Holding the bank card, Yang Bo was extremely excited. Fifty thousand yuan was equivalent to one - seventeenth of eight hundred and fifty thousand yuan, but it was the first step for him. With this fifty thousand yuan, he had more chances to double the money and accumulate enough funds more quickly.
Next, he had to use this fifty thousand yuan to find undervalued antiques. With more capital, he could surely make money at a faster pace. Moreover, he could have his father hospitalized for treatment as soon as possible. However, it was hard to explain the source of the money. Using the excuse of winning a lottery might work for a while, but considering there would be more income in the future, it would be difficult to explain.
It was too early, so Yang Bo didn't want to call his family. He flattened the folding bed and after a long period of random thoughts, he finally fell asleep.
...
Yang Bo was woken up by a sharp and urgent shout. It was bright outside the window. A fat, pig - like face suddenly appeared in front of him, startling Yang Bo. He quickly reacted, "Good morning, boss!"
Guo Bapi was furious. Because he was too excited yesterday, he inevitably had a couple of drinks, so he came a little late today. He never expected that his employee hadn't even opened the store by nine o'clock, and he couldn't help but scold, "Yang Bo, what were you doing last night? Why did you get up so late today? Do you not want to work anymore? There are plenty of people who want this job. If you don't want to do it..."
"Get up early every day, clean the store thoroughly, boil water, and sweep the area in front of the door..."
Yang Bo quickly packed up his bedding. He had experienced such scenes countless times. If it weren't for making his parents feel at ease, he would have quit long ago. He remained silent until Guo Bapi stopped because he was tired of talking.
"Okay, I won't say much more. Go and buy me some porridge. Well, just plain porridge is fine," Guo Bapi finally stopped and threw ten yuan to Yang Bo for him to buy breakfast.
Yang Bo took the money and walked out.
When he came back, Yang Bo had two breakfasts in his hands. He handed the plain porridge to Guo Bapi. Guo Bapi couldn't help but look at Yang Bo and saw that Yang Bo had also bought porridge and even an extra fried dough stick. This was completely different from Yang Bo's usual behavior, which made Guo Bapi hesitant. "Xiao Yang, why are you willing to have breakfast today?"
Yang Bo looked up and said, "For my health, I should have something to eat."
Guo Bapi watched Yang Bo eating porridge and fried dough stick. "Oh, then eat quickly. After eating, you still need to clean."
Yang Bo replied with a "hum" and started eating while thinking about what excuse he should use to call his family.
Guo Bapi stared at Yang Bo and started to feel something was wrong because there seemed to be something in Yang Bo's porridge. He finally couldn't help asking, "Xiao Yang, isn't yours plain porridge?"
Yang Bo, who was deep in thought, was stunned when he heard the question. "This is preserved egg and lean meat porridge."
Guo Bapi's eyes suddenly widened. "Preserved egg and lean meat porridge!"
As if realizing that his tone was inappropriate, Guo Bapi quickly added, "Xiao Yang, you said your father is in poor health. You'd better save more money for your father's treatment in the future."
Yang Bo nodded. "I know."
Guo Bapi looked at Yang Bo's porridge and then at his own, suddenly feeling that his porridge was tasteless. His usual sense of superiority was damaged, and he lost his appetite.
After having breakfast, Yang Bo quickly cleaned the store. At this time, customers started to come to the store intermittently.
Jinling is known as a "furnace", and it was August, so the weather was very hot. However, because it was close to Chaotian Palace, some tourists who visited Jinling Museum would come in and have a look when they passed by the store. Yang Bo took a book and sat on a small stool in front of the door. When customers came in, he didn't have much enthusiasm to greet them because he knew that most of them just came to look and wouldn't buy.
Previously, Yang Bo also studied antique knowledge every day, but it was just to pass the time. Now that he knew he had special abilities, Yang Bo was more eager to learn new knowledge.
Although Guo Bapi was stingy, since he was in this business, there were many professional books stored in the store. Yang Bo had already read most of them, but could only remember about one - third. Now, his memory was surprisingly good, and he could basically remember after reading twice, so he needed to read the books again.
Time passed quickly. Yang Bo was immersed in learning, and before he knew it, it was noon. When he heard Guo Bapi shout from the inner hall, he suddenly realized that it was time to buy lunch again.
Taking the money, he went to the fast - food restaurant as usual. Passing by the place where he met the old beggar yesterday, Yang Bo couldn't help but look over. The old beggar was gone, and the glass bead was also missing. But it seemed that good luck came after that. Maybe it was a reward for being a good person. Thinking of his father's illness that had not been treated yet, he had once fantasized that a miracle - worker would suddenly come down from the sky, bring eight hundred and fifty thousand yuan, or give a panacea that could cure all diseases.
Later, he realized that a gentleman should strive for self - improvement. Only by relying on himself could he create the future and change his destiny. Even if he had special abilities, he still had to study hard. Otherwise, he would lose the opportunity even with a precious gift.
When Yang Bo bought lunch and came back, there was a customer in Goodzhai. A middle - aged man, dressed shabbily and looking rather down - and - out, was holding a long box and standing in the store. He said, "Boss, this painting is an ancestral heirloom. It was painted by Monk Kun Can. If my child didn't have leukemia, I wouldn't bring this painting here. You know, this painting is supposed to be passed down through generations, and it will only become more valuable in the future!"
The middle - aged man pleaded with a low and sorrowful voice, which reminded Yang Bo of his own situation. Wasn't his own father the same? And if he couldn't save his father, what was the use of making more money?
Putting the lunch box aside, Yang Bo walked over to look at the painting that Guo Bapi was examining. There were pavilions and towers in the painting, a body of fresh water, and a noble - looking man fishing alone at the bow of a boat. In the foreground, white clouds were swirling, peaks were clustered, and a winding path led to seclusion. In the distance, the mountains were stretching out. The whole picture depicted the cleanness and tranquility of the mountains and rivers after the rain.
Looking at the signature again, it read "Rain Washes the Mountain Roots". There was also a long five - character poem: "Rain washes the mountain roots white, clean like a cold - night river. Amid the clear mist, peaks stand before me..."
The seal read "Shi Xi". The whole painting was clean and serene, giving people a sense of being detached from vulgarity.
Yang Bo thought it was "good" in his heart but didn't dare to relax at all. Suddenly, his eyes lit up as rays of light emerged from the painting, gradually converging in the center of the painting, forming an aperture. A ray of light flew out and entered his eyes. Yang Bo was suddenly overjoyed because this aperture was even thicker than that of the fish - basket - shaped item!