71: Outrageous bidding!

In the auction hall, smoke swirled as dozens of bosses puffed away while staring at the host on stage.

The gathered businessmen began to place their bids.

"5.6 million!"

"6 million!"

"6.2 million!"

Huang Xingguo raised his paddle again. "6.5 million."

This price was basically at the limit; any higher and it would be a loss.

Besides, in this area, the average businessman didn't want to offend Huang Xingguo.

And this Parts Factory was indeed very useful for Huang Xingguo's business empire.

"6.5 million! Are there any higher bids?"

Huang Xingguo held up his paddle, his fat face full of smugness.

Several bosses familiar with him had already started cupping their hands in congratulation.

"Oh, congratulations, Factory Director Huang!"

"Once you take down this Parts Factory, the glass industry around here will truly be under your control, Boss Huang!"

"It's a done deal! You must treat us to dinner tonight!"

Hearing the flattery from these people, Huang Xingguo was floating on cloud nine.

He stuck a cigarette in his mouth without even lighting it, just for the sake of appearances.

Then he turned around and shouted toward Lin Chuan across two rows of seats:

"Hey! You, surnamed Lin!"

"See that? This is what you call fucking capability!"

"This is 6.5 million! Not 650 bucks!"

"With that crappy Canned Food Factory of yours and that pile of rotten apricots, can you even scrape together the change?"

"Hurry back and go to bed! Is this a place for someone like you? You're making a fool of yourself!"

As soon as he said this, the whole room erupted in laughter.

Zhang Yaoyao laughed so hard she shook; the disdain in her eyes was practically written on Lin Chuan's face.

"Exactly! Look in the mirror!"

"You still dare to challenge Uncle Huang?"

Lin Chuan sat there without even lifting an eyelid.

He simply flicked some non-existent dust off his suit.

The slight smile at the corner of his mouth made people feel uneasy.

"Factory Director Huang."

Lin Chuan's voice wasn't loud, but the contempt radiating from his bones caused the surrounding laughter to instantly die down.

"You're comparing financial strength with me?"

"Heh."

"I'm afraid you're not even worthy of carrying my shoes."

"Fuck!" Huang Xingguo slapped his thigh. "You little brat, what are you acting so arrogant for? If you have the guts, you—"

*Snap!*

Lin Chuan didn't want to hear his nonsense.

He simply raised his hand and gave a crisp snap of his fingers.

That sound was like a starting pistol.

Chen Jiacheng, who had been sitting quietly beside him, suddenly seemed like a different person.

He pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses; those eyes that usually held a standard smile were now filled with the coldness of a capital tycoon.

Without even looking up, Chen Jiacheng lightly raised his paddle.

His voice wasn't loud, but it was like a thunderclap that struck the room into silence.

"8 million."

*Boom!*

Even the host on stage was stunned, his wooden gavel suspended in mid-air, forgotten.

What kind of bidding strategy was this?

An immediate increase of 1.5 million?

In this day and age, 1.5 million could buy a five-story residential building in a neighborhood!

"Whoosh—!!"

The next second, the whole room was in an uproar!

Everyone turned back in disbelief to look at the refined man in glasses.

This was too overbearing!

He really treated money like it was nothing!

Before the smile on Huang Xingguo's face could even fade, it froze.

His expression was more uncomfortable than if he had swallowed a blowfly.

"You! Are you fucking causing trouble on purpose?!"

Huang Xingguo stood up abruptly, his fat shaking with rage as he pointed at Chen Jiacheng's nose and cursed.

"8 million? Do you even have that much money?!"

"Just shouting prices blindly! Where are the guards? Guards!"

"Hurry up and check this kid's background! I think he's just here to cause trouble! Throw him out!"

He was truly frantic.

This sudden extra 1.5 million was his hard-earned money!

However.

Before the guards could move.

The few proper Hong Kong Businessmen sitting in the front row became displeased.

Although these people usually competed with each other, they were quite unified in the mainland.

Who was Chen Jiacheng? He was a gold-medal trader in the Hong Kong Island financial circle!

Questioning if Chen Jiacheng had money?

Wasn't that just slapping the faces of all Hong Kong Businessmen?

An old Hong Kong Businessman with slicked-back hair stood up and, in accented Mandarin, looked at Huang Xingguo with disdain.

"Sir, please show some respect!"

"Mr. Chen is Tony Chen! The capital flow he handles in Central involves tens of millions every minute!"

"The boss behind Mr. Chen owns entire buildings on Hong Kong Island to collect rent!"

"A country bumpkin nouveau riche like you shouldn't speak nonsense if you haven't seen the world!"

Another Hong Kong Businessman also sneered. "Exactly, it's just 8 million. For Mr. Chen, that's just a drop in the bucket."

"If you can't afford to play, then just admit defeat."

At this time, the organizers' staff also hurried over to verify the funds.

Less than two minutes later, they returned, bowing and scraping.

"No problem! The funds are absolutely sufficient!"

"And it's a foreign exchange account! It can be settled at any time!"

Once this was said, it was an official certification!

Huang Xingguo's face instantly turned purple.

It was from anger, and also from shame!

Being publicly called a country bumpkin nouveau riche was a profound humiliation for someone who aspired to be the richest man!

And in front of Zhang Yaoyao!

Where could he hide his face?

Most importantly!

This Parts Factory was something he had to get; even if he couldn't get the Glass Factory No. 2, it wouldn't matter.

"Fine, fine, fine! You want to fight me with money?!"

Huang Xingguo's eyes were bloodshot, the mindset of a gambler who had lost his mind.

"I've spent my whole life in Harbin; do you think I'd be afraid of a bunch of outsider dragons like you?!"

"9 million!!"

Huang Xingguo's hand was shaking as he held up the paddle, out of pure rage.

Chen Jiacheng remained expressionless.

"10 million."

His tone was as flat as if he were buying green onions at a vegetable market.

"Fuck! 11 million!!" Huang Xingguo gnashed his teeth, nearly crushing his molars.

"12 million." Chen Jiacheng continued to follow.

"13 million!!"

"14 million."

"15 million!!!"

When Huang Xingguo shouted this, his voice cracked; he looked like he had just been fished out of water, drenched in sweat.

The people around were all dumbfounded.

Crazy!

They've all gone crazy!

A crappy Parts Factory, even with the land and equipment, was worth at most 6 or 7 million.

This was more than double the value!

This was purely a battle of spite!

Zhang Yaoyao had long since been scared witless; the bag she was clutching was nearly squeezed out of shape.

15 million... how many gold chains would that be?

If she were given that much money, why would she still want an old man!

"16 million."

Chen Jiacheng's voice remained steady, without any ripple of emotion.

The entire hall held its breath.

Huang Xingguo had completely lost his mind by now.

There was only one thought in his head:

He couldn't lose!

He absolutely could not back down in front of this pretty boy!

If he lost, how could he continue to survive in this circle?

How would Zhang Yaoyao look at him?

What would those people watching for a laugh say about him?

Besides, this Parts Factory was too important to him, but he didn't have much money left!

If he added any more, he'd have to sell his house!

"16... 16.5 million!!!"

Huang Xingguo shouted this figure with almost all his strength.

After shouting, he was completely exhausted, collapsing into his chair and panting heavily.

At this moment.

The minority shareholders of Jiufu Factory behind him had faces that turned green.

Each one looked as if their father had died.

Originally, this factory could have been taken for a little over 6 million.

Now they had spent over 10 million more!

This money was everyone's working capital!

If this resulted in a loss, everyone would be left out in the cold!

"Old Huang! This price is too high!" a shareholder complained quietly. "It's not worth it!"

"Shut up!!" Huang Xingguo glared back with bloodshot eyes. "Say another word and I'll kick you out!"

Everyone's gaze focused on Chen Jiacheng again.

They were all waiting for an even more shocking figure.

However.

Just then.

Lin Chuan, who hadn't spoken, suddenly laughed out loud.

"Heh."

That laughter sounded particularly piercing in the quiet hall.

Lin Chuan slowly stood up and adjusted his suit buttons.

He looked at the sweat-drenched Huang Xingguo, who was like a dead dog, his eyes full of mockery and amusement.

"Oh, Factory Director Huang is indeed wealthy and powerful."

"I'm impressed, truly impressed."

Lin Chuan clapped his hands in sincere applause.

"Actually, I never really wanted this factory."

"Since Boss Huang wants it so badly."

"A gentleman does not take what others love."

"It's yours."

After speaking, Lin Chuan sat down and even leisurely crossed his legs.

"Congratulations, Boss Huang, on acquiring the sky-high priced Parts Factory!"

Huh?

Dead silence filled the hall.

Everyone was dumbfounded.

He didn't want it?

That bidding of over 10 million just now was... just playing him for a fool?!

It took several full seconds.

Before Huang Xingguo realized what happened.

*Pfft—!*

He felt a surge of blood rush to his head, nearly spitting out a mouthful of blood.

He had been played!

Completely and utterly played!

This time, for the sake of face, he had spent an extra 10 million in wasted money!

That 10 million was real money!

"You!!! You!!!"

Huang Xingguo pointed at Lin Chuan, his hand shaking like a sieve, his heart nearly stopping.

"You raised the price on purpose!! You bastard, you're screwing with me!!"

"Eh? What kind of talk is that, Boss Huang?"

Lin Chuan spread his hands with an innocent face.

"It's an auction; the highest bidder wins."

"You were the one who insisted on buying it; I didn't hold a knife to your throat to make you bid."

"What? Now it's too expensive? Can't afford to play?"

"If you can't afford it, you don't have to buy it."

"If you hadn't bid just now, I would have bought it for 16 million. You have to accept your losses, you know?"

These few words were like twisting the knife in his heart!

"Hahaha!"

The people around who were originally jealous of Huang Xingguo could no longer hold back their laughter.

"This is too wicked!"

"Huang Xingguo really took a big fall this time!"

"Insisting on acting tough and then spending an extra 10 million!"

Listening to the mocking laughter around him.

Huang Xingguo felt the world spinning, his vision going dark.

And the shareholders behind him no longer looked at him with just complaints; they looked like they wanted to eat him alive!

Spending an extra 10 million!

All because this fat bastard wanted to show off!

Showing off with everyone's money!

"Fine... fine... fine!"

Huang Xingguo clutched his chest, gnashing his teeth, his eyes wishing they could swallow Lin Chuan whole.

"Lin Chuan! You just wait!"

"This isn't over!!"

Although he won, the humiliation of being played like a monkey made Huang Xingguo feel a hundred times worse than if he had lost.

As for Lin Chuan, he calmly peeled a segment of an orange and put it in his mouth.

Sweet.

Really sweet.