Chapter 16: A Million-Yuan Birthday Gift

"Haha, Chen Yu, which street stall did you buy this thing from? Is it even worth five yuan?"

"At least buy something decent; who are you trying to fool with this?"

"Ha, he doesn't even have a job, where would he get the money to buy a gift?"

"Haha, Chen Yu, is this your gift?" Fang Chen and his wife laughed until they could barely breathe.

"Yes, this is the gift I chose." Chen Yu nodded.

"Chen Yu, it's my father's birthday, at least. If you couldn't afford a gift, you could have told me in advance. I could have spared you ten or eight thousand to buy something decent so you could save face. Don't you feel embarrassed taking this thing out?" Ye Qian sneered.

"I said, this is an item from the Spring and Autumn period, worth eight hundred thousand. This thing isn't bad, is it?" Chen Yu said calmly.

Chen Yu's words made the members of the Ye Family burst into laughter again. This piece of scrap metal is worth eight hundred thousand? He must be crazy.

"Still eight hundred thousand? If this thing is worth even eighty yuan, I'll eat it right now," Ye Chenguang sneered.

"He really dares to brag. Doesn't he know his own worth?"

"This is truly something. Taking out this kind of trash to embarrass yourself—you're really bringing honor to our Ye Family." Ye Taihe threw the Tiger Tally in his hand onto the ground.

"Take Chen Yu and leave quickly. Don't let me see him again." Wang Xueqin waved her hand in a gesture to drive them away.

Ye Xinyu gripped Chen Yu's hand tightly. Her face was somewhat pale; she was suddenly disappointed in her family. She had been thinking of her family with all her heart, but what did she get in return?

"Dad, Mom, Chen Yu doesn't have the money to buy expensive things, but at least he has the intention. Since you look down on your daughter and look down on this son-in-law, then just pretend I never came today."

Ye Xinyu pulled Chen Yu up and said in a deep voice, "I know you look down on him, but I will declare right here in front of everyone: in the future, Chen Yu will be someone you cannot afford to climb up to. I, Ye Xinyu, will not misjudge a person, nor will I choose the wrong one."

"Wife, I promise I won't let you down." Chen Yu was somewhat moved. He suddenly felt a bit jealous of the original owner of this body. What virtue or ability did he have to make Ye Xinyu have such great faith in him?

To have a wife like this, I have no regrets in this life.

"Let's go..." Ye Xinyu pulled Chen Yu's hand and prepared to leave.

Just at this moment, the door opened and an old man walked in. Seeing the situation in the room, he was slightly stunned and hurriedly bowed, saying, "Apologies, I walked into the wrong private room."

"Wu Lao, you're in the wrong place; you're next door," someone shouted from outside.

"Wu Lao, it's you." Seeing the old man, Ye Taihe hurriedly stood up. "Wu Lao, I am Ye Taihe. I attended the Antique Association appraisal exhibition last time. Do you remember me?"

The old man who entered was none other than Wu Guozhong, whom Chen Yu had met at the antique market.

Ye Taihe loved calligraphy, paintings, and antiques. Wu Guozhong had a very high seniority in this industry. Seeing Wu Guozhong in person, he was extremely excited.

"This... apologies, I don't remember. Oh? Young man, it's you! I was just looking for you. Did you sell that item from last time? A friend of mine wants it." Seeing Chen Yu, the old man couldn't help but be overjoyed.

"Wu Lao, the item hasn't been sold. If you want it, just take it." Chen Yu gave a bitter smile and pointed to the Tiger Tally on the ground.

"What is this for? How can such a treasure be thrown on the ground so carelessly?" Seeing the Tiger Tally on the ground, Wu Lao couldn't help but be furious. He hurriedly picked it up and carefully observed it in his hands.

"Wu Lao, in your eyes, this is a national treasure, but in some people's eyes, it's just trash. Since no one wants it anyway, I'll give it to you," Chen Yu said.

"Trash? Who said this is trash?" Wu Guozhong was furious. "The Yangling Tiger Tally from the Spring and Autumn period has immense research value. After a friend of mine heard about it, he valued it directly at one million."

"Wu Lao, y-you said this thing is worth one million?" Ye Taihe was stunned, and the members of the Ye Family were also stunned.

"A genuine Spring and Autumn Precious item. Young man, you took this as a gift and were treated as if you brought trash?" Seeing the scene before him, Wu Guozhong understood instantly.

"Yes, Wu Lao." Chen Yu smiled. "Since they don't want it, then give it to your friend."

"No, that won't do. He already entrusted me to find you. I was just thinking of contacting you; I didn't expect to meet you here."

Wu Lao took a check out of his pocket. "This is a one-million check. Of course, if the price isn't right, you can ask for more."

"One million? Chen Yu, are you hiring an actor to put on a double act?" Fang Chen laughed out loud.

"Shut up! This is Wu Lao, Wu Guozhong. He has been in the antique business for decades," Ye Taihe barked.

"Wu Guozhong? You are the president of the Antique Association?" Fang Chen blurted out, and his mouth snapped shut.

Just kidding, this was a titan of the antique world. Hiring him to put on a double act? Chen Yu likely didn't have that kind of power.

"No need, Wu Lao. This item was just dropped and has a crack; it's already damaged. You keep the money and tell your friend that if he likes it, he can take it. Good things should go to those who know their value." Chen Yu shook his head and pulled Ye Xinyu away.

"That won't do. This was entrusted by a friend; you must accept the check." Wu Lao insisted and stuffed the check into Chen Yu's hand.

"Then... I will accept it. Thank you, Wu Lao, and please thank your friend on my behalf." Chen Yu thought for a moment and then accepted it.

"Wu Lao, is this thing really worth one million? Then take a look at this brush of mine and see how much it's worth." Fang Chen rarely encountered someone of this level and hurriedly pointed to the Ming Dynasty calligraphy brush he had gifted.

"Which brush? Hehe, I've appraised a few. If I'm not mistaken, there is small text on the end of the brush engraved with a certain brush factory's name. The market price is ten yuan each." Wu Lao glanced at the brush placed on the table and couldn't help but sneer.

"That's impossible." Fang Chen's face changed drastically.

"Then are you implying that my, Wu Guozhong's, eye for antiques is failing?" Wu Lao sneered. "Only a fool would spend tens or even hundreds of thousands to buy this kind of low-grade imitation. If you think it's a good item, then keep it."

The expression on Fang Chen's face was extremely ugly. He knew Wu Guozhong wouldn't be wrong. He had spent six hundred thousand to buy a fake brush.

Although he wasn't short on money, he couldn't save face, especially since he had been outdone by Chen Yu. He felt extremely uncomfortable inside.

"Young man, I'll head back first. I need to study this item carefully before sending it to my friend. Farewell." Wu Lao cupped his hands.

"Take care, Wu Lao." Chen Yu smiled.

After Wu Lao left, everyone's expression was extremely ugly, especially Ye Taihe, whose expression was full of regret.

The entire Ye Family was like a bunch of fools. They had treated an item worth over a million as trash and thrown it away, while they treated a ten-yuan imitation like a treasure.

That was an item worth over a million! Now Ye Taihe was already regretting it, and this was a full one-million-yuan loss in a single turn.

"Chen Yu, how much did you pay to pick up this item?" The expression of his mother-in-law, Wang Xueqin, had already become much gentler.