He Hongjian was also surprised to see Yang Chen and strode forward, saying with a smile, "Brother Yang, we parted in a hurry last night and I didn't get your number. It's best to run into you here."
Brother Yang!
Li Yu and Madam Qiao were even more surprised to hear Elder He call him so affectionately.
Especially Li Yu, she had no idea that Yang Chen even had dealings with figures like He Hongjian.
"Hello, Elder He."
Yang Chen pointed at the blue and white porcelain vase on the antique shelf and said with a smile, "You should check out this blue and white vase first. Madam Qiao is already impatient."
"Since it's something you've appraised, how can there be any mistake?"
Although He Hongjian said so, he still picked up the blue and white vase. The moment he held it, he let out a startled "Eek!"
Madam Qiao and Li Yu were at a loss but dared not interrupt. They watched as He Hongjian, as if holding a baby, slowly sat down, carefully touching every part of the vase's pattern. He then took out his appraisal twin treasures – a magnifying glass and a strong flashlight – to carefully examine the clay and inscription at the bottom of the blue and white vase.
He Hongjian spent more than half an hour examining the blue and white vase before finally saying, "It is indeed a large blue and white piece from the Yongle period of Emperor Zhu Di of the Ming Dynasty!"
As soon as he said this, Madam Qiao was overjoyed.
"Elder He, really?"
"Absolutely true… I guarantee it with my integrity, it's definitely not wrong!"
He Hongjian turned to look at Yang Chen and said with admiration, "Brother Yang, I am truly impressed!"
"I've been to the Qiao family many times and never noticed that this inconspicuous round vase in the hall was Ming blue and white. You recognized its true identity at a glance."
"I can't match your eyesight!"
Others might be polite, but he couldn't take it at face value.
Yang Chen smiled humbly and said, "You've seen too much and been misled by subjective consciousness. As a junior, I still have much to learn from you."
He Hongjian burst into hearty laughter. The more he looked at this humble young man, Yang Chen, the more he liked him.
"Brother Yang, at your young age, you possess such skill. You are truly the number one among the younger generation in the treasure appraisal world. Are you interested in joining our Antique Association?"
Membership in the Antique Association comprised all the great collectors and social celebrities in the collecting world, and entering this circle was the best way to expand one's network.
Yang Chen was overjoyed and was about to agree, but then he thought, "I've just become the general manager of the auction house. I should focus on making the auction house bigger and stronger to repay President Li's kindness in recognizing my talent. I shouldn't be distracted by expanding my own network."
"Elder He, thank you for your kind offer, I..."
"Elder He, Yang Chen is willing to join!"
Li Yu directly interrupted him and said with a smile, "Yang Chen, joining the Antique Association is a rare opportunity, and you can learn from seniors like Elder He. How honorable is this? You can't miss it!"
"President Li, but there are so many things at the company..."
Yang Chen still wanted to refuse, but seeing Li Yu winking at him, he understood: "That's right, how could I be so muddled? Expanding my network is also expanding the company's financial resources. These two things are not in conflict!"
"Elder He, I am willing to join the Antique Association."
"Good… good!"
He Hongjian was also filled with joy at introducing such a talented young man like Yang Chen.
"Give me your number. When the association has a gathering another day, I will formally introduce you to everyone!"
He Hongjian and Yang Chen exchanged numbers. He then said to Madam Qiao, "According to the rules of our antique world, since Brother Yang and his colleagues discovered this Yongle blue and white vase first, this transaction should naturally continue to be handled by them. I won't snatch someone else's prize and participate."
"This… how can I let you come all this way for nothing?"
Madam Qiao could see that He Hongjian liked this Ming blue and white piece, and she was also eager to cash in.
"President Li, Elder He, how about this? I will sell this blue and white porcelain to Elder He for 100 million. The 10% commission will still be paid to President Li. What do you think?"
If Yang Chen had not yet joined the Antique Association, Li Yu would not have wanted to miss the opportunity to make her Jin Xiang Yu Auction House famous with this Yongle blue and white vase.
Now that Yang Chen had joined the Antique Association and could connect with more social elites and wealthy individuals, which would be more effective in promoting the auction house than a single Yongle blue and white vase, why would she refuse?
Immediately, He Hongjian transferred 100 million to Madam Qiao and left happily with the Yongle blue and white vase. Madam Qiao also transferred 10 million in commission to Li Yu, and Madam Qiao herself received ninety million in cash.
This could be described as killing three birds with one stone!
"President Li, I will still entrust these fifteen antiques to your auction house for auction."
"Madam Qiao, you now have ninety million in liquid assets, and you still want to auction them?"
Madam Qiao wore a bitter smile and said helplessly, "My husband's company has too large a deficit. Even with ninety million in working capital now, it's probably not enough. These antiques, though they are his favorites, I can only part with them reluctantly. As long as we get through this difficult period, I can buy them back later."
"Alright, I will definitely promote these antiques well and sell them at a good price."
"I'll trouble you."
With that, Madam Qiao turned and took the initiative to shake Yang Chen's hand, saying, "Mr. Yang, you are truly talented. If it weren't for your discerning eye, the blue and white porcelain would still be gathering dust on the shelf. My Qiao family owes you a favor this time. In the future, if there's anything my Qiao family can do, I will spare no effort!"
"Madam Qiao, you are too kind. I was just doing my job. If you want to thank someone, thank President Li."
Madam Qiao looked at Yang Chen, then at Li Yu. Seeing the two standing together like a perfect couple, so well-matched, she sighed and said, "You two truly are a blessed union, and I believe that the Jin Xiang Yu Auction House will only become better and bigger under your cooperation!"
Li Yu's face turned red, but her heart was filled with joy.
Yang Chen was bewildered: "What does 'gua die yan mian' mean? Why did President Li blush and act shy when she heard it? It seems I need to read more books in my spare time, otherwise, I'll lose face talking to those old scholars in the Antique Association!"
…
Li Yu and Yang Chen brought Madam Qiao's fifteen antiques back to the company around noon. The company employees had already gone out for lunch.
Since the incident with Zhang Chi, Li Yu no longer dared to keep valuables in the vault on the first floor. She had Yang Chen move the antiques one by one into the safe in her office.
"President Li, the items are all put away."
"Good, thank you for your hard work."
"Then I'll be going out."
"Wait, sit down. I have something to tell you."
"Yes."
Li Yu took out the bank draft for ten million that Madam Qiao had just written and pushed it in front of Yang Chen.
"The blue and white porcelain was discovered by you, so this ten million commission should be your personal earnings."
"No!"
Yang Chen quickly refused, saying, "I was out on assignment with you, and this is considered within working hours. What I discover belongs to the company."
"No, things can't be calculated this way."
They politely declined each other, but Yang Chen absolutely refused to accept it.
"Since you absolutely refuse, how about this?"
Li Yu's beautiful eyes sparkled. She picked up the draft and said with a smile, "I'll keep this ten million, but the money is still yours. Consider it your capital investment in the company, and I'll give you 20% of the shares. How about that?"
"Give me shares?"
Yang Chen was astonished and said, "Then… then I'll become the boss of the company!"
"Of course, Mr. Yang!"
Yang Chen shuddered and stood up, waving his hands nervously:
"President Li, this… this simply won't do!"