If it were a matter of weighing things by the pound for payment, Wang Guan and the others would undoubtedly have the advantage.

Because even if Jia Qin set a high price, explicitly stating the cost per jin, everyone could selectively choose the finest items to weigh, ensuring they wouldn't lose out.

However, in the next second, everyone realized there were no such bargains in this world.

At this very moment, Jia Qin smiled warmly, gesturing toward the shelves. "I won't waste time with pleasantries. We calculate payment based on the shelf—more precisely, by the items resting upon it. After you've examined what's on a shelf, estimate a total price, write it down, and hand it to me. If I deem it suitable, you can pack up everything and take it all."

Hearing this, the crowd let out an involuntary sigh amidst their surprise. This was clearly a blind auction; "suitable price" essentially meant the highest bidder wins.

But as it was stated to be an overt strategy, seeing through it offered no way to circumvent it. Setting aside the maneuvering minds of the crowd, Wang Guan was determined to enter this game. After all, since the shop was open, he naturally intended to purchase a good quantity to replenish his stock.

He wasn't alone. Fifty-three other antique dealers also stepped forward to examine the contents of the first shelf. Then, others rushed forward as well; even if they weren't planning to buy, appreciating the items was worthwhile.

After careful inspection, a headache began to dawn on many. It wasn't that the items were poor, but rather that they were arranged in utter disarray, a mix of high and low quality. Logically, items on the same shelf should have some discernible pattern in their categorization.

Yet, after surveying the display, Wang Guan discovered there was a categorization, but it wasn't by era or item type; it was sorted strictly by value. Coincidentally, exactly half the items were valuable, and the other half were rather common, which is what created the chaotic appearance.

This meant that to acquire the desirable pieces, one also had to take the less valuable ones along. It was, in a way, a forced bundling tactic, hardly different from strong-arming someone into a purchase.

Of course, it was slightly better than outright coercion because no one was forced to buy; they retained the power of choice—it was entirely up to them whether to take it or leave it. When one is under another's roof, one must yield. Since this was currently a buyer's market, even if people were displeased, they dared not complain or show it.

"How does it look?"

Meanwhile, Jia Qin chuckled. "You are the experts; you must have a good sense of what these items are worth. Just write down your figures for me, so we don't waste everyone's time."

It was evident that Jia Qin was somewhat impatient, preferring swift, decisive action to cut through complexities—a common trait in the young. Otherwise, he could have patiently waited for competition to drive the bids higher, instead of using a blind bid format to get an immediate result.

However, the blind bid method had its advantages; at least without knowing the others' bottom lines, one might submit a higher figure than in a direct bidding contest.

Of course, this was all conjecture. Without direct comparison, it was impossible to know which method yielded a higher price. But regardless, Jia Qin had already factored in taking a slight loss when deciding to sell these items.

After all, Wang Guan and the others weren't fools. Even if they couldn't reach a consensus, they shared a basic understanding: the prices offered would certainly not exceed the market rate, at most approaching it. How close they got to the market price, or what figure best served their own interests, was a matter for individual judgment.

Urged by Jia Qin, nobody hesitated. After a brief deliberation, they each filled out a number and passed it over. Jia Qin was equally prompt; after glancing at the figures, he shook a hand with one person with a beaming smile.

Seeing this, everyone understood the procedure but wisely refrained from inquiring about the quoted price. It was only the beginning, and there were many more lots to come; there was no need to rush.

The subsequent process was predictable: continued participation in the blind bidding.

During this, Wang Guan spotted some items he liked and decisively submitted a high bid, securing an entire large shelf of pieces. With these acquisitions, the Shi Yi Ge (Picking Up Lost Treasures Pavilion) likely wouldn't have to worry about sourcing stock for a while.

Simultaneously, Wang Guan noticed something: Elder Chang, Elder Zeng, and two or three major collectors had yet to make a move. Judging by their expressions, they seemed to be holding back, perhaps waiting for something.

Wang Guan became pensive and began to grasp the situation vaguely. The items on these shelves were either ceramic vases and jars, or ornaments carved from ivory, horn, or wood, along with various editions of Ming and Qing dynasty ancient books. In short, these items were acceptable, but they were a significant notch below true treasures like the Immortal Life in the Fuchun Mountains replica.

When Wang Guan secured that large shelf, the price hadn't even exceeded one million. The items on the other shelves were surely comparable. Even though this reflected a conscious effort by the buyers to suppress prices, it strongly indicated one thing: it wasn't that there were no good things here, but rather a lack of true, exceptional gems.

It was likely that Elder Chang and the others already knew this, having had prior connections with Old Master Jia, thus being aware of the Jia family’s collection. Furthermore, as established powerhouses, they likely looked down upon these miscellaneous items.

Of course, Wang Guan wasn't the only one who spotted this discrepancy; others understood it to some degree, leading to even fiercer competition.

The fact that Elder Chang and the others disdained these items didn't mean they did. Thinking further, if a truly heavyweight treasure were to appear later, they knew they likely wouldn't be able to compete against Elder Chang and the others if they chose to bid.

Self-awareness is vital. If they didn't want to leave empty-handed, these current items were their best bet. Thus, after a round of vying, everything in the spacious room was eventually divided among them.

"Is that all?" At this point, Elder Chang finally spoke leisurely. "Young Jia, since this section is settled, are you going to lead us to the next area?"

"Naturally. Everyone, please follow me."

Jia Qin was in high spirits. With a call, he led the way out. Wang Guan and the others naturally trailed behind, eventually arriving at a nearby room—a magnificent and opulent space.

The moment they stepped inside, the first thing they saw was a row of colossal screens, twelve in total. Each screen featured not only painted ladies but also inscribed poetry.

Wang Guan concentrated and was instantly surprised: "The Twelve Beauties of Jinling!"

The Twelve Beauties of Jinling mentioned here obviously referred to the characters from Dream of the Red Chamber: Xue Baochai, Lin Daiyu, Shi Xiangyun, and so on. Each screen depicted one figure, combining to form a grand assembly of the Twelve Beauties.

At this, everyone crowded closer to examine them. The Twelve Beauties on the screens were rendered in vibrant Gongbi (meticulous brushwork), and the technique was exquisite, providing immense visual pleasure.

"Such fine painting must be the work of a master."

Someone exclaimed in admiration and quickly circled to the back to check the inscription. This person had guessed correctly; upon seeing the signature, they gasped, "It's actually a work by Hu Yefo!"

"Who? Hu Yefo for real..." In an instant, everyone surged forward to gather around.

Wang Guan lagged a step behind, not wanting to push through the crowd. With a flicker of his eyes, he instead turned to Elder Chang for guidance. "Elder Chang, you must know the provenance of this screen. Is it truly a masterpiece by Mr. Hu Yefo?"

Hu Yefo was a renowned painter of the modern era, and while his fame couldn't rival giants like Zhang Daqian or Qi Baishi, he was considered an overlooked master within the Shanghai School. Mentioning his name often drew blank stares from the general public.

However, among connoisseurs, works by Hu Yefo were rare gems, highly sought after. Unfortunately, genuine pieces by Hu Yefo are exceedingly rare, leading to a market flooded with fakes, which explained Wang Guan's skepticism.

"It is indeed genuine."

Elder Chang affirmed with a nod, tinged with a bit of nostalgia. "Years ago, Brother Jia and Hu Yefo were very close friends. Knowing Brother Jia's tastes, Hu Yefo personally took up his brush on Brother Jia's birthday and painted this set of twelve portraits of the Jinling Beauties as a gift."

"Brother Jia was overjoyed to receive such a gift. Coincidentally, the family was having screens made, and he had a brilliant idea. With Hu Yefo’s permission, he carefully divided the massive collective painting into twelve sections and encased them between layers of clear glass within the screens. This not only preserved the portraits perfectly but also increased the screens' value more than tenfold—it was quite the celebrated story at the time."

Elder Chang sighed sentimentally. "This piece was Brother Jia's utmost favorite. I recall someone offering thirty million yuan a few years ago to take the screens, but Brother Jia didn't even consider it and promptly chased the person away in anger."

"Thirty million..." Wang Guan sucked in a breath, but after glancing back at the screens, he suddenly felt the price seemed low. Hu Yefo was most famous for his paintings of beautiful women (Shi Nü), earning him the nickname the Second Qiu Shizhou (Qiu Ying). Even Zhang Daqian admitted he couldn't capture the seductive charm present in Hu Yefo's female figures.

During the Republican era, Hu Yefo's meticulous Gongbi ladies were immensely popular, dominating the scene with his unique skill known as "Iron Wire Flowing Silk"—the lines outlining the figures were executed in one continuous, perfectly uniform, and powerful stroke, a technique still unmatched domestically.

For such a master to paint his most accomplished subject, combined with the screen frames intricately carved from Black Rosewood (Zishenmu), thirty million yuan was truly on the low side for a combined offering.

With this in mind, Wang Guan asked humbly, "Then, Elder Chang, what do you think this set should be worth?"

"...Young man, you're trying to pump me for information," Elder Chang said with a knowing smile, refusing to be tricked. "Think about it yourself."

Old and cunning, truly difficult to fool...

Wang Guan blinked subtly, offering a few internal complaints, before seriously considering the situation. The items were genuinely excellent, but he worried that even better treasures lay ahead. If he bought this now, he’d be out of funds.

Thinking this, Wang Guan realized he was the poor man...