116: The auction has begun; I want to buy half of Northeast China.

Inside the venue, there wasn't a single empty seat.

The crystal chandeliers cast a brilliant light, illuminating everyone's faces.

Gathered here were capital tycoons from all over Northeast China, and even those who had rushed from the South and Beijing.

The air was thick with the scent of money and power.

"Hey, who's that? Why so arrogant?"

A fat boss with a southern accent pointed at Lin Chuan, who was sitting right in the center of the first row, and asked the local next to him in a low voice.

"He's the one who just made Ice City's God of Wealth, Wang Sheng, spit blood at the entrance?"

"Shh! Keep it down!"

The local quickly made a silencing gesture.

"That's a ruthless character who emerged recently, named Lin Chuan."

"I heard he used to be a poor student, but somehow he struck it rich and has intimidated both the underworld and the authorities around here."

After hearing this, the fat boss curled his lip in disdain.

"Tch, just a nouveau riche."

"Even if he has some money, is he a match for the Zhou Family and the Wang family?"

"The Zhou Family is a Beijing elite, and the Wang family is the richest locally. Combined, their capital must be at least over a billion!"

"This kid dares to go head-to-head with them? I think he has too much money and nowhere to spend it."

"Exactly. He'll probably be crushed so hard he won't even have his underwear left in a moment."

Many businessmen from other provinces were watching with a wait-and-see attitude.

In their view, a strong dragon cannot suppress a local snake, let alone Lin Chuan, who looked like nothing more than a reckless youth.

However.

Chu Yueli, sitting next to Lin Chuan, wasn't worried at all.

Wearing a purple evening gown, she elegantly crossed her legs, her beautiful eyes constantly lingering on Lin Chuan.

A confident smile hung at the corner of her mouth.

These fools have no idea how terrifying Mr. Lin is.

Back then, wasn't that insufferably arrogant Glass King, Huang Xingguo, just as cocky?

And the result?

He was crushed by Lin Chuan's absolute financial power, ended up losing everything, and after failing to plot against Lin Chuan, he's now working at a sewing machine in prison!

Moreover, over the past week or so, she had witnessed Lin Chuan's maneuvers firsthand.

He didn't just acquire the massive glass factory left by Huang Xingguo in full and convert it into a building materials base.

He also somehow used his connections.

To recruit exactly three thousand strong Green-skinned Orc Laborers!

Those guys work as hard as thirty men each, work for just a meal, don't even want wages, and are incredibly hardworking and resilient.

It could be said that the current Lin Chuan is well-equipped and ready for anything; all he's missing are these few plots of land!

"Lin Chuan, these people are all waiting to see you make a fool of yourself."

Chu Yueli leaned close to Lin Chuan's ear, her breath as fragrant as orchids.

Lin Chuan smiled faintly, playing with the auction paddle in his hand.

"Then let them watch."

"I'm only afraid that in a moment, they'll be the ones crying."

*Dong—!*

With the crisp sound of a copper gong.

The auctioneer walked onto the stage, his face glowing with excitement.

"Guests! Bosses!"

"Welcome to the Harbin Annual Land Auction!!"

"No more nonsense, let's get straight to the main course!!"

A map appeared on the large screen.

Highlighted in red was a large area of land located in the core section of Nangang District.

"Lot Number One! Nangang District Commercial Center Plot! Total area: 180,000 square meters!!"

"This is adjacent to the train station and will be the most prosperous business district in Harbin in the future!!"

"Starting price—100 million RMB!!"

"Each bid increment must be no less than one million!!"

As soon as these words were spoken, there was an uproar in the audience.

Starting at 100 million!

In '92, this was definitely an astronomical price!

But everyone present was shrewd; anyone could see the value of this land.

Strangely, however, after the auctioneer finished his announcement, the scene fell into an eerie silence.

No one raised their paddle.

Why?

Because this plot had long been pre-decided for the Zhou Family!

This was a tacit understanding reached privately among the major families; everyone had agreed in private to use a small amount of money to acquire the largest amount of land from the state, and everyone else was currently watching.

The Zhou Family wanted that place, and the Wang family supported them.

In Harbin.

Who would dare not show respect to the Zhou Family and the Wang family?

In the front row, Zhou Bingsheng arrogantly crossed his legs, looked around, and then lazily raised his paddle.

"103 million."

He only added three million.

The meaning was clear: this land is mine, I'm just going through the motions, so don't any of you try to snatch it.

Although the auctioneer felt a bit of regret for not getting a higher price, he also knew the rules, so he raised his gavel.

"Good! Young Master Zhou bids 103 million!"

"Are there any higher bids?"

"103 million once!"

"103 million twice!"

A victorious smile appeared on Zhou Xingcai's face.

It seemed that Lin Chuan was only good with his mouth; when it came down to real business, he still chickened out.

Wang Sheng also wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with a handkerchief and gave a cold snort.

Just as the auctioneer was about to drop the gavel.

"200 million."

A voice as casual as if buying cabbage at a market suddenly rang out.

The entire venue instantly fell into a dead silence.

Everyone froze, their necks turning toward the source of the sound like rusty gears.

Lin Chuan sat there, not even raising his paddle, but simply holding up two fingers.

The gavel in the auctioneer's hand almost hit his foot.

He suspected he had misheard and asked stutteringly,

"How... how much?!"

"200 million."

Lin Chuan repeated it once more.

*Boom—!!!*

The entire venue instantly exploded!

It was like a nuclear bomb had been dropped into a fish pond!

"Holy crap!! Did I hear that right?!"

"He doubled it directly?! From 100 million straight to 200 million?!"

"Is this a freaking auction? This is throwing money away!!"

"Crazy! This person is absolutely insane!!"

Those out-of-town businessmen who had been mocking Lin Chuan just now were staring with their eyes nearly popping out.

What kind of godly play was this?

Others add money by the million, but you add 100 million directly?!

Zhou Bingsheng stood up abruptly, knocking over his chair.

"Lin Chuan!! You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?!"

"200 million?!"

"Do you even have that much money?!"

Zhou Xingcai's face was also ashen as she shrieked,

"He's shouting random prices!! Referee! I want to report him for malicious bidding!!"

"He can't possibly produce 200 million!!"

"Exactly!!"

Wang Sheng also stood up and said sinisterly,

"Young man, auctions require capital verification!"

"If you can't produce the money, that's disrupting market order, and you'll go to jail!!"

"I request an on-site capital verification!!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Bingsheng immediately chimed in,

"Yes! Verify his capital!! I don't believe a pauper like him can produce 200 million in cash flow!!"

In this era, for a boss with a net worth of several hundred million, having a few tens of millions in liquid funds was already impressive.

200 million in cash?

They wouldn't believe it even if they were beaten to death!

The auctioneer was also in a difficult position and looked at the notaries and government representatives sitting nearby.

The few officials in uniform looked at each other, stood up solemnly, and walked over to Lin Chuan.

"Sir, given the massive amount of your bid and its abnormal jump,"

"according to regulations, we need to conduct an on-site capital verification for you."

"Please present your proof of funds."

Hundreds of pairs of eyes in the venue were fixed intently on Lin Chuan.

Zhou Bingsheng looked even more delighted at his misfortune.

"Show it! Show it!"

"If you can't, I'll see how you die!!"

Lin Chuan remained as steady as Mount Tai, not even blinking.

He just lightly waved his hand.

Behind him, Miss Su walked up with elegant steps.

She took an exquisite document bag out of her Hermes briefcase.

She opened it.

And pulled out a bill shimmering with a light blue anti-counterfeit glow.

She placed it gently in front of the leading government official.

"Leaders, this is a Swiss Bank Cashier's Check."

"Payable on sight."

Miss Su's voice was crisp and pleasant, yet it carried an undeniable dominance.

"Face value: fifty million."

"US dollars."

*Hiss—!*

The official looked down casually.

The next second.

His whole body jerked as if he'd been hit by an electric shock.

His hands trembled as he held up that thin piece of paper.

That was a Swiss Bank Cashier's Check!

In this era, it was a hard currency more precious than gold!!

Fifty million US dollars!!

According to the current black market exchange rate, that was several hundred million RMB!

Moreover, what did the country lack most right now?

Foreign exchange!!

It was the US dollars urgently needed to purchase advanced foreign equipment and introduce technology!

If these fifty million US dollars could be kept in Harbin, it would be a massive political achievement!

"This... this..."

The official was so excited he couldn't speak clearly; he carefully checked the anti-counterfeit watermark and seal on it.

Then he looked up abruptly, his face full of smiles, looking at Lin Chuan almost subserviently.

"Mr. Lin!! Capital verification passed!!"

"Completely passed!!"

"This is genuine US dollars!!"

"We very much welcome Mr. Lin's investment in Harbin!!"

The official's voice spread throughout the venue via the microphone.

"US dollars?!"

"Fifty million US dollars?!!"

This time, it wasn't just shock; it was pure horror!

Zhou Bingsheng's mouth hung open so wide his jaw was about to dislocate.

Zhou Xingcai was even more dazed, her head buzzing.

Fifty million US dollars?

That was nearly 400 million RMB?!

How could he have so many US dollars?

This was a Swiss Bank Cashier's Check!

The half-walnut in Wang Sheng's hand no longer felt good; his face was as grey as if he'd just crawled out of a grave.

It's over.

This kid really is rich!

And it's a dimensional reduction strike with a US dollar offensive!

"Any more questions?"

Lin Chuan glanced indifferently at the Zhou Family siblings.

"No... no problem!"

The auctioneer was so excited his gavel was shaking.

"200 million once!!"

"200 million twice!!"

"Is there anyone else bidding?!"

He looked at Zhou Bingsheng.

Zhou Bingsheng's face was flushed red, his teeth clenched, and his fists were cracking.

Should he follow?

Although this plot was good, it was worth 150 million at most.

200 million was already a serious overpayment!

Besides, although the money pooled by the Zhou Family and the Wang family was a lot, it was meant for taking six plots of land!

If they used up all their bullets on this one plot, what would they do later?

"Damn it!!"

Zhou Bingsheng spat fiercely.

"This lunatic!!"

Although Wang Sheng had spat blood, he was still an old fox after all; he quickly pulled Zhou Bingsheng back.

"Young Master Zhou! Don't be impulsive!"

"This kid is just bluffing!"

"He may be rich, but he only has those fifty million US dollars!"

"The fact that he threw half his net worth into the first plot shows he's just a fool who only knows how to charge ahead!"

"Let him take it!"

"I want to see what he has left to compete with us for the remaining five plots after buying this one!"

Zhou Xingcai also thought it made sense.

"Yes! Second Brother! Let him buy it!"

"He's spent all his money here; the rest will be ours!"

"Let him be the sucker!"

Thinking this way, they felt much better.

They even felt Lin Chuan was a bit stupid.

"Hmph! I don't want it anymore!!"

Zhou Bingsheng waved his hand, pretending to be generous.

"Only an idiot would buy a piece of land for 200 million!"

*Bang!!!*

The auction gavel fell heavily.

"Sold!!!"

"Congratulations to Mr. Lin! For the price of 200 million RMB, he has acquired the Nangang District Land King!!!"

Thunderous applause rang out.

Although everyone felt Lin Chuan overpaid, his boldness and the aura of crushing people with US dollars were truly impressive!

Lin Chuan took the confirmation letter handed over by the staff and signed his name casually.

A playful smile played on his lips.

Fifty million US dollars?

Half his net worth?

Heh.

That was just the topmost one in Miss Su's bag.

She had a thick stack of such checks in her bag.

Not to mention, his 600 billion in liquid funds was more than enough to buy the entire Harbin.

"Xiao Hong,"

Lin Chuan said in a low voice.

"Next plot, continue."

"This time, I'm buying half of Northeast China!"