world class art fanatic

What Ning Mingzhi did was to put a knife in Shen Ling's heart.

But the story Master told Zhong Ying was even more hateful than a simple newspaper report.

If it is Beilu's fault that the ten-string elegant rhyme was lost overseas, then Ning Mingzhi cannot escape the blame for the loss of other musical instruments of the Yiyin Yashe overseas.

However, there is no evidence to support those stories, and the master never told him, who told him.

It is impossible for him to tell Zhou Juntong something baseless.

Zhong Ying just said with certainty: "If Mr. Shen has a soul in heaven, he will definitely not want to see Ning Mingzhi again."

"If it's convenient for the museum to make exhibition boards, please don't mention this name...or delete the content that Mr. Shen mentioned about him."

Zhou Juntong hung up the phone and stared blankly at the notebook in front of him, which clearly recorded everything he wanted to ask.

——Is Zhiyuan a good friend of Mr. Shen?

——Is there any story between them worth promoting?

——Mr. Shen likes to mention Zhiyuan so much, can you show their friendship on the exhibition board?

However, Zhong Ying told her realistically and cruelly: Zhiyuan, whom Mr. Shen mentioned repeatedly in his diary, not only betrayed the Yiyin Yashe, became someone Mr. Shen did not want to see again, but also became a contemptible traitor.

She had just recovered from the fake friendship between Shen Ling and Bellu, and was hit by the real thing again.

At that moment, it seemed that I would never believe in bosom friends, let alone high mountains and flowing water.

Zhou Juntong was locked in the room for a long time, so long that Li Jinqiu couldn't help knocking on the door.

"Tongtong, have you called Zhong Ying yet?"

There was no response from inside, and Li Jinqiu was about to leave, but just as he turned around, he saw a figure standing in the bathroom next to him.

Startle him!

Before he started cursing, he saw Zhou Juntong's red eyes, scissors in his right hand, and his waist-length hair, which was messily shortened a lot.

Even a careless, iron-blooded straight man felt something was wrong.

"what are you doing?"

Zhou Juntong endured his sadness and said, "It's too hot, change your hairstyle, change your mood."

Li Jinqiu obviously didn't believe it and stared at her.

Zhou Juntong yelled in compromise: "Okay! I've grown up and I will never believe in romantic stories again, are you satisfied!"

Li Jinqiu leaned against the door frame, watching her impulsively cut long hair, revealing clumsy and rough ends.

He still remembers that when he was a child, he used scissors to cut a few strands of Zhou Juntong's hair, and Zhou Juntong chased and beat him for several blocks, and broke up with him for several days.

As a result, now, my own sister said that she no longer believed in romantic stories, so she raised her hand and cut off her long hair, which was regarded as a treasure.

Li Jinqiu felt that Zhou Juntong's thinking was very problematic.

He frowned and reminded: "Others cut their wills, but you cut your hair and grow up. You don't think about a strong mind, you only care about a strong appearance and bluff, aren't you too stupid?"

Zhou Juntong's eyes widened, and he almost wanted to stab the inhuman guy with the scissors in his hands.

"Brother, you will definitely be single for the rest of your life, no woman can stand you as a dead straight man!"

"that's not important."

Li Jinqiu was not harmed in the slightest, and asked anxiously, "Did you ask Zhong Ying's address? When are we going?"

Zhou Juntong threw away the scissors, wiped away tears, and protested: "Can't you care about me!"

"I care."

Li Jinqiu raised his hand and looked at the time, "Is Zhong Ying's house far away? It seems a little late today. It's not very good to visit others at this time, so let's go tomorrow."

Zhou Juntong's eyes turned red with anger, "You will definitely die alone forever!"

Zhou Juntong spent half the night asking Mr. Tony to trim her messy hair into a short haircut that is popular nowadays.

It's not just her hairstyle that's refreshing, but also her heavy heart.

After tidying up, Zhou Juntong dialed Zhong Ying's phone number, planning to make an appointment to meet.

Of course, it would be even better if her brother didn't bother to go together.

"Mr. Zhong, there is now a draft version of the exhibition board. If it is convenient for you, let's make an appointment to meet and chat?"

"It may not work recently..."

When Zhong Ying received the call, he replied helplessly, "I'm in Vienna."

Vienna, Austria, the music capital of the world.

You can see musicians with piano cases everywhere here, as well as impromptu musicians on the street. Walking in Vienna is like entering the world of music, full of artistic melodies.

But Zhong Ying didn't go to accept the influence of art, but sat upright in the Vienna auction house.

The spacious and bright venue has already attracted many people.

He and Zhou Juntong made an appointment to confirm the text on the display board online, sat back in the front row seat, and continued to look intently at the colorful brochure with downcast eyes, carefully studying the introduction of the fourth object.

It was an antique Chinese pipa.

Tang Dynasty red sandalwood, the body is pear-shaped, the head of the piano is inlaid with carved white jade, and the peg is dotted with fine ivory.

As a popular pipa shape in the Tang Dynasty, it has four pillars, four phases and ten frets, and the four strings are intact. The front is carved with simple magnolia flowers, and clusters of magnolia flowers bloom in early spring and climb to the back panel.

Apart from that, the whole body is simple and has no other characteristics.

In addition to the age of this pipa, the patterns and accessories can be said to be unremarkable, and it can only be praised as dignified and decent.

However, Zhong Ying took it very seriously.

He also disliked that the pictures in the manual were too small, so he couldn't take a good look at the lines of the magnolia flower, and gave him a chance to identify the engraving on the stamen of the magnolia flower.

"Master Fan, don't worry, we are determined to win this pipa today!"

President Chen of the Qingling Lake Chamber of Commerce sat aside and chatted with Fan Chengyun.

He travels to the international auction market all the year round, and when it comes to the price trend of auction houses, he can easily say, "For musical instruments, few people are willing to pay high prices, especially in Austria, especially the pipa."

He was telling the truth.

Literati and scholars all use guqin as their benchmark. Auction houses often offer sky-high prices for famous violins and posthumous works of masters, which attract violinists to bid for them. For personal use or collection, they are all guqin.

After all, the pipa is not as good as the qin, and it is sold in Austria, the capital of Western music. First of all, it is not acclimatized.

Coupled with the fourth object of this auction, it is too simple.

No wonder Chairman Chen said confidently: "I have photographed [-] pipas if not twenty. I know the market price of antique pipas too well. So, we will definitely win it today!"

Zhong Ying read the manual while listening to the chat.

I nodded silently in my heart.

Over the past few decades, people from all walks of life have bought pipas carved with magnolia flowers, and they have hung all over the wall of the musical instrument room of the Music College of Qingling Lake University.

Tortoiseshell ivory jade peg, rosewood gold openwork handle inlaid with silver.

Take out a random handful, it is more precious and beautiful than today's lot.

The red sandalwood pipa in the manual is so plain that there is nothing to recommend it, and even the carvings reveal the preference of modern flowers.

If it wasn't for its resemblance to the Mulan Pipa of Yiyin Yashe, I'm afraid they wouldn't have come here either.

Fan Chengyun listened with a smile, especially to Chairman Chen.

"Thank you President Chen, if it weren't for your help, we wouldn't have the opportunity to sit here."

"Where is it?" Chairman Chen also had a free and easy temper, and said directly, "Since it is the musical instrument you have been looking for for many years, our Qingling Lake Chamber of Commerce is duty-bound!"

As they were talking, an elegant lady in a long dress finally took her seat.

"It's late." She greeted Fan Chengyun apologetically, "I asked about this pipa."

In a word, the attention that should fall on the manual should fall on her.

Sarah Zhang, the Chinese deputy director of the Austrian Art Orchestra.

Relying on the contacts of the Art Orchestra, she whispered, "This pipa is in the private collection of a female music teacher in Vienna. She is indeed Chinese."

"However, that's all I can ask. To say more will violate the confidentiality principle of the auction house."

"That's enough, thank you very much."

Fan Chengyun was overjoyed when he heard the female Chinese, and looked at Zhong Ying, "Xiao Ying, what do you think?"

Zhong Ying thought for a while and said, "Maybe the original owner is the descendant of Mr. Chu and Ms. Zheng."

However, he still could not directly determine the source of the pipa.

In 1942, the musical instrument was lost, and Chu Shuming and Zheng Wanqing took away the supporting materials of Mulan Pipa, as well as photos and music scores, and chased the Americans all the way to board the cruise ship.

In 1943, the American Chinese Mutual Aid Association helped the couple find the Mulan Pipa and sent them back to China on a cruise ship.

So far, the whereabouts of Chu Zheng, his wife and their ten-year-old daughter Chu Zhiya are unknown.

And the Mulan Pipa of the two of them.

The information Sarah gave not only made Fan Chengyun happy, but Zhong Ying couldn't help being excited too.

I can't wait to skip the auction and go to the pipa immediately.

The rhythm of the Vienna auction house is slow but enthusiastic.

The atmosphere of the first three objects is enough to make Zhong Ying, who is participating in the auction for the first time, feel anxious.

A famous oil painting that I couldn't understand at all, four or five guests competed to raise their cards, and finally 330 million euros were hammered.

For a set of sparkling royal jewels, more than a dozen guests asked for the price one after another, and the final price was as high as 500 million euros.

Zhong Ying listened to the deep voices around him sighing secretly, lamenting that he failed to take down the jewel, and felt nervous.

He seemed to have underestimated the level of the auction. How could the participants sitting in the audience be richer than the other, and even a mediocre hat could compete for 50 euros?

He reached out and shook the people around him, and asked in a low voice, "Master, how much money did you prepare this time? Is it enough?"

Fan Chengyun looked at him with a smile, "Don't worry so much, even if we can't take pictures, we will try our best to contact the new buyer and ask him to lend the pipa to perform."

Collectors who can buy back pipas at high prices must also be people who love music.

When he contacted the Austrian Art Orchestra, he made double insurance——

It is best to buy back the pipa.

If you can't buy it back, then borrow the art orchestra's contacts and face to borrow it back.

Zhong Ying felt relieved, holding the handbook and waiting for the pipa.

Soon, the third lot came to an end, and the passage he had been staring at for a long time finally released the antique pipa from the Tang Dynasty that he had been waiting for.

"This is the fourth lot, an antique pipa from the Tang Dynasty."

The dedicated auctioneer will describe the advantages and characteristics of this pipa in detail.

It's a pity that it is so simple that only its age is worthy of praise. Even professionals can only tell the bidders repeatedly: it is very mysterious, it is very ancient, it comes from mysterious ancient China, and it is worth collecting.

The clock should stare at it.

The introverted rosewood pipa panel, even the light is subtle and gentle.

The magnified sculpture on the projection swayed slowly, and Zhong Ying could only see clusters of magnolia flowers blooming beside the light brown hands, and the stamens could not be discerned.

As soon as the words "starting price [-] euros" were spoken, the secretary of the Qingling Lake Chamber of Commerce raised a sign and settled on the starting price.

The auction venue was silent for a while, and everyone seemed to have no interest in this plain old antique.

Only the auctioneer is still making routine inquiries.

President Chen smiled and said in a low voice: "Look, I say there is nothing wrong with the pipa. Foreigners are not interested at all."

This auction, as he said, does have collections that are more popular with foreigners.

Even if the pipa is from the Tang Dynasty, it is not as lively as the previous oil paintings, jewelry, and hats.

Zhong Ying breathed a sigh of relief, and just wanted to end the auction quickly and carefully identify the carved magnolias.

"Did Xiao Ying see anything?" Fan Chengyun asked leisurely.

He smiled embarrassedly, "No, in the display just now, the carving of magnolia flowers passed too quickly, and I didn't look carefully. But I heard from Head Sarah that the original owner was a woman, so I guess it may be Madam Zheng Wanqing's pistil pipa."

"There are male and female pipas?" Sarah asked curiously.

Zhong Ying was about to explain the special features of Mulan Pipa to her in detail, but unexpectedly, a clear voice came from the venue——

"One hundred thousand euros."

The other party bid decisively, and Zhong Ying was stunned for a while.

There was no shortage of such auctions for popular collections before, but they were all several thousand euros, ten to twenty thousand, and this person actually doubled it?

The price was soaring, President Chen suddenly felt dull, and immediately comforted: "It's okay, this time our chamber of commerce has raised enough funds, below 130 million euros, there is no problem."

As he spoke, he signaled his secretary to bid again, 11 Euros.

Zhong Ying quietly calculated the exchange rate, feeling over the generosity of the Qingling Lake Chamber of Commerce.

130 million Euros, almost 1000 million RMB.

He only hoped that this pipa could be sold at a cheaper price, otherwise, if he and his master were sold, it would not be worth the kindness of the chamber of commerce.

However, things backfired. Just as the secretary made an offer, a familiar voice came from the other side.

"50 million euros!"

In an instant, the people in Zhong Ying's row ignored the shock, and all subconsciously looked at their opponents who bid with them.

It was a standard foreigner with brown hair and blue eyes. He was wearing a suit and leather shoes, wearing a bluetooth headset and keeping his eyes straight.

With a serious and steady look, it seemed that it wasn't me who doubled up just now.

"50 Euros..."

Sarah couldn't help but say, "Is this person crazy?"

"Auction house, the highest bidder wins."

Chairman Chen was aroused by him, and directly ordered the secretary, "Increase the price, we will pay 80 Euros!"

50 million, 80 million...

The price of pipa soared rapidly, Zhong Ying felt the unparalleled pressure, and went to see that competitor frequently.

Fortunately, this time the other party didn't go crazy immediately, and seemed to be hesitating.

Sitting beside him were several professionals in the same shirts and suits, communicating with him in a low voice, with the same serious eyes.

Zhong Ying remembered this man's voice, and he probably did not bid on the previous three items.

Whether it's the hot royal jewelry, famous paintings, or mysterious hats, this person has no interest at all, as if he was here for the pipa.

Sure enough, just as Zhong Ying's guess started, the other party raised the sign again before the auctioneer asked.

"Ten million euros."

This time the price increase was relatively gentle, but Zhong Ying felt a burst of heartache when he heard it.

He couldn't help but grabbed Master's cuff, "95, Master, 95!"

Fan Chengyun was also frowning. The 95 euros exceeded 700 million yuan. Although the pipa is precious, the money for this auction was collected by the Qingling Lake Chamber of Commerce. The price is too high, it is really...

He was about to tell President Chen to forget it this time and find another way.

Before he could speak, President Chen was furious, grabbed the secretary's sign, and held it up himself——

"130 million euros!"

The quotations in German were accurate and the pronunciation was standard. Zhong Ying, Fan Chengyun, and Sarah were so shocked that they had nothing to say.

The sudden price increase by the Qingling Lake Chamber of Commerce caused murmurs in the auction venue. Obviously, not only they were surprised, but also all the participants present.

A simple wooden pipa started to double its price, which naturally aroused strong interest as a bystander.

There were discussions in English, French, and German around.

Sarah wanted to say something, but seeing President Chen's angry expression, she didn't dare to speak.

Zhong Ying and Fan Chengyun were silent as if they were facing a formidable enemy, and almost all their senses were mobilized to the sense of hearing, lest the opponent would raise a sky-high price again, and they urgently wanted to hear the auctioneer shout for a deal.

130 million euros once.The auctioneer starts counting down.

130 million euros twice.

Zhong Ying's heart was beating violently, he stared at Mulan Pipa and refused to take his eyes off.

130 million euro pipa...

He can only pray, this must be Zheng Wanqing's Pipa!

"1000 million euros." The cold female voice abruptly interrupted the countdown.

The audience was silent for a moment, and whispers exploded again.

Zhong Ying couldn't believe it, he turned his head to look, but saw the woman who made the final bid, in a blond suit, sitting next to the brown-haired and blue-eyed man in a suit.

And what she used was the number plate of the man with brown hair and blue eyes in a suit!

"1000 Euros..."

Chairman Chen could hear clearly, but he couldn't believe his ears, "That's almost [-] million!"