I lent my brother 500 yuan, and he offered his wife as collateral.

……

After the incident with the lightning-struck wood, the atmosphere in the venue became subtle.

The way everyone looked at Qin Feng changed.

It's no longer about watching a clown trying to attract attention, but about watching a masterful hunter.

Buying a "firewood stick" for 20 million – is this a sign of keen insight or just a waste of money?

No one dares to draw a conclusion.

But Su Tianxiao dared not gamble anymore.

He sat in the first row, feeling as if he had nails stuck to his bottom, making him feel extremely uncomfortable.

The moment Qin Feng took that piece of wood, his heart skipped a beat, a feeling akin to missing out on a stock that had skyrocketed fiftyfold in value years ago.

His intuition told him he was wrong again.

And it's wildly wrong.

"I don't believe you understand calligraphy and painting!"

Su Tianxiao gulped down a mouthful of cold tea, forcibly suppressing the flames of regret in his heart, and stared at the auction stage with a sinister look in his eyes.

Tang Ziyun seemed quite satisfied with the tense atmosphere on set.

She waved her hand, and two staff members wearing white gloves carefully unrolled a scroll.

The scroll is very long, and as it slowly unfurls, a powerful and ancient aura wafts out.

In the scene, amidst towering mountains and ancient trees, a scholar walks with a staff, accompanied by a boy carrying a zither.

The brushstrokes are vivid and expressive, especially the texture strokes of the rocks, which are both vigorous and elegant.

"Ming Dynasty, Tang Yin, Spring Mountain Companion Picture".

Tang Ziyun's voice rang out at the opportune moment, tinged with respect: "A genuine work by Tang Bohu, with a clear provenance, bearing the inscription 'Treasure Viewed by Emperor Qianlong' and the collector's seal of Xiang Yuanbian. Starting bid: 30 million."

Authentic work.

This time, it goes without saying; those in the know can see the trick.

However, the antiques and calligraphy are highly priced, and even genuine works vary in quality; some are worth 50 million, while others are worth 80 million.

It all depends on the buyer's mood.

Inside a private room on the second floor.

Qin Feng was not as lazy as before.

As soon as the scroll was unfurled, he stood up.

[Item: Tang Yin's "Spring Mountains and Companions" (original work)]

Value: 4800 million - 5200 million

Condition: Well preserved, excellent condition.

It's a good product, but it's just so-so.

To Qin Feng now, this was just a pile of valuable but utterly useless paper.

but……

Since Boss Su was so eager to save face, let's grant his wish.

Qin Feng walked to the window and pulled out a portable monocular telescope from somewhere.

He leaned forward, almost pressed against the one-way glass, and the camera slowly moved as the scroll unfolded.

"Tsk tsk tsk..."

Even through the glass and loudspeakers, Qin Feng's astonished smacking of his lips still clearly echoed throughout the venue.

"What a beautiful painting! It's truly a beautiful painting."

As Qin Feng read, he muttered to himself, his voice revealing an undisguised greed:

"The calligraphy and the artistic conception are far superior to that broken cup. If it were hung in the home, the overall quality would instantly improve."

He stared at it for a full two minutes.

He observed more carefully and was more engrossed than anyone else.

downstairs.

Su Tianxiao kept his ears perked up, his eyes fixed on the blurry figure on the second floor.

The moment he saw Qin Feng take out the binoculars, an alarm bell rang in his mind.

"He's looking at the details!"

Su Tianxiao's heart skipped a beat.

Qin Feng dared to bid on that piece of broken wood after just one glance.

He's been looking at this painting for so long now, and he keeps praising it!

What does this tell us?

This proves that the painting is not only authentic, but also extremely valuable!

There is definitely huge potential for appreciation!

"Damn it, he got that piece of wood by chance. If this painting falls into his hands too, I, Su Tianxiao, might as well dig out my eyes and stomp on them!"

Su Tianxiao became increasingly anxious and angry the more he thought about it.

We can't let that happen!

We absolutely cannot let that happen!

The Su family must regain the face they've lost through this painting!

Thirty-five million.

Some people started making tentative offers.

"Forty million!"

Qin Feng put down the binoculars, his voice crisp and decisive, and immediately increased the price by five million.

The tone of absolute certainty in his voice sent chills down Su Tianxiao's spine.

really!

This kid's trying to steal it!

Su Tianxiao instinctively raised his bidding paddle and roared, "Forty-five million!"

"Fifty million," Qin Feng replied instantly.

"Fifty-five million!" Su Tianxiao's eyes turned red.

This is war.

This isn't about buying a painting; it's about fighting for the last shred of dignity the Su family holds in the antique world, and also about plugging the ever-expanding "black hole of doubt" within oneself.

"Sixty million."

Qin Feng hesitated for a moment, as if he was weighing the pros and cons.

This slight hesitation sounded like heavenly music to Su Tianxiao's ears.

He is afraid!

That means it's reached the limit of this kid's psychological price!

That just proves how valuable this thing is!

"Sixty-five million!" Su Tianxiao pressed his advantage, his voice booming.

There was a few seconds of silence in the private room on the second floor.

Then, Qin Feng's voice tightened, carrying a hint of ruthlessness:

"Seventy million!"

Su Tianxiao smiled.

That was the hunter's sinister grin as he saw his prey fall into his trap.

"Compare your wealth to mine?"

Su Tianxiao suddenly stood up and held the number plate high above his head.

"Eighty million!!!"

The sound was deafening, making the crystal chandelier overhead sway.

After shouting out the number, Su Tianxiao looked provocatively at the second floor: "Qin Feng, go ahead and challenge me! I'll sell everything I own to play this game with you to the very end!"

Everyone turned to look.

Buying a Tang Bohu painting for 80 million yuan, although a bit of a premium, is still within the reach of a wealthy family.

Everyone was waiting for Qin Feng's reaction.

Should we continue to fight head-on, or...?

"Clatter".

A soft sound came from the loudspeaker, like the sound of a license plate being thrown onto a table.

Immediately afterwards, Qin Feng's lazy voice rang out.

"Alright."

"Since Boss Su enjoys collecting so much, then I won't take what belongs to him."

"Eighty million, take it."

Then came the sound of water being poured for tea, followed by Qin Feng's infuriating comment: "Perfect timing. This painting is a bit damp; I'll have to dehumidify it when I get back, which is quite a hassle."

Su Tianxiao's sinister smile froze.

He remained in the position of holding up the sign, like a petrified sculpture.

Won?

We won.

The painting is now his.

Why do I feel no pleasure at all?

Instead, it felt like being made a fool of and then having a mouthful of bitter herbs stuffed into your mouth.

Another 80 million has been transferred away.

They spent hundreds of millions before even reaching the halfway point?

Su Tianxiao slowly sat down, feeling as if all the bones in his body had been removed.

Looking at the ancient painting on the stage, which he had just thought was "priceless," he now felt more and more that it was just a debt collection note.

"Second Uncle..." Su Linglong spoke coldly from the side, "Didn't you say he was using reverse psychology?"

"Shut up!"

Su Tianxiao let out a low growl, his face ashen.

He doesn't trust anyone anymore.

He even began to doubt whether he was really getting old and no longer fit into this cannibalistic world.

The entire audience erupted in uproar.

"Is the Su family here to buy goods today?"

"The Su family is really rich."

"Look at Old Master Su's face, it's even darker than the ink in the painting. This isn't a victory, it's clearly that he's been bled to the point of near shock."

Qin Feng sat in the private room, slowly sipping his tea.

The aroma of tea fills the air.

"Killing someone doesn't require a knife; destroying their spirit is the most bloody way."

Qin Feng looked at the old man and the young man below, his eyes eerily calm.

This is not over yet.

Tang Ziyun seemed to have seen through Qin Feng's intentions, and a playful smile appeared on her lips.

Since Mr. Qin wants to play, Tianbao Pavilion will naturally cooperate.

"Next item."

A brightly colored object was pushed out of the cart.

It was a vase about half the height of a person.

The bottle is made of copper with cloisonné enamel as its framework, and filled with enamel glaze. The colors are bright and rich, with red, blue, yellow and green, and the patterns are extremely intricate.

"A large cloisonné enamel vase with lotus scroll design from the Qianlong period of the Qing dynasty."

Tang Ziyun explained, "Everyone knows Emperor Qianlong's aesthetic sense; it can be summed up in two words: opulence. This item, placed in the hall, will certainly command attention. The starting bid is twenty million."

The items are of high quality, typical "open-door" official kiln pieces.

But this gaudy style is either loved by those who like it or not, and those who don't can't be bothered to look at it.

Inside a private room on the second floor.

Qin Feng didn't stand up this time, nor did he take out the binoculars.

He simply leaned back on the sofa, his right index finger lightly tapping on the mahogany table.

"Da, da, da..."

The pace is slow, but very rhythmic.

His gaze, through the glass, remained fixed on the large bottle, never wavering.

This "silent gaze" is more oppressive than the shouting just now.

First floor.

Su Linglong keenly noticed this micro-expression.

She kept staring at Qin Feng's projected silhouette.

"He's hesitating."

Su Linglong narrowed her eyes, her brain working at a rapid pace.

"He bid very aggressively for that painting just now, which means he still has some money on hand."

"He's staring at this bottle, and his fingers are even tapping on the table unconsciously... This is what's known in psychology as 'anxious craving'!"

The more Su Linglong analyzed, the more she felt she had grasped the truth.

"He wants it! But he's afraid!"

"He's afraid that, like before, we'll drive the price up as soon as he makes an offer, and he won't be able to afford it in the end!"

A cruel sneer appeared on Su Linglong's face.

Qin Feng, Qin Feng, even you have times when you're afraid to make a bid?

You want to quietly snag a bargain?

dream!

Su Tianxiao is now a walking corpse. Since his second uncle is crippled, this opportunity to establish his authority can only be seized by Su Linglong.

We must show everyone that although the Su family has suffered losses, their teeth are still sharp!

"Twenty-five million!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Su Linglong added five million to the base price.

She wanted to use this assertive attitude to force out all potential competitors and also force Qin Feng to reveal his true colors.

The second floor.

Qin Feng paused slightly as he tapped the table upon hearing the bid.

Then, he picked up the bidding number and, as if he had made a great decision, pressed the bidding button.

"Twenty-eight million."

Su Linglong smiled.

He felt guilty!

This is the perfect time to kick a dog when it's down!

"Thirty-five million!" Su Linglong's voice was loud, and she looked defiantly at the second floor.

Qin Feng did not follow immediately.

A full ten seconds passed before a barely perceptible sigh came from the loudspeaker.

"Three thousand... six million."

This price increase, which resembled constipation, brought the contempt in Su Linglong's eyes to its peak.

"Is that all you've got?"

Su Linglong stood up, her red dress swaying.

"Qin Feng, if you don't have money, don't embarrass yourself in public!"

She waved her hand sharply, as if shooing away a fly.

"Sixty million!!!"

It doubled directly.

The roof is capped immediately.

This is the domineering presence of the eldest daughter of the Su family!

The entire audience gasped.

Sixty million for a Qianlong vase? That's at least a 50% premium!

"They've gone mad, the entire Su family has gone mad today."

"Is he just throwing money away, or has he been driven mad by Qin Feng?"

Su Linglong enjoyed the "shocked" gazes around her.

She felt she had won at that moment.

She used her immense wealth to give that poor boy a resounding slap in the face!

"Sixty million once!"

"Sixty million twice!"

Su Linglong stared intently at the second floor.

Go for it!

Keep going!

If you take just one more bite, I'll...

"bite."

The lights in the private rooms on the second floor went out.

No nonsense.

There was no entanglement whatsoever.

Qin Feng turned off the lights and went to sleep.

Tang Ziyun brought the wooden mallet down heavily.

"Bang!"

"Congratulations, Miss Su! You've won the Qianlong Treasure for 60 million!"

Sparse applause broke out.

Su Linglong stood there, her smile frozen on her face before it could fully bloom.

Won?

That's how you win?

Why do I feel so empty?