Chapter 54

When the price soared to 1.3 billion, everyone felt dizzy.

On the other end of the online video, Bryant's knuckles turned white from gripping, but he didn't hesitate, slamming the table and shouting, "1.4 billion!"

"Wow, 1.4 billion!"

Everyone's feelings were beyond words. The previous pair of phoenix vases didn't even add up to 1.4 billion, and now this set of tea ware, with just the teapot, had sold for 1.4 billion!

"1.4 billion, Lao Li, it seems we can only go this far," Ni Liqun looked at Li Maohe and sighed softly.

Li Changhe patted Ni Liqun's shoulder, encouraging him, "It's okay, as long as we keep making money, there will be another chance next time!"

Suddenly, Ni Liqun's eyes welled up with tears, "Such a beautiful set of Ru porcelain, falling into the hands of foreigners, I can't bear it! It is the cultural heritage of our Chinese nation, it should stay in China!"

Li Changhe sighed, "What can we do? Who is richer than us? Lao Ni, be more open-minded. As long as we keep working hard and make more money, the Americans will eventually be no match for us!"

Ni Liqun wiped his tears and sighed, "I'm old, my body is getting weaker every day, I probably won't live to see that day."

Ni Liqun's granddaughter, Ni Siyi, said, "Grandpa, don't worry, I'm here. My dad and I will expand your business and buy back this set of porcelain from the Americans in the future!"

"Your granddaughter is so sensible!" Li Changhe said with a smile.

"She's just a little troublemaker!" Ni Liqun reached out to his granddaughter.

"Grandpa, don't touch my head, I'm a big girl now, if you keep touching my head, people will laugh at me!" Ni Siyi said, somewhat discontent.

"Alright, alright, Xiao Yi has grown up, Grandpa won't touch your head anymore!"

On the other side of the stage, the auctioneer shouted, "1.4 billion the first time, 1.4 billion the second time, 1.4 billion the third time! Congratulations to Mr. Bryant from the United States, who has acquired this exquisite set of Ru porcelain! Believe me, this is absolutely the most exquisite set of Ru porcelain in the world, and your 1.4 billion is well spent. Let's give a warm round of applause to Mr. Bryant for his generous support of this auction!"

The audience burst into applause, and the auction ended successfully under the auctioneer's direction.

The organizers, including the auctioneer, all walked to the VIP seats to congratulate the Li family.

"Mr. Li, congratulations, congratulations! You've set the highest record for Chinese antique auctions three times in a row. This exhibition will surely go down in history!" Tan Mingcheng said with a smile.

"Director Tan, you're too kind. It's all thanks to your strong support that I could stand on this auction stage. You are the true hero of this exhibition!" Li Yi said politely.

As they were chatting happily, Yun Haiyong and Zhang Hongjuan entered the auction hall and looked around. Seeing that Li Yi was still in the VIP seats, they quickly walked over.

"Xiao Yi, good news! I have some good news to tell you!" Yun Haiyong shouted.

Tan Mingcheng smiled, "Commander Yun, you're late. Why did you only come after the auction ended?"

Yun Haiyong said, "Oh, I was just on the phone with Zhong Yang, discussing the issue of Xiao Yi's two national treasures. Xiao Yi is my brother, I can't let him lose out!"

Li Yi smiled, "So, Brother Yong, you have good news? Tell us quickly!"

Yun Haiyong said, "The 'Lanting Xu' and the Imperial Seal are national treasures. The state's opinion is to take them directly. I said that's not right, even though they are national treasures, they are also Xiao Yi's private property. If you take them, you should give some compensation. So Zhong Yang decided to reward Xiao Yi with one million!"

"Spit!" Li Ting, who was drinking orange juice, spat it out. If it were before tonight, she would have been extremely grateful for a one million reward, but after seeing the hundreds of millions tonight, one million was nothing to her.

"Are you serious about one million?" Li Ting asked.

Zhang Hongjuan said, "One million is not a small amount. According to Zhong Yang's intention, it should be handed over unconditionally, after all, they are national treasures!"

"Just the 'Lanting Xu' alone, experts estimate at one billion. If the state takes it for one million, I'd rather tear it up and not give it!" Li Ting pouted, unwillingly.

Yun Haiyong said, "Xiao Ting, don't act on impulse. National treasures belong to the state. Don't even think about tearing it up; if you damage it, you'll be sent to prison for the rest of your life!"

"This is my own property, how did it become the state's? The paper was bought for one yuan from a bookstore near the school. Why can't I tear it up?" Li Ting was full of resentment.

"Xiao Ting, don't talk nonsense," Li Yi pulled his sister behind him and then smiled at Yun Haiyong, "A one million reward, thank you, Brother Yong!"

Zhang Hongjuan smiled, "You really should thank Brother Yong. If it were anyone else, one million would be enough, but Brother Yong wouldn't let you lose out. He argued until his lips were sore, insisting that Zhong Yang not settle with you for such a small amount!"

Yun Haiyong said, "Yes, if it were just one million, I wouldn't have the face to come and tell you the good news! Guess how much you'll get now?"

Li Yi smiled, "How can I guess?"

Yun Haiyong laughed loudly, "One hundred million! I helped you get one hundred million! Ha, with one hundred million in rewards, are you happy?"

Li Yi smiled slightly, while the others looked at each other, none of them showing any surprise.

Zhang Hongjuan said in surprise, "Why are you all standing there like fools? Hearing about one hundred million, you're all stunned? Ha!"

Tan Mingcheng whispered, "Xiao Zhang, Mr. Li's teapot just sold for 1.4 billion!"

"What?" Zhang Hongjuan was stunned.

Yun Haiyong, who was not very familiar with the antique market, was also shocked, muttering, "No way, that expensive?"

Tan Mingcheng said, "The international market for antiques is soaring, so it's not surprising to see such high prices."

Li Ting pouted, "The 'Lanting Xu' and the Imperial Seal are our most valuable items. You don't let us sell them, but you want us to hand them over for one hundred million? No way!"

Zhang Hongjuan said with a pained expression, "Xiao Ting, don't talk like that, it will hurt me and Brother Yun. You don't know, Brother Yun's lips were sore from arguing to get you one hundred million. This is an unprecedented reward, you won't find a second one like it in the whole country!"

"Ah!" Yun Haiyong sighed deeply, "Xiao Ting, I know you could get a sky-high price if you secretly sold these items abroad, but that's illegal, you must hand them over to the state!"

Li Yi smiled, "Brother Yun is right, I also think they should be handed over to the state, but you need to help me negotiate..."

Yun Haiyong said with a worried face, "There's really nothing to negotiate. You don't know how long I argued with them. If it were easy, I wouldn't have waited until the auction ended to come here."

Li Yi said, "Brother Yun, you misunderstood. I'm not asking you to help me get a reward. I want to donate the national treasures to the state without any reward."

Zhang Hongjuan was delighted, "Xiao Yi is so reasonable!"

Yun Haiyong said curiously, "Oh, donate for free? Then what do you want?"