At that very moment, seeing Wang Guan chatting and laughing heartily with an elderly foreigner, Fang Mingsheng and Yu Wei standing nearby were naturally taken aback.

"Didn't they say he didn't speak English?" Yu Wei asked, startled. "But now they seem to be having a great conversation!"

"Let's go take a look..." Fang Mingsheng was also a bit curious and walked over. Only upon approaching did he realize it wasn't Wang Guan understanding English; rather, the foreigner was a true connoisseur of Chinese culture, speaking Mandarin fluently.

"Boss Fang, come here, let me introduce you to a friend."

Just then, Wang Guan made the introduction, leading to another round of pleasantries. At this point, Mr. Paul and Yu Wei also arrived, making the scene even more lively. Although the group wasn't intimately familiar, a friend of a friend of a friend still counted as an acquaintance, and as they conversed, a certain rapport developed.

Of course, during the exchange, everyone focused on different areas. Primarily, Wang Guan and Mr. Anderson were deep in conversation, while Yu Wei and Mr. Paul chatted amongst themselves. As for Fang Mingsheng, he fully embraced his business instincts, adeptly playing both sides.

After a brief period of discussion, Wang Guan's eyes flickered as he noticed the item displayed on the screen had changed, causing him to express surprise: "Huh, isn't that..."

What was it? For a moment, the others craned their necks to look. On the screen appeared a Guang-er Zun vase. The shape itself wasn't particularly rare; it was a common type of ancient porcelain fashioned after bronze vessels.

However, this Guang-er Zun possessed a peculiar quality: the glaze was not the typical blue-and-white or wucai (five-color) design, but merely a simple, grayish-white layer.

This plain grayish-white glaze was not unusual in itself, perhaps only indicating a simpler method of production. But what truly astonished the viewers were the myriad cracks covering the surface. At first glance, one might think the vase had been dropped and was on the verge of shattering. Yet, true experts knew this was kaipian (crazing).

Kaipian is a natural phenomenon of cracking in porcelain glaze, originally considered a flaw in the firing process. However, once artisans mastered the pattern of these cracks, kaipian evolved into a unique decorative technique for porcelain. This was especially true by the Song Dynasty, where the Ru, Guan, and Ge kilns—three of the Five Great Kilns—produced wares featuring this characteristic.

Undoubtedly, the Guang-er Zun on the screen was intentionally crazed. The surface patterns resembled an irregular fishing net, appearing chaotic yet possessing a subtle, inherent charm.

"This is a replica of a Ge-ware Guang-er Zun."

Simultaneously, Mr. Anderson smiled and said, "I came specifically for this piece today."

At this, Mr. Paul uttered a few words, causing Mr. Anderson to smile, a knowing, profound look entering his eyes. There was no need for translation; Wang Guan understood instantly that Mr. Paul’s objective was also this very piece. They were, in fact, competitors.

"A replica of Ge-ware, not genuine Ge-ware?" Fang Mingsheng inquired curiously.

"Correct, it's a Qing Dynasty piece from the Qianlong period, imitating the Northern Song Ge ware," Mr. Anderson chuckled. "The entire body, inside and out, is coated with the imitation Ge glaze, which is thick, lustrous, and rich. The exposed clay at the foot rim shows an iron-brown color, inscribed with a blue-and-white seal script mark reading 'Made in the Qianlong period of the Great Qing.' This is an imitation mark, but the body and glaze are quite well executed; it should undoubtedly be genuine."

An expert. A truly formidable expert.

In an instant, astonishment flashed in Fang Mingsheng's eyes. If a Chinese expert had spoken those words, he wouldn't have batted an eye. The issue was that Mr. Anderson, with his high nose and deep-set eyes, had rattled off a passage of professional jargon effortlessly, which genuinely surprised him.

However, before Fang Mingsheng could fully process his amazement, Mr. Paul next began to speak. A string of rapid English followed, causing Fang Mingsheng's eyes to widen in apparent dismay.

"What did Mr. Paul say?" Wang Guan couldn't help but ask.

"Just like Mr. Anderson, he offered his own assessment of the piece," Yu Wei whispered. "It was extremely accurate, hitting the nail squarely on the head."

"I see, no wonder!" Wang Guan suddenly realized, understanding that Fang Mingsheng felt a sting of offense. To think that two foreigners understood the intricacies of his own cultural items better than he did was surely a source of shame.

"Is that the grand finale?"

Wang Guan mused, "The piece looks rather fine, doesn't it?"

Whether it was the final highlight, Wang Guan couldn't be sure. But he was certain it was a piece of Chinese heritage, and if the price was right, he might consider acquiring it. After all, welcoming back cultural relics lost overseas was a duty every Chinese person should feel.

"What, you're interested too?"

Fang Mingsheng immediately began to deliberate: "I also think the piece looks quite promising."

"Haha, then we shall each rely on our own abilities!" Hearing this, Mr. Anderson immediately laughed. "To use your Chinese expression, we'll see who has the better hand when it comes down to the contest."

It was just auction competition; it wasn't the first time. They weren't just competing against each other but also against other interested parties. Thus, no one felt the need to fall out over it; instead, they found it amusing and chatted about the topic for quite some time.

About half an hour later, the afternoon auction officially commenced. Following cues from the staff, everyone settled into their seats, gradually quieting down in anticipation of the start.

Everyone present was quite familiar with the auction process; no further explanation was needed from the staff. After a few brief announcements, the staff ceded the floor to the auctioneer.

Shortly, the auctioneer appeared and delivered a few humorous remarks that elicited soft laughter from the audience.

But due to the language barrier, Wang Guan didn't understand and laughed along with the others. People are sometimes like that, falsely agreeable.

Of course, this was an auction, not a stand-up routine. After a brief opening, the auctioneer returned to business and instructed for the first lot to be presented. It was a case of red wine, supposedly '82 Lafite.

For red wine, 1982 was considered the finest vintage in nearly fifty years. The quality of grapes harvested in the Bordeaux region was excellent, and the resulting wine received unanimous praise from many renowned wine critics. As demand grew, this vintage became scarcer, and its price naturally escalated.

It could be argued that such wine possessed investment value and could serve as a collector's item. But for many, it was simply a luxury, something used by the nouveau riche to flaunt their wealth. In any case, many were interested, and frequent bidding quickly drove the price up.

However, despite its increasing rarity, if one was determined enough to search, such wines could still be found, and the current price offered a benchmark. Most importantly, no one was willing to fight tooth and nail for something they could procure through other channels. Once the price reached a certain height, competition ceased.

Two or three minutes later, the case of red wine was secured by an elderly gentleman leaning on a cane.

The opening proceeded smoothly, and the auctioneer's spirits rose further. He immediately called for the second lot: the famous wristwatch, which prompted some bidders to raise their paddles.

For such luxury goods, while some were keen, others remained utterly uninterested. Mr. Anderson and Mr. Paul, for instance, displayed differing expressions—one with a faint smile, the other impassive—watching with cool detachment.

The auction continued. Little need be said of the first four or five lots, all consisting of opulent items. But when the sixth lot was brought forth, it instantly energized many in the room. People instinctively sat up straighter, their expressions becoming notably more serious.

Seeing this shift, Wang Guan looked towards the staff, who were carrying in a box.

Through the image displayed on the screen, Wang Guan saw a cross delicately engraved on the box lid. The auctioneer signaled for the box to be opened, revealing an exquisite crucifix nestled alongside a thick, heavy book. It was self-evident that the book was the renowned Bible.

At that moment, Wang Guan whispered quietly, "This probably isn't an ordinary Bible."

"Indeed, it is no ordinary item," Mr. Anderson explained softly. "It is a Bible personally transcribed by a rather famous clergyman in the mid-eighteenth century; it is extremely precious."

"Oh."

Wang Guan immediately understood, grasping why the demeanor of those present had subtly changed. Westerners, presumably, held their faith more devoutly, making such an object naturally of immense interest to them. Setting aside Westerners, if a Buddhist statue appeared at an auction in an Eastern country, one would expect a similarly fierce scramble.

The situation now mirrored that: competition was fierce. Of the fifty or sixty people present, at least half had raised their paddles. Those who hadn't bid yet were either foreigners like Wang Guan or those planning to hold back, intending a decisive, final strike!

Mr. Anderson was playing the role of that hunter. Just as the bidding competition began to slow, and as one bidder was about to secure the item—the auctioneer raising his hammer for the third call—Mr. Anderson lightly raised his paddle, increasing the price by a calculated twenty percent, dealing the final, decisive blow to claim victory.

From this, it was clear that Mr. Anderson's mastery of auction technique had reached a consummate level; his effortless maneuvers revealed an experienced shrewdness. Truly brilliant.

In that moment, it wasn't just Wang Guan who thought this. Many attendees looked toward Mr. Anderson, a degree of wariness lingering in their gaze.

Mr. Anderson, however, seemed unbothered. A benevolent smile remained plastered on his face, and he even nodded affably towards those nearby, maintaining an air of utmost courtesy, which garnered responses from many.

This is the way of civilized people: no matter how intense the struggle or how much they secretly wish their opponent ruin, outwardly they must maintain composure, offering a spring-like smile even to an adversary. This is the aristocratic demeanor, something ordinary people cannot easily emulate. It was amidst these smiles that the next lot was introduced, instantly seizing everyone's attention.

"Oh!"

The moment he saw the item, a look of distinct surprise crossed Wang Guan's face...