Chapter Eighty-Four Antique Black Market (Four)

  Look at this jade dragon again, its body is sturdy and strong, the dragon's body is arched, forming an "S" shape, and together with the dragon's feet or dorsal fin, it forms several small "S" shapes in multiple combinations, giving people a sense of rhythm. The whole body is carved with valley patterns, like pearls rolling with the dragon's dance, as if a small white dragon is playing and frolicking in the clouds.

  In terms of the shape of the jade dragon, it conforms to the characteristics of dragons in the Warring States period. The grain pattern on the dragon's body is similar to the style of the Spring and Autumn period, but the shape is slightly smaller. The nipple has a sense of being pinched, and the bottom has a protruding "sprout curve", which is densely and evenly arranged, also conforming to the characteristics of the early Warring States period grain pattern.

  From the carving techniques, it also reflects the characteristics of the Warring States period, especially the outline lines, which can be clearly seen to use shallow relief and intaglio.

  Chu Chuan finally judged from the characteristics of natural erosion and other features that this white jade dragon-shaped grain pattern pendant should be a work of the early Warring States period. From the overall quality and carving techniques of the jade, it can be seen that this jade is one of the best among the Warring States jade pendants.

  Chu Chen walked back to his seat from the stage and nodded slightly at Zhao Qirui, then said in a low voice: "Warring States jade pendant, not bad."

  Zhao Qirui nodded after hearing this and then asked curiously: "Did you have a conflict with Old Qian just now on stage?"

  Chu Chen said with some embarrassment: "He was rude, I just taught him a small lesson, Zhao Ge, sorry to trouble you."

  Zhao Liu Rui waved his hand and smiled: "No need to add trouble, we don't take the initiative to cause trouble, but also don't be afraid of trouble. Old Qian is a typical person who only cares about his own interests, but Little Chu, I didn't expect you to be a mastermind!"

  Chu Chen heard this and humbly said: "I'm nothing of a master, I just practiced some family traditions."

  "You're finally here, Ah Chao said you're a master, would he lie to me? Next time there's an opportunity, you and Ah Chao can have a match, let's see who's more formidable." Zhao Qirui pointed at Chu Chen with a smile.

  "Alright, I'll have to ask Brother Chu for more guidance at that time." This proposal made Ah Chao quite moved.

  Chu Chen hastily said: "I dare not accept your guidance, let's learn from each other."

  At the same time, the auction also officially started.

  "Please make your bids."

  "Fifty Thousand"

  80,000

  1.6 million

  The price of 160,000 suddenly made everyone on the scene stunned. It's not that this jade pendant is not worth this value, mainly because the bid directly exceeded twice, which is relatively rare. Everyone followed the sound and looked over, and the person who made the offer was none other than Yu Shao, who was not seen by Chu Chen and others.

  Seeing this situation, Zhao Qirui couldn't help but furrow his brow, and then said: "1.8 million..."

  185,000

  "Two million five hundred thousand." Unexpectedly, Yu Shao reported another astonishing price. To think that this was just an antique black market, the value of this jade here was only around two million yuan at most. Was it really because he liked this jade pendant?

  However, the woman on stage was overjoyed at this moment. The fact that the jade pendant could be auctioned off for such a price was also an unexpected delight. She shouted: "This gentleman has bid 2.5 million, is there anyone else who will bid?"

  The scene suddenly fell silent, this price had already broken through everyone's psychological bottom line, even if they liked it, their hearts were considering, in this form, wanting to take a shot was also somewhat difficult, and they all retreated.

  However, Zhao Qirui's mood was a bit complicated at this time. If he hadn't made an offer, it wouldn't have mattered. But since he had made an offer and in the end let his junior get the item, he couldn't accept it on the surface. After thinking for a moment, he said: "2.8 million!"

  When the price was reported, the woman on stage smiled even more, while Yu Shao turned his head and smiled at Zhao Qirui. Originally, Chu Chen and others thought he would still bid, but unexpectedly, after turning around, he closed his mouth and didn't speak, with a somewhat abrupt ending.

  This scene made Zhao Qirui feel like he had been punched in the cotton, feeling suffocated and wanting to vomit blood.

  As expected, this jade pendant was finally sold for 2.8 million and fell into Zhao Qirui's hands.

  "A-Chao, help me get it, okay?" Zhao Qirui said somewhat listlessly. He liked the jade pendant, but buying it at this price made him feel like a fool, especially since he was being taken advantage of by someone younger than him. It was also embarrassing and something he couldn't make a fuss about.

  Chu Chen saw this situation and said: "Zhao Ge, the estimated value of this jade pendant at the auction should be around 300,000 yuan. Moreover, a hero does not care about temporary gains or losses."

  "Xiao Chu, thank you, what you said is right, the one who laughs last is the winner." Zhao Qirui has been through so many years of wind and rain, this time's performance was just because of a temporary slump, in an instant he adjusted his mentality.

  There were three more items on the next table, but they weren't very valuable. Because of what had happened earlier, Zhao Qirui wasn't interested in them either. Among these three items, there was nothing that Chu Chen liked, so none of them went up to take a look.

  After all these things were auctioned off, Chu Chen thought that there would be even more exciting things to come, but found that everyone in the scene stood up, and Zhao Qirui patted his shoulder and said: "Let's go, Ah Chao will settle the bill, we should leave, just in time to have dinner together."

  "Is that all? Are there only these ordinary things in the antique black market?" Chu Chen said with some astonishment.

  Zhao Qirui heard this and smiled as he asked him: "Xiao Chu, isn't the gap in your heart very big?"

  Chu Chen nodded and followed the others out with a sigh. The black market auction he had high hopes for turned out to be such a disappointment. At first, there was a pile of junk, and the value of the items that followed wasn't high either. Moreover, at least one of them was a fake, and the gap between this and his previous expectations was too great, making him feel very depressed.

  After the four of them got on the car, Zhao Qirui smiled at Chu Chen and said: "Little Chu, don't make a bitter face, this is just a warm-up, tonight there's another night scene, that's the real antique black market."

  The bald man sitting in front also smiled and said, "Chu Shao, the auction just now was just a test, and even if these things were caught by the Public Security Bureau, it wouldn't be a big deal, at most it would be considered an illegal business."

  Chu Chen said in surprise: "You mean that those things just now didn't have any legal issues? Didn't there also used to be a jade pendant with a living pit?"

  "Generally speaking, it's not a problem," Ma Tuizi chuckled. "As for that rough jade pendant, I'm really not too clear about it either. Logically speaking, such an unpolished item shouldn't have appeared at today's auction."

  Chu Chen nodded after hearing the words, so that's how it was. But thinking about it, the organizer of the antique black market, after all, took a great risk, and being cautious was not excessive in any case. Moreover, the auction just now also played a certain warning role.

  But Chu Chen thought for a moment and suddenly remembered something, so he said with some doubt: "Brother Zhao, do you think this jade pendant might have been brought by that Young Master Yu?"

  Zhao Qirui was taken aback by the words, and after thinking about the scene just now, it was indeed possible, but there were still some places where he couldn't figure it out. So he opened his mouth and said: "Ma Tu, help me investigate, who is the owner of this jade pendant?"

  Ma Tu-zi heard this and said with some difficulty: "Director Zhao, you also know the rules of our line of work, we can't ask about the source of things, so I can only help you try to make some inquiries, as for the result, I really can't guarantee anything."

  "Alright, let's just go with it then. But I've found out that you can't get rid of me that easily." Zhao Qirui said with a wave of his hand.

  Ma Tu-zi thought for a moment, gritted his teeth and said: "Alright, I'll do my best."

  Hehe

  Zhao Qirui patted his shoulder and said: "Ma Tu, is there any good place to eat around here?"

  Ma Tuizi showed a flattered expression, nodding and bowing as he said: "Director Zhao, I don't know if you have any taboos, but I know there's a place nearby that makes excellent donkey meat dishes, and they're extremely fresh."

  Jian Chu Chen said he didn't mind, Zhao Qi Rui waved his hand: "Alright, let's just eat this then."

  The place introduced by Ma Tu Zi is really good, looks very clean, the donkey meat tastes very fresh, and the key is that the flavor is good and the portion is sufficient.

  Five-spice donkey meat, cured donkey meat, and donkey meat stew are all made very authentically, highlighting the unique characteristics of donkey meat. Everyone eats with gusto, exclaiming that it's no wonder they say "dragon meat in heaven, donkey meat on earth".

  After having enough wine and food, Zhao Qirui said to Chu Chen: "Xiao Chu, there are still many good things in the auction later. If you encounter something you like, you can also bid for it. I guarantee that you won't have any problems."

  "Thanks, Zhao Ge, but I only brought over 20,000 yuan. Wanting good stuff is one thing, but it's not like I can afford it," Chu Chen said with a wry smile, previously he had no idea that Zhao Qirui was here to participate in the antique black market, if he had known earlier, he would have taken some money out.

  Zhao Qirui patted his hand and said, "This is my fault, I didn't make it clear to you before, but it's okay, as long as the thing doesn't exceed 300,000, I'll lend you the money."

  "Mr. Zhao, thank you so much."

  Everyone sat here for half an hour, and Ma Tu Zi received a phone call. Later, A Chao drove three people to the agreed location.

  Chu Chen did not expect that this was a locally well-known five-star hotel, and he didn't know if the organizer had great connections or just guts, but they actually chose to hold the auction in one of the hotel's conference rooms, with two very beautiful receptionists standing at the door.

  If it wasn't for the need to show ID when entering, Chuxuan would have thought he had walked into the wrong place. But if he thought the security measures here were lax, then he was greatly mistaken. This place was equipped with several cameras inside and out, and Chuxuan believed that if anything unusual happened during the auction, the organizers would immediately take action.