America 1881: They Call Me Legend

Chapter 292 Painter

"Is it reliable?" Chen Jianqiu asked.

He doesn't care too much about the fake technology, as long as it's not too outrageous.

The Pinkerton Detective Agency seems to be running low on funds recently.

Even the production level of the genuine Pinkerton ID card that Sean got was a bit appalling.

As long as it's similar, you can basically get by.

"Reliable. He is not a person who likes to deal with the outside world. He is only obsessed with his own art." Huang Qingyun replied, "A few years ago, when I first came here, I exchanged a drawer of Xiao Long Baozi from Chinatown for him.

A piece of identification that has never been exposed until now."

"Art? Are you talking about his fake achievements?" Chen Jianqiu curled his lips.

Strictly speaking, if the forgery is done well, it is indeed called art.

Not those soulless fake products, but the extremely creative fakery in the process.

Huang Qingyun shook his head: "You will know when you go there."

"His true calling is actually a painter, at least that's what he said himself."

Chen Jianqiu took out his pocket watch and looked at it. It was already close to eleven o'clock in the evening: "Then let's go early tomorrow."

"No, he usually starts moving at this point." Huang Qingyun scratched his earlobe.

Midnight activities? Although it is true that counterfeiting is not something that can be done in broad daylight, in this era when electric lights are not yet popular, isn't it a bit difficult at night?

Chen Jianqiu thought for a while and decided to go and see the situation first.

"Let's go."

Huang Qingyun changed his clothes and walked out of the pier with Chen Jianqiu.

The fog outside is getting worse, visibility is very low, there are almost no pedestrians along the road, only the occasional sound of bells from passing carriages.

"You said he has a weird temper. What's so weird about him?" Chen Jianqiu asked as he walked away.

Huang Qingyun walked in front, looking for a way through the fog, without looking back, but the voice came over: "He always does some unusual things."

"for example?"

"He once used the US dollars from his paintings to buy alcohol, and no one discovered him until he was arrested and taken to the police station two years ago."

"How was it discovered?"

"He got drunk and made a bet with another person in the pub. He mocked the aesthetics of the current dollar design. Then he drew one in front of others and used it to exchange for another bottle of wine at the bar owner."

"What a talent." Chen Jianqiu sighed.

They walked for a long time in the foggy neighborhood before arriving at the door of a dilapidated apartment.

The two entered the apartment.

The first floor of the apartment was pitch dark, and the lantern in Huang Qingyun's hand was the only thing that glowed in the darkness.

The public corridors are extremely dirty, with all kinds of debris and garbage piled up.

The silence here is occasionally broken by a few rats scurrying around, declaring their sovereignty over this public area.

The two climbed a wooden staircase.

Chen Jianqiu's feet stepped on the stairs, making a creaking sound, giving people the feeling that the stairs would collapse if they exerted just a little force.

When they reached the second floor, they finally saw light other than the lantern.

At the end of the aisle, there is a glimmer of light.

It was a door, but one corner of the door was damaged, so it couldn't block the light coming from inside the house.

Chen Jianqiu could imagine that this broken door could not block the light, and if there was a strong wind, it would certainly not be able to block the wind.

They came to the door.

Huang Qingyun stretched out his hand and knocked on the door: "Ni Ge! It's me, Lao Huang!"

There was a rustling sound coming from the door.

After a while, the door opened a crack, and a big eye appeared in the crack.

That eye turned around, scanning the situation outside the door.

Chen Jianqiu frowned.

Could it be that he is really a psychopath?

"I, Huang Qingyun, open the door quickly!" Huang Qingyun raised the lantern and pressed his face to the crack of the door.

The door opened.

The image of a psychotic artist with disheveled hair, wearing slippers and grinning teeth that Chen Jianqiu imagined did not appear.

A well-dressed old man with white hair appeared in front of him.

He was wearing a black suit and tie, and his white hair was neatly combed back.

"Come in, you two."

He politely brought the two people in.

The room was not big, but it was luxurious. Four or five candles were lit at the same time, making the room very bright.

There is a bed and a table near the window. On the table are some tools, brushes, and paper neatly placed.

There was also a glass goblet on the table. The goblet contained less than half a cup of red liquid. Chen Jianqiu guessed that it was probably red wine.

This man looked like an upper class person in terms of his appearance and behavior, but he lived in this dirty and small apartment and seemed incompatible with the environment in which he lived.

The huge contrast is incredible.

"You guys, wait a moment, I'm completing the best work of my life."

After Nigo brought the two people in, he ignored them and walked to the easel next to the table.

Above is a work that is almost completed.

Huang Qingyun was about to say something, but was stopped by Chen Jianqiu raising his hand.

"Respect the artist." he said softly.

Ni Ge seemed to be completely immersed in his work, while Chen Jianqiu began to look at the painting.

He is not very knowledgeable about art, but when he was hanging out with Astor some time ago, this wealthy young man from New York taught him a lot.

The painting on the shelf is really of average quality, both in terms of composition and creativity, just like the ones piled on the wall on the right.

Chen Jianqiu couldn't stand it anymore, so he turned his eyes to another pile of paintings on the wall on his left.

In this room, except for the bed and table, everything else is painted.

These words surprised him.

These paintings are completely different from the ones just now. They have deep brushwork and exquisite painting skills.

"Okay, it's done." Nigo finally completed his "masterpiece". He picked up the wine glass on the table and took a careful sip.

"What do you think? Lao Huang?" He looked very satisfied with his work and asked Huang Qingyun beside him.

Huang Qingyun was stunned for a moment, then nodded repeatedly: "Okay!"

Chen Jianqiu finally understood why the painter had such a good relationship with Huang Qingyun.

The artist collected the paintings with satisfaction and placed them in the pile of paintings on the right.

"By the way, what do you want from me?" He turned to Chen Jianqiu and Huang Qingyun.

"My Chinese friend, I would like you to help copy a certificate." Huang Qingyun said to him honestly.

Nigo shook his head: "I no longer give false evidence. Since I was caught by the San Francisco Police Department last time, I have learned a lesson and must be a law-abiding citizen."

"But..." Huang Qingyun wanted to say something else, but was interrupted by Ni Ge.

"I decided to continue my own art, even though they are not understood by the world now." He pointed to his proud works on the wall on his right, "This is also the reason why I have been poor."

"And these are all rubbish!" He pointed to the copied paintings on the left.

"Well said!" Chen Jianqiu suddenly clapped his hands and pointed to the original works of the artist on his right, "I admire these paintings very much. They are very artistic."

He took out a wad of banknotes from his pocket: "I am willing to buy two of them first!"

The painter was stunned, but after touching the genuine banknotes, he instantly became excited: "Sir, you are a person who truly understands art! How can I help you?"

Chen Jianqiu took out the Pinkerton ID: "I need a few copies similar to this one."

The painter looked a little hesitant.

Chen Jianqiu took out some more banknotes: "I suddenly remembered that I have a good friend who loves art, so I decided to buy another one for him."

The painter took the money and Pinkerton's ID from Chen Jianqiu's hand.

Chen Jianqiu smiled: "Then I will pick it up tomorrow morning?"

"No, you go to the door and wait for me for a while." The painter moved the candle to the table and began to rummage through the tools in the drawer of the table.

Chen Jianqiu and Huang Qingyun walked out of the room door together.

"Young Master, didn't he say that he wanted to change his past? And he looked like he hated fraud, so why did he agree so quickly?" Huang Qingyun was a little confused.

"It's true that I love art. It's true that I was watched by the police after I was released and wouldn't sell fake paintings. It's even truer that I have a reputation for being tough. This person is a combination of contradictions." Chen Jianqiu said with his hands behind his back.

"But no matter what, he still needs to eat."

After a while, the door behind them was opened again, and the painter walked out with the three paintings and the fake ID.

Chen Jianqiu handed the painting to Huang Qingyun and compared it with the fake certificates.

They are exactly the same, confusing the real ones.

"What's your name?" Chen Jianqiu raised his head and asked.

"Emmanuel Nigo, sir." the painter replied.

"Do you want to continue creating art without worrying about your stomach?" Chen Jianqiu continued to ask, "I am willing to buy all your paintings."

Before the painter could answer, Chen Jianqiu had already walked down the stairs: "Think about it carefully. I will come back to you in a few days. Then, if you are willing, come with me."

After saying that, he and Huang Qingyun disappeared into the dark night.

(End of chapter)