Chapter 3411

When Biaozi returned, he also had a bidding paddle in his hand. At the same time, Fan Chengquan also had a bidding paddle in his hand.

Everyone chose to sit in the first row. Fan Chengquan sat on the west side of the first row, Zhao Desan sat on the east, and in the middle sat the smiling female lead, Yang Meixia. Being in such an occasion for the first time, Zhao Desan was inevitably a bit nervous. He straightened his body and sat upright. Just as he took out a cigarette to calm his nerves, he was informed by an etiquette lady who came over, "Sir, I'm sorry, smoking is not allowed here."

Fan Chengquan, who was on the side, saw this and started laughing with a look of mockery.

The live auction first auctioned off a few pieces of porcelain and some calligraphy and painting. When the auction staff announced that it was time for the phoenix crown made by the Kangxi Emperor for his Empress to appear, the scene immediately became silent and orderly. When the host had the staff bring out the Empress's phoenix crown, it immediately triggered a wave of gasps from the audience. This was an exquisitely beautiful luxury item, graceful and luxurious, decorated with nine gold phoenixes and emeralds. In the center, a dragon held a pearl in its mouth, with an emerald cover on top and hanging pearls below, while all the others held bright pearls in their mouths, fully displaying the royal style and giving people a noble and grand feeling. After more than a hundred years, it was still shining with gold and dazzling.

After the host added some embellishments to the introduction, he said, "If any gentleman bids for this phoenix crown, our auction organizing committee will also present a bottle of top-grade French wine that has been treasured for a hundred years."

Seeing that the phoenix crown was so exquisite, Yang Meixia couldn't help but be moved. To have such a treasure hidden in her home and to wear it on the day of her wedding would surely stun the whole audience and be peerlessly beautiful. It was no wonder that Fan Chengquan would think of such a good thing to give to her.

Yang Meixia had already handed the bank card with fifty thousand to Zhao Desan. She signaled to Zhao Desan that when it was time to bid later, he could participate. With a bank card containing thirty million in his hand, Zhao Desan suddenly felt much more confident.

The host began to set the price: the starting price for this phoenix crown was 300,000 RMB.

When the host's price was announced, Yang Meixia was dumbfounded upon hearing the number. The starting price alone was 300,000; if others competed, fifty thousand would probably not be enough to win it.

Just as the host started shouting, "Is there anyone bidding? This collection of ours is a top-grade item, verified by authoritative appraisal experts from the museum. It is authentic and has a certificate of authenticity jointly signed by eight well-known domestic cultural relic appraisal experts. It is extremely suitable as an engagement gift for a girl you fancy. Therefore, each bid is 100,000 RMB." As soon as the host finished speaking, a socialite immediately raised his paddle.

The host continued to shout, "This gentleman has already bid 400,000. Is there anyone higher than 400,000?"

Before the host's voice had faded, a film actor whom Zhao Desan had only seen on TV immediately raised his paddle, bidding 500,000.

Seeing this scene, Yang Meixia's initially warm heart immediately sank. She thought to herself, it seems Zhao Desan cannot be counted on, and she would be mocked by Fan Chengquan for nothing again.

Yang Meixia felt a faint sense of loss in her heart. There is a saying on the internet that one would rather cry in a BMW than laugh on the back of a bicycle. This still holds some truth; money can indeed bring a lot of joy to a loved one. As long as there is money, few women would cry in a BMW. She knew her own bank card; there was only fifty thousand in it. At that amount, she wouldn't be able to bid for this collection.

Just as Yang Meixia was letting her mind wander, another business owner bid 600,000. Yang Meixia's heart sank instantly; it was completely hopeless.

Just at this moment, an even more explosive scene occurred. A plump lady stood up and shouted, "I bid one million!"

The whole audience was suddenly filled with gasps.

Fan Chengquan made his move. At this moment, the real battle had just begun. Fan Chengquan smiled, raised the paddle in his hand, and said, "I bid 1.5 million!"

Seeing someone competing with her, the plump woman didn't hesitate and immediately shouted, "Two million!"

A state-owned enterprise owner had come with his mistress and also wanted to bid for this collection to give to her. His beautiful mistress raised the paddle and shouted, "Three million!"

Seeing that it was a beautiful woman competing with her, the plump woman was also wealthy and arrogant, and immediately shouted, "I bid four million!"

The state-owned enterprise boss smiled slightly, signaling his mistress to continue increasing the bid, "Five million!"

The atmosphere at the scene immediately became lively due to the competition between these two women. The auction reached a climax; this moment was the real competition of wealth.

The host took the opportunity to shout, "This lady has already bid five million. Is there anyone higher than five million! Five million for the first time!"

Fan Chengquan glanced at Yang Meixia, walked to her side, sat down, and asked Yang Meixia with a smile, "Meixia, do you like it? If you like it, I'll bid for it and give it to you as an engagement gift, okay?"

Seeing that there were still wealthy bosses bidding at the scene, Yang Meixia thought that judging by the enthusiasm of the three parties, this collection might not necessarily be won by Fan Chengquan. In order to annoy Fan Chengquan, she immediately said, "Okay, if you have the ability, then bid for it!"

Seeing that Yang Meixia was a bit skeptical of his financial strength, Fan Chengquan smiled slightly, raised his paddle, and shouted, "I bid ten million!"

As soon as Fan Chengquan said this, it immediately attracted the attention of the whole audience. Even the host was stunned and forgot to speak for a long while. Even the proud Yang Meixia couldn't help but be moved and had to admire Fan Chengquan's wealth. This kid was the son of a national-level cadre and was also in charge of bidding for water conservancy construction projects at the Provincial Water Conservancy Department. With great power in his hands, he could decide the ownership of large provincial water conservancy projects, so it was evident he had made a lot of money! Zhao Desan watched from the side as Fan Chengquan was triumphant and about to hold Yang Meixia's hand to win her heart. Fan Chengquan wanted to bid for the collection in the middle of the event and personally put it on Yang Meixia's head.

Zhao Desan suddenly felt a sour feeling in his heart and cursed secretly, "Damn it! Having money is really awesome!" Zhao Desan had ten thousand reasons to be unconvinced. If it weren't for his high-ranking official father, what right would Fan Chengquan have to spend money so recklessly based on his appearance alone!

Biaozi poked Zhao Desan on the side and said, "Brother Liu, are we just going to admit defeat like this?"

Stimulated by Biaozi, Zhao Desan couldn't help but feel a sense of unwillingness in his heart, thinking that admitting defeat easily was not his style.

Immediately, Zhao Desan also raised the paddle in his hand and shouted, "I bid 15 million!" Because everyone else was adding five million each time, he wouldn't be outdone.

Hearing Zhao Desan's shout, it was Yang Meixia's turn to panic. This Zhao Desan was indeed a character; he really called it out. He actually thought there was thirty million in the card she gave him!

However, looking at Zhao Desan from another perspective, it was also an opportunity to test him. Yang Meixia also liked the man she loved; men needed to have courage and dare to compete!

Fan Chengquan thought he had already won, but he didn't expect someone to bid again, and when he saw it was Zhao Desan challenging him, he was truly furious. His internal organs were all protesting; there was no greater hatred in the world than killing one's father and stealing one's wife! How could the always arrogant Fan Chengquan easily let go of such an opportunity to humiliate Zhao Desan? He immediately challenged, "Twenty million!"

What surprised everyone even more was that Zhao Desan really dared to take the challenge, immediately raising his paddle to challenge: "Twenty-five million!"

Seeing Zhao Desan add another five million, Fan Chengquan suddenly felt a bit guilty. He looked at Zhao Desan again and really couldn't figure him out. What kind of person was this Zhao Desan! Could his father also be a head of a national-level ministry? Or was he a descendant of some Long March general? Fan Chengquan's bottom line was ten million; even at ten million, he had to weigh it carefully. But men fight for face. After hesitating for a moment, Fan Chengquan gritted his teeth and shouted, "Thirty million!"

Now it was the auction organizer's turn to be surprised. The host was also dumbfounded. Bidding thirty million for a phoenix crown had already set a record for this series of collections. After being stunned for a moment, the host hurriedly regained his senses and shouted, "Thirty million for the first time!"

The scene was silent.

After a two-second pause, the host shouted again, "Thirty million for the second time!"

The scene was still silent.

After the third time, once the hammer fell, this collection would belong to Fan Chengquan. Fan Chengquan also showed a look of being determined to win and said to the audience, "My girlfriend is by my side, and I hope she agrees to my proposal!"

Fan Chengquan's arrogance further stimulated Zhao Desan, who had already lost his reason. As the saying goes, one doesn't eat steamed buns but fights for breath; men want face, they want dignity, and they fight for the momentum of not wanting to be behind others.