An event like a charity auction was nothing more than a way for the rich to spend a large sum of money.
In this society, if you didn't have money, you would be looked down upon. But if you had money, you would be scolded for all sorts of reasons. If you were stingy and used your own money, you would be scolded. If you donated money, people would say that you were giving empty promises. So rather than being scolded for not donating money, you might as well donate and get some benefits.
However, the Liu family's charity auction wasn't purely for fame. The Liu family had their own auction house, which meant that many of the auction items were genuine and valuable.
Therefore, many of the rich people present came to this party for one or a few things.
Following the attendants' guidance, the guests walked into the side hall. Rather than calling it a side hall, it would be more accurate to call it a large conference hall.
However, the conference hall was filled with neatly arranged tables and chairs. There were already fruits and wine on them, as well as colorful number tags.
According to the number on the invitation, Yang Cheng followed Lin Ruoxi to the table prepared for the two of them and sat down.
Coincidentally, their seats were behind the Yuan couple. As soon as they sat down, Yuan Hewei and his wife, who were sitting in front of them, turned around and smiled at Yang Cheng and Lin Ruoxi.
Lin Ruoxi didn't understand why Yang Cheng was so familiar with the Yuan family. Although Yang Cheng had said that he was going to celebrate Yuan Ye's birthday, Lin Ruoxi knew that in such a large family, the children's social network was different from that of their parents. At least, knowing their son before taking over the family head position didn't mean that their parents were on good terms with them.
No matter how she thought about it, she didn't think that Yang Cheng had any reason to be acquainted with the Yuan couple. However, even though she was curious, Lin Ruoxi didn't plan on asking Yang Cheng.
Yang Cheng looked around and saw that the Cai sisters were sitting at a table in the first row, while the foreign guests that caught Cai Ning's attention were sitting at a few tables behind them. They were chatting and laughing, looking relaxed.
The Liu Family's Auction House was a regular large-scale company. Naturally, the items auctioned this time would not be ordinary. When an auctioneer in a white tuxedo walked onto the stage, he immediately began to display the first item.
On the huge LED display screen, there was a 3D rotating pattern of blue and white porcelain.
As soon as this item appeared, it immediately caused many people below the stage to exclaim in surprise. Clearly, it was quite extraordinary.
The auctioneer introduced in a loud voice, "Distinguished guests, the first item for sale in our Liu Auction House today is a Yuan Dynasty blue and white vase, 'Blue and White Vase with Twining Branches and Peony Patterns'. Many of the people present were famous antique collectors. I don't need to explain the value of this item. The Yuan Dynasty blue and white porcelain is the rarest blue and white porcelain in the world. It represents the period when our Hua Xia ancient plain porcelain turned to colored porcelain. The painting style is magnificent, vigorous, bold, and complex. Each item is a rare treasure.
This item is well preserved and was provided by a foreign friend. The starting price is five million Hua Xia dollars. The bidding begins! "
As the "Begin" was announced, many antique enthusiasts began to fight to raise their number plates.
"Six million!"
"Eight million!"
"Nine million and eight hundred thousand!"
"I bid twelve million!!"
…
The voices of people shouting prices rose one after another. Soon, the price of this Yuan Dynasty blue and white porcelain had exceeded twenty million.
Yang Chen listened to the group of rich people who wanted to join in the fun and shouted their prices as if they were throwing pieces of paper. Smiling, he asked Lin Ruoxi who was silent, "Dear, why aren't you saying anything? This item has a lot of potential to increase in value."
Lin Ruoxi said lightly, "Not interested."
Of course, Yang Cheng knew that this girl was not poor. She was probably too shy to participate in the bidding in front of so many people, so he didn't say anything more.
In the blink of an eye, someone had already shouted a high price of "forty-three million", which was equivalent to the total assets of several small enterprises!
Although this Yuan Dynasty blue and white porcelain could be sold for a sky-high price of hundreds of millions, this was, after all, a middle-upper quality item. It was not the most representative of the famous pieces. Therefore, many collectors and big bosses present at the scene regretfully put away their number plates, feeling that there was no need to compete anymore.
The people present at the scene already represented the affirmation of their social status, so there was no need to make everyone unhappy for this little bit of money.
The auctioneer began to shout, "Guest number fifty-seven bids forty-three million, forty-three million going once … forty-three million …"
Before the auctioneer continued to shout, Yuan Hewei, who had been sitting in his seat and watching others bid, suddenly raised his number plate and said solemnly, "I bid fifty million."
As soon as he shouted, the guest who had originally bid forty-three million immediately fell silent. Not to mention that he did not have the funds to add more, at the very least, if he competed with the Yuan Family, it would be obvious that he did not want to stay in Zhonghai anymore.
Moreover, Yuan Hewei bid fifty million, not because this item was really worth that much, but nothing more than symbolically participating in the auction and buying the first item at a high price to show off the demeanor of the top family.
Unsurprisingly, everyone chose to remain silent. After the auctioneer said three times, Yuan Hewei spent fifty million to buy the first item.
When the first round ended, Yuan Hewei turned around and smiled at Yang Cheng, "I know nothing about antiques. I guess many people will laugh at me for being a fool."
Yang Cheng shook his head, "It will be worth fifty million in a few years. Just leave it at home."
"Oh, do you know about antiques?" Yuan Hewei asked curiously.
Lin Ruoxi and Yang Jieyu also looked at Yang Cheng with a little doubt.
Yang Cheng smiled faintly, "I did some research when I was bored overseas. People of all trades, ignorant and incompetent, it's about people like me."
Of course, this was a lie. Yang Cheng knew the price of many antiques. It was only because many people had given him some Yuan Dynasty blue and white porcelain that he remembered some knowledge about it. As for where those things were kept, Yang Cheng did not pay much attention at all. Someone must have kept them for him.
"Haha, this is not ignorant and incompetent, this is all culture," Yuan Hewei laughed, "Many people here rely on their sense of smell to develop their business to this day. They come here to participate in this kind of auction to spend money for their reputation. They are even envious of the so-called 'ignorant and incompetent'."
As they chatted, the auction continued.
The second and third items were moved onto the screen one after another.
Ruby jewelry, famous oil paintings from the Western Middle Ages, and ancient calligraphy scrolls from Hua Xia, all of them were famous items that were worth more than ten million.
However, after receiving the first item, Yuan Hewei did not bid anymore. Lin Ruoxi was as quiet as usual, as if everything had nothing to do with her.
Yang Cheng felt a little bored. The game of the rich was actually very monotonous. They didn't know where the money would flow to. Other than bringing them a momentary pleasure, it only left a greater emptiness.
To put it bluntly, it was not as exciting as smoking a cheap strong cigarette.
However, when the fifth item was brought out, Yang Cheng instantly felt a little strange.
He saw that on the big screen, there was a small dark golden wine glass. This kind of Gothic style wine glass was usually filled with wine.
The shape of the wine glass was roughly cylindrical, the mouth of the glass was relatively wide, the bottom was round, and the foot was high. The body of the glass was simple, there were some vague lines, and there were a few metal scratches, but overall, it could be distinguished that it should be a wine glass made of rare metals such as gold and silver, used by nobles.
Yang Cheng suddenly had a clear understanding. No wonder Cai Ning would come, and no wonder the aura of those few white people was so strange.
It seemed like what Makedon said on the internet was true, but he never would have thought that the legendary "Holy Grail" would actually appear at this charity auction!
Almost at the same time, Yang Cheng felt a faint cold wave at the back of the venue. The surging energy wave was like an abyss, and Yang Cheng immediately determined the identity of those white people.
"Tsk tsk … How generous, so many people came …" Yang Cheng said to himself.
"What did you say?" Lin Ruoxi thought that Yang Cheng was talking to her, so she frowned and asked.
Yang Cheng smiled, "My good wife, this glass is not bad. Drinking a glass of wine at night will help you sleep and look good. You should buy it."
"If you want to buy it, buy it yourself. The starting price is two million, it's not expensive anyway," Lin Ruoxi said indifferently.
Yang Cheng curled his lips, he didn't have money.
At this time, the auctioneer introduced, "Everyone, this collection was provided by a seller who asked for confidentiality a few days ago. It is estimated to be a wine glass from the first year of the Christian Era. It has a long history, and its origin is full of mystery. This is the biggest characteristic of this collection. No one can give a specific name. Today, the starting price is two million, but the real value is hard to estimate. I hope everyone can seize the opportunity … "
Before the auctioneer finished, a blonde girl in a dark red evening gown with a hot figure sitting at the back of the auction shouted in choppy Hua Xia language, "Ten million."
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
