Chapter 107: Charity Auction in Shanghai (4)
The thing that filled huge screen was a beautiful white porcelain.
Haejin had used magic on this because he wanted to know what kind of story the painting drawn on its surface had.
It was painting of a general leaning on a tree with one hand and holding torchlight with the other. He was looking up to the sky.
When Haejin had seen it on catalogue, he couldn’t know what it was about.
It looked like the general was just strolling in darkness, but he was depicted with such detail that made Haejin doubt it.
It the general had been riding on horse, Haejin would have thought it represented his bravery, but why was he standing next to a tree when he was wearing armor and had a sword at his side?
And why was he holding a torchlight in mountaion?
Haejin could find no clue on catalogue, but he thought seeing the actual porcelain would not help much.
If there had been any clue in the painting, other appraisers would have found it.
It could be just meaningless decoration, but if that painting had some kind of story or meaning, the artifact’s value could jump up tens and hundreds of times.
Rarity is the reason why painting of dead artist is high, but the value of painting rises up if the death was dramatic. It’s because it had a story.
So Haejin used magic, and he was shocked. It had more than the artisan’s story. The painting showed a scene of Zhan Guo Ce.
That was very important. Among countless porcelains made in China, there are only 11 remaining porcelains with scene of a story.
One of them is Blue Flower Sh*te Porcelain that shows the war between Yan and Qi states, and it was sold at 30 bilion won.
Wang Mingwan was raising her paddle after hearing Haejin say Zhan Guo Ce, and it meant she knew a lot about antiquities.
“Are you saying the painting on that porcelains shows a scene of Zhan Guo Ce? Then could you tell me which scene it exactly is?”
Wang Huiyang smiled slightly to see paddles rise faster and faster. He raised his voice as he asked.
His intention was clear. It was to drag attention and raise the price even more.
It was simple trick, but it worked well. At this question, Haejin could feel people looking at him.
“Actually, I wasn’t sure when I first saw it on catalogue. The original owner must have had it appraised more than once, but it wouldn’t have been easy to decipher the painting’s meaning.”
Wang Huiyang nodded.
“Yes.”
“A man leaning on a tree and looking up the sky is not that strange, but a general with torchlight must have specific meaning. But the moment I got near to it, a scene came to my mind. The Battle of Maling.”
“The Battle of Maling?”
“Yes. Pang Juan of Wei was pricked by Sun Bin. He read ‘Pang Juan dies under this tree’ written on tree and was shot by archers soon after. In 14th century, when Blue Flower White Porcelain was the most popular, people are enthusiastic about stories of Warring States Period, so it’s not at all strange this story was depicted.”
It was amazing story, but some showed their doubt. They couldn’t believe Haejin.
“I’m sorry, but is there any proof?”
A man in his early 40s openly showed his doubt. He was wearing black suit. He had a glass of wine at one hand and his paddle at the other.
He kept glancing at Wang Mingwan who raised her paddle as he asked, so he was planning to bid as soon as he got sure.
“I thought it was convincing answer…. Do you think my answer is not enough?”
“I think it makes sense, but isn’t it hard to determine that porcelain shows that scene? What if that painting is just of a man wandering in mountains at night?”
The man couldn’t be sure.
“Hmm…. You might think that way.”
That was reasonable suspicion. It wasn’t like the porcelain was worth one or two million won, so checking again and again wasn’t enough.
If Haejin had gotten his conclusion based only on assumption, he would have become nervous.
Haejin stood up, went to the man, and pointed at the screen.
“Do you see the pine tree and zelkova tree on background?”
“Yes, I see.”
“Search the internet and find a Blue Flower White Porcelain that was sold in London in 2005. The way of describing the background, the character’s posture, and style are exactly the same with that porcelains. It means they were made by same artisan. So…”
Haejin didn’t finish, but there was no fool who couldn’t understand what he was trying to say.
At this, everyone started to search with their smartphones. And soon, paddles started to go up everywhere.
“40 million yuan! There’s 40 million yuan! 40.5 million yuan on phone!”
The story of the porcelain spread quickly and people got excited. They even bid huge money on phone, so they were more than sure of what Haejin said. They were planning to bid and think about it later.
As the mood was set that way, the price soared up and up and easily went over Zeng Fanzhi’s 71.2 million yuan.
“100 million yuan! 100 million yuan! Price rises by 5 million yuan! 105 million yuan!”
Even after 100 million yuan, people didn’t hesitate to raise their paddles.
Another Blue Flower White Porcelain had been sold at 200 million yuan in 2005, so they were thinking they could pay at least that much.
“I guess I don’t have to help.”
Wang Mingwan put down her paddle after 150 million yuan and laughed.
Judging from that, she had come here to help her cousin Wang Huiyang, but thanks to Haejin, there was no need for that now.
“I told you, you didn’t have to come….”
Wang Huiyang boasted and sat down to his cousin. Then he looked up at the auctioneer who had to keep yelling.
The price soared up and up and was settled at 211 million yuan.
“Highest successful of this year! Everyone, please applaud No. 105 gentleman!”
Clap, clap!
It was the man who questioned the authenticity next to Haejin. He bowed to the crowd and stretched his hand to Haejin.
“Thank you. I am sorry for doubting what you said. I will have it appraised again, but your story was convincing enough.”
He was going to have it appraised again. It meant he wasn’t believing Haejin 100%. However, he had spent 211 million yuan. That was bold.
“We,, I don’t know who will get to appraise it again, but do you think it can make you sure of what I said? You might be able to determine when it was made through scientific tests, but what if the appraiser sees it and say it is not a scene of the Battle of Maling?”
What Haejin had seen though magic was an artisan doing his best to imitate a painting on the surface of the porcelain.
He talked to someone much younger as he painted, but that was very old Chinese that even Haejin, who was fluent in Chinese, couldn’t understand fully.
However, judging from what he could understand, the artisan was impressed by Sun Bin’s wisdom and was criticizing jealous Pang Juan’s foolishness.
Thanks to that, Haejin could know that the scene was Sun Bin killing Pang Juan in the Battle of Maling.
But if someone else sees that porcelain without that kind of proof, one would keep thinking ‘what if..’?
“Your theory is reasonable enough, so to counter it, another theory as reasonable as that would be needed.”
That was short answer, but Haejin agreed to it. But then, Wang Huiyang, who had been watching, interrupted.
“If you can’t believe it, you shouldn’t have bided for it. You look like you are tying to make this appraiser take the responsibility.”
Wang Huiyang frowned. The man quickly bowed.
“I am sorry. I didn’t mean to. It’s just it is opinion of someone I’ve never seen before…. So I mentioned it just to be sure.”
“You are being cautious, I get it, but you have taken it too far. You thought it was a good artifact, bid for it, and was applauded. Why are you accusing the appraiser?”
“I’m sorry. I was rude.”
He suddenly bowed to Haejin and apologized. Haejin bowed, too.
“No, I understand.”
Wnag Huiyang laughed and patted Haejin’s shoulder, as if he had known him for long time.
“Hahaha! You are a generous man. Well, I must go now, but why don’t we have dinner together later?”
That was what Haejin had been waiting for. That was the purpose of Haejin coming here.
“Yes, of course.”
“Haha, then call me later.”
Wang Huiyang was looking at Ambassador Yang, so he was asking him to call him. Of course, Dojin smiled and said politely.
“I will invite you with Mr. Park here.”
Wang Huiyang smiled, whispered goodbye to his cousin, and left.
It looked like the man who had bought the porcelain was the star, but the moment Wang Huiyang stood up and left, everyone stood up and congratulated him.
Among them was the man who had donated Zeng Fanzhi’s painting, but he was frowning as he felt about not getting the highest price.
That moment let everyone knew who the real star of today was.
Haejin and Dojin had no reason to be there anymore. They left and Dojin had his employee set appointment with Wang Huiyang.
“Can I go back now?”
“You know you can’t. You’re the one Wang Huiyang is appreciating, so if you leave now, that meeting will never take place.”
Haejin couldn’t leave. Dojin held on to him, so he had to stay in China for four more days to have that dinner together.
It was at Dojin’s residence. He had promised to offer real Korean food.
He called the best cook and prepared great dinner, but…when Wang Huiyang showed up with Wang Mingwan, he looked grim.
He sat down and looked at Haejin.
“I am sorry, Ambassador Yang, but Mr. Park, can you come with me?”
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