603: Buyers who booked in advance

"Of course I know that; it used to be on the history exams."

Since it was named China Merchants Steam Navigation Company, even if Ye Su hadn't studied history in school, he would still know what the company is called today.

Over the course of more than a hundred years, China Merchants Steam Navigation Company has developed into a behemoth.

Just one of its subsidiaries, China Merchants Bank, is a major bank with a market capitalization that consistently stays around one trillion.

The banks, securities, and capital firms it holds manage a total client asset scale of nearly 15 trillion yuan, earning it the reputation of the "King of Retail."

Such an exaggerated scale of financial assets is only a part of this behemoth's total assets.

Beyond the financial sector, in its original business of transportation and logistics, the group also controls 26 core ports globally, making it a premier global port trading company.

Furthermore, one can also see the group's presence in the development of various major cities.

With 29 listed companies under its name, it controls global logistics nodes, domestic and international financial lifelines, and city landmarks, building an all-encompassing "Water, Land, Air, and Financial" ecosystem.

Last year, the total assets of this behemoth reached a staggering 14.7 trillion yuan and are still growing at a steady pace.

"What do you mean?"

Hearing Manager Huang mention this group, Ye Su vaguely understood what he meant.

"You know, such large groups place great importance on historical heritage. Often, they don't mind spending manpower and resources to promote their corporate history.

For instance, more than 20 years ago, they spent a huge sum of money to renovate the China Merchants Steam Navigation Company headquarters building, which was built in Shanghai in 1901. They restored the building's original appearance and reinforced the structure as a whole.

A few years ago, they went to great lengths to move their shipping subsidiary back into this building and once again carried out internal renovations focused on restoration.

Now, the ground floor of the building even features a special "Century Voyage" exhibition, showcasing the group's century-long journey, which shows just how much they value their corporate historical heritage.

Therefore, as long as this stock certificate goes to auction, the final buyer will undoubtedly be them.

And such a behemoth has invested countless funds into historical heritage over the years.

For them, this stock certificate is a must-have. As for the amount to win the bid—whether it's 5 million, 10 million, or even 20 million—do you think it makes a big difference to them?"

"Oh—"

Manager Huang's words made everything clear to Ye Su.

Issuing the first stock certificate, founding the first bank, the first insurance company, the first joint-stock commercial bank, and simultaneously establishing the first industrial zone open to the outside world in the mainland.

With so many "firsts" to their name, if they didn't promote their group's glorious history and instead advertised elsewhere, it would be no different from begging while sitting on a mountain of gold.

Now that this stock certificate has appeared, as long as the price isn't too outrageous, Ye Su couldn't think of any reason why they wouldn't buy it.

In fact, the final transaction price of the stock shouldn't be too low, as that would achieve a better promotional effect.

It's like how four years ago, a certain tech company spent two million to redesign a logo that looked almost the same.

Ten years ago, a certain telecommunications giant spent 80 million to buy out the global rights to a song as their theme song, citing that the story of chasing dreams and overcoming difficulties told in the song highly resonated with their entrepreneurial journey and corporate spirit.

Conveniently, in terms of controlling the transaction price, Jiawen Auction House can handle it, and they will surely be able to auction it off at a price that satisfies all three parties, including Ye Su.

It's no wonder Manager Huang dared to take the initiative just now and offer to buy out this stock certificate for five million.

Not to mention that the final transaction price could make Jiawen Auction House a huge profit, just being able to attract people from that group to the autumn auction makes the five million spent by Jiawen Auction House not a loss at all.

"I understand. Let's do as you said and go through the auction process."

"Great!"

Seeing Ye Su being so decisive, Manager Huang held him in even higher regard:

"If you trust our auction house, you can leave the stock certificate here first. Let us take it for professional appraisal. Once the results are out, we can cooperate in the way we just discussed."

"No problem. Jiawen Auction House is a major enterprise; I trust you wouldn't swallow up my little item."

"Haha, Mr. Ye is truly straightforward in doing business!"

Seeing someone just over 20 years old having such presence made Manager Huang increasingly convinced that Ye Su's background was definitely not simple.

"By the way."

After finishing the discussion about the stock, Ye Su moved on to the other purpose of his visit:

"I've been interested in jade pendants lately and want to buy one to play with. I wonder if your auction house has any in stock?"

"Of course we have jade pendants. I don't know what kind of jade material or what era you are looking for?"

"Around the Qing Dynasty is fine. I like white jade material; I don't have any other requirements."

"Alright, I'll go to the warehouse to get some items now. Please wait here for a moment."

"Okay."

When he got up to leave, Manager Huang took the packaging bag containing the stock certificate, presumably eager to arrange for it to be sent for testing.

After waiting in the office for less than ten minutes, Manager Huang returned.

When he entered, the packaging bag in his hand was gone, replaced by two exquisitely crafted wooden boxes.

"Mr. Ye, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

"Hey, we're so familiar with each other now; let's drop the polite talk."

"Haha, alright."

Smiling and sitting back in his seat, Manager Huang opened the two wooden boxes, turned them ninety degrees, and pushed them toward Ye Su at an angle where both could see them.

Each box contained three jade pendants. As per Ye Su's request, all of them were made of white jade material, featuring shapes like peace buckles, circular jade plaques, and pendants.

"There are only these six jade pendants in the warehouse that meet your requirements. See which one you like, and I'll give you a discounted price."

"Then I won't stand on ceremony."

While speaking, Ye Su kept staring at the white jade pendant in the middle of the box on his right, which was emitting a faint blue light.

Not immediately picking up the "Plum Blossom Poem White Jade Pendant," Ye Su first took out a jade pendant with exquisite carving of a crane and a deer from the box on his left.

As Ye Su picked up the jade pendant, Manager Huang had already begun to introduce it to him:

"This is a mid-Qing Dynasty white jade pendant carved with a crane and deer, symbolizing spring. The jade material used is Hetian white jade."

"Hmm, not bad."

Ye Su nodded, then picked up the "Plum Blossom Poem White Jade Pendant" from the right.

"This is a late Qing Dynasty Plum Blossom Poem White Jade Pendant. It is a typical Zigang-style plaque. The hole has already been drilled in the middle, so you just need to thread a string through it to wear it."

"Hmm, this one is also not bad."

Ye Su feigned hesitation between the two jade pendants, finally putting the jade pendant from his left hand back into the box, and handed the one from his right hand to Manager Huang:

"I'll take this one. How much is it?"

"The warehouse price for this piece is 148,000. If you like it, you can take it for 140,000. With my position and authority, this is the only discount price I can offer."