Don't Say You're Heartless (Modern Edition)

48 Bidding

Finally, Shen Qiuhua's work appeared on the display stand. It was a piece of running script, written with Huang Luzhi's poem 'Jianzi Mulan Hua (Cutting scissors, magnolia flower)':

"The lingering cold contends to command.
The snow and wax plums cast their shadows together.
Last night's east wind has already emerged, urging the year's work.
The clouds are dense and close, almost seeming to touch the sky.
Do not resent the delayed spring.
The peach and plum trees at the tips of the branches gradually come to know."

As soon as this piece was displayed, people saw it on the projection screen, and soon someone exclaimed, "Huang Luzhi's authentic work!"

Yang Qiong looked at Shen Qiuhua in shock. It was definitely introduced as Shen Qiuhua's work, so why did they call it an authentic work?

A confident smile appeared on Shen Qiuhua's lips. "Huang Luzhi's calligraphy was influenced by predecessors but developed into a unique style of his own. His brushwork is refined, and the structure is unique. When I was at home, my father recommended that I study his calligraphy diligently. Unfortunately, my youthful self couldn't grasp its intricacies. It was only when I came here that I truly appreciated its brilliance. I am quite satisfied with this piece."

While they were calmly chatting, the crowd was already in a frenzy. Many wealthy merchants present were also connoisseurs of calligraphy, and they were discussing the piece with those around them.

Vice President Huang stood on the stage, smiling as he observed the lively discussions below. When he first saw this piece, he had the same reaction. At first glance, it seemed like an authentic Huang Tingjian work, but upon closer inspection, differences became apparent. In other words, Shen Qiuhua merely imitated Huang Tingjian's running script style, not deliberately creating a forgery.

"Everyone has been discussing for a while, clearly knowledgeable about the subject. The starting price for this piece is 30,000. We'll start the bidding now." Vice President Huang set the starting price. For someone as unknown as Shen Qiuhua, having such a starting price for a single piece was already quite remarkable.

Shen Qiuhua was momentarily stunned and then turned to Yang Qiong, asking, "Is it really worth this much?"

30,000! Her monthly salary was only 300, which would take a hundred months to earn. Even if she got promoted, her salary would be around 2,000, which is still equivalent to fifteen months of wages!

"Far more than that." Yang Qiong raised an eyebrow and gestured to the side.

Indeed, someone in the crowd had already raised their bidding paddle. With the first bid, more people gradually joined in. When the price exceeded 100,000, the entire room seemed to enter a state of bizarre frenzy.

Shen Qiuhua shook her head. "This calligraphy is not worth so much." Although she was quite satisfied with this piece, it was ultimately an imitation and not of high status.

The calligraphy was eventually sold for 120,000. Yang Qiong glanced at the person who won the bid and said with a sigh, "If we had that 120,000, it would be so good for us. But unfortunately, it's going to be donated."

"If it were for us, we wouldn't have such a sum. I estimate we wouldn't even get half of it." She finally understood that these merchants were actually responding to the government's call, coming here to contribute some money for charity. As for what they bid on, they probably wouldn't care much.

The next piece was also by Shen Qiuhua, still in running script. However, no one was surprised this time, as this style didn't belong to anyone but Shen Qiuhua herself. It was a seven-character quatrain by Yue Fei titled 'Ti Zhua Ma Gang (Lifting the claw, holding the reins)':