Chapter 615: Cross-Domain Buyer

No matter how bold one is, or how daring one may be, one must still judge based on the current market price: if these two items were valued at market price, they should be around 1.5 million.

But Lin Sicheng knows how to tell a story, the supporting evidence is sufficient, and the selling points of these two items are indeed strong enough, so the guests are willing to offer a higher premium: doubling it directly on the basis of the market value, to 3 million.

At this price, even for the boldest and most risk-taking group, the absolute limit would be adding another thirty percent: 4 million is the ceiling.

Yet Lin Sicheng, on the other hand, has gone and doubled it again?

The guests are quite interested and think highly of them, but they are not fools—

For a moment, the room actually went cold?

Compared to the painting by Zhang Daqian earlier, it is two complete extremes: before, several people were fighting to bid, but now, not a single person is making a sound.

Chen Yangyan first pricked up his ears and leaned forward, but unfortunately, the two people on either side seemed to have gotten smarter: only occasionally would a word or two escape the mouths of Zhang Zongxian and Sheng Guoan, and most of the time, the two communicated through gestures.

General Manager Chen suspects that it must be because he stirred up trouble during the painting by Zhang Daqian, and was looked down upon by these two.

After thinking for a moment, he rolled his eyes: "Director Tian, what are Director Sheng and Mr. Zhang talking about?"

Tian Rulong looked at him, and although he didn't speak, his expression was more direct than words: General Manager Chen, do you think I'm stupid?

Previously, everyone thought Chen Yangyan was helping Lin Sicheng drive up the price, and he was indeed driving up the price, but he wasn't doing it blindly: he craned his neck and pricked up his ears, hearing most of what Zhang Zongxian and Sheng Guoan said.

That was why he raised the price so decisively, without even taking a breath.

Seeing that Tian Rulong wouldn't fall for it, Chen Yangyan gave a dry laugh: "Since we are friends, I can't just watch Teacher Lin get the cold shoulder; if no one raises their paddle, I will!"

Zhang Zongxian glanced at him and just smiled. Sheng Guoan sighed: "General Manager Chen, with your strength, it's still a bit early to raise your paddle!"

Chen Yangyan only half-understood: does that mean someone will definitely bid?

Didn't they say it wasn't worth that much?

Looking at the room again, it remained just as quiet.

Looking to the side: one could clearly see that the expressions of Wang Qi Zhi and Zhao Xiuneng were very anxious, as if they were dying to raise their paddles immediately.

But no matter how anxious they were, they couldn't raise them; if they really did, it would become a joke.

Lin Sicheng wasn't anxious either, looking down with a smile: "Eight million, which boss would like to show some support?"

No one responded; it remained cold and quiet.

Suddenly, Chen Yangyan was eager to try: it was returning a favor anyway, and when was it not returning a favor?

This time, he really didn't know if these two items were worth eight million, he just felt that Lin Sicheng would definitely not cheat a friend, and even if they weren't worth eight million, he would accept it.

Besides, one couldn't really let the room go cold, could they?

It was only the second item; even if it failed to sell, it should at least go through five, six, seven, or eight items before failing.

As he turned this thought over, Chen Yangyan raised his hand, but before he could raise it properly, a voice rang out from behind: "Ten million!"

Who is this?

Is there actually a fool?

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice; Huang Zhi lowered his hand and nodded with a smile: "Everyone, I'm just here to show some support!"

To translate: I am a friend of Lin Sicheng, helping him prop it up.

Not General Manager Huang—are you really being this direct?

There are quite a few people who know that Lin Sicheng and Huang Zhi are friends; Sheng Guoan knows, Tian Rulong knows, and Zhang Zongxian knows too.

This includes the circle of bank funds, and many guests who have attended the Banghans Auction know as well.

And Huang Zhi actually just said it out loud?

No shill acts like this.

But to say these two items are worth ten million? Thinking of this, eighty percent of the guests shook their heads inwardly.

Chen Yangyan thought the same: since they are all friends of Lin Sicheng, who isn't propping it up?

General Manager Huang is propping it up this time, so if it goes cold next time, it won't be too late for me to prop it up then.

Just as he was thinking this, Sheng Guoan turned his head and gave him a look: "General Manager Chen, look at those people from the fund?"

What about those people from the fund, haven't they already given up?

Suspicious, Chen Yangyan looked over there and was stunned:

That group of seven or eight people were a bit far from Huang Zhi, but as if they had agreed upon it, they were all craning their necks to look at Huang Zhi's side.

The key was the expressions on their faces: annoyance, helplessness, disappointment, and even some exasperation.

Chen Yangyan's heart stirred: why do these people's expressions look like they saw a hundred-dollar bill on the ground, were one step away from picking it up, but were suddenly beaten to it by someone else?

He didn't understand: "Director Sheng, what's the situation?"

Sheng Guoan smiled: "A Cheng Yaojin has appeared halfway!"

Chen Yangyan's eyelids twitched: Cheng Yaojin intercepted the imperial tribute halfway, so what did General Manager Huang intercept?

He perked up: "Does that mean this item is worth bidding on?"

"Of course!" Sheng Guoan nodded, "You don't have to trust Lin Sicheng's eye, but at least you must trust the intuition of these experts who specialize in financial investment!"

And even more so, trust General Manager Huang Zhi's ability to collect first-hand, key information from all walks of life.

You think he is propping it up for Lin Sicheng?

You're wrong; he is telling that circle of fund managers: stop putting on an act for me.

If you don't want this, I'll take it—

Sun Yan darkened his face and exchanged a look with Zheng Shanghui.

The latter's expression was exceptionally dramatic: astonishment, confusion, suspicion, anxiety—

It was as if a Sichuan opera stage had been set up on his face, changing one moment and then changing again the next.

As the two were locking eyes, someone next to them stared at Huang Zhi and whispered: "General Manager Huang is here to prop it up, right?"

This person is the Person in Charge of Guotou Trust under Poly; compared to those two, Jiang Cheng knows a bit more and has a deeper understanding of Huang Zhi.

General Manager Huang's status is indeed not simple, and he knows many people of all kinds from all walks of life, but he has never been fond of this.

He even has an instinctive repulsion toward those who collect things, or toward antiques and curios.

The reason is simple: he has an older sister who is not very reliable, but is nearly obsessed with collecting calligraphy and painting.

I heard that General Manager Huang helped his sister find an extremely professional and also extremely young Appraiser, who seems to be surnamed Lin.

Therefore, the answer is obvious: General Manager Huang did not lie; he is indeed here to provide a floor price.

The other few are half-believing and half-doubting: it is indeed possible, but don't forget, General Manager Huang's sources are top-tier.

Who knows what kind of Wind he might have heard—

Sun Yan thought for a moment: "Then are you going to bid? Let's be clear first, I definitely want to give it a try—"

The few were stunned, a few traces of embarrassment appearing on their faces: just seconds ago, they all still looked full of disdain and lack of interest, but now a 180-degree turn; how could they lower their faces?

But the leader has given instructions, so can they not execute them?

The few gave a sheepish smile: "We definitely have to bid, but don't be in a hurry!"

"Right, let's let it sit for a bit, wait until the bidding starts to talk!"

The few were suspicious and uncertain, but Lin Sicheng on the stage was a bit confused.

Before it was General Manager Chen, this time it is General Manager Huang again; not only are they all friends, but they are all laymen?

To tell the truth, when it comes to understanding antiques, Huang Zhi doesn't know as much as Huang Lan.

As soon as the bidding started, he dared to call out ten million; no matter how you look at it, it looks like a shill.

But Lin Sicheng can swear that for today's auction, he did not make any arrangements.

Wang Qi Zhi and Zhao Xiuneng did suggest inviting a few people who have shown their faces in the industry to help support the floor when the atmosphere is cold, but Lin Sicheng did not agree.

Because he doesn't just do collecting, and he can't even count collecting as his main profession. He wants to open an Artifact Research Center and a Research Center in the future, and the thing he avoids most is that kind of pretentious nonsense.

Items can fail to sell, but they must never be falsely inflated; whatever it is worth, that is what it is.

Therefore, although this set of items is indeed worth this much, in terms of reason and sentiment, he still has to ask.

Lin Sicheng thought for a moment, half-jokingly: "Thank you, General Manager Huang, for the floor price, but ten million is not a small amount. General Manager Huang, I will take it seriously!"

Huang Zhi thought Lin Sicheng was testing him, his face full of disdain: Lin Sicheng, what kind of relationship do we have, and you are playing games with me?

If you didn't know the true value of this item, would you dare to ask for eight million?

"Teacher Lin, I am a layman, that is true, but I have eyes and I also have ears!"

Huang Zhi pointed at the Calligraphy and Painting of Various Masters on the table, "Don't hide it from me, this thing definitely flowed out from the Qixian Qu Clan, and someone has long since released the news: offering a heavy reward to purchase—if you dare to sell it for ten million, I dare to buy it!"

Lin Sicheng looked surprised: someone is offering a heavy reward to purchase, how come I don't know?

And that it flowed out from the Qixian Qu Clan, he knows even less.

The reason Lin Sicheng dared to ask for eight million was just holding the mentality of taking a shot at it: if it can be sold, that's best; if it can't be sold, it doesn't matter, at least the reputation is out there.

Keep it in hand for a year or two, and selling it for over ten million will be easy.

Because by 2010, the works of Fu Shan will suddenly become very popular: as long as one appears, it will easily fetch ten million or even tens of millions.

Lin Sicheng remembers the highest one, which was the 2010 Autumn China Guardian Autumn Auction, the silk handscroll of Fu Shan's cursive script For Yuqing Ci Zhang Zuoshi, which finally sold for over 48 million, and with the commission, it approached 60 million.

The second highest was the 2011 Poly Auction, Fu Shan's regular script Calligraphy and Painting of Various Masters, four volumes sold for 38 million. The third highest was the 2012 Xiling Auction, three volumes of Fu Shan's complete regular script Diamond Sutra paper-bound albums, with a transaction price of 26 million.

There are more later, and until 2025, any authentic work of Fu Shan has never had an auction price below ten million.

Not comparing anything else, just comparing it to the Diamond Sutra: even if these two sets of items are not worth much, they should be a bit higher than a Buddhist scripture.

Therefore, the growth rate is extremely high, suddenly rising from the valley floor to the mountain top, but the antique market is just like this:

Sometimes key evidence is discovered, suddenly refreshing the positioning of the collection. Sometimes the scarcity of the subject matter is re-emphasized, or state-owned institutions like a Museum have collection tasks, and this piece happens to fill a gap in the collection, participating in the bidding and causing a scramble among private collectors.

Other times it is because an important private collector is suddenly collecting a complete set, forming a closed loop. For example, a big collector already has a batch of the author's works in hand, missing only this one, and after collecting them all, they can hold a complete special exhibition or publish a book.

Even more times, a trend for thematic collection suddenly arises, and other times, because of the communication environment, time windows, and public opinion factors, a chemical reaction occurs, suddenly forming a hot spot.

The reasons are numerous, but no matter which one it is, it will make previously ignored collections suddenly become highly sought after, with prices rising by leaps and bounds.

What's more, Fu Shan is a famous master, so Lin Sicheng does not find it strange. He only needs to know that in at most two years, these two sets of items can at least sell for over ten million.

But firstly, he is in urgent need of money, and secondly, he cannot neglect private matters for public ones: even if those nineteen technologies are important to the point of being indispensable, he cannot really just leave his proper work undone.

So Lin Sicheng thought about trying to auction it: if it can be sold, that's best, just right to fill the hole; if it can't be sold, it doesn't matter, it can also advertise the Artifact Research Center.

Because no matter what, these two items were bought back by him at an extremely low price from the auction of a well-known international firm. It is equivalent to picking up a huge bargain right under the noses of a crowd of top collectors and top Experts, as the people in Beijing say:

This eye for detail, this ability, is top-notch.

Once the Artifact Research Center opens, how bad can this business be?

Therefore, Lin Sicheng indeed does not know why Fu Shan's works suddenly soared from three or four million to fifty or sixty million in the year between 2009 and 2010.

He knows even less that this thing flowed out from the Qixian Qu Clan.

Lin Sicheng only knows that these two items can appreciate in value; this year's market value is about one million, but next year it will be at least ten million.

That is why he set a floor price of eight million.

He never thought that General Manager Huang would actually know?

He looked surprised: "Flowed out from the Qu Clan—General Manager Huang, who did you hear that from?"

Huang Zhi smiled: "Don't worry about who said it, you just strike the gavel: buying a collection that flowed out from the Qixian Qu Clan for ten million, I have taken a huge advantage!"

For a moment, the few Persons in Charge of the funds gritted their teeth, their faces turning as black as the bottom of a pot.

Several pairs of eyes stared straight at Jiang Cheng: didn't you say he was a shill?

Jiang Cheng was completely confused: how would I know that he really knew?

Lin Sicheng was even more confused, glancing at Huang Zhi, and then glancing at the few Persons in Charge of the funds.

Finally, he looked at Zhang Zongxian and Sheng Guoan again.

If someone is buying some collection with heavy rewards in the market, these two must be the first to know. Because the former is a titan in the collecting world, if you need any scarce collection, asking Zhang Zongxian is absolutely accurate:

Even if he doesn't have it in his hands, he definitely knows who has it.

Asking Sheng Guoan is the same principle: he is a well-known appraisal Expert, and even more so a well-known master of traditional Chinese painting; the collectors who have had him appraise or look at Calligraphy and Painting are countless. Who has similar items in their hands, he also knows clearly.

Strangely, Zhang Zongxian shook his head, indicating that he had never heard of this news.

But why did Huang Zhi know, and why did the several Persons in Charge of the funds know as well?

While he was suspicious, Sheng Guoan first smiled at Lin Sicheng, then looked at Chen Yangyan in the back row.

Huh, why are you looking at General Manager Chen?

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration crossed Lin Sicheng's mind:

What does General Manager Chen do? He mines.

What does General Manager Huang do? He runs a restaurant. Occasionally, he also organizes gatherings to facilitate some business.

What do the several Persons in Charge of the funds do? Naturally, they sell funds.

And that place, Shanxi, doesn't have much else, but it has an unusually high number of Coal bosses who run mines. As long as one can win over one, one can at least complete a month's, or even a quarter's, quota.

What if one could win over eight or ten of them?