161: Chapter 161 Zhao Shanhe's Retreat, the Auction Begins

Zhao Shanhe's heart was truly churning at this moment.

He had originally planned, having just escaped from under the nose of the law enforcement departments, to find another suitable opportunity to test this kid's mettle and see if he could extract some information about the Holy Treasury from him.

But now, seeing Hu Tian sitting together with Elder Qin, looking so relaxed and chatting happily, Zhao Shanhe immediately shelved his plans.

Elder Qin's seniority and strength were not something those local people could compare with.

The old man was highly respected in the collecting circle, his connections spread across the country, and more importantly, he had deep relations with certain people above.

If he truly angered Elder Qin, with just one word from the old man, the secrets he had accumulated over these years would likely be dug up entirely.

He couldn't afford to provoke him.

Zhao Shanhe took a deep breath, forcibly suppressed the unwillingness in his heart, and pretended to be nonchalant as he continued chatting with the people around him.

But his peripheral vision still glanced toward Hu Tian from time to time.

Of course, Hu Tian did not care about these inner thoughts of Zhao Shanhe.

At this moment, he was sitting beside Elder Qin, flipping through the auction catalog in his hand.

His gaze swept over the catalog, silently noting down the lot numbers of a few items.

Today's auction had a total of 180 lots, covering various categories such as porcelain, jade, calligraphy and painting, bronzeware, and miscellaneous items.

Among them were quite a few exquisite pieces, but there were only a few that truly interested Hu Tian.

After another ten minutes or so, the auction was about to begin.

Sure enough, after a few minutes, the lights in the auction hall dimmed, leaving only the lights on the auction stage illuminated.

A middle-aged man in a black suit walked onto the stage, picked up the microphone, and wore a professional smile on his face.

"Good afternoon, distinguished guests. Welcome to the Christies 2008 Autumn Auction. I am today's auctioneer, Auctioneer Li Ming."

The auctioneer's voice echoed through the auction hall via the speakers, "Today, we have prepared 180 exquisite lots for everyone, covering various categories such as porcelain, calligraphy and painting, jade, and bronzeware. We hope everyone can bid on their favorite collectibles. Now, I declare the auction officially open."

As soon as he finished speaking, a round of applause erupted in the auction hall.

The applause gradually faded, and the lots were brought onto the stage one by one by the staff.

Every time a lot appeared, the auctioneer Auctioneer Li Ming would introduce the item's background with concise and precise language, then announce the starting bid. Once his voice fell, the bidding would quickly unfold.

The first few lots were mainly porcelain.

The first item was a Blue and White large bowl with lotus scroll patterns from the era of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing dynasty, with a starting bid of 1.8 million, which was eventually taken by a middle-aged man with glasses in the hall for 3.4 million.

The second item was a pair of Famille Rose small cups with flower and bird patterns from the era of Yongzheng Emperor, with a starting bid of 1.2 million, eventually hammered down at 2.8 million.

The third item was a small landscape painting by Zhang Daqian from the Republic of China era, with a starting bid of 2.5 million, which attracted competition from several buyers and was eventually won by a telephone bidder for 7.38 million.

Each time a lot was hammered down, a moderate round of applause would sound in the auction hall, the atmosphere warm yet restrained.

Hu Tian sat beside Elder Qin, unhurried and composed, flipping through the catalog, his ears listening to the auctioneer's voice, and his eyes occasionally scanning back and forth between the auction stage and the catalog.

Elder Qin was much calmer than him; the old man leaned back in his chair, holding a cup of tea in his hand, his posture composed, as if watching a spectacle that had nothing to do with him.

The fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh items were brought up on stage one by one, and hammered down one by one.

Elder Qin never moved.

The assistant sitting next to him, a young man in his early thirties with black-rimmed glasses, asked him in a low voice once: "Elder Qin, for that small Official Kiln bottle from the song dynasty, the sixth item, should we enter the bidding?"

Elder Qin shook his head, his tone calm: "The shape is not quite right, and the bottom mark is also a bit suspicious. Forget it."

The assistant nodded and didn't speak again.

Hu Tian secretly admired him in his heart.

That small Official Kiln bottle from the song dynasty—he had seen it himself during the preview yesterday, and the Treasure Hunting Radar had also scanned it, giving the conclusion: a Qing dynasty imitation. It was a genuine piece and it was indeed from an Official Kiln, but the era was a bit off.

Elder Qin had reached a judgment nearly identical to the system's with just his naked eye.

The old man's discernment was truly superb.

Soon, the eighth lot was brought onto the stage by the staff.

It was a scroll.

The staff carefully unfurled the scroll and fixed it onto the display stand on the stage.

The auctioneer Auctioneer Li Ming walked closer and spoke into the microphone: "Lot number eight, a hanging scroll of a landscape painting from the ming dynasty, ink and color on silk, 132 centimeters in height and 58 centimeters in width. The composition of this painting is sparse and clear, the brushwork and ink are vigorous, with distant mountains and near waters, creating a profound artistic conception. The author's seal is stamped on the lower right corner, and it includes the colophon and collection seals of the famous collector Wu Hufan from the Republic of China era. The provenance is clear, and the succession is orderly. The starting bid is 4.5 million yuan, with each increment not less than 100,000 yuan."

As soon as he finished speaking, the sound of bidding paddles being raised rose one after another.

"4.6 million."

"4.7 million."

"5 million."

Hu Tian's gaze fell on the painting, and the scanning information from the Treasure Hunting Radar regarding this painting during yesterday's preview involuntarily surfaced in his mind.

The description provided by the system at the time was very detailed: [Lot Name: Hanging scroll of a landscape painting attributed to Wen Zhengming of the ming dynasty] [Era: Mid-ming dynasty, approximately the Jiajing era, about 470 years ago]

[Material: Ink and color on silk, pigments mainly azurite, malachite, and ochre, with partial outlines in ink, delicate brushwork, distinct layering]

[Technique: Typical style of the Wu School of painting, mountains and rocks mainly using hemp-fiber strokes, ink tones are appropriately dense or light, trees are painted with relaxed and lively brushwork, distant mountains rendered with light ink, overall artistic conception is elegant and refined, possessing the typical temperament of literati painting]

[Provenance and Circulation: This painting was once collected by a certain official family in the Qing dynasty, later entered the market during the Republic of China era, was collected and inscribed by the famous connoisseur Wu Hufan, subsequently changed hands several times, and was sent to auction by the current holder in recent years]

[Estimated Market Value: 13.2 million to 15.6 million RMB] [System Note: This painting is a genuine piece, with excellent artistic and historical value, recommended for attention]

At this moment, the bidding was still continuing.

"7 million."

"7.5 million."

There were about four or five groups of buyers in the hall raising their paddles, going back and forth, and the atmosphere was quite intense.

Elder Qin put down the teacup in his hand, turned his head calmly, and said to Hu Tian in a low voice: "Have you seen this painting yesterday?"

Hu Tian nodded: "I have."

Elder Qin asked: "What is your feeling?"

Hu Tian thought for a moment and replied in a low voice: "The brush and ink atmosphere is correct, the aging degree of the silk ground is also natural, and the colophon and seals of Wu Hufan match the information I have checked. It should be genuine."

Elder Qin smiled slightly, his eyes showing a bit more appreciation: "Not bad, you looked at it carefully."

He paused for a moment and then said: "Regarding the valuation of this painting, what do you think is appropriate?"

Hu Tian had the numbers given by the system as a reference in his heart, but he did not speak directly. Instead, he deliberated for a moment and answered: "I think a price between 13.2 million and 15.6 million RMB is reasonable. Anything above that depends on the bidder's mood."

Elder Qin nodded and said calmly: "About right. My thought is that anything within 14 million is still acceptable."

While they were talking, the bidding on the stage had already reached 9 million.

"9 million, is there any higher bid?"

Auctioneer Li Ming raised his small hammer and looked around, "9 million once—" Elder Qin's assistant turned to the side, his eyes inquiring.

Elder Qin gently raised the paddle in his hand.

"10 million."

The assistant announced the number.

There was a moment of silence in the auction hall.

Subsequently, a man wearing gold-rimmed glasses raised his paddle: "10.1 million."

Elder Qin raised his paddle again: "11 million."

The gold-rimmed glasses man paused for a moment and slowly raised his paddle again: "12 million."

The other groups of buyers in the hall had already withdrawn one after another.

Now only Elder Qin and this local man with gold-rimmed glasses were confronting each other.

Hu Tian quietly observed the man with gold-rimmed glasses, who was in his thirties, dressed meticulously, and sitting in a position near the aisle, with two people following him—an assistant and an old man who looked like an advisor.

Before every bid, he would communicate with that old man in a low voice before raising his paddle.

On Elder Qin's side, raising the paddle was decisive, without the slightest hesitation.

"14 million."

Elder Qin's paddle was raised again.

The man with gold-rimmed glasses communicated with the old man beside him for a longer time, and then slowly raised his paddle: "14.5 million."

Elder Qin turned his head and glanced at Hu Tian, and Hu Tian shook his head slightly.

Elder Qin understood and put down his paddle.

"14.5 million once, 14.5 million twice, 14.5 million—"

Auctioneer Li Ming's hammer fell.

"Sold! Congratulations to buyer number 68!"

A satisfied smile appeared on the face of the man with gold-rimmed glasses.

Hu Tian calculated silently in his heart; the estimated value given by the system was 13.2 million to 15.6 million RMB, and this painting was finally sold for 14.5 million, falling within the range, which was reasonable.

Elder Qin let that painting go.

Regarding missing this famous painting, there was not a hint of annoyance on Elder Qin's face. Instead, he picked up his teacup, took a sip, turned his head, and smiled at Hu Tian: "Little friend, although this painting is good, if one pays too high a premium just to win an argument, it becomes inferior. Collecting is all about fate, and even more about mindset. Letting it go today, who knows, there might be something even better waiting for us later."

Upon hearing this, Hu Tian felt even more admiration for this senior in his heart.

In a contest at the ten-million level, being able to be so composed and flexible, unhurried and unperturbed, this level of composure is far beyond what ordinary collectors can compare to.

Hu Tian knew that the old man was not unable to afford it, but rather unwilling to compete just for the sake of competing. If it exceeded his psychological price point, he would voluntarily give up—this was the true style of an expert.

He put down the catalog and said in a low voice: "Elder Qin, did you already have a number in mind?"

Elder Qin hummed lightly, his tone indifferent: "This painting is good, but that young man was determined to get it, so there was no need for me to compete with him. Things circulate outside, and sooner or later there will be a time when fate brings us together again. One cannot be impatient."

Hu Tian nodded, with some realization in his heart.

The auction continued to proceed.

The ninth, tenth, and eleventh items were brought up on stage one by one, and hammered down one by one.

Hu Tian noticed that among these three, there was one piece of jade—a white jade mountain carving from the Qing dynasty. The carving was exquisite, but Elder Qin looked at it for a few moments and did not bid, only saying in a low voice: "The jade material is good, but unfortunately, the carving is a bit vulgar, and the market price is inflated."

The poem says: In the arena of fame and profit, the waves wash away the sand; with a discerning eye, one distinguishes the true from the false. The silver pot has yet to appear, but the winds and clouds are rising; quietly wait for the thunder to shake the ends of the earth.