Chapter 184 - Auction
Su Ming couldn't help but voice his doubt, “Is there something wrong?”
“No!” came the chorus of hasty denials from the group of elders.
“My back's been acting up lately. Granddaughter, would you mind giving it a rub?”
“My eyesight's been on the decline, too.”
At Su Ming's query, the old men became visibly flustered.
Su Ming blinked in surprise.
“Mr. Su, there's one more thing,” the official-looking elder spoke up.
Su Ming blinked again.
The elder smiled and said, “With your extensive collection of antiques, I'm sure you have a wealth of knowledge about them. There's an auction tonight—would you be interested in attending?”
“An auction?” Su Ming echoed, his interest piqued.
He had always watched auctions on TV and envied the wealthy bidders. But now, he was one of them.
“Sure,” Su Ming nodded. “Pick me up this evening.”
“Great!” Tang Soong chuckled with delight. “I forgot to introduce myself—I'm Tang Soong.”
“Okay, see you tonight,” Su Ming replied, shaking hands with Tang Soong before the latter departed.
“Mr. Su, my granddaughter is quite the beauty!”
“Beat it, your granddaughter doesn't hold a candle to mine!”
Su Ming blinked as he stood at the door, then promptly closed and locked it.
He made a hasty exit through the back door, grateful for the quiet escape.
President Chen arrived early to find the door locked and left, crestfallen.
He aimlessly roamed outside for the rest of the morning.
Across the street, Su Ming glanced at his house from a distance, relieved to see the old men had dispersed. He slipped in through the back door and opened the front, breathing a sigh of relief at the empty entrance.
He checked on the two plots of land and his livestock, feeding the pigs and chickens, which were thriving.
Evening arrived quickly, and Old Master Tang was punctual. Su Ming hopped into the car, and they headed straight for the auction house. It was his first visit to such a venue. The entrance was strictly guarded, with a queue of people waiting to be checked in. Security was tight since the items up for bid were of great value, and any damage would come at a cost to the auction house.
Old Master Tang led Su Ming through the VIP entrance, and they swiftly made their way into the auction house, directly into a private box. Upon entering, Su Ming couldn't help but feel a bit out of place as he observed the row of elderly gentlemen seated in orderly fashion.
“Mr. Su, my granddaughter is truly stunning,” one of them remarked.
Old Master Tang's brow furrowed slightly. “Let's not bring that up again,” he said, causing a wave of disappointment among the elders. Su Ming, however, felt the matter was irrelevant to him.
“Mr. Su, please have a seat,” Old Master Tang offered with a smile, gesturing towards a chair.
Su Ming and Old Master Tang took their places side by side on two plush sofas at the forefront, while the other gentlemen perched on smaller stools.
“This auction is dedicated to antiques,” Old Master Tang explained. “All the pieces here have been authenticated by experts.”
Su Ming understood Old Master Tang's implication. Having previously unveiled a collection of antiques, Old Master Tang undoubtedly saw Su Ming as a fellow enthusiast. Knowing Su Ming was financially comfortable, he probably expected him to bid on a few items. Su Ming, aware of Old Master Tang's thoughts, had no reason to decline the hospitality. After all, he was a government official, and befriending him came with only advantages, no drawbacks.
The room buzzed as the lights flickered, signaling that the attendees had nearly all arrived. An elderly auctioneer made his way to the front, his gait unsteady but his spirit undiminished.
“We have many familiar faces here today,” he began, his voice filled with gratitude for the opportunity. “And we have some truly exceptional items up for bid.”
With a light tap on the table, he commenced the auction.
“You're all connoisseurs here, so I'll spare you the introductions. Our first lot is a painting by Zhu Da,” he announced. “As you may know, Zhu Da's works are characterized by their focus on flowers and birds and his distinctively bold style. Genuine pieces by him are scarce in the market these days.”
“This piece comes to us from a friend who's fallen on hard times. Rest assured, it has been thoroughly authenticated,” he assured the crowd. “We'll start the bidding at one million!”
Zhu Da's painting was undoubtedly a prize. Though Su Ming wasn't well-versed in the art world, he recognized the name as that of a descendant of Zhu Yuanzhang.
He simply lived during a time when one dynasty gave way to another. The upheaval of that period shaped his distinctive painting style. This painting's market value was exceedingly high, and below, a flurry of bidding ensued as people eagerly raised their paddles.
“Mr. Su, if you wish to bid higher, please press the button in front of you,” the auctioneer instructed.
“Alright,” Su Ming responded with a nod. Truthfully, he had little interest in the painting.
“A Zhu Da masterpiece!” someone exclaimed.
“To own a piece by Zhu Da would leave me without a single regret,” another voiced wistfully.
A group of elderly gentlemen appeared on the verge of a heated debate. Su Ming couldn't help but feel exasperated.
Why did they always seem to fall into argument upon meeting?
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