"Mr. Chen, what do you think of this piece?"
Sun Ming'en, without any politeness, pulled Chen Fan aside and asked, pointing at the blue and white plum vase.
"Naturally, it is a good item," Chen Fan replied with a calm expression.
"And this piece of blue and white porcelain, isn't it also exceptionally perfect?"
Suddenly, a voice interrupted their conversation. Turning their heads, they saw that it was Tao Xiaoyan speaking.
Chen Fan smiled at the middle-aged woman accompanying Tao Xiaoyan. She was still observing and appraising the plum vase, so he said, "Blue and white porcelain has extraordinary value, but the value of some things lies not in their appearance."
"Chen Fan, you are indeed amazing," Tao Xiaoyan blinked and said, "My Aunt Liu says the same thing."
Chen Fan ignored her and focused his attention behind the screen.
The screen was opaque, but he could hear faint breathing from behind it, as well as a faint fragrance.
Could it be that a woman was behind the screen?
Chen Fan harbored a guess in his heart, but he could not be sure.
After everyone had examined it, they returned to their seats.
This time, there were many people interested in the plum vase. The middle-aged woman with Tao Xiaoyan, Gu Zi'an, and others were all extremely interested in the item.
Sun Chuancheng also raised his hand.
Zhong Yishan, however, was not interested in it.
This time, Ping Yihong only looked at the items he hadn't examined before. After consulting with the owner behind the screen, he announced the results.
The blue and white plum vase was ultimately traded with Tao Xiaoyan's party for a Taihu rock with seven apertures.
The middle-aged woman beside Tao Xiaoyan seemed very satisfied with this outcome.
Next, Ping Yihong continued to present various treasures.
Chen Fan, whenever he found something interesting, would go to examine it.
Zhong Yishan's group was very interested in the elixirs, but unfortunately, they couldn't compete with others.
In these transactions, the mysterious owner behind the screen did not seem to want to gain an advantage. When seeking a trade, they required items of similar value, rather than just looking at who offered the better item.
The entire secret meeting was not like a conventional auction with bidding. The results of the trades were all decided by the owner behind the screen.
As these items were traded one by one, some were happy and some were sad.
For example, Sun Chuancheng and Sun Ming'en, father and son, were very happy. Apart from the first item, the imperial seal and the jade mountain were later exchanged for a painting and a sandalwood bracelet, respectively.
The sandalwood bracelet was lustrous and plump, carved with images of deities in exquisite detail. Many were interested, and in the end, Sun Ming'en managed to trade for it.
Gu Zi'an's group only managed to exchange for one item.
"Thank you all for attending. The appreciation meeting has now come to its conclusion," Ping Yihong said, looking around. "We now have the final three items. After these three items, the rest will be for you to trade amongst yourselves."
He clapped his hands, and a maidservant brought forward an item.
Everyone focused their attention and looked intently.
Generally speaking, the items placed at the end, the grand finale, were undoubtedly the rarest treasures, and this was no exception at the Fish Dragon Secret Meeting.
However, the item brought out by the maidservant this time surprised everyone.
It was a potted plant.
Ping Yihong still did not offer much explanation, gesturing for everyone to come forward and examine it to determine if they were interested in trading.
"Is this a tea tree?"
The middle-aged professor couple looked at it and said in an uncertain tone.
"Let me see this flowerpot. Qianlong polychrome?"
Many were astonished. They crouched down to look at the flowerpot. The soil container was brightly colored and vibrant, clearly polychrome porcelain.
Genuine polychrome porcelain was also of considerable value. Although not as famous as blue and white porcelain, it was also highly sought after.
Yet, here, this rather large piece of polychrome was merely a pot for soil?
Thus, everyone's attention shifted to the tea plant.
"What variety of tea is this? The fragrance is so rich and refreshing!"
"This tea, in a polychrome flowerpot, is its value perhaps greater than the polychrome?"
"Staying by this tea tree, I feel incredibly comfortable!"
"Mr. Ping, could you offer some guidance?"
Ping Yihong, hearing their words, smiled enigmatically.
Zhong Yishan returned to his seat after examining it, but his gaze lingered. He said, "Mr. Chen, this tea tree is absolutely extraordinary. It is likely an extremely rare variety, possessing spiritual essence!"
He had traveled extensively in search of medicinal herbs and had considerable knowledge in this area.
Chen Fan nodded. He already had a guess in his mind but did not voice it.
Meanwhile, Ping Yihong did not answer any questions. After everyone returned to their seats, he asked who was interested in trading.
Almost every seat raised a hand, indicating their desire to trade.
Ping Yihong scanned the room, listened for a moment beside the screen, and then gestured for the maidservant to bring the potted tea tree to Chen Fan and Zhong Yishan.
Amidst the exclamations and envious gazes of many, Ping Yihong traded for Zhong Yishan's medicine cauldron.
Many lamented. Although they did not know what efficacy the leaves plucked from the tea tree would possess, they knew it would not be ordinary.
The Fish Dragon Secret Meeting had been held many times, and no one had ever heard of anyone suffering a loss here.
Zhong Yishan was overjoyed and said, "Mr. Chen, today is too fortunate."
Chen Fan smiled and said, "You were well-prepared."
Zhong Yishan said, "If not for your help, Mr. Chen, I would not have had the courage to trade away my ancestral medicine cauldron and herb-cutting knife."
He then said apologetically, "The remaining two items are probably of little use. If you don't mind, Mr. Chen, once I have studied this tea tree, I will give them to you!"
Chen Fan said mildly, "Keep them. If you discover anything, sending me some tea in the future will suffice."
"Alright!" Zhong Yishan did not stand on ceremony and said, "All the produce from this tea tree belongs to Mr. Chen. I am merely taking care of it."
As they spoke, Ping Yihong clapped his hands, and another maidservant brought forth a treasure, placing it on the display stand.
It was a long-necked jade pot.
The craftsmanship was exquisite, and the shape was elegant.
On the pot, the characters 'Chang Chun' were inscribed.
However, from the surface alone, there was nothing special to be discerned.
Even so, everyone eagerly vied to trade for it.
Because Ping Yihong did not explain the specific uses or value of these items, trading was entirely voluntary, relying on individual discernment.
Chen Fan went to examine it, and he was indeed quite amazed.
These items, like the medicinal creams he had gifted to Chen Xing'er back then, were insignificant to him, but they were indeed extraordinary.
To be precise, these were all items with a trace of a special aura, imbued with spiritual essence.
No matter how rare secular treasures were, they were merely worldly possessions. But the trading items provided by the host of the Fish Dragon Secret Meeting were all of this special, spirit-infused nature.
Zhong Yishan felt that the two antique pieces he had brought were not presentable, so he did not indicate his interest.
However, this time, Chen Fan suddenly raised his hand to signal.
This was the second to last item, and he had to make an attempt.
Ping Yihong looked at Chen Fan and said with a smile, "Mr. Chen, the two treasures beside you are of insufficient value for the trade."
Chen Fan asked with a smile, "Can I pay on credit?"