Daily Intelligence System: Financial Independence

Chapter 556 - 263: This Thing Is Worth 80,000? (Part 2)

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 become a thing of the past.

One was a former 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 some 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 seemed 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 department.

...

After hanging up, Jiang Tao glanced at the time displayed on his phone.

Unbeknownst to him, it was already 10 AM.

There were still over two hours until lunchtime.

"Should I go to Yuan Mengqi’s house to mooch a meal 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 Mengqi’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 Mengqi’s house, his phone rang in his pocket.

He took out his phone and saw the caller ID name "Squad Leader Yuan", which made Jiang Tao smile.

He had just been thinking about going to Yuan Mengqi’s house for a meal when her call came through.

"Hello, Squad Leader Yuan."

Sliding his finger to answer the call, Jiang Tao greeted Yuan Mengqi 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 Mengqi 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 Mercedes G-Wagon appeared once again at the entrance of the Yuan Family Manor where Yuan Mengqi lived.

Yuan Mengqi’s family of three, along with Lin Ranran, heard the commotion outside and came out to greet him.

Everyone welcomed Jiang Tao into the living room, with some pouring tea, others washing fruits, and some serving nuts.

The treatment Jiang Tao received at Old Yuan’s house was rather high.

After chatting for a while, Yuan Mengjie and Lin Ranran went to the kitchen to prepare lunch.

In the living room, only Jiang Tao and Yuan Mengqi’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 Mengqi, 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 time."

"You child, Jiang Tao was just making a comment, 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 me at a local fair on a nearby town’s market stall 10 years ago."

"I remember 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 meticulously, 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 someone on WeChat.

"What’s the matter, Jiang Tao? Does this painting really have something special about it?"

Yuan Mengqi and Zhao Huilan were puzzled by Jiang Tao’s actions.

Jiang Tao looked at Yuan Mengqi and her mother with a smile and said:

"Congratulations, Yuan Mengqi, Aunt Zhao!"

"Huh? Congratulations on what?"

Both Yuan Mengqi and her mother were at a loss as to why Jiang Tao was suddenly congratulating them.

Jiang Tao laughed and said, "Aunt Zhao, Yuan Mengqi, 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 mean this painting might be an authentic piece?"

Zhao Huilan didn’t know what picking up a bargain meant, but as a young person, Yuan Mengqi did!

When she used to sell houses, she would often advertise "bargain listings" to attract customers.

"Yes, I just sent a picture to my friend, and he said it’s an authentic piece by a somewhat 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 mentioned 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 seemed worth it to him.

Though he could offer more, he didn’t see the necessity.

After all, the painting hung in Yuan Mengqi’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 Mengqi and Zhao Huilan were stunned by the price Jiang Tao mentioned, showing expressions of sheer amazement.

A painting they bought at the market 10 years ago for 20 bucks now had someone 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 Mengqi pointed at the Nine Fish Painting on the wall.

Last Chinese New Year, her brother Yuan Mengjie 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 Mengqi, 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 Mengqi, 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 Mengqi nodded in agreement, thinking it was just too extravagant to keep such a valuable painting at home!

Zhao Huilan said, "This money should be split between you and your brother; I don’t need it."

Yuan Mengqi 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 same.