CHAPTER 14: CHAPTER 14 JIANGNAN CLOTHS AND VERO MODA

"What’s wrong with a fake painting! How many genuine paintings still exist in this world? Hmph, some contemporary great calligraphers have created forgeries that are also worth a fortune. I bet you two also definitely can’t recognize whose work this is a copy of... It’s by Zhang Yungao!"

"Zhang Yungao!" Zhou Ran clearly remembered him.

Sui Yi, who had no impression of this man, frowned, "If mere copies are so valuable, what about the originals?"

Elder Tang carefully touched the frame of the painting.

"Not all forgeries are so valuable, you know. Since ancient times, some painters would often copy the works of famous painters of earlier generations, and these copies naturally hold immense value. Moving forward, the contemporary painters’ copies worth more than a million are not few. It depends on the person and the painting. Of course, even the most expensive copies can hardly match the originals... Look at this painting"

The withered finger pointed at the painting frame, his tone firm and resolute, each word striking: "Believe it or not, if this painting were Guo Xizhi’s ’Early Spring Picture’, it would be worth tens of millions!"

Tens of millions!!! Zhou Ran was dumbstruck.

Sui Yi also couldn’t help but curl her fingers, tens of millions? In fact, she had just made up an excuse on the spot, not expecting it would really find a loophole.

However, her ability seemed indeed extraordinary, at least in the field of antiques, it was definitely a game-changer.

"Although Sui Yi doesn’t understand ancient paintings, she is meticulous and intelligent, able to discern the genuine from the fake at a glance, which is a merit. And you, Zhou Ran, you young man still lack experience. You know, in appraising treasures, the most important thing is authenticity. Why is it important to know the authenticity? Of course, it’s to understand the value of the item!"

Elder Tang’s finger nearly poked Zhou Ran’s forehead, "Not knowing the value... how would you price it sky-high or settle for less?"

A typical image of a miser.

Zhou Ran was pulled aside and scolded by Elder Tang, while Sui Yi appeared thoughtful, and slowly, a light smile played at her lips, her mouth curling lightly as she walked past Elder Tang, her fingers deftly snagging the black bag from his arms.

"You guys keep talking, I’ll head out first."

"Hey, hey... where are you going?"

"School"

Once Sui Yi had left, Elder Tang scolded some more, and Zhou Ran, hanging his head dejectedly, tugged at his hair, helplessly said, "Shopkeeper, I really do have a flaw in this aspect."

"Nonsense," Elder Tang rolled his eyes.

"But Sui Yi... I think the shopkeeper could really train her,"

"Why do you say that? She’s nowhere near your level in antiques,"

"Um..." Zhou Ran racked his brains, awkwardly said, "Actually, I just feel she has a certain aura, very classical, elegant, she looks like she could be a lady from ancient times... and don’t you feel that her daily speech and manners are very... very..."

Seemingly unable to describe it, Zhou Ran gestured with his hands... Elder Tang raised an eyebrow, blurted out, "Very much like an ancient person?"

"Exactly! More authentic than the actors on TV, and she has more flair than many classmates who have studied our school’s classical etiquette,"

This statement subdued Elder Tang, who eyed Zhou Ran and snorted, "This is the antiques business, not a talent show, such things don’t matter... and her background is pretty clear-cut, you idiot, stop watching those soap dramas and daydreaming..."

Mouth scolding thus, Elder Tang’s heart inexplicably sighed.

The darn kid, do you think I don’t want to recruit her! That girl may be less skilled than Zhou Ran professionally, but she far surpasses him in intellect and observational skills, which are key talents in the antiques industry...

Unfortunately, she’s not interested!

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Sui Yi didn’t know that two people were discussing her behind her back. She had intended to bring the school uniform to Nanxun No. 2 High School, but considering the knife cuts were somewhat frightening, it was better left at Yantang Studio. And the money, totaling over three thousand yuan, she still carried with her.

An hour later, during the last class at Nanxun No. 2 High School, she walked down the hall, echoing with clear reading voices, and then placed the three thousand yuan on the desk of the head teacher of Senior Year Class 2.

Yesterday was September 1, today was September 2; she was a day late with the payment, but that wasn’t important. The crucial part was that almost everyone thought she wouldn’t be able to produce the money.

Huang Yan, holding a ballpoint pen, subconsciously pushed his glasses up, staring at the girl who seemed like a different person in a new uniform. It took him a while to realize this was a student from his class.

What was her name?

Sui Yi...

He actually didn’t have much of an impression of Sui Yi, mainly because the girl was too low-profile and quiet. In Jiangnan dialect, that was "dim," her whole presence tucked away in a corner, silently coming and going without a trace.

However, yesterday she was indeed the only one who hadn’t been able to pay the school fees, so Huang Yan could recall her, glancing at the red portrait on the table and squinting quietly.

"It’s Sui Yi... ah, you have money now?.. Actually, you could delay it for a day or two, look at how anxious you appear..."

Nowadays, few teachers were into the arts, especially those in managerial roles like headteachers who mostly spoke in official tones, and Huang Yan was one of them.

Sui Yi didn’t take his words to heart, simply tapped the table with her knuckle and said, "three thousand yuan, two thousand eight hundred for the tuition, and two hundred more for a new uniform set, please arrange that, teacher."

"Ah? What happened to your uniform?" Huang Yan had noticed earlier that Sui Yi wasn’t wearing the school uniform, and now scrutinized her clothes carefully.

"Lost it," Sui Yi replied indifferently.

Actually, there were still a few teachers in the office.

Originally indifferent to the student Sui Yi, just then Wang Yan, the headteacher of Class Three, Grade 12, was making coffee with hot water when she passed by Sui Yi and glanced at her, halting her steps suddenly.

"Ah~ you’re wearing... Jiangnan Clothes?" Wang Yan’s eyes almost popped out, her finger unconsciously pinching an emerald mark on Sui Yi’s sleeve.

"Jiangnan Clothes?" The few female teachers in the office all changed expressions, their gazes uniformly falling on Sui Yi.

Although Sui Yi wasn’t very familiar with the brand, from their reactions she knew it must be well-known and extremely expensive, especially given Mr. Yi’s background, it must be genuine.

With a slight frown, Sui Yi quietly withdrew her sleeve from Wang Yan’s hand and said softly, "Bought it from West Ninth Avenue."

West Ninth Avenue? These people immediately lost their initial interest. West Ninth Avenue? Wasn’t that the notorious market for counterfeit goods in Nanxun Ancient Town?

So, it was fake after all!

Wang Yan, previously quite agitated, now looked embarrassed and annoyed as she glanced at Sui Yi, sipped her coffee, and scoffed, "I’ve always said nowadays girls have bad habits, what’s wrong with proper clothing, always fancying fakes... This norm can’t continue, Huang Yan, you need to handle this..."

She seemed to notice the money on the table, her eyes narrowing into slits, and she added pensively, "Moreover, with students from not-so-well-off families, who knows if a strong vanity might lead them from small mistakes to bigger ones?"

Huang Yan was even more embarrassed and somewhat annoyed, as their Class Two’s performance had always been dragged down a lot by Class Three, one of the worse ones among the fifteen classes of the Grade 12 stage. Naturally, Wang Yan was domineering over him!

Moreover, today she had caught him on a weakness.

Because of this, Huang Yan became more impatient with Sui Yi, his expression growing colder.

"Alright, go get your books and head to the classroom! Come back for the uniform after school!"

Sui Yi nodded, passing by Wang Yan under the slightly contemptuous gazes of many teachers. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of the brand label on the back of Wang Yan’s clothes.

A few English letters, quite elegant and beautiful.

"The classroom teaches by being, guides by behavior, students trudge on their own lessons, and this VEROMODA outfit on teacher Wang Yan isn’t bad."

She casually grasped the door handle, closed the door with a clap, startling everyone from their daze.

It took a while for Wang Yan to realize what Sui Yi’s remark meant.

"Ha, Wang Yan, fancy wearing designer brands to class... How does it feel to be mocked by a student?"

"Teaching by example, I’m afraid it might corrupt your students ~~ha~~~"

The other teachers said sourly, both in jest and derision.

Wang Yan’s face turned extremely ugly, while Huang Yan silently stared out in a daze at the money on the table.

This Sui Yi, truly not like the average high school student.