Chapter 3: Transactions

Thinking of this, Li Ming smiled and said, "If I agree to the first cooperation method, can you promise me three conditions"

Meanwhile, while Li Ming was causing a commotion over this matter domestically, he quietly engaged several agency companies and successfully auctioned dozens of treasures at more than ten auction houses in Hong Kong and the mainland.

After introducing himself, Li Jiawei also assisted Li Ming in introducing several professional appraisers behind him. After a polite exchange, both parties took their seats, and Li Ming also took out these few treasures.

I am Li Jiawei, the business manager of Sotheby's Hong Kong. You must be Mr. Li, the esteemed owner. It is a pleasure to meet you

Furthermore, once these three items are taken out, even if Sotheby's assists in concealing one's identity, it would still be quite easy for those with intent to uncover it.

First, I would like to conceal my identity, and we need to sign a confidentiality agreement. Second, I would like you to assist me in opening a Swiss bank account to deposit 30 million Hong Kong dollars there, and convert the remaining amount into cash in Renminbi. Third, I hope you can help me obtain a Hong Kong identity.

Li Ming handed over these matters without a second thought, but he found himself idling at home every day, realizing that he had become aimless. In the past, when he was poor, spending money felt like cutting his veins, but now that he has money, life has become extremely dull.

Li Jiawei and several appraisers burst into laughter upon hearing this

Li Ming intends to remain in Kyoto in the future. Becoming a citizen of Hong Kong is merely for the convenience of traveling abroad, as he plans to frequently auction off some antiquities that hold little cultural value in various parts of the world.

Li Ming was taken aback and frowned as he said: "Yes, the ownership is entirely mine. Do I need to provide documentation regarding this matter and the provenance of these treasures just because I entrusted you, Sotheby's auction house, to auction them?"

This matter even attracted the attention of the central government, and domestic media reported on it continuously for more than a month. There has been much speculation about the identity of the person who made this offering, and the entire incident caused a commotion for over a year before gradually subsiding

Li Ming acquired those items and must have a secure storage location. To this end, he purchased a second-hand detached villa in the suburbs of Beijing for 15 million. The previous owner went abroad and has not lived there since the renovation was completed, which cost nearly 2 million.

Li Ming donned this outfit and looked at himself in the mirror; he truly resembled a scholarly gentleman. Li Ming understood that to navigate freely in the Ming Dynasty, he could only dress in this manner

When these three precious treasures were presented before them, several individuals' eyes immediately lit up. A few appraisers quickly put on gloves, took out various instruments, and carefully picked up the three treasures to begin their assessment.

A large number of antique porcelain items that do not fall within the category of cultural relics were also selected, with over one hundred pieces auctioned at major auction houses abroad, ultimately bringing back nearly one billion in funds for Li Ming

Everything was ready, and Li Ming opened the wormhole once again, appearing in that room. This time, he stayed in that room for an entire night. By the next morning, the room had become completely empty.

That night nearly exhausted Li Ming, as he had to move all the items in the house by himself. The next day, he drove the Iveco back and forth several times before he managed to get everything into the basement of the villa

Li Ming pondered over Li Jiawei's words. He realized that the auction would certainly yield a considerable amount of money, but there were still two to three months until the Sotheby's spring auction, and he would also have to pay Sotheby's a substantial commission.

Perhaps it would be better to return to the Ming Dynasty for a visit, to experience the life of the laboring people in ancient times. If that is not feasible, one could establish a farm in the Ming Dynasty, go to the Qinhuai River to purchase a few courtesans, and keep them as concubines on the farm. Every day, one could lead a few lackeys to the streets to tease respectable women and engage in such activities.

Li Jiawei was momentarily taken aback and smiled as he asked, "Are these the only three conditions, or are there others?"

By the time of the Ming Dynasty, he had no silver coins, so Li Ming specifically procured a batch of 925 silver, crafted several ingots in the style of Ming Dynasty silver coins, and also obtained some small silver pieces. Additionally, he ordered a package to contain all these items, and even included a dog leg inside the package

Li Ming shook his head and said, "No... no... you have misunderstood. I am Chinese. The main reason I want to obtain Hong Kong identity is to make it more convenient for me to go abroad in the future. I do not wish to go to those foreign countries."

Mr. Li, Sotheby's offers you two cooperation options. The first option is for Sotheby's to acquire these three treasures for 60 million Hong Kong dollars, with all procedures handled by Sotheby's. The second option is for you to consign these three treasures to our spring auction in Hong Kong, where we will, of course, provide ample promotion for them prior to the auction

A few lively young ladies? Traveling around the world? Surviving in the wild? Skiing in the Antarctic and Arctic? Taking a stroll in space with NASA's space shuttle? Buying a ship to learn from Columbus and discover a new continent? ... Or ...? ... Finding a boyfriend ...? Pfft ... ...

After all, these items have not been appraised by professionals, and whether they are truly worth that much money remains an unknown.

Li Ming thought for a moment and said: "If it were to be auctioned, what do you estimate the final transaction price would be?"

Li Jiawei smiled and said: "All these items belong to you, Mr. Li, right?"

In the following year and more, Li Ming specifically found an agency abroad, and in the name of this agency, he donated a large number of national treasures with significant literary and archaeological value from this batch of treasures to the National Palace Museum free of charge

Li Ming's actions have caused a tremendous uproar domestically, and even many long-debated academic issues in the field of archaeology have been resolved due to the emergence of this large batch of historical documents, leading to the collection of numerous precious national treasures by the Palace Museum

Li Ming merely renovated the basement, constructing some sturdy shelves to store those treasures

Early the next morning, Li Ming sat in a private room of a teahouse in Kyoto, waiting for the representatives from Sotheby's auction house. Li Ming was very much looking forward to this meeting, but he also felt a bit nervous.

If Li Ming wants to settle down in the Ming Dynasty with this amount of silver, it is certainly insufficient. He also ordered some cultured pearls, various synthetic gemstones online, and even customized some exquisite gift boxes, all of which were packed away.

Upon hearing this, Li Jiawei's heart immediately ignited with passion

"It's alright, Mr. Li, please go ahead."

A few days later, the transaction between both parties was completely finalized. Li Ming's account had nearly 30 million RMB, and there was also 30 million HKD in a Swiss bank. Furthermore, both parties signed a confidentiality agreement that is legally protected, and Li Ming also became a citizen of Hong Kong

Upon receiving the money, Li Ming's first action was to repay the bank loan, and the pressure that had been building for many days subsequently dissipated. Following this, Li Ming began to implement his next plan, which involved intensive study of various knowledge related to antiques.

Li Jiawei quickly waved his hand and smiled, saying: "No need... no need... I just want to confirm the ownership of the treasure."

He then compensated each of his factory workers with three months' salary before dismissing them. He also purchased a high-roof Iveco van, which he parked in the factory yard

There is still a room full of treasures waiting for me, but I should be cautious. In that case, I will accept the first option. However, it is clear that I am at a disadvantage, so I must propose a few conditions to them.

There is also a nearly brand new Mercedes M350 in the garage, which is included in the house price, thus saving Li Ming the trouble of buying a car.

Li Jiawei smiled and said: "This is hard to say. If it goes to auction, the final transaction price will definitely be higher than 60 million, but this is just an estimate; no one knows what changes may occur by then"

Upon hearing Li Jiawei's words, Li Ming's anxious heart was immediately set at ease

After a while, Li Jiawei walked in from outside, extended his hand to Li Ming, and said with a smile, "Pleasure to cooperate!"

Li Ming shook his head with a smile, and Li Jiawei also smiled and said, "Let me first communicate with our company, please wait a few minutes."

Li Jiawei smiled and said: "By the way, there is absolutely no issue with the Hong Kong identity. Our cooperation this time has been very pleasant. The company has asked me to convey to you that if Mr. Li wishes to obtain British nationality, we can also process it for you in the shortest possible time"

A courtyard along the street was specifically rented in the suburbs of Beijing, where a wormhole could be safely opened without being discovered by others. With everything ready, Li Ming chose a night with a bright moon and sparse stars, and at around four in the morning, he opened the wormhole and stepped into the light gate.

Now I have plenty of money, what should I do...

At this moment, several professional appraisers had completed their evaluations. They exchanged whispers with Li Jiawei, who nodded in response. He then smiled at Li Ming and said, "Congratulations, Mr. Li. These three items of yours are all extremely rare treasures, and they have been very well preserved"

A standalone courtyard with an area of over 300 square meters, featuring six bedrooms, four living rooms, and three bathrooms, all exquisitely decorated. Li Ming can move in directly with just a bag. To be honest, if it weren't for the owner's urgent need to sell, Li Ming would not have been able to afford this price.

As for those truly precious cultural relics and national treasures, Li Ming would absolutely never take them abroad. Li Ming is a passionate youth and would never engage in the act of selling the country's cultural artifacts

If one were to go to the Ming Dynasty, preparations would be necessary. Li Ming first found a shop in the capital city, which specialized in the handmade production of various antique-style clothing, shoes, and hats. He customized an entire outfit here in the style of the Ming Dynasty, including a hat, shoes, and a gray long robe

The bespectacled man smiled and walked over to Li Ming, warmly shaking his hand

Li Ming stood up, smiling as he extended his hand to shake with Li Jiawei. Li Jiawei was extremely excited; achieving the first type of transaction was something their company had long desired, as typically, treasure owners would opt for the second type of auction.

At this moment, the representatives from Sotheby's auction house arrived, a total of five individuals. The leader was a middle-aged man wearing glasses, who appeared quite refined, while the others were older gentlemen, making for a formidable lineup.

The vast majority were destroyed due to war, with no unparalleled treasures passed down to future generations, including over a dozen pieces of Yuan blue and white porcelain, several dozen precious ceramics from the five famous kilns of the Song Dynasty, as well as a large number of valuable historical documents, materials, and rare books

The villa features two independent garages, three parking spaces, a basement of over 100 square meters, and a front and back garden area exceeding 800 square meters. The house is structured over three levels, with the first floor comprising a double-height living room, and the third floor includes a sunlit loft and a large terrace