The audience's applause was not very enthusiastic. After a few perfunctory attempts, only a few waiters were left to support the scene. If Shopkeeper Song's popularity and charm were not as good as those of Hu Xiaotian, the enthusiasm of the applause would naturally be weakened a lot.
Hu Xiaotian said: "Tonight's dinner is in the name of charity. We are able to gather together not because of my face, Hu Xiaotian, but for the word charity and for the benevolent and kind heart in each of us.
A month ago, the Qingyun Bridge was destroyed by floods. It is the choke point from Qingyun to the hinterland of Xichuan. After the Qingyun Bridge was damaged, it caused great inconvenience to the lives of the people in Qingyun. As the magistrate of Qingyun County, I feel pain in my heart when I see it.
, I dare not say that I can benefit one party as soon as I serve as an official, but I will do my best to do it. I am concerned about the people's urgent needs and the people's suffering. I will repair the Qingyun Bridge as the top priority during my term.
The problem."
Xu Qinglian and Liu Baoju were still kneeling beside King Zhou, their knees were numb. When they heard this, they both cursed in their hearts at the same time. You have taken all the credit for your rhetoric. The plan to repair Qingyun Bridge was clearly ours.
Did you come down well? Now I suddenly feel that I cheated him and harmed him before, but it seems that I gave him a huge advantage for nothing.
Hu Xiaotian said: "Building a bridge is easy to say, but it is not that simple to actually implement it. Qingyun County has been experiencing constant natural disasters in recent years, and the harvest has been poor year after year. No household has any surplus food!" He paused deliberately at this point.
He stared at Xu Qinglian, who was still kneeling on the ground: "Master Xu once mentioned that each household should be charged five taels of silver. I have thought about it for a long time. Although building the bridge is beneficial to the people, it is difficult for others to raise funds through such a showdown.
Most of the people in Qingyun can't afford these five taels of silver. If we really go ahead with the showdown, I don't know how many families will be separated and their families will be destroyed." He finally clarified the matter. He had previously said that the showdown would go from house to house.
The issue of five taels of silver was originally brought up by Xu Qinglian and has nothing to do with me.
Xu Qinglian's face was turning blue and purple at this time. He wanted to get up and argue with Hu Xiaotian, but he didn't dare in front of King Zhou. He could only kneel there with his head hanging down and let Hu Xiaotian take the shit out of the basin.
On her head.
Hu Xiaotian said: "Tonight's charity sale, I have invited everyone here because I hope that everyone who has the ability and money to contribute can contribute to the people of Qingyun. Charity does not matter in order, and love does not matter how big or small, as long as
It’s enough for everyone to show their sincerity. Today’s first lot is the blue and white porcelain vase donated by Shopkeeper Song of Hongyan Tower.” Song Shaofu personally took the blue and white porcelain vase he donated to the stage and followed Hu Xiaotian’s instructions to circle the stage and present it to
Everyone watched and saw that although this blue and white porcelain vase was produced by a folk kiln, it has a history of more than a hundred years and is considered to be a fine product among folk kiln porcelain.
Hu Xiaotian said: "The blue and white porcelain vase has a base price of ten taels of silver, and the minimum increase for each bid is five taels. By the way, all the silver taels obtained from the auction tonight will be used for the repair of Qingyun Bridge. This lot will be taken away by the successful bidder."
"
After understanding the rules, he asked shopkeeper Song to take the porcelain to the site for display for interested parties to observe up close. Then the auction officially started, and a businessman immediately called out fifteen taels.
Xie Governor Shi Zhang Ziqian has always been fond of collecting. When he saw this porcelain vase, he was very fond of it. Hearing someone calling out the price, he also called out twenty taels. As soon as he called, the lobby fell silent. After all, except for the people present today,
Apart from the king of Zhou, he has the highest status, so other officials and businessmen would not dare to bid with him. Since ancient times, if the people do not fight with the officials, but rob them with the officials, what good consequences can there be?
When Hu Xiaotian heard Zhang Ziqian's price call, he secretly complained that the old man was too busy. He asked shopkeeper Song that the market price of this blue and white porcelain vase was around fifty taels. Old man Zhang was just here to get a bargain. If you ask for a price, who would pay?
Dare to challenge you? Hu Xiaotian looked at Zhou Wang Long Yefang expectantly, but found that Long Yefang was actually distracted at this moment, looking at the southeast corner, which was exactly where the little girl in red, Xiyan, was. She was clearly attracted by Xiyan.
Fascinated by her beauty, her attention was not on the auction site at all.
Hu Xiaotian could only shout: "Twenty-two, once, twenty-two..." Looking at Zhang Ziqian's beaming smile, Hu Xiaotian thought to himself: This old stingy got a big deal for no reason, are you here to support me or to throw it away?
From the venue?
Why didn't Zhang Ziqian know Hu Xiaotian's intentions for the auction? But everyone has shortcomings, and he was no exception. When he saw the porcelain he liked, he couldn't help but want to get it in his pocket as soon as possible, so he couldn't wait to bid. He didn't mean to hurt Hu Xiaotian.
things.
Hu Xiaotian reluctantly raised the auction mallet, which was actually a mallet used for striking gongs. Due to negligence, he forgot to customize a special auction mallet, so he temporarily found a hammer to replace it. The gong was placed flat on the table.
Knocking it on is the final word.
At this moment, I heard Xiangqin's loud voice shouting: "My lady is offering fifty taels!"
Seeing that he was about to hit the gong, Hu Xiaotian quickly put the mallet back. Hehe, he is stingy and wants to take advantage, but it is not that easy.
Zhang Ziqian was naturally a little disappointed when he heard that someone was offering fifty taels. He was very good at appreciating porcelain. He had just seen that the price of this porcelain vase was only fifty taels at most. If the price was any higher, it would not be worth it.
Besides, he was considered highly respected in Xichuan, so he wouldn't argue with a few little girls for things.
When Hu Xiaotian saw that no one was bidding, he immediately said: "I would like to add that the charity sale has nothing to do with the value of the items, but the love. I hope everyone will bid enthusiastically and contribute more to the people of Qingyun, fifty taels per time...
Twice...three times..." This time no one asked for the price. After all, no one was a fool, and no one wanted to sell such a bottle back at a high price.
The first transaction was successfully completed. Xiangqin cheerfully sent fifty taels of silver, which was credited directly to the accounting room of Hongyan Building. Here Hu Xiaotian took out the second lot. This second lot was Xiao Tian, the owner of Hongliu Village.
Mu donated a landscape painting painted by the famous painter Yan Muliang. When this painting came out, everyone in the house was shocked. Yan Muliang once served as a court painter in Dakang. He was best at painting pictures of ladies. He painted landscape paintings throughout his life.
There are very few of them, and he died of illness six months ago, so the prices of his works are constantly rising.
When it comes to appreciating calligraphy and painting, Zhang Ziqian is a master. He walked up and looked at it carefully several times and confirmed that the landscape painting was indeed painted by Yan Muliang himself. Even he couldn't help but be a little excited. Yan Muliang's paintings of ladies are famous all over the world.
I know, but his skills in landscape painting are not inferior to those of ladies. But when you see this painting of sunrise over mountains and sea, the brush is wild and uninhibited, the ink is freely swayed, the momentum is overwhelming, and the atmosphere is endless. Zhang Ziqian knew at a glance that this was a treasure among treasures.
, couldn't help but glance at Xiao Tianmu, but he didn't know where the blind scholar got this landscape painting. How could he be willing to part with such a treasure?
King Zhou also came over at this time. When he stood up, he found that Xu Qinglian and Liu Baoju were still kneeling in front of him. He frowned in disgust, waved his hands and said, "Get up." After hearing this, the two of them were relieved.
He stood up, but even though he got up, he didn't dare to sit down.
Long Yefang is not keen on fighting for power and gain. He usually focuses on the mountains and rivers. He has always been extremely enthusiastic about music, chess, calligraphy and painting. Moreover, he is also good at calligraphy and painting. This painting attracted him to move here.
There is another important reason for going there. Yan Muliang once gave him guidance on painting when he was a court painter. Long Yefang's paintings of ladies are also very good and quite worthy of Yan Muliang's charm. So from this point of view, Yan Muliang
Mu Liang could be regarded as his teacher. He was extremely familiar with Yan Muliang's handiwork, and after just one glance, he concluded that this painting was indeed authentic. Even in the Dakang Palace, there were few collections of Yan Muliang's landscape paintings.
This painting is truly a rare treasure.
Among the guests who came, there were some who knew how to paint, and some who didn't, but even if they didn't understand, they still knew how to observe words and colors. When they saw Long Yefang moving towards him, they already knew that King Zhou was interested. In other words,
As long as the King of Zhou wants it, no one can fight for it.
When Hu Xiaotian saw Zhang Ziqian and Long Yefang gathered around to appreciate it in person, he thought to himself that this was a bad thing. As long as Long Yefang raised the price, no one would dare to pay. He originally wanted to use this painting to make a lot of money.
The hope of getting a vote was probably going to be dashed, but Hu Xiaotian didn’t have much to say and waited for the guests who were admiring it from a close distance to return to their original positions.
Hu Xiaotian just cleared his throat and said: "The base price of this Sunrise Mountain and Sea Map is five hundred taels of silver." In fact, he and Xiao Tianmu had communicated privately and the base price was set at one hundred taels. Seeing Long Yefang's strong expression,
Because of his interest, Hu Xiaotian guessed that the price wouldn't be high, so he just gritted his teeth and asked for a higher price.
There were exclamations and whispers immediately from the scene. Even Yan Muliang's picture of a lady, the current market price is only about three hundred taels. Hu Xiaotian is really a big talker.
Although Xiao Tianmu couldn't see the scene, he could hear the movements clearly. When he heard Hu Xiaotian calling out the high price of five hundred taels, he couldn't help but reveal a faint smile on his lips. Of course he understood Hu Xiaotian's intention, but he didn't know
The king of Zhou was reluctant to part with the money.
Zhou Wang Long Yefang was not in a hurry to speak, but picked up the tea cup and took a sip of tea with a smile.
"I'll give you five hundred taels!" The person who spoke was Wan Boping, who was worthy of being the richest man in Qingyun, and indeed had the air of a rich man.
Hu Xiaotian pointed at Wan Boping and said: "Wan Yuan is out for five hundred taels!" Wan Boping's voice should be to support himself. It is estimated that as soon as Long Yefang made the bid, this guy would not dare to say anything.
Hu Xiaotian asked: "Is there any higher price?"
"I'll bid five hundred and fifty taels!" Everyone looked at the person who made the bid. The bidder turned out to be Qingyun County Magistrate Xu Qinglian. (To be continued...)
