Shen Li frowned slightly.
"Before you said that one of Professor Carroll's students had seen the painting in a small shop on Seventh Avenue in Leland, but then that shop was resold, right?"
"yes."
Shen Li was deeply impressed by this incident, because at that time she thought that she could find out something from here, but in the end she returned without success because the store had been transferred.
At this time, Lu Huaiyu suddenly mentioned this matter, which made her have a certain guess in her heart.
Sure enough, the next moment, Lu Huai said:
"The real owner of that store is Tao Siwen."
Even though she had already guessed the possibility, Shen Li's heart skipped a beat when she actually heard the answer.
Lu Huai and thin lips raised slightly:
"In fact, in the past five years, Tao Siwen has opened more than one store in Liland, but most of them only opened for a year, or even a few months, and were quickly transferred. Back and forth, eleven stores."
Shen Li was startled: "So many?"
If Tao Siwen wanted to make money in Lilan, such a model obviously wouldn't work, and after going back and forth like this, he might have to pay back.
Moreover, he also has a lot of industries in the country, so he is already busy enough, so why bother to work so hard in Lilan
"What's more interesting is that his stores are very mixed, and he doesn't seem to have a clear idea of what to do."
Shen Li paused:
"Second Brother, what do you mean... those are just a cover on the surface? Does he have another business in private?"
She's always been smart.
Lu Huaiyu smiled and reminded:
"You have forgotten the biggest feature of the city of Liland."
Liland - the holy capital of art.
It has a long history, ancient buildings, diverse cultures, and a strong artistic atmosphere.
In the streets and alleys, people carrying drawing boards can be seen everywhere.
Shen Li was quiet for a while:
"So, my fake painting really appeared in Lilan first?"
"Tao Siwen and Chai Shiming, the vice president of Yitang Gallery, are distant relatives." Lu Huai said, "The two don't have much contact with each other, so many people don't know about it."
He also made a special investigation to find out about it.
Hearing this, Shen Li already had a rough guess in her heart.
"so… "
"There are many people in Lilan who know how to paint, and a lot of paintings are produced every year, and a considerable part of them has flowed into the domestic market."
Lu Huai and Dao,
"As for the paintings themselves, whether they are works or fakes, only Tao Siwen should know."
Shen Li's eyes drooped slightly, lost in thought.
She knows that the domestic fake painting market is actually very huge, because the profit margins in it are astonishing.
The cost of a counterfeit is extremely low, but if it can be confused with the real one, tens of millions or even tens of millions of profits can be obtained.
This is almost equivalent to an empty glove white wolf.
Accumulated, it is an extremely terrifying number.
Tao Siwen would go to Lilan every once in a while, without his family, only his secretary and assistant.
Opening a shop there, but it doesn't seem to have spent much thought on it.
The relationship between him and Yitong Gallery deserves scrutiny.
In addition, this is not the first time he has come into contact with fake paintings.
Shen Li spoke slowly:
"Brother once mentioned to me one thing before: Tao Siwen liked a certain painting of Master very much. He visited and begged many times, but Master refused to agree. In the end, Master donated the painting. As a result, Tao Siwen simply bought it. A fake is at home."
Lu Huai narrowed his eyes slightly: "Oh?"
Shen Li continued: "It is said that it looks quite similar. If the person who saw the painting hadn't studied the master's painting quite a bit, and knew that the master had donated that painting, he probably wouldn't be able to tell that it was a fake .”
Mei Yanqing is a figure at the level of Taishan Beidou in the domestic painting circle, and it is normal for someone to copy his paintings.
But to be able to achieve such a similar degree, and to be collected by Tao Siwen, is obviously a bit abnormal.
Lu Huai pondered for a moment:
"The evidence I have so far can basically prove that Tao Siwen deliberately found someone overseas to produce fake paintings, and then secretly shipped these paintings back to China. However, whether those paintings flowed into the domestic market and sold at a high price still needs evidence. This part is estimated to take some work.”
Shen Li nodded: "I understand."
Tao Siwen was in Lilan, so it was convenient for him to do things, but at the same time, there were many restrictions.
That's why Lu Huaiyu was able to find out these clues left by him so quickly, and then deduce what he did in Lilan.
But things are only halfway here.
More importantly, it is to make sure that those fake paintings are indeed sold as genuine ones.
But the domestic market is mixed, and Tao Siwen has been in this circle for many years. It is not so easy to catch him.
"My people have been investigating for a while, and there are many obstacles."
Lu Huaiyu paused,
"A Li, does it matter that Tao Siwen is in the painting association?"
This question has been asked quite clearly.
Shen Li said: "It seems that there is not. Senior brother said that most of the people in the painting association have no contact with him. On the one hand, they know that Tao Siwen offended the master because of the fake painting, on the other hand, they probably didn't think much of him. "
Tao Siwen always pretends to like art very much, but anyone with discerning eyes can see that he is just doing superficial work and being arty.
As Shen Li said, she remembered another thing.
"However—I've seen Tao Siwen and people from the Painting Association organize a private dinner together before."
Lu Huai asked:
"From the Painting Association? Who are there?"
Shen Li paused for a few seconds.
"Shi Yang."
…
The next day is Friday.
At ten o'clock in the morning, Shen Li was carrying a painting on her back and was about to go out.
Shen Zhijin is in the living room, cutting off part of the newly bought red camellia leaves, and inserting them into the vase one by one.
The handful of red stretched out in his hands, showing a warm and blooming gesture.
Hearing the sound of footsteps, Shen Zhijin looked up, saw her carrying the painting on her back, and asked:
"Going to Lao Mei's side?"
Shen Li nodded:
"I haven't produced a painting for a while, so I said I would take this painting to Master to see."
Shen Zhijin said "hmm".
When Shen Li came to the porch, she suddenly remembered something, turned around and asked:
"Isn't Dad going to school today?"
Shen Zhijin paused, and a faint smile spread across Junxiu's face.
"Today is Yin Yin's birthday."
When it comes to this, even the original clear and clean voice is a bit gentle.
He promised her that this day only belonged to her.
Shen Li was startled.
Shen Zhijin said:
"Go early today and come back early."
Shen Li said softly:
"Um."
…
Shen Li put the painting in the car and drove to Jinse Bay.
On the way, she called Yu Pingchuan.
"Brother, I'm going to Jinse Bay now, if you are free at noon, would you like to have a meal together?"
Yu Pingchuan was happy:
"Okay, I'm in the Painting Association now, and I'll be there after the meeting."
The Painting Association is very close to Jinse Bay, Shen Li thought about it:
"Then I'll pick you up?"
Yu Pingchuan was very happy: "OK!"
(end of this chapter)