The Art of Teasing - Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Having embarrassed herself that morning with the renovation where budget wasn't even a consideration, Wen Zhengyu realized she didn't even grasp the most basic common sense when it came to doing business. Opening an art studio and making a fool of herself in front of her own cousin wouldn't lead to any major disaster, but in front of outsiders, the consequences could be quite severe.

Out of caution, Wen Zhengyu didn't dare casually approach the elder masters to commission paintings.

She first drew up a list of names, then sorted out the procedure for paying personal visits, before heading to the small storeroom to search for tea, ink, wine, brushes, and other gifts.

By dusk, when Old Master Wen returned from his outing, he found the living room coffee table covered with stacks of small gift boxes, each stack affixed with a little sticky note, and Wen Zhengyu lying on her stomach beside the coffee table, busily at work.

Old Master Wen curiously ambled over to Wen Zhengyu's side, craned his neck for a look, and asked, "What are you busy with?" With a single glance, he spotted his treasured box of Pre-Rain Dragon Well tea, his heart twinging painfully. Expressionless, he circled around to the front of the gift boxes, cross-checking the types of gifts against the names affixed to them, and understood—his granddaughter was preparing a gift list. For example, Mr. Xiao Shan liked tea, exclusively Dragon Well, so his precious granddaughter had dug out his treasured Pre-Rain Dragon Well; "The Crane Hermit" liked collecting inkstones, so his granddaughter had unearthed this Dragon Tail Inkstone.

Old Master Wen opened the gift box, took out the Dragon Tail Inkstone inside to examine it, then put it back, sucking in a pained hiss. Over the years, the price of Dragon Tail Inkstones had risen dramatically. This particular inkstone had cost several thousand when he bought it, but at current market prices, it wouldn't go for less than two hundred thousand.

Seeing Old Master Wen return, Wen Zhengyu hastily presented her prepared list of names and gift list for Old Master Wen's review. She explained her plan to him, saying, "One can't visit people to ask for favors empty-handed. I thought I'd bring gifts based on these elder masters' preferences. Do you think this gift list is appropriate? And please help me review this list of names."

Old Master Wen flipped open the name list, and his head spun a little at the long string of names. He stared wide-eyed at Wen Zhengyu, strongly suspecting his granddaughter was prepared to cover the entire Jiangnan region. Everyone who was anyone in the Painting Association was on this list. On this list, the cheapest went for a few thousand per square foot; the expensive ones, over a hundred thousand per square foot. Old Master Wen immediately worried that before any business got off the ground, his granddaughter would have already spent every last penny. He suppressed the ache in his heart and first asked, "How much do you plan to spend buying paintings?"

He then compared the name list against the gift list and discovered that for over half of them, his granddaughter actually knew their preferences. The larger half whose preferences she knew were all people he had taken Wen Zhengyu to meet and interact with; the smaller half she didn't know were those Wen Zhengyu hadn't had contact with.

Wen Zhengyu said, "I've considered it. If I go to commission paintings, people may not necessarily agree to paint for me; there are bound to be trips made in vain. With a list this long, getting half to agree would already be quite good, and that would still depend on your standing and reputation. I'll try commissioning first—getting a yes is naturally good; if I get a no, I'll still leave a gift and pay a visit, make an impression. Then when the studio opens, I'll go deliver invitations. Having refused me once, they might feel embarrassed to refuse me a second time, and seeing many colleagues in attendance, perhaps they'll come to the studio opening? If they refuse me a second time, I can still try commissioning again after the opening—that would show my sincerity. Right? Opening an art studio means selling paintings. There's no fear in over-commissioning; the worry isn't having too many paintings, but having no paintings to sell. If we commission or buy too many, we can keep them in the studio to sell, or send them out under the studio's name for exhibitions and auctions. Paintings by famous, reputable artists—there's no fear of not being able to sell them."

Old Master Wen let out a "Heh," and said to Wen Zhengyu, "You certainly think nicely."

Wen Zhengyu said, very uneasily, "It just means you'll have to bleed a little more." After all her rummaging, another chunk of her grandfather's remaining small, not-very-valuable little collection was gone. She said, "But I'll record this expense on the studio's books and pay you back."

Seeing that his granddaughter knew to keep accounts now, Old Master Wen's old heart, aching with continuous pangs, felt slightly comforted. He looked at his Dragon Tail Inkstone, thought for a moment, and said, "Fine then, let's do it this way." He pointed at Wen Zhengyu, then glanced again at the name list and gift list before getting up and heading to the dining room.

After dinner, he took Wen Zhengyu's gift list upstairs. After a little over an hour had passed, he brought the gift list back to Wen Zhengyu and said, "I've drafted the prices on the gift list for you. When you find an investor, pay this expense of mine first."

Wen Zhengyu's eyes flicked to the price of the inkstone on the gift list. She hastily called out, "Grandpa, I'll swap this inkstone for another." She tore off the little slip of paper on the inkstone, picked up the inkstone, preparing to return it to the small storeroom, and said, "Please help me pick one under fifty thousand."

Old Master Wen said with an utterly composed expression, "Just give this one. That old man is picky; if the item isn't good, it won't catch his eye."

Wen Zhengyu thought for a moment and decided to also bring some tea that the old gentleman liked. If the old gentleman was unwilling to paint for her, the inkstone being expensive, he wouldn't accept it, and she would give him this tea—several thousand per catty—instead. A gift worth a few thousand was still presentable as a matter of reciprocal courtesy.

She then had her grandfather go over her gift list and name list with her once more. After confirming there were no oversights, she borrowed Old Master Wen's phone and scrolled through his contacts to find phone numbers.

Old Master Wen had a wide circle of acquaintances. All the elder masters on her list belonged to the same Painting Association as Old Master Wen; their phone numbers could all be found in Old Master Wen's phone contacts. She meticulously verified each name and noted alias, then transcribed the phone numbers onto her name list. Calling these elders out of the blue to make contact herself wouldn't be appropriate. She first had Old Master Wen help her establish a connection, arranging visit times through phone calls, and then she brought Wen Li along to visit and request paintings.

Opening an art studio and doing business—she herself would have to put a giant question mark over her own head. Having Wen Li there was like an oversized reassurance pill; her reliability shot straight up to a level where cooperation was viable.

With her grandfather's connections and standing, and with Wen Li, a businesswoman, as an investor, commissioning paintings went unexpectedly smoothly.

With over twenty contracts in hand, Wen Zhengyu herself found it a little hard to believe.

Paintings by so many renowned artists were more than enough for her to hold an extremely high-specification exhibition.

In the car, after reviewing the contracts, Wen Li stared at Wen Zhengyu with her mouth half open in astonishment. Only after a long while did she say, "This makes my strenuous week accompanying you on these errands worthwhile." She pinched Wen Zhengyu's small face, pale as bone china, and said, "Come on, big sister's treating you to a feast today."

During the meal, Wen Li told Wen Zhengyu that with these contracts, they could raise their investment share floor to fifty-five percent.

Wen Zhengyu asked, stunned, "Going up again?"

Wen Li said, "A rising tide lifts all boats—it's only logical." She pursed her lips in a smile, her elegant brows slightly raised, carrying a hint of triumphant pride, and said, "With that extra half-share in our hands, we can firmly grasp the speaking rights. That's what matters most."

Wen Zhengyu thought of the paintings she'd managed to commission and the cost of commissioning them, then considered that in matters of business and trade, Wen Li was the expert. Unable to find grounds for rebuttal, she nodded her agreement.

Wen Li said, "Alright. I reckon Elder Mu must have already gotten wind of this and should be coming to find you within these two days. What you originally discussed was forty-sixty? You forty, him sixty?"

Wen Zhengyu nodded.

Wen Li said, "Fifty-fifty. You go negotiate. Take a firm stance. He might agree. Fifty-five versus forty-five—that'll be a bit harder to negotiate. When he asks to discuss the partnership again, call me in."

Wen Zhengyu nodded and agreed. The price had jumped so sharply; she had no idea how to negotiate with Elder Mu, so she really did need Wen Li to step in.

After the meal, Wen Li drove her home and, while there, obtained the key to the small building rented for the art studio from her grandfather, preparing to begin renovations.

After commissioning paintings from renowned elder masters, she then approached her senior and junior fellow disciples to commission paintings. Fellow disciples of the same generation were all accustomed to communicating via internet or phone. She managed to secure painting commissions through video calls to her fellow disciples, but since it was for opening an art studio and required contracts to negotiate share splits, she still drafted contracts and sent them via courier.

Saving the effort of traveling back and forth, commissioning paintings from her fellow disciples plus drafting contracts took just two days total.

She felt Wen Li truly possessed some divinely prescient ability. Wen Li had said "should come looking for you within these two days," and sure enough, just two days later, the moment she had finished commissioning paintings from her fellow disciples, Old Master Mu called her, saying he was willing to do a forty-sixty split and asking when they could discuss the contract.

Wen Zhengyu didn't dare agree on the spot. She said, "Elder Mu, there's something I have here. I think it would be more appropriate if we talked after you've seen it. May I ask what day is convenient for you? My cousin Wen Li and I could come visit you?"

Old Master Mu asked, "Wen Li?"

Wen Zhengyu said, "Yes. I've already negotiated a partnership with her. I've split my share of the equity, giving half to her. Without her, I don't think I would dare open this art studio."

There was silence from Old Master Mu's end for several seconds before a heavy, drawn-out sigh came through: "Ah!" followed by, "Xiao Yu, how can doing business change day by day like this?"

Wen Zhengyu said, very tactfully, "When you came before, Elder Sir, my hands were empty. I imagine even an eighty-twenty split at that time would have left you worrying I'd lose money. Times have changed. Once you've seen what I have in hand, once your mind is settled, then we can talk. What do you think?"

Old Man Mu Yao sighed again. With great reluctance yet tinged with a degree of warmth, he said, "Fine. Don't trouble yourself running around. I'll come find you tomorrow afternoon."

Wen Zhengyu replied, "Alright. My cousin and I will await you at my home."

After ending the call with Old Master Mu, she immediately phoned Wen Li to tell her that Old Master Mu would be coming tomorrow to discuss the partnership.

Wen Li responded, "Got it. I'll be there tomorrow."

Wen Li arrived before lunch, ate lunch at her home, and even mooched a nap on Wen Zhengyu's bed.

Not long after their afternoon nap, Old Master Mu arrived.

Wen Li first had Old Master Mu look at the commissioning contracts they had spent a week traveling to sign.

Once Old Master Mu had carefully finished reading the twenty-plus contracts, Wen Li also let him briefly review the few contracts from Wen Zhengyu's fellow disciples that had arrived that morning via same-city courier. Only then did she ask, "What does the Elder Sir think these contracts are worth?"

Old Master Mu's expression grew solemn. He lightly tapped his fingers on the table, pondered for a moment, then asked, "So now, what's the proposition?"

Wen Li raised a single finger. "Ten million. For forty-five percent equity."

Old Master Mu's eyebrows practically jumped. He asked, "How much? Ten million, forty-five percent equity? Forty-five percent?" He gestured toward Wen Zhengyu and Wen Li with his hand. "You two hold fifty-five?" Then pointed at himself. "I hold forty-five?" His expression was one of "Did I hear that correctly?"

Wen Li nodded. "Yes." She sighed, her face full of heartache. "Elder Mu, truth be told, before you approached Xiao Yu, I truly didn't know she was planning to open an art studio, nor did I know she was this capable. Otherwise…" She pressed her hand to her forehead ruefully. "But in life and business, one must respect the order of precedence. Since you, Elder Sir, came first, I have nothing more to say. How about it? Would you like to give it some serious thought?"

Old Master Mu mulled it over for a long while. With a heavy heart, he said, "You must allow me two days to consider." He thought for another moment, then asked, "What if I wanted to hold more than fifty percent equity? What price then?"

Wen Li said, "Elder Mu, you know what this half-share of equity represents. On this half-share, we cannot yield."

Old Master Mu considered a while longer, let out a heavy sigh, and said, "I'll think it over some more." He then asked, uneasily, "Two days—there won't be any more sudden changes, will there?"

Wen Li said, "Barring special circumstances, no."

Old Master Mu's eyes went round, his beard nearly bristling. He asked, "What do you mean by special circumstances? There could be more changes?"

Wen Zhengyu poured Old Master Mu a cup of tea and said, "Grandpa Mu, have some tea." She continued, "Ten million, forty-five percent equity. During the time you're considering, we absolutely will not change the terms. If you agree, this is the price. If you don't agree, we will make other plans. We await your reply."

Having received Wen Zhengyu's assurance, Old Master Mu, heart heavy, sighing and shaking his head, took his leave.

Wen Zhengyu saw Old Master Mu to the door. After sending him off, she returned to the living room.

Wen Li, chin resting on her hand, said listlessly, "Why is he sighing? I'm the one who wants to sigh, alright? Do you think I don't want to invest this money now?" She looked at Wen Zhengyu, very aggrieved.

Wen Zhengyu consoled her, "You have twenty-seven point five percent equity as consolation. No need to feel aggrieved."

Wen Li said, "Huh? Wasn't it twenty percent for me?"

Wen Zhengyu sat down beside Wen Li and said, "A straight fifty-fifty split makes the accounting easier. Since you were the one who drove the price up, naturally your share should increase."

Wen Li thought about it; that was true. She lifted a finger and gently hooked it under Wen Zhengyu's chin. "The little lady is quite savvy." She stood, picked up her bag, and said, "Alright then, I'm heading off first." She added, "These twenty-plus contracts of yours are like a pillar of stability. With these here, Old Man Mu will sell the pots and pans to buy into your equity. Let's wait two days for him. When the time comes, everyone can sign the contracts together. Once the funds arrive, you'll need to go register the business and get your operating license." She finished, waved at Wen Zhengyu, and left.

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