Chapter 97

 

Today’s land auction was held in an auction hall converted from the conference room on the third floor of the Ning City Economic Development Zone Management Committee.

It was less than three kilometers from the hotel.

This economic development committee, established only a few years ago, was temporarily using the former office compound of the Beijiang District People’s Armed Forces Department. Once inside the main gate, several five-story buildings enclosed a spacious courtyard. On both sides stood lush camphor trees, exuding an old-fashioned, solemn air beneath the thick curtain of rain.

Due to the large number of bidders today, all outside vehicles were prohibited from entering and parking in the courtyard.

Xinyu, ever quick-witted, had parked the car in an abandoned construction site nearby. Dressed in understated sneakers and a black jacket, Ming Xi got out with Jiang Bin under an umbrella and walked several hundred meters to the venue.

Similarly, many bosses, not wanting to walk an extra step in the rain but also wanting to maintain a respectable image, had their drivers park their gleaming cars in front of the management committee gate, causing the entire entrance to be completely blocked.

Industrial land auctions typically didn’t attract the same fierce competition or public attention as commercial land sales. However, because first-quarter industrial land auctions could signal the vitality of the year’s real economy, quite a few financial reporters had staked out the scene. They snapped photos of these trend-chasing entrepreneurs arriving to bid.

If they encountered a prominent business owner, they would seize the opportunity to schedule an interview.

Amidst the coming and going of cars, various regional accents mingled; Ming Xi even heard a Yicheng accent. A long-faced man stood in the courtyard, holding his phone and making a call in Yicheng dialect. He was already at the auction site, yet still smiling obsequiously while borrowing money over the phone.

All under heaven bustle for profit.

Whether they were here to speculate on land, to genuinely build factories, or simply to observe and test the waters, anyone gathered here today could potentially become her competitor.

Naturally, Ming Xi felt a bit nervous—but even more so, she felt an irrepressible sense of excitement and novelty. She had to admit: having sufficient funds in one’s account was the greatest source of confidence. The backing Liang Jiancheng had given her was so substantial that it not only fueled her ambition but also allowed her to remain relaxed in today’s setting.

The main committee building was an old structure without an elevator. By the time they climbed to the third floor, the corridor was already packed. Most of the crowd consisted of middle-aged men. People Ming Xi’s age were few, and women were even rarer—mostly staff members. Out of ten people, perhaps two were women.

As soon as Ming Xi and Jiang Bin arrived upstairs, a reporter who looked like a newcomer rushed over to interview them—and promptly pointed the microphone at… Jiang Bin.

In this young reporter’s subjective perception, the woman standing beside Jiang Bin was merely an accompanying figure, not the one making the final decision.

Ming Xi didn’t mind. She moved forward while Jiang Bin handled the situation smoothly, dismissing the reporter in a few sentences before collecting Mingzhou’s bidding paddle number from the office.

Ming Xi glanced at the number: 24.

What a coincidence…her Mingzhou office building was on the 24th floor of Jiemu, and today’s bidding number was 24. Then let’s hope this number wasn’t just her lucky number for today, but her lucky number for life.

They found seats and sat down. Half-jokingly, Jiang Bin asked, “Miss Ming, nervous?”

“A little. But I can guarantee my hand won’t shake when I raise the paddle,” Ming Xi replied with a smile.

Over the past two days, she and Jiang Bin had worked out a relatively prudent bidding strategy. But they both understood that plans never kept up with changes. They were bidding on industrial land. Although the competition wouldn’t be as fierce as for commercial and residential land, since China’s accession to the WTO, industrial land in port areas of port cities had become highly sought-after commodities. As long as a business’s profit margin could reach 10% or more, a large number of businessmen would flock to it. Speculating on land often yielded profits far exceeding those of honest manufacturing.

Businessmen also come in different classes, and over the years, Ming Xi had gradually learned to read people. Among today’s attendees, she could more or less distinguish who truly intended to run factories and who planned to flip land. Ambition and desire were plainly written in one’s eyes; a person’s commercial mindset revealed itself in their face.

In this world, the term “profit-driven businessman” carried a somewhat negative connotation, yet maintaining one’s integrity in the face of enormous profits was truly difficult.

“Just don’t become a rich idiot.” That night in Seoul, after discussing wealth with Liang Jiancheng, he half-jokingly expressed his wish: no matter how much wealth he accumulated or how much value he created for society, his only requirement for himself was not to become a rich idiot.

What was a rich idiot?

Someone who measured the value of everything in the world solely by money.

Lost in thought, Ming Xi suddenly looked up and saw that very “rich idiot,” He Yuan, entering the auction hall with Ming Yue. Although they had taken the same elevator and left the hotel at about the same time, He Yuan and Ming Yue had arrived nearly half an hour later.

It was Ming Xi’s first time attending a land auction, and it was normal for her to arrive early to familiarize herself with the setting. He Yuan, however, deliberately arrived late. On one hand, he was relatively familiar with the auction process and didn’t need to arrive early; on the other hand, the earlier he arrived, the easier it was for others to gauge his financial strength.

This was a place where real money would be thrown down today. How many could truly bring substantial funds? Most had scraped together money from various sources—loans from banks layered upon loans, some even through private fundraising. To put it bluntly, many were puffing themselves up to look stronger than they were. On the way here, He Yuan had told Ming Yue, “You’ll see a bunch of nouveau riche putting on a show later.”

So, her man wasn’t a nouveau riche?

Ming Yue was inwardly full of disdain for He Yuan, yet she also looked down on most of the Chinese businessmen she had seen along the way—some even less polished than her smooth-talking father. She had come mainly to broaden her horizons, only to find it all rather underwhelming. If she had to describe her impression in four words: newly rich and uncultured.

Ming Yue went abroad to study at twenty-two and married He Yuan at thirty, spending almost eight years in the United States in between. Though she had never entered America’s upper class, she had befriended some middle-class and above individuals. Compared to the somewhat rough businessmen present today, she felt superior. Sorry—after seeing more of the world, everyone seemed unsophisticated.

Including her half-sister, Ming Xi.

There she was, dressed all in black, seated in the farthest corner of the auction hall, holding her bidding paddle and examining it over and over…

According to He Yuan’s estimate, Ming Xi could muster at most two million yuan to play with. Yet she had brought so many people along? To embarrass herself?

Leaning close to He Yuan’s ear, Ming Yue voiced her thoughts. He smiled knowingly and gave a sharp yet objective reply: “No matter what, your sister being able to sit here today is already impressive. She lacks experience, so bringing a few more people to offer advice is only normal.”

Impressive? Ming Yue let out a nearly soundless snort. Compared with He Yuan’s blunt mockery of Ming Xi, she disliked even more this backhanded attitude—praise first, then belittle. And she could faintly sense that He Yuan actually admired Ming Xi a little; only his pettiness and narrow-mindedness prevented him from expressing that admiration openly. Or perhaps some past provocation had twisted him into this state—looking down on her while half acknowledging her.

It was an unpleasant realization. Even if she herself didn’t truly respect He Yuan, their interests were now tied together.

So in the upcoming bidding, Ming Yue hoped Haiou would thoroughly suppress Mingzhou.

…It had to be admitted, Ming Xi truly had no experience in bidding. That was why she gladly accepted the professional Jiang Bin, whom Liang Jiancheng had introduced to her.

Every industry had its own rules. Auctions were no exception.

Today’s auction process was exactly as Jiang Bin had described to her. More importantly, there were several bosses and managers present who might acquire large plots of land, and Jiang Bin knew their situations quite well.

According to the schedule, the smallest plot, GY-018, was auctioned first, with the larger plots being auctioned much later.

The entire auction was divided into morning and afternoon sessions. GY-018, which was auctioned in the morning, was no longer within Ming Xi’s target range. It could be said that she came here in the morning purely to observe and learn. As Jiang Bin had put it—she was there to learn how to raise her paddle.

“Many bosses deliberately help drive up their competitors’ prices,” Jiang Bin whispered to her. “Miss Ming, you could try it too.”

Ming Xi nodded slightly, understanding! It would indeed be a bit boring to just sit and watch the show all morning. So when GY-018 opened for its first bid, Ming Xi was the first to raise her paddle.

Seeing this, Jiang Bin couldn’t help but smile. Just then, his phone rang. He picked up it up, showed Ming Xi the caller ID on the screen, and said, “Mr. Liang must be calling to check on things. I’ll go answer it.”

Ming Xi nodded, then raised her paddle again to bid.

It had to be said—Jiang Bin’s price estimates for each parcel were astonishingly accurate. As the bidding approached the psychological thresholds of different participants, the atmosphere in the room tightened sharply, charged with tension.

Not far away, Ming Yue frowned. She watched Ming Xi continue bidding while He Yuan remained composed and unmoving, as steady as a fisherman by still waters. The contrast made her uneasy.

At that moment, whether He Yuan was truly calm or merely pretending, his bidding paddle lay untouched on the table before him.

After all, only inexperienced rookies rushed to bid at the start. Those truly determined to win observed the situation quietly first—just like him.

Watching Ming Xi’s earnest rookie-like bidding earlier, He Yuan had found it rather amusing.

Ming Xi found it amusing too.

Yesterday, Liang Jiancheng had called her. Since Jiang Bin had already explained all the details of the bidding process to her, Liang Jiancheng couldn’t think of anything else to impart, so he joked with her.

“Ming Xi, tomorrow, no matter how high the bidding goes, don’t retreat. If you’re nervous, just pretend you’re at the wet market buying meat. Land auctions and buying meat aren’t that different. You can be selective, but there’s no need to hesitate. Only by securing the prime ribs you fancy can you make a good stew.”

Ming Xi was a little nervous at first, but once she arrived at the scene, she was completely relaxed.

Real land auctions weren’t as glamorous as depicted in TV dramas. The officials sitting on the stage were plain-clothed and simple; most of the bosses raising their paddles were also unpretentious. If one had to pick the person who looked most like a wealthy tycoon, it would probably be He Yuan—not because he exuded wealth, but because Ming Yue, seated beside him, single-handedly elevated his “net worth.” Today, Ming Yue’s glittering attire was almost too grand for a land auction. She belonged in a world-class art auction house among high society elites.

A land auction? Too tacky, it didn’t suit her at all.

Yet beneath the plainness, the bosses’ resolute gazes revealed confidence. Those who truly had confidence didn’t fear exposing their cards—because they weren’t the ones afraid.

Ming Yue and He Yuan also attracted considerable attention due to their attire and demeanor. Were they planning to observe quietly, or were they waiting for their chance to strike?

Throughout, Ming Xi kept raising her paddle. Compared to the inscrutable He Yuan, she was the most “transparent” competitor in the room. Anyone watching could see she was wholeheartedly focused on GY-018, and could also see her reluctant expressions whenever forced to increase her bid.

Finally, after ten rounds of bidding, the smallest parcel, GY-018, had reached a premium rate of 3.6%. If it went any higher, the per-mu price would exceed 170,000 yuan. With 12 mu in total, the final transaction price would surpass 2 million.

Just then, Jiang Bin returned from taking Liang Jiancheng’s call and sat down beside her.

“Does Mr. Liang have any instructions?” Ming Xi asked proactively.

“Nothing specific. He just said for Miss Ming to be bold, not nervous, and—within budget—not to limit herself to just those three parcels,” Jiang Bin replied.

Oh. Ming Xi thought for a moment.

Liang Jiancheng knew full well that her three target parcels were scheduled for the afternoon. Yet he had called in the morning. It was obvious—yesterday she had mentioned that He Yuan would also participate in this Beijiang Development Zone auction. The implication behind Liang Jiancheng’s words could not have been clearer.

He practically told her outright that she should bid on any plot that Boss He had his eye on.

The price now exceeded 2 million… which was exactly He Yuan’s own valuation for GY-018. That figure had already driven out many competitors, but the bidding continued—

And finally, Boss He, who had remained motionless until now, raised his paddle.

News reporters’ cameras instantly focused on the glamorous couple. Ming Yue turned toward the lens and offered a beautiful, elegant smile.

At this point, only three people remained interested and unwilling to give up on this plot of land: the Yicheng man Ming Xi had seen earlier making phone calls to raise money, He Yuan, and… her.

From beginning to end, Ming Xi had been bidding. To everyone present, she looked genuinely determined to win GY-018.

After several more rounds, the Yicheng businessman beat his chest in frustration and withdrew.

Now it was a head-to-head between Ming Xi and He Yuan. All her earlier bidding had been an act. Now it was time to truly drive up Boss He’s price.

When the premium rate exceeded 10%, even the previously unruffled Boss He began to feel the strain.

Ming Yue had no choice but to turn her head and stare fixedly at Ming Xi.

Ming Xi, however, paid no attention to anyone. Her expression grew grave as she frequently exchanged glances with Jiang Bin beside her, asking if they should continue bidding.

Jiang Bin’s acting skills were impressive too—shaking his head one moment, nodding the next.

Then Ming Xi raised her paddle again, increasing the bid by another 20,000 yuan. For a mere 12-mu parcel, when the total price approached 2.5 million and Boss Ming still seemed ready to bid passionately, Sister Tian and Xinyu forcibly pressed down her hand.

No one suspected it was an act. Youth was the best disguise for impulsiveness. Everyone simply saw an irrational bidder being forcibly restrained by her team. This scene brought knowing smiles to the faces of many onlookers. Who hasn’t been young and impetuous? For such a young girl to bid to this extent against an experienced boss was quite impressive!

Then, the auction gavel came down heavily.

Plot GY-018 was won by Mr. He from Haiou Company, with a final premium rate nearing 20%. For industrial land, that was astonishing.

On the spot, Ming Xi slapped her forehead in regret, palm pressed against it, and turned to Jiang Bin. “I didn’t expect such fierce competition. I still didn’t win!”

Jiang Bin replied, “Miss Ming, don’t be discouraged. There are other opportunities.”

Indeed. And so the final transaction price of nearly 2.5 million was truly… “appropriate” for Boss He.

It was the first time Ming Xi had experienced He Yuan actually keeping his word—he had indeed been determined to win this parcel.

When a man considers face during bidding, even a profit-driven businessman will lose sight of the proper assessment of profit.

As for He Yuan pushing the price this far, Ming Xi didn’t think it was mainly her “contribution.” The greatest credit belonged to her dear sister, Ming Yue. After all, who wouldn’t want to perform well in front of a beauty?

It was only human nature!

Besides, why did she bring so many people? Without Sister Tian and Xinyu, how could she put on this act? She wasn’t deliberately making things difficult for Boss He; she was just a “loser” who lost the bid. After withdrawing from GY-018, Ming Xi leaned her head lightly against Sister Tian’s shoulder, looking like a childish sore loser unable to accept defeat.

Sister Tian and Xinyu even comforted her.

Watching this, Jiang Bin was astonished. Having served in land auctions for years, seasoned by countless battles, this was the first time he realized—acting skills mattered too. At least now, no one believed Mingzhou had deliberately driven up the price. Because price-driving, even when technically fair competition, was easily viewed by peers as malicious.

Feigning deep disappointment, Ming Xi even left midway to get some air in the corridor.

Inside, the atmosphere remained heated. Outside, the air pressure felt low. Ming Xi’s face was expressionless—steady and composed beyond her years.

He Yuan and Ming Yue, having secured their target parcel, also stepped outside. Ming Yue felt far more triumphant than He Yuan—vindicated, almost. But it was He Yuan who had to pay. Not only had the price exceeded his original expectation, but without Ming Xi’s competition, the final figure might have settled around 2.2 million.

The extra 300,000 yuan—He Yuan naturally attributed it to Ming Xi.

But seeing Ming Xi’s rare dejected expression, He Yuan felt the 300,000 was well spent! Unable to resist, he approached with a faintly triumphant air, suppressing the corners of his lips as he feigned reproach. “Ming Xi, I told you earlier—we’re family. No need to fight among ourselves. Now look—you didn’t get the land you wanted, and I had to pay an extra 300,000. No one benefited. If you’d accepted my proposal this morning, wouldn’t it have been better?

“You could’ve gotten 100,000 for free, and I could’ve spent less.”

What a pleasant way to think! Ming Xi nodded, humoring his good mood. “Yes. I regret it.”

“…Too late for regret now,” He Yuan said, waiting precisely for that line.

Ming Xi pouted slightly, then replied in a tone of mock reproach, “Mr. He talks about being family, yet you didn’t yield to me during bidding either. Of course, highest price wins. I accept my loss wholeheartedly. Congratulations, Mr. He, for securing the land at this price—truly, congratulations.”

If her expression had been controlled before, the barely suppressed upward curve of her lips when saying “congratulations” made her look almost like she was grinding her teeth—trying hard to remain composed.

“Ming Xi, it’s not that I didn’t yield. I made it clear from the start I was determined to win that parcel. You insisted on competing with me,” He Yuan said.

“Fine!” Ming Xi accepted the statement readily and began walking away. After a few steps, she turned back, her gaze shifting sharply as she looked directly at him and asked: “So next, you won’t compete with me anymore, right?”

What did she mean?

Ming Xi had already turned around and walked back into the auction hall.

Impossible! The total transaction price of the subsequent plots all exceeded five million. Where would Ming Xi got so much money to participate in the bidding? Was she just going to keep raising her paddle like before, putting on a show?

It really did seem that way…

All morning, Ming Xi had raised her paddle multiple times, yet she hadn’t won a single parcel.

After He Yuan successfully secured Parcel GY-018 and completed the signing, he left with his wife, Ming Yue. In the evening, as their car slowed at the ramp to Haigang Expressway under the cover of dusk, He Yuan received a call from another boss who had also attended the auction today.

As the sky darkened and the car reduced speed, the other man’s voice—so excited it was almost trembling—kept coming through the speaker: “Do you know what GY-029 finally sold for? 10.88 million!”

There was no doubt—among all the industrial land parcels released in Ning City this time, that price made it the undisputed king of the auction.

“Which boss won it? Don’t tell me it was Lantian Manufacturing?” He Yuan guessed idly.

“No, they drop out early. In the end, it was a land speculator and a company called Mingzhou that were competing.”

Mingzhou!?

Was Ming Xi being too bold?

Then the next sentence from the other end of the line left He Yuan utterly stunned: “In the end, Mingzhou won it!”

He Yuan: “…”

The phone was on speaker, so Ming Yue in the passenger seat heard everything clearly. The car fell into silence.

The man on the other end kept talking excitedly. “You guys left too early… The bidding process for the king parcel at the end was incredible!

“And Mingzhou didn’t just take GY-029…

“That Miss Ming—she’s incredible!” The boss rambled on, repeating himself and adding more details. “Do you know? Besides GY-029, GY-019 and GY-023 were also successfully taken by Mingzhou. The total area of the three parcels is exactly one hundred mu. With this haul, Mingzhou can qualify for the special contract terms…”

Thinking back to the morning, He Yuan had treated the extra 300,000 he’d spent to secure GY-018 as a triumphant blow—both a boost to his pride and a strike against his competitor, Mingzhou, ensuring Ming Xi would walk away empty-handed. Now that the full outcome was laid out before him, he finally understood—too late. Ming Xi had never truly intended to win land in the morning. She had only been acting. Her real targets were the three large parcels in the afternoon.

So just how intense was the bidding for plot GY-029 that afternoon?

Extremely intense…

So intense that it became the most heart-pounding moment Ming Xi had experienced in her twenty-five years of life.

When the bidding price soared past ten million, Ming Xi had to admit she was wavering—

At the critical moment when she was about to give up and lower her paddle, Jiang Bin, who had originally been seated beside her, was replaced by Liang Jiancheng.

Liang Jiancheng steadily grasped her wrist and guided her hand to raise the paddle once more.

Until the auctioneer’s gavel came down with a heavy strike…

Long after the auction ended, Ming Xi was still immersed in the overwhelming tension that had only just settled into certainty. When she turned to speak to Liang Jiancheng, her voice was still slightly muffled with emotion: “Liang Jiancheng, why are you here…”

“Didn’t Jiang Bin tell you? I called him this morning and said I’d try to make it over in the afternoon,” Liang Jiancheng replied.

As for why he had to make this trip—because he knew Miss Ming might still hesitate. If the fifty million in the account had been her own money, he believed she would never have wavered at the final moment.

It was precisely because the funds had been provided by him that she had fallen into hesitation.

So Liang Jiancheng had to come—to tell Miss Ming that the money already sitting in her account was no different from her own.

Bidding exceeding expectations was common.

Just like his love for her had far exceeded his original expectations.

But business and love that exceed expectations are precisely the ones most worth looking forward to, aren’t they?

Land speculators have always had the sharpest instincts. The three parcels won in today’s auction were investments that would not lose.

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