Courtyard House: Starting by inheriting the tradition and suppressing the barbarians.

As the auction officially began.

One treasure after another was auctioned off for astronomical sums.

This makes the auction even more exciting and popular.

It was at this time that...

The lights were focused on the display case in the center of the stage.

Two bronze statues, one with the head of an ox and the other of a monkey, imbued with a sense of historical vicissitude, are quietly displayed on a red velvet cloth.

They are exquisitely crafted and lifelike.

The nozzle that should have been spraying water now seemed to be silently telling the story of the great fire that occurred at the Old Summer Palace more than a hundred years ago.

And the humiliation of being stranded in a foreign land!

"Distinguished guests, this is the final item up for auction tonight."

"The ox and monkey heads from the twelve zodiac animal heads of the Yuanmingyuan!"

The auctioneer's impassioned voice carried throughout the room via microphone.

"This is a treasure of Eastern art and a testament to history!"

"The two bronze animal heads will be auctioned together, starting at HK$5 million!"

As soon as the words were spoken, bidding boards began to appear one after another.

"Five and a half million!"

"Six million!"

"Six and a half million!"

Most of the bidders were patriotic Hong Kong businessmen and overseas Chinese.

Everyone was determined to keep the national treasure in their own hands.

However, just as the price exceeded eight million, a shrill voice suddenly rang out.

"Ten million!"

Sitting in the first row, Tanaka Jiro lazily raised his sign.

He crossed his legs, a contemptuous smile on his face.

His eyes swept over the surrounding bidders as if they were beggars.

"Ten million...any higher bids?" the auctioneer asked.

The scene fell silent for a moment.

In the 1980s, ten million Hong Kong dollars was an absolute fortune.

Many Chinese businessmen looked troubled and reluctantly put down their signs.

"Heh, you're out of money already?"

Tanaka smugly opened his folding fan, fanned himself, and mocked in broken Chinese:

"So, the patriotism of the Chinese... no, the Chinese people, is only worth ten million?"

"That's so cheap."

"Eleven million!" A patriotic businessman gritted his teeth and held up a sign.

"Fifteen million!"

Tanaka didn't even blink and immediately raised the price by four million.

Then, looking at the businessman provocatively, he said, "Hey, old man, watch your blood pressure."

"It's not worth going bankrupt over two pieces of junk."

The merchant was so angry that he trembled all over, but finally slumped down in despair.

"Fifteen million once!"

"Fifteen million twice!"

The auctioneer raised his gavel, and Tanaka's smile grew increasingly arrogant.

He had even stood up, ready to greet the two national treasures that would soon be used to "feed the dogs".

"Looks like these two pieces of scrap metal are mine now."

Tanaka laughed loudly, "I'll make good use of them!"

Just as the mallet was about to fall.

"Twenty million."

A voice as calm as a deep pool rang in Tanaka's ears.

Tanaka's smile froze instantly.

All eyes in the room turned to the first row.

It was that young man who had been sitting silently next to Tanaka the whole time.

Li Xuan remained seated, not even raising a sign, and simply stated a number.

But his aura was like a towering mountain, instantly making Tanaka unable to breathe.

"you..."

Tanaka glared at Li Xuan. "Are you crazy?"

"Twenty million for two copper heads?"

"I'll offer twenty-five million!"

Tanaka held up the sign through gritted teeth.

He was a Japanese zaibatsu (financial conglomerate), and he didn't believe he could lose to a Chinese person in terms of money.

Thirty million.

Li Xuan didn't even lift his eyelids before following suit.

His tone was as relaxed as if he were buying a head of cabbage.

"Three thousand... thirty-five million!"

Tanaka's forehead began to sweat; this price was already far too high.

"Forty million."

Li Xuan maintained the same tone, without any fluctuation.

The entire audience erupted in uproar!

"My God! Forty million!"

"Who is this person? He's incredibly rich!"

"That's the behind-the-scenes boss of Jisheng Pharmaceutical! I heard his wealth is immeasurable!"

"This is a direct confrontation with the Japanese! It's so satisfying!"

Listening to the surrounding chatter, Tanaka felt like he was being roasted over a fire.

His face, and the face of the Great Japanese Empire, must not be lost here!

"Baka!"

Tanaka suddenly stood up, his eyes bloodshot, and roared, "Fifty million!"

"I'll offer fifty million! Let's see how you compete now!"

Fifty million!

The entire auction hall was deathly silent.

This is already an astronomical price!

Tanaka, panting heavily, stared intently at Li Xuan. "Follow me! Keep following me!"

"Aren't the Chinese rich?"

Li Xuan finally turned his head and looked directly at Tanaka.

That look in his eyes was cold and mocking, carrying a kind of pity that looked down upon ants.

Li Xuan slowly raised the bidding paddle in his hand.

He said something to the auctioneer on stage that shook the entire audience and even the whole of Hong Kong!

"Auctioneer, there's no need to ask the price."

"From now on, no matter how much he offers, I'll add ten million!"

These words were like a nuclear bomb, exploding in the auction hall!

No matter how much he offers, he'll add another ten million?!

What domineering power!

How arrogant!

And what immense wealth that must have been!

"What...what did you say?"

Tanaka was completely dumbfounded; he thought he had misheard.

"Didn't you understand?"

Li Xuan stood up, straightened his collar, and looked down at Tanaka, who was a head shorter than him.

"If you offer fifty million, then I'll offer sixty million."

"If you offer 60 million, I'll offer 70 million."

"Didn't you want to bribe people?"

"Come on, keep bidding."

Li Xuan took a step forward, releasing the imposing aura emanating from him as a "national hero" and "grandmaster" without reservation.

"Mr. Tanaka, weren't you going to buy the national treasure to feed your dogs?"

"Come on! Buy it!"

"What? You can't even afford to keep a dog?"

puff!--

Some people around couldn't help but laugh out loud.

This is absolutely devastating!

Tanaka's face was deathly pale, and he was trembling all over.

Although his family is wealthy, their liquid assets are limited!

Sixty million for two bronze animal heads?

Going back will get you killed by the board of directors!

Moreover, judging from Li Xuan's attitude, let alone 60 million, even 600 million wouldn't make him blink!

This is the source of Jishi Pharmaceutical's confidence in making a fortune every day!

This is the wealth that Li Xuan accumulated by picking up countless bargains!

"I...I..."

Tanaka opened his mouth, but found his throat dry and he couldn't utter a single word.

Faced with such absolute overwhelming power, all his arrogance, all his provocation...

It's all become a ridiculous joke!

"No money? If you have no money, then get lost."

Li Xuan snorted coldly, turned away from him, and nodded to the auctioneer.

"Sixty million! Let's bring the hammer down!"

The auctioneer was so excited that his hands were trembling. Without even asking any questions, he slammed the gavel down heavily.

"Sixty million! Sold! Congratulations, Mr. Li Xuan!"

"Slap! Slap! Slap!"

Thunderous applause resounded throughout the venue!

All the Chinese buyers stood up and applauded enthusiastically, some even with tears in their eyes.

So cool!

That's so inspiring!

Amidst laughter and applause, Tanaka slunk away with his head down, fleeing the scene like a stray dog.

......

After the auction, Li Xuan was surrounded by a large number of reporters.

The flashlights enveloped him in a halo of light.

"Mr. Li! May I ask why you spent 60 million to buy these two bronze animal heads?"

"Is it worth it?" a foreign journalist asked.

Li Xuan faced the camera with a solemn expression.

He pointed to the two beast heads that had already been packed behind him, his voice steady and powerful!

"Someone asked me if it was worth it?"

"I want to say that these are not just two pieces of bronze and iron; they represent the past pain of our nation."

"It is also a testament to our history."

"Sixty million, that's a lot."

"But it is worthless in the face of national dignity."

Li Xuan looked around, facing all the cameras and the whole world, and made his declaration.

"I'm standing here today to tell everyone—"

"China's national treasures must return to China!"

"No matter where it is lost, no matter who has it in their hands."

"Anything that belongs to us, if anyone dares to steal it, I'll bury them in money!"

"Even if it means going bankrupt, I will bring them all home, one by one!"

Hong Kong was sleepless that night.

Li Xuan's words, "Whoever dares to rob me, I'll bury them in money," became the headline of all the newspapers the next day!

It caused a worldwide sensation!

......