Chapter 50: 50: Two Hundred Million Credited

Xu Yang smiled and nodded, “Indeed it is significant.”

Tang Zhengqi felt a jolt in his heart, “What’s so significant? I looked at it at the time, and I didn’t see any problem.”

Xu Yang smiled, “Old Brother Tang, wait until the auction is over and then we can have a look, then we’ll know if there’s anything significant.”

Tang Zhengqi resignedly said, “Okay, let’s talk about it after the auction.”

The auction continued.

An hour later, the auctioneer said, “Next, we will auction the last lot of this auction. This is a blood-red thumb ring. After appraisal…”

The auctioneer briefly introduced the thumb ring.

Instantly, a sensation stirred in the auction hall.

“Finally, it’s time for this thumb ring.”

“I came specifically for this thumb ring.”

“This thumb ring is mine, no one else competes with me.”

“Just because you say it’s yours doesn’t make it yours. I say it’s mine.”

“All this talk is useless, whoever bids the highest gets it.”

“We folks can only come to enjoy the spectacle.”

“The final price for this thumb ring will be at least over a hundred million.”

“With so many tycoons from the antiques world present, I think it could even reach two hundred million.”

“Hiss… No way? The thumb ring is valuable, but it can’t be worth that much, can it?”

“Hmph, what do you mean no way? It doesn’t matter to these collecting tycoons whether it’s one hundred million or two hundred million, it’s all the same to them.”

“The significance of this thumb ring is extraordinary. Whoever acquires it will count it a great fortune in their life.”

“A hundred million, two hundred million — it’s none of our business, we’re just here to watch the excitement.”

The crowd burst into a cacophony of comments.

The auctioneer said, “The thumb ring starts at ten million, with each bid not to be less than one million. Let the bidding begin!”

No sooner had he spoken than someone called out a bid.

“Twenty million!”

“Fifty million!”

“Eighty million!”

“One hundred million!”

“One hundred and ten million!”

“…”

As the bidding began, the prices skyrocketed.

It wasn’t until it reached a hundred million that the pace began to slow down.

Although ‘slowed down’ is relative, it was still increasing by ten million each time.

Soon the price had risen to a hundred and fifty million.

“Hiss… This is terrifying!”

“It’s already a hundred and fifty million now, it really could reach two hundred million!”

“I told you so, you didn’t believe me, but now you do.”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“If I hadn’t come to this auction, I would never have witnessed such a spectacle.”

“I haven’t seen an event like this in a long time, it reminds me of a few years ago at an auction in the capital city, where a painting by Yan Liben was sold, that was the last time I saw anything like this.”

The crowd was shocked by the price, all inhaling sharply.

At this price, only a few people were still bidding.

“A hundred and sixty million! This thumb ring is mine!” declared an elder in Tang attire.

“One hundred and seventy million! Old Guo, can’t you just let me have it? If I can collect this thumb ring, I won’t make another bid in future auctions, please grant me this wish,” pleaded an elder with white hair.

“One hundred and eighty million, that’s my final offer. If any of you bid higher, I won’t compete anymore,” said an elder in gray.

“One hundred and ninety million, this is also my last bid. If any of you want it, just make another offer,” stated an elder with a horse-like face.

In the end, it was only the elders who were still bidding.

Only these elders were willing to spend the money for such items.

Of course, even though they were not short of money, they wouldn’t bid endlessly.

This ring, after all, had its price.

At this point, it had far exceeded its rightful value.

Bidding further just wouldn’t be worth it.

After all, it was still money, and not a small amount at that.

Rich as they were, they still wouldn’t throw money away.

In the end, the ring sold for two hundred million to the man in traditional attire.

With that, the auction came to a perfect close.

“Two hundred million, I didn’t see that coming. I thought it would only fetch one hundred million,” Tang Zhengqi was also shocked.

These old fellows attending the auction really had extraordinary means.

“Hehe, so great,” Xu Yang’s smile almost reached his ears.

The auction house took a three percent commission, which was six million.

He was able to pocket one hundred ninety-four million.

After deducting the painting he bid on earlier for one million one hundred thousand, the net amount was one hundred ninety-two million nine hundred thousand.

This bargain was truly huge.

It gave him even more confidence in his venture to scout future online celebrities.

Xu Yang and Tang Zhengqi went backstage.

After receiving the money, he got the Rivers and Mountains Scroll he had bid on.

Tang Zhengqi brought Xu Yang to a room, wanting him to point out what was special about the Rivers and Mountains Scroll.

Xu Yang laid the painting on the table and unfolded it.

Then, he poured a cup of hot water directly onto the painting.

“Xu brother, what are you doing?” Tang Zhengqi was startled and his face showed deep confusion.

Xu Yang smiled, said nothing, and proceeded to tear off the wet paper on top of the painting.

Immediately, they saw another painting beneath it.

“Hiss… this is Huang Gongwang’s Quiet and Secluded Tower by the Water!” Upon seeing the painting, Tang Zhengqi couldn’t help but exclaim in awe.

He had not expected that this was a painting within a painting, with a modern work on top, and a hidden authentic piece beneath it.

“Xu brother, how did you discover this painting within a painting?” Right after, Tang Zhengqi was full of confusion.

Xu Yang was only watching from below the stage, without having gone up to see it closely, let alone used any instruments to identify it.

Yet, he managed to discover this painting within a painting, which was truly baffling.

“I just felt that something about this painting wasn’t quite right, suspecting there could be another painting underneath, so I bought it. It turned out to be just as I had guessed,” Xu Yang said vaguely.

This matter, hard to explain, was better left unsaid.

“Xu brother, that reason isn’t very convincing,” Tang Zhengqi said with a wry smile, shaking his head.

However, he didn’t press on.

Since he had asked and Xu Yang didn’t want to talk about it, it would be somewhat tactless to keep questioning.

“Xu brother, I really like Huang Gongwang’s work. If you sell me this painting, I’ll pay twenty million right away. Of course, you could also auction it. If it goes well, it should fetch around twenty-five million, but the next auction isn’t until the fifteenth of next month,” Tang Zhengqi said.

“Let’s just sell it to you, I don’t want to wait,” Xu Yang replied.

He needed money now, and though he already had almost two hundred million, the more the better. The more money he had, the faster he could sign on more internet celebrities.

“Then, thank you so much,” Tang Zhengqi said joyfully.

He could either keep the painting for his collection or have the auction house sell it, where it was sure to make a profit of several millions.

“No need for such formality, Tang brother. I should be thanking you. If you hadn’t invited me to the auction, how could I have discovered this painting,” Xu Yang said with a smile.

“Xu brother, that’s different. Still, I’ll say it again, if you need anything in the future that I can help with, I won’t hesitate,” Tang Zhengqi promised once more.

“Alright, I’ll be counting on you then, Tang brother,” Xu Yang said with a smile.

Afterward, Tang Zhengqi transferred twenty million to Xu Yang.

From this trip, Xu Yang pocketed over two hundred million and was naturally brimming with satisfaction and joy.

After chatting for a while longer, Xu Yang said his goodbyes and left.