Chapitre 93: Xie Qingyang
"There is, there is..." Man Jun stepped forward, retrieving an invitation letter and two stacks of hundred-yuan bills sealed by the bank from his bag, placing them before the registrar.
"Here is your receipt; please keep it safe. You will need it to reclaim your deposit once the transaction concludes..." The registrar issued a receipt and handed Man Jun a placard marked with the number 28, which Fang Yi had previously observed Officer Bai possessing, though he was unaware of its purpose.
"Brother Man, what is this for?" As they entered the conference room, Fang Yi curiously picked up the placard from Man Jun's hand.
"We're here to participate in the auction. This placard is used for bidding. How could you not know that?"
As soon as Man Jun spoke, he realized that Fang Yi, having lived in the mountains for most of his life, was still unfamiliar with such societal nuances despite having quickly adapted since coming down. Prior to this, he might not have even known what an auction was.
"Hey, brother, don't be upset; I forgot about your past experiences..." Man Jun said, a hint of guilt in his tone.
"I'm not upset, Brother Man. Now that you mention it, I understand," Fang Yi replied, not truly offended, knowing that Man Jun's words were unintentional.
"Gentlemen, may I see your placards?"
Upon entering the conference room, a young woman in a blue-and-white qipao approached them. After glancing at the number in Fang Yi's hand, she said, "Please follow me, gentlemen; your seats are over here..."
"Brother Man, this auction venue isn't very large, is it? It can't accommodate more than a hundred people at most?"
Once inside, Fang Yi noted that the entire venue was rather modest, reminiscent of a cinema he had visited a few days prior with a friend. At the front was a platform elevated about a meter above the ground, facing several rows of sofa chairs.
However, compared to a cinema, the elegance here was undeniable. Each sofa was accompanied by a small coffee table, adorned with a bottle of water, an ashtray, and a plate of meticulously cleaned fruit, showcasing attentive service.
Perhaps due to the order of registration, Fang Yi found his seat adjacent to Mr. Su and his companions. Mr. Su occupied the center seat, while Officer Bai fortuitously sat right next to Fang Yi, glancing up at him as he settled into his chair.
"Wow, Fang Yi, you're quite lucky to be seated next to a beautiful woman..." After taking their seats, Man Jun winked at Fang Yi. Though the woman's features were obscured by large glasses, her figure alone was enough to categorize her as an exceptional beauty.
"Brother Man, what exactly are we here for..." Fang Yi looked at Man Jun with exasperation. Upon realizing Officer Bai's potential motives for attending the auction, he decided it would be best to keep his distance from her, secretly relieved that she had not recognized him.
"Heh, pursuing women and making money can go hand in hand. Back in my day, I..."
With a few minutes left before the auction commenced, and as more people entered the venue, Man Jun, with nothing else to occupy him, began chatting with Fang Yi, forgetting that despite his low volume, they were seated uncomfortably close to Mr. Su and his party.
"How vulgar..." A crisp female voice came from Officer Bai's direction, accompanied by a disdainful glance. Man Jun's words abruptly ceased, and he appeared somewhat embarrassed.
"Ah, Old Xie, you've come too..." Just as Man Jun was feeling awkward, he lifted his head to spot a familiar face and promptly stood to greet him.
"Old Man, what you said is true; if I don't come, won't all the good items be taken by you?"
The man conversing with Man Jun was also in his forties, wearing a piece of chicken oil-yellow amber around his neck, a large pigeon blood-red ring on his hand, and a traditional silk robe that made him resemble a wealthy landlord from the old society.
"Old Man, I heard you recently acquired a fan painting by Tang Bohu, is that correct?"
The man, referred to as Old Xie by Man Jun, noticed the empty seat next to Man Jun and sat down, continuing, "So, how about it? Name your price. You know I have a client who enjoys collecting famous artists' works. Please transfer that fan to me..."
"Old Xie, it's not that I won't sell it to you, but you're a bit late..." Man Jun feigned a sigh, saying, "I sold that fan the very next day after acquiring it. I truly apologize..."
Despite his words of apology, a smile danced on Man Jun's face. Old Xie, whose full name was Xie Qingyang, was a well-known antique dealer in Jinling, operating on a much larger scale than Man Jun. As the saying goes, "business rivals are often enemies," and even if Man Jun hadn't sold that fan, he would never have willingly handed it over to Old Xie.
The antique trade possesses a unique characteristic: it is often difficult to buy and sell. While acquiring a good antique is a challenge, possessing valuable items does not guarantee a sale. At times, having the right clientele is even more crucial than sourcing good merchandise.
Clients in the antique business are typically affluent and successful individuals, with diverse and peculiar demands. Those who can meet their needs will solidify their relationships. It is common practice to procure items from others to maintain their clientele.
Naturally, unless one is in urgent need of cash or the offer exceeds market value, most individuals would hesitate to sell to competitors. Man Jun had been doing well in the antique business over the past two years, gradually catching up to Old Xie, so their relationship was not as amicable as it appeared.
"Hey, Old Man, I haven't even named a price yet, and you're already refusing to cooperate? Who did you sell it to? I'll go negotiate with them..."
Upon hearing Man Jun's remarks, a displeased expression crossed Xie Qingyang's face. He truly had a client interested in collecting Tang Bohu's works, so whenever he learned that someone in the circle had acquired anything by Tang Bohu, he would typically offer a high price, knowing he could recoup his investment from his client later.
"Old Xie, do you really want to negotiate with my buyer?" Man Jun chuckled at the thought.
"What? Do I, Xie Qingyang, lack even this bit of face in Jinling?"
Man Jun's words caused Xie Qingyang to furrow his brow. Having started dealing in antiques in the mid-1980s, he had amassed a fortune of tens of millions and was considered a prominent figure in Jinling's antique scene. To Man Jun, he was merely a junior.
"Alright then, Old Xie, the item was purchased by Old Sun. You should speak with him..." Man Jun glanced at Fang Yi, nearly bursting into laughter, for he knew that Xie Qingyang held a deep-seated fear of Old Sun in the antique community.
Five years ago, when Old Sun had just retired, Xie Qingyang had approached him, attempting to recruit him as the manager of his antique shop, offering him a generous stake without any financial obligation. However, to Xie Qingyang's surprise, Old Sun had doused him with tea and chased him out of his home with a broom, discarding the gifts Xie had brought along.
The rumor in the industry was that Old Sun barred antique dealers from entering his home, and this incident had set the precedent. After being disgusted by Xie Qingyang's mercenary demeanor, Old Sun established this rule.
Regardless, Xie Qingyang was a notable figure in Jinling's antique business, and after being ejected, he felt a strong sense of indignation.
Consequently, he spread word in various public forums that he sincerely wished to invite Old Sun to contribute his expertise post-retirement, claiming that Old Sun was unappreciative and deserved to waste away at home.
However, fate dealt him a harsh blow. Just days after his remarks, Old Sun was appointed by the National Appraisal Committee as a leading expert in cultural relics, elevating his status in the antique community significantly.
Though Old Sun did not stoop to Xie Qingyang's level, the shift in Old Sun's standing caused Xie to notice that those who had once surrounded him began to distance themselves. It was at this moment that Xie Qingyang realized he had made a foolish mistake.
Regretful and unable to turn back time, Xie Qingyang later bought lavish gifts to present to Old Sun in Beijing, hoping to apologize. However, he was unable to even enter the door and was scolded by an elder in the industry who had helped him, reprimanding him for his disrespectful attitude towards his elders.
In the antique business, the most crucial aspect is connections. Once the circle learned of Xie Qingyang's falling out with Old Sun, he found it impossible to engage any of the country's top appraisal masters, resulting in significant financial losses in subsequent transactions.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone