Kapitel 165: Successful Auction
The bids for "Farewell to a Guest" continued to rise, but when the price reached 70 million, there were only four or five people remaining in the competition, including Bob, the elderly gentleman.
"73 million!" Bob raised his bid once again.
"74 million!" As soon as Bob had finished speaking, another person quickly followed with a higher bid.
"74.5 million!" Another bidder joined in, although their increments were getting smaller, indicating they were nearing their limit.
"76 million!" Bob raised his bid again.
"77 million!"
"80 million!" Bob spoke once more, adding, "I'll withdraw if anyone bids higher!"
There was a moment of silence in the room, but it didn't last long before another voice chimed in.
"80.05 million!" The room fell silent again. Bob looked at the other bidder, then glanced at the calligraphy piece on the stage, and finally, he leaned back, closing his eyes slightly.
Bob withdrew! He kept his word. Although the other bidder had only offered fifty thousand more, Bob showed no intention of raising his bid. His mental limit seemed to be exactly 80 million, and he wouldn't go a penny higher.
"80.05 million, going once!" The auctioneer announced, "Is there anyone willing to bid higher? This is a masterpiece by Li Suzhi, a rare find that might not appear in an auction for years. It's his magnum opus and an incredible investment. Missing out on it today might lead to regret!"
The auctioneer's words encouraged someone else to place a bid.
"81 million!"
"81.15 million!"
"82 million!"
This time, the room fell silent once more, but then another bid came in.
"85.5 million!"
The room erupted with astonishment. Not only did this person place a bid, but they also raised it by three million, clearly showing their determination to win.
"85.5 million, going once!" The auctioneer's voice grew even more enthusiastic, "Is there anyone else willing to bid higher? This piece is unquestionably worth it, a chance like this may not come again!"
Despite the auctioneer's encouragement, no one else placed a bid this time.
"85.5 million, going twice!"
Silence...
"85.5 million, sold!" The auctioneer raised his gavel and struck it decisively.
Upon hearing those words, several people in the room breathed a sigh of relief, including the winning bidder. He stood up, wearing a contented smile, and gestured with gratitude to the audience.
"Congratulations, congratulations!" The surrounding voices congratulated him.
Jake also breathed a sigh of relief. Toward the end, his heart had been racing, and his face had flushed with excitement. It was sold! For 85.5 million!
To Jake, this was an astronomical sum, a game-changer. His financial problems with the storefront were solved. His business was about to enter a new era.
"Congratulations," Dirk turned to Jake with a cheerful smile.
"Thank you, and congratulations to you too," Jake replied.
The two of them exchanged smiles. They were undoubtedly the biggest winners of the evening. A piece that had been bought for 160,000 was sold for 85.5 million. Even Dirk, who wasn't short on money, was astonished and impressed.
The auction concluded successfully, but most people didn't leave. Instead, they stayed for the auction house's post-auction reception, which was a well-known part of the event. Of course, those who had successfully bid on items during the auction needed to settle their payments before joining the reception.
Jake and Dirk hadn't purchased anything, so they didn't need to make any payments. They arrived early at the banquet hall.
"Jake, I didn't see you bidding at the auction. Was there nothing that caught your eye?" Bob, the elderly gentleman, approached Jake and asked.
"I was just here to enjoy the atmosphere, not really looking to buy anything," Jake replied with a smile. "Unless there's a hidden gem to be found."
"Finding hidden gems at an auction? That's not easy," Bob said.
"Is it really not easy?" Jake and Dirk exchanged glances but didn't say anything. They had just found a massive hidden gem!
Jake introduced Bob to Dirk, but in reality, Jake didn't know much about either of them. He only knew Bob's last name and that he hailed from the capital city, but beyond that, he was in the dark.
"Dirk, I've heard about you," Bob said to Dirk with a smile. "You're a promising young talent."
"Thank you, Bob, for your kind words," Dirk replied modestly.
While Dirk wasn't sure about Bob's background, he could sense an air of authority about him. Dirk felt that Bob was not an ordinary person. Considering that Bob was from the capital city, Dirk had some speculations in mind. Could it be...
With this in mind, Dirk became even more respectful toward Bob. "By the way, Bob, it seems like you really liked 'Farewell to a Guest.'"
Jake didn't sense anything particularly special about Bob but suspected that he might not be an ordinary person. As for what made him extraordinary, Jake wasn't sure.
"Yes," Bob said, a tinge of regret on his face as he spoke about "Farewell to a Guest." "I truly liked that piece. However, the price of 85.5 million exceeded my budget. I had to let it go."
Bob wasn't lacking in funds, but he had a personal budget limit. Once that limit was crossed, even if it was just by fifty thousand, he didn't hesitate to withdraw his bid.
"That piece is indeed a rare treasure," Jake replied. "I collect calligraphy works as well, so I naturally saw the opportunity. But the price was high, and sometimes it's better to let it go if it exceeds your budget."
Bob nodded in agreement. "Collecting should remain a refined pursuit. If you push too hard, it goes against the original intent."
Jake agreed, and they shared a moment of understanding. Collecting was meant to be a graceful and cultured endeavor. Pushing too hard could spoil the essence of it. As they conversed, people who had gone to settle their payments began to gather in the hall. The atmosphere became livelier as they congratulated and exchanged pleasantries with familiar faces.
"Dirk, I'm sorry, but I bought the item you wanted," Jude said, approaching Dirk directly, a triumphant look on his face. As for Jake, he seemed to ignore his presence completely.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
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Rangliste 
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Stein