969 Like a Frog in the Well

"Oh? What is that? It healed Asama!"

Amasa Hiko lit up and immediately left Chen Xiaobei to stare at the tray covered with a red cloth.

Amasa Yuki and that group of antiquarian turned their attention over to it.

Even Chen Xiaobei too was intrigued.

Flap!

Umekawa Shichijiro removed the cloth and said excitedly, "This is a piece of phoenix sculpture that is made of Agarwood! Today, it is more than a thousand years old. The wood was logged by the craftsman and carved into this piece of art called Phoenix Sows the Nine Heavens!"

Everyone' eyes sparkled at the sight of the wood-carving.

It was beautifully made. The craftsmanship was exquisite.

Its height was 20cm tall and about 10cm wide and its body was dark red and lined with a multiplicity of dark growth rings, making it look like a phoenix's eyes.

"The craftsmanship is remarkable! It looks surreal. How magnificent!"

Asama Yuki was just an amateur so she praised it so generously merely based on its appearance.

Amateurs enjoy the show; connoisseurs recognize artistry.

"The craftmanship is characteristic of the craftsmanship of the Tang Dynasty! Look so elegant and exquisite!"

"This material is also very rare! The Agarwood Phoenix Eye is said to have the effect of clearing the heart and calming the nerves. If a person carries it around, their physique will increase greatly. In fact, they will never fall sick!"

"Master Umekawa is so amazing to be able to find a present like this! Not only is it a rare relic, it is also a rare medicine. There is no way that Mr. Amasa would not like it!"

The group of antiquarian exclaimed, absolutely taken in by this woodcarving.

They looked at Umekawa Shichijiro ingratiatingly.

All of them believed that Umekawa Shichijiro would be able to win win Amasa Hiko's favor with this woodcarving.

And that was the case, exactly.

"Splendid! Terrific!" Amasa Hiko could not stop praising the woodcarving. "The craftsmanship! The size! The material! This is an impeccable work of art! No, it's more like an item from heaven! Because it healed Asama! This is sublime!"

Seeing the crowd's wondering astonishments, a look of delight crept onto Umekawa Shichijiro's face. He even rolled his eyes at Chen Xiaobei.

"All of you have such a good eye! I put in a lot of effort, employed countless manpower and even spent 300 million American dollars to get it!" Umekawa Shichijiro raised his chin and said proudly, "Although I've paid a great price for it, to be able to get Grandpa Amasa's commendation, and heal little sister Amasa, was more than worth it!"

The crowd began to cheer again. Even Amasa Yuki could not help but look at Umekawa Shichijiro in a different light.

"Humph! I thought it was something great. It looks like you guys have been living in the jungle for some time." Chen Xiaobei said lazily.

"You bastard! How audacious!" Umekawa Shichijiro was irritated. "My woodcarving was commended by Grandpa Amasa! It was highly praised by all the uncles! Who are you to say that Grandpa Amasa and everyone here have not seen something great in their lives?"

Her statement provoked an outburst from the crowd; they were outraged.

"You are an overconfident bastard! We are all connoisseurs! We have more knowledge under our belt than you do! How dare you call us uninformed!"

"I think that this bastard was jealous that Master Umekawa stole his spotlight. He's just saying out of indignance. Don't take him seriously!"

"That's right! He's just an amateur! Let's just ignore him!"

The antiquarians sneered at Chen Xiaobei, choosing not to take him seriously.

Amasa Hiko was also very unhappy so he commanded, "Asama, it looks like your benefactor wants to leave. Give him the cheque so that he can leave our mansion."

"Oh, alright."

Asama Yuki nodded.

She was initially very interested in Chen Xiaobei but Chen Xiaobei ran his mouth. First, he wanted her grandpa to give him the Sui Generis Dragon artifact. After that, he claimed that the house was full of uninformed people.

Her affection for Chen Xiaobei had diminished to almost next to nothing.

"A bunch of greenhorns who know nothing calling themselves experts! What a joke! You can keep your rubbish cheque! I don't need it!"

Chen Xiaobei shrugged, rolled up his sleeves and walked away.

The crowd was red with anger. He called them uninformed then called them greenhorns! It was insufferable!

"This Chinese bastard's face had just slapped by us and now he becomes even worse! Who do you think you are?"

"That's right! This kid is conceited! Did you forget that you are in the great Japan? This is Amasa's property!"

"You want us to keep our rubbish cheque? Are you saying that the godly item that Master Umekawa bought is rubbish?"

The other antiquarians were all baring their teeth. If they were elsewhere, they would not have let Chen Xiaobei off the hook so easily! Asama Yuki's opnions of Chen Xiaobei had now taken a turn for the worse. She even felt a slight hatred towards her.

'This Chinese kid is just too conceited! He is only twenty years old, but he speaks as if he is an antiquarian himself!'

'This kind of people are the disgusting!'

Umekawa Shichijiro had a similar thought as Amasa Yuki: this was the best chance to step on Chen Xiaobei!

"You stupid kid! Stand up!" Umekawa Shichijiro burst out, "You say that we don't know anything? Does that mean that you have seen the world?"

Chen Xiaobei stopped in his tracks, the corner of his mouth upturned menacingly.

The dumb fish was hooked!

"I have not seen the world. But to me, your so called godly item is just a piece of trash!"

Chen Xiaobei turned around slowly.

"What?"

Everyone was shocked.

"What are you babbling about? Do you know what I went through a lot to get this piece of art?" Umekawa Shichijiro said angrily.

Chen Xiaobei laughed. "Ha! I told you that you that you don't know anything! You sacrificed so much for scraps!"

"Scraps?!"

The woodcarving he had worked so hard to obtain was being discredited by Chen Xiaobei. Umekawa Shichijiro was practically foaming at the mouth.

"You bastard! If you're so good, go ahead and take out a better woodcarving! Then we'll concede! But if you are just crowing, I promise that you will not leave Japan!" Umekawa Shichijiro said through gritted teeth.

"Hah! A better woodcarving?" Chen Xiaobei sniggered. "How about something ten times better?"