Sixty-eight people attended the auction today.
No!
To be precise, sixty-eight people wanted to acquire the Longyin brand, while over five hundred people attended the event.
After all, they were all big players in the financial and business circles, each accompanied by bodyguards.
Nine in the evening.
The auction officially commenced.
As the founder and largest shareholder of Longyin, Chen Nan walked onto the stage at the forefront under the gaze of many.
Even with numerous influential figures gathered below, he showed no signs of stage fright.
Despite these individuals possessing fortunes in the tens of billions, in his eyes, they were all ordinary people.
After bowing, Chen Nan took the microphone and said, "Thank you all for attending the auction of Longyin Company despite your busy schedules. We never expected Longyin to garner so much attention and affection."
"Our initial intention was simply to create a beverage suitable for the descendants of our Great Xia..."
"Finally, I wish to emphasize one point."
"Regardless of who ultimately acquires Longyin, the Longyin headquarters must not relocate from Jizhou!"
A company valued at hundreds of billions paid astronomical amounts in taxes annually.
This was the least Chen Nan could contribute to Jizhou!
"Alright, I now invite Mr. Jiang Jiancheng to preside over today's auction!" Chen Nan turned and walked off the stage.
Compared to Chen Nan's composed demeanor.
Jiang Jiancheng was noticeably nervous.
Even with a net worth of billions, were there not many magnates present who could crush him?
"It is my honor to host this auction," Jiang Jiancheng said. "Without further ado, let us proceed directly to the main event."
"Longyin Company is auctioning one hundred percent of its shares, which includes two large-scale bottling lines, as well as the formulas for the Summer Cooling Soup and the Warming Soup."
"Bidding begins now. The starting bid is ten billion, with minimum increments of ten million!"
Ten billion was Longyin's current market valuation.
The moment Jiang Jiancheng announced the start of the bidding.
The secretaries beside the sixty-eight magnates whispered something into their ears.
Their expressions turned somewhat peculiar.
There was confusion!
And bewilderment!
But more than anything, there was reluctance.
For a moment.
Not a single person in the venue placed a bid.
Jiang Jiancheng was stunned!
What the hell!
What is going on?
Weren't you here to bid for Longyin Company?
Why is no one bidding now?
Could it be that you're just here for the show?
On the other side.
Jian Ning and Mu Wanting also began to panic.
Their faces were filled with anxiety.
"Chen Nan, what is going on? Why is no one bidding?" Jian Ning was stomping her feet in distress. Their expected selling price was one hundred billion.
If divided equally, she and Mu Wanting would each receive twenty billion.
They could completely live out their lives as wealthy women, spending with abandon.
However.
Who would have thought that no one would even participate in a bid starting at ten billion!
"Someone must be trying to sabotage our plans!" A hint of anger flashed in Chen Nan's eyes. Just as Jiang Jiancheng finished announcing the bidding, these magnates' secretaries received messages.
And then they whispered something into their ears.
It must have been something that forced them to abandon their bids!
It was obvious.
There must be a major figure behind this!
"It's not the end of the world if the auction fails," Mu Wanting said calmly. Even if the auction failed, the company would still belong to them, and the future profits would undoubtedly exceed one hundred billion.
Chen Nan flashed a bitter smile, "I fear it's not that simple!"
In the silent banquet hall, someone suddenly raised their number plate: "I bid ten billion and one million!"
"This... is this person genuinely trying to snag a bargain?" Jian Ning's face was turning green.
Chen Nan lit a cigarette, his gaze profound, "If I'm not mistaken, he's a plant for someone."
Jian Ning gasped, "Are you referring to the Qu family?"
"Besides them, who else has such influence? Who could make these magnates abandon their bids?" Chen Nan's eyes turned cold. He had spared Qu Shaojun's life once.
He hadn't expected the Qu family to resort to underhanded tactics.
Truly, he had been too merciful!
Mu Wanting said, "The Qu family is a prestigious clan from the capital, ranked among the thirteen great families, holding the fifth position."
"Their wealth and connections are formidable. If they wish to lay claim to our company, who else would dare to snatch food from a tiger's mouth?"
She couldn't help but sigh at this point.
Neither of them had anticipated their well-planned auction turning out this way.
If they had known earlier.
Wouldn't selling forty percent of the shares for thirty billion have been more appealing?
Jian Ning said indignantly, "Husband, why don't we terminate the bidding? We absolutely cannot let the Qu family succeed!"
Mu Wanting nodded, "Although it's not appropriate to terminate the bidding at this moment, I believe everyone here would understand, as this auction is fundamentally unfair to us. It wouldn't matter much even if it became public knowledge."
Chen Nan said softly, "In this world, what 'fairness' is there? Even if it exists, it's held in the hands of the powerful and wealthy!"
"Continue the bidding. Even if they acquire Longyin today, I will make them pay a heavy price!"
After leaving prison and returning to the mortal world, only one person dared to steal what belonged to Chen Nan.
That was Jiang Ye.
Regrettably, he was already dead!
Now that another had appeared who wasn't afraid of death, Chen Nan would naturally play with them!
"Are there any higher bids?" Jiang Jiancheng's face was ashen. He was not an ordinary person and knew very well that Chen Nan was being targeted covertly; otherwise, things wouldn't have turned out this way!
The venue was eerily silent.
"Ten billion and one million for the first time!"
"Ten billion and one million for the second time!"
As he spoke, his speed naturally slowed. He laboriously raised his wooden hammer, "Ten billion and one million for the third time!"
At this very moment, he desperately wished someone would place a bid, to break this awkward stalemate.
Regrettably, the venue remained so quiet one could hear a pin drop.
*Bang!*
"Sold!" With a decisive hammer strike, Jiang Jiancheng forced a smile, "Congratulations to VIP number 36 for acquiring Longyin Company at the price of ten billion and one million!"
An elder, over fifty years old, stood up. He bowed to those around him, a smile as brilliant as a chrysanthemum gracing his face, "Thank you all for yielding. Thank you!"
The others stood up to greet him, exchanged pleasantries, and then turned to leave. They still felt a sense of regret for not being able to participate in this auction.
Of course.
If they had known earlier that that family had their sights set on Longyin, they wouldn't have bothered coming to join the fun.
After completing all the formalities, Jiang Jiancheng walked over with an apologetic expression, "Mr. Chen, I'm sorry. I failed to execute your instructions properly!"
Chen Nan smiled, "We were clearly targeted, what does this have to do with you?"
"Let's not dwell on this. First, help me spread the word. See if anyone is interested in acquiring Shannan Catering. If a suitable candidate is found, sell it off!"
Chen Nan now had two companies.
Since he intended to divest, he wouldn't keep the catering company either.
Just then, Qu Shaojun, with a playful smile and two skilled escorts, walked over, "Mr. Chen, your company only sold for ten billion and one million? That's too cheap!"