Chapter 38: Wild Boars Have No Taste for Fine Grain

Xiao Ran did not rush to examine the pair of sacrificial blue glaze celestial globes. Instead, he headed straight for the auction house's temporary office to explain his intentions.

The manager was hesitant when he heard Xiao Ran wanted to conduct a video livestream, so Xiao Ran immediately dangled more bait. "As I inspect and evaluate the lots, the followers in my livestream will see every item. If they like something, they will likely ask me to bid on it and transfer it to them. In this way, I will effectively bring in many customers for the auction; I will simply be the one placing the bids. This is a win-win situation for both your auction house and the consignors."

Upon hearing this explanation, the eyes of the manager and the auctioneer lit up. When they learned that Xiao Ran had over a thousand followers in his livestream, their eyes shone even brighter. A thousand followers meant a thousand potential customers! Moreover, the Chinese people were known for their wealth and were considered high-quality clients. Naturally, the auction house had no reason to refuse. The manager nodded, agreeing to the livestream provided it did not disrupt other bidders.

With that settled, Xiao Ran began to tour the various lots displayed in the luxury mansion. His first target was the pair of lamps fashioned from the sacrificial blue glaze celestial globes. As he stepped out of the office, his earpiece buzzed with a message from his follower, "Half-Dream Half-Awake."

"Xiao Ran, I sent screenshots of those celestial globes to a ceramic appraisal expert at the Shanghai Museum. After seeing the images, the expert wants to join the livestream to observe the auction. Can you approve their request?"

Xiao Ran was momentarily stunned before whispering, "If a top-tier professional wants to join, I am more than happy to have them! Their precise expert opinion is a great asset that will benefit me and help educate everyone on antiques and art. But for you guys, they are a powerful competitor. Are you sure you want them here?"

"Half-Dream Half-Awake" fell silent, clearly weighing the pros and cons. A moment later, they replied, "It's fine. Having such an expert might help you find even better items, which benefits everyone. Besides, most of the antiques the Shanghai Museum is interested in are out of our price range anyway, so there isn't much conflict."

The others quickly voiced their agreement. Seeing no opposition, Xiao Ran gave the green light. "Alright, have the expert submit an application. The administrator will verify their identity and let them in."

"Got it, leave it to me!" Fang Yufei's voice chimed in. As the administrator of the livestream, she went by the handle "Beijing Girl Hanging Out in LA," though she rarely spoke. Her sudden appearance caused a stir in the stream.

Xiao Ran smiled and approached the celestial globes. The vases were about thirty-five centimeters tall, with straight mouths, cylindrical necks, rounded bellies, and foot rings. The form was elegant and well-proportioned, the glaze a vibrant, lustrous blue with a restrained inner glow—near perfection. However, because they had been converted into lamps, a socket and a colorful stained-glass shade had been added, obscuring the interior.

To Xiao Ran, this was no issue. Using his X-ray vision, he saw everything clearly. The colors and their intensity accurately revealed the date and value of the pieces. A tag hung from each neck, describing them as lamps made from antique Chinese porcelain with Tiffany shades, but no mention was made of the dynasty. It was obvious the base marks had been ground off, which was exactly why they ended up in a home auction. Had the marks been intact, they would have been sent to a major auction house.

Just as he prepared to pick up a vase to inspect the bottom, a voice in accented Mandarin interrupted him. "Young man, I heard you talking into your headset. You're from back home, right?"

Xiao Ran turned to see an ethnic Chinese couple in their forties, clearly there to hunt for treasures. "Yes, I am from China, currently studying in Los Angeles," he replied, shaking their hands. After a brief introduction, the couple cut to the chase: "Xiao, can you tell the origin of these vases? Are they authentic antiques? We like them, but we don't know their history or value, so we can't decide."

Xiao Ran hesitated, then smiled and shook his head. "I'm just a student; how could I tell? They are beautiful, but it's a shame they’ve been damaged like this." He picked up one of the vases to examine the base. As expected, a hole had been drilled for the wiring, destroying the maker's mark. Xiao Ran sighed with genuine regret. "The marks are gone, so it's impossible to judge their dynasty or value. It certainly affects their worth."

The couple looked disappointed and walked away. In the livestream, the chat was filled with outrage. "Those idiots! To ruin such a beautiful pair of sacrificial blue glaze vases!"

Just as the followers were venting, the newly joined expert from the Shanghai Museum sent a series of messages. The room erupted in excitement. Fang Yufei quickly relayed the news: "Xiao Ran, the expert says these are likely from the Qing Imperial Workshop, specifically Yongzheng period sacrificial blue glaze celestial globes. They are extremely rare! Despite the missing marks, they are highly valuable and worth collecting. You must win the bid!"

The chat went wild. "Xiao Ran, I've got dibs on these! You have to win them!" "Half-Dream Half-Awake" was the first to chime in, followed by others clamoring for a chance to bid. Xiao Ran remained calm, showing no reaction. He soon left the area to look at other items.

Elaine, who was following him, whispered curiously, "Sean, are those blue vases valuable antiques? Did the people in your stream notice something?"

Xiao Ran turned to her and replied in a whisper, "Yes, they are. An expert recognized them. But keep it quiet—I don't want anyone interfering or outbidding me."