Chapter 67 Reluctantly Giving 100 Yuan

Chapter 67: Chapter 67 Reluctantly Giving 100 Yuan

However, after he spoke, Li Xinghu’s tone shifted again. "But, I have a condition..."

Jiang Tianyi also set aside his arrogant attitude and quickly walked over. "Elder Li, what brings you here?"

As a member of the Jiang Family’s direct lineage, he knew the seemingly amiable old man before him was someone even his father was extremely wary of. He didn’t dare to offend him in the slightest.

"I just came to join in the fun." Li Xinghu looked at Jiang Tianyi with a smile. "The Jiang Family is developing quite well, I see. Your business empire has expanded all the way to Yuncheng City..."

Jiang Tianyi offered an embarrassed smile.

He knew the Jiang Family’s recent actions had displeased this elder.

However, the arrow was already on the bowstring; he had no choice but to fire.

"Elder Li, you jest. We’re simply here to find partners."

Li Xinghu waved his hand. "Alright, let’s get back to the Dragon Heart Herb. Since this is an auction, we should follow the auction’s rules," he said, leaning on his cane as he slowly walked toward Qin Zihao.

The latter was trembling from head to toe.

"Elder Li..."

Although the Qin Family and the Li Family were nominally both first-rate families, Qin Zihao knew that in front of the unassuming Li Family, his own family was nothing more than dog shit.

Li Xinghu said faintly, "Did you just offer three hundred million for the Dragon Heart Herb?"

"I..."

"I’m asking you, is that correct?"

The immense pressure washed over Qin Zihao, making his face turn pale and his legs go weak. "Yes."

"Fine. In that case, I have one requirement: proof of funds."

"Since it’s an auction, asset verification is a must, wouldn’t you agree? What do you think, Jiang kid?"

Jiang Tianyi could only grit his teeth. "Elder Li... you are absolutely right."

"It’s best to follow the rules," Li Xinghu said blandly. "Have someone come and publicly process the card. If Qin Zihao can produce three hundred million, the Dragon Heart Herb is his."

"If he can’t, then he’ll be suspected of intentionally inflating the price and must be thrown out of the auction!"

Li Xinghu looked at Jiang Tianyi with a smile that wasn’t a smile. "Jiang kid, he wouldn’t happen to be a shill you deliberately brought here, would he?"

Wiping away a cold sweat, Jiang Tianyi protested, "How could that be possible, Elder Li? But we’ve never had on-the-spot financial verification before! Isn’t this roasting Young Master Qin over a fire?"

Qin Zihao nodded vigorously. How could he possibly produce three hundred million?

Just then, a clear and elegant voice drifted down from upstairs. "Young Master Jiang, I also believe that a public verification of funds to prove one’s innocence is for the best."

"Otherwise, if it leads others to misunderstand that the Jiang Family deliberately invited a shill to artificially inflate the auction price... wouldn’t the Jiang Family’s reputation be dragged through the mud?"

In an instant, the faces of both Jiang Tianyi and Qin Zihao turned deathly pale. Jiang Tianyi’s face burned with shame.

If this were confirmed, how could he ever show his face in public again?

Qin Zihao was on pins and needles.

It was over... He was definitely going to be disgraced today.

"Hmm?" the woman in the VIP room spoke again. "Young Master Jiang invited me to this auction. Surely, it wasn’t to show me how you conduct fraudulent business, was it?"

Her aggressive tone made Jiang Tianyi tremble slightly.

The crowd instantly understood. The mysterious woman who had yet to show her face had to have a shockingly powerful background to dare question Jiang Tianyi in such a manner. What’s more, Jiang Tianyi didn’t dare to utter a single word in protest.

In the end, Jiang Tianyi could only glare at Qin Zihao and wave to his subordinates. "Men! Verify Young Master Qin’s funds! If my Jiang Family can afford to host this private auction, we can certainly afford a loss! Young Master Qin... I hope you weren’t just shouting random prices at my family’s auction. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being merciless!"

Qin Zihao’s expression was as ugly as if he had just eaten shit.

Jiang Tianyi’s meaning was clear: he wanted him to take the fall alone! It was Jiang Tianyi who had instigated this, yet now he was the one who had to bear the consequences... How wretched...

Taking a deep breath, Qin Zihao admitted, "I confess, I got caught up in the heat of the moment and raised the price of the Dragon Heart Herb too high. I withdraw from the bidding. My previous bid is void."

It was better to admit fault voluntarily than to be financially vetted and have his bluff called in front of everyone...

"You’ve got some nerve, Qin Zihao! So you were playing me for a fool all along! Throw him out!"

Jiang Tianyi bellowed, and several large men immediately seized Qin Zihao and dragged him out. The strange looks from the crowd along the way made Qin Zihao feel utterly humiliated—a fate worse than death.

"What are you three still doing here? You nest of vipers! Get out of my sight!" Jiang Tianyi glared fiercely at Su Yingxue and her companions.

The trio obviously didn’t dare to offend Jiang Tianyi and promptly scurried away in disgrace.

CLAP! CLAP! CLAP!

Chen Xiao slowly stood up. "What a fine show of dog biting dog! Splendid! Absolutely splendid!"

Jiang Tianyi glared at Chen Xiao, his expression grim.

How does this guy get so damn lucky all the time? Why are so many people willing to help him buy the Dragon Heart Herb?

Lu Wushuang stood up. "Young Master Jiang, now that these troublemakers have been driven out, shall we restart the auction for the Dragon Heart Herb?"

"We can," Jiang Tianyi said, biting out the words.

Agonizing... This was utterly agonizing... He knew today was going to cost him dearly.

From the VIP room upstairs, the woman’s light laughter was heard. "Young Master Jiang, since such a grave error occurred during the auction, how about this for compensation? This time, we’ll auction the Dragon Heart Herb with no reserve price. What do you think?"

"We’ll do as Miss Qin suggests," Jiang Tianyi said, the corner of his mouth twitching. With her having spoken, where would he find the nerve to say no?

Jiang Tianyi ascended the high platform and announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, please feel free to bid once more for the Dragon Heart Herb."

Everyone looked at each other, not daring to speak. With so many powerful figures backing Chen Xiao, who would dare be the first to stick their neck out?

For a moment, the auction hall was dead silent.

Jiang Tianyi cursed inwardly... He was probably finished this time. He had lost the Dragon Heart Herb his father had worked so hard to obtain.

Seeing the dead silence, Chen Xiao finally spoke up slowly. "Since no one else seems to want it, I suppose I’ll reluctantly take it off your hands."

"I bid... one hundred dollars!"