Chapter 388 I also have an auction item
Elizabeth's 'Cesar Award' trophy finally fell into her own hands.
Many people in these charity auctions put up their own items and bid for them themselves, essentially just to join in the fun and donate. If Elizabeth were to auction her own trophy, no one would bid against her. The key point is that no one would spend that much money on a broken glass trophy—it's not Catherine Deneuve's trophy.
If it's the latter? Xiao Peng will buy it no matter how much it costs.
What the hell? Who is Catherine Deneuve? The woman who dominated French cinema for half a century! Known as the "First Lady of European Cinema." A woman whose allure remains irresistible even as she approaches eighty.
After Elizabeth, there were several similar incidents, such as someone taking off their wedding ring and auctioning it off, then buying it back. These charity auctions generally don't yield anything good, so overall, they're pretty boring.
Of course, there were also those who came with serious items, such as Guillaume who brought a large Chinese blue and white porcelain vase, which was eventually sold for 120,000 euros.
The person who bought the vase was Jenny. She consulted Xiao Peng before the sale, and he priced it at 50,000 yuan. He chose this price because he already owns one. Like his, Guillaume's blue-and-white vase was salvaged from the sea, and its condition is likely to have been affected by its long time at the bottom of the sea. 50,000 yuan seems like a reasonable price.
But Jenny paid 120,000 to buy the bottle.
She offered this price beyond the bottle to demonstrate her strength.
After all, they came to Paris from Lyon. Paris is an exclusive place, and if you want to fit in, you have to show off. Just like Blair and the others said they were "not short of money" for this reason.
Showing off your financial resources is also a good way to win 'friendship'.
"Ivan, are you still investing in film and television?" Xiao Peng was not interested in the auction and was still chatting with Ivan.
Ivan laughed and said, "I do so many things that sometimes even I forget what I have done."
Xiao Peng nodded: "Yes, now you are also a member of the Ocean Exploration Company."
Ivan extended his fist and bumped it with Xiao Peng. "The results will be out soon. Everything is going according to plan. Believe me, the vortex will die down in half a month, and the results will be out then."
"Then I wish you good luck!" Xiao Peng said with a smile, "The stock price has gone crazy now, right?"
Ivan didn't deny it: "Well, it's time to cash out."
Xiao Peng asked curiously, "Does film and television investment make money?"
Ivan shook his head. "French films? Making money? This place is always full of art. It seems like all the directors here hate money. Besides Luc Besson, how many French directors actually make money? They're all artists. How can money be a factor in artists' lives? It's really hard to make money with this kind of high-return, high-risk, high-volatility investment. The current state of French film and television companies can almost be described as 'dancing on a grave'. Just look at their stock price fluctuations and you'll see how unpredictable the French film market is. Investing in movies is not as profitable as investing in stocks. Even with your eyes closed, the probability of making money investing in stocks is higher than investing in movies, not to mention we can manipulate stocks."
Xiao Peng was amused: "Then why don't you set up an investment company to invest in film and television works?"
Ivan shook his head and said, "Xiao, I'm investing in film and television in Paris not for the money, but for something else. French art films have their advantages: low investment but greater returns on influence. The influence of French films can't be calculated by box office returns; the key is the circle. One Cannes Film Festival is enough for you to invest a certain amount of money. You also know that Europeans are hostile to us Russians, but they are not hostile to money. We came here to use money to pave the way. Although this method is simple and crude, it is indeed the most effective way."
Xiao Peng curled his lips and said, "Rich people just know how to have fun."
Ivan sighed. "It can't be helped. You've dealt with the French a lot. They're arrogance ingrained in them. Compared to other ways of spending money, investing in French films is the cheapest. But there are also benefits, like the girls."
Xiao Peng smiled and shook his head.
Ivan looked at Xiao Peng and shook his head, curling his lips. "Xiao, you're good in every way except this one. You're so hypocritical! You don't like girls? Ivan, enjoy your life before you get married. Once you walk into the marriage hall, you'll find that everything in your life will be completely different!"
"Stop scaring me." Xiao Peng waved his hand.
The two of them were chatting enthusiastically here, and Amanda, who was listening, became interested: "Mr. Xiao, I apologize for my rudeness just now. How about this, how about I take you to a place with many beautiful girls tonight?"
After hearing this, Ivan slapped his forehead and said, "By the way, there's a great art exhibition tonight. Let's go there..."
Xiao Peng interrupted him directly: "Ivan, please don't ever mention the word 'art gallery' to me again. I'm afraid I'll never have anything to do with the word 'art' in my life. I almost had a breakdown last night. To be more precise, I'm almost having a breakdown now!"
"What's collapsing now?" Ivan asked in confusion.
Xiao Peng asked, "What time do you eat at my house?"
"Six o'clock!"
"It's already past eight o'clock? I'm freaking starving!" Xiao Peng said.
Ivan smiled and said, "Shall we find a place to eat?"
"That's no problem of course, but before that you have to do something for my apprentice, right?" Xiao Peng said with a smile.
Ivan nodded and waved to his entourage. A white-haired old man came over: "Xiao, it's not that I don't trust you..."
Xiao Peng interrupted Ivan directly: "I understand, let someone come and see."
He untied his bolo tie and unbuttoned a shirt button. Around his neck was a red rope with a cheap little glass Buddha statue and a huge gold ring hanging from it.
Xiao Peng took off the gold ring and handed it to the old man who came over. The old man put on his glasses and looked at it carefully. Then he took out a piece of paper and compared it with the pattern on the ring, then nodded at Ivan.
Ivan's face was full of smiles: "Xiao, you are really kind to your apprentice. If this thing was mine, I would not be willing to give it away."
Xiao Peng grinned. "My apprentice is very kind to me, so of course I have to be kind to him as well. We Chinese people believe in 'repaying a drop of kindness with a spring of water'. Besides, I need you to help me divert the fire, don't I?"
After he finished speaking, he raised his hand to Elizabeth and said, "Elizabeth, I have an item for auction here, and I also want to contribute to my apprentice's charity!"
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