194: High-priced auction

Wu Fan said, "How did you know I would come?"

Wu Danyan leaned in and whispered, "This is called a perfect meeting of the minds."

Wu Fan laughed heartily and sat down next to her.

He looked up and began scanning the crowd.

When his eyes met Wu Zhengkun's malevolent glare, he merely smiled faintly and calmly shifted his gaze away.

Ying Xiaomei struck the gong, announcing the start of the auction.

The reserve price for the quarry and the mine combined was 5 million yuan.

This was no small sum; for most villagers, it was an impossible fantasy, an unattainable dream.

Wu Zhengkun was the first to raise his paddle, bidding 5.5 million yuan.

The villagers gasped, "Wow, the old Director's family truly has deep pockets and substantial power."

Wu Lei, unhurriedly, raised his paddle to 6 million yuan.

Wu Zhengkun added another 500,000 yuan without hesitation.

It seemed he was determined to win.

Wu Lei raised his paddle again, directly adding 1 million yuan.

Wu Zhengkun did not even blink, continuing to add 500,000 yuan.

The two went back and forth, raising the bid all the way to 10 million yuan.

The villagers' gasps were incessant, "Incredible! I truly never imagined both of them were this wealthy."

"Who do you think will be the final winner?"

"In our Wujiabao Village, there shouldn't be anyone else participating in this auction, right?"

"That's certain.

Who else has this kind of capability?"

"Wu Fan should make a move, shouldn't he?"

"He definitely won't.

It's been so long, and there hasn't been any movement from him."

"Sigh, it looks like the rumors about him striking it rich outside are highly exaggerated."

"He usually brags to high heaven, but now that it's time to demonstrate real strength, he's gone silent, huh."

"He's alright, isn't he? He's quite humble and kind.

When did he ever brag?"

"If he bragged, he bragged.

Otherwise, how would the whole village know he struck it rich?

His father even claimed he spent one million yuan just on fireworks on New Year's Eve—do you believe that?"

"Only a fool would believe that, haha."

"But I saw the fireworks show, and it was truly beautiful.

Maybe he really did spend one million yuan!"

"Who cares?

Anyway, not bidding on the village's leading industry just makes him spineless."

"Keep your voices down, he's sitting right there in the corner!"

"What does that matter?

I'm just speaking the truth."

... When Wu Zhengkun raised the bid to 12 million yuan, Wu Lei began to back off slightly.

This price was already over the limit.

Even if he secured the quarry and the mine, the time required to recoup the costs would be significantly prolonged.

Some villagers nearby started heckling, "Wu Lei, don't chicken out!

Add another 500,000 yuan, and Wu Zhengkun might not be able to bid any higher."

"That's right, he's already reached his limit, he's just running on fumes!

What a waste to give up now."

Wu Lei was a man who cared deeply about his reputation.

Hearing such encouragement, he gritted his teeth, raised his paddle again, and increased the bid to 12.5 million yuan.

Wu Zhengkun sneered and raised the bid to 13 million yuan without hesitation.

Wu Lei truly backed down this time.

He said to Wu Zhengkun, "Brother, your strength is superior.

You truly have a massive family business.

I concede defeat."

Wu Zhengkun smiled smugly, "Thank you for the concession, thank you."

The villagers erupted in noise and started discussing again.

"A tiger father will not beget a dog son.

Truly worthy of his reputation."

"Director Wu is gone, and his son has taken over.

That's remarkable."

"Young and promising."

"What's there to praise?

He completely relies on his old man."

"You are clearly jealous."

"What's wrong with being jealous, envious, and hateful?

Is that any of your business?"

"I can't be bothered with you."

... When Ying Xiaomei's auction gavel struck for the second time, a handsome man stood up and raised a paddle with the price clearly written on it.

Everyone looked, and the room immediately erupted in chaos.

"Holy cow, it went straight to 20 million yuan?

What the heck is this?"

"Wu Fan finally made his move!

That's so dominating!

That price increase is too aggressive."

"He's truly amazing, adding 7 million yuan directly.

He's absolutely insane."

"Ah... 20 million yuan?

That's too crazy."

"I'm not seeing things, am I?

Is it really 20 million yuan?"

"Yes, 20 million yuan, absolutely true."

"Wu Fan's strength is immense; he kept it hidden so deep."

"He's usually quite low-key.

I never expected that his first move would be a decisive 'King Bomb'."

"Impressive, truly impressive."

... Wu Zhengkun was also momentarily stunned, feeling completely bewildered.

Wu Fan must be crazy.

Who bids like that?

Even if he wins at this price, it will still take a very long time to generate any profit.

He hesitated over whether he should raise the bid again.

Wu Lei said gleefully from the side, "Wu Zhengkun, bid more money!

If you miss this opportunity, you won't find another like it."

"Haha..."

His laughter sounded so grating.

Since he had already given up on this project, he decided to simply enjoy the spectacle and fan the flames.

He hoped Wu Zhengkun and Wu Fan would fight each other fiercely.

The higher the price went, the harder the project would be to manage.

That would be truly entertaining!

Wu Zhengkun swallowed hard and raised his paddle to 21 million yuan.

"Wow, amazing."

"Today's auction is so exciting.

We thought Wu Zhengkun was guaranteed to win, but unexpectedly, an unexpected challenger appeared halfway through."

"Wu Fan still has the strength, keeping it deeply hidden, only willing to strike at the crucial moment."

"That's right, bidding so high all at once is truly unbelievable."

While everyone was discussing, Wu Fan slowly stood up, raised his paddle, and offered a slight smile to Ying Xiaomei.

"Holy cow, 30 million yuan!

He raised it to 30 million yuan in one breath, that's too crazy."

"Wow, that's incredible, truly incredible."

"What exactly does Wu Fan do?

How did he become so incredibly wealthy?"

"You should stop prying into the affairs of the outside world."

"Go to hell."

"Hahaha... little kid, you haven't seen anything yet."

"You..."

... Wu Zhengkun's face turned ashen, and he instantly froze.

He truly couldn't handle it.

If he bid any higher, the quarry and mine operation would lose all meaning.

What's the point of running a business that doesn't make money?

Is he spending money just to gain applause?

He stood up, glanced at Wu Fan, and said, "At such a high bidding price, you won't make money even if you win.

Are you an idiot?"

Wu Fan "snorted," replying, "How can a sparrow know the ambitions of a swan?

Whether I make money or not is not your concern."

"I'm just asking if you dare to bid higher?

If you have the guts, then keep bidding!"

Wu Zhengkun was so choked up that he was speechless for a long time.

His face alternated between red and white.

He finally spat out one last phrase, "May you lose all your money!" and then walked out of the dining hall without looking back.

The crowd burst into a commotion.

"Wu Fan is still the most incredible, so dominating."

"He is now the richest person in Wujiabao Village."

"Director Wu's family held the seat of power for thirty years, and they finally have to hand it over."

"Truly, thirty years on the east side of the river, thirty years on the west—fortunes change."

"No flower stays beautiful for a hundred days, and no person stays popular for a hundred days.

Change and cycles are inevitable."

"It's Wu Fan's turn this time, which is truly unexpected."

... Ying Xiaomei was clearly excited, shouting loudly, "Folks, are there any more bids?"

"30 million yuan, going once."

"30 million yuan, going twice."

"30 million yuan, going three times, sold!"

With the final "Dong!" of the gavel, the auction was complete.

The elders and villagers in the ancestral hall spontaneously broke out into prolonged applause...