Reborn As Super Heiress

Upon hearing this, Huo Sining and Zhou Shitao were both stunned.

Although they had already speculated that Old Mr. Zhong might have some connections with Madam Yan, no one expected that there would be such a tumultuous past in between. Hearing Madam Yan’s words, both Huo Sining and Zhou Shitao were secretly shocked and deeply moved by Old Mr. Zhong’s experiences.

The master and apprentice said nothing, quietly waiting for Madam Yan to continue.

”As for why I’m so sure that the Old Mr. Zhong you’re looking for isn’t my brother, there are several reasons. One is what I just mentioned: the school my brother was apprenticed to has strict rules. If he dared to violate them, his fate would be having his tendons severed, becoming utterly crippled.”

”That’s the first reason. The second is obviously because of my little niece’s matter. Having already lost a child, he absolutely wouldn’t want that child’s life to be in vain. With my brother’s stubborn personality, he wouldn’t compromise easily.”

”The third reason, and the most convincing evidence, is the Fencai Yaoling Zun you just showed. You might say I’m an amateur who knows nothing about antiquities, but when it comes to calligraphy and painting, I can tell a thing or two.”

”I may not know other people’s painting styles, but I’m familiar with my brother’s techniques. I can assure you that this piece is definitely not from my brother’s hand!”

Madam Yan looked at Zhou Shitao and Huo Sining with certainty, as if she were afraid they might misunderstand her brother, and she defended him eagerly and earnestly.

Huo Sining frowned slightly, ”Ma’am, how can you be so sure? Before investigating thoroughly, your words can only be seen as speculation and not evidence.”

Perhaps having anticipated Huo Sining’s response, Madam Yan smiled mysteriously at her and said, ”Since I say so, I naturally have my reasons. You two just wait here for a moment!”

With that, Madam Yan stood up and went upstairs. Before long, she came back down with an old leather suitcase.

Finding the key to open the suitcase, Madam Yan began searching through it.

Huo Sining noticed that the suitcase contained rolled-up hanging scrolls, likely paintings, and she was puzzled. Weren’t all the antiquities in Madam Yan’s home sold off by her sons and grandsons? How did she still have these old paintings?

”These are paintings my brother gave me before I got married. They’re not antiques, but they’re his masterpieces. Since my brother disappeared, they became the only items I have for remembering him. I could never bear to throw them away, so I kept them protected in this suitcase. I never thought they’d come in handy now!”

Perhaps understanding the question in Huo Sining’s eyes, Madam Yan explained as she searched the suitcase, soon retrieving three hanging scrolls.

”I’m not interested in antiques, but if you insist on asking me why, I can only tell you the painting on that Fencai Yaoling Zun is vivid, but it’s definitely not my brother’s style, especially the magpie!”

As she spoke, Madam Yan slowly unfolded the three hanging scrolls before Huo Sining and Zhou Shitao, ”Look, these are the ’Magpie Perching on a Branch’ paintings by my brother. He’s skilled at Chinese painting and has replicated many great pieces, but there’s a secret no one else knows.”

”When my brother paints magpies, it’s different from anyone else. When I was young, I went playing in the mountains alone and was once frightened by a magpie. Later, when my brother painted, seeing his kind-looking magpie, I complained it didn’t look right, saying magpies were fierce, like crows. My brother remembered this, so from that time on, whenever he painted magpies, he would subconsciously give them fierce crow-like eyes.”

”I’ve seen countless magpies my brother painted, so I’m familiar with them. As soon as I see them, I recognize them. If it weren’t for these magpies, I might not have been able to declare the Yaoling Zun wasn’t my brother’s creation.”

With that, Madam Yan pointed out the magpies on the three paintings for Huo Sining and Zhou Shitao to examine.

As Madam Yan pointed them out, the two of them looked intently at the magpies in the paintings.

Indeed, on closer inspection, Huo Sining found that Madam Yan’s words were true.

The magpies in the paintings looked lively and joyful, but upon careful observation, they had a fierce sharpness in their eyes, resembling crows rather than ordinary birds.

In contrast, the magpies on the Fencai Yaoling Zun had gentle and joyous expressions, perched on a plum branch, clearly symbolizing a positive omen, which was distinctly different from her brother’s style.

Huo Sining’s gaze fell on the calligraphic paintings Madam Yan held. Indeed, the bottom left of each painting bore a red seal like the Tortoiseshell Folding Fan, reading ”Zhong Gu Daoren.”

Seeing Huo Sining stare at the seal in surprise, Madam Yan smiled and explained, ”These four words are my brother’s alias. His works usually bear this stamp.”

Huo Sining nodded and looked at Zhou Shitao.

After pondering for a while, Zhou Shitao also found something suspicious. If Old Mr. Zhong were indeed Madam Yan’s brother who disappeared decades ago, then who made the Yaoling Zun before them, and why would someone create a Zhong Fang counterfeit in Old Mr. Zhong’s name?

Though their visit to the Governor’s Mansion didn’t find Old Mr. Zhong, it wasn’t completely fruitless. At least they learned Old Mr. Zhong’s origins. However, beyond this point, Madam Yan could provide no more useful information.

The Old Granny said she hadn’t seen her brother in years, and Huo Sining could see her eyes filled with sadness and regret, longing and sorrow — a very complex expression that such pretense was near impossible.

Huo Sining and Zhou Shitao refrained from pressing further. After agreeing to inform Madam Yan if they found any concrete details about her brother, they took their leave from the Yan family.

Back in the car, Zhou Shitao couldn’t wait to pull out his phone and make a call.

”Find a way to check on someone for me!”