The Era of Hard Work

   Chapter 11 Auction Company

  In the quaint shop, a middle-aged man with a flat head sat beside the fan and put down the white porcelain plate: "Young man, are you willing to sell it, I'll keep it for ten yuan. If you don't, just take it."

"sorry to bother you."

   Lu Dong picked up the white porcelain plate and put it in his bag.

   Half of the morning passed like this.

   After exiting Shiban Street, Lu Dong wondered if he should go back, and when he looked up, he found that the banner in front of the antique building had been hung back.

   "Experts from the Imperial City Museum are here to appraise antique calligraphy and paintings for free, and identify family heirlooms for you!"

  Lu Dong stopped unconsciously.

   Free appraisal?

   There are vague memories that have emerged. It seems that in one year, the Commercial Daily saw that the national TV station organized experts to come to Quannan to hold a free appraisal activity. It is said that the scene was crowded with people.

   It's definitely not now, but Lu Dong doesn't remember any more.

  This industry is too far away from him.

   Once he neither liked nor cared, and spent all day running around for a living, no one had nothing to look at these things.

   I never thought of being an all-knowing and almighty information encyclopedia, who knew that I would return to Ninety-Eight.

   Half the morning has passed, and there will be no one at the door.

   Lu Dong thought for a while and walked to the second-floor antique building.

   Free appraisal, just have a look.

  Although the free ones are often the most expensive, but he doesn’t have ten dollars in his body, the situation is not right, he just needs to go.

   As soon as we entered the door, two people happened to be facing each other.

   The woman among them saw the black handbag in Lu Dong's hand, and immediately said hello: "Hello, comrade."

   The sound was as crisp as an oriole.

   She is not too pretty, but she is half-heeled, one-step skirt and slim white shirt, which sets off her exquisite figure, and it is easy to make people feel good.

   Next to him was a man of twenty-four or five years old. He wore glasses, his shirt, trousers and leather shoes were more upright than Yang Liewen, and he looked very decent.

   These two are dressed like white-collar workers in foreign companies in this era.

   The decent man smiled brightly: "Comrade, are you here to identify antique calligraphy and painting?"

  Lu Dong maintained the previous character design, nodded shyly: "Yes."

   "Inside please." Decent men are very enthusiastic.

   He quickly looked at Lu Dong, cheap clothes, dark face, young age, simple and honest with a rustic look, and made a judgment in his heart.

   Walking through the entrance hall, Lu Dong's eyes lit up. Behind the open mahogany door, a line of golden characters was striking - Taidong Zhengda Art Auction Co., Ltd.!

   "Come in." Inviting a decent man.

   As soon as I entered the door, a pretty girl at the front desk greeted me with a smile: "Welcome to Chia Tai Auction."

   The young woman made a gesture of invitation: "This way."

   Turning around the front desk, the line of sight is suddenly bright. This is an exhibition area of ​​more than 100 square meters, where there are antique shelves and various glass showcases, which are full of artworks.

   Lu Dong couldn't help but go up to see it, there are porcelain, painting and calligraphy, seals, jade, jewelry, coins, wood carvings, etc.

   It can really be described as high-end, atmospheric and high-end.

   With so many things in front of him who don't know whether they are antique or real, Lu Dong was dazzled by the sight, and it was inevitable that he was a little dazed.

  The visual impact of the young man fermented for a while, and Sunshine made an introduction: "I am the manager of Taidong Zhengda Art Auction Company, my name is Zhao Wei, and she is my assistant Huang Cuicui."

   These words immediately aroused Lu Dong's vigilance, but he seemed to be stunned by this tall arrangement and did not speak.

  Huang Cuicui saw that Lu Dong was sweating, and brought the rising sun from the freezer: "Drink some water, it's very hot today."

   Lu Dong took it, stuffed it into the bag, did not open it, but replied with a smile: "Thank you."

   A stranger's drink, who dares to drink it?

  Although the poor don’t even have ten dollars, but losing money is a small thing…

   Huang Cuicui asked, "What's your name?"

   Lu Dong was a little careful, and according to the custom of the countryside, he withheld his name: "My name is Dongzi."

   It is not the first time that Zhao Wei has faced a rural customer and once again showed a sunny smile: "Fuji, just came out of the market?"

"Um."

  Alert in his heart, Lu Dong was as simple, honest and rustic as when he was in the market. He was shy and reluctant to say more when he was new to strangers.

   Zhao Wei asked: "The market doesn't think highly of your stuff?"

   Lu Dong told the truth: "The asking price is really low!"

   50 for going to the countryside! The highest is only 25! so dark!

Zhao Wei said: "This is your first time? I don't know the situation. There is a tacit understanding in the antique market. No matter how good things are, they will not charge high prices. Even if your things are of high value, they will only sell for one-tenth, or even a percent. One of the low prices, they call it scavenging. This line of business pays attention to not opening for three years, and opening for three years. They would rather not accept it than set a price that is in line with the value of antiques, because they can’t make a lot of money.”

   Lu Dong scratched his head deliberately: "Really?"

   Zhao Wei further said: "Antiques, few people know, so it is difficult to judge the value. Dongzi, I suggest you read more, ask more, and have multiple choices. It is best to choose a regular trading place."

   "Have you heard of the auction house?" Huang Cuicui's crisp voice sounded at the right time: "Sotheby's, Christie's, and ours."

   Zhao Wei invited Lu Dong: "Come here and take a look."

  He led the way, into a cubicle with a TV and VCR.

   Press the remote control to play the TV screen.

   Zhao Wei said with a smile: "There are a lot of people on the expert side, wait a moment, you can first look at the two auctions held by Chia Tai in Yanjing and Hong Kong City."

  The people on the TV speak Cantonese, but the picture can tell that this is a large-scale auction. The name of Chia Tai Auction can be seen everywhere in the venue. There are hundreds of people participating.

   Then the auction in Yanjing…

   Lu Dong just watched, subconsciously maintaining a shy and honest protective color, the other party said something, and the answer seemed stunned, as if an ignorant bumpkin was stunned by the tall man.

   Zhao Wei is very satisfied with this effect: "CP is incomparable with Sotheby's and Christie's, and its business is only carried out in China. But CP's purpose is value for money."

Worrying that Lu Dong would not understand, he specifically explained: "We strive to maximize the value of our clients' antiques or works of art, and sell them at higher prices. Chia Tai can get commissions, while you like Dongzi... I am using an analogy, you can get a lot— money!"

The last word,   , has a particularly strong tone.

   Lu Dong didn't lose his head, he deliberately asked curiously, "You also help sell things?"

Zhao Wei is not afraid of people asking questions, just afraid that people will not ask, but he is not in a hurry: "The premise is that the antiques are valuable, and they are willing to entrust them to us." He looked very professional: "We are also responsible for buyers, right? So first make sure the antiques are valuable.”

   Lu Dong smelled a strong smell, and his first thought was to withdraw, but he thought it was okay to take a look.

   Money and things are never left to others, and there is no money.

  If the expert does not charge money, you can also listen to what the expert has to say about the small white porcelain dish.

   Zhao Wei's performance is very stable: "We are a cooperative unit with the Imperial City Museum. We are collecting artworks and preparing for exhibitions and auctions. Now an expert is coming to Quannan to sit in town."

  Huang Cuicui handed over a copy of Taidong Weekly, opened it and said, "Look, there are also reports in the media."

   This is the largest weekly magazine in Taidong Province. Lv Dong put his eyes on it. The report on CP Art Auction Company took up two full pages.

   These are very reliable, auction companies, collection of artworks, big media reports, experts from top agreement units, trade fairs and auctions, and commissions...

   But what to say, it's not a matter of their lips flipping.

   Zhao Wei finally suggested: "Can I see your antiques?"

   Lu Dong looked at the two of them a little, determined that they would not pose a threat, and took out a small white porcelain plate.

   Zhao Wei didn't answer: "I can't handle it, Dongzi, take a look at me."

   His external temperament, his words, and his actual actions make people feel reliable everywhere.

   Put away his smile, Zhao Wei looked at the small white porcelain plate with a serious face, and nodded slightly.

   Lu Dong asked specifically, "How is it?"

   Zhao Wei is very cautious: "I have limited eyesight, so I can't see it." But he firmly grasped the key: "This spring auction, Sotheby's has a similar small plate, which sold for a high price of 300,000!"

   As soon as these words came out, Lu Dong suddenly groaned in his heart, isn't this a trick?

   "It's so expensive?" Of course he didn't believe it, but he put on a very excited look.

   Zhao Wei is still calm: "Just for reference." He glanced at his watch: "Fuji, wait a moment, Cuicui and I go to see if the experts are free?"

   "Okay." Lu Dong sat on the sofa, staring at the TV, attracted by the high prices.

  The price is good, the truth is cruel.

   Zhao Wei and Huang Cuicui went out and went to another cubicle to exchange views.

  Huang Cuicui first said: "Wearing inferior jerseys and shoes, the whole body is not worth 20 yuan, it should be from the countryside. It is not in Quannan City, not rich, not sensitive occupation, it fully meets the requirements!"

   "Yes, I observed very carefully." Zhao Wei looks like a teacher Huang Cuicui: "Around twenty years old, selling antiques alone, what does it mean?"

   He gave the answer: "You need money urgently! People who come to the antique market to sell things are either short of money, greedy for money, or urgently need money. If you grasp the word of money, you will be successful!"

  Huang Cuicui had doubts: "Too young? Still from the countryside."

Zhao Wei understands the meaning of this: "It's okay, he is young and in demand. If he is a student, he needs high tuition fees at this age. If he does not study, in rural areas, it is the age of marriage. In the rural human society, neighbors and relatives Friends move around closely, and the family can borrow more than a dozen or 20 money for business. And he can come alone, which shows that he has autonomy."

   Huang Cuicui was taught: "Mr. Zhao, with you, you can always learn a lot."

Zhao Wei laughed and said: "Don't underestimate the rural people, the unskilled rural people are the best to play with! Do you know why I made three consecutive orders last month? All of them are rural customers! Let me reveal a secret, unskilled rural people, close the deal. Higher rate!"

   After waiting for a while, the two went back.

   "The experts are free, let's go over there." Zhao Wei said with a smile: "It's not easy for the experts. The appraisal started at seven o'clock this morning, and more than 30 works of art have been passed."

Since Lu Dong is here, why don't he go to see it, pick up his handbag and leave, Zhao Wei leads the way, and instructs: "This is the top expert from the Imperial City Museum, if you don't understand, you can ask, but don't talk nonsense. "

   Lu Dong nodded again and again: "I see."

   Zhao Wei and Huang Cuicui took Lu Dong to the second floor.

  The rural fools are here, and basic trust has also been established. Expert appraisal is an important part of strengthening confidence.

   These days, people are willing to trust experts, and after experts give appraisals, follow-up work can be carried out.

   (end of this chapter)