As shown on the door and signboard, this is an antique store specializing in Western antiques and art.
There are many oil paintings and sculptures on display in the store, as well as other miscellaneous items, such as antique clocks and the like.
These so-called Western antique artworks cover works from various historical periods and most art schools from the Renaissance to modern times, and are a dazzling array.
Xiao Ran and the others have been in this antique shop for nearly fifteen minutes and have seen a lot of things.
During this process, everyone was admiring these so-called Western antiques and discussing them in low voices.
Xiao Ran, who was the center of everyone's attention, would ask about the price of a certain oil painting or sculpture from time to time, but that was all.
Although he would ask for quotations for so-called antique works of art, he did not purchase any of them, which was puzzling!
Seeing this scene, Director Qian Gu and others felt a headache, but they were helpless.
Xiao Ran's approach made it impossible for them to find the target even if they wanted to arrange a sniper attack.
You can't arrange for someone to buy everything Xiao Ran asked for a quote. That would be too obvious!
While talking, Xiao Ran looked at an expressionist oil painting again and admired it intently for a moment.
This expressionist oil painting depicts a naked man lying on a bed.
The man was skinny, holding an equally skinny sleeping Dalmatian in his arms.
The light in the painting is dim and the tone is low, giving people an eerie feeling. The man and dog in the painting have no emotion or temperature at all.
At first glance, they look like two corpses waiting to be collected and may be taken away for burial or cremation at any time.
In this oil painting, the painter's brushstrokes are quite tense, but the colors are very solid.
The exposed veins on the muscles of the man and the dog, as well as the everyday composition, seem to be narrating the reality of life, but it makes people deeply uneasy!
Looking at this oil painting, Xiao Ran couldn't help but fell into deep thought.
At this moment, Xu Lin, who was standing aside, suddenly whispered:
"The man and the dog in this oil painting are not two corpses, right? They look really scary!"
Before he finished speaking, Wang Jue continued:
"Isn't it? I don't know what the painter wants to express?"
"These Western painters always paint some weird things, and I don't understand them!"
Following their discussion, Xiao Ran woke up.
He turned to look at the two beauties, and then joked:
"It seems you need to learn some Western art appreciation to avoid making people laugh!"
"This is an expressionist painting, which can also be said to be figurative. It is intended to express the reality of life!"
"To be honest, the quality of this expressionist painting is not bad, but I don't know which artist's work it is."
When the three of them chatted, they all spoke Mandarin.
And the sound is very low, coupled with the protection of the mask, there is basically no need to worry about leaking secrets.
Hearing Xiao Ran's words, the two beauties blushed.
"We are not art students, how can we understand these Western oil paintings!"
"Moreover, there are so many schools of Western art, and many of them are obscure, making it even harder to understand!"
Xu Lin defended herself in a low voice.
At this moment, the director of the Tokyo Art Museum suddenly came forward and asked curiously:
"Sean, what do you think of this expressionist painting?"
"There is no author's signature on this painting. Which artist do you think it is?"
Xiao Ran turned to look at this old friend, and then shook his head.
"I couldn't tell which artist this expressionist painting was for the moment."
"But what is certain is that this painting is of a certain standard, otherwise it would not be displayed here."
"Just judging from the style of this oil painting, it looks a bit like the work of Lucian Freud"
"In fact, Freud did create works with similar themes, and those paintings are very famous."
Hearing his explanation, the director of the Tokyo Art Museum and several other Japanese students nodded.
Just as they were looking at the painting one after another, they were secretly appraising it.
Xiao Ran turned to look at the antique shop owner standing a few meters behind, and asked with a smile:
"Boss Araki, what's the price of this expressionist oil painting? Let me know."
"This oil painting looks interesting and worth studying!"
The antique shop owner named Araki didn't take Xiao Ran's inquiry seriously.
He thought that Xiao Ran was just asking for the price as before, and would not actually buy this expressionist oil painting!
Without any hesitation, he immediately made an offer.
"Mr. Sean, this painting "Sleeping Man and Dalmatian Dog" is of good artistic quality, but it's a pity that it doesn't have the author's signature!"
"Its price is $6,800. If you like it, you can own this painting as long as you accept the price."
Before he finished speaking, Xiao Ran nodded and accepted the offer.
"Okay, $6,800, deal, I want this expressionist painting!"
"ah!"
Suddenly there was an exclamation at the scene, and everyone was stunned.
The only exception was David. His eyes suddenly lit up, and a hint of surprise flashed across them quickly.
No one expected that Xiao Ran went against the norm and bought the oil painting without hesitation, without even cutting the price.
This result is completely beyond everyone's expectation.
Both the antique shop owner and Curator Qiangu all felt that they had been deceived and that something was wrong.
It turns out that you have been performing before. By constantly asking for prices but not purchasing any antique artwork, you confuse everyone and make everyone relax their vigilance.
Until you bastard finds a truly valuable target, you will take action unexpectedly and take down the antique art you want.
Thinking of this, all the Japanese people present felt their teeth itching.
However, they cannot change the outcome of the fait accompli.
Unless you are completely shameless, when the previous offer was a fart!
With the status of Zenitani Mami and others in the Japanese antique shop, they would not dare to ruin their reputation even if they could do such a thing!
With them on the scene, the antique shop owner didn't dare to turn his back on them!
In fact, even if Qiangu Zhenmei and the others were not here, facing Xiao Ran, the antique shop owner would not dare to do such a shameless thing.
In that case, he will never be able to work in this industry again!
In a moment, all the Japanese at the scene woke up.
As soon as they woke up, Qian Guzhenmei and others immediately looked at each other quickly. Everyone's eyes were filled with regret and a little heartache.
They knew very well that they and others were being screwed again, but they could only eat Coptis chinensis in silence!
Immediately afterwards, they all stepped forward and began to carefully examine and identify this expressionist painting.
Looking at the antique shop owner Araki, although he is awake, his face is full of pain.
Through the actions of Xiao Ran and Qian Gu Zhenmei, this guy has realized that he must have been tricked and fell into a bottomless pit!
Ever since Sean entered the antique store, he has been quietly digging holes to prepare for now!
It wasn't until he discovered this expressionist oil painting that he took action and kicked himself into this big hole!
This expressionist oil painting is obviously a top-notch work of art and of amazing value!
Thinking of this, Boss Araki immediately asked tremblingly:
"Is this painting "Sleeping Man and Dog" really a work by Freud?"
As he said that, he looked at Xiao Ran, expecting to get an answer.
Not only him, Zenitani Mami and others all turned their heads and looked over, also wanting to know the answer to this question.
Xiao Ran shook his head and said with a smile:
“I’m not sure whose work this expressionist painting is, but I’m interested in studying it.”
"Can we trade? Boss Araki, unless you want to go back on your word."
Araki was dumbfounded and didn't know what to do.
The next moment, he turned to look at Zenitani Mami and others, his eyes full of prayer, trying to ask for help from these big shots in the Japanese antique shop.
Qian Guzhenmei and the others had no choice at all. They could only bite their back molars and say:
"Since Mr. Sean accepts this offer, this expressionist oil painting should be sold to him."
"In the antiques business, the most important thing is credibility. Don't break the rules!"
Hearing this, Araki's eyes suddenly dimmed a lot.
Then, he nodded painfully.
"Okay, Mr. Sean, deal, it's only $6,800."
"Once you pay the price, this expressionist oil painting will be yours!"
"But I have a request. After the transaction is completed, I hope you can explain what you found on this painting?"
"I believe you must have made a special discovery before you purchased this oil painting."
Xiao Ran looked at this guy, smiled and nodded.
"I can agree to your request, Boss Araki"
"But I'm not sure whether my guess is correct. There are certain risks here."
As he spoke, he bumped elbows with Araki and concluded the art deal.
The rest is very simple.
In the blink of an eye, Xiao Ran had completed the transfer using his mobile phone, and received both money and goods.
At his request, Araki produced an English version of the contract, and both parties signed it on the spot.
Seeing this scene, all the Japanese at the scene were even more certain.
This expressionist oil painting of unknown origin is most likely a top-notch work of art.
When visiting other antique stores and galleries before, Xiao Ran would only require both parties to sign a formal art transaction contract to avoid legal disputes only when he purchased top-quality artworks of astonishing value!
He basically transferred the rest of the antique artworks of relatively average value.
It is not required to sign an art transaction contract. At most, you can add a few notes when transferring money.
It can be seen from this that this expressionist oil painting is so important in his eyes that it should be a top-notch work of art.
As soon as the transaction was completed, the director of the Tokyo Museum of Art couldn’t wait to say:
"Sean, tell me, what did you find on this expressionist painting? Everyone wants to know about it!"
"Based on the style and characteristics of this painting, is it really a work by the British expressionist master Freud?"
"However, in the sequence of Freud's works, I seem to have never heard of the existence of this oil painting."
Following his words, several other guys who knew Expressionist art nodded in agreement!
Xiao Ran looked at these little Japanese, thought for a moment, and then said with a smile:
"Gentlemen, I'm not sure whether this painting is the work of the expressionist master Freud!"
"I still need to make a careful identification before I can give an accurate answer. Please wait patiently for a while."
As he spoke, he suddenly reached out and took out a magnifying glass from his coat pocket, and pretended to be serious about appraising the oil painting.
The scene immediately fell silent, and everyone stared at him!
Freud "Man and Dog"
