The fatty fellow was carefree, but that was for the best. After all, if he got dragged into this matter, it wouldn't end well for him.
As for this matter, I'm still completely in the dark. Sister Ying's situation is too outlandish; even if I told Fatty, he probably wouldn't believe me.
Let alone Fatty, even I sometimes feel it's a fantasy.
However, all aspects are now confirming the truth of this matter. Even if I'm reluctant to believe it, I have to accept it.
It's not like everyone is lying to me, is it?
Or perhaps, Sister Ying is lying to everyone.
The thought itself seems impossible. Perhaps all the answers will be revealed after the Appraisal Convention concludes.
Yang Hanxue mentioned that Sister Ying would meet with me privately then. I suppose I'll be able to figure out what exactly is going on at that time.
Thinking of this, I felt relieved.
Around eight in the evening, Liu Zaixi called me. I then remembered I had promised her I'd help her appraise something.
We arranged a meeting place. I left Fatty at home and rushed over.
I took a taxi to the location Liu Zaixi mentioned. This place was very secluded, already outside the urban area. When I got out of the car, I couldn't see a single person on the road.
After waiting for about five or six minutes, Liu Zaixi finally appeared. She was wearing a black windbreaker, a baseball cap, and a mask.
She was completely covered up. If she hadn't walked over and called me, I wouldn't have recognized her.
"Why are you dressed like that?" I asked, looking at her.
She took off her mask and said apologetically, "It's inconvenient for me to be seen publicly..."
"Alright, where is the auction you mentioned being held?" I asked.
Liu Zaixi said, "It's over there."
As she spoke, she led me down a small path. Before long, we arrived at the entrance of a warehouse.
At the entrance, there were a few thugs smoking. Liu Zaixi led me over and handed a card to one of them. They then opened the small door and let us in.
It seemed this so-called auction was likely a "black market" auction.
A "black market" auction refers to auctions that are held in secret, usually for items like grave goods.
In any case, the origin of the items was not legitimate.
I didn't know why Liu Zaixi would come here, or what she wanted to buy.
After entering the warehouse, there were quite a few people inside. I estimated about twenty to thirty.
Some were sitting on plastic stools, while others were squatting by the wall, smoking. Judging by their attire, they were likely all "grave diggers."
There were also a few who looked quite well-off.
In the center of the warehouse, there was an auction stage built with wooden crates. On the stage was a folding table, which was empty at the moment.
"Miss Liu, what exactly do you want to buy here?" I asked.
Liu Zaixi whispered, "Kanpan."
"Kanpan?" I had never heard of this before and looked at her in confusion.
"Mr. Xiang will know soon," Liu Zaixi said. "When the time comes, Mr. Xiang only needs to help me determine what era that item belongs to."
I nodded, wondering what this "Kanpan" item was.
After about ten minutes, a bald man walked onto the stage. He scanned the crowd and said, "Everyone, the auction is about to begin. I presume I don't need to explain the rules, do I?"
"No need, just start quickly. We're in a hurry!" someone urged.
"Alright then, we shall begin the auction."
As the bald man spoke, a "sun lamp" hanging from the warehouse ceiling suddenly lit up, making the not-so-bright warehouse several times brighter.
I noticed that everyone was holding a bowl, and in each bowl was a handful of beans.
Liu Zaixi also had one.
Seeing this setup, I understood. It turned out the auction method being used was the old-fashioned "scattering beans for soldiers."
The meaning of "scattering beans for soldiers" is that the beans in the hands of the auction participants are equivalent to money.
When they wanted an item, they would put the beans into their bowls and then flip the bowls upside down.
Only the auctioneer knew how many beans were in each bowl.
For example, if two people bid simultaneously, and they placed different numbers of beans in their bowls, the bowl with fewer beans would be pushed back by the auctioneer, and the bidding would proceed to the next round.
The process would continue for three rounds, and whoever's bid was the highest would win the item.
The advantage of this auction method is that you don't know how many beans your competitor has placed. If your bowl is pushed back, it proves their bid was higher, and you have to decide whether to increase your bid and by how much.
This auction method is beneficial because it's not as time-consuming as the endless bidding in formal auction houses.
It also has the advantage of not offending anyone and allowing everyone to save face.
After all, with three rounds of bidding and the bowls flipped, the final price is determined by individual ability.
When I was young, I heard my father talk about attending many such auctions. This was my first time experiencing it firsthand.
The first item to appear was a bronze jue. Due to the distance, I couldn't see the condition of the item at all.
If I wanted to get a closer look, I would have to be interested in the item.
In other words, if you go to look, you must be prepared to "flip your bowl"; otherwise, don't join the crowd.
Today, I'm accompanying Liu Zaixi, and there's no need to stir up trouble. Until the item she wants appears, it's better to keep a low profile.
Soon, two or three rounds passed, and quite a few items were auctioned off. The pace was quite fast.
It seemed the attendees knew in advance what items would be up for auction, and no one would interfere until their desired item appeared.
Half an hour later, the bald man on stage said, "I can't say what the next item is, but we've had someone look at it. It's a good piece. Friends who like it can buy it for their collection; it might be a great bargain."
As soon as he finished speaking, someone carried a tray covered with a red cloth onto the stage.
When the tray was placed on the folding table, the bald man lifted the red cloth. On the tray sat a "round cake."
The object looked no different from a large pancake, with many inscriptions on it. I couldn't figure out what it was at all.
At that moment, I noticed Liu Zaixi's eyes fixed on the round cake, and her breathing became rapid.
Seeing this, I knew this must be the Kanpan she mentioned.
But what was so special about this item?
I was somewhat puzzled.
"Mr. Xiang, I'll have to trouble you," Liu Zaixi said to me.
I nodded and walked over. I began examining the round cake, and three other people were equally interested.
The four of us gathered around the round cake and looked for a long time.
The craftsmanship of this round cake was not exquisite. The inscriptions on it looked like those from the Western Zhou Dynasty, but upon closer inspection, they seemed like imitations, deliberately added by someone.
The material was indeed bronze, but no matter how I looked at it, it didn't seem like an item from the Western Zhou Dynasty.
"Can I see the back?" I asked.
The bald man glanced at me and smiled, "Of course."
With that, he flipped the round cake over.