Ling Tian's eyes lit up upon hearing Gu Jiafu's suggestion; buying a pre-owned aircraft was indeed a good option.
Take the Gulfstream G550, for instance. A brand-new unit of this private jet would cost over 600 million, and with taxes and other miscellaneous fees, it wouldn't be obtainable for less than 700 million.
However, at an auction, a relatively new model of the same aircraft could fetch up to two to three hundred million.
"Great, senior brother. Where can I buy one?"
"Tianchang Pavilion. There's an auction tomorrow in the capital. This auction is held only twice a year. I'll take you to see it; perhaps you'll find something good."
"Tianchang Pavilion? You mean the Tianchang Pavilion of the Wei family?"
"Yes, that's right, it's theirs!"
Ling Tian had heard his fifth and sixth masters mention the Wei family, a prominent clan. This family had a history spanning over a thousand years. Legend had it that they were as wealthy as a nation, and their business in every generation was pawnshops. It was said that at their peak, they had pawnshops in every prefecture and county of ancient China. Through these pawnshops, the Wei family not only amassed vast wealth but also acquired a large number of rare treasures and martial arts manuals.
In modern times, the pawnshop business wasn't as lucrative as in ancient times, so the Wei family changed their approach and directly opened auction houses. Tianchang Pavilion Auction House was one of the Wei family's ventures. This auction house, by hiring numerous experts as consultants, ensured the high authenticity and rarity of its items, and its auctions were highly regarded in the industry.
Tianchang Pavilion held auctions twice a year, in March and September, in Beijing and Shanghai respectively. These auctions featured tens of thousands of items, with almost every piece being of considerable value. Therefore, Tianchang Pavilion's auctions were considered the most prestigious among domestic auction companies in China.
Of course, not everyone could participate. Only Tianchang Pavilion members were allowed. To become a member, one had to provide proof of at least 1 billion yuan in savings, demonstrating cash reserves exceeding that amount, to obtain a temporary participation seat. To become a permanent member, in addition to gaining entry to the venue, one must spend at least 20 million yuan to qualify for formal membership and participate in future auctions.
Ling Tian did not return that day but stayed directly at Tianxi Building. The lower floors of Tianxi Building were actually a hotel. Employees from Tianxi Building's various branches often stayed there for meetings. Ling Tian also kept himself busy, spending several hours on the phone with Wang Bingxia. The two were deeply in love, as sweet as honey. Moreover, having already shared intimate moments and practiced dual cultivation together, their souls were intertwined, creating a bond that was hard to break. If it wasn't late at night, Wang Bingxia on the other end of the line would have immediately booked a flight to Beijing.
The next morning, around nine o'clock, Gu Jiafu came to find Ling Tian. Due to the large number of items, the entire auction was spread over three days, with different items scheduled for each session to accommodate various buyers. The morning session today was dedicated to company assets, real estate, shares, and valuable assets like aircraft and yachts. At Tianchang Pavilion's auctions, almost every item had a starting bid of over ten million yuan; without significant wealth, one wouldn't even dare to enter the door.
The car quickly arrived at a prosperous area of Beijing. The building before them occupied several acres and was said to have been a royal residence. As they got out of the car, reception staff immediately ushered them into a luxurious reception room. Gu Jiafu presented his membership card, and the attendant bowed respectfully to him.
"Mr. Gu, is this your friend?"
"Yes, this is Ling Tian, the chairman of Bing Tian Pharmaceutical."
"Hello, Mr. Ling Tian. I presume Mr. Gu has already informed you of the rules of our Tianchang Pavilion Auction House."
Ling Tian nodded and directly extended his hand, handing the attendant a card and his business card. The attendant brought over a card reader and swiped the card. The number displayed on it made even the seasoned attendant a little flustered. He counted several times before confirming that no zeros were missing. The attendant respectfully returned the card to Ling Tian, then took his business card and left. A few minutes later, the attendant reappeared, handing Ling Tian a plastic card with a set of numbers on it.
"Hello, Mr. Ling Tian. This is your membership card. Please keep it safe. If you spend over 20 million yuan with us, your card will be upgraded to a VIP gold card!"
"Excellent!" Ling Tian nodded happily.
Entering Tianchang Pavilion, Ling Tian observed that this magnificent Chinese building was divided into different halls, each with a numbered door. The different halls, with their respective numbers, represented different auction items. Ling Tian and Gu Jiafu's destination was Hall No. 6 on the first floor.
Before Ling Tian could enter Hall No. 6, a cheerful voice called out, "Ling Tian, what a coincidence, you're here too!" A voice as cheerful as a little rabbit's reached him. Ling Tian turned his head to see the famous celebrity Han Yueyue. Today, Han Yueyue was wearing a white evening gown with subtle floral patterns, making her look radiant. Beside Han Yueyue, Sister Wei was also smiling at Ling Tian.
"Sister Wei, Yueyue, are you also here to buy things?" Ling Tian asked curiously. Hearing Ling Tian's question, Sister Wei immediately put on a resentful expression.
"Ling Tian, don't tease us. What kind of place is this? How could we possibly afford to buy things here? Even though Yueyue is a star, she'd need at least five or six more years to earn enough for the entry fee here! As for me, an agent, even if you sold me, I wouldn't be worth that much."
"Then what are you doing here?"
"We were invited as guests. This afternoon, there's a special session for jewelry, ornaments, and luxury goods. Some major auctions invite celebrities to showcase the items." Sister Wei explained to Ling Tian.
"So that's how it is. But Yueyue, you look truly beautiful today!" Ling Tian praised her sincerely. Hearing this, Han Yueyue's face immediately turned red, and she felt a surge of joy. Suddenly, Han Yueyue seemed to remember something.
"By the way, Ling Tian, it's not just me who's here today; that annoying guy is also here."
"Annoying guy? Who is that?" Ling Tian was completely bewildered.
"Of course, it's that universally disliked Wu Kun!"