My roots are in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. To be honest, the chances of running into someone I know in Beijing are quite slim. When I saw this person, my mind went blank, and I couldn’t recall who they were. I just reflexively smiled. The person, clearly as surprised and confused as I was, stopped and looked at me with a puzzled expression, and smiled back.

The chubby guy looked around in disbelief, as he had been boasting about being a local all the way here, acting like we were all in his circle. He clearly didn’t expect someone would recognize me here.

However, after exchanging silly smiles for a while, neither of us recognized the other. To be honest, I just thought he looked familiar, like I had seen him somewhere before, but upon careful reflection, that was all there was to it. I simply felt he looked familiar.

This kind of thing has happened before. In our circle, there was a guy known as Liu Jie, who often appeared in newspaper columns about antiques and collectibles. I didn’t know him personally; I had only seen his photos online. Later, when I met him at a gathering, I blurted out that I had eaten with him somewhere, but I just couldn’t remember where, which left his wife looking quite annoyed.

However, this gentleman certainly didn’t look like someone who frequently appeared in newspapers. That feeling of familiarity was vague, and I couldn’t even be sure.

As we stood there awkwardly trying to remember, my old acquaintance found it amusing. Being a seasoned Beijinger, he had seen it all. He stepped in to ease the tension: “Are you two gentlemen just forgetful? If you ran into each other here, don’t rush to recall. You’re blocking the elevator; why not go inside and warm up a bowl of milk? You might just remember each other once you’re settled.”

With that, he invited the other guy inside. The man shook his head, seemingly incredulous, and gave me one last lingering look before turning to walk into the inner hall. After taking a few steps, he glanced back at me.

Then my old acquaintance came to invite us again, this time leading us in another direction. Being a seasoned player, his intention was clearly to seat us far from that guy. Since it was his reserved table, all the usual politeness and taboos could be overlooked. If I couldn’t remember, that was fine; but if I did remember and found out he was a creditor or a sworn enemy, things wouldn’t escalate immediately.

In the capital city of Beijing, under the shadow of the imperial city, all sorts of rules must be observed, both overtly and covertly. One can’t judge a person by their appearance, and no one knows the other’s background. Striking a balance of seven parts flattery and three parts principle is crucial to avoid disaster. This applies to both officials and service staff.

As I entered the inner hall, I realized it was indeed a restaurant converted from a theater. The hall had two levels: the lower level had scattered seating, while the upper level had private rooms. The space was open between the two floors, and the stage was in the middle, indicating that not only Peking opera was performed here, but also various folk art programs. Many old Beijingers enjoy listening to these traditional performances in such an environment. In the past, you could hear them for just a few coins on the street; now, it has become a pleasure reserved for the nouveau riche.

Now the stage had been cleared, and something was being set up on it. The chubby guy took a glance and exclaimed, “Timing is everything! Looks like there’s an auction today.”

“An auction? What’s being auctioned?” I asked curiously.

“What’s there to shoot here? This is the highest-end place for cultural relics and collectibles in Beijing. Compared to this, Hong Kong’s Christie’s is just a flea market!” The胖子 (fat guy) grinned. “But here, it’s all about big-ticket items, and generally, you don’t see them in the market. We can only catch a whiff of it. I reckon that Old Lady Huo is also here for the auction today, and seeing us is just a coincidence; she wouldn’t want to delay her other matters.”

As I listened to his tone of speech, it had completely changed to a thick Beijing accent, which he didn’t have when we first entered. I felt the same; my tongue seemed to be stumbling over the words. I thought to myself, this place and the vibe of the staff here are incredibly strong. The moment you step in, you’re enveloped by the essence of old Beijing, and before you know it, you’re swept into the scene, feeling like one of the dandy youths from back in the day. This must also be a kind of knowledge; once the auction starts, when the host raises and praises the items in a Beijing accent, even those who don’t want to raise their hands will find it hard to resist.

The three of us were led to seats by the window. I instinctively glanced over, and that guy in the pink shirt went straight upstairs. It seemed like he was on a different level than us. The胖子 asked me, “What’s your deal with him? Love at first sight?”

I shook my head, unable to figure it out. Where on earth had I seen that person before? I needed to think it over when I got back. Meanwhile, the胖子 ordered the cheapest tea, which still cost 1,800 yuan a pot plus a 10% service fee. He turned his cup upside down, saying it was not tea at all, but practically the saliva of Yang Guifei. Damn, I would have to pack the tea leaves to take back and soak them in liquor.

The silent bodyguard, known as the “Dumb Oil Bottle,” appeared to be a very competent protector, but for some reason, the more I looked at the three of us, the more we seemed like lackeys for some big boss.

While we chatted and waited, we unknowingly shelled three plates of sunflower seeds, thankfully they were free. I watched as groups of people entered through the door. Gradually, I noticed the胖子 seemed a bit uneasy, constantly distracted and glancing elsewhere. I found it strange and asked him what was wrong. He said, “Damn, today is getting interesting.”

“What’s interesting? Did you see a beauty?” I asked, thinking I only saw a few middle-aged women, all of whom looked well-maintained.

He glanced at the private boxes above and the scattered tables below, saying, “Do you know who I just saw?”

“Who?”

“Liuli Sun,” the胖子 whispered.

“Who is Liuli Sun?” I had no recollection.

“You wouldn’t know if you haven’t been in Beijing. He’s a big shot, his family runs an investment company overseas. He used to deal in glass beads, but somehow he struck it rich and became a big deal. His family is full of treasures; he wouldn’t even look at ordinary items. Only the truly exceptional ones can attract his attention. In Beijing, he’s a trendsetter. Wherever he shows up at an auction, it means there are good goods. Damn, it’s been two or three years since he last appeared; how did he end up here?” The胖子 was practically bouncing in his seat.

I felt a bit itchy with excitement from what the胖子 said and turned to look. That Liuli Sun seemed to be in his sixties, with a graying buzz cut, playing with two walnuts in his hands, and he quickly made his way up to the second floor. I couldn’t help but feel a bit of longing for the second floor.

The fat man continued, “You know, as I was coming over just now, I noticed that all the big names in this industry are here. We made the right choice; I bet there will be quite a show today, maybe even something rare that happens once in a hundred years. If it doesn’t turn out that way, I, your fat lord, won’t be able to take it. I need to find an auction manual to see what the hell is being auctioned off today.” As he spoke, he was about to get up again.

I was just about to remind him that our main business wasn’t just to watch the excitement when a colleague walked over and quietly said, “Gentlemen, Old Lady Huo has arrived. Please proceed upstairs.”