"Yeah," Jake replied.
"We had a great chat yesterday. How about we continue our conversation after the auction? When it's all over?" Bob, the elderly gentleman, suggested.
"Sure, I'd be happy to chat with you. Spending time talking with you is enjoyable," Jake said.
Talking to Bob had been quite enlightening for Jake. Bob had a wealth of experience, not just in the appraisal and collection of antiques, but also in various other aspects. Bob's knowledge extended beyond what Jake could compare with. After a brief chat, Bob was called away by someone.
While at the event, Jake spotted another familiar face. It was Axel, the appraiser who had assessed their items at Dirk's mansion that night. Axel noticed Jake and approached him for a brief conversation.
As time passed, the crowd grew larger. When the auction was about to begin, Jake estimated that there were at least over a hundred people in attendance, significantly more than the small-scale auction three days ago.
"There are quite a few experts attending tonight's auction. Many local collectors from J City and some from other places as well," Dirk said to Jake. They were still together.
"Once the auction begins, take a good look around. You might discover some treasures," Dirk advised Jake.
"Last time was a stroke of luck. It's not always so fortunate," Jake chuckled.
"That's true. Finding treasures at this level is something that might happen once in a lifetime. That's already quite lucky," Dirk chuckled as well.
The auction began, and the hall quieted down.
"Good evening, esteemed guests. Welcome to JH Auction House's Summer Special Event. I am tonight's auctioneer," a debonair middle-aged man stepped onto the stage and addressed the audience.
"JH Auction House has been established for many years and has been committed to..." The auctioneer introduced JH Auction House, including some of the rare treasures that had been auctioned off in previous years. As Jake listened to the awe-inspiring transaction figures, his heart raced.
Tonight, he wondered what price his "Farewell to a Guest" would fetch. The anticipation was real.
"Alright, enough of the chatter. Let's have our hostesses present the first auction item of the evening. Please take a look, everyone." After the introduction, the auctioneer finally got to the point.
A gracefully slender hostess carried a tray covered in red cloth and walked up with elegance. Once she was in place, the auctioneer unveiled the item, revealing a jade green hairpin.
"Everyone, behold our first auction item of the night: this hairpin. Its origin is extraordinary. It was worn by Prince Yongge during the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty. Legend has it that this hairpin was a tribute to the imperial family and was bestowed upon Prince Yongge by Emperor Kangxi. It has since remained in Prince Yongge's possession. This hairpin boasts exquisite craftsmanship, a smooth and polished surface like a mirror, free from any imperfections..." The auctioneer meticulously introduced the jade hairpin.
The audience below listened attentively. Those with a vested interest were particularly focused, their eyes locked on the hairpin.
Jake took a glance at the beginning but knew more about the jade hairpin than anyone present. After all, his Appraisal skill wasn't just for show.
The jade hairpin was indeed genuine, but Jake had no intention of purchasing it. Besides his concern for his "Farewell to a Guest," Jake was mainly here to enjoy the spectacle.
"How do you like this hairpin?" Dirk asked Jake.
Since Jake had discovered the precious "Farewell to a Guest" in a mediocre work, Dirk held a high regard for Jake's appraisal ability. Now, rather than trusting the auctioneer's description, he was seeking Jake's opinion.
"It's true, it's genuine, and what the auctioneer said is accurate," Jake remarked.
Dirk nodded and said, "The appearance is indeed good, but I'm not particularly interested in the hairpin."
"Alright, I've finished introducing the items. Those of you interested can come up and take a look. As usual, you can look, but not touch," the auctioneer announced.
"People can go up and take a closer look?" Jake looked at some attendees moving toward the stage and asked Dirk curiously.
"Of course," Dirk replied. "Antique auctions are different from others. The line between genuine and fake is thin, and prices can vary greatly. Collectors often trust their own appraisal skills more than what anyone says. Even if you speak eloquently, many people won't believe it unless they personally appraise it. In fact, you could go up on stage at the auction three days ago too. However, there were fewer items that night, and the good items were scarcer, so many people didn't bother."
Jake nodded in understanding. From conversations with Axel and Bob, he could sense the confidence these people had in their own appraisal abilities. Therefore, before making a purchase, they would thoroughly appraise the item. To appraise effectively, one needed to be up close, so going up on stage made sense.
Now, a crowd had gathered around the jade hairpin on display. People were taking turns examining it, but their respective statuses prevented any pushing or shoving.
After the appraisals were done, those who had gone up on stage started coming down, each having formed their own assessment.
"Alright, is there anyone else who would like to come up for a look?" The auctioneer scanned the surroundings. Seeing no one moving up, he continued, "Alright, since there are no takers, let's officially begin the auction now. We'll start the bidding for this hairpin at five hundred thousand. Each subsequent bid should not be less than ten thousand."
"Five hundred and ten thousand!"
"Five hundred and twenty thousand!"
"I bid five hundred and forty thousand!"
As soon as the auctioneer finished speaking, bids were already being called out. The price quickly soared, crossing the million mark. This was indeed a grand auction event. This was just the first item, and it had effortlessly crossed the million mark. Jake couldn't help but marvel at the atmosphere.
Jake and Dirk didn't participate, instead conversing in hushed tones, speculating on what the final price of the hairpin would be. In the end, the hairpin was won by a middle-aged man with a round belly for a price of 1.85 million Dollar. Jake was taken aback by the price.
Indeed, nothing sent to auction was ordinary. The first item had fetched a decent price, setting a good tone for the upcoming auction items. The auction continued, and the excitement among the attendees gradually rose. One item after another was auctioned, each fetching a satisfactory price.