The Guangbei Treasure Appraisal Convention, though privately organized, boasted an impressive lineup of guests.
Besides the presence of the heads of the four major families, there were also several renowned experts.
The appraisal convention itself was divided into four rounds.
The first round was called "Discerning Pearls with a Sharp Eye," which tested one's appreciation and judgment.
The competition took place in a large stadium, and admission was strictly by invitation only.
Everyone present was involved in the antique and collectibles circle.
When Fatty and I arrived at the venue, it was already crowded with people, with fifty to sixty participants.
Following the organizers' arrangements, Fatty and I took our seats at a designated spot.
"Brother Xiang, why does this setup feel like an athletic event?" Fatty asked, looking around. "This is my first time hearing about treasure appraisal competitions."
Although I had heard of appraisal conventions, it was mostly from my father.
He used to talk about the ones from my grandfather's generation, which were more traditional and had fewer participants.
Now that times had changed, everything was different.
An appraisal convention of this scale was unimaginable in the past.
Finding such a good venue would have been difficult, let alone attracting so many applicants.
"Brother Xiang, look over there." Fatty pointed to a spot not far away.
I followed his gaze and saw several women in qipaos chatting and laughing together, each wearing a participant's badge around their necks.
"Why are women participating in the competition?" Fatty asked.
I was also a bit curious. Female appraisers were very rare in the appraisal profession.
Due to traditional customs, many things were passed down from men to women, and from within the family to outside.
Even now, I had met very few female appraisers. Women like Wu Tingxiu couldn't really be considered appraisers; at best, they were collectors.
As Fatty and I were looking around, like Liu Grandma entering the Grand View Garden, a graceful figure appeared before me.
Looking up, I saw it was Yan Yuhe.
"Mr. Xiang," she greeted me with a slight smile and then sat down next to me.
"Miss Yan, why are you here too?"
As soon as I asked, I noticed the participant's credential around her neck.
I was surprised. Was she also here to participate in the appraisal convention?
"I'm here to represent my family in the competition," Yan Yuhe said with a gentle smile.
Her voice was soft, and every movement and expression of hers was incredibly elegant.
"It seems true talents are hidden; I didn't expect you to be interested in appraisal, Miss Yan," I said with a smile.
Yan Yuhe replied, "Perhaps it's due to my father's influence. I've been interested in antiques since childhood."
I nodded. "I see."
Whether intentionally or not, she began to tell me about herself.
Yan Yuhe studied archaeology, graduating from a prestigious university, and had participated in several major archaeological research projects during her studies.
Her father was a prominent figure in the Guangbei antique scene, and with her archaeology background, she was destined for great achievements in antiques and archaeology.
After a brief chat about herself, she started introducing some of the "special figures" at the venue.
"That person over there is from the Kong family; they have profound expertise in metal and jade. That one is from the Cao family; they specialize in porcelain and have extensive collaborations with many auction houses in Hong Kong. That one is from the Hua family; they are a family of carpenters and are very skilled with woodcraft."
Through Yan Yuhe's introduction, I got a general understanding of the "hot contenders" present. The appraisal convention, in essence, was a competition among the four major families.
"Your Yan family must have deep research into calligraphy and painting, right?" I asked.
Yan Yuhe nodded. "Our ancestors have been collecting calligraphy and paintings for generations."
Indeed, when I visited the Yan family a few days prior, I noticed Yan Hongguang's excellent calligraphy and the masterful paintings hanging in his study.
To achieve excellence in calligraphy and painting requires not only endless study and practice but also a certain foundation.
Just like my family; without my ancestors accumulating so much appraisal experience, I wouldn't possess such mature and skillful appraisal abilities.
In essence, it's like planting trees for future generations to enjoy the shade.
"Miss Yan, did you come to find me just to introduce all this?" I asked with a smile.
Yan Yuhe smiled slightly, meeting my gaze without evasion, and said, "For every appraisal convention, families invite some external help..."
As she said this, her eyes held a different meaning, and I immediately understood. She wanted me to join the Yan family's side.
There were two main reasons I came to participate in the appraisal convention. First, I was curious and wanted to broaden my horizons, to spar with experts from various fields.
The other reason was primarily Yang Hanxue. He mentioned that the Guanyin statue of Shuiyue would appear at this appraisal convention, and Sister Ying had asked him to swap it.
I had promised him I would help, but why hadn't he contacted me yet...
As I was contemplating, I saw a slender woman appear in my field of vision not far away.
The woman wore a black V-neck wool sweater and a high-waisted khaki midi skirt, with her long hair cascading over her shoulders. She looked very fashionable.
From my position, I could only see her back, but for some reason, I felt a sense of familiarity, as if I had seen this back before.
"Mr. Xiang, are you interested in becoming an external helper for our Yan family?" Yan Yuhe asked softly.
I turned back to her. "Is this Uncle Yan's idea?"
She smiled slightly, not answering the question, but instead said, "If Mr. Xiang becomes an external helper for our Yan family, I can help you find someone to decipher that map you want to crack."
Hearing this, I finally understood.
Yan Hongguang had previously said he would help me find someone to decipher the map, but there was a condition he hadn't revealed.
And now, he was sending his daughter to convey his intentions...
It seemed he was concerned about his elder status and found it difficult to approach me directly, thus using this method.
"No problem," I replied. "However, I can't guarantee whether I'll make it to the finals."
"Mr. Xiang, please rest assured. Regardless of whether you reach the finals, I will do my utmost regarding the map afterwards," Yan Yuhe said.
"Alright."
When I turned back to try and look at the woman I saw earlier, I found that she had vanished.
Where had I seen that back before?
I racked my brain but couldn't recall.
In my memory, there weren't many women who left such a deep impression on me.
"Brother Xiang, what's that over there?" Fatty said.
Following his gaze, I saw a constructed corridor appearing not far away. The corridor was antique in style, and it was adorned with various calligraphy and paintings.
"That is the first round of the competition: Discerning Pearls with a Sharp Eye," Yan Yuhe said slowly.