Malicious Bidding (Part 1)  

"Ah, I must express my gratitude to you, Elder Yu. Without your presence, I would surely have fallen victim to deception; this individual is truly unscrupulous..." 

Upon hearing Elder Yu's words, Bai Chuxia stuck out her tongue. Although she hailed from a respectable background, her upbringing was strict. Over the years, her accumulated red envelope money barely totaled seventy to eighty thousand yuan, and that was only after her parents entrusted her with it upon entering university. 

Thus, if she were to be swindled out of fifty thousand yuan in one fell swoop, it would indeed cause her considerable distress. At this moment, she clenched her small fists, preparing to give the rotund individuals a stern lecture when she confronted them tomorrow. While standing up for justice is commendable, engaging in unscrupulous business practices is equally reprehensible. 

"Am I truly unscrupulous?" 

Upon hearing Bai Chuxia's assessment of him, Fang Yi couldn't help but chuckle in disbelief. Were it not for the agreement he had with her friends, he would have been entirely unwilling to sell that string of beads to her. 

"It seems I must take matters into my own hands tomorrow..." 

Fang Yi cast a sidelong glance at Bai Chuxia and Elder Yu. If Elder Yu couldn't discern that the string of beads was a magical artifact, then his esteemed reputation in the antique community might be considerably overstated. 

Listening to the conversation between Officer Bai and Elder Yu, time passed swiftly. Their dialogue diverted Fang Yi's attention, alleviating some of the discomfort he felt in his mind. As for the auction taking place on stage, neither Elder Yu, who was speaking, nor Fang Yi, who was eavesdropping, paid it much heed. 

The number of participants in the auction was not particularly high, and each had their sights set on their desired items. The bidding was not very fierce, with nearly half of the items being sold at their starting prices. In Fang Yi's view, this was precisely why Man Jun had mentioned that there were opportunities to be seized. 

"Ah, Fang Yi, it's time for the item I wish to bid on..." Just as the host announced the next lot, Man Jun suddenly nudged Fang Yi excitedly with his elbow. 

"Brother Man, whose painting is it?" 

Fang Yi asked casually, having noticed that Man Jun had been admiring this particular painting for some time. However, from Fang Yi's observation, it seemed that several of the individuals who had taken the stage were quite interested in it, and thus, Brother Man might not secure it easily. 

"It's a painting by Zhu Youjiao. Do you know who he is?" 

Man Jun smiled at Fang Yi, his face displaying a sense of pride. He knew Fang Yi possessed a strong foundation in classical literature, but he believed the name he mentioned was rather obscure, assuming Fang Yi wouldn't recognize it. 

"Ah? You can name Zhu Youjiao? Impressive, indeed. Not many are familiar with that name..." 

In his excitement, Man Jun's voice rose a bit too high, drawing the attention of both Yu Xuan and Bai Chuxia nearby. Yu Xuan couldn't help but smile at Fang Yi, saying, "Young man, Zhu Youjiao is the artist's real name; in fact, his pseudonym is far more renowned..." 

"Zhu Youjiao? Brother Man, are you testing me?" 

Fang Yi laughed in response, saying, "While I might not recognize others, I am indeed familiar with the name Youjiao. His birth name was Zhu Da, with Youjiao as his courtesy name, and he was known as the Eight Great Mountain Man, among other names. He was a descendant of the Ming Prince Zhu Quan, and after the fall of the Ming dynasty, he became a monk. Brother Man, am I correct?" 

"Ah? You truly know?" 

Simultaneously, two voices of astonishment rang out from either side of Fang Yi. Clearly, both Man Jun and Elder Yu were taken aback by Fang Yi's knowledge, as Zhu Da's most famous title was indeed the Eight Great Mountain Man, and the name Youjiao was known only to those with a deeper understanding of his work. 

"Fang Yi, are you not a Taoist? How do you know about monks?" Man Jun had intended to show off a bit but was caught off guard when Fang Yi effortlessly recounted the Eight Great Mountain Man's background. 

"Brother Man, it appears you are not well-acquainted with Zhu Da..." 

Fang Yi chuckled, saying, "Although Zhu Da is often dubbed one of the Four Monks of Early Qing, he actually converted to Taoism after a few years as a monk, and he resided in a Taoist temple until his death. Would you say I know or not?" 

As Fang Yi mentioned, while Man Jun might not recognize others, he was well-versed in individuals associated with Taoism. His master held the Eight Great Mountain Man's paintings in high regard and frequently spoke of them to Fang Yi. 

"Ah? There's such a backstory?" 

Upon hearing Fang Yi's words, Man Jun appeared somewhat dumbfounded. He typically absorbed knowledge in a haphazard manner and, upon learning that the Eight Great Mountain Man was one of the Four Monks of Early Qing, had assumed he was merely a monk. He never expected that Zhu Da had abandoned Buddhism for Taoism. 

"Indeed, young man, not many are aware of that story. Well done..." 

Elder Yu, too, expressed a measure of surprise at Fang Yi's knowledge, unable to resist praising him across Bai Chuxia. Generally speaking, those involved in the antique trade should be well-versed in the backgrounds of various historical figures, yet few truly manage to achieve that level of understanding. 

"Alright, the auction is about to begin..." 

Suddenly, Man Jun's attention was drawn back to the stage, as the host had announced a starting price of fifty thousand. Given the artistic accomplishments and reputation of the Eight Great Mountain Man, this price was exceedingly low. 

"Three hundred thousand!" Just as the host finished speaking, Man Jun abruptly raised his bidding paddle, multiplying the starting price by six. 

"Three hundred thousand! Bidder number twenty-eight has offered three hundred thousand. Is there anyone willing to bid higher?" 

The host was momentarily taken aback by Man Jun's outrageous bid. According to auction rules, items priced between fifty and one hundred thousand should increase in increments of five thousand, making such a steep jump unnecessary. 

"Brother Man, what boldness you possess..." 

In the audience, only Fang Yi seemed to grasp Man Jun's intentions. He understood that Man Jun had brought a total of three hundred fifty thousand yuan with him. By calling out three hundred thousand, he aimed to project an air of determination, hoping to intimidate others interested in the painting. 

Indeed, Man Jun's strategy proved somewhat effective; for nearly a minute after the host's announcement, no one dared to place a bid. It was common knowledge that the current market price for the Eight Great Mountain Man's artworks hovered around five to six hundred thousand. Any bid beyond that would yield minimal profit. 

"Three hundred ten thousand..." Just as a glimmer of satisfaction appeared on Man Jun's face, a voice suddenly broke the silence. "Old Man, I apologize, but the works of the Eight Great Mountain Man have been soaring in value these past few years. You won't secure this painting for three hundred thousand; I'll raise it by ten thousand..." 

"Old Xie, then let the highest bidder win..." 

Seeing that it was Xie Qingyang who had spoken, Man Jun felt a pang of resentment. It was worth noting that Xie Qingyang did not specialize in paintings and calligraphy; his intervention could very well be a retaliation for the earlier incident involving the Tang Bohu fan. 

Though his thoughts were filled with indignation, Man Jun maintained a composed exterior, raising his paddle once more. "Three hundred fifty thousand; I bid three hundred fifty thousand..." 

At this price, Xie Qingyang hesitated. He was uncertain whether he should raise his bid again. 

While it was true that paintings created before 1840 were classified as ancient, in the current art market, this piece by the Eight Great Mountain Man, not even his representative work, had an auction price of only five to six hundred thousand. If Xie Qingyang raised his bid again, it might become challenging to resell. 

"Three hundred sixty thousand!" 

After much deliberation, Xie Qingyang decided to add another ten thousand. As someone well-versed in the industry, he could easily perceive Man Jun's eagerness to acquire the painting. By merely adding a thousand, he knew Man Jun would likely raise his bid again, allowing Xie Qingyang to maliciously drive up the price. 

"Very well, Old Xie, if you desire it so much, I shall withdraw..." 

As he uttered those words, Man Jun's heart bled. It wasn't that he didn't want the painting; rather, his funds were limited. Even at three hundred fifty thousand, he still had to account for the twenty thousand yuan deposit he needed to pay at the entrance, leaving him with no extra to spare. 

"Brother Man, why not use my two thousand for now?" Fang Yi whispered, noticing Man Jun's eagerness to secure the painting. 

"No need; if I can't get it, so be it..." 

Man Jun suppressed his disappointment, first responding quietly to Fang Yi, then speaking loudly, "Old Xie, I only glanced at this painting earlier, and it appeared genuine, but I can't definitively say whether it's a counterfeit. If you purchase it, you should definitely consult an expert for authentication..." 

Although he lacked the financial capacity to compete with Xie Qingyang for the painting, Man Jun was no fool. His simple words caused Xie Qingyang's expression to change; he knew that Man Jun's expertise in identifying antique paintings surpassed his own. 

Consequently, after Xie Qingyang secured the painting, he sought out a renowned painter in Beijing for authentication. Including travel and appraisal fees, the total cost of the painting approached four hundred thousand yuan. 

Although he could recoup his investment at that price, Xie Qingyang felt disgruntled, realizing he had been outmaneuvered by Man Jun. A year later, he sold the painting for four hundred twenty thousand yuan. 

However, what Xie Qingyang did not anticipate was that merely three years later, the value of the Eight Great Mountain Man's paintings would soar more than tenfold. Reflecting on the painting he had sold, Xie Qingyang felt a surge of anger, almost to the point of nausea. Of course, that was a tale for another time.