The entire scene was met with great joy.
Today’s advertised sweet white glaze was scarce, and many had already intended to show their support.
Who knew the Lu family would be so generous, with something for everyone who came.
Despite claims of fakery, no one present could identify any flaws.
As the crowd settled, the main event, the auction, began.
Bids flew, and Zheng He, seated beside Cai Wen, was naturally unwilling to be outdone.
His target was the Dehua white porcelain Guanyin, previously sold by Wang Dehai.
However, the pre-auction warm-up had been too effective, with all prominent figures from Qinzhou in attendance, coupled with the spirit of charity. No one was willing to concede.
The bidding, starting from a base price of 300,000, surged past one million.
"Face is indeed more important than money to these people, no wonder Lü Chenggong decided to hold this charity auction," Li Chonglou thought with secret delight.
The white porcelain Guanyin, acquired for 500,000, was transferred at face value to Lü Yunxu, but she had promised to privately pay Donglin a 10% commission based on the actual auction price.
It was a mutually beneficial arrangement.
He had expected it to fetch around seven to eight hundred thousand at best.
To his surprise, it had already shot past one million at the start.
At this rate, it wouldn't be surprising if it tripled in value.
Donglin would also be able to profit handsomely from this.
"Yuxin, once this item goes past a million, it's no longer worth bidding on," Zheng He said with a distressed expression.
Before coming, he had been eager to impress Jiang Yuxin with his wealth and discernment.
But unexpectedly, everyone attending today were connoisseurs. In the antique world, money was insignificant.
He was merely a second-generation rich heir. The invitation was originally for his father. One million wasn't an exorbitant amount for him, nor was it insignificant.
But any more, and his heart would ache.
"Then let's wait for the next item," Jiang Yuxin replied, a flicker of disappointment in her beautiful eyes.
As if sensing something, she turned her head.
Her gaze met Li Chonglou's across the corner.
"Why is he here too?" Cai Wen's voice followed, laced with disbelief.
"Hmph, perhaps he snuck in when the staff weren't paying attention," Zheng He, full of pent-up frustration, immediately retorted with a cold sneer, "Look at his timid demeanor, he's not part of this circle yet insists on barging in."
"Yuxin, how could you find such a useless person? You're truly disgracing everyone in the Jiang family!"
"Divorce him quickly, I have plenty of rich and handsome men, so why worry about not finding someone good?"
He pretended to be looking out for Jiang Yuxin's interests, but his true intention was elsewhere.
If Jiang Yuxin were divorced, he could pursue her without any reservations.
"Let's ignore him," Jiang Yuxin's displeasure flashed briefly in her beautiful eyes.
She felt uncomfortable with Zheng He speaking about Li Chonglou in front of her.
However, needing his help, she had to tolerate it for now.
As for Li Chonglou's purpose for being there, she was also very curious, but had no time to ponder it at the moment.
The white porcelain Guanyin was ultimately sold for 2.8 million.
Next up was the Hetian jade mountain-material bracelet.
This was unlike the vast quantities of Russian, Korean, and Qinghai materials circulating in the market; it was genuine Kunlun mountain jade.
Flawless throughout, it was a truly high-quality piece.
Even Jiang Yuxin, who had little interest in jewelry, couldn't help but brighten at the sight of the bracelet.
"Darling, I want this bracelet," Cai Wen said, already clinging to Zheng He's arm and cooing.
"Alright, I'll get it no matter what!" Zheng He declared, raising his paddle.
"Thirty thousand."
"Thirty-five thousand."
"Forty thousand."
Several individuals vied fiercely for it.
However, it wasn't an antique, merely a modern jade piece. Even as a high-quality item, it wasn't unique.
The bidding gradually dwindled.
Eventually, only Zheng He remained, bidding 400,000, and looking around triumphantly.
Just as Lü Chenggong, seated at the main stage, prepared to bring down the hammer, a voice from the corner rang out: "Fifty thousand."
The voice was not loud, yet it resonated throughout the entire venue.
Everyone turned their heads, drawn by the sound.
It was Li Chonglou.
Lü Chenggong's pupils contracted, revealing surprise.
Lü Yunxu was even more bewildered.
This item was clearly given to her by Li Chonglou; why was he bidding on it himself?
"It's you, you useless live-in son-in-law!" In the next moment, Zheng He's voice, filled with disdain, rang out.
He stood up, pointing at Li Chonglou, and shouted, "What madness has seized you?"
"This bracelet, I, this young master, must have it. Can you, a man who relies on his wife for everything, compete with me!"
Wow!
This exclamation instantly ignited the entire venue.
"Who is this person? Have we actually let a live-in son-in-law infiltrate our circle?"
"No matter who he is, looking at his age and attire, he's incredibly ordinary, not like someone rich and powerful."
"Does someone like him have the right to participate in the bidding? Don't we have any dignity?"
Murmurs erupted.
Most people present had heard of Li Chonglou, but very few had actually seen him.
Furthermore, Zheng He hadn't mentioned his name. Aside from those on the main stage and Cao Zhi, no one recognized him for the moment.
Instead, they began to mock him openly.
Hearing their words, Zheng He became even more smug, "Kid, for Yuxin's sake, I won't stoop to your level."
"If you know what's good for you, get out of this auction, or I'll make sure you regret it!"
"The auction is public; can you bid but I cannot?" Li Chonglou retorted calmly.
Lü Yunxu, who had intended to intervene, was signaled by Lü Chenggong not to speak.
He was very curious about what Li Chonglou was doing.
Why didn't he accept the invitation to the main stage and instead sat in the corner?
And why was he personally participating in the bidding?
"Do you have the money to compete with me? Aren't you using Yuxin's money to show off?" Zheng He's laughter grew more arrogant, "I bid six hundred thousand. If you have the guts, continue..."
"One million!" Before he could finish, Li Chonglou raised his paddle again.
Hiss...
This time, the entire audience gasped.
Is this person truly a live-in son-in-law?
Spending a million on something worth at most thirty thousand. Whoever dared to do something so lacking in cost-effectiveness must have transcended the most basic material needs.
How had such a person never been heard of before?
Even Lü Yunxu frowned, bewildered by his intentions.
Only Cao Chunhua looked on with a knowing smile, her expression undisturbed.
"Are you done causing trouble!" Just then, Jiang Yuxin's voice, suppressing her anger, suddenly rang out.