Capítulo 95: Yu Xuan
There were approximately thirty individuals, including antique dealers and collectors, attending the auction hosted by the Collectible Company. With their accompanying assistants and appraisers, the total number approached a hundred. However, as the appraisal was conducted in groups of ten, each allotted ten minutes, it wasn't long before Fang Yi and his companions would take their turn.
"Let's go, and remember not to speak out of turn once we're up there..." Man Jun quietly cautioned Fang Yi. The attendees were all distinguished figures from various fields, and as the saying goes, those with talent often possess strong tempers; a single misstep in conversation could easily offend someone.
"Old Yu, let's head up as well..." As Fang Yi and his group stood, Su Shilun, seated nearby, gestured for the elderly gentleman he had brought along to rise. It was evident that this affluent individual, ranked among the wealthiest in the country, held great respect for the elder.
According to the rules, each buyer was permitted to bring only one appraiser to the stage. Thus, although three of them had arrived, Officer Bai had to remain seated. As Fang Yi stood, he glanced at her, noticing a hint of indignation in her eyes through her black-framed glasses.
"Old Yu? Could it be that this is the renowned Yu Xuan from Minnan?" Upon hearing Su Shilun address the elder, Man Jun, who had already risen from his seat, hesitated, turning back with a look of uncertainty in his eyes.
"Brother Man, what's the matter?" Fang Yi gently nudged him on the shoulder, having his path obstructed by Man Jun.
"Oh, it's... nothing..." Man Jun hastily quickened his pace, but after stepping out of the row, he paused to allow Su Shilun and the elder to proceed ahead, while he scrutinized the elder's features intently.
"Brother Man, do you know him?" After Su Shilun and the elder had walked about seven or eight meters ahead, Fang Yi whispered to Man Jun.
"It truly is him..." Man Jun nodded, stating, "Mr. Su is indeed quite wealthy; to have secured Old Yu's assistance for appraisal, I suspect his expenses have far exceeded the cost of engaging Old Yu's services..."
"Is this person well-known in the antique appraisal field?" Fang Yi, still in the early stages of learning about antiques, was unaware of the prominent appraisers in the country aside from his teacher.
"Does your master hold any renown in the appraisal of calligraphy and ceramics?"
As they walked towards the stage, Man Jun replied quietly, "Old Yu is a revered figure in the realm of miscellaneous antiques, a true luminary. The Deputy Curator Zhao pales in comparison, and he is also a master of seal carving—his works are used as personal seals by national leaders..."
Though Man Jun had never met Old Yu, he had seen his photograph in various published books on the knowledge of miscellaneous antiques and had heard numerous rumors about him in the circle.
Unlike Old Sun, who generally avoided the antique trade, Yu Xuan was known for frequenting markets to unearth hidden treasures, to the extent that vendors in his city recognized him. Whenever Yu Xuan expressed interest in an item, vendors would invariably quote exorbitant prices.
However, despite his penchant for treasure hunting, Yu Xuan rarely assisted others in appraising antiques. To Man Jun's knowledge, he had only appraised an item for someone three years prior, charging a fee that exceeded five times the item's value.
Now that Su Shilun had enlisted this master's services, it was needless to say that he had offered a princely sum for the appraisal; otherwise, given Yu Xuan's standing in the community, he would not have come to such a scale of auction to assist others.
"Then, if they find something they like, can't we just follow suit and purchase it?" Fang Yi laughed softly, suggesting, "If we buy alongside them, surely we can avoid acquiring counterfeit items?"
"Follow them to buy? That would violate the unspoken rules and offend people. I can't believe you would even consider such a thing!" Man Jun scoffed at Fang Yi's suggestion. "What they are after is miscellaneous items, while we are focused on calligraphy and paintings; we are not even on the same path. Moreover, even if we attempted to follow their lead, could you outbid them?"
In the antique world, there exists an unwritten rule: during transactions outside of auction settings, if someone picks up an item for inspection, others are not permitted to snatch it away or place bids until that person relinquishes it and expresses disinterest. Otherwise, it would be deemed a breach of etiquette.
While auctions emphasize that the highest bidder wins, this rule does not apply. However, given Su Shilun's wealth and Old Yu's stature, even if someone wished to contest what he intended to purchase, they would likely find themselves outmatched, ultimately offending the other party.
Fortunately, although Su Shilun frequently participated in various auctions, his primary focus was on miscellaneous antiques, which did not significantly conflict with the calligraphy and ceramics sought by antique dealers. Otherwise, with his wealth, he could easily dominate all antique transactions in the country.
"Fang Yi, what are you interested in?"
Upon reaching the stage, Man Jun asked Fang Yi, "I'll take a look at these paintings; why don't you check out the miscellaneous antiques over there? If you find something appealing, just remember the auction number and see what the starting price is when the bidding begins."
Man Jun believed Fang Yi might have a chance because he had heard many people mention that auctions held by the Collectible Company often had low starting prices, even if the final sale prices were not necessarily low. It was not uncommon for some obscure items to go unsold.
"Brother Man, you focus on your own pursuits; I'm here to learn..."
Fang Yi chuckled at this, aware that while the stage was adorned with a dazzling array of antiques, he could hardly recognize many of them. The only items he could identify were a few small curios, such as decorative gourds and snuff bottles, placed on a display table near the edge of the stage.
"Young man, are you interested in miscellaneous antiques as well?"
While Fang Yi conversed with Man Jun, Old Yu had led Su Shilun to the display table showcasing miscellaneous items. Upon noticing Fang Yi's approach, he looked up in surprise; Su Shilun had mentioned that this antique dealer seemed to specialize in calligraphy and paintings.
"I'm still learning; please, go ahead..." Fang Yi stood aside, refraining from handling the items, applying the knowledge he had just absorbed from Man Jun.
"Not many young people still understand the value of humility these days..."
Old Yu sighed, reflecting on how many of the young individuals he encountered had become increasingly restless, eager to profit without truly grasping the importance of respecting their mentors and education.
Last year, while at Panjiayuan in Beijing, Old Yu encountered a situation where he spotted a gilded bronze Buddha statue that seemed promising, resembling a creation from the Qing Dynasty's imperial workshop. He began negotiating the price with the vendor.
The vendor's asking price was modest—only fifty thousand yuan. It was worth noting that items from the Qing Dynasty's imperial workshop typically fetched at least a million at auction. Old Yu felt a twinge of doubt and picked up the statue for further inspection.
At that moment, a ray of sunlight illuminated the statue, casting a glaring reflection that made Old Yu realize something was amiss. This was undoubtedly a piece that had been artificially aged; authentic gilded bronze statues would have a duller surface, reflecting light in a soft manner.
Before Old Yu could set the statue down, a young man who had been lingering nearby seized it without a word, immediately offering the vendor fifty thousand yuan to purchase it.
In his frustration, Old Yu was perplexed as to why this young man would spend such a sum without even examining the item. After the young man completed the transaction with the vendor, Yu Xuan approached him to inquire directly.
To Yu Xuan's astonishment, the young man's response left him both amused and bewildered. The reason was simple: this young man, who owned an antique shop in the south, recognized Yu Xuan and was aware of his reputation in the field of miscellaneous antiques. Thus, he was convinced that the Buddha statue was genuine and hastily snatched it from Yu Xuan.
After understanding the situation, Yu Xuan pointed out the statue's flaws and departed, leaving the young man to argue with the vendor.
Ultimately, the vendor prevailed, as the pricing of craft items is inherently subjective, and since he had not claimed to be selling an antique, it became a matter of mutual agreement—one party willing to sell, the other willing to buy. Even if the young man sought intervention from market authorities, he would not have a strong case.
However, following that incident, Yu Xuan, who had once been eager to mentor young people, grew less enthusiastic and ceased to take on any apprentices.
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