Fang Mingsheng glanced at the business card, intrigued. "It should have some name recognition, right?"

"Average, I haven't heard much about it," Yu Wei shook his head. "There are so many auction houses in London, I couldn't even begin to count them. Some have been operating for centuries, maintaining their original signage even after changing owners. But even the century-old establishments vary greatly in quality."

Wang Guan had some familiarity with British auction houses. After all, Sotheby's and Christie's branches had already opened in China, so he naturally needed to understand the local landscape.

The origins of auction houses seemed to trace back to ancient Rome, where Romans auctioned items like statues and tapestries, though these were often transactions between buyer and seller. The auctioneer acting as an intermediary, and the auction house emerging as a profession, originated in London.

This was in the eighteenth century, in a place in London called Covent Garden. It had always been a fruit, vegetable, and flower market, but it became the venue for book auctions. Buyers could inspect and browse the books slated for auction during the day, and as night fell, someone would begin presiding over the bidding...

And so, the world's oldest auction house—Sotheby's—was born.

People were very satisfied with this novel method of selling, and naturally, many merchants began to promote it, causing auction houses to spring up like mushrooms after a spring rain.

Of course, the prosperity of auction houses was closely linked to the broader environment at the time. Britain possessed the world's most extensive colonies and had issued letters of marque and reprisal. The simplest, most convenient, and quickest way to dispose of the gold, silver, treasures, and precious artifacts plundered from around the globe was naturally to entrust them to an auction house.

With an abundant supply of goods, there was no reason for the auction industry not to flourish. Thus, some major auction houses had operated for over two hundred years without failing, their scale continually expanding, their branches spreading globally, and their turnover soaring.

The business of the major auction houses was certainly becoming more and more prosperous. After all, the brand effect established over two centuries naturally inspired confidence, continuously generating economic value. However, the smaller auction houses should not be underestimated either. If they could survive in the ever-tightening competition between the major houses, they must have their own methods.

For example, the Tang Hou Xing Cong Tu from not long ago was also an item consigned by a small auction house. As the saying goes, a small boat turns quickly. Small auction houses don't have as many rigid regulations as the larger ones and can adjust their commission rates at any time to attract more consignors. This is unlike the major houses, where moving one part affects the whole, requiring them to consider the overall picture and numerous other factors.

"Unlike the grand auction spectacles of the major houses each quarter, these smaller firms frequently hold intimate sales," Yu Wei chuckled. "There's a different small auction happening almost daily, and if you're lucky, you might uncover something quite valuable."

At this point, Yu Wei paused, his eyes filled with envy as he looked at the Golden Cicada Jade Leaf in Wang Guan's hand. "Of course, things comparable to 'Golden Sound and Jade Vibration' are exceedingly rare..."

Frankly, the agent from that small auction house earlier truly had eyes but failed to recognize jade set in gold. He didn't grasp the cultural significance of that piece in the eyes of Chinese people; he just thought it was exquisitely crafted, which is why he approached Wang Guan to inquire about consigning it. After being refused, he left immediately without pressing the issue further.

If it had been an art agent familiar with Chinese cultural context, he certainly wouldn't have missed such an opportunity so easily.

"It's almost noon."

Sensing the admiration in Yu Wei's gaze, Wang Guan smiled, carefully putting the item away, and then reminded them, "Mr. Paul should be back by now. Shall we go check on him again?"

Hearing this, Yu Wei reluctantly withdrew his desire to examine the object further and called the waiter over to settle the bill. A moment later, the group left the café and proceeded to Mr. Paul's residence.

Ringing the doorbell again, the middle-aged woman, who might be Mr. Paul's wife, answered. The uncertainty stemmed from the fact that Westerners place high value on marital fidelity, leading some to avoid marriage altogether. Yet, cohabitation and having children before marriage were commonplace, free from the condemnation faced by many in China who marry due to pregnancy. This cultural difference often provoked envy and longing among their compatriots.

Just as Wang Guan was lost in thought, Yu Wei finished communicating with the middle-aged woman. He frowned and turned back, saying, "Mr. Paul hasn't returned yet, and it looks like he won't be back for lunch."

"Is he busy with something?" Wang Guan also frowned slightly.

Yu Wei immediately inquired and was momentarily stunned after hearing the reply: "He went to an auction."

"Oh, what a coincidence."

Wang Guan expressed a bit of surprise himself. "At which auction? Don't tell me it's the one on the business card."

"It's not that coincidental," Yu Wei said with a smile at this point. "It's a small auction house holding a minor sale today. I heard there are a few nice pieces of porcelain among the lots, so Mr. Paul went to attend. The location isn't far; do you two want to drop by and see the excitement?"

"It's noon, and it hasn't ended?" Wang Guan found this a bit odd.

"They have morning and afternoon sessions," Yu Wei explained. "There's a break at noon so people can regain their energy before diving into the afternoon bidding."

"I think it’s less about regaining energy and more about preparing money," Fang Mingsheng quipped. "Since we're idle anyway, let's go take a look."

Wang Guan had no objection. The group then bid farewell to the middle-aged woman and, after some winding turns, arrived at the small auction house. The venue wasn't large but possessed an elegant environment, echoing the charm of ancient architecture.

However, since an auction was in progress, the exterior security was tight, preventing unauthorized personnel from entering, so Wang Guan and the others were naturally stopped outside.

Yu Wei seemed more knowledgeable about the situation. He smiled and communicated with the guard. Whatever he said, the guard turned and walked inside with an expression of doubt. Not long after, he returned with a tall, middle-aged man dressed impeccably in a suit.

"That's Mr. Paul."

Yu Wei quickly offered the explanation, then approached with a warm smile. Simultaneously, Mr. Paul spotted Yu Wei, paused briefly, and then broke into a look of pleasant surprise, walking over enthusiastically to shake his hand and embrace him. The two then happily caught up, exchanging greetings and even commenting on the weather...

The above was Wang Guan's internal monologue, though the reality was largely as he imagined.

Once the pleasantries were concluded, Yu Wei began making introductions. Wang Guan offered a greeting in English, then settled into a pleasant smile, watching the others converse with a look of blissful ignorance. Among the group, Fang Mingsheng was certainly included; after all, he had friends in England, so it was unlikely he couldn't speak English.

Seeing this, Wang Guan shook his head and sighed, realizing he was the only provincial bumpkin! After a while, Yu Wei signaled, "Let's go inside."

"How did it go?" Wang Guan asked as he followed along. "Does Mr. Paul know anything about that person?"

"He knows of the person, but his impression isn't strong. He'll need to check his contact list back at the office to find the detailed information," Yu Wei said, a mix of delight and disappointment in his voice. "But it’s only the most basic phone number and address—information that might have been useful before, but is likely outdated now."

"Outdated information isn't very useful," Wang Guan frowned.

"The information might be useless, but Mr. Paul is useful," Yu Wei whispered. "He can summon the association members residing in London and ask them about the person. Perhaps there will be some clue."

Although Yu Wei was also a director, rallying people alone might lack the necessary authority. But if he teamed up with Mr. Paul to host a gathering, many would likely respond.

It was, after all, a good investigative method, and Wang Guan had no reason to object. Since they were asking for a favor, reciprocating the courtesy was only proper. If he couldn't grasp such basic etiquette, there would have been no point in making the trip.

Soon, the group moved deeper into the auction house, arriving at the main auction hall. Wang Guan looked around. The auction seemed to have paused; about a few dozen people were gathered in small groups, chatting amongst themselves.

Wang Guan also noticed a large screen hanging on the wall behind the auction podium, and on the stage, a compact projector was continuously casting crisp images of the lots onto the screen for the audience to appraise.

At that moment, the screen displayed the face of a watch—exquisitely luxurious in design and inlaid with many small diamonds, giving it a very high-end and imposing look. It was likely some kind of premium timepiece.

Wang Guan also noticed a certificate and an initialed signature beside the watch. It was probably designed by a famous designer, a limited edition piece with considerable collector's value. Based on his estimation, many people were pointing at the watch on the screen, looking quite interested.

But this wasn't the main point. The crucial thing was that amidst the crowd, Wang Guan suddenly spotted a somewhat familiar figure. Seeing this person brought a rush of mixed joy and surprise, feeling like running into an old acquaintance in a foreign land.

Acting decisively, Wang Guan peeled away from Fang Mingsheng and Yu Wei and walked straight over to the man, greeting him with a smile. "Mr. Anderson, long time no see..." Instantly, the man turned; it was indeed Mr. Anderson, whom Wang Guan had met a few times before. Seeing Wang Guan at this moment, he looked somewhat surprised, then broke into a beaming smile. "Wang, I really can't believe my eyes! What are you doing here?"

Hearing a foreigner speak Chinese was exactly the dynamic Wang Guan needed, instantly relieving the slight awkwardness. His mood brightened, and his smile became even more radiant. "It was God's guidance, so I came..."

"Yes, absolutely right," Mr. Anderson immediately laughed. "Indeed, everything is arranged by God..." (To be continued) No Pop-up Novel Website...RS