Chapter 338: The Painting
Xu Youyou looked at the old man, who appeared full of vigor, and suddenly understood something.
They say one’s appearance reflects their heart. Although it’s not absolutely true, it’s not far off either.
Those in a weak position inevitably show timidity in their words and actions.
While strong individuals can be distinguished by just a glance.
The old man in front of her, even though over ninety years old, had bright, sharp eyes, moved with strength, and spoke and acted decisively — nothing about him suggested someone weak, either at home or at work.
No wonder even his direct great-grandson couldn’t do anything against him.
“Sir, please don’t get upset. We can talk this through slowly,” Xu Youyou said.
The old man showed a flash of disdain in his eyes but then waved his hand:
“I’m old and can’t hear clearly. You said you want to steal my things? I’ll beat you to death!”
It was like he was giving a preemptive warning. As soon as he finished speaking, he picked up a cane nearby and posed as if he was about to hit them.
The bodyguards quickly stepped in front of Xu Youyou.
“Boss, this old man is unreasonable. Don’t argue with him,” the bodyguard advised.
Xu Fang also nodded beside him, saying, “Boss, there’s an old saying: ‘A nobleman’s son does not sit under a dangerous roof.’ If you really want to persuade him, let me handle it. You should go take a walk around the village.”
Xu Youyou waved her hand and said, “Don’t worry. I won’t force things with someone who won’t listen.”
They discussed for a while but couldn’t come up with a plan.
Xu Youyou suddenly turned to Liu Xiangyi beside her: “Xiangyi, what are you thinking about?”
Liu Xiangyi hadn’t spoken the whole time and was intently observing a painting behind the old man.
Calling it a painting was generous — it was still on the easel and only half finished.
“This painting is quite beautiful,” Liu Xiangyi said.
Now, not only was the film crew’s task dependent on the old man, but Xu Youyou’s golden pointer for her treasure-hunting mission was also pointing straight at his house.
Xu Youyou had always trusted Liu Xiangyi’s instincts. She immediately said to Xu Fang beside her,
“Sister Xu, could you tell the old man that I want to buy the painting he’s working on?”
Xu Youyou found it strange — in the intel Ouyang had given her, there was no mention that the old man could paint.
And a 90-year-old farmer having professional art supplies at hand? That felt seriously out of place.
Given clear instructions, Xu Fang immediately began speaking loudly to the old man.
But no matter how much she praised his painting, the old man kept a scowl on his face:
“Why are you shouting? Trying to make me deaf? I’m not renting the cellar, and I’m not selling the painting! Get lost!”
After being scolded, Xu Fang was angry but didn’t dare talk back. She turned to Xu Youyou and said,
“He’s unwilling, Boss. Also, did you notice? His hearing is actually fine — he’s pretending.”
Xu Youyou nodded in strong agreement:
“At this rate, if you told me he was sixty, I might believe it. He doesn’t look that old.”
Seeing Xu Fang come back defeated, Xu Youyou wasn’t ready to give up yet. She turned her gaze to Liu Xiangyi:
“Xiangyi, why don’t you go ask him? You don’t have to buy the painting — just find a way to chat with him more, build a better relationship.”
Liu Xiangyi wasn’t very confident but, thinking of the high salary Xu Youyou was paying her and the fact that the old man was tied to Song Zhibai’s movie, she mustered her courage and went over.
“Grandpa Wu, our boss—”
Before Liu Xiangyi could finish, the old man glared at her and slammed his cane on the ground:
“You get lost too!”
Liu Xiangyi’s nose twitched, and she ran back feeling defeated.
The young girl had always been seen as the team’s lucky charm because she was sweet, lively, and adorable. Seeing her so upset made everyone feel bad.
“Boss, maybe we should just drop it,” Xu Fang suggested.
“We’ve tried. If it doesn’t work, let Director Ouyang think of another way.”
Xu Youyou thought to herself: if it was only about the cellar, she might have given up. But she couldn’t abandon her treasure-hunting mission so easily.
She suddenly asked, “Where’s the cellar?”
Xu Fang remembered clearly:
“It’s in the old man’s backyard. The yard is backed by a mountain and near water, naturally well protected. There’s no other easy way to get in. If little Luo hadn’t snuck in while playing around as a kid, outsiders would never have known there was such a luxurious cellar.”
Xu Youyou asked in confusion:
“Local people don’t usually dig cellars like that?”
Xu Fang chuckled:
“Boss, nobody anywhere digs cellars like that. It’s not like anyone’s planning to live in them. Who would dig something so weird?”
Growing up in an orphanage, Xu Youyou had seen villagers use cellars to store sweet potatoes. She asked:
“What do villagers normally store in their cellars?”
Xu Fang replied:
“I’m not sure what exactly is in theirs. I’ll go ask around.”
Xu Youyou and the others waited outside the gate.
Meanwhile, the old man inside had stopped painting. He stared at them with a fierce gaze.
Earlier, Xu Youyou hadn’t paid much attention, but now as she looked at the half-finished painting, she found it oddly familiar.
It wasn’t a painting of famous mountains or figures — it was a painting of a cabinet. And it wasn’t a traditional ink painting but an oil painting.
The lines of the cabinet were drawn very precisely, giving off an ancient, rustic feel.
Maybe her gaze was too obvious, because the old man noticed and quickly packed up the painting, then went inside and slammed the door shut.
Xu Youyou kept thinking about the painting, feeling that the sense of familiarity wasn’t without reason.
Twenty minutes later, Xu Fang returned. After asking around, she confirmed what was commonly known:
Villagers rarely used cellars anymore, and those who did just stored crops like sweet potatoes. Nothing unusual.
Liu Xiangyi suddenly said,
“Could it be that Grandpa Wu doesn’t want to rent the cellar because there’s treasure hidden inside?”
Xu Fang laughed:
“You little girl, have you read too many novels and watched too many dramas? If there really were treasure, he could have just taken it out. Why stubbornly hold onto the cellar?
The villagers also said the old man is very stubborn and never changes his mind once it’s made up.”
Even so, Liu Xiangyi didn’t give up her theory:
“Maybe the treasure can’t be easily moved? The old man is too old to do it himself, and his great-grandson is unreliable. Maybe he’s saving the family legacy and is afraid the younger generation would squander it?”
