Chapter 5: The Auction (2)

  "Cough", only an old man standing on the auction stage coughed loudly, and the crowd below immediately fell silent, looking at the old man on the stage. Today's protagonist has arrived, what are you still blindly speculating about? The one on the stage is the general manager of the Beijing Auction House, fully responsible for all matters of the Beijing Auction House. If you ask who the boss of the Beijing Auction House is, that would be a formidable figure - the current emperor.

  "Ladies and gentlemen, today our Beijing auction house is about to begin the most grand annual auction. Today, everyone will be more excited than in previous years because we have five mysterious treasures, each valued at over 500,000 taels of silver. Furthermore, His Majesty has specially decreed that three lucky guests among you will be selected to choose one item from the treasures with a starting price of 100,000 taels or less. The original owner of the chosen treasure will receive 100,000 taels of silver and also be awarded an imperial yellow jacket by His Majesty." The chief steward loudly announced the emperor's benevolence to the attendees below.

  "Ah, the yellow mandarin jacket! Wearing this yellow mandarin jacket, I'm not afraid of those officials at all. If only this jacket could be sold, I'd buy it for 100,000 taels." A fat man who looked like a nouveau riche said to his friend beside him.

  "You're worth 100,000 taels, I'd be willing to give up three years' worth of money for this yellow riding jacket, it's a glorious thing!"

  The Grand Commander's face was also full of smiles, and he himself was very surprised when he just learned about the Emperor's decision. This yellow jacket is not something that can be bought with money!

  I watched as the people outside were thrilled by the current emperor's move, and I also began to think that this emperor is quite impressive. Giving away a few yellow jackets had no effect on him, but it made everyone grateful and respectful towards him, and in the future, the reputation of this auction house will be even greater.

  "Ladies and gentlemen, I hereby announce the list of these three people." The grand steward said loudly, his voice echoing throughout the entire venue. It seems that this grand steward is also a high-ranking martial artist!

  The manager looked at the audience who had completely calmed down and continued: "These three people are Li Tianxiang, the eldest son of the Li family who spent the most money on treasures in the auction house this year, Wang Shan, a great hero who provided the Buddhist treasure - Jade Guanyin, and Wan San, the first rich man in Beijing, the provider of today's venue."

  The people below are very angry, this opportunity is given to these guys, isn't it adding flowers to the brocade? Do they still lack this treasure of 100,000 taels? But everyone also knows that the auction house's choice of person is also justified. One is the one who spends the most money, one provides the Buddhist supreme treasure, and another provides today's venue. What's the use of being angry?!

  "Now, today's real theme - the annual auction begins. Please welcome the renowned appraiser, Mr. Wang, to host today's conference!" The chief steward's voice was full of confidence and echoed throughout the entire venue. By the time everyone looked up at the high platform, an old man in magnificent attire was already standing there.

  "Hello everyone, I won't waste any more words. Today's auction items are all top-notch, each worth over 10,000 silver taels. First, let's introduce today's first item - the 'Fish Killing Sword', a work from Ouyang Xian's younger years, the greatest smelter in Qinglong Continent. Although it's not a top-tier sword for killing people, it's absolutely the best when used in cooking. The starting price is 15,000 silver taels. Let the bidding begin!" Mr. Wang was indeed straightforward, starting the auction as soon as he stepped onto the stage.

  "I'll add 20,000 taels." A lean man over there looked a bit complacent, adding 5,000 taels in one go, thinking that no one would compete with him, and next year's cooking competition was already in the bag.

  "I bid 21,000." A guy standing not far from him immediately raised the price, looking at the thin man: Next year's cooking competition is still my pocket.

  Everyone was staring at these two guys, everyone knew them, and these two guys were the most famous two chefs. It seemed that this thing was being contested between these two people.

  "22,000 taels of silver"

  "23,000 taels of silver"

  "I'll take this thing! When I get home, my wife will use it to cook for me!" A middle-aged man walked up onto the stage.

  "Oh, so it's Wang Da Xia, the great hero. Since Wang Da Xia has chosen this kitchen treasure, we must give him the 'Fish Killing Sword'. I, an old man, wish Wang Da Xia and his wife a long and happy life together. It's truly her good fortune to have such a wonderful husband like Wang Da Xia!" This Mr. Wang was so straightforward at first, but now he's speaking in such a flattering tone, truly a master of subtlety!

  This King Daxia smiled with satisfaction, took over the fish-killing sword, and loudly said to the crowd below: "Next year's March 4th is the 20th anniversary of my marriage to my wife. At that time, I will hold a grand banquet in my hometown of Yangzhou. I hope you all give Wang Mou face and come at that time. Everyone, I'll go down first and let the meeting continue." This King Daxia walked down from the high platform with great demeanor. The crowd below was still praising King Daxia's character.

  "Brother Wang, who is that Wang Da Xia? He seems to be a very impressive person!" I, a rookie who knew almost nothing about the outside world, asked Brother Wang, who was knowledgeable about both ancient and modern times.

  "That Wang Shang Wang Da Xia is not an ordinary person, in Yangzhou he is a figure who has the final say. His family was originally extremely wealthy, and this Wang Da Xia is also a third-grade master, that is to say, a fusion period master mentioned in the Young Master's Secret Book, with both literary and military skills. He and his wife are deeply in love, and their story has been passed down as a beautiful legend in Jianghu. Moreover, he is a generous person who often provides financial assistance to poor martial artists, so he has very good relationships." Wang Ge carefully explained the main situation of this Wang Shang Wang Da Xia to me.

  I nodded, this Wang shirt seems to be a pretty good person, but I don't know what's in his heart. I turned my gaze back to the auction items on the high platform.

  "Ladies and gentlemen, I, Li Tianxiang, would like to first thank the Jing City Auction House for their reward. There's also something else I'd like to announce: this year, I will be entering the National Military Academy. My family, the Li clan, will donate two million taels of silver to the National Military Academy. That's all from me, and now I'll let Master Wang take over the auction." A boy who looked around ten years old stood on the high platform with a very carefree attitude.

  "Wow, no wonder they're the leader of the four major families! He's already spent 2 million taels with just one move. Look at how the young master of the Li family speaks and handles things, he's even more ruthless than an adult! No wonder the Li family has remained the most powerful for hundreds of years!" An old man in a brocade robe said in a VIP room.

  "Yes, I think the Li family will become even stronger in this young man's hands." The other old man sitting next to him also nodded in agreement.

  I gazed at the young man below - Li Tianxiang, the future master of the Li family, and inexplicably felt a sense of hostility towards him.

  "Alright, all the ordinary items have been auctioned off today. Please welcome the original owner of the item that was taken away by the three lucky guests to come on stage. The Grand Manager will personally present the yellow horse jacket as a reward." Our Wang Lao Mr. finally spoke up, who are the three lucky ones today?

  "Ah! What? Besides the head butler, there are only two people?"

  "There's still someone who doesn't want this opportunity, then give it to me. I'll pay 100,000 taels of white silver for this chance."

  "Everyone, sorry about this. I'm Li Tianchang from Taiyuan. Among the three selected items, two of them are mine, hehe." The taller one of the two guys who came on stage took a step forward and explained the situation to everyone.

  "No way, what a stroke of luck, I've also got two auction items today."

  "Don't be like this, people are envious of others and it's exhausting, sigh!"

  "Excuse me, Grand Steward," Li Tianchang asked in a low voice, "may I sell one of the yellow jackets to someone else?"

  "You can sell it, but the yellow horse jacket that was given to you: first, it's useless and no one will acknowledge it; second, be careful or the emperor will accuse you of deceiving him." The Grand Steward was both angry and amused, having never seen anyone like this before. They actually wanted to sell something the emperor had bestowed upon them, truly valuing money over their life.

  "Oh, thank you, Grand Manager, for reminding me! Thank you, Grand Manager!" Li Tianchang was indeed frightened, his face turned pale and his lips were dry, desperately licking his own lips with his tongue.

  After reaching the Golden Core stage, my hearing and vision have improved greatly, which I am aware of myself. However, I didn't expect that my hearing not only heard Li Tianchang's conversation but also his desperate swallowing sound. Seeing Li Tianchang's ugly appearance, even the bad emotions I had when I saw Li Tianxiang earlier disappeared a lot.

  When he got the yellow jacket, another guy was overjoyed, but Li Tianchang didn't have a smile on his face. This made the people below very depressed: this guy didn't even crack a smile when he got two yellow jackets, and we can't even get one. It's really frustrating to compare with others!

  Li Tianchang looked at the yellow horse jacket on his body and the one in his hand, but he was a little afraid in his heart. He worried that the Grand Manager would tell the Emperor about his intention to sell the yellow horse jacket today, and if the Emperor got angry, it would be... As he thought about it, another cold sweat broke out all over his body.

  Finally able to get off the stage, Li Tianchang on the stage was begging left and right to the Grand Manager, who guaranteed countless times that he would never tell the Emperor about this matter, before he agreed to step down.

  Mr. Wang walked to the front, looked around and saw that everyone's eyes were on him, he smiled with satisfaction, and loudly and excitedly shouted: "Ladies and gentlemen, the real show is about to begin, the five mysterious treasures are about to be revealed! Is everyone ready? Please welcome the first treasure——