Artifact Reading Inspector

Chapter 90: Meaning of the Dokkaebi Sculpture (3)

Of course, she was angry. Haejin had degraded the director of the gallery as a mere art dealer.

The funny thing was, in Korea, antique merchants and art dealers have either been considered frauds or people who were likely to be frauds.

Of course, things changed after professional curators worked on western antiques in the 90s, but people still look down on art dealers.

However, there was someone who was even more enraged than Yaerin’s aunt: the wife of Hanseong Bank’s president, the woman who had intercepted the sculpture that was supposed to be Yaerin’s.

Like any other woman guest who came here, she was elegant. She had been watching quietly, but she couldn’t stand it any longer. She took a step forward and started talking.

Additionally, next to her stood a man in his 30s who appeared to be her attendant. He was carrying a large painting. She had probably bought it at the Salvador Dali exhibition.

“Hey, good-looking young man, I think you have no manners. Do I look like a villain who just took a child’s toy?”

“Didn’t you?”

“Ha… listen. The director here promised me that I can take one thing that I want. So technically, I have the right to choose first. You think complaining like this would solve the matter?”

Haejin didn’t like the term complaining.

“It is common sense to not choose something that someone else has picked already, even at Insadong’s antique shops. Unless you are trying to tell the world that this place is not even as good as Insadong’s antique shops, you can’t argue so confidently like that.”

“What, what? What the…”

The woman was really mad now. She was about to yell, but Yaerin’s aunt spoke first.

“You, that’s enough. Madam, please calm down. I’ll take care of it.”

“I didn’t know Ms. Yaerin had such rude friends…”

That was so ridiculous that Haejin could only interrupt her.

“Do you even know what this is for you to be that eager to have it? Do you know what kind of meaning it has?”

Haejin thought she wouldn’t know as even Yaerin’s aunt didn’t know.

“Huh! Did you think I wouldn’t know this is a sculpture that wishes for the passing of the exams and good scores?”

Haejin looked at Hyaeju. She nodded slightly.

It turned out that she had told Yaerin’s aunt everything Haejin had to scold her.

“Oh… you’ll blow up everything if you win the lottery.”

That pierced her heart, she couldn’t even look at Haejin.

Her life had been easy. She had never experienced such a difficult situation. She blamed herself and cried.

Haejin continued, “I don’t know what kind of deal you made with Yaerin’s aunt, but I think as a senior you should let the bride-to-be have it.”

However, the woman didn’t even blink an eye.

“My son will be 30 next year. I can do more than this for my son who’s trying to pass the Civil Service Examination.”

Oh… Haejin could see why she was acting so shamelessly. However, the son of the bank’s president could just get a job at his father’s bank. Why was he trying to pass that test?

Nevertheless, he couldn’t make a comment on someone else’s business, so he sighed and turned to Hyaeju. She had given up, she was going to Yaerin.

She was probably not going to ask Yaerin for help. She was probably trying to find something else.

Yaerin’s aunt and her client were relieved to see that. They quickly signed the contract.

Looking at Yaerin’s aunt proudly returning, Haejin spoke to her.

“You’re a good businesswoman.”

Yaerin’s aunt raised her eyebrows.

“I am not going to stand by you forever. Even if you are doing well these days, people who are not humble cannot triumph for long.”

She had heard about Haejin from Yaerin, that was why she was enduring his scolding. She knew he had great influence in the art world now.

“I think there are time and places where you should be humble and when you shouldn’t be.”

“Huh! You think I gave it to her just because of the money? Her husband is in her hands. If he wants to, he can wring Yuseong at any time. Yaerin knows that, too. That’s why she isn’t bothering me anymore…”

“Just as I thought… that is the thinking of a merchant, not someone who deals with art and the artists’ souls. That’s why I told you that you are a great businesswoman. I was giving you a compliment.”

“Hey!”

“Enough. It is already done, arguing would give us nothing.”

Haejin criticized her like that because he was disappointed in both Hwajin, that owned Saeyeon Gallery, and the director of Haevici Gallery, who cared more about other things than artifacts.

Then, Yaerin and Hyaeju came. They had talked about it, and Hyaeju wasn’t crying anymore.

“I’m sorry. I was too angry, and I acted rashly…”

Hyaeju’s apology meant that she wanted to finish it there.

“Okay then, shall we leave first?”

“I thought you haven’t finished looking around,” Haejin replied bluntly to Hyaeju’s question.

“But, what if someone takes what we choose again?”

Yaerin was hurt.

“We had our reason this time. I know it is our fault, but we don’t deserve to be scolded like that.”

“I understand you. It’s not about you. It just that being here makes me uncomfortable.”

Haejin thought Yaerin could only think that it was unfair. She wanted to help her friend, but she couldn’t say anything because of Yuseong, and she couldn’t ignore her friend, either. It had been hard.

Hyaeju wasn’t Haejin’s friend, so he could choose another artifact from the Haevici Gallery, but he didn’t want to buy anything from Yaerin’s greedy aunt.

“Ha… okay then, let’s go out.”

Yaerin took Hyaeju’s arm and started to walk. Haejin followed her. However, the moment they left the gallery, surprisingly, they ran into Eunhae.

“Oh, what are you doing here?”

“I’ve been enjoying my life after I quit my job. Why? Have I come somewhere I shouldn’t? You even sent me an invitation.”

Eunhae shook the invitation in her hand. Yaerin pouted and looked away.

“I… I thought you wouldn’t come anyway. It must be good to be free. Nothing to care about.”

“Yes, it is good. I even regret not quitting sooner.”

“Sure, it must be good.”

Yaerin seemed to think that Eunhae was lying, but she didn’t say anything more.

Eunhae turned to Hyaeju and said hello. Then, she heard what happened inside the gallery while looking for a gift for her in-laws. She looked at Yaerin’s coldly.

“You never change, do you?”

“Why? You think you wouldn’t have done the same? Oh, maybe you wouldn’t have. That’s why you are unemployed now.”

Hyaeju thought that was crossing the line and chimed in.

“Stop, both of you. I’m fine. Mr. Haejin said he’ll find something else for me.”

“Then let’s go together. As someone said, I’m unemployed. I have nothing to do.”

Yaerin tried to say something, but she restrained herself. Eventually, Haejin led the three girls to Insadong.

As the three beautiful girls stepped into Insadong, many people looked at them, but their nerves were on edge, and they didn’t realize it.

“However, what was the object that you said you wanted me to appraise?”

Haejin asked because he thought the thing he had seen through magic might be the one Yaerin had tried to get appraised.

“Oh, there’s no need to appraise it anymore. The wife of Hanseong Bank’s president, the woman who bought Hyaeju’s sculpture, bought it too.”

“Wow… she must be rich. So, what was it?”

“Salvador Dali’s painting.”

Haejin was relieved and curious at the same time.

“You mean the painting the man next to that woman was carrying all the time?”

“Yes, that.”

“Oh… I see why you tried to get it appraised.”

Yaerin looked at Haejin.

“What? Was there a problem with the painting?”

“I just caught a glimpse of it. I didn’t get to examine it, so I cannot tell you anything.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really.”

But then, Eunhae laughed.

“Why are you laughing? I don’t like it.”

Eunhae straightened her face at Yaerin’s sharp remark.

“Oh, sorry. But as far as I know, there hasn’t been a single normal painting among those which Mr. Haejin felt weird… isn’t it?”

Haejin was nervous to get all the attention. He tried to make some excuses.

“I must have been lucky when I was with you. I’ve never thought like that…”

“Well, you might not have realized it yet.”

Yaerin was about to frown even harder. They quickly went into a shop before that.

Inside, an old man wearing a modernized Hanbok had been resting. He stood up to greet them.

“Welcome. What are you looking for?”

“We want a painting. An eastern painting. One with a crane or crab and a bamboo tree.”

“Crane? Crab and a bamboo tree… and the price?”

“We don’t mind the high price.”

“But, how much?”

“We don’t want an imitation. It would be better if it is the painting of a well-known artist.”

The owner of the shop was so old that he probably needed glasses. He went into the shop’s storage and came back a while later.

He was holding a long scroll in his hands. As he was carrying it with great care, it was very valuable.

He carefully put it down on the table.

“I really don’t show this painting easily… but I am showing it to you because those girls behind you appear to be ladies. So, don’t even think about lowering the price… okay?”

“Oh, okay. Please show it to me. Stop making me wait.”

“Hhhh… why are you so impatient when you are so young? How are you going to find yourself a girl?”

He glanced at the girls behind Haejin and made a silly joke. Then, he slowly unfolded the scroll.

“Do you know Heo Ryeon?”

Of course. Heo Ryeon inherited Yoon Duseo’s style. He was an artist of the late Joseon period.

“Of course, I do. And the price?”

“A hundred million.”

The scroll was unfolded, and the painting was revealed. It showed crabs biting a flower attached at the end of the reed.

To most people, it made no sense, so the girls were confused.

“It’s good.”

“Good? Really?”

The old man looked into Haejin’s eyes as if asking if he really knew the true meaning of the painting.

Haejin smiled and turned to Hyaeju.

“Buy it. This is at least as valuable as that sculpture.”

“Really?”

“Of course. Trust me. And… that greedy woman is going to regret it a lot.”

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