Chapter 52 Auction

Cheng Ziqiu forcibly suppressed the urge to roll his eyes, looking at Zhao Qiankun with the gaze one would reserve for someone intellectually challenged.

Was this old fogey out of his mind?

Spending tens of millions on a pile of junk just for the sake of collection?

Collection my foot!

With this kind of IQ, how on earth had he survived in the business world for so long?

His ancestors must have burned incense at the highest tier!

"Ah! Look at my brain! President Zhao, you are a master collector, how could I have forgotten about that! Your passion for collecting is famous throughout our circle!"

A flattering smile plastered across Cheng Ziqiu's face.

"However, President Zhao, collecting and investing sometimes don't conflict at all!"

"Just think about it, this stuff looks like trash right now, but what if—and I'm just saying what if—Old Fox Li really manages to hype it up? When you cash out then, you won't just be doubling your money, you'll be making ten times, a hundred times the profit!"

Cheng Ziqiu deliberately dragged out the end of his sentence, winking and nudging Zhao Qiankun with broad hints.

Zhao Qiankun stroked his chin, pondering in silence.

What Cheng Ziqiu said actually sounded somewhat reasonable.

If he really ended up making a killing, that would be fantastic!

"President Zhao, don't hesitate any longer!"

Seeing that Zhao Qiankun was wavering, Cheng Ziqiu pressed his advantage.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Just think, if this pulls through, you'll become the ultimate winner in the antique circle! When that happens, let's see who dares to look down on you!"

"Hmm..."

Zhao Qiankun was still hesitating.

Although he loved collecting, he was no fool; he could weigh the risks involved.

Cheng Ziqiu's eyes rolled, and a plan formed in his mind.

He leaned close to Zhao Qiankun's ear and whispered in a conspiratorial tone:

"President Zhao, let me speak from the bottom of my heart. That old fox Li has had it in for you for a long time. Think about it: he brags about himself all day long in the circle, claiming to be the leading authority in antiques. But look at you—you collect more treasures than he does and your eye for them is sharper. Can he possibly be convinced in his heart?"

"This time, let's give him a chance to truly 'show his stuff'! When the time comes, let's see how he cleans up his own mess!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Qiankun instantly perked up.

What he loathed most was Bank President Li's arrogant and condescending attitude!

"Fine! Little Cheng, let's do it your way! This time, I'm going to make that old fox pay dearly!"

***

The next day, Cheng Ziqiu arrived with dark circles under his eyes, yawning continuously.

Last night, Zhao Qiankun had dragged him out to celebrate, claiming they needed to celebrate the "downfall" of old fox Li in advance.

As a result, after a few glasses of wine, Zhao Qiankun started acting like sworn brothers with him, crying about how difficult his life had been over the years, and finally throwing up all over him.

Cheng Ziqiu cursed inwardly, thinking that this old codger looked respectable enough on the outside, but when drunk, he was messier than a pig.

Arriving at Bank President Li's office, Zhao Qiankun got straight to the point.

"Old Li, I've thought about it. Collecting is collecting, and investing is investing; the two don't conflict! I've decided to put this batch of antiques up for auction!"

Standing to the side, Cheng Ziqiu almost failed to hold back his laughter.

This old guy changed his face faster than turning the pages of a book.

Just yesterday he had looked so reluctant to part with them, and today he was burning with impatience to auction them off.

Bank President Li was stunned; he hadn't expected Zhao Qiankun to execute a complete one-eighty-degree turn.

He had originally assumed Zhao Qiankun would retreat in the face of difficulties, obediently take back this pile of "junk," and then he himself would seize the opportunity to humiliate him further.

But now...

Bank President Li's eyes darted around as he calculated rapidly.

He was the only one who truly knew whether this batch of antiques was genuine or fake.

If they were sent to an auction, wouldn't that be exposing his own fraud?

By then, his reputation would be utterly ruined.

However, if he refused Zhao Qiankun's request, wouldn't it look like he was afraid of him?

How could a dignified bank president admit defeat in front of a nouveau riche?

"President Zhao, you..."

Bank President Li gave a dry cough, forcing out a smile.

"This batch of antiques is of immense value! To send them to an auction, wouldn't that be a bit..."

"A bit what?"

Zhao Qiankun cast a sideways glance at him, a trace of provocation in his tone.

"Old Li, you aren't scared, are you? Are you afraid that the treasures in my hands are better than yours?"

Bank President Li's expression shifted, and suppressing his rising anger, he said:

"President Zhao is joking. How could I be scared? It's just that the authenticity of this batch of antiques is still open to question. To auction them directly, I'm afraid..."

"Afraid of what? Old Li, aren't you afraid they'll smash in your own hands?"

Zhao Qiankun interrupted him without a trace of politeness.

"Or is it that you simply don't trust my judgment?"

The veins on Bank President Li's forehead throbbed violently.

This Zhao Qiankun really knew how to touch a raw nerve!

"President Zhao, you've misunderstood. I'm only concerned..."

"Concerned my foot!"

Zhao Qiankun made a rough, sweeping gesture with his hand.

"When has Zhao Qiankun ever made a losing deal? Weren't you people the ones who guaranteed back then that every single one of these pieces is genuine?"

Standing nearby, Cheng Ziqiu had to bite the inside of his cheeks to keep from laughing out loud, his stomach aching from the effort.

This Zhao Qiankun was truly a born actor!

Bank President Li's face turned livid, and in his heart, he mentally greeted all eighteen generations of Cheng Ziqiu's ancestors.

This punk was genuinely a troublemaking agitator!

He forced out a smile that looked far worse than crying.

"President Zhao, please don't get excited. I'm merely suggesting that we could first have an expert appraise them. That would be much safer."

"Appraise them? I see you're just trying to buy time, aren't you?"

Zhao Qiankun narrowed his eyes, his tone turning somewhat dangerous.

"Old Li, you don't happen to have some shady scheme going on, do you?"

Bank President Li hurriedly waved his hands.

"President Zhao, you are truly wronging me! How could I possibly have any shady schemes?"

"Then agree to the auction!"

Zhao Qiankun pressed relentlessly.

Bank President Li gritted his teeth.

Damn you, Zhao Qiankun, you're driving me into a corner!

Suddenly remembering something, a fierce look flashed across Bank President Li's eyes, and he thought to himself:

"Since this punk has pushed me this far, don't blame me for being unmerciful."

With a smile that didn't reach his eyes, Bank President Li agreed to Zhao Qiankun's request.

"Since President Zhao is so confident, I won't try to dissuade you any further. I will make arrangements for the auction as quickly as possible."

Cheng Ziqiu and Zhao Qiankun exchanged glances of mutual astonishment.

Zhao Qiankun rubbed his shiny, polished pate and muttered in sheer disbelief:

"Has this old fogey had a change of heart? He actually agreed to the auction?"

Cheng Ziqiu shrugged.

"Who knows, maybe his brain was kicked by a donkey."

Yet, inwardly, he began to wonder what kind of medicine Bank President Li was selling in his gourd.

Unusual behavior always signaled a demon at work; he refused to believe Bank President Li would capitulate so easily.

Bank President Li beamed with smiles.

"Two days from now, right here in our bank's auction hall, I hope the two of you will grace us with your presence!"

"Two days from now? So soon?"

Zhao Qiankun looked suspiciously at Bank President Li.

"Old Li, what kind of game are you playing? In the past, when I begged you to hold an auction, you gave me the runaround. Why are you so agreeable now?"

Bank President Li laughed heartily, though to Cheng Ziqiu, that smile looked utterly fake no matter how he looked at it.

"President Zhao, what are you saying? I'm doing this to support your collecting career, of course! Rest assured, I will make sure this auction is nothing short of magnificent for you!"