Chapter 955: In Hong Kong, you are in China!

'Forty million...third time!'

'Sold!'

'Ding!'

'Pop, pop, pop...'

As the hammer fell, the breathless crowd let out a collective sigh of relief, and loud applause erupted. The reporters around them snapped away furiously to record this explosive moment.

In an impassioned tone, Cai Keming exclaimed, 'The final price for lot 2888, the 122-volume Yongle Encyclopedia, is 40 million Hong Kong dollars, breaking Sotheby's auction house record and also the Hong Kong art auction record!'

'We are all participants and witnesses of history!'

'Let's congratulate Mr. 65!'

'Clap, clap...'

'Well said!'

The applause became even more enthusiastic, intermixed with cheers from time to time.

The reporters snapped their cameras even more frantically, as if the film was free, not wanting to miss any scene!

Hua Shengshi, with a gentle smile, bowed slightly in appreciation.

At this time, Ren Decheng, who was behind the scenes, stepped forward to replace Cai Keming and said into the microphone, 'The four-day Sotheby's spring auction has come to a perfect conclusion. Guests who have successfully bid on treasures, please go to the third floor to confirm and complete the transaction.'

'Thank you all for your support!'

'I look forward to seeing you all again next time!'

'Thank you!'

After saying this, Ren Decheng bowed deeply.

'Clap, clap, clap...'

Subsequently, under the guidance of security personnel, the auction participants left in an orderly manner, while the reporters who arrived were dealt with by Ren Decheng.

Sotheby's spring auction set a series of records, and as the general manager, Ren Decheng naturally had a lot of breaking news, second only in popularity to Hua Shengshi, who spent 40 million Hong Kong dollars.

Let's talk about Xia Yu. He came out first in a low-key manner, allowing Hua Shengshi to deal with the wealthy people who came to congratulate him, while also publicising the Kowloon Cultural Museum.

When Xia Yu first came out, he unexpectedly noticed someone waving at him. He looked closely and was shocked to see that it was Bao Yugang.

The person next to Bao Yugang made his heart skip a beat, because he saw Zhuang Siping. It seemed that Bao Yugang was with Zhuang Siping?

Without showing any signs of unease, Xia Yu gave a warm smile and strode over to Bao Yugang.

'Bao, Huo, Mr Zhuang, Mr Wang, good afternoon!'

'Good afternoon, Mr Xia!'

Xia Yu shook hands and exchanged pleasantries with the four men, before looking at Liu Shaoquan, who looked like an academic, and smilingly asked:

'May I ask who this gentleman is?'

Liu Shaoquan, who had an idea in his mind, smiled warmly and shook hands with Xia Yu, saying, 'Hello, Mr. Xia, I am Liu Shaoquan, from the capital, and I am the director of the Palace Museum.'

Xia Yu suddenly understood and also knew why Zhuang Siping and Bao Yugang were together. He thought to himself that there would be some trouble.

However, he kept his expression as usual and smiled, saying hello, 'It turns out to be President Liu, nice to meet you!'

It so happened that at this time, after answering two questions briefly, Hua Shengshi promised to come out again for another interview, sent away the reporters, and walked out of the auction hall, planning to go to the stairs and go up to the third floor to dock with the Yongle Encyclopedia.

I don't know if it was a coincidence or intentional, but Zhuang Siping and the others were near the stairs.

So Hua Shengshi inevitably walked towards Zhuang Siping and Xia Yu.

Hua Shengshi also noticed Zhuang Siping and recognised his opponent from earlier, while a fiery gaze from next to Zhuang Siping made him feel a little uncomfortable.

However, as Xia Yu was here, he couldn't just leave, and he wasn't afraid of anything, so he walked over to Xia Yu and said, 'Mr Xia, shall I go up first?'

At this, Zhuang Siping immediately asked, 'Mr Xia, do you know each other?'

Xia Yu nodded with a frank smile and introduced them generously, 'Let me introduce you, this is Mr Hua Shengshi, the owner of the Kowloon Museum of Cultural History.'

'Mr Hua, this is Mr Zhuang Siping, the chairman of Nanyang Commercial Bank.'

'You should have met Mr Bao and Mr Huo.'

'This is Mr Wang Kuancheng, chairman of the Veda Group.'

'This is Mr Liu Shaoquan, the director of the Palace Museum.'

Hua Shengshi smiled as he shook hands and greeted everyone.

Although everyone said hello, Zhuang Siping and Liu Shaoquan were in a bad mood.

It was because Hua Shengshi's reputation was the owner of the Kowloon Cultural Museum.

Zhuang Siping asked, 'Mr Hua, I have been in Hong Kong for so long, and I have only heard of the Hong Kong Museum of Art in Kowloon. I wonder where your museum is?'

Hua Shengshi replied with a smile, 'It's normal that Mr Zhuang hasn't heard of it, because our museum will not open to the public for a few more days. It is located in the Kwun Tong District of Kowloon, near Kowloon Bay.'

Zhuang Siping asked again, "So was your museum built by the Hong Kong government?'

As he spoke, he looked at Xia Yu.

Xia Yu laughed frankly, "Mr Zhuang, this museum is my private museum and has nothing to do with the Hong Kong government.'

'The day after tomorrow, 3 April, is the opening day of the Kowloon Museum of Culture. I was going to send out invitations tomorrow, but since we've run into each other, I'll tell you all about it now. I'll have someone deliver the invitations later.'

Upon hearing Xia Yu's words, Bao Yugang, who had been listening, laughed out loud, 'Ah Yu, I didn't know you had secretly built a museum. Congratulations! I'll definitely be there the day after tomorrow!'

'I'll definitely be there too!'

Huo Yingdong also smiled and said,

'I will definitely be there too!' Wang Kuancheng and Zhuang Siping also said yes with a smile, but their smiles seemed a little forced, and their hopes in their hearts had greatly diminished.

Liu Shaoquan also realised that hope was gradually fading, but he was unwilling to give up!

Therefore, he directly asked Xia Yu, 'Mr Xia, may I ask, do you own the 122 volumes of the Yongle Encyclopedia?'

Xia Yu nodded: 'Yes!'

Liu Shaoquan immediately asked again: 'I have a humble request. I wonder if the national treasure could be transferred to our Palace Museum? We will compensate you for it, what do you think?'

After saying this, Liu Shaoquan looked straight at Xia Yu, his eyes full of expectation.

Xia Yu's smile gradually faded, and he looked at Liu Shaoquan and then at Zhuang Siping and Bao Yugang and the others.

Xia Yu had something he couldn't say, but Hua Shengshi had no qualms about it.

The Yongle Encyclopedia is his pride and joy, and it belongs to them anyway. Putting it up for auction is just a formality, and he would never part with it, even if the other party is the Palace Museum!

If it were before he met Xia Yu, and the Palace Museum approached him to ask him to donate his entire Treasure Pavilion, he would have readily agreed.

But times are different now. Since he is in charge of the Kowloon Museum of Cultural History, he will only find ways to bring good things home, so how could he possibly give them away again?

He had long since made up his mind to be a miser in order to build the Kowloon Museum of Culture.

Even if it were the Palace Museum, it would not do!

Therefore, he immediately spoke up, firmly saying, 'Director Liu, you are asking too much. Our museum is due to open the day after tomorrow, and I have just announced in the lobby that the Yongle Encyclopedia, which is up for auction, will be the Kowloon Museum of Culture's crown jewel. If it is transferred to you, our museum will be ruined before it even gets established!'

'Mr Xia has invested more than 800 million Hong Kong dollars in this museum, and now he is even willing to go to any lengths to acquire the Yongle Encyclopedia as the museum's treasure. His goal is to build a world-class museum in Hong Kong, spread Chinese culture, instil cultural confidence in Hong Kong people and Chinese people in Southeast Asia, and create a landmark tourist attraction in Hong Kong to drive tourism and economic development. This is a matter that benefits the city and its people, and the implications are huge. It is impossible to let our plans go to waste just because of your words.'

Hearing Hua Shengshi's sonorous and powerful words, everyone present was moved. They had never expected to hear such insider information.

Bao Yugang and Huo Yingdong had already given up the idea of speaking up for Liu Shaoquan. It wasn't that they weren't patriotic, but Xia Yu himself was also acting in the interests of the nation. Although they were patriotic, they were after all overseas, and as one of the leaders of overseas Chinese, they also had to consider the interests of overseas Chinese.

For reasons of both sentiment and reason, they had to support the Kowloon Museum of Cultural History.

The Palace Museum has countless national treasures, including the Yongle Encyclopedia, and there are many others that rival it. One more is not much, but not having many is quite a lot. The Kowloon Cultural Museum does not have many of these. Hua Shengshi is right, there must be a treasure of the museum!

Bao Yugang and Huo Yingdong's minds changed drastically, and Wang Kuancheng and Zhuang Siping also knew that there was little hope.

Seeing Liu Shaoquan's very unpleasant expression and the awkward atmosphere, Xia Yu said, 'There are a lot of people here, let's find a place to sit down and talk.'

'Okay, Mr Xia, I'll leave it to you!'

After that, Xia Yu had someone find Ren Decheng, who arranged for an assistant to lead Xia Yu and the others to a large reception room on the fourth floor. The staff from Sotheby's immediately provided fruit and tea.

Before Xia Yu could say anything, Zhuang Siping preempted him and said, 'Mr Xia, may I first explain the situation?'

Xia Yu nodded and said, "Of course.'

He made a gesture to invite him to continue.

Zhuang Siping pondered for a moment, then slowly began to explain: "The situation is like this. The news of the national treasure Yongle Encyclopedia reaching the mainland...'

Zhuang Siping vividly described how Liu Shaoquan had fought for funding from the ministry, then came to Hong Kong on a mission, and how he had found them...

'When we first came, we had decided to do whatever it took to get the Yongle Encyclopedia, but when we learned that Mr. Hua was your man, we thought it would be unfair to outsiders, so we discussed it with you privately and decided not to participate in the auction. That's what happened.'

After Zhuang Siping had finished speaking impartially, he looked at Liu Shaoquan.

Liu Shaoquan immediately said, 'Mr. Xia, the Yongle Encyclopedia is a national treasure that was originally kept in the Forbidden City. It was only that a large part of it was lost during the invasion of China by the Eight-Power Allied Forces, and then some more was lost during the chaos before the founding of the People's Republic of China. The Yongle Encyclopedia is a precious treasure of the entire Chinese nation. If it is lost overseas, it will be a regret for the entire nation.'

After he finished speaking, Liu Shaoquan looked at Xia Yu with burning eyes.

Xia Yu said to Liu Shaoquan with a serious expression, 'President Liu, I can guarantee with my personal integrity that once the Yongle Encyclopedia enters the Kowloon Cultural Museum, it will never appear anywhere else!'

Liu Shaoquan immediately became anxious: "But Xia...'

Xia Yu immediately raised his voice and said, "President Liu, your worries are unnecessary. These 122 volumes of the Yongle Encyclopedia are the same whether they are in the Palace Museum or the Kowloon Cultural Museum. They have not been lost overseas, they are on Chinese soil!'

'In Hong Kong, it is in China!'

The last eight words were spoken with great emphasis.

The entire reception room fell silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop!