chapter 6 Humiliation at the family dinner

Fake painting? Everyone looked at Paddy in astonishment. "Nonsense!" "I spent over 40,000 dollars to get this painting from a wastrel." "Look at the sun, how big and round it is. Look at the sea, how blue and deep it is." "I even consulted several experts, including the famous Master Ghosteye, and they all said it's genuine." Seeing his relatives questioning him, Paddy felt his scalp tingle, "They all said it's worth over 400,000 dollars." "Why is it suddenly fake when it comes from your mouth?" "Murray, I want you to apologize, right now." He threatened, "Or else." "Exactly, you can eat a messy meal, but you can't talk nonsense." Mabel also looked disdainful, "You, a family cook, what do you know about paintings and calligraphy?" The relatives, who were just shocked, now realized they had been misled by Murray. How could a good-for-nothing relying on the Thrussell family understand such profound paintings and calligraphy? If he were really capable, he wouldn't need to marry into the Thrussell family. "Murray, if you don't understand, then shut up and stop slandering Paddy." "Yes, look at yourself, pretending to be a professional. Can you distinguish what's good or bad?" "A person who can't even find a job has the nerve to say the painting is fake?" "The Master Ghosteye is the foremost expert in appraising treasures. If he says it's real, then it must be." Dozens of relatives became agitated, mercilessly mocking Murray, their voices particularly grating. Freya felt embarrassed, unable to even scold. When will Murray stop being so useless? She was exhausted. Murray remained calm, "Dad is an antique collector and has appraised countless paintings." "Let him take a look later, and we'll know if it's real or fake." Paddy felt a slight hesitation in his heart, apart from Murray's composure, there was also the fact that he didn't spend 45,000 dollars on the painting, but only 5,000 dollars. Although the other party repeatedly assured him it was genuine, he always felt a bit unreal. After all, it was too easy to pick up something so cheap. Now, he felt even more uneasy. Could there be something wrong with this painting? "What's all this noise?" At this moment, a woman's stern voice came from the door, "It's a good day, why are you making such a ruckus, like a market?" Chole entered with her husband, Quinn. In her forties, she showed few signs of aging. Elegant and fair-skinned, she still exuded femininity. If not for her age, it would be easy to mistake her for being in her thirties. It was rumored that Chole was once a great beauty, pursued by countless suitors. The three Thrussell sisters had inherited her looks. However, she was domineering and forceful, being the owner of a large clinic, and thus, she displayed a strong demeanor both inside and out. Even Quinn obeyed her every word. Therefore, as soon as Chole entered, the whole room fell silent. Paddy pointed at Murray and complained, "Mom, I didn't want to argue, it's this idiot, Murray, who said the painting I bought for you is fake." "This is tarnishing my reputation." He looked aggrieved. Murray calmly spoke, "It was fake to begin with." "Shut up, what do you know?" Freya angrily pulled Murray's sleeve, "Don't embarrass us, okay?" Although she wanted Murray to save some face for her, as Paddy said, how could Murray possibly understand antiques and paintings? Chole glared disdainfully at Murray and, along with Quinn, took the main seats, "Bring the painting over here." Chole pointed at Paddy, "Let me and your dad take a look." Quinn loves collecting antiques, and Chole has also learned a little about it. Paddy quickly handed over "The Moon Over the Sea". Quinn and Chole carefully examined the calligraphy and painting. Three minutes later, Quinn murmured something in Chole's ear. Chole raised her head and glanced at Paddy with an unhappy look. Paddy felt like dying, it was obvious they were saying the calligraphy and painting were fake. Freya also noticed this look and felt happy. Could this be the turning point for Murray? But Chole's next words poured cold water on Freya. "This calligraphy and painting is real, an authentic work by Booth." Chole stared at Murray, sternly questioning, "Murray, your knowledge is shallow and you haven't achieved anything. Don't meddle in antiques and become a laughingstock." "You've defamed your brother-in-law's reputation, apologize to him with a cup of tea." "Otherwise, don't come back to the Thrussell family." Murray was stunned. This calligraphy and painting had a problem, and with Quinn and Chole's knowledge, they could tell. Paddy was also stunned, but then he understood. "Dad, Mom, take another careful look, this painting is fake..." Murray wanted to explain, but Chole sternly interrupted, "Fake? What do you mean fake?" "Are you saying that your dad and I, at our age, with failing eyesight, can't even tell what's real and what's fake?" "I say it's real, so it's real." She ordered, "Apologize to your brother-in-law immediately." Mabel arrogantly shouted at Murray, "Murray, Mom said it's real, why are you still talking nonsense?" "Mom, don't be angry, Murray is just a good-for-nothing, pretending to be knowledgeable in front of you and Dad, it's all nonsense." "Exactly, a low-born, not worth bothering about." "I told you, what does a homemaker know about calligraphy and paintings? Defaming Paddy." The relatives mocked Murray again. Paddy, full of spirit, said, "Murray, come here and apologize to me." Murray looked sharply at Chole, a hint of mockery suddenly appearing on his face. It's not that she didn't see it, she just didn't want to expose Paddy. For Chole, Murray was a son-in-law, while Paddy was the owner of a construction company, a son-in-law with a promising future. How could Chole possibly hurt Paddy's dignity because of him? Freya's pretty face dimmed, "Murray, apologize." Mabel snorted, "Still not apologizing? Do you want to make mom and dad angry?" Murray laughed, with a bright smile, being bullied by so many people, is the sin of the weak. In the past, Murray would have bowed his head and even slapped himself twice to apologize, but tonight he didn't want to back down anymore. Backing down will only allow the other party to take advantage and will also hurt those around him. "Sizzle..." Murray took a step forward, raised his finger, and pinched. The material of the painting was cloth, and with this pinch, an extra thread appeared, then Murray suddenly pulled. "Crash...." The painting, valued at 400,000 dollars, was instantly destroyed by Murray, and Freya and the others' faces changed drastically. Paddy angrily exclaimed, "Murray, what are you doing?" But Murray ignored everyone's gaze and directly pulled out a thin thread and threw it on the table. "Nylon thread!" "Artificial synthetic fiber!" "Born in 1938!" "A painting by Booth from over 700 years ago, painted after time-traveling?" The whole room fell silent. Everyone was momentarily dumbfounded. They originally wanted to make fun of Murray, but ended up being straightforwardly slapped in the face by Murray. Modern nylon line appears in a painting from seven hundred years ago, even a fool would know that's impossible. A sword to the throat! Paddy's cheek was burning with pain. Chole's face also looked gloomy and ugly. "Even if this painting is fake, it's still a hundred times better than your ginseng fruit." Seeing the relatives looking down on her husband, Mabel couldn't hold back and took out Murray's box. Opened it. She poured out a ginseng fruit, slamming it on the table with a bang. "We were deceived with the fake painting, at most it's disrespectful to give it to Dad for his birthday." "But what about you?" "You give Dad a ginseng fruit as a gift, it's still a street stall product, it could kill people." Mabel pointed at Murray and cursed, "Compared to your gift, we're a hundred times better." Paddy also directly criticized, "Ginseng fruit is so ugly, do you want to poison Dad?" Everyone looked at the ugly, bright red ginseng fruit, and accused Murray of having ill intentions. Freya frowned and pulled Murray's sleeve, "Murray, apologize to Mom." Murray didn't apologize, just pointed at the ginseng fruit, "Mom, Dad, do you also think this is a street stall product?" Quinn stared and suddenly his eyes widened in shock. He was about to stand up and shout but was pulled back by Chole. "Ugly appearance, bright red color, pungent smell." Chole stared at Murray and scolded, "What else is this if not a street stall product?" "On Dad's birthday, you give him this, do you want to shorten his life?" Chole sternly reprimanded, "Your brother-in-law is right, even if the fake painting is bad, it's still better than your malicious heart." She defended Paddy. The focus instantly turned to Murray. Freya looked angrily at Murray, wondering if this jerk was going to make a scene and embarrass her even more. "Do you hear that?" Paddy smirked, "Fool, if you want to make a fool of yourself, in the end, it's you who will be embarrassed." Murray looked at Chole and Quinn, "Is my gift garbage?" "What else but garbage?" Mabel's pretty face turned cold, "In my opinion, it's worse than garbage." Murray was disappointed, disappointed in the Thrussell family, and no longer gave them any face. He picked up the ginseng fruit, cracked it open, took a big bite, and opened his phone, displaying a news article on the screen, "Today at noon, the annual Rare and Precious Auction was successfully concluded at the Hall of Wealth in the Midsea States Hotel." "A rare hundred-year-old dragon head ginseng fruit from Kunlun Mountain was auctioned off at a sky-high price." "Ms. Danna from Five Lakes Group obtained it for 400,000 dollars…” On the screen, the host was passionate, not only showing the auction scene but also displaying the ginseng fruit. Ugly, bright red, shaped like a dragon's head, just like the one Murray was eating. Even the box code on the table was completely consistent with the one on TV, nine-nine-eight-one... Ginseng fruit? Kunlun Mountain? Hundred years rare? 400,000 dollars? Everyone was completely stunned, Chole clutching her clothes tightly. A strong sense of regret surged through their minds...