22: Chapter 22 You're Going to Become a Billionaire

"This Meiping vase is thirty-five centimeters tall, with a mouth diameter of four point two centimeters and a base diameter of nine centimeters. Its shape is flawless, the glaze is pure and warm, and the carving technique is exquisite. It can be called the pinnacle of Northern Song Dynasty Jingdezhen kiln qingbai glaze Meiping vases. There are only a handful in existence; it is a unique, once-in-a-lifetime masterpiece!"

The auctioneer's voice trembled slightly with extreme excitement, his tone filled with a pilgrimage-like reverence, as if he were not speaking of a piece of porcelain, but of a treasure of the entire Chinese civilization.

"The starting bid is—forty million! Each increment must be no less than one million!"

Before the auctioneer's voice had even faded, the bidding area erupted.

"Forty-five million!"

Chen Qiming thrust his bidding paddle into the air almost the instant the auctioneer finished speaking, his movement so fast it stirred up a breeze.

His voice was firm and powerful, even sounding somewhat sharp due to his eagerness, like a drawn blade.

The regret of missing out on the authentic Tang Bohu earlier had already left him deeply frustrated. Now that this Northern Song Meiping vase was before him, flames of determination burned in his eyes; he absolutely… absolutely would not allow history to repeat itself!

"Fifty million!"

The tycoon Elder Qin followed immediately after, refusing to show any sign of weakness.

He sat upright in his chair, his posture unchanged, merely raising his bidding paddle slowly—an elegant movement that nonetheless carried immense weight.

His voice was deep and resonant, carrying an unquestionable resolve. His eyes, sharp as a hawk's, locked onto the Meiping vase on stage, as if declaring his sovereignty over it.

"Fifty-five million!"

Chen Qiming gritted his molars, his jaw muscles bulging, and quickly raised his bidding paddle again.

His face flushed red from the rush of blood, the veins on his forehead slightly protruding. His eyes revealed a ruthless intensity—the feral nature of a businessman fighting in a desperate situation.

"Sixty million!"

Zhang Jianguo also raised his paddle with a coarse shout, roaring loudly.

Although he didn't understand the nuances of porcelain, seeing the two industry titans arguing until they were red in the face instantly ignited his competitive spirit.

To him, this wasn't just about buying an item; it was about buying face!

As long as it was an antique, he had to participate; he could not lose on momentum!

"What's sixty million? I've got plenty of money!"

He roared in his heart, the gold chain around his neck shaking violently with his movements.

The atmosphere in the venue instantly became tense to the extreme; the air seemed to solidify into tangible ice, pressing down until it was hard to breathe.

Everyone held their breath, their gazes shifting back and forth between the three bidders, their hearts in their throats, afraid of missing a single detail.

"Sixty-two million!"

Chen Qiming followed up again, his voice already sounding slightly rushed...

"Seventy million!"

Elder Qin remained composed, his movement of raising the paddle still unhurried, as if he were merely ordering a cup of tea.

But upon closer inspection, one could see the knuckles of his hand gripping the paddle had turned slightly white, and the veins on the back of his hand were twitching, revealing the turbulent storm already raging within him.

Seventy million...

This price had already exceeded his psychological limit, but the vase was too perfect. If he missed it, he would likely never encounter another one in this lifetime.

Fine beads of sweat broke out on Chen Qiming's forehead, merging into a stream that trickled down his cheeks.

He took a deep breath, his chest heaving violently. His fingers gripped the paddle tightly, the knuckles white from excessive force, even trembling slightly.

He roared frantically in his heart: Seventy million!

This was way over budget!

The company's capital chain was already tight; if he added any more...

But...

Such a good item; once missed, he would regret it for a lifetime!

That heartache was worse than losing money!

Screw it!

At worst, he'd just mortgage that plot of land!

"Seventy-three million!"

His voice held a hint of grit, hoarse and resolute, like blood and tears squeezed from between his teeth.

"Seventy-five million!"

Zhang Jianguo immediately followed up with a bid, the veins on his neck bulging, his face red and thick-necked as he roared loudly, spittle flying everywhere. It was clear he was just smashing people with money, trying to overwhelm his opponents with sheer force: "Seventy-five! Let's see who dares to follow that!"

By now, the competition had reached a fever pitch.

The three of them traded bids back and forth; every increment was like a life-or-death gamble, their gazes colliding in the air with intense sparks, as if one could hear the harsh sound of metal grating against metal.

No one was willing to concede even a single step; this was the ultimate showdown of financial power, courage, and obsession.

"Eighty-seven million!"

Chen Qiming's voice was already somewhat hoarse, almost cracking.

His face had turned the color of liver, his eyes bloodshot—the exhaustion and madness after a fierce battle between reason and desire.

His hand was trembling, his movements of raising the paddle becoming slow and heavy; every time he increased the bid, it felt like he was cutting off a piece of his own flesh.

"Ninety million!"

Elder Qin raised his paddle again.

This time, he did not hesitate in the slightest, his gaze as firm as iron. His voice was not loud, but it rang out like a great bell, stunning the entire venue into silence.

"Ninety million."

He spat out these three words calmly, yet they carried the weight of a thousand jin.

He stared fixedly at Chen Qiming, his gaze as deep as the sea, as if silently asking: Will you follow again?

Do you still want your life?

Once this price was out, the entire venue fell silent; one could hear a pin drop.

Everyone's eyes were focused on Chen Qiming, waiting for the final verdict.

Chen Qiming's face flushed red, his hand gripping the paddle trembling violently a few times. His lips quivered; he wanted to raise it but ultimately let it drop limply.

His eyes were full of pain and struggle, tears welling up in his sockets.

In the end, reason overcame madness. He let out a long sigh, as if all his strength had been drained away. He slumped in his chair, his arm hanging limply, and buried his head deep in his hands.

It's over...

Ninety million...

I lost...

Zhang Jianguo also sighed, shook his head in resignation, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, and muttered: "Crazy, absolutely crazy. Ninety million for a bottle? You guys play; I'm done."

"Ninety million, going once!"

The auctioneer shouted, his voice becoming shrill and even cracking due to extreme excitement.

"Ninety million, going twice!"

The auctioneer scanned the room, his eyes burning, seemingly waiting for a miracle to happen, but the only response was a deathly silence.

"Ninety million, sold!"

"Bang!"

The sound of the gavel rang out across the venue again, crisp and decisive, like the hammer of judgment, declaring the end of a high-stakes gamble.

"Congratulations to Elder Qin Yuan for successfully bidding on this heavyweight lot, the [Northern Song Dynasty Qingbai Glaze Meiping Vase with Scrolling Lotus Pattern]!"

The venue erupted into even more enthusiastic applause. Many people stood up, casting looks of heartfelt admiration toward Elder Qin, mixed with shock and awe at the astronomical price of ninety million.

A satisfied smile finally appeared on Elder Qin's face—a pure joy, as if he had obtained the treasure of the entire world.

He let out a long breath, his tense shoulders relaxing, his eyes glistening with tears.

Zhou Waner leaned in close to Hu Tian's ear, exclaiming in amazement, her eyes wide as if she had seen an alien: "Ninety million! Ninety million! Brother Hu Tian, you've hit the jackpot this time! This is ninety million! You're about to become a multimillionaire!"

Zhou Waner gripped Hu Tian's arm tightly; it was clear she was even more excited than Hu Tian.

Elder Zhou, sitting nearby, nodded in satisfaction. His sidelong glances at Hu Tian were filled with increasing appreciation, as if he were looking at an unpolished piece of jade that already showed its grandeur, and he couldn't suppress the smile at the corners of his mouth.

Hu Tian smiled faintly, his expression calm as usual, merely nodding slightly as if what he had just sold was not a ninety-million-worth treasure, but an ordinary piece of junk.

He nodded with a smile; a trace of joy did indeed well up in his heart, but it was outweighed by a calm that surpassed that of ordinary people.

Sure enough, when encountering a collector who truly loved this path and regarded it as their life, the price would far exceed the system's cold, calculated estimate.

Although the system's valuation was accurate, it couldn't calculate the persistence and passion of the human heart, nor that madness that would lead one to bankrupt themselves for art.

Ninety million was an astronomical figure to him, enough to change his destiny, allowing him to leap from an ordinary person to a top-tier wealthy individual and achieve financial freedom.

But he had the Treasure Hunting System as his cheat; there would be many, many more such opportunities in the future.

This was just the first time; there would be a second, a third...

His journey was toward the stars and the sea; this bit of money was merely travel expenses along the way.

After the auction ended, Hu Tian was guided by staff to a VIP room on the second floor to complete the transaction.

Pushing open the heavy mahogany door, he found Elder Qin had been waiting for a long time.

Seeing Hu Tian enter, Elder Qin immediately stood up to welcome him, his face wearing a sincere smile. The sharpness and dominance from the auction were completely gone, replaced by the gentleness and affection of an elder toward a younger generation, even carrying a hint of gratitude.

"Young friend Hu, seeing you today, you truly are a hero among youths! This old man admires you, truly admires you!"

Elder Qin gripped Hu Tian's hand tightly, with great strength, his eyes shining with excitement. "If you hadn't brought out such a divine item, this old man would likely have carried regrets for the rest of his life!"

"Elder Qin, you flatter me. It is your unique vision; only in your hands can this item truly shine."

Hu Tian said modestly, his expression neither humble nor arrogant, his demeanor appropriate.

"No, no, no. In the antique business, an eye for quality is the most important thing."

Elder Qin shook his head with a smile, his gaze filled with deep appreciation. "Without a sharp eye, no matter how good your luck is, you can't discern the real from the fake, let alone dare to make a move. For a young friend like you to have such appraisal ability and courage at such a young age, your future is boundless. The antique world will surely have a place for you! The younger generation is to be respected; truly, the younger generation is to be respected!"

While processing the transaction, Elder Qin signed the papers and said seemingly casually, though his tone hid expectation: "Young friend Hu Tian, I wonder if you have any interest in coming to the capital to visit? The Panjiayuan in the capital is the premier antique distribution center in the country, a place where hidden talents reside, filled with all kinds of good things and countless experts. If you are willing, young friend Hu, I can play host, take you around properly, and introduce you to a few old friends, so everyone can witness your demeanor."

Hu Tian's eyes lit up, and his heart stirred.

He had long heard of the great name of Panjiayuan; it was the holy land in the hearts of countless antique enthusiasts and a place he had planned to visit.

"Panjiayuan in the capital; I have long heard of the legendary stories there. If I have the chance, I will definitely go to visit you, Elder Qin."

Hu Tian said with a smile, his tone sincere.

"Haha, then it's a deal!"

Elder Qin was very happy. He took out an exquisite business card from his pocket and handed it over with both hands. "This is my contact information. Young friend Hu, when you arrive in the capital, you must contact me in advance. I will have someone pick you up, and we can have a few drinks."

Hu Tian accepted the business card with both hands and also took out his own to hand over. "Definitely, definitely. I will have to trouble you for your guidance then, Elder Qin."

"You are too polite!"

Elder Qin put away the business card, patted Hu Tian on the shoulder, and said earnestly, "It is my honor to know such a young talent as you, young friend Hu. I will wait for you in the capital; let's meet there!"

After completing all the formalities, with the "ding" of a bank notification, because it was an internal exchange auction, the high commission was waived. After deducting the personal income tax on the transaction, he actually received eighty-seven million five hundred thousand.

Looking at the long string of numbers on his phone screen, from the initial five hundred yuan to now possessing over eighty million, this span made Hu Tian feel like a lifetime had passed, as if he had experienced a bizarre and surreal dream.

The poem says:

The gavel strikes like thunder, ninety million realized; Song porcelain like jade shines in the grand hall.

Do not say the youth lacks pride; with a keen eye for treasure, he shocks the world.