Everyone discussed it for a while and eventually agreed with what Wang Ruyang had said. Tian Xingwei quickly took out a brocade box, opened it, placed the item inside in front of Chu Chen, and said with a beaming smile, "Then I'll go first. Everyone should have no objections, right?"
"Boss Tian, I was wondering why you were so enthusiastic just now. So you were trying to take the top spot! If this had been one of our previous gatherings, I definitely wouldn't have minded, but today I arrived earlier than you. I won't agree so easily!"
"Old Tian, judging from this object, it should be a Ding ware piece, right? Something this good shouldn't go first. It ought to be saved for the finale..."
"Exactly. Look at me—I brought only a painting and a jade pendant. Show some generosity and let me go first..."
Seeing Tian Xingwei move with such lightning speed, quite a few people in the room laughed and teased him. Tian Xingwei hurriedly smiled broadly and bowed repeatedly to everyone, saying countless flattering things before they finally let him off with laughter.
Chu Chen was just about to pick up Tian Xingwei's item for appraisal when a man in his fifties walked in. Wiping away his sweat, he apologized to everyone, explaining that something had come up at the last minute and he had arrived late. This man was the calligraphy and painting appraisal expert and Old Qu's disciple, Lu Chuanxiong.
Wang Ruyang quickly explained that it was because they had temporarily changed the time of the gathering, saying that he was the one who should apologize.
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Chu Chen finally took the item in hand and examined it. However, the moment he inspected the quality of its body, he let