1

About half a century has passed!

In the middle of summer, a belated spring art auction is being held in a five-star hotel in Beijing's East Third Ring Road, hosted by the famous Huabao International Auction Company in Beijing. At this moment, the auction has entered the last moment, the huge chandelier, the entire auction hall, illuminated brightly, the hall, crowded, full, buyers from all walks of life, frequently raise signs, eight million, ten million, fifteen million, twenty million...... A shocking sky-high price, shouted from the mouth of the auctioneer Qi Ning, with the fall of Qi Ning's hand, hundreds of priceless works of art, each with its own owner, in the auction room, there are also a few joys, a few sorrows, this is an artistic feast, but also a contest of wealth.

Auctioneer Qi Ning looked at his watch, it was already six o'clock in the afternoon, the auction had lasted for four hours, this art feast was coming to an end, and the buyers in the hall had already been dragged out by this protracted auction. Qi Ning flipped to the last page of the auction catalogue and glanced at the lot on the catalogue, Qi Ning frowned, and then, in a loud voice, said, "Here is the ...... Lot 1038, the last lot of the auction and the most important lot of the sale. ”

Qi Ning's loud words could not suppress the commotion in the hall, he looked around the hall for a week, and then continued: "This important lot is a Western Xia inlaid jewel wrapped in lotus pattern jade insert screen returned to China from overseas, it is said that this lot was found by the Russian explorer Kozlov in the ruins of Blackwater City in 1909, after that, this treasure has been overseas for more than a hundred years, and only recently returned to China, everyone already knows that our auction has been repeatedly postponed, all for this rare treasure, as Chinese, We hope to keep this treasure in China, but because this lot is returned from abroad, according to the laws of our country, this lot is a non-directional auction, and overseas friends can also bid. ”

Qi Ning said this, and looked at the buyers under the stands. Qi Ning, a famous auctioneer in Beijing, has more than 10 years of experience, has presided over hundreds of large and small auctions, in his hands hammer of various auction records, too numerous to mention, no matter how precious the artwork, he is just an understatement to introduce a sentence or two, I did not expect today, Qi Ning for the first time to introduce a lot for so long, but the buyers from all walks of life in the audience did not seem to be attracted by Qi Ning's introduction, everyone is still talking to each other, the commotion is not stopped. Some buyers are not interested in this lot, some buyers have doubts about the authenticity of this lot, and more buyers simply do not know what this Xixia inlaid jewel wrapped lotus pattern jade interstitial screen is? A middle-aged man sitting in the front row asked a fat man next to him, "What is this?" Is it worth it? ”

The fat man shook his head, "I don't know, I don't think it's worth it." ”

The middle-aged man turned to ask another collector next to him, "How do you keep looking at this thing?" ”

The other person also shook his head, "I haven't used it, it's hard to say, it's the first time I've seen this thing." ”

These words reached Qi Ning's ears, Qi Ning frowned again, he decided to start this unfavorable auction as soon as possible, Qi Ning cleared his throat and said in a loud voice: "Of course, I personally hope that powerful buyers in China will be generous and leave this national treasure in China, okay!" Let's start bidding, starting price: 8 million! ”

2

Qi Ning quoted the starting price, but there were few buyers in the audience, "Eight million." "Eight million and one million." "Eight million 150,000." "Eight and two hundred thousand." Several buyers quoted a few prices weakly, but they all hovered above eight million, obviously the buyers did not have much confidence in this Xixia inlaid jewelry wrapped lotus pattern jade interstitial, when Qi Ning shouted: "Eight million four million", his eyebrows were completely entangled, and Wang Kai, an employee of Huabao Auction Company who was also sitting on the stage, could not sit still, Wang Kai and Qi Ning were worried about the auction of this jade interstitial, as the finale of Huabao Company's spring auction this year, Huabao Company had great expectations for this jade interstitial screen from the Western Xia Dynasty, hoping that this lot would bring huge profits to the company, but now this price has disappointed both Qi Ning and Wang Kai.

Just when Qi Ning and Wang Kai were worrying about this lot, suddenly, a young man sitting in the front row held up his "208" number plate high, and suddenly quoted the sky-high price of "20 million", the hall that was still in a commotion just now was silent, and all the people in the audience focused their eyes on the young buyer, Qi Ning and Wang Kai looked at the young buyer curiously, only to see that this young man was about thirty years old, or maybe less than thirty, and looked polite, Not like a wealthy businessman, but like a young scholar.

This young man's name is Tang Feng, he is a young teacher at Jinning University, why did he appear here, even Tang Feng himself sometimes wondered, just now when various buyers were competing for me, Tang Feng, who was sitting in the front row, looked relaxed, and the hustle and bustle around him and the noise did not seem to make him interested, he looked at the rich people with red faces around him, and the upstarts who were dressed in fashion, and suddenly had a strange feeling, how could he appear here? It was a chance, it was a complete coincidence, he met a gray-haired old senior, the current chairman of the board of directors of a famous multinational company Mr. Shen Ziming, Mr. Shen Ziming also graduated from Jin University in his early years, in his early years, he did not forget the grace of his alma mater, and was willing to pour his family property to build a world-class art museum for Jin Da, and Jin Dazheng couldn't ask for it, so the two hit it off, Mr. Shen Ziming admired Tang Feng's talent, so he gave Tang Feng carte blanche to be responsible for the preparation of the museum.

The most important thing in the creation of the museum is undoubtedly a good collection, and Tang Feng is running around just to collect the most valuable collections with limited funds. Tang Feng turned the catalogue of the lot in his hand to the last page, and once again examined the shocking art treasure on the catalogue - Lot 1038, a jade insert from the ancient Xixia Dynasty, surrounded by gemstones, carved with exquisite ornamentation, the jade insert screen is warm and moist, it is made of high-quality Xinjiang Hetian mutton fat white jade, on the jade insert, there are still some strange symbols faintly visible, Tang Feng does not know what those symbols represent, but he relies on his own knowledge, but vaguely feels that this is a piece of great historical value, Artistic treasures of academic value.

The whole auction, many famous paintings and calligraphy, official kiln porcelain, treasure jade ware, did not make Tang Feng moved, only this one - Xixia inlaid jewelry wrapped lotus pattern jade interstitial, so that Tang Feng from the first time to see it on the catalogue, he was moved, this is enough as a treasure of the Jinda Museum of art, this more than half a month of rushing, all for this Xixia inlaid jewelry wrapped lotus pattern jade interstitial. Tang Feng didn't know how many people in this hall were interested in this Xixia jade interstitial, but for him, who was determined to get it, money was not a problem, thinking of this, Tang Feng did not hesitate to shout out the sky-high price of "twenty million", he hoped to use this price to defeat all the people who coveted this treasure.

Tang Feng felt the gaze of everyone, he knew that these gazes contained doubts, puzzles and surprises, and he also knew that the people in this hall, except for him, it was almost impossible for anyone to really understand the value of this Xixia jade interstitial, Tang Feng did not squint, stared directly at the small hammer in Qi Ning's hand, Qi Ning knocked the hammer in his hand, and shouted: "Twenty million, the first time!" ”

As soon as Qi Ning's voice fell, a scene that surprised everyone appeared again, a well-dressed, blonde and blue-eyed girl sitting on the telephone commission seat, after whispering a few words to the other end of the phone, raised the number plate, and quoted the price code of "25 million" in a blunt but unquestionable tone. The audience was shocked again, the difference was that this time the hall was no longer silent, but a bigger commotion, everyone turned their eyes to the blonde, many people noticed that the blonde holding the number plate on the middle finger of her right hand, wearing a peculiar emerald ring, the ring with the movement of the blonde's right hand, in the auction hall, emitting a strange light.

3

No one expected that this blonde would increase the price by five million at once, and the gloomy clouds on Qi Ning and Wang Kai's faces had long disappeared at this moment. Tang Feng didn't expect that he would bid 20 million, and someone would increase the price by 5 million at once, he knew that he had met a strong opponent, and the blonde did the same as himself, wanting to completely crush the psychological bottom line of those competitors and show that he was determined to win. Tang Feng settled down, he has Mr. Shen Ziming's strong financial backing, and the strong support of the school leaders, at this moment, he has no scruples, for this rare Xixia art treasure, he is determined to get.

When the blonde quoted 25 million, there was only a moment of commotion in the venue, and then silence returned, everyone's eyes widened, and they looked around to see if anyone could offer a higher price, Tang Feng had to respond, and he raised the number plate again: "Twenty-six million!" ”

"Twenty-seven million!" Blonde immediately returned to color.

"Twenty-eight million!" Tang Feng was not to be outdone.

"Twenty-nine million!" The blonde looks relaxed.

"Thirty million!" Tang Feng didn't think much about it.

……

The two had a fierce competition, and when the blonde quoted the sky-high price of 35 million, Tang Feng finally hesitated, he clenched the number plate in his hand, he didn't expect such a scene, 35 million! That's an amazing price! This is already more than four times the starting price, and although he has the strong support of the school leaders and Mr. Shen Ziming behind him, he is determined to win, but there are still some beads of sweat oozing from his palms.

Tang Feng's brain thought quickly, "The national treasure has been lost overseas for a hundred years, and foreigners can't be allowed to buy this treasure anymore!" Thinking of this, Tang Feng once again held his "208" number plate high, and the audience burst into applause, "Three thousand five and a half million!" After Qi Ning loudly quoted this price, he scanned the audience with the auctioneer's unique sharp gaze, and finally, his eyes fell on the blonde on the telephone consignment seat, Tang Feng's holding of the sign obviously made the blonde and the mysterious buyer on the other end of the phone a little uneasy, but the blonde quickly and calmly raised the number plate in her hand - "Thirty-six million!" ”。

"Three six and a half million!" Tang Feng continued to fight.

"Thirty-seven million!"

"Thirty-seven and a half million!"

"Thirty-eight million!"

"Thirty-eight and a half million!"

"Thirty-nine million!"

"Thirty-nine and a half million!"

……

The competition entered a white-hot state, and every time the blonde raised the number plate in her hand, the emerald ring on her hand would shine strangely in the auction hall*, and Tang Feng's heart would also sink, because it meant that he had to pay an extra million to get the jade interstitial. "Forty-five million!" When the blonde quoted this price, the audience was silent, and everyone turned their eyes to Tang Feng, forty-five million! It has far exceeded Tang Feng's original psychological expectations, he began to hesitate, began to weigh repeatedly, he felt that the blood in his whole body was surging to his brain, rational, at this time he needs to stay sane, Tang Feng tried his best to restrain himself, the hands of the watch pointed to half past six, this battle has been going on for half an hour, it's time to end, thinking of this, Tang Feng no longer hesitated, firmly raised the number plate in his right hand, and directly shouted out the sky-high price of "50 million"!

The sky-high price of 50 million is 5 million higher than the price of the blonde girl of 45 million just now, and the psychological bottom line of the mysterious buyer on the other end of the phone was completely crushed.

"Fifty million!" "Fifty million!" …… While shouting out this sky-high price that shocked everyone, Qi Ning glanced at the audience, the front row, the middle, the back row, and the corridor, and the telephone entrustment seat ......, "Fifty million, the first time!" The small hammer in Qi Ning's hand had already been raised, and Tang Feng's heart was also lifted with the small hammer in Qi Ning's hand, and he only waited for the auctioneer to shout "The last time!" "You can get this priceless art treasure.

4

But when Qi Ning's eyes swept to the back row again, he was surprised to find that someone raised a sign again, the higher the transaction price of the lot, the more commission the auction company earned, so every auctioneer is eager to create one sky-high price after another in his own hands, Qi Ning couldn't suppress his excitement, he raised his voice: "The gentleman in the back row has bid, how much?" Sixty million! Sixty million! The gentleman in the back row bid 60 million, which is 10 million higher than the gentleman in front, which is close to eight times the starting price and the highest price for a single artwork in this auction! ”

Hearing that someone bid 60 million again, he thought that 50 million could put the Xixia inlaid jewels wrapped in the lotus pattern jade insert into the bag Tang Feng, suddenly his mind was blank, he couldn't believe his ears, he didn't believe that there were people who would pay a higher price than 50 million, Tang Feng couldn't sit still anymore, he turned his head sharply, and looked in the direction of Qi Ning's finger, in the auction hall, there were crowds, people were talking about the sky-high price of 60 million, Tang Feng, who was sitting in the front row, couldn't see the appearance of the person in the back row, he only saw a pale, The wizened arm held the number 1227 plate, which hung stiffly in the air......

It was an old man's arm, it was so pale, thin, and stiff, as if it would fall down with a slight push, but that arm was holding the number 1227 plate so firmly, who was he? Unexpectedly, the first bid shouted a sky-high price of 60 million!

Sixty million! This number completely shattered Tang Feng's psychological bottom line, but he was still unwilling, after all, that Xixia treasure was a little worse than himself just now, but ...... now?

The people in the audience turned their eyes to Tang Feng again, Qi Ning also looked directly at Tang Feng, and lost no time in asking: "This gentleman, the old gentleman in the back row bid 60 million, do you have a higher price?" ”

Tang Feng's face flushed, he bowed his head and was silent, and the audience was silent...... Qi Ning looked down at the audience and began the final countdown.

"Sixty million, for the first time!"

"Sixty million, the second time!"

Tang Feng quickly adjusted his emotions, and seeing that the small hammer in Qi Ning's hand was about to fall, he made a waiting gesture to Qi Ning on the stage, "Think about it again, we can wait for you!" You're running out of time, though. With Qi Ning's words, time passed minute by minute, Tang Feng tried his best to restrain his impulsiveness, calm down, you must be calm! Everything around has come to a standstill, slowly, slowly...... Tang Feng has re-established his psychological bottom line.

"If you don't bid, this Xixia inlaid jewel wrapped lotus pattern jade interstitial screen is the old gentleman in the back row!" With Qi Ning's final urging, Tang Feng raised his head suddenly, and at the same time raised the number plate in his hand without hesitation, but the moment he looked up, he clearly saw that Qi Ning's eyes were not staring at him, but glanced at the small door on the left side of the hall, and in an instant, a strange and frightened look flashed in Qi Ning's eyes, and then, Qi Ning hurriedly dropped the small hammer in his hand as if he had lost his soul, "Ding!" With a bang, the sound of the small thump falling broke Tang Feng's tense heartstrings, he turned his head to look at the small door on the left, only to see that after the small door shook lightly twice, it returned to its original state, what happened there just now? It made Qi Ning so frightened!

"Sixty million, this Xixia inlaid jewel wrapped lotus pattern jade interstitial screen belongs to the old gentleman in the back row." With Qi Ning's final word, there was a commotion in the hall, all of this happened in half a minute, most people didn't figure out what was going on, Tang Feng only felt a stream of blood rushing straight to his brain, he stood up on the ground, and protested to Qi Ning on the stage: "Why? I've obviously raised my card again, and you've seen it, so why do you have to drop the hammer? ”

Tang Feng's protest caused an even bigger commotion in the hall, but Qi Ning was not panicked by Tang Feng's protest, a trace of panic flashed in his eyes just now, which was long gone at this time, he regained his former composure, and replied to Tang Feng in a calm tone: "I'm sorry, this gentleman, we have already given you time, if you wait too long, it will be unfair to other buyers!" ”

"But—but I've already raised my card, and you didn't say 'one last time' before I raised it!" Tang Feng still argued that there were also four or five buyers in the hall, who supported Tang Feng loudly for various reasons: "Yes! It's not fair and should be re-auctioned. Most of the people were not interested in this, and the afternoon auction had already exhausted everyone and starved, so everyone got up and left their seats and walked out of the hall, shouting, clamour, the sound of chairs clashing, and the auction hall fell into chaos......

Tang Feng's voice was completely drowned out in this chaos, on the stage, Qi Ning also began to pack up his things, ready to leave, Tang Feng excitedly squeezed through the crowd, pounced on the stage, and asked Qi Ning face to face: "What did you see just now?" Did someone tell you to do that? I'm going to complain to your company. ”

In the face of Tang Feng's questioning, a trace of horror flashed in Qi Ning's eyes again, and the auctioneer, who had always been sharp-tongued, even stammered: "No! Not...... No one you have to complain...... It's your right, I'm sorry, the auction is over, I'm leaving! After speaking, Qi Ning pushed Tang Feng away and hurriedly left the auction hall.

In the auction hall, the people gradually dispersed, and finally, in the hall, only Tang Feng and a few waiters who cleaned up the venue were left, Tang Feng sat on the chair weakly, and looked at the Xixia inlaid jewel wrapped in lotus pattern jade on the last page of the auction catalogue in a daze, this treasure was once so close to him, but now, it is so far away, it has a new owner, where will the new owner take it? No one knows, and maybe this treasure will disappear from people's sight again, and no one will know his whereabouts again.

"Sir, the auction is over......" Tang Feng looked up, and in front of him was the smiling face of a hotel waiter, he knew that it was time for him to get out of here.

5

Walking out of the auction hall, Tang Feng walked towards the elevator with a heavy heart, and at the moment when the elevator door was about to close, Tang Feng saw the pale, thin, and stiff arm again, he hurried two steps and came to the elevator door, and the person in the elevator also saw Tang Feng, and pressed the elevator door that was about to close, as if waiting for Tang Feng to come in. Standing at the elevator door, Tang Feng's footsteps were suddenly a little sluggish, he looked at the person in the elevator, hesitated for a moment, and finally walked into the elevator suspiciously.

The elevator slowly descended to the underground parking lot on the first floor, Tang Feng looked at the person in front of him unfriendly, this is a white-haired old man, who looks like he has long passed his prime, but he is still in good spirits, when the two of them look at each other, Tang Feng noticed that the old man was also staring at him, so Tang Feng asked the old man hostilely: "Are you colluding with that auctioneer?" It's an unfair auction! ”

The old man listened to Tang Feng's question, frowned slightly, he didn't have a seizure, and he didn't answer Tang Feng's question, but asked Tang Feng rhetorically: "Young man, you also fell in love with that Xixia inlaid jewel wrapped lotus pattern jade interstitial?" ”

"Of course!" Tang Feng's answer was firm.

The white-haired old man nodded, and said, "However, before you want to get this treasure, you must know one thing, sometimes you may not be able to get what you want with interest and money!" ”

Tang Feng stared at the old man with a puzzled face, he didn't know what the old man meant by what he said just now. The white-haired old man continued: "In addition to interest and money, sometimes you need a wealth of knowledge and years of experience, for example, have you noticed those strange symbols on the jade interstitial? ”

"I found out, too, but didn't dig deeper. Do you know what those symbols represent? The old man's words aroused Tang Feng's curiosity.

"So you didn't get this national treasure, and if you could decipher the huge value of those symbols, you wouldn't have thought about it for a long time for a mere 60 million yuan and missed the opportunity. As for what those symbols represent? Since you didn't have the chance to get the jade interstitial, don't dig any deeper. The old man said to Tang Feng in a fatherly tone.

Just 60 million RMB? Such a big breath, 60 million, for the vast majority of Chinese, it is simply an astronomical amount, they will not be able to earn so much money in their lifetime, and the old man in front of him said a mere 60 million from his mouth so easily, where is he sacred?

Tang Feng just wanted to speak, and then heard the old man say: "The most important thing is not these, but whether you have a sincere love for the artwork you desire, not only to pay money for it, but sometimes, even to pay your life for it!" ”

Life? Give your life for a work of art! Tang Feng never thought about this problem, maybe he really had nothing to do with this national treasure, but Tang Feng was still very unconvinced and retorted: "But if it wasn't for that auctioneer just now, you wouldn't have gotten this national treasure so easily!" ”

The white-haired old man laughed dryly twice, and said: "I admit that the auctioneer's behavior just now is very strange, but even if you raise the card again, it will only cost me more money, eighty million, or a hundred million, for me, it is just a number, it is meaningless at all, I just need that Xixia inlaid jewel wrapped in lotus pattern jade interstitial." ”

Eighty million, one hundred million! Tang Feng's heart sank, although he knew that this jade interstitial screen contained great value, but he never thought that the jade interstitial screen would be worth eighty million? 100 million? Today he finally learned what it really means to be determined! Tang Feng once again looked seriously at the old man in front of him, the old man's dress was very ordinary, not like the rich and upstarts in the auction hall just now, the world's famous brands all over his body, he only wore a very ordinary short-sleeved T-shirt, this T-shirt will never exceed 100 yuan in Beijing, and then listen to the old man's accent, it is a standard Beijing accent, such an old man, if he walks in the alleys of Beijing, it is no more ordinary, but the old man is so generous, what kind of person is he?

The elevator stopped on the first floor, which is the underground parking lot of the entire building, "Is this jade interstitial really worth 100 million?" Tang Feng asked.

The old man smiled, did not answer Tang Feng's question, and only dropped a sentence: "Fortunately, this national treasure was not bought by foreigners." He walked out of the elevator.

Tang Feng was still standing at the elevator door in a daze, recalling the old man's words just now, and suddenly, the white-haired old man seemed to remember something, turned around, walked over to Tang Feng again, and said, "Young man, do you have a business card?" Seeing that you are so interested in this national treasure, give me a business card, and I will contact you when I have a chance in the future. ”

Tang Feng hurriedly turned out his business card on his body and handed it over, the old man glanced at Tang Feng's business card, and put the business card away expressionlessly, Tang Feng asked the old man for a business card, but the old man said: "I am a mountain and a villager, a retired old man, how can I have any business cards, as for my name, you will know it in the future." Tang Feng wanted to say something, but the old man had already walked towards a Mercedes Benz in the parking lot.

Tang Feng stood in place in amazement, and suddenly, the strong light from the headlights of the Mercedes-Benz car hit his face directly, followed by "Di! Backbite! Two very unfriendly horns, Tang Feng hurriedly took a step back, and the Mercedes-Benz car immediately whistled past him, and at the moment when the Mercedes-Benz drove past Tang Feng, Tang Feng saw that in the Mercedes-Benz car, it was not the white-haired old man who was driving, but a young girl.

6

Yunhong Building is only 13 floors, which is not prominent among the many high-rise buildings in Beijing, and Huabao International Auction Company is located on the top floor of this building.

Tang Feng was still worried about yesterday's unpleasant auction, and came to Huabao Company early in the morning. At this moment, he is sitting opposite Guo Hong, president of Huabao International Auction Company, the two are separated by a desk, Guo Hong is listening to Tang Feng's complaints with a smile on his face, and from time to time he writes down one or two sentences on a note in front of him, and when Tang Feng finally finishes narrating the bizarre scene at yesterday's auction, Guo Hong put down the pen in his hand and said: "Mr. Tang, for the problems you reflect, our company will seriously investigate and deal with them seriously, if there is indeed injustice or manipulation in yesterday's auction, we will never be merciful, Please fully believe this, if we have caused you unnecessary losses due to negligence and mistakes in our work, I can only express my deep regret, I am very sorry, and I hope to get your understanding. ”

Tang Feng was not satisfied with Guo Hong's diplomatic rhetoric, but after all, he did not cause any actual losses, so it was impossible for the auction company to give any substantive solution, and it was unrealistic to want to re-auction. Tang Feng didn't know why he disrupted his original schedule today and came here to complain, was he dissatisfied? Or angry? Tang Feng thought about it carefully, and felt that it was not, perhaps out of strong curiosity! Before, Tang Feng had participated in various auctions at home and abroad, but he had never been in that situation like yesterday, what was the bizarre scene yesterday? What did the auctioneer Qi Ning see? And what secret is hidden in that Xixia inlaid jewel wrapped lotus pattern jade interstitial, and someone will do anything to get it?

Thinking of this, Tang Feng put forward his own request: "I don't need your apology, I just want to meet yesterday's auctioneer, Mr. Qi Ning, and find out what happened yesterday?" ”

"This ......" Guo Hong's face was embarrassed, he looked at his watch, thought about it and said, "Okay, I'll help you get in touch, but he may not be there at this point now." ”

Sure enough, the call came to Qi Ning's office, and the person was not there, so Guo Hong dialed Qi Ning's mobile phone again and turned it off! Guo Hong shook his head helplessly and said, "Since the auction ended yesterday, I haven't seen anyone else, and I can't contact him. ”

"Oh?" Tang Feng had another layer of doubt in his heart.

Sending Tang Feng away, Guo Hong, who was embarrassed and angry, went straight into Wang Kai's office and shouted, "Do you know where Qi Ning went? I couldn't find anyone since last night, and just now everyone came to the door, and he didn't explain yesterday's events to me clearly, so he did it! ”

"I ...... I've called him N times, but I still can't reach him, yesterday ...... He didn't seem to be home last night! Wang Kai was frightened by Guo Hong's angry appearance.

Guo Hong stood in front of the huge glass curtain wall of the office, panting, the anger in his heart was unsettled, he slammed the window glass with his fist, and said to himself: "This Qi Ning has always been very reliable, how did he do it this time, if it is publicized by others, our company's reputation will be ......."

"Yes! Qi Ning has always been cautious, and this time he doesn't know what's going on. Wang Kai agreed.

Suddenly, Guo Hong asked, "Is that thing still there?" ”

"It's been picked up by the buyer." Wang Kai knew that Guo Hong must have asked the Xixia inlaid jewel wrapped in the lotus pattern jade interstitial.

"So fast?" Guo Hong was taken aback. He secretly wondered in his heart about the identity of this buyer and Qi Ning's abnormal behavior, what is the connection between them?

Tang Feng came down from the thirteenth floor and walked out of Yunhong Building, at the door of the building, he looked up at the blue sky, and shook his head habitually, as if he wanted to forget yesterday's unpleasantness. Suddenly, he felt a gust of wind over his head, and something fell from the sky like a free fall, "Whoosh-pop!" The object fell heavily in front of Tang Feng, Tang Feng was so shocked that he took a step back, and then looked carefully, it was actually a person who fell, the person's head and body had been completely misplaced, his face was obliquely turned sideways, facing Tang Feng, the bloody face was vaguely recognizable, at this moment, the eyes that were once blazing, only a large area of whites stained red by blood remained, Tang Feng finally recognized that the person who fell in front of him was the Qi Ning he was looking for just now.

At this time, the Huabao International Auction Company on the thirteenth floor of Yunhong Building had also exploded, only Guo Hong and Wang Kai stood upright in front of the huge glass curtain wall, motionless, because, just half a minute ago, Qi Ning had just fallen in front of their eyes......

7

Tang Feng was interrogated by the police at the police station for a long time, and after making a record, he was allowed to leave. Tang Feng came out of the police station, and the more he thought about it, the more depressed he became, originally he came for the Xixia jade interstitial, but as a result, because of Qi Ning's abnormal behavior, the jade interstitial screen was not obtained, but he witnessed Qi Ning jumping off the building, all of which had to make Tang Feng think about these two things together.

Thinking of this, Tang Feng refunded the return ticket and came to Guo Hong's office on the thirteenth floor of Yunhong Building. As soon as Tang Feng entered the door, he saw Guo Hong and Wang Kai with haggard faces and untidy clothes, I don't know what they were busy with, Guo Hong caught a glimpse of Tang Feng, smiled bitterly, and first spoke: "Mr. Tang, don't come to make trouble at this time, we will definitely deal with your complaints seriously, you see what kind of chaos we are here now, yesterday I have been interrogated by the police until late at night, this company still has a lot of things to do, I am already anxious, it's all that Qi Ning, what kind of building to jump into!" ”

"I'm here for Qi Ning's business!" Tang Feng tried his best to keep himself calm.

"For Qi Ning's business?" Guo Hong looked at Tang Feng in a daze, glanced at Wang Kai beside him again, and then sat down on the wide boss's chair and waved his hand at Wang Kai.

Wang Kai exited Guo Hong's office very interestingly, at this time, only Tang Feng and Guo Hong were left in the office, Guo Hong looked at Tang Feng suspiciously, and asked: "Mr. Tang, there is no one else here now, can you say anything?" ”

"Let me ask you first, when the police questioned you, did you tell them about the auction the day before yesterday?"

When Guo Hong heard this, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he exclaimed, "Are you suspicious...... Is Qi Ning's jump related to his unusual behavior at the auction? ”

"Didn't Mr. Guo think of this?"

Guo Hong sighed and said: "I want to say that I didn't expect it to be a lie, but for the sake of our company's reputation, I can't think about it, I must believe that Qi Ning's death has nothing to do with that auction, if even I don't believe it, then, what will our company's employees, customers, and those colleagues who are staring at us think of this matter, so ......"

"So you didn't tell the police?" Tang Feng's gaze forced Guo Hong.

Guo Hong nodded helplessly, and then he asked Tang Feng again: "You told the police?" ”

"Yes, of course I have to. It is the duty of every citizen to cooperate with law enforcement officials in the investigation of cases! Tang Feng said seriously.

"This is bad, if the police really investigate and come up with any evidence against our company, it will be ......," Guo Hong's forehead oozed some fine sweat.

Tang Feng smiled at Guo Hong, "Mr. Guo, if you don't want the police to investigate your company, you might as well tell me about it now." ”

"What do you want to know?" Guo Hong looked a little nervous.

"Qi Ning's situation? Especially the most recent? ”

"What is there to investigate about him, Qi Ning has always been very dedicated before, and his reputation is very good, which is obvious to all in the industry, you can ask this, his death also makes me very puzzling, Qi Ning has a successful career and a harmonious family, I really can't think of any reason for him to jump off the building? Apart from...... Except for that auction......"

"It seems that Mr. Guo also agrees with my point of view."

"But so what? Just because he dropped the hammer in advance at the auction, can it have something to do with him jumping off the building? ”

Tang Feng thought for a while and said to Guo Hong: "Whether Qi Ning's abnormal behavior at the auction has anything to do with him jumping off the building, I'm not sure, but let's assume that Qi Ning's death is related to his abnormal behavior at the auction, then there is one person who is very suspicious." ”

"Who?"

"Of course, he is the beneficiary of Qi Ning's abnormal behavior, the old man who bought the Xixia jade interstitial. Who is he? You should know, right? ”

"Nope! Mr. Tang, I think you should be aware of the rules of our industry, we must keep the confidentiality of our customers, and we cannot ...... without the permission of our customers."

"Okay, don't tell me this useless, just the two of us now, I won't tell the police, if you don't tell me, I'll call the police to investigate." Tang Feng interrupted Guo Hong's words.

Guo Hong looked at Tang Feng helplessly, he thought for a while, and finally nodded: "Okay, you wait a while, I'll check it on the computer." ”

As he spoke, Guo Hong fiddled with his computer, and then said to himself suspiciously: "Strange! This ......"

"How?" Tang Feng asked curiously.

"Our company's information shows that the buyer of the jade interstitial screen is named Liang Yuan, who is from Hong Kong."

"Liang Yuan......?" Tang Feng muttered this soft name in his mouth.

"I'm strange that this is obviously not the old man's name, it's more like a woman's name, in addition, what makes me feel strange is that our company's information only has this content, and this extraordinary Liang Yuan, I don't have any impression in my mind, I have been in this industry for more than ten years, and I basically know those powerful collectors at home and abroad, but I really have no impression of this Liang Yuan."

Tang Feng is also trying his best to search for the name in his mind, Liang Yuan? Famous collectors at home and abroad? A well-known figure in academia? The richest on the rich list? No, haven't heard of the name!

Tang Feng chatted with Guo Hong for a while, but never got any valuable clues from Guo Hong's mouth, disappointed, Tang Feng had to get up and say goodbye, before leaving, Tang Feng smiled at Guo Hong, and said: "Mr. Guo, there is one thing I forgot to tell you, the police asked me, and I also told the police about Qi Ning's unusual behavior at the auction that day, but you can rest assured, because the police didn't take my words seriously at all, what they needed was evidence, and I didn't." ”

"You ......" Guo Hong was obviously ashamed of Tang Feng's threat to him just now, but he had no choice but to shake his head helplessly.

Tang Feng came out of Guo Hong's office and came to the downstairs of Yunhong Building, he instinctively looked up, yesterday, Qi Ning jumped from the top of the building, and fell here, today, it is bustling with people, and there is no trace of Qi Ning's fall. Why did Qi Ning choose this point of no return? Who is the white-haired old man who bought the jade interstitial screen at auction? With questions, Tang Feng hurriedly left Yunhong Building.