But Zhang Liunian still noticed his subtle movements and had a plan in mind. He suddenly struck up a conversation with Yan Guoguo.
“Uncle Yan, there are quite a few people coming this time!”
“Quite a few indeed, I estimate at least a hundred invited guests.”
“Then my preferred clothing factory seems a bit precarious.”
“……”
Zhu Lao San, who had been listening with ears pricked, rejoiced at this. So Zhang Liunian wanted to bid for the clothing factory.
“What do you want the clothing factory for?” Yan Guoguo continued to play along.
“My Qingqing has finished her confinement, so I was thinking of buying a factory for her to play with. If she doesn’t like it, I’ll just sell it.”
As soon as he said this, Jiang Qingqing, who had her head buried in her arms, suddenly looked up, her face full of surprise.
Zhang Liunian lowered his gaze and saw her joy, his heart sinking. He thought, could Qingqing really be interested in making clothes? If so, he’d better change his focus.
“Besides the clothing factory, their printing factory is also my top choice…”
Yan Guoguo understood that Zhang Liunian was deliberately saying these things for the people who had entered the venue before and after him. He didn’t expose him but cooperated enthusiastically, extolling the virtues of the clothing factory and printing factory in various ways.
As they chatted, the group finally arrived at the auction hall, and everyone found their respective seat numbers.
Zhang Liunian’s number was quite forward, in the second row, center position.
Upon reaching his seat, Zhang Liunian carefully put Jiang Qingqing down. To prevent her from feeling uncomfortable, he took out a piece of clothing and placed it underneath her.
“Is this okay?” Zhang Liunian asked solicitously after settling Jiang Qingqing.
Jiang Qingqing replied with a blush, “It’s fine, you go ahead and bid.”
As she said this, Jiang Qingqing noticed that many women around her were casting glances at her, some with envy, some with jealousy, and some with disapproval.
“She’s good-looking, but so affected. Just four flights of stairs and she needs a man to carry her. Is she really that weak?”
“Who knows? Maybe she’s genuinely weak, or her health isn’t good.”
“It could also be that thing.”
“That thing?”
“You know, that thing!”
“She really doesn’t look like it.”
“You can’t judge a book by its cover.”
“Understood.”
“……”
Hearing the discussions behind her, Jiang Qingqing wished she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
It was so embarrassing that these women could tell why she couldn’t walk.
This was truly a complete loss of face.
Unable to bear it, Jiang Qingqing took out a handkerchief to cover her face, deliberately ignoring the stares from her sides.
Zhang Liunian, however, would not tolerate it. He turned around and said to the women who were speaking, “Mind your own mouths. If your mouths are surplus, then don’t use them.”
As soon as he said this, the women who had been speaking became furious. But before they could retort, their male companions pulled them back.
Everyone attending this auction was a successful individual with some wealth. As successful individuals, they all valued face.
Their female companions had behaved very uncivilly just now, and on top of that, they had been shouted at by Zhang Liunian. They were even more displeased.
This displeasure was directed both at their female companions and at Zhang Liunian.
Zhang Liunian didn’t care what they thought. He reached out, put his arm around his wife, and comforted her, “We shouldn’t live by other people’s words.”
Jiang Qingqing nodded, obediently indicating that she understood.
Zhu Lao San, sitting behind Zhang Liunian, was even more impressed seeing Jiang Qingqing so obedient and sensible.
If he could take this unparalleled beauty into his own home, it would be a wonderful thing.
“Good morning everyone, I am Yan Guoguo from the Bureau of Commerce and Trade, and your host for this auction.
First, I would like to extend a warm welcome to everyone for taking the time out of your busy schedules to attend this auction. This auction includes half of the industries in the southern city and is of considerable scale. I will be guiding you throughout the event. Without further ado, let’s begin introducing the industries…”
As the representative of the organizing party, Yan Guoguo would preside over the auction.
There were quite a few items up for auction this time, such as factories, shops, department stores, and two plots of land. This was somewhat unexpected for Zhang Liunian, but his interest wasn’t in those. He was focused on the department stores. However, he also noticed that many unfamiliar faces were there for the department stores.
It seemed that the competition for these two department stores would be fierce.
Zhang Liunian inwardly broke into a sweat and finally waited for the commencement.
“We will now begin the bidding for shop number one. The starting price for this shop is fifty thousand, and each bid must not be less than five hundred. The auction starts now.”
As Yan Guoguo finished speaking, people below began to make bids.
Zhang Liunian had no interest. He simply held his wife’s hand and listened. Before long, the shop was sold.
“Congratulations to Mr. Wang for acquiring shop number one. Next is shop number 2. Everyone may begin bidding.”
His ears were filled with numbers. Jiang Qingqing started to doze off after listening for a short while.
Zhang Liunian noticed this and immediately held her in his arms, allowing her to sleep comfortably.
By the time she had rested, it was already afternoon, and the bidding was still going on around them.
“We are now auctioning the department store on Jiefang Road in the provincial capital. This building has four floors in total, with 40 shops inside. The starting price is two million five hundred thousand, and each bid must not be less than ten thousand. The highest bidder wins, with no upper limit. Bidding starts now.” Yan Guoguo’s voice boomed from above.
Zhu Lao San eagerly participated in the bidding, “2.51 million.”
He had come here for this department store, so he was determined to secure the provincial capital’s department store.
Unfortunately, most of the people who came here were after the department store, so as soon as he bid, others immediately followed.
“2.52 million.”
“2.53 million.”
“2.54 million.”
“……”
“3 million.”
In the blink of an eye, the provincial capital’s department store reached three million, and Zhang Liunian had not yet made a bid.
Yan Guoguo looked at the bids below and the hesitant Zhang Liunian, knowing that the department store would likely reach tens of millions, and Zhang Liunian might not be able to afford it.
“4.01 million.”
“4.02 million.”
“……”
“5.01 million.”
Another string of bids, and the price continued to rise rapidly.
However, some people had already chosen to withdraw, for various reasons, but most of them were due to insufficient funds.
“6.01 million.”
After quoting this price, Zhu Lao San couldn’t help but issue a fierce threat, “I am Zhu Lao San of the provincial capital. Think carefully before you speak.”
His words caused the entire venue to fall silent for a moment.
However, his words did have some effect, as many of the influential figures present had also come from the provincial capital and had heard of Zhu Lao San’s reputation.
But some people who didn’t know this figure at all were naturally unafraid and continued to bid against Zhu Lao San.
Ultimately, they drove up the price of the department store, which was worth at most four million, by twofold.
“8 million.” This was the price Zhu Lao San roared out. He was angry, enraged, his small eyes constantly scanning the people who had been bidding against him, secretly noting them down to seek revenge when the opportunity arose.
“Eight million, Mr. Zhu has bid eight million. Are there any higher bids?” Yan Guoguo scanned the audience and finally confirmed.
The only response was silent. Buying a department store that was not worth eight million for eight million made everyone flinch.
Just as Zhu Lao San was about to exclaim with mixed feelings that the provincial capital’s department store was finally his, someone still dared to bid.
“8.01 million.”