Volume 2, No More Than Thirty Chapter 87 Monet's Water Lilies
In the afternoon, on the top floor of Grand Hyatt Residence, at Mrs. Wang’s home.
After Yuan Xudong took Wang Manni to meet the wives and their husbands in the wives' circle, he learned that the two lived on the 18th floor of Grand Hyatt Mansion. Mrs. Wang, who lived on the top floor of Grand Hyatt Mansion, proposed to hold an afternoon tea event to welcome Wang Manni to join the wives' circle. She also affectionately called Wang Manni "Mrs. Yuan", which made Wang Manni very happy and she directly agreed to Mrs. Wang's proposal.
Everyone sat around on the sofa in the living room. Mrs. Wang, the host, sat in the middle and said with a smile:
"To celebrate Mrs. Yuan joining our wives' circle, I proposed this afternoon tea event. Does anyone have any good suggestions?"
Glancing at Mrs. Wang who loved to show off, Mrs. Li, whose family had been in business for a century, had a flash of disdain in her eyes, but she said calmly:
"Since we are having afternoon tea, we can't do without dessert and black tea. I wonder if Mrs. Wang has a servant who can make desserts, or if Mrs. Wang wants to prepare cakes and black tea herself to entertain us?"
Hearing what Mrs. Li said, Mrs. Wang, who had not prepared anything, forced a smile and said:
"Of course I know that we need to prepare cakes and black tea for afternoon tea. The dessert servant at home has asked for leave, but don't worry, Gu Jia who lives on the twelfth floor is very good at making cakes.
Let me tell you, Gu Jia’s cakes are delicious. You have never eaten such delicious cakes before. I will ask her to prepare cake and black tea for today.”
After taking a look at Mrs. Wang, who looked unnatural, and knowing that she knew nothing, Mrs. Li boasted:
"You have definitely never tasted the desserts made by the most authentic French pastry chef. If you go to France, I will send you the address of that pastry chef so that you can taste what a truly delicious cake is. It is not something that a housewife can just make casually."
Knowing that old-line businessmen like Mrs. Li looked down on emerging assets like hers and were jealous of her family's wealth, Mrs. Wang couldn't help but fight back:
"How could I not have tasted desserts made by the most authentic French pastry chefs? Just because I love desserts, my husband specially arranged a private visit to the French Pastry School. What kind of desserts have I not tasted?"
Looking at Mrs. Wang and Mrs. Li fighting openly and secretly, Mrs. Yu, whose family runs an amusement park business, smiled and said:
"That's because we are of a low class. When we went to France, we just went to look at paintings. Mrs. Wang's family arranged for private visits and study. This is the difference between the bourgeoisie and the aristocracy!"
Hearing Mrs. Yu's praise for her, Mrs. Wang said with a smile on her face:
"I have a painting at home too. I don't know if you can understand it. It's hung in the dining room. I'll take you there to see it and appreciate Monet's water lilies!"
After saying that, she stood up and walked towards the restaurant, feeling secretly proud in her heart. Ever since Gu Jia reminded her that the painter of the water lilies was Monet, not Van Gogh, she specially collected some relevant information from the Internet, just to show off in front of many ladies one day. So what if she has been doing business for a hundred years? She still doesn't have as much money as her own family!
Leading everyone into the restaurant, Mrs. Wang saw her husband and the husbands of several other wives standing in front of Monet's water lilies and commenting on them. She was even more pleased and said:
"Does anyone of you know anything about this painting?"
After that, she glanced at Yuan Xudong and Wang Manni, whom she had just met today, and said with a smile:
"Mr. Yuan, Mrs. Yuan, what do you think of this painting?"
Hearing Mrs. Wang's question and seeing everyone looking at herself and Yuan Xudong, Wang Manni, who knew nothing about oil painting, said awkwardly:
"I am more familiar with luxury goods and not interested in oil paintings!"
After that, she looked at Yuan Xudong for help:
"Xudong, what do you think of this painting?"
Looking at Mrs. Wang and Mr. Wang, seeing that they were calm, Yuan Xudong secretly admired them. Rich people are not simple people. Thinking of this, he pretended to be confused and said:
"I don't have any appreciation for oil paintings, but I heard that Christie's in Hong Kong auctioned a Monet water lily painting from the Rockefeller family's collection. I think it was the one in Mr. Wang's home. The estimated price was 35 million US dollars, and the final auction price was 75 million US dollars. Including the commission, it was almost 85 million US dollars, which is more than 500 million RMB. I didn't expect that our Grand Hyatt Mansion still has collectors like Mr. Wang and Mrs. Wang!"
Hearing Yuan Xudong's words, Mr. Wang and Mrs. Wang said without changing their expressions:
"Mr. Yuan, you are joking. We are not collectors. We are just interested in this. It is a bit expensive, but it is worth it. This is a world-famous painting. It will definitely become more and more valuable in the future!"
Seeing everyone looking at Monet's water lilies in amazement, Mrs. Wang's eyes flashed with pride and said:
"Just watch for now, I'll go get Gu Jia to come over and make the cake!"
After that, she turned around and left. When Mrs. Wang disappeared, everyone gathered in front of Monet's water lilies. Wang Manni, who was left behind, stared at the painting and sighed:
"I thought my vision and perspective were high enough, but it wasn't until I saw this painting that I realized that poverty can really limit a person's imagination. A painting costs more than 500 million. This world is really crazy!"
Looking at Wang Manni who was sighing about life, Yuan Xudong whispered in her ear with a smile:
"Like it?"
After thinking for a while, Wang Manni shook her head slightly and said:
"I can't say I like it or dislike it. It's just that I feel awe when I see such a valuable painting for the first time. It represents the social class gap. The life at the top is something that ordinary people like us at the bottom can't even imagine. A painting costs more than 500 million yuan, which can buy hundreds of houses in my hometown. I can't imagine it!"
Seeing that no one was paying attention to him, Yuan Xudong whispered teasingly in Wang Manni's ear:
"This is the biggest gap between the poor and the rich. If someone says this painting is worth more than 500 million, would you believe it? If you like it, you can spend a few thousand dollars to buy an identical Monet's Water Lilies. As long as you believe it is Monet's authentic work, it is Monet's authentic work. Anyway, they look the same. How many people can tell the difference?"
Hearing Yuan Xudong say this, Wang Manni slightly widened her eyes, glanced around and whispered:
"Are you saying this painting is fake?"
After rolling his eyes at Wang Manni, Yuan Xudong muttered directly:
"I'm not Monet, so how do I know if this painting is fake? But I don't believe that Mrs. Wang's family would spend more than 500 million to buy a useless painting and hang it in the restaurant without any protection. It will be ruined in a few years. Her family is not rich enough to do that!"
After listening to Yuan Xudong's explanation, Wang Manni took another look at the oil painting not far away. The awe in her heart disappeared, just like looking at the central hall of her hometown. She said with a complicated expression:
“Will rich people also buy fake paintings?”
Glancing at Wang Manni, Yuan Xudong reminded her:
"There is no difference between rich people and ordinary people. They can buy fake paintings to decorate their storefronts. Be careful when dealing with them. Don't let them sell you money and help others count the money!"
Staring at Yuan Xudong, Wang Manni said angrily:
"You are also a rich man, so you must be a big liar!"
Before Yuan Xudong could open his mouth to refute, Mr. Wang, who was not far away, called him:
"Mr. Yuan, why are you standing so far away? Come over here quickly, let's talk. I heard that your Jingyan Group has acquired several plots of land in Binhai. I wonder if we can contract part of the project?"
Hearing Mr. Wang's greeting, Yuan Xudong walked over with Wang Manni on his arm and said with a smile:
"As long as your companies are qualified, they can participate in our Jingyan Group's bidding. Under the same conditions, I can recommend them to President Ye and give priority to your companies."
"Then I'll trouble you, Mr. Yuan. Just let me know if you need anything. Let's help each other and get rich together!"
…
In front of the elevator on the top floor of Junyue Mansion, Mrs. Wang paced back and forth. When the elevator door opened and Gu Jia came out, she hurried forward and complained:
"Gu Jia, why are you so slow going upstairs?"
"Mrs. Wang, I have a dinner party tonight and I really don't have..."
Before Gu Jia could finish, Mrs. Wang interrupted her and said:
"Don't you want to join the wives' circle? Today is a good opportunity. Many distinguished guests have come to my house for afternoon tea. I told them that the cakes you make are delicious. You can show off and let them accept you into the wives' circle."
After that, without waiting for Gu Jia to explain, she directly pulled Gu Jia into the house. Seeing that everyone was still chatting in the restaurant, she pushed Gu Jia into the kitchen and ordered:
"Hurry up and make the cake. There is everything in the refrigerator. These are the ingredients you bought yourself last time. Call us when you are ready. Remember to be quick. Everyone is waiting for you."
Seeing that Mrs. Wang left the kitchen after giving an order and treated her like a servant, Gu Jia could only endure it secretly, put on an apron and started to make cakes and prepare black tea. The servant beside her helped her and prepared tea sets.
After Mrs. Wang walked into the restaurant, Wang Manni glanced at Gu Jia who was busy in the kitchen. She whispered to Yuan Xudong for a while, and then walked into the kitchen amid the different looks from the other wives, and helped Gu Jia make cakes and prepare black tea.
Time passed, and when Gu Jia prepared the cake and black tea, everyone sat around the table in front of Monet's water lilies, enjoying afternoon tea and chatting. Only Gu Jia stood in the kitchen with an awkward look on her face, because Mrs. Wang had not prepared a seat for her at all.
Sitting with Wang Manni, seeing that she looked unhappy, Yuan Xudong smiled while eating fruit cake:
"What's wrong? Is the cake not delicious?"
Rolling her eyes at Yuan Xudong who was asking the question knowingly, Wang Manni glanced at Gu Jia in the kitchen and said:
"Gu Jia is so pitiful, can you help her?"
After taking a look at the kitchen, Gu Jia happened to look towards the restaurant. Their eyes met. Gu Jia, who was in an awkward situation, quickly looked away and lowered her head to eat the cake she made to divert her attention. Yuan Xudong retracted his gaze and looked at Wang Manni beside him and smiled:
"Gu Jia is willing to stay here and suffer injustice, so she must have something to ask for, just like when you sell something and encounter a customer who makes things difficult for you, what she needs is not a chair.
Don't interfere. It will only disrupt her plans and make the situation more awkward. Isn't it just eating without a chair? If you can get what you want, this grievance is nothing. On the contrary, it can inspire a person's spirit of hard work. "
After the afternoon tea was over, everyone left one by one. Mrs. Wang looked at Gu Jia who was cleaning up the tea sets with her servants and said,
"Gu Jia, they've all left, you should pack up and go back quickly. Didn't you say you're going to have guests for dinner tonight?"
Handing the tea set to the servant, Gu Jia looked at Mrs. Wang and smiled:
"Mrs. Wang, my greatest value is not making cakes and preparing tea. It's useless for you to use me to please customers. Do you know where your problem lies?"
Without waiting for Mrs. Wang to answer, she glanced at the tables and chairs in the restaurant and said with a smile:
“You shouldn’t have chosen this set of tables and chairs for afternoon tea. I know your tables and chairs are of the highest quality, and that tea set is also of the highest quality, and it’s very expensive, but expensive doesn’t necessarily mean right.
Those who understand will know at a glance that there is something wrong with the details. The real afternoon tea was invented by the wives of the British royal family. There are two types of afternoon tea: high table tea and low table tea. The difference is that one is for the wives and the other is for the servants. "
Hearing Gu Jia say this, Mrs. Wang frowned slightly and said:
"My family is definitely not the short type!"
Glancing at Mrs. Wang who knew nothing, Gu Jia smiled reservedly:
“The real aristocracy eats afternoon tea at a low table. In fact, the high and low here refer to the height of the table and chairs. Only those who are truly leisurely can enjoy afternoon tea at a low table and sofa. The high table is for servants, which means eating quickly and leaving quickly.
Mrs. Wang, I know that someone with my family income shouldn't be in this circle, but what you have I don't have, but what I have can help you stand at the center of the wives' circle."
After saying this, she glanced at Mrs. Wang who seemed to be thinking about something and said goodbye:
"Mrs. Wang, I'm going to go home first. The guest I'm going to invite tonight is Mr. Yuan. I'm going back to prepare dinner now, so I won't disturb you to rest. See you tomorrow!"
When Gu Jia left the house like a proud white swan, Mrs. Wang smiled and shook her head, glanced at Monet's water lilies and told the servant:
"Xiao Wang, wipe this painting, it's a bit dirty!"
"I understand, ma'am!"
