Chu Xiangqian remembered that in the ten years from 1960 to 1970, the highest auction record for a Picasso oil painting was only US$55,000.
By 1970, the price had even dropped a bit, to only $53,200.
But Picasso died a few years later, and in just five or six years, the highest price rose to $3.3 million.
In the next 20 years, the price rose sharply again, and then remained stable at around 50 million US dollars.
In other words, if you spend $50,000 to buy a Picasso oil painting, your price will increase 1,000 times in about 30 years.
With such a high rate of return, Chu Xiangqian couldn't even convince himself to give up without getting involved.
Thinking of this, Chu Xiangqian looked at Norton again, "Help me buy some Picasso paintings, and I'll exchange them with you for the skin of a white tiger. How about that?"
Norton couldn't help but be surprised when he heard about the white tiger skin.
After repeatedly confirming with Chu Qianqian that it was a white tiger skin, Norton breathed heavily in surprise.
Whether you buy it back as a gift to Mountbatten or as a gift to the royal family, it will definitely help your status in the family and your future prospects.
"Master, can I see that white tiger skin? Otherwise, when I meet a collector who collects Picasso oil paintings, I don't know how to explain to him what happened when the white tiger skin fell to the ground."
Chu Qianqian glanced at the track, secretly thinking that when he comes here to play in the future, he should just watch the fun and relax.
The Jockey Club's capabilities on Hong Kong Island are greater than most people imagine.
If you guess correctly often, you will definitely be targeted by the Jockey Club.
Of course, if you want to be the horse owner, that's another matter.
He looked at Norton and said, "Let's go back to Kowloon. I'll treat you to grilled venison steak. As for the steak you owe me, treat me when the antique arrives in Hong Kong Island."
Norton nodded hurriedly, and Chu Qianqian walked side by side while chatting to find the car.
And their actions have actually been seen by people who are interested.
Most people guessed that Norton was attracted to kung fu. Then he became envious and jealous of Chu Xiangqian.
Although many English people strongly oppose it and even advocate the abolition of the royal family, if there is an opportunity to obtain a knighthood appointed by the royal family, 99% of the English people will not hesitate at all.
Even after the new millennium, not many people refuse.
It's not just about a huge rise in status, it's also about money and power.
Even directly participate in politics.
Those who don’t accept it would be weird.
And although the nobility declined and was kicked off the stage, it was just because they became poorer and poorer.
But for the big nobles, their influence is still there, so naturally some people will fawn over them.
Since Chu Xiangqian knew this, he would certainly think about how to use Norton and his grandfather to increase his influence on Hong Kong Island.
When they arrived at the Youguo Restaurant, Duan Hongchun heard that Norton was a noble with a title, and this aristocratic boy was very respectful to Chu Xiangqian, and the way he looked at Chu Xiangqian changed.
He hurriedly invited Chu Xiangqian and Norton into the best private room.
After hearing Chu Xiangqian's talk about getting venison steaks and special delicacies, Duan Hongchun hurriedly named more than a dozen dishes.
Chu Qianqian rolled his eyes at Lao Duan, "Okay, just two dishes and one soup, don't do those time-consuming things."
Duan Hongchun glanced at Norton and saw that he had no objection, so he nodded and went out to prepare.
But I thought in my heart that Master Chu is really a capable person, even the nobles are so obedient to him.
Secretly wondering if he sent his son to be Chu Qianqian’s apprentice?
Returning to the kitchen, I watched the most skilled chef cook a large portion of charcoal-grilled deer steak.
I first tasted a piece with a bowl, plate and chopsticks. When I felt satisfied, I had someone divide it into plates and carry it into the private room.
Seeing Chu Qianqian not using a knife and fork but using chopsticks instead, Duan Hongchun thought he didn't know how to use it and started to explain.
Chu threw the chopsticks forward and stared at Duan Hongchun for a few times, which immediately surprised Duan Hongchun and Norton, who felt that the grilled deer steak was not good enough, and his eyelids jumped.
After a while, Chu Xiangqian asked Duan Hongchun, "Is the restaurant a Chinese restaurant or a Western restaurant?"
Duan Hongchun understood immediately and saw Chu Qianqian smile and say to Norton, "This is a Chinese restaurant. You can try using chopsticks. This is also an experience for you."
Norton was stunned for a moment, then nodded, picked up a pair of red and black chopsticks, lamely picked up a deer steak and ate it.
Chu Qianqian then looked at Duan Hongchun, "Old Duan, being hospitable is a good thing, but being overly enthusiastic is flattery. Moreover, there are many dining etiquettes in Chinese food, and even extravagant ones will make the guests feel that their wallets are too tight, understand. Are you done yet?"
Duan Hongchun nodded hurriedly, "I understand, I understand. Don't worry, Master Chu. From now on, our restaurant will strictly abide by Chinese etiquette and rules."
“That’s good,” Chu Xiangqian then smiled at Duan Hongchun and said, “Think about it for yourself, there are many dishes in Chinese food that are not suitable for using knives and forks at all.
Also, for foreigners, using chopsticks to eat is actually a kind of fun.
Maybe after returning home, I can brag and show off to my friends and relatives. "
Duan Hongchun understood this mentality after just a moment's thought. Being in the limelight is the same regardless of whether he is Chinese or foreign.
Seeing that he had listened, Chu Qianqian waved his hand, and Duan Hongchun immediately nodded and left the private room.
I thought to myself, from the looks of it, this new partner is a strong conservative.
Then he thought about what areas of the restaurant needed improvement to avoid being caught by Chu Xiangqian again in the future.
After all, I am almost 40 years old, and being lectured by a young man who is as old as my nephew makes me blush just thinking about Duan Hongchun.
Moreover, Chu Xiangqian said that Chinese food has become luxurious and unaffordable, which also inspired Duan Hongchun.
I secretly said that those troublesome dining etiquette are really not suitable for the current pace of life, even in Europe and the United States, they are not very particular about it.
But you can definitely learn more about Western food plating. As long as it looks good, not only will the food use less ingredients, but the price will also be higher.
In addition, Cantonese cuisine itself has a lot of noodles, which should be quite attractive to foreigners.
Of course, if you have the guts, you won't be able to raise prices arbitrarily, but when you open another restaurant, it will focus on high-end restaurants.
Customers are also targeted at those foreign tourists.
Just thinking about it, Duan Hongchun felt that something was wrong.
I kept a record of my busy schedule in my notebook, and planned to call the chef and my father to discuss it when we were no longer busy.
If possible, it wouldn't cost much to hire an expert in Western food as a consultant.
Once it is really recognized by foreign tourists here on Hong Kong Island, then maybe we can open restaurants in London and New York in the future.
Duan Hongchun was filled with energy when he thought that he would become a tycoon in the catering industry in the future.
——
After lunch, Chu Xiangqian was planning to walk home with Norton and his bodyguard.
But he didn't want to be pulled by Duan Hongchun, who talked about the branch he had discussed with the chef and the idea of Chinese food on Western-style plates.
Chu Xiangqian's eyes lit up after hearing this.
For me, I don’t need to consider this style at all. In the future, there will be many Chinese restaurant owners who, while operating abroad, will constantly explore new models based on Western tastes and habits, which are very popular among Westerners.
Even in the next few decades, Chinese food will remain expensive and very popular abroad.
After eating too much Chinese food, some foreigners actually seek out the real taste of Chinese food instead of improved Western-style Chinese food.
Of course, you can also focus on fast food.
Panda Restaurant has even gone public, with a market value of tens of billions of dollars.
Thinking of this, Chu Xiangqian immediately agreed with Duan Hongchun's idea, telling him not to be afraid of spending money and to conduct experiments first when he had the guts to do so.
Then go to Panxia store in Central to try it.
But I was thinking, let Duan Hongchun focus on high-end Western-style Chinese food, while he went to London to open a panda restaurant?
When he thought of the scale of tens of billions of dollars, Chu Xiangqian was instantly moved.
The attitude towards Norton has also changed.
With this guy's help, doing business in London will be much easier.
——
After returning home, I said hello to my master, my wife, and my uncle, and entered the martial arts room on the second floor.
Instructing Norton to put off his suit jacket, Chu Qianqian hit the wooden dummy all over the place.
Wooden dummies are not unique to Wing Chun. Level eight and Wudang Quan also use wooden dummies as props for practicing.
Chu Xiangqian even felt that Wudang might be the first to use it.
Norton didn't seem surprised at first, and his bodyguard even frowned.
He didn't doubt Chu Qianqian's ability. He could clearly see Chu Qianqian hitting the tornado that day under the ring.
Now that I see Chu Xiangqian driving the wooden dummy, I just think that Chu Xiangqian is trying to deal with Norton.
Just beating, Chu moved forward faster and faster, until finally his hands appeared as shadows, and the bodyguard was immediately horrified.
Norton stared at Chu Qianqian's hands and the wooden dummy with excitement on his face.
Now he was truly sure that Chu Xiangqian was not only a master in fighting, he should also know how to teach his disciples.
And judging from how young he is, if he really teaches himself, maybe he can be as good as Chu Xiangqian.
After Chu Qianqian finished playing, he smiled and said to Norton, "Come over and try?"
Norton nodded hurriedly, his hands trembling with excitement as he stood where Chu moved forward.
Follow Chu Xiangqian's instructions and start practicing slowly.
But within a short while, I felt pain in my wrists and arms.
Chu Qianqian immediately stopped and deliberately said sarcastically, "Forget it, you can't learn kung fu like this. I'll teach you some self-defense skills. If you meet an ordinary person, you can defeat him with a few surprises."
Moreover, with your body skills, instead of practicing martial arts to knock down your opponent, you should first think about exercising your body through martial arts. "
Norton was anxious, "Master, I can endure the pain. Please don't jump to conclusions so early."
Chu shrugged forward, "Regardless of Kung Fu or other fighting skills, to put it bluntly, the prerequisite for defeating the opponent is that you must first have a good body.
Strength, speed, and reflexes are indispensable.
Otherwise, no matter how well you practice your skills, if you punch your opponent, they will only feel pain.
And if you fall down after receiving a punch, then I advise you not to learn to fight, but to practice marksmanship instead.
After all, no matter how well you practice kung fu, you can't stop bullets. "
Norton and the bodyguard were dumbfounded at the same time, but thinking about it carefully, what Chu Xiangqian said was absolutely correct.
Norton couldn't help but feel a little discouraged.
Chu Qianqian thought he would give up, but after Norton calmed down, he looked up at him and said, "Master, I will make a strict exercise plan.
The next time you see me, it will be different. "
Chu Qianqian could only say a few words of encouragement, and Norton immediately said with a smile as if he was resurrected, "Master, I will accomplish what I promised you.
A batch of antiques from China will arrive in a few days. As for a Picasso painting, it might take a week or two. No more than one month at the latest. "
Chu Qianqian felt relieved and said, "Wait a minute, I'll get the white tiger skin."
After saying that, he went downstairs and went out.
After a while, a rickshaw came back carrying a big baggage.
Doing this is nothing more than a precaution to prevent people from thinking that the things are at home and giving them inappropriate thoughts.
After going up to the second floor and unpacking the bag, a huge white tiger skin was spread out. Just looking at it made one's scalp numb.
It's like going to the zoo and looking at the tiger through the thick glass, always feeling numb in the back.
After getting Chu Qianqian's permission, the bodyguard stepped forward and leaned over to take a closer look.
After a while, he looked at Chu Qian and nodded and said, "Sir, not only is this white tiger huge enough, but you also handled it extremely well, even better than any handling technique I have ever seen.
If it were to be auctioned in London, I believe the starting price would be £10,000.
When you meet someone you like, thirty or fifty thousand pounds won't be a problem.
We can purchase Mr. Picasso's oil painting of the same value for you based on the valuation of GBP 40,000.
The specific number of paintings depends on luck. "
Chu Qianqian thought for a while and nodded. White tigers and white lions are both enthusiastically sought after by Europeans and Americans.
Some people are even willing to spend millions of dollars just to kill a white lion with their own hands.
Of course, that was more than thirty or forty years later.
Chu Xiangqian was moved in his heart, looked at the bodyguard and asked, "How much would the nobles and rich people in London pay to buy a living white tiger, or kill it with their own hands?"
"No, no, no, master," Norton rushed to say, "such a precious animal must have been caught alive. If it were shipped to London, there would be people asking for one hundred thousand or three hundred thousand pounds."
Although Chu Xiangqian knew that there were many wealthy people in Europe and America these days, he was still stunned for a few seconds when he heard about three hundred thousand pounds.
Three hundred thousand pounds converted into Hong Kong dollars is 4.8 million.
You can buy several villas in Mid-Levels.
If you go to Repulse Bay to buy land and build a villa, you can build a manor with a large area.
In a few decades, it will be several billions at least.
After calming down, Chu Qianqian thought silently that the place where he caught the white tiger must not be placed inland.
To avoid being scolded by the Chinese people after the news comes out.
The only good thing is that the protection of animals these days is not as strict as it will be in the future.
All you need to do is find a country where hunting is not illegal, and after the white tigers that spawn in the Novice Village at the end of each month are spawned, go to that country for a walk.
Put the tiger in a cage and transport it to the sea to trade.
After thinking about it, Chu Xiangqian immediately thought of the Philippines.
Just thinking about it again, the tigers in the game all weigh four to five hundred kilograms, and Asian tigers cannot grow that big.
If you leave the money in China, your superiors will definitely take it away, but if you think about it seriously, you can also take the opportunity to get antiques.
Or jade.
If it were all replaced by Hotan mutton-fat white jade, it would be another great investment.
Just get a boat and put the white tiger in an iron cage at sea. If the buyer asks where it was caught, keep it a secret.
Looking at Norton and his bodyguards, "Give me a month, and I will get a white tiger weighing four to five hundred pounds and send it to the sea.
300,000 pounds, I don’t care how much you can sell it for later. "
Norton didn't know much about business, and he hadn't even done it.
But his bodyguard also serves as an assistant. Although he is not familiar with business matters, he knows a lot about many rumors and things in London's aristocratic circles.
He lowered his head and thought about it, and soon felt that, let alone other nobles, Mountbatten himself might be willing to buy the white tiger for 300,000 pounds.
After all, compared to a thoroughbred horse, 300,000 pounds cannot even buy the legs of a champion horse.
For those rich and noble people who are curious, the white tiger is the only one in England.
Maybe you can make double the profit if you resell it, or even more.
"No problem," the bodyguard said, with a thought in his mind. 300,000 pounds in cash was not difficult for Mountbatten, but it was not that easy to come up with.
If it were antiques from the Chinese Dynasty, or oil paintings by unknown European and American painters, or even very famous works, the price would not be high.
Even if you use Picasso's oil paintings to offset the 300,000 pounds, it is still a good thing to earn some agency fees.
"SIR, can you use antiques from China and, as you said, oil paintings by painters like Picasso to offset part of the payment?"
These words spoke to Chu Qianqian's heart.
But his expression was pretending to be hesitant, and he thought for a while before nodding, "I will find someone to appraise and evaluate the value of the Celestial cultural relics and oil paintings you brought."
The bodyguard nodded hurriedly, "No problem, SIR. The Mountbatten family is worthy of your trust. At the same time, you only need to pay something valuable, and we will serve you wholeheartedly."
Chu Xiangqian knew more about the virtues of capitalists than most people in China these days.
As long as it does not involve their interests and can provide them with benefits, not to mention the nobles, even the royal family can put down their dignity.
Even the President of the United States can be a broker, and maybe he will award you a medal because the benefits are great enough.
After agreeing to trade at sea one month later, Chu Xiangqian sent Norton and his bodyguard away. After thinking about it, he also needed to find an excuse to return to the mainland.
Otherwise, if it involves a transaction of 300,000 pounds, it would be unreasonable to pretend to confirm the goods in person without leaving Hong Kong Island.
But before I leave, I have to finish things here.
I went out to find a building materials store, bought a lot of steel, transported it to a small rented warehouse, waited for the people to leave, put it into the game, and built three iron cages in the blacksmith shop.
After the game is refreshed at night, lure the newly spawned tiger into three iron cages connected together, 9 meters long, and both ends can be opened.
Chu Qianqian escaped from the iron cage by himself, and closed the iron cage with his backhand. The tit on the other end hit the mechanism, and the iron door closed with a clang, and the two small mechanisms were easily stuck.
Then at the connection point of the iron cage, the raised iron gate was lowered and the tiger was driven into an iron cage.
Chu Xiangqian watched silently as the tiger ran rampant in the cage, failing to break through the steel bars as thick as his thumb, and then he felt relieved.
(End of chapter)
