CHAPTER 127: CHAPTER 19: UNVEILING BRILLIANCE

The first auction at Subi Auction House was held on the 28th day of the last month of the lunar calendar, with Chang Mei responsible for sending out invitations and Chang Chi setting up the venue. Businesses and notable figures connected with Mo City and the Su Family were all sent invitation cards.

Despite the harsh winter, the outside of Subi Auction House was already filled with colorful flower baskets. Su Qingzhang did not appear in person. As it was their first foray into the auction business, he adopted a very cautious approach, publicly claiming that the auction was to dispose of unclaimed goods on behalf of the government.

Several years ago in Mo City, auction houses were still a novel concept. Besides roping in local celebrities and politicians, the auction also attracted quite a bit of media attention. Before the auction, Mo City didn’t even have a professional auctioneer, so Chang Mei had to spend a handsome sum to invite an auctioneer from the United States to come and assist temporarily.

The auctioneer just arrived last night and was still jet-lagged and not looking very well. Just arrived at the auction house and seeing a crowd of people, he inwardly grumbled: It really is a rustic place, the auction is like a busy market. Added with the snowy mud and various floral scents, and someone accidentally breaking a crate of wine at the entrance, the whole venue momentarily appeared a mix of red, gray, and green with an indescribable foul smell.

Chang Chi walked up to the stage, straightened the microphone, and coughed a few times. The venue was still noisy, and just when she didn’t know what to do, the temporary auctioneer, experienced as he was, picked up the gold-foil wrapped rubber gavel and struck a few times, and the crowd finally settled down a bit.

The audience consisted of rather rugged individuals, and the first few reserved seats were still empty. A while later, people from the Hang Family and Fei Family arrived. Soon after, Qiu Zhi hurried in. Due to more people than expected, extra temporary seats were added, and Qiu Zhi’s hefty buttocks got stuck between two rows of seats.

His outfit today was much improved compared to his appearance at "Eve’s Party," dressed in a suit and with his hair meticulously combed. When he got stuck, his face immediately turned red. He tried puffing his chest and sucking in his belly, but no matter how much he struggled, he couldn’t get out.

Seeing that most of the seats were filled, his black suit became even more conspicuous.

"Is Wen Maixue here too?" A whisper reached Qiu Zhi’s ears. Upon hearing it, his stomach suddenly tightened, and miraculously he freed his hefty buttocks.

Wen Maixue came alone and was now capable of handling most occasions by herself to the great satisfaction of Old Master Wen.

The front rows gradually filled up, and Chang Mei and her daughter looked over and saw just a few empty seats left, and decided to start the auction.

The auction order was organized from low to high. Su Ziceng’s ten crates of wine should have been placed earlier in the auction, but she insisted they be placed after the set of dresses. Chang Mei didn’t go against her wishes; after all, the items were hers, and whether the price was high or low didn’t matter much.

The first item auctioned was a new work by a painter from Mo City. The painter was also seated in the front row today, watching his painting "Galloping Horses" displayed on stage with its vivid sunrise and fierce momentum. Since it was the end of the year, it would make a decent gift.

The starting bid for the painting was thirty thousand, but the venue remained quiet. After calling three times, still, no one bid, and in the end, the painter himself grimaced and bought his own painting. The first lot auctioned by Subi Auction House was not a good sign.

"Paintings are something you buy when the artist is dead, not when they’re alive," Mr. Fei advised Fei Qing, "After they die, that’s when their work becomes valuable." The painter, with sharp ears, heard this, his face a mix of blue and red, filled with silent rage and frustration.

Next was a Western-style wall clock introduced in the late Qing Dynasty, which garnered the interest of several watch shop owners in Mo City. The starting bid was fifty thousand and was ultimately sold for eighty thousand.