The Cruise Ship Auction House!
Located on the second deck of the cruise ship, covering a vast area, the entire auction was divided into two sessions: [White Market, Black Market].
The White Market!
This was where legitimate items were auctioned, all with reasonable provenance and significant endorsements. These items would not cause any trouble regardless of where they were taken, and this was the session that could be featured on promotional pages.
The Black Market!
This was where items obtained through irregular channels were auctioned. They lacked reasonable provenance and endorsements. As for how the buyers would launder the items once they were in their hands, that was their own business.
In fact, many people at the scene had come specifically for the Black Market. After all, the auction house guaranteed that the items were authentic. At the same time, because these items lacked legitimate documentation, their auction prices were much lower than their actual value.
Once they won the bid!
As long as they could launder it!
Turning it over meant making a huge profit!
Of course...
Items like this were considered hot potatoes; if they were caught by certain departments, it would be a problem.
But since ancient times, profit has moved people's hearts. Faced with the possibility of making several times the profit after laundering, who could resist?
This was also the reason why the cruise ship auction could often attract so many big shots from all over the world to attend.
It was also the reason why no top-tier big shots came; which top-tier big shot relied on this to make money?
It was not respectable!
Even if they came, it would be for a specific item in the White Market!
Inside the venue.
Qin Jiang was arranged in the foremost position, with the Zhou Family and Ning Family on his left and right sides, showing that the venue tacitly acknowledged him as having the highest status in the entire room.
On the stage.
A middle-aged man slowly walked forward and said with a smile: "Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to this cruise ship auction. I now announce the start of the first session of the auction."
After he finished speaking, three stunningly beautiful women walked up. One of the beautiful women carried a tray with a scroll on it, and the two other beautiful women slowly opened the scroll.
It was a painting:
A landscape painting!
The middle-aged man: "The first auction item: Tang Yin's 'High Mountains and Flowing Water' painting, starting price: 5 million!"
"Each bid increment must not be less than 100,000! Bidding begins now!"
"Six million!"
"Six million five hundred thousand!"
"Eight million!"
...
Bids were called out one after another. Tang Yin's landscape painting was quite impressive, especially being such a large landscape painting. According to the value in other auction houses on the market, it would start at at least ten million. Furthermore, since it could be brought out for a public auction, it proved that the painting's provenance was very clear and could withstand scrutiny.
Since that was the case, its value increased even further...
Therefore, the price of this painting soared:
15 million...
18 million...
...
It kept rising until it stopped at 22 million!
Clap!
The auctioneer struck the gavel: "Congratulations to this gentleman for winning the bid for Tang Yin's landscape painting at the price of 22 million: Congratulations!"
"Good!"
The auctioneer continued loudly: "Next is the second collection item of this auction: A Song Dynasty official kiln porcelain..."
...
Regarding this.
Qin Jiang only glanced at it casually and had no intention of participating in the bidding at all. He had never been interested in antiques. As for Tang Yin's work? To put it bluntly: In the eyes of someone like him who didn't understand paintings, it was no different from an ordinary machine-printed picture. Moreover, just today, when the Zhong Family came to see him, they had brought him a painting of a beautiful woman by Tang Yin...
In his view, it was just so-so. It could be said that if it weren't for the promise to complete the task of auctioning the Qin Dynasty bamboo slips for Bai Meng, he wouldn't have come to attend this antique auction.
Zhong Ling also didn't look at the auction items at all; her brain was almost about to stop working, and she only felt a buzzing sensation.
Today, she accompanied Qin Jiang to attend this cruise ship auction. Just as they arrived at the cruise ship:
So many top big shots from the Pu Region came to pay their compliments:
Some said she was as beautiful as a celestial being...
Some said she was academically accomplished and had a promising future...
Some said she was born noble and had an unlimited future...
In short, they praised her as if she were unparalleled in heaven and on earth. Even though she knew these people were praising her because of Qin Jiang's presence, she still couldn't help but feel excited. Nonsense! Who could stay calm when being praised by so many top big shots? These were big shots that her father and grandfather once had to look up to, but now they were full of admiration for her.
They even all gave her their contact information...
Most importantly:
She was sitting right next to Qin Jiang, looking at his incredibly domineering face so close by, and it was also very hard to calm down...
In her mind, two little figures couldn't stop fighting:
Evil thought: "Since he invited you to the cruise ship to attend the auction, he must be interested in you. If you seize the opportunity, you can get this man, and you can ascend to the heavens in one step..."
Righteous thought: "Zhong Ling, oh Zhong Ling, don't daydream. He invited you to show support for the Zhong Family and to let the Zhong Family be his agent. He just treats you as a friend and has already been benevolent to you. Do not ask for too much..."
Evil thought: "You're just overthinking it. Why don't you give it a try? What if it works out?"
Righteous thought: "Do not try it recklessly. If it goes badly, you might not even be able to be friends..."
Her thoughts were constantly struggling.
Qin Jiang: "What are you thinking about..."
Zhong Ling: "Ah... nothing... that... Chairman Qin... do you have any... any auction items that you like..."
She gathered her courage, intending to ask Qin Jiang if he liked anyone, but the words turned into auction items when they reached her lips.
Qin Jiang: "Not at the moment!"
Zhong Ling: "Then what do you think of me... of our Zhong Family..."
She had intended to ask what he thought of her, but the words changed when they reached her lips.
Qin Jiang: "The Zhong Family has been rooted in the Pu Region for a hundred years, and the business they do is very stable. They value relationships and righteousness, making them a very good partner."
A partner?
Okay... okay then!
Zhong Ling felt like a deflated balloon and didn't dare to continue asking.
Regarding this, Qin Jiang's expression was calm and indifferent. He could vaguely guess what Zhong Ling wanted to ask, but that didn't matter; it was better that she didn't ask it out! He had no time to waste on romance in this lifetime. Weren't his tens of thousands of brothers better than any woman?
...
Famous paintings from the Tang Dynasty!
Porcelain from the Song Dynasty!
Jade crowns from the Ming Dynasty!
Vases from the Qing Dynasty!
...
It could be said that everything was available and very extensive. Each one was valuable, and cultural relics worth tens of millions were not rare.
Soon, someone brought up four or five large bamboo slips.
The auctioneer shouted loudly again: "Next is the sixteenth collection item of this auction: Qin Dynasty bamboo slips: It is said that they contain the Longevity Technique collected by Qin Shi Huang. The starting price is three million! Each bid increment must not be less than 100,000!"
"Bidding begins now!"
"Three million five hundred thousand!"
"Four million!"
"Four million five hundred thousand..."
The price began to rise continuously...
At this moment.
Seeing that this cultural relic had finally come out, Qin Jiang directly raised his paddle:
"Ten million!!!"