There's nothing else in the ocean, but there's an abundance of medieval European artifacts, including many items belonging to royal families from various countries. If Zhuang Rui wants to build a European pavilion in the future, he'll just have to make another arduous voyage.
So after dealing with the gold, Zhuang Rui chose to hold a special auction of European medieval art in conjunction with Mr. Qian's Beijing auction house after the New Year.
This auction has been given great attention by all sectors in China, because it is usually foreign auction houses that hold special auctions for Chinese companies. This is the first time that the situation has been reversed in China.
Moreover, most of the participants in this auction were foreign collectors. After all, collecting foreign art is still a niche market in China, and there aren't many knowledgeable people in the field.
"Mr. Zhuang, your Golden City is actually built with real gold. What is my commission? It's not even as thick as a single hair on your body... Besides, the commission I'm asking for is really not high, only four percent. Go ask around in Beijing... no, in the whole country, is there anyone with a lower commission than me?"
Thanks to his early relationship with Zhuang Rui, President Qian successfully won this highly symbolic auction. Although he complained to Zhuang Rui, he had a beaming smile on his face, as if he wanted to hug and kiss Zhuang Rui a few times.
It's important to understand that auction houses worldwide are dominated by foreign auction giants. Almost all major auctions are held by just a few companies, and domestic auction houses simply cannot compete with them.
Now, a Beijing auction house can hold an auction with international influence, and all the items auctioned are foreign artworks. This kind of influence is something money can't buy.
This is because Zhuang Rui is a kind person and has a good relationship with President Qian. Otherwise, even if he didn't spend a single penny, there would be plenty of auction houses in China eager to help him hold this special auction.
"Alright, Lao Qian, stop keeping me company and go greet the guests..."
Zhuang Rui smiled and waved his hand. After selling that batch of gold, he had almost no financial pressure. The reason for holding this auction was simply to give domestic auction houses a proper reputation.
It's not just foreigners who hold auctions specifically for Chinese artists; China can also auction foreign artworks, and these are all rare and valuable pieces.
"Alright, Brother Zhuang, I'll head over now. Just you wait and see, today's auction is sure to be a huge success." After hearing Zhuang Rui's words, Boss Qian excused himself and went to the auction site to get busy.
Before Mr. Qian could even boast, the auction was already incredibly popular from the very beginning, thanks to his personal involvement.
Zhuang Rui brought out more than a thousand handicrafts from South America and Europe. During the three-day auction, not a single item went unsold, and the total auction amount reached as much as 800 million RMB.
Of course, this is also related to the objects themselves. Most of these vessels are exquisite works of art looted by Spain from South America at the time, and are currently the most sought-after handicrafts in the international auction market.
Chapter 1298 Friends
Springtime in Beijing is the best season of the year, free from the sweltering heat of summer, the sandstorms of autumn, and the bitter cold of winter. In some areas on the outskirts of Beijing, you can see city dwellers enjoying spring outings everywhere.
After the New Year, Zhuang Rui's family moved to the manor on the outskirts of Beijing. Every day, they rode the white lion and chased the wind, living a very comfortable life. However, King Kong had already settled on "Xuanrui Island" and was living the life of a harem of three thousand, which made the manor less lively.
The auction of foreign artworks that Zhuang Rui co-organized with the Beijing auction house has been over for more than a month. As the owner of the auctioned items, Zhuang Rui did not deliberately hide his identity at the time.
The items that Zhuang Rui salvaged in the Vigo Bay waters a few years ago have been rediscovered, and many foreign experts have provided authentication, concluding that these artworks all originated from medieval South America and Europe.
However, as a result, the value of the items Zhuang Rui obtained in that sea area was also estimated by some people with ulterior motives.
Although Zhuang Rui did not sell the gold on the international market, some institutions still assessed his gains at over three billion US dollars, making it the most profitable expedition in modern international exploration.
Once the news broke, it was reported by various countries. As a result, Zhuang Rui's many titles were expanded to include internationally renowned explorer and deep-sea salvage expert.
It is well known that in foreign countries, adventure is the most prominent form of personal heroism. When Zhuang Rui's experience in Vigo Bay was reported, it immediately aroused strong interest among people from all over the world.
However, after some media outlets delved deeper into Zhuang Rui's life, they discovered that in his short life, he had actually experienced numerous adventures, such as visiting pirate islands and forest ruins in Central Africa. The twists and turns of his life were enough to make a Hollywood blockbuster.
Zhuang Rui's achievements in the fields of archaeology and art have also been discovered, leading to invitations from numerous international institutions and renowned universities to give lectures, which have generated just as much buzz as they did in China last year.
In China, to recognize Zhuang Rui's significant contributions to archaeology, Peking University officially appointed him as a professor, making him the university's youngest professor at the age of thirty-one.
However, after Zhuang Rui repeatedly declined, the word "honor" was added before the title of professor. Zhuang Rui knew his own background well. Although he had made many achievements in on-site archaeology in recent years, asking him to teach and educate people would definitely be a mistake.
As the saying goes, "People are afraid of becoming famous, just as pigs are afraid of getting fat." Once his reputation spread, invitations to various events came flying in like snowflakes to Zhuang Rui.
Various collectors' associations have invited him to give lectures, and treasure appraisal programs have invited Zhuang Rui to be a guest. Even CCTV's "Lecture Room" is preparing to create a series of programs tailored for Zhuang Rui.
This annoyed Zhuang Rui to no end. He didn't make money from fame. The fame that those entertainment stars cherished was just a joke to Zhuang Rui. He would rather spend his time going out to sea to salvage some treasure.
After changing his phone number and other contact methods, Zhuang Rui's world finally became peaceful. Aside from his weekly visits to his grandfather at Yuquan Mountain, Zhuang Rui spent almost every day at the manor. This quiet place on the outskirts of Beijing had become his paradise. ...
"Mr. Zhuang, some people have arrived at the door. One of them, surnamed Liu, named Liu Chuan, says he's your elder brother. Shall we let them in?"
That day, as Zhuang Rui was riding his Chasing Wind through the manor, a security guard came up from the gate on an electric scooter. However, the speed of the scooter was far inferior to that of the Chasing Wind, and the guy had to shout loudly to make Zhuang Rui slow down.
"Surname Liu? My older brother? Hey, I see, I'll go pick him up myself..."
Zhuang Rui paused for a moment, then laughed, turned his horse around, and galloped towards the manor gate.
"Hey, you guys came over without even letting me know you were coming! I could have come pick you up..."
After riding his horse to the gate, Zhuang Rui was dumbfounded when he saw a group of people standing there. There were three taxis parked at the gate, each carrying a family, and exactly three families had arrived.
Standing at the front, negotiating with the security guard, was Liu Chuan. Behind him, Lei Lei was holding a snotty-nosed boy. The little guy looked up and saw Zhuang Rui riding the Chasing Wind, and his eyes immediately lit up.
Standing on either side of Liu Chuan's family were the families of Yang Wei and Zhou Rui from Zhonghai. Zhuang Rui couldn't understand how these guys had gotten together.
"Hey, Wood, is your phone just for show or did you throw it in the sink? I can't get through to you at all. By the way, I have to say, you're really putting on airs. I'm here to see you, and these guys at the door are bombarding me with all sorts of questions. What's with all this stinky etiquette?"
Liu Chuan still has the same loud voice as always, but compared to his youthful days a few years ago, he has matured a lot. After all, he has a family, a career, and children now.
"Do you think I want to? Those reporters all have dog noses. The other day, someone even tried to climb over the wall and almost got bitten by the white lion. Come in, come in quickly..."
After welcoming the families into the manor, Qin Xuanbing and Zhuang's mother heard the commotion outside and came out to greet them. These families were all people closest to Zhuang Rui, and there was a burst of laughter.
However, Zhou Rui's little girl was only a little over a year old. Perhaps she was scared of strangers, because she started crying loudly. Zhuang's mother smiled and took the child from her, saying, "You guys go outside and chat. Your loud voices are scaring the child..."
"Hehe, Mom, let's go out now. Come on, Fangfang and Yuanyuan, take your brothers outside to play..."
Zhuang Rui picked up Liu Chuan and Yang Wei's sons, one in each arm, and gave them a big kiss. Then, he smiled at Zhou Rui, who was following behind Liu Chuan, and said, "Brother Zhou, it's rare for you to come here. Stay a while this time. I've missed you all so much..."
Zhou Rui is nearly forty years old. In recent years, he has settled down and become much more prosperous. The rosy cheeks on his face have long since disappeared, and he has a certain air about him.
Upon hearing Zhuang Rui's words, Peng Fei, who had just come out after hearing the commotion, quickly said, "That's right, Brother Zhou, stay a while longer. I was thinking, my son is just a little older than your daughter, how about we become in-laws?"
Zhou Rui got married in Pengcheng two years ago and gave birth to a daughter last year. At that time, Zhuang Rui was abroad, but he sent Qin Xuanbing to visit him in person and present him with a valuable jade pendant.
As Zhuang Rui spoke, he led Liu Chuan and the others to the poolside in front of the villa. Not far away, a few older children, led by Fang Fang and Yuan Yuan, were playing with the white lion Zhui Feng.
However, Peng Fei's words displeased Liu Chuan, who immediately shouted as soon as he sat down, "Peng Fei, I already told Brother Zhou that Dou Dou is my son's wife. I'm telling you, don't even think about taking her away..."
"Well, arranged marriages aren't common these days. Let's see which boy is more capable when he grows up. By the way, Brother Liu, doesn't Brother Zhuang have a little princess?"
Peng Fei steered the conversation toward Zhuang Rui, and Liu Chuan's eyes darted around, clearly very interested.
"Hey, I'm telling you, you guys are being really inconsiderate! Zhuang Rui's daughter is only good enough for my son. Look how much fun they're having..."
This time, it was Wei Ge's turn to object. Three boys and two girls—it was clear there were too many wolves and not enough meat. If he didn't act soon, one of them would definitely end up without a wife.
“Yes, Peng Fei is right. They might not even look down on you two when you grow up…”
Zhuang Rui smiled and lit a cigarette, looking at his close friends through the smoke, feeling extremely happy.
In recent years, due to changes in his status and the accumulation of wealth, Zhuang Rui has naturally developed the air of a superior. Whether it is company employees or manor security guards, they always speak to him with a certain degree of caution.
Even his old classmates, except for the eldest brother Wei, have become much less connected now. The fourth brother, who manages his fund, has also become much more serious when he sees Zhuang Rui, unlike his usual playful self.
The second son, who works in Beijing, only visits Zhuang Rui's home once a year during holidays. Compared to their close relationship during their university days, Zhuang Rui feels much more distant from him.
Zhuang Rui also knew that with age and changes in social status, this was a necessary price to pay for growth, but he was very uncomfortable with this change.
However, Liu Chuan's appearance made Zhuang Rui feel that brotherly affection again, and Wei Ge's arrival made Zhuang Rui feel as if he had relived the friendship that was free of any utilitarian motives from his university days.
Zhuang Rui even had an idea in his mind: maybe he should just go back to Pengcheng to live, or leave a house for all his brothers on Xuanrui Island, otherwise life would be too boring.
"Zhuang Rui, I've come here firstly to visit my godmother, and secondly to tell you about the mastiff kennel..."
Just as Zhuang Rui was lost in thought, Liu Chuan's voice brought him back to reality, "I recently did some market research and found that in other countries, people call pets companion animals, which can help heal many psychological traumas. Our country has become wealthier in recent years, and many people keep pets. I was thinking, how about turning the mastiff kennel into a pet breeding base? What do you think?"
"A pet breeding center?"
Zhuang Rui was taken aback for a moment upon hearing this, and said, "Why are you asking me about this? The mastiff kennel is yours, do whatever you want with it. By the way, if you don't have enough money, you can come to me..."
Seeing that Liu Chuan still wanted to speak, Zhuang Rui waved his hand, "Alright, let's not talk about this anymore, brothers. I'm quite curious, how did you guys come with Brother Wei?"
Liu Chuan did know Yang Wei, but he met him through Zhuang Rui. They didn't have much contact in private, which is why Zhuang Rui asked that question.
Chapter 1299 Blessing
After hearing Zhuang Rui's words, Liu Chuan waved his hand and said, "Don't ask me about this. We met on the train, and I didn't know he was coming to Beijing..."
In recent years, transportation between Shanghai and Beijing has improved significantly. Not only have bullet trains been introduced, but high-speed rail has also been added, making the entire journey only a few hours. Many people who used to travel between the two cities by plane are now switching to bullet trains.
Pengcheng is located right between the two places, so it was quite a coincidence that Liu Chuan and Wei Ge met on the train. Not only did they have to be on the same train, but they also had to be in the same carriage.
Upon hearing this, Zhuang Rui turned to Yang Wei and said with a smile, "Brother Wei, you've brought your whole family to Beijing, you didn't just come to see me, did you?"
Yang Wei has now taken over the family business and is very busy every day. Zhuang Rui invited him to Beijing several times, but he didn't have time. Now that he's come all this way, he must have something to do.
"Zhuang Rui, you don't know?"
Yang Wei's eyes widened immediately upon hearing Zhuang Rui's words.
"Of course! If I knew you were coming, wouldn't I have come to pick you up?"
Zhuang Rui replied irritably.
Upon hearing Zhuang Rui's words, Yang Wei hesitated for a moment and said, "You... it's fine if you don't know. I came with my wife."
Yang Wei's words only fueled Zhuang Rui's curiosity, prompting him to ask, "Nurse Song? Oh... no, sister-in-law, what could she possibly be doing in Beijing?"
Yang Wei glanced at Zhuang Rui furtively, feigning nonchalance, and said, "Hey, it's nothing. A friend of hers is getting married, and I came over for the wedding banquet. I hadn't seen you for almost a year, so I came along to hang out..."
"Damn, Wei-ge, that's not fair of you! Can't you come see me for no reason? By the way, stay a few more days this time. My Golden City is opening next week, I'll let you two check it out then..."
Upon hearing that it was Song Xingjun's friend getting married, Zhuang Rui didn't press the matter further. After all, everyone has classmates and friends, right? But it seems that Nurse Song is a bit older than him, isn't she? Her friend is getting married at a rather advanced age.
"A golden city? Made of gold? Wood? How much gold would that take?"
When Liu Chuan heard Zhuang Rui's words, his eyes almost popped out of their sockets. This guy loved to show off. Back when he was running a pet shop, he made some money and immediately bought a chain as thick as his little finger and hung it around his neck.
According to Liu Chuan, men should wear gold necklaces to look impressive, while platinum and jade are for women. However, when Zhuang Rui gave his son a jade pendant worth over a million, he didn't hear the guy ask to exchange it for a gold necklace.
"Heh, anyway, even scraping off a bit of plaster from the wall is thicker than the chain around your neck, you scoundrel. I'll show you what's what..."
Zhuang Rui laughed and started calling Liu Chuan by his nickname. Although he had more and more money over the years, he always felt that something was missing. After Liu Chuan and the others arrived, Zhuang Rui realized that it was friendship.
One cannot live solely for money. However, the friends Zhuang Rui knew in Beijing were either experts in their sixties or seventies, or scholars in their forties or fifties. They were fine discussing professional knowledge, but when it came to other topics, they were completely at odds.
Fourth Brother does have a group of young people, but they are all spoiled brats from the capital. They walk like crabs, and each of them acts like they are the most important person in the world. Zhuang Rui avoids them as much as possible.
It's rare to have childhood playmates and close college friends here. Zhuang Rui feels that today is the best day in the past two years. He no longer has to put on a serious face and pretend to be mature.
After exchanging a few jokes with Liu Chuan, Zhuang Rui noticed that Yang Wei, who was usually quite talkative, had fallen silent and kept glancing at him. He couldn't help but ask curiously, "Brother Wei, what's wrong? Why are you so quiet today? Something on your mind?"
"Cough cough, no!"