he almost got shoved to the ground by Wang Kai-Ge and staggered a few steps before regaining his balance. Xu Mei-Feng, who was initially trying to get to the ring, instantly came to a standstill. Then she looked at Wang Kai-Ge perplexedly and asked, "Master Wang, what...what do you mean?" But Master Wang couldn't be bothered with Xu Mei-Feng and Xing Tian's reactions. Instead, he shouted deeply and pushed Xing Tian away before he went right up to Ye Fan.

Then he said with great exhilaration to Ye Fan, "My friend, can...can you let me have a look at the tripod?"

Ye Fan calmly smiled as he said, "It looks like there's still someone who knows his stuff in Yanjing. Go ahead if you want to."

Ye Fan graciously handed the tripod over to Master Wang after laughing.

"Humph, stop acting. It's just a stupid tripod. How can it be a treasure? Master Wang must have made a mistake. After he takes a close look at it, he will know that this tripod is nothing but worthless trash," sneered Li Yuan with her eyes filled with disdain.

She was clueless that the object she tossed out of her home last night was such a treasure.

Master Wang started scrutinizing the tripod as though it were a ravishing beauty while Li Yuan ridiculed Ye Fan.

Master Wang even took out a little wooden hammer from his bag and gently knocked away the dirt and rust on the surface of the tripod.

Then Master Wang used his shirt to clean it meticulously with his clothing.

In the end, a dignified tripod appeared before the crowd.

It was now like an unsheathed sword and was gleaming brightly in all its glory.

After Master Wang cleaned off all the rust and grime from the tripod, the thousand year old antique tripod reemerged before them.

"This...this...this is?"

Even people who were clueless about antique appraisal could clearly see that it was an extraordinary square tripod.

Master Wang was beside himself with joy.

"It's a national treasure. It's a national treasure!" said Master Wang excitedly as his hands trembled.

Master Wang's excited voice hit them like a stifled thunder as it echoed through the halls.

Xu Mei-Feng was instantly surprised to see Master Wang so excited. Then she asked perplexedly, "Master Wa...Wang, is this dumb tripod really...really a national treasure?”

"Shut up!' shouted Master Wang angrily the moment he heard Xu Mei-Feng, "This is a national relic. How can you insult it like that?"

"During the Republic era, there was a bronze square tripod called Four Sheep Square Tripod among a batch of artifacts which our forefathers excavated. That was the largest and most perfect Shang Dynasty sacrificial vessel that the country ever excavated. Online sellers estimated it is worth $26.6 billion. But those greedy and shortsighted businessmen have no idea how priceless it was. How could it be valued at a mere $26.6 billion?" said Wang fervently. The more the guests heard him, the more shocked they became.

Xing Tian's mouth gaped so wide that it was the size of a basin. Then he asked nervously, "Master Wa...Wang, is this the Four Sheep Square Tripod worth $26.6 bill...billion that you were talking about?" "Stupid dumbass!"

After Xing Tian said this, Master Wang scolded him furiously. Xing Tian was so embarrassed that his face blushed, and he became too afraid to speak.

"The Four Sheep Square Tripod is a huge national treasure weighing over 250 kilograms and already displayed in a museum. This square tripod here is only the size of my palm, how can it be the Four Sheep Square Tripod?"

Xing Tian, Li Yuan, and the others heaved a sigh of relief when they heard him.

Li Yuan was particularly green-eyed when she heard that the Four Sheep Square Tripod was worth $26.6 billion.

She thought she had lost her opportunity to become a multi-billionaire.

But fortunately, this country bumpkin didn't get his hands on the Four Sheep Square Tripod.

The tripod worth billions was the Four Sheep Square Tripod, but the one in Ye Fan's hands had images of four dragons and not a single sheep on it.

But right after everyone heaved a sigh of relief, Master Wang caused another turn of events as he continued, "Although this isn't the Four Sheep Square Tripod, judging from its shape, it's the Four Dragon Square Tripod, and it's even more precious!"

What?

"The Four Dragon Square Tripod?"

"More precious than the Four Sheep Square Tripod?"

Master Wang's words were like rocks that landed into the ocean and raised a tsunami. Everyone lost their calm and became once more filled with shock.

Then Master Wang shook his head and sighed.

"But sadly, this Four Dragon Square Tripod is too small, and bronze objects are valued based on their size. Although this Four Dragon Square Tripod hails from the Shang-Zhou era as well, it was merely a decorative item, hence the petite size. Also, it's an even greater pity that there is clearly severe damage from getting knocked against something. Once it has a single bump, it's value diminishes by a billion. Money is a minor loss, but the damage to its artistic value is astronomical. Friend, why didn't you take good care of such a national treasure?" said Master Wang as he sighed sadly.

In Master Wang's opinion, every single national artifact was an important part of Chinese art, and it pained him to see it get damaged.

But the guests were clearly disinterested in art, and they cared more about how much the tripod fetched.

"Shang Dynasty bronze artifacts are rare to begin with. Moreover, there are dragons on the Four Dragon Square Tripod, so its value will increase. Since there is some damage to it, its starting bid should be about $500 million," said Master Wang deeply based on his experience.

What?

"$500 million?" "And that is just the starting bid."

All the guests in the hall were stunned.

Many people present didn't even have $500 million worth in assets. This meant that this square tripod was worth more than all their years of hard work.

Many people inhaled deeply in shock.

And Li Yuan was stunned when she realized this square tripod was worth millions.

What...what did she do last night?

She threw an important national relic worth $500 million out the door last night.

$500 million!

Their family hotel was out of the way, so even if they sold it at a high price, it couldn't fetch more than $20 million.

This meant that she threw out a national relic equivalent to dozens of their hotel last night.

Instantaneously, Li Yuan fell into deep

regret.

Blood dripped from her heart.

That was $500 million they were talking about.

It was a real windfall!

And probably no one could stay calm about it.

Li Yuan ran over anxiously and put away the contempt she had for Ye Fan. Then she said ingratiatingly, "Mr Chu, please come over for dinner tonight again. There's no need for you to bring another gift. Come like you did last night, and just give us this tripod."