Short, Light, Free Chapter 89

Chapter 89: The Value of Art (Part 2) I

I instantly ran out and locked my shop up before flagging down a cab to head to the television station .

I dashed into the studio and went up angrily to the receptionist . "That program . Is it here?"

She looked up at me in startlement . "Hi, what is it?"

I looked around and pointed at a television screen not far away, asking anxiously, "Where are they? That auction . Ceramic art . Is that happening here?"

The channel on the television screen switched to another program .

"Wait . You're talking about 'Treasure Time' that screens every Tuesday?" she asked with an awkward smile .

"Yes, that . "

"They're not here," she answered .

"There's no way . I just saw them 20 minutes ago on the screen . I wasn't far away . Do you have a contact that I can call? They're cheaters . I am Chalk," I shouted .

"You must've misunderstood, sir . The programs we screen are all pre-recorded, so we're just screening clips from weeks ago," she explained .

Two security guards came in from the back . One of them warned, "Please lower your volume when you speak . "

I sighed . "Sorry for being rude . Do you know where they are? Or how I can contact the person in charge of the program?"

"Please follow me, sir," she requested before walking to the side .

I followed her helplessly with

the two security guards trailing behind us in a watchful manner .

She questioned softly, "Did they cheat you of your money? You look really agitated . "

I nodded slightly . "Yeah, they lied to me . "

"There's no one to monitor this place and it won't be good for either of us if this blows up . I'll give you the contact of one of the producers, but don't tell him that you got it from us . "

I nodded again . "Alright . "

"I'll get you their name card . Give me a second," she said before running to a counter .

As I followed, the two security guards made sure to keep me in their sights .

She handed me a name card and I found it oddly familiar .

I scrolled through my phone to search for that number .

Indeed, saved on my phone, was that number attached to a name – Three Customers .

I remembered receiving the exact same name card from one of them .

I stuffed it into my pocket, thinking through everything that had happened .

I left the station and called the customer up .

The line connected quickly .

"Boss Chalk! You're calling earlier than expected . New pieces? Or are you in need of money?" he asked chirpily .

"Yes, new pieces . Better than those from before so I'm quite excited . "

"We'll come over in a few days, Boss Chalk . And it's time you change your mobile phone since you have the money now! That way, you can snap some photographs for us to a.s.sess your works . Of course, I'm not saying that your works aren't good . I'll have you know, that my boss only has good words for your stuff . "

"So you guys are coming over tomorrow?" I asked .

"I'm still overseas . Will the day after tomorrow be fine? Are you tight on cash? It's understandable, the rent there is ridiculous," he sympathized .

"I'll wait for you then," I finished before hanging up .

I returned to my shop and for the whole night, I tried to devise a plan .

I decided to confront them when they visited but then I quickly realized that I had no substantial evidence .

I racked my brains for something that would help me figure out what exactly was going on .

The next morning, I bought a tea set and an expensive type of tea leaves, Tieguanyin, in spite of the fact that I never had the habit of drinking tea .

I also bought three thick ropes and some sleeping pills .

I had searched many shops for those sleeping pills before I found a doctor that was willing to prescribe them to me .

"I've been under immense pressure and I haven't been sleeping for three nights now . I can still eat but I find it difficult to sleep," I told the doctor .

He looked me over clinically and replied, "Your dark eye circles are indeed heavy . I'll prescribe you eight pills for now because taking any more than that will affect your energy . Don't take them consecutively, okay?"

On the day that I was to meet the three buyers, I ground the pills into powder and poured it into the teapot .

When they came over in the afternoon, one of them greeted, "Seems like our boss is starting to enjoy life, eh? Drinking tea and all . "

"Oh, you've noticed? I just started . " I smiled as I get the pot ready .

"Hey, I did pick up some things from you . You do look a little unaccustomed . Here, let me do it . " He opened the teabox and caught a whiff .

"Wait, what is this tea?"

"Not bad, aye?" I smiled .

"It is decent but I don't think it's as good as my boss' . I guess we'll know better once we try it . " He smiled before gathering the tea set .

Another man added, "Where's the good stuff you mentioned? Show them to us!"

"Wait here, I'll go get them . " I headed to the back of the room to gather some ceramic pieces .

I stuck close behind the door, eavesdropping on their conversation .

Minutes pa.s.sed and one spoke impatiently, "Isn't he taking too long?"

"His products are only half finished, perhaps they've gone out of shape and he's fine-tuning them . You did squash one of them before . "

"But he's taking way too long . Should we look for him inside?"

"What for? We've done this so many times . He has his own shop and tea set now . Are you afraid that he won't have the stuff? We're drinking good tea . He must He must be rich . Come, this tea is great . "

"Hmm, it smells a little strange . "

"Not as good as our boss' . I think you steeped this wrong . "

"How will I get that wrong? Boss gets me to do this for him every time . Maybe the water's dirty? Why's there a strange smell?"

I figured that this was the right time, so I came out with my works . "Sorry to keep you guys waiting . How's the tea? I've just started getting into it . The water inside hasn't been boiled . "

"No wonder it tastes kinda strange," one commented .

"They're done, come take a look . I made them these past few days," I invited .

"They look . . . quite average . Nothing special," one critiqued .

"Same price and we'll take them all, is that alright?" the other added .

"Of course," I agreed .

They got the money ready and we sealed the deal .

As they were walking toward the door, I called them back .  

"Hold on, fellows! I forgot to sign my name . "

The moment they turned their wobbly bodies around, I ran up to the door and locked it .

I instantly ran out and locked my shop up before flagging down a cab to head to the television station . I dashed into the studio and went up angrily to the receptionist . That program . Is it here She looked up at me in startlement . Hi, what is it I looked around and pointed at a television screen not far away, asking anxiously, Where are they That auction . Ceramic art . Is that happening here The channel on the television screen switched to another program . Wait . You 39 re talking about 39 Treasure Time 39 that screens every Tuesday she asked with an awkward smile . Yes, that . They 39 re not here, she answered . There 39 s no way . I just saw them 20 minutes ago on the screen . I wasn 39 t far away . Do you have a contact that I can call They 39 re cheaters . I am Chalk, I shouted . You must 39 ve misunderstood, sir . The programs we screen are all pre recorded, so we 39 re just screening clips from weeks ago, she explained . Two security guards came in from the back . One of them warned, Please lower your volume when you speak . I sighed . Sorry for being rude . Do you know where they are Or how I can contact the person in charge of the program Please follow me, sir, she requested before walking to the side . I followed her helplessly with the two security guards trailing behind us in a watchful manner . She questioned softly, Did they cheat you of your money You look really agitated . I nodded slightly . Yeah, they lied to me . There 39 s no one to monitor this place and it won 39 t be good for either of us if this blows up . I 39 ll give you the contact of one of the producers, but don 39 t tell him that you got it from us . I nodded again . Alright . I 39 ll get you their name card . Give me a second, she said before running to a counter . As I followed, the two security guards made sure to keep me in their sights . She handed me a name card and I found it oddly familiar . I scrolled through my phone to search for that number . Indeed, saved on my phone, was that number attached to a name Three Customers . I remembered receiving the exact same name card from one of them . I stuffed it into my pocket, thinking through everything that had happened . I left the station and called the customer up . The line connected quickly . Boss Chalk You 39 re calling earlier than expected . New pieces Or are you in need of money he asked chirpily . Yes, new pieces . Better than those from before so I 39 m quite excited . We 39 ll come over in a few days, Boss Chalk . And it 39 s time you change your mobile phone since you have the money now That way, you can snap some photographs for us to a.s.sess your works . Of course, I 39 m not saying that your works aren 39 t good . I 39 ll have you know, that my boss only has good words for your stuff . So you guys are coming over tomorrow I asked . I 39 m still overseas . Will the day after tomorrow be fine Are you tight on cash It 39 s understandable, the rent there is ridiculous, he sympathized . I 39 ll wait for you then, I finished before hanging up . I returned to my shop and for the whole night, I tried to devise a plan . I decided to confront them when they visited but then I quickly realized that I had no substantial evidence . I racked my brains for something that would help me figure out what exactly was going on . The next morning, I bought a tea set and an expensive type of tea leaves, Tieguanyin, in spite of the fact that I never had the habit of drinking tea . I also bought three thick ropes and some sleeping pills . I had searched many shops for those sleeping pills before I found a doctor that was willing to prescribe them to me . I 39 ve been under immense pressure and I haven 39 t been sleeping for three nights now . I can still eat but I find it difficult to sleep, I told the doctor . He looked me over clinically and replied, Your dark eye circles are indeed heavy . I 39 ll prescribe you eight pills for now because taking any more than that will affect your energy . Don 39 t take them consecutively, okay On the day that I was to meet the three buyers, I ground the pills into powder and poured it into the teapot . When they came over in the afternoon, one of them greeted, Seems like our boss is starting to enjoy life, eh Drinking tea and all . Oh, you 39 ve noticed I just started . I smiled as I get the pot ready . Hey, I did pick up some things from you . You do look a little unaccustomed . Here, let me do it . He opened the teabox and caught a whiff . Wait, what is this tea Not bad, aye I smiled . It is decent but I don 39 t think it 39 s as good as my boss 39 . I guess we 39 ll know better once we try it . He smiled before gathering the tea set . Another man added, Where 39 s the good stuff you mentioned Show them to us Wait here, I 39 ll go get them . I headed to the back of the room to gather some ceramic pieces . I stuck close behind the door, eavesdropping on their conversation . Minutes pa.s.sed and one spoke impatiently, Isn 39 t he taking too long His products are only half finished, perhaps they 39 ve gone out of shape and he 39 s fine tuning them . You did squash one of them before . But he 39 s taking way too long . Should we look for him inside What for We 39 ve done this so many times . He has his own shop and tea set now . Are you afraid that he won 39 t have the stuff We 39 re drinking good tea . He must be rich . Come, this tea is great . . . . Hmm, it smells a little strange . Not as good as our boss 39 . I think you steeped this wrong . How will I get that wrong Boss gets me to do this for him every time . Maybe the water 39 s dirty Why 39 s there a strange smell I figured that this was the right time, so I came out with my works . Sorry to keep you guys waiting . How 39 s the tea I 39 ve just started getting into it . The water inside hasn 39 t been boiled . No wonder it tastes kinda strange, one commented . They 39 re done, come take a look . I made them these past few days, I invited . They look . . . quite average . Nothing special, one critiqued . Same price and we 39 ll take them all, is that alright the other added . Of course, I agreed . They got the money ready and we sealed the deal . As they were walking toward the door, I called them back . Hold on, fellows I forgot to sign my name . The moment they turned their wobbly bodies around, I ran up to the door and locked it .