Chu Xiangqian remembers that in the decade of 60 and 70, Picasso's oil painting sold for $55,000.

By 1970, the price had even dropped somewhat, to only $53,200.

But a few years later, Picasso died, and in just five or six years, the highest price rose to $3.3 million.

Over the next 20 years, the price soared again and then stabilized at around $50 million.

In other words, at this time, painting yourself for 50,000 US dollars to buy a rare oil painting of Picasso can increase by 1,000 times in about 30 years.

With such a high rate of return, without intervening, Chu Xiangqian himself couldn't convince himself to give up.

Thinking of this, Chu Qianqian looked at Norton again, "Help me acquire a few Picasso paintings, and I'll exchange the tiger skin of a white tiger with you, how about it?" ”

Hearing the white tiger skin, Norton couldn't help but be surprised.

After repeatedly confirming with Chu Xiangqian that it was a white tiger skin, Norton's breathing in surprise was a lot heavier.

Whether it is bought back for Mountbatten or dedicated to the royal family, his position in the family in the future and his future prospects will definitely help.

"Master, can I take a look at the white tiger skin? Otherwise, when I met a collector of Picasso's paintings, I wouldn't know how to explain to him what happened when the white tiger skin fell to the ground. ”

Chu glanced forward at the track, and secretly said that if he came here to play in the future, he should still watch the excitement and distraction.

The Club's capacity on Hong Kong Island is even greater than most people think.

If you guess it often, you will definitely be targeted by the Jockey Club.

Of course, to die as a horse owner is another matter.

He looked at Norton and said, "Let's go, go back to Kowloon, and I'll treat you to roast deer steak." As for the steak you owe me. Wait for the antiques to arrive on Hong Kong Island, and then invite me. ”

Norton nodded hurriedly, and walked side by side with Chu Qianqian chatting to find the car.

And the actions of the two of them have actually been seen by people with intentions a long time ago.

Most people guessed that Norton was attracted to kung fu. Then he was envious and jealous of Chu Xiangqian.

Don't look at the strong opposition of many English people, and even advocate the abolition of the royal family, but if there is a chance to obtain a knighthood appointed by the royal family, ninety percent of English people will not hesitate at all.

Even after the new millennium, not many people refused.

It's not just about a huge rise in status, it's also about money and power.

Or even directly involved in politics.

It's strange if you don't accept it.

And although the aristocracy declined, they were driven off the stage only because they were getting poorer and poorer.

But for the big nobles, their influence is still there, and naturally there are people who scold them.

Since Chu Xiangqian knew this, of course he would think about how to use Norton and his grandfather to increase his influence on Hong Kong Island.

When he arrived at the backbone restaurant, Duan Hongchun heard that Norton was a nobleman with a title, and this noble boy was very respectful to Chu Xiangqian, and his gaze on Chu Xiangqian was different.

Hurriedly invited Chu Xiangqian and Norton into the best private room.

Listening to Chu Xiangqian say to make a deer steak and order special food, Duan Hongchun hurriedly reported more than a dozen dish names.

Chu Xiangqian glanced at Lao Duan, "Okay, just two dishes and one soup, and don't get those time-consuming things." ”

Duan Hongchun glanced at Norton, and seeing that he didn't have any objections, he hurriedly nodded and went out to prepare.

But in his heart, he thought that this Master Chu was really a capable person, and even the nobles were so obedient to him.

Secretly said that he did not send his son to Chu Xiangqian as an apprentice?

Back in the back kitchen, I personally stared at one of the best chefs and made a large charcoal-grilled deer steak.

I tasted a piece with a bowl and chopsticks, and after I was satisfied, I asked people to divide the plate and send it to the private room.

Seeing that Chu Xiangqian didn't use a knife and fork, but instead used chopsticks, Duan Hongchun thought that he didn't know how to use it, so he opened his mouth to explain.

Chu threw the chopsticks forward, stared at Duan Hongchun a few times, and suddenly took Duan Hongchun by surprise, and felt that Norton, who was very good at roasting deer steak, jumped straight into his eyelids.

After a while, Chu Xiangqian asked Duan Hongchun, "Is the restaurant Chinese or Western?" ”

Duan Hongchun immediately understood, and saw Chu Xiangqian smile and said to Norton, "This is a Chinese restaurant, you can try using chopsticks, this is also an experience for you." ”

Norton was stunned for a moment, then nodded, picked up a pair of red and black chopsticks, and lamely picked up a deer steak and ate it.

Chu Xiangqian looked at Duan Hongchun at this time, "Old Duan, hospitality is a good thing, but if the enthusiasm is too much, that is flattery." And there are a lot of dining etiquette in Chinese food, and even extravagant, which will make guests feel that their wallets can't be contained, do you understand? ”

Duan Hongchun nodded hurriedly, "Understood, understood, Master Chu rest assured, in the future, our restaurant will strictly abide by Chinese food etiquette and rules." ”

"That's good", Chu Xiangqian said with a smile to Duan Hongchun, "Think about it yourself, there are many dishes in Chinese food, and it is not suitable to use knives and forks at all."

Also, for foreigners, using chopsticks to eat is actually a kind of fun.

Maybe after returning to China, I can also brag and show off with friends and relatives. ”

Duan Hongchun understood this psychology after a little thought, being in the limelight, whether it was Chinese or foreign.

Chu Xiangqian saw that he had listened, waved his hand, and Duan Hongchun immediately nodded and left the private room.

I thought to myself, looking at it like this, this new partner is a strong conservative.

Then he thought about what the restaurant needed to improve, so as not to be caught by Chu Xiangqian in the future.

No matter how you say that you are almost 40 people, being pointed at and preached by a young man the same age as a nephew, just thinking about Duan Hongchun blushes a little.

Moreover, Chu Xiangqian said that Chinese food is extravagant and unaffordable, which also inspired Duan Hongchun.

Secretly saying that those troublesome dining etiquette are indeed not suitable for the current rhythm of life, even if Europe and the United States are not very particular.

But you can learn more about the plating of Western food, as long as it looks good, not only will the ingredients of the dish be less, but the price will also be more expensive.

In addition, there are many noodles in Cantonese cuisine, which should be very attractive to foreigners.

Of course, if you have the backbone, you can't raise the price at will, but when you open another restaurant, you will focus on high-end.

The customers are also targeting those foreign tourists.

Just thinking about it, Duan Hongchun felt that there was something wrong.

I was busy in a notebook I carried with me, and when I was not busy, I called the chef to discuss it with my father.

If you could, it wouldn't cost much to hire a connoisseur in Western cuisine as a consultant.

Once you are on Hong Kong Island and are really recognized by foreign tourists, you may be able to open restaurants in London and New York in the future.

Thinking that he would become a tycoon in the catering industry in the future, Duan Hongchun was instantly full of energy.

——

After lunch, Chu Xiangqian was about to walk home with Norton and his bodyguards.

But he didn't want to be pulled by Duan Hongchun, so he talked about the branch he discussed with the chef and the idea of Western-style Chinese food.

Chu Xiangqian's eyes lit up after hearing this.

This style does not need to be considered at all for oneself, and in the future, there are Chinese restaurant owners, who are operating abroad at the same time, according to the tastes and habits of Westerners, and constantly explore new models, which are very popular with Westerners.

Even for decades to come, Chinese food will remain expensive and popular abroad.

After eating too much Chinese food, some foreigners actually go to find the real taste of Chinese food on their own, rather than the improved Western Chinese food.

Of course, fast food can also be the main thing.

Panda Restaurant has even gone public, and its market value is tens of billions of dollars.

Thinking of this, Chu Xiangqian immediately recognized Duan Hongchun's idea, so that he didn't have to be afraid of spending money, and he had the backbone to do experiments first.

Then go to the next store in Central.

But I thought in my heart, let Duan Hongchun focus on high-end Western-style Chinese food, and go to London to open a panda restaurant?

Thinking of the scale of tens of billions of dollars, Chu Xiangqian's heart was instantly moved.

Attitudes towards Norton have changed, too.

With the help of this kid, doing business in London can be much easier.

——

After returning home, I said hello to my master, my mother, and my uncle, and entered the martial arts practice room on the second floor.

Signaling Norton to drag his suit jacket away, Chu Xiangqian hit the wooden stakes all over the wooden stakes.

Wooden stakes are not unique to Wing Chun, and the eighth level and Wudang Boxing also use wooden stakes as props for practice.

Even Chu Xiangqian felt that maybe it would be Wudang who used it first.

Norton didn't look surprised at first, and his bodyguard even frowned.

He didn't doubt Chu Xiangqian's ability, that day under the ring, watching Chu Xiangqian fight a tornado was clear.

Now seeing Chu Xiangqian hitting the wooden stake, I only thought that Chu Xiangqian was perfunctory Norton.

Just fighting, Chu Qianqian's speed became faster and faster, and finally it was so fast that phantoms appeared on both hands, and the bodyguards were suddenly shocked.

Norton stared at Chu Xiangqian's hands and wooden stakes with an excited expression.

Now he is really sure, Chu Xiangqian is not only a master in martial arts, but he should also know how to teach his disciples.

And seeing that his age is not very old, if he really teaches himself, maybe he can be as powerful as Chu Xiangqian.

After Chu Xiangqian finished fighting, he smiled and said to Norton, "Come and try?" ”

Norton nodded hurriedly, and his excited hands were a little trembling as he stood in the position where Chu moved forward.

According to Chu Qianqian's instructions, slowly practiced.

It didn't take long for me to feel pain in my wrists and arms.

Chu Xiangqian immediately stopped, and deliberately said the opposite, "Forget it, you can't learn kung fu like this." Teach you a few self-defense techniques. If you meet an ordinary person, you can knock each other down by surprise.

And your body method, rather than practicing martial arts to knock down the opponent, it is better to think about training your body by practicing martial arts. ”

Norton was anxious, "Master, I can endure the pain, please don't jump to conclusions so early." ”

Chu shrugged forward, "Regardless of kung fu or other fighting skills, to put it bluntly, the premise of defeating the other party is that you have to have a good body first."

Strength, speed, and reflexes are all indispensable.

Otherwise, no matter how good the skills are, if you punch the opponent, people will just hurt.

And if you get punched and fall down, then I advise you not to learn martial arts, but to practice marksmanship.

After all, no matter how well you practice kung fu, you can't stop the bullets. ”

Norton and the bodyguard were dumbfounded at the same time, but thinking about it carefully, what Chu Xiangqian said was not wrong at all.

Norton couldn't help but be discouraged.

Chu Xiangqian thought that he would give up, but he didn't want Norton to calm down, so he looked up at him and said, "Master, I will make a strict exercise plan."

The next time you see me, it's going to be different. ”

Chu Xiangqian could only encourage a few words, and Norton immediately said with a smile as if he was resurrected on the spot, "Master, I will do what I promise you."

In a few days, a batch of antiques from the Celestial Empire will be shipped. As for Picasso's oil paintings, it could take a week or two. It won't take more than a month at the latest. ”

Chu Xiangqian was relieved at this time, "You wait, I'll go get the white tiger skin." ”

After that, he went downstairs and went out.

After a while, I came back in a rickshaw with a big baggage.

This is nothing more than a precaution, so as not to make people feel that things are at home, and they should not have thoughts.

When I went up to the second floor and opened the baggage, a huge white tiger skin was spread out, and just looking at it made people's scalps tingle.

It's the same as going to the zoo and looking at a tiger through heavy glass, and you always feel numb in your back.

After getting Chu Xiangqian's permission, the bodyguard leaned forward and looked at it carefully.

After a while, he looked at Chu Qianqian and nodded, "Sir, this white tiger is not only huge enough, but you also handle it extremely well, even better than any processing technique I have ever seen."

If it were to be auctioned in London, I believe the starting price would be £10,000.

When you meet someone you like, 30,000 or 50,000 pounds is not a problem.

We can buy a Picasso painting for you for the same value at a valuation of £40,000.

There are a few paintings, it depends on luck. ”

Chu Xiangqian thought about it and nodded, the White Tiger and the White Lion are all fanatically sought after by Europeans and Americans.

Some are even willing to spend millions of dollars just to kill a white lion with their own hands.

That was, of course, more than thirty or forty years later.

Chu Xiangqian's heart moved, he looked at the bodyguard and asked, "A living white tiger, how much money will the nobles and rich people in London pay to buy it, or kill it with their own hands?" ”

"No, no, no, master," Norton said precipitously, "such a precious animal, it must have been caught alive." If it is shipped to London, there will be people who want 100,000 or 300,000 pounds. ”

Although Chu Xiangqian knew that there were many rich people in Europe and the United States in these years, he was still stunned for a few seconds when he heard about the 300,000 pounds.

300,000 pounds sterling is converted into Hong Kong dollars, which is 4.8 million.

You can buy several villas in the mid-levels.

If you go to Repulse Bay to buy land and build a villa, you can build a very large estate.

In a few decades, it will be billions larger, to say the least.

After calming down, Chu Xiangqian thought silently, the place where the white tiger was caught must not be placed in the mainland.

lest you be scolded by the Chinese people after breaking the news.

The only good thing is that the protection of animals is not as strict as it will be in the future.

You only need to find a country where hunting is not illegal, and after the white tigers that are refreshed at the end of each month in the novice village are brushed out, you can go to that country by yourself.

Tigers are loaded up in cages and transported to the sea to be traded.

After thinking about it, Chu Xiangqian immediately thought of the Philippines.

It's just that when I think about it again, the tigers in the game weigh four or five hundred pounds, and the Asian tigers can't grow so big.

If you put it in China, this money will definitely be taken away, but if you think about it seriously, you can also take the opportunity to ask for antiques.

Or jade.

If it is all replaced with Hetian's mutton fat white jade, it will be another great investment.

Simply get a boat and put the white tiger in an iron cage at sea, and if the buyer asks where he caught it, he will say that it is a secret.

Looking at Norton and his bodyguard, "Give me a month, and I will get a white tiger of four or five hundred pounds to send to the sea."

300,000 pounds, I don't care how much you can sell after that. ”

Norton didn't know much about business, and he didn't even do it.

But his bodyguard also serves as an assistant, and although he is not familiar with business, he knows a lot about many rumors and things in the London aristocratic circle.

I lowered my head and thought about it, and soon felt that not to mention other big nobles, maybe Mountbatten himself was willing to buy this white tiger for 300,000 pounds.

After all, compared to thoroughbreds, £300,000 can't even buy the legs of a champion horse.

And for those rich and noble people who have a curiosity, the white tiger is the only one in England.

You might be able to double or even earn more if you change hands.

"No problem", the bodyguard said, his heart moved, 300,000 pounds in cash is not difficult for Mountbatten, but it is not so easy to take out.

If you change it to an antique from the Celestial Empire, or an oil painting by a European or American painter who is not famous, it is even very famous, but the price of the work is not high.

Even if Picasso's oil paintings are used to offset the 300,000 pounds, it is good to earn a part of the intermediary fee.

"SIR, CAN YOU USE ANTIQUES FROM THE CELESTIAL EMPIRE, AS WELL AS PAINTINGS BY PAINTERS LIKE PICASSO, AS YOU MENTIONED, TO OFFSET SOME OF THE PAYMENT?"

These words can be regarded as saying that Chu Qianqian's heart went down.

But his expression pretended to be hesitant, and he thought for a while before nodding, "I will find someone to identify and evaluate the value of the Celestial Empire cultural relics and oil paintings you brought." ”

The bodyguard nodded hurriedly, "No problem, SIR, the Mountbatten family is worthy of your trust, and at the same time, you only need to give something valuable, and we will definitely serve you wholeheartedly." ”

Chu Xiangqian knew more about the virtues of capitalists than most people in the Celestial Empire in those years.

As long as their interests are not involved, and they can be provided with benefits, let alone the nobility, even the royal family can put down their bodies.

Even the president of the United States can be a broker, and maybe he will award you a medal because the interests are big enough.

A month after the agreement, trading at sea, Chu Xiangqian sent Norton and his bodyguards away, and after thinking about it, he also needed to find an excuse to go back to the mainland.

Otherwise, it involves a 300,000-pound transaction, and it is a bit too much to say that you don't leave Hong Kong Island and pretend to determine the goods in person.

But before leaving, I still have to deal with this side of things.

I went out and found a building materials store, bought a lot of steel, shipped it to a rented warehouse, and when the people left, I put it into the game and built three iron cages in the blacksmith shop.

After the game is refreshed at night, lure the newly brushed tiger into the iron cage where the three are connected together, 9 meters long, and can be opened at both ends.

Chu Xiangqian escaped from the iron cage by himself, closed the iron cage with his backhand, the was at the other end, and hit the mechanism, the iron door also closed with a clang, and the two small mechanisms were easily stuck.

Then, at the junction of the iron cage, the raised iron fence gate was lowered and the tiger was driven into an iron cage.

Chu Xiangqian silently watched the tiger rampage in the cage, and failed to break the steel bar the thickness of his thumb, so he was relieved.

(End of chapter)