Artifact Reading Inspector

Chapter 91: Salvador Dali and the Second Dali (1)

Hyaeju couldn’t fully believe Haejin. The price of the sculpture had been almost 300 million, but this painting was only 100 million.

Additionally, the painting of the two crabs looked of a slightly lower quality than the sculpture which, instead, looked splendid.

However, Haejin was sure, so Hyaeju went to the owner.

“Tell me your account number.”

“Huh… that was fast. I see that you greatly trust this young man.”

“He can be trusted.”

The old man nodded and wrote his account number on a piece of paper.

Hyaeju immediately sent him the 100 million. The old man carefully rolled the scroll again and put it in a box. Then, Haejin and the girls left the shop.

“Will this painting be as good as that sculpture?”

“If we were to judge just the value of the artifacts, that sculpture is much more valuable. However, as you have a purpose for your gift, the receiver will not be any less moved.”

Eunhae chimed in.

“What is the meaning behind the painting with the two crabs and flower? I’ve never heard of crabs eating flowers, why did the artist draw such a painting?”

“First of all, the flower in the painting is the reed flower. Reed is ro(蘆) in Chinese letter, and in Chinese, it sounds the same with ryo(臚). However, this ryo is the same with jeonryo(傳臚), the king calling those who have passed the royal examination to let them come in. In short, it means passing the royal exam and getting the meat that the king bestows.”

“Oh… and the crabs?”

Hyaeju’s face started to turn brighter. Haejin smiled to see that and continued.

“As crabs have hard shells, they can be seen as gab(甲). In the eastern world, gab is the first one that comes in grades, like A+. So, it means winning the first-place examination and, in the painting, there are two crabs. What would that mean?”

“Winning the first place twice?”

“Yes. As there are two crabs, it means to pass both the first and the second exams, and with the best score. Moreover, as one of the crabs is biting the reed flower, it means to not let go of the first place.”

Eunhae exclaimed at hearing this.

“Wow… there can’t be a better gift than this for someone who’s about to take a test!”

“There was something similar like this earlier.”

Yaerin scolded her, but Eunhae pretended not to hear. She patted Hyaeju’s shoulder and congratulated her. Hyaeju then smiled again.

Haejin was relieved to see her happy.

“I don’t know what kind of company your brother-in-law is trying to join, but this painting does not apply only to civil service exams. At the time, everyone was after civil service exams, but if you tell them that it means to pass the employment exam, they will probably like it.”

“Thank you. I will pay you well for helping me today.”

“Okay. Your friends probably have told you this, but I’m a little expensive. May I look forward to my reward?”

“Of course.”

Hyaeju faced Haejin’s excited gaze with confidence. They were all too rich to feel bad about spending money.

“Then I should go now. I’ve done my part, and I’m tired. I must go home.”

Haejin was really tired. He had used magic, and only sleep could take care of its aftereffects.

“Wait, you can’t leave just like this! Tell me about that painting…”

Yaerin urgently grabbed Haejin’s sleeve.

“Didn’t you tell me that I didn’t have to appraise it as the woman has bought it already? And, with what rights am I supposed to appraise a painting that has been sold? Unless she asks me to…”

“Please wait for a moment. Even if we’ve already sold it, we have to be sure. Or the gallery’s reputation will be ruined.”

Well, Haevici Gallery had been already named as a gallery that once sold a fake after selling the fake Max Beckmann’s painting to Hwajin.

Of course, as Saeyeon Gallery had sold fakes, too, you might say they are all the same but, of course, Yaerin wanted to get rid of that shame.

“Hmm… but I cannot go back to the Haevici Gallery. Call me. I’ll be having a cup of tea nearby.”

“Okay. What are you going to do?”

Hyaeju looked at the painting in her hand and shook her head.

“I should probably go. This is expensive. What if I lose it? I should go home to keep it safe.”

“Okay then, goodbye. I should go first. See you later.”

Yaerin turned around and quickly went back to Haevici Gallery. After Hyaeju left, Haejin and Eunhae went to a nearby traditional teashop.

Haejin had thought only old people would be there, but there were young couples here and there.

He then sat down and ordered tea. Next, he spoke to Eunhae who looked a little excited.

“I’m glad that things went well earlier, but it looked a little dangerous. Honestly, I’m still a little worried. I regret telling you about it…”

“I didn’t think it would fail as it was none other than you who told me that. The person I brought is also an expert. She is famous about western paintings before the 18 th century in America.”

“I didn’t even imagine that you would know one of the IRS Art Advisory Panel… if she is that good, why didn’t you ask for her help when you participated in the Anton Baret Auction?”

“I told you. She specializes in western paintings before the 18 th century. If other artifacts had been there, I would have been in trouble. Besides… you have great skills that even those experts cannot understand. I made the right choice.”

Eunhae’s compliment didn’t make Haejin feel better. Although she had gotten her revenge, Haejin wasn’t that delighted about it as it wasn’t his business. He just felt bad about her losing her job.

“Then, will she leave Korea and return immediately?”

“Haha, of course. I’ve asked her to keep it secret. Everybody knows that I and Hailey Robert are close. However, they would not be able to link how she picked that painting as a fake and how I found that out.”

“Hmm… that’s a relief, but…”

“I got to know Hailey when I was studying in the States. She told me Haevici Gallery had sent an invitation to the IRS Art Advisory Panel and she was able to come instead of her boss. Now, I can get rid of the anger in my heart. Thank you. I can stop resenting that family and start over again.”

“What are you going to do now?”

“Well, I might go traveling or learn something new.”

Haejin didn’t know why but, when he heard that Eunhae might leave, he didn’t want to let her go.

“Why don’t you work with me?”

“With you?”

“Yes. I am running an art museum now. However, as there are things I don’t know and there’s lots of work to do, Curator Lee Jisu is doing most of the work instead of me. Although she isn’t that younger than you, being a good curator and being a good manager is different. So, I would be very relieved if you were to join us.”

Eunhae looked into Haejin’s eyes for a long time. Haejin didn’t know how to decipher the emotion in her eyes, but at least it didn’t look negative.

“Are you serious?”

“Yes, I am asking seriously…”

Eunhae nodded and enjoyed her tea. Right when she was about to open her mouth, Haejin got a call.

It was Yaerin.

“Take it.”

Haejin hesitated, but he took the call. He heard Yaerin’s urgent voice.

“Could you come here?”

“Do I have to appraise it today? I’m too tired… how about tomorrow?”

Yaerin felt the irritation in Haejin’s voice and changed her attitude.

“Then we’ll come. What about that workshop in Insadong?”

“Hmm… then do that.”

Haejin hung up. Eunhae then asked, “I don’t think Yaerin will give up… is she coming here?”

“Yes. As you have heard earlier, she greatly cared about the wife of Hanseong Bank’s president. Yaerin, and her aunt, too…”

“They have no choice. Yuseong has been expanding its business quickly, so many doubt the liquidity of the money inside the corporation. Yuseon must be on good terms with the banks now, so they must be sensitive about it. So, they wouldn’t dare to offend the president of Hanseong Bank. Poor Hyaeju.”

“However, we have found her a good painting, so she must be feeling a lot better now.”

“Yes. You might not know this but, even if Osung Foods is not one of the top 30 corporations, it is a very good company. It owns a lot of real estates… and Hyaeju is nice and has many friends. She is thanking you, so she will help you a lot in the future.”

“Is she that important?”

“Lots of good men courted her. Sons of ministers and company owners. Among them, there is even Yaerin’s elder brother.”

“Oh… I’ve never met him…”

“Probably. He is a little stupid, so Yaerin’s grandfather is sad about Yaerin not being a man. He is like a troublemaker of Yuseong, but he is still the eldest son, so they’re supporting him.”

“You all live such complicated lives.”

“Yes. So, when I left, I was a little… no, very sad, but now that I think about it, it was the right choice. I left that warzone and can live the life I want… why didn’t I do this sooner?”

“That’s why life isn’t easy. Shall we go now? Judging from Ms. Yaerin’s personality, she must be running with that painting now.”

Haejin was just saying that. Why would she walk when she had a luxurious car?

Haejin went to the workshop with Eunhae where Byeongguk greeted them, saying it had been a while. Of course, he didn’t like Eunhae being there that much…

“So, what brings you here?”

“I need to borrow this place. Someone asked me to appraise, but I couldn’t go there, so I told her to bring the painting here.”

“Hey, aren’t you supposed to pay the rent then?”

“I’ll buy you Makgeoli tomorrow.”

“Khmm… you will pay me with some inexpensive Makgeoli?”

“Okay. I’ll give you 10% of my fee.”

“Hhhh… no, buy me some ribeye later. I need to eat some meat.”

“You are rich…”

“Eating expensive food using other’s money tastes even better.”

While they chatted like that, Yaerin arrived. The woman who had bought the painting and her attendant came with her.

“We meet again.”

She awkwardly said hello and looked away.

Yaerin took the painting from the attendant and put it down on the table.

“Please examine it properly, so that we will be able to give a refund and give another painting if there’s a problem.”

Haejin slowly studied Salvador Dali’s painting on the table. Then, he spoke.

“Do you know Antoni Pitxot? He’s Salvador Dali’s friend.”

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