However, in front of Jiang Shuisheng, Jiang Tao didn’t have the nerve to directly call the hotline to get the authorities to arrest them.
Although they had already beco a thing of the past.
One was a forr wife, and the other a biological daughter; how could there be no feelings at all?
After Jiang Shuisheng left, Jiang Tao took out his phone and dialed the 12339 spy report hotline.
The call connected, and the operator on the other end had a voice that was sweet with a hint of warmth.
Jiang Tao didn’t bother with small talk and directly got to the point, stating his report.
The operator was initially taken aback when Jiang Tao wanted to report three spies at once.
The female operator thought Jiang Tao was so kind of money-obsessed delusional.
After all, the hotline receives all sorts of bizarre calls every day.
People report their own fathers, their sons, their wives, their grandparents, and their grandchildren.
Reporting an entire family of three as spies like Jiang Tao did wasn’t unheard of either!
Though it seed absurd, the operator still faithfully recorded Jiang Tao’s call and contact information.
And the content of his report, which was quickly relayed to the appropriate departnt.
...
After hanging up, Jiang Tao glanced at the ti displayed on his phone.
Unbeknownst to him, it was already 10 AM.
There were still over two hours until lunchti.
"Should I go to Yuan ngqi’s house to mooch a al and also plot to get that painting from them?"
Jiang Tao lit another cigarette, exhaling smoke as he pondered how to ask for the Nine Fish Painting.
To Yuan ngqi’s family, it was just an ordinary painting.
But to Jiang Tao, that Nine Fish Painting, identified by the system as a special item, was a rare treasure!
"Got it!"
After finishing a cigarette, Jiang Tao suddenly had an idea.
Ring, ring, ring—
Just as Jiang Tao was about to head out to Yuan ngqi’s house, his phone rang in his pocket.
He took out his phone and saw the caller ID na "Squad Leader Yuan", which made Jiang Tao smile.
He had just been thinking about going to Yuan ngqi’s house for a al when her call ca through.
"Hello, Squad Leader Yuan."
Sliding his finger to answer the call, Jiang Tao greeted Yuan ngqi on the other end with a smile.
"Haha, I was just wondering where to eat lunch; I won’t be shy about it then!"
"Alright, alright, see you later then."
"Mm, okay, bye-bye."
After a brief chat on the phone, Jiang Tao hung up with a smile.
What a coincidence.
Just now, Yuan ngqi had called to invite him over for lunch at their house.
It was like getting a pillow handed to him when he was sleepy.
Putting his phone back in his pocket, Jiang Tao got up from the sofa and strode out the door.
Around 10:30 AM, the rcedes G-Wagon appeared once again at the entrance of the Yuan Family Manor where Yuan ngqi lived.
Yuan ngqi’s family of three, along with Lin Ranran, heard the commotion outside and ca out to greet him.
Everyone welcod Jiang Tao into the living room, with so pouring tea, others washing fruits, and so serving nuts.
The treatnt Jiang Tao received at Old Yuan’s house was rather high.
After chatting for a while, Yuan ngjie and Lin Ranran went to the kitchen to prepare lunch.
In the living room, only Jiang Tao and Yuan ngqi’s mother and daughter remained.
Jiang Tao casually set his gaze on the Nine Fish Painting hanging on the west wall of the living room and said:
"Aunt Zhao, this painting looks quite antique and must have been quite expensive to buy, right?"
"Pfft, haha~"
Before Zhao Huilan could speak, Yuan ngqi, who was peeling an apple for Jiang Tao, couldn’t hold back her laughter, causing her to shake with it.
"Jiang Tao, you really misjudged this ti."
"You child, Jiang Tao was just making a comnt, and you took it seriously, teasing him."
After chiding her daughter with a smile, Zhao Huilan looked at Jiang Tao and explained with a smile:
"Xiao Jiang, this painting was bought by Qiqi’s dad and at a local fair on a nearby town’s market stall 10 years ago."
"I rember it clearly; the owner wanted 28, and we bargained it down to 20."
"Really? You got it for 20 bucks back then?"
Jiang Tao said as he got up and approached the Nine Fish Painting on the wall.
Standing before the painting, Jiang Tao pretended to examine it ticulously, from top to bottom and left to right.
As he spoke, he pulled out his phone and clicked a few pictures, pretending to chat with soone on WeChat.
"What’s the matter, Jiang Tao? Does this painting really have sothing special about it?"
Yuan ngqi and Zhao Huilan were puzzled by Jiang Tao’s actions.
Jiang Tao looked at Yuan ngqi and her mother with a smile and said:
"Congratulations, Yuan ngqi, Aunt Zhao!"
"Huh? Congratulations on what?"
Both Yuan ngqi and her mother were at a loss as to why Jiang Tao was suddenly congratulating them.
Jiang Tao laughed and said, "Aunt Zhao, Yuan ngqi, have you ever heard of ’picking up a bargain’?"
"Picking up a leak?"
An utterly confused Zhao Huilan had no idea what he was talking about, thinking it might refer to water damage or a flooding incident involving the painting.
Did she and her husband’s vendor deceive them back then?
But...
That was 10 years ago, and it was only 20 or so bucks, so it didn’t seem worth quibbling over.
"A bargain? Jiang Tao, you an this painting might be an authentic piece?"
Zhao Huilan didn’t know what picking up a bargain ant, but as a young person, Yuan ngqi did!
When she used to sell houses, she would often advertise "bargain listings" to attract custors.
"Yes, I just sent a picture to my friend, and he said it’s an authentic piece by a sowhat famous artist."
"If you’re willing to sell it, he’s willing to pay 80,000 for it."
Jiang Tao earnestly spun a tale, with the friend he ntioned being none other than himself, a trick known as creating a fake friend.
Spending 80,000 to buy a painting that the system identifies as a special item seed worth it to him.
Though he could offer more, he didn’t see the necessity.
After all, the painting hung in Yuan ngqi’s family house was just an ordinary piece worth 20 bucks, only revealing greater value in his hands.
Paying for this painting wasn’t robbing them of their fortune.
"How much?"
"80,000?"
Yuan ngqi and Zhao Huilan were stunned by the price Jiang Tao ntioned, showing expressions of sheer amazent.
A painting they bought at the market 10 years ago for 20 bucks now had soone offering 80,000 for it!
A 4000-fold increase in 10 years!
"Jiang Tao, you’re not joking with us, right? Is this piece really worth 80,000?"
Incredulous, Yuan ngqi pointed at the Nine Fish Painting on the wall.
Last Chinese New Year, her brother Yuan ngjie had proposed replacing it with a family portrait.
Thankfully, her mother had vetoed it back then, allowing the painting to remain.
Otherwise, they might have tossed away 80,000 just like that!
Without Jiang Tao’s revelation today, the painting could have ended up discarded, left untouched in a village trash bin by anyone.
"I’m not kidding; my friend said he’d buy it for no more than 80,000."
"Aunt Zhao, Yuan ngqi, what do you think?"
"Would you like to keep hanging the painting here or sell it to my friend for cash?"
Jiang Tao calmly looked at the mother and daughter, awaiting their decision.
"It’s really unnecessary for our family to hang such an expensive painting... right, Qiqi?"
Zhao Huilan glanced at Yuan ngqi, clearly leaning toward selling the painting for cash.
After all, in a small rural family, who keeps an 80,000-yuan painting in their living room?
Such money could buy provisions for years.
"Cough, cough, I agree. If it’s truly worth 80,000, better to sell it as mom’s pocket money."
Yuan ngqi nodded in agreent, thinking it was just too extravagant to keep such a valuable painting at ho!
Zhao Huilan said, "This money should be split between you and your brother; I don’t need it."
Yuan ngqi replied, "No need, my brother and I can earn money. This money should be for you to spend at leisure."
Listening to the conversation, Jiang Tao internally rejoiced, certain the decision to sell the painting was made.
In their shoes, he would’ve chosen the sa.
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