21: Chapter 21 A Bombshell

The second item up for auction was a Qing Dynasty blue and white porcelain plate, with a starting bid of 300,000.

Hu Tian's eyes flickered slightly, and the information from the Treasure Hunting Radar instantly surfaced in his mind: [A high-quality piece from a folk kiln during the Kangxi era; the glaze is pure and mellow, but there is a faint hairline crack repair mark on the bottom, which is difficult for non-experts to distinguish. It is recommended that the bid not exceed 400,000; anything more would be a loss].

As soon as the auctioneer finished speaking, the sound of bidding rose one after another.

"350,000!"

"400,000!"

"450,000!"

The price climbed rapidly, quickly breaking through the red line suggested by the radar.

When the bidding reached 680,000, a middle-aged collector wearing gold-rimmed glasses turned bright red, the veins on his forehead bulging. His hand holding the bidding paddle trembled slightly, his eyes filled with a desperate, all-or-nothing frenzy.

However, just as the auctioneer was about to drop the gavel, he seemed to suddenly remember something. His expression changed abruptly, and the frenzy in his eyes was instantly replaced by terror.

He abruptly lowered his bidding paddle, as if he had been burned, exhaling a long breath. His back was already drenched in cold sweat.

"I almost went crazy! Buying a plate with a hairline crack for 680,000? Only a sucker would do that!"

He secretly felt fortunate to have cut his losses in time, avoiding a greater disaster.

In the end, the porcelain piece sold for 550,000. The collector who took the bait thought he had picked up a bargain, unaware that he had actually overpaid.

The auction proceeded item by item, the pace compact and orderly, the air filled with the scent of money and desire intertwined.

For Hu Tian, this Treasure Hunting Radar was the most professional and ruthless appraiser in the room. It laid bare the origin, flaws, and even the true value of every lot before his eyes, rendering him invincible, as if he had enabled a god's-eye view.

While others were gambling, he was simply making a withdrawal.

Seeing that Hu Tian remained focused, his eyes like torches, Zhou Waner couldn't help but lean over. Her hair brushed lightly against Hu Tian's cheek, carrying the faint, refreshing scent of shampoo, tickling him.

She lowered her voice, her eyes sparkling with excitement like a curious little kitten: "Brother Hu Tian, which one have you taken a fancy to? Are you going to bid? That jade thumb ring from just now seemed pretty good; it was such a beautiful green, and the clarity was excellent!"

Hu Tian smiled steadily and shook his head.

The auction continued, the atmosphere becoming increasingly heated. Every drop of the gavel pulled at everyone's nerves, causing their heartbeats to accelerate.

When it came to the tenth item, an Emperor Qianlong famille rose porcelain vase, Elder Qin, Elder Qin, who had been sitting as straight as a pine with an extraordinary air, finally made his move.

He gently raised his bidding paddle with an elegant and composed motion. His voice was not loud but carried an unquestionable authority: "1,500,000."

It was an immediate final decision; no one dared to contest it.

In his eyes, that porcelain vase was perhaps just a piece of a puzzle in his collection, fully displaying the style of a big shot.

The eleventh item, a Hetian jade seal, was acquired by the Hong Kong businessman Chen Qiming.

"800,000!" Chen Qiming couldn't even be bothered to raise his paddle; he simply nodded slightly, a casual smile hanging on the corner of his mouth.

To him, this amount of money was nothing more than pocket change. Buying it meant playing with it for a few days before flipping it for double.

The twelfth item, a Song Dynasty ancient book, was taken by the real estate tycoon Zhang Jianguo for 1,200,000.

His face was glowing, and the gold chain around his neck shimmered under the lights, as if he hadn't bought a book, but a ticket to the cultural elite.

He cupped his hands to those around him triumphantly and laughed loudly: "This is a good item! Placing it in my study will make the room shine with brilliance!"

With several big shots making their moves one after another, the atmosphere in the exhibition hall was instantly pushed to a climax.

The host passionately presented the thirteenth lot: a Warring States period bronze wine vessel with a primitive and heavy design.

"Starting bid, 6,000,000!" Before the words even faded, the sound of bidding surged in like a tide.

"7,000,000!" "8,500,000!" "10,000,000!"

After a fierce tug-of-war, the bids went higher and higher, and everyone's face turned bright red.

In the end, a middle-aged collector with a sharp eye won it for 15,000,000.

He gripped the bidding paddle tightly, his palms sweating. He was both pained by the money and terrified that someone else would snatch it away. Both sides felt they had profited, their faces filled with a complex joy.

For the next few lots, the bidding rang out one after another. The shouting of prices and the striking of the gavel wove together into a symphony of wealth that made one's blood boil.

Zhou Waner acted as a 'commentator' from time to time, whispering into Hu Tian's ear to introduce the backgrounds of the various tycoons. The warm breath she exhaled while speaking brushed against Hu Tian's ear, making him feel a bit uncomfortable, yet he also found this girl to be adorably eccentric, adding a touch of warmth to the tense auction.

This scene was observed by Elder Zhou nearby. The old man chuckled as he picked up his teacup, gently blowing away the foam. The smile at the corners of his eyes deepened, and his wrinkles hid a sense of satisfaction.

An old friend beside him teased, his eyes darting ambiguously between the two: "Old Zhou, are you happy watching the youngsters, or are you happy watching your granddaughter and that young man making eyes at each other? I think that girl Zhou Waner has almost lost her soul to him."

Elder Zhou didn't hide it either. He took a sip of tea and said slowly, a hint of pride in his tone: "The more I look at Hu Tian, the more satisfied I am. This child has a sharp eye and real ability, and most importantly, he is humble, steady, and not arrogant or impatient. Among the young people today, someone like him is as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns."

His old friend curled his lips and said sourly: "Look at you showing off. She hasn't even married into the family yet and you're already praising him."

Elder Zhou nodded and smiled, his gaze deep: "This shows her vision is high, and her standards are high too. That girl Zhou Waner has too lively a personality, like a wild monkey. She needs to find someone as steady as Hu Tian to keep her in check; only then will I be at ease handing my granddaughter over to him."

On stage, the host took a deep breath to calm his excitement, then raised his voice sharply to announce the arrival of the nineteenth lot.

"Next is one of the heavyweight finales of this auction! An authentic landscape painting by Tang Bohu, 'Spring Morning in Jiangnan'!"

As soon as the words fell, an irrepressible gasp of astonishment rang out in the exhibition hall. Everyone's nerves tightened, and their breathing seemed to stagnate.

Staff members wearing pristine white velvet gloves carefully carried the scroll onto the stage and slowly unfurled it under the gaze of the crowd.

In an instant, a rich, moist atmosphere of Jiangnan seemed to rush toward them, refreshing and delightful.

On the painting, distant mountains were like darkened eyebrows, and the nearby water held mist. A few fishing boats dotted the sparkling river surface. The artistic conception was profound, the brushwork delicate and lively, fully displaying the romantic talent of Tang Yin.

This was a masterpiece of color on silk, 120 centimeters long and 60 centimeters wide, preserved in extremely good condition; it could be called a treasure passed down through the ages.

"45,000,000!" Zhang Jianguo raised his bidding paddle almost the instant the scroll was fully unfurled. His voice was resonant and powerful, without the slightest hesitation, his face filled with the dominance of someone determined to win.

Once this price was called out, Chen Qiming, who had been eager to make a move, was clearly hesitant.

His brows were locked tight, forming a deep ' river' shape. He rubbed his fingers on the bidding paddle a few times, his knuckles turning white from the force.

A flicker of intense struggle flashed in his eyes, and he calculated frantically in his heart: 'Although this painting is good, 40,000,000 is already a high price.'

'Chasing it any higher would severely compress the profit margin, and could even lead to a loss.'

'I am a businessman, not a madman.'

'But... this is an authentic work by Tang Bohu. How many times in a lifetime can I encounter one if I miss this?'

After a long silence, Chen Qiming finally sighed and helplessly lowered the bidding paddle in his hand. His eyes were filled with regret and loss, and the corners of his mouth twitched bitterly.

At this price point, it was not just a competition of financial resources, but the limit of a psychological game. Whoever blinked first would lose.

"45,000,000 once!" The host shouted, his voice trembling slightly with excitement, his gaze scanning the room eagerly.

"45,000,000 twice!" "Are there any other bids? This is an authentic Tang Bohu! If you miss it, it's gone forever! Opportunity knocks but once!"

The host looked around, his gaze sweeping over everyone who might bid, trying to spark the final flame.

The venue was dead silent. Everyone was holding their breath, and the air seemed to have frozen into ice.

No one wanted to be the 'sucker' at this moment; everyone was afraid of becoming the final bag-holder.

"45,000,000 three times! Sold!" The host brought the gavel down heavily. With a 'bang,' it was as if it struck everyone's heart, vibrating their eardrums painfully.

"Congratulations to Mr. Zhang Jianguo for successfully winning the authentic Tang Bohu painting 'Spring Morning in Jiangnan'!"

The entire room instantly erupted into warm applause. Many people stood up one after another, casting gazes of envy and congratulation toward Zhang Jianguo, though some eyes hid jealousy.

Zhang Jianguo stood up and nodded slightly to those around him, his face beaming with the smile of someone whose wish had been fulfilled. The bold personality of a real estate tycoon was fully revealed as he laughed loudly: "Haha, thank you all for letting me have it! This painting is mine!"

He turned and whispered a few instructions to the assistant beside him, clearly wanting to complete the handover procedures as quickly as possible, fearing that complications might arise overnight.

Just then, the host's voice sounded again, his tone revealing a bit of mystery and excitement, even higher than before: "Distinguished guests, what we are about to present to you is a special lot that was temporarily added to this auction!"

"The appearance of this lot can be said to be the biggest surprise of this auction; it is absolutely the crown jewel of tonight!"

The room instantly became restless, with whispers rising one after another. Zhang Jianguo, who was originally preparing to leave to handle the procedures, also stopped in his tracks, frowned slightly, a flicker of curiosity flashing in his eyes, and sat back down in his seat.

The host deliberately paused for a few seconds, whetting their appetites and enjoying the feeling of controlling the entire room, before slowly continuing: "This is a—Northern Song Dynasty Jingdezhen ware Qingbai glaze plum vase with scrolling lotus patterns!"

As the words fell, the exhibition hall instantly exploded into chaos, as if a heavy bombshell had been dropped.

As everyone craned their necks in anticipation, two staff members carried an exquisite display stand slowly onto the stage, their movements as gentle as if they were cradling a fragile dream.

On the stand, a plum vase, jade-like and lustrous throughout its body, stood quietly. Under the reflection of the lights, it emitted a mellow and soft blue-white luster, like a beauty standing aloof from the world.

The body of the vase was slender and graceful, with a small mouth and short neck. The shoulders were full and rounded, the abdomen tapering downward. The lines were smooth and natural, like a young girl's silhouette, fully displaying the elegant charm of Song porcelain.

Most eye-catching were the scrolling lotus patterns decorating the entire body, carved with intricate detail and distinct layers. The lotus flowers were in full bloom, the branches and leaves spreading, lifelike as if one could smell the fragrance of flowers from a thousand years ago.

The glaze was a lustrous white with a faint tinge of blue, as mellow as grease, with a restrained and subtle luster. That was the treasure light precipitated by the passage of time, by no means comparable to modern imitations.

Zhang Jianguo's body, having just sat down, instantly stiffened. His eyes were fixed on the plum vase, and his breathing became a bit heavier.

Chen Qiming stood up abruptly and picked up his binoculars to observe it carefully. His hands were trembling slightly, his breathing as rapid as someone who had just finished a marathon, and an unprecedented glint of greed exploded in his eyes.

Elder Qin's expression also changed. His originally calm face was now filled with ripples, his gaze flickering uncertainly.

He narrowed his eyes, his gaze locked tightly on the plum vase on the display stand. His fingers tapped the armrest involuntarily, the rhythm becoming faster and faster, showing his extreme inner agitation.

"This is... this is the divine piece I have been dreaming of!"