After Tao Xiaoyan took her seat, the guests who had arrived also took their seats and began to place various rare treasures on the exhibition stands beside them.
At this moment, from behind the screens on both sides of the hall, women dressed in long Hanfu dresses emerged in procession.
In their hands, they held an object, which they placed on the exhibition stand.
Ping Yihong walked to the side of the stand and announced, "Esteemed guests, everyone has arrived. The Fish-Dragon Secret Gathering will now commence."
"The original meaning of the 'Fish-Dragon Gathering' was 'a fish leaping through the dragon gate.' This meaning is no longer entirely suitable, but the name has been retained."
"The items my host wishes to exchange will be presented one by one. If you are interested, you may use the treasures you have brought to trade. A transaction is considered complete upon mutual agreement."
"If what you have is not suitable, you may also trade with other guests, but only with their consent."
The guests began to murmur amongst themselves.
Strictly speaking, this was also a form of auction, only with a different method of auctioning, supporting only bartering and not accepting monetary payment.
Ping Yihong continued, "The first item is a set of jade ornaments for wearing, including a jade thumb ring, a jade pendant, a jade ruyi scepter, and a jade bracelet."
"You are welcome to examine them up close. Whether it is worth trading depends on your own judgment. As per custom, we will not elaborate on its value, but I will add that my host will not let any trader suffer a loss."
Chen Fan glanced at the guests present.
There were eleven long tables on each side, with one table occupied by a single person and the rest by two people.
This meant that a total of twenty-one people were participating in this secret gathering.
As Ping Yihong spoke, there was no immediate movement from anyone.
Ping Yihong was not surprised and smiled, "Distinguished guests, the items presented by my host are not necessarily better the later they appear. Waiting and observing may not be the wisest choice."
"I'll take a look!"
Following Ping Yihong's encouragement, the middle-aged couple seated at the head of Chen Fan's side stood up.
"Mr. Chen, shall we go take a look?" Zhong Yishan said beside Chen Fan.
"You go ahead!" Chen Fan withdrew his gaze, picked a grape, and put it in his mouth. "I'm not very interested in this item."
Zhong Yishan nodded, rose from his seat, and went to examine the item.
Others were also spurred on and rose from their seats to inspect the item closely.
"This is top-grade Hetian jade material. Unfortunately, although the craftsmanship is skilled, it is not the work of a master." The middle-aged couple were clearly connoisseurs and, after examining it, commented, "It's a good item, but it depends on what one exchanges for it."
Chen Fan ate the fruit in front of him with a calm expression.
He didn't know what variety these fruits were, but they were exceptionally sweet and refreshing.
"Mr. Chen?" Sun Ming'en returned after his inspection and asked, "Can my item be used for trade?"
Chen Fan glanced at Sun Ming'en's item and replied, "Trade your jade slip for it and see if they accept!"
After most people had examined the item, they returned to their seats as requested by Ping Yihong.
Zhong Yishan returned to Chen Fan's side and said, "The item is good, but I did not come for it. If Mr. Chen is willing, you can use what I brought to trade."
"No rush!" Chen Fan glanced at the items Zhong Yishan had placed on the exhibition stand. He had brought four items: a rhinoceros horn tripod censer, a herb-cutting knife, a Ming dynasty bronze Buddha statue, and a doucai floral and Sanskrit cup. Chen Fan already knew that the first two were family heirlooms of the Zhong family, and the latter two were collected antiques.
Ping Yihong announced, "Esteemed guests, is anyone willing to trade for this item?"
Sun Ming'en was the first to raise his hand and, holding up his jade slip, said, "I am willing to exchange."
Ping Yihong glanced at it and then looked around at the others, "Is anyone else?"
The others made no move. It wasn't that they weren't interested, but each person's treasures were limited, and they felt that exchanging them for that set of jade ornaments was not worthwhile! The jade ornaments, though made of good material, had slightly inferior craftsmanship and were likely worth only a little over a million, which was not particularly appealing to most attendees.
"It seems only this gentleman is interested. Please wait!" Ping Yihong gestured to Sun Ming'en and then cupped his ear as if listening towards the screens.
Soon, he smiled and said, "Congratulations, sir. My host says this is the first item. It is acceptable to take a slight loss. We will trade with you!" He raised his hand to signal, and the women took out the set of jade ornaments and exchanged them with Sun Ming'en. Sun Ming'en, after the exchange, played with the ornaments in his hand, looking very happy. Sun Chuancheng also looked at his son with affection, not attempting to dissuade him from his decision.
Most of the guests' attention was drawn by Ping Yihong's attentive posture, and they were all looking at the screens. The mysterious host of the Fish-Dragon Gathering was behind the screens, and no one knew what they looked like, whether male or female, which sparked everyone's curiosity and desire to see them.
"Very well, the second item, please!" Ping Yihong clapped his hands and signaled for the trading to continue. A maid brought a tray with two jade bottles, one large and one small. After placing them on the exhibition stand, Ping Yihong announced, "There is no need for everyone to come forward and examine the items within. These are two types of medicine, with the effects of strengthening the body and dispelling illness, and invigorating yang, respectively."
"The specific effects are self-explanatory, and detailed usage instructions will be provided after the trade. However, we must remind everyone that medicine has its side effects, and there are no miracle elixirs that cure all ailments. Please consider carefully before trading!"
As he was still giving his warning, someone immediately raised their hand and said, "Mr. Ping, I have a few treasures here for you to choose from. I would like these two bottles of medicine!" The speaker was an elder over sixty, with a somewhat pale complexion. On the exhibition stand beside him were a scroll painting, a piece of blue and white porcelain, a vibrant imperial green jade, and an antique inkstone.
"This is the head of the Cao family, Cao Wenshan," Zhong Yishan introduced beside Chen Fan.
"Please wait!" Ping Yihong waved his hand and looked at the others. The young man from the couple who had arrived with Chen Fan on the same boat and carriage raised his hand and said, "I am also interested. I have heard that the host of the Fish-Dragon Gathering has extremely high standards. I have brought a few precious items for you to choose from."
Chen Fan looked over, and the treasures he displayed were indeed extraordinary. At this moment, Gu Zian also raised his hand to signal. Immediately after, two more people signaled. Zhong Yishan smiled wryly and also raised his hand, indicating his interest in trading. His profession was in medicine, and he had come to this secret gathering precisely for the spiritual pills and elixirs, not for personal use, but to study them after obtaining them. This time, six of the eleven invited guests expressed interest.
"It seems these medicines are indeed popular," Ping Yihong said with a smile. "However, the rule of the Fish-Dragon Secret Gathering is that items are not repeated, and there will be more later, but they will not be of the same category."
"Therefore, I shall make the selection." He put on gloves and first went to Cao Wenshan's side to examine the rare treasures Cao Wenshan had brought. After a simple touch and unfolding the scroll painting, he put it down. Then, he inspected each of the guests' exhibition stands one by one. Finally, he arrived at Chen Fan's side and examined the wooden censer and herb-cutting knife brought by Zhong Yishan.
Returning to his original position, he listened intently and said, "Many of the treasures brought by the guests are of extraordinary value, far exceeding that of these two bottles of medicine. After careful consideration, my host has decided to trade with this gentleman!" He gestured to Zhong Yishan. Zhong Yishan's expression was one of pleasant surprise.
Having the maid bring the medicine over and place it within Zhong Yishan's exhibition stall, Ping Yihong picked up the herb-cutting knife and said, "This Shen Nong Medicine Cauldron is of immense value, and my host does not dare to take advantage of you, sir, so we shall trade with this knife instead!" Zhong Yishan said with immense admiration, "Your esteemed host's noble character is truly admirable!" Ping Yihong handed the knife to the maid, smiled at Chen Fan, and returned to the front of the screens, continuing, "Now, please present the third treasure."
As usual, a maid brought the item: a blue and white plum vase. The guests gradually stepped forward to examine it closely. This time, Chen Fan's heart stirred, and he also rose to get a closer look. With just one glance, he was certain his judgment was correct; the inner wall of the plum vase also bore scattered plum blossom patterns fired with Suma Li Qing glaze. The plum patterns inside formed a unique style, exuding a mysterious aura. The host of this Fish-Dragon Secret Gathering indeed made extraordinary offerings; the value of each item presented surpassed that of the object itself! He glanced at the screens, which were very tightly sealed, preventing him from seeing the person behind them. He wondered if the host of the Fish-Dragon Secret Gathering would present a fragment of the Dragon Pattern Compass for trade.