“Two billion!”
The moment that number was called out, the auction hall fell silent.
Zhang Ting turned to Xie Jichuan and said something in a low voice in Cantonese, smiling. Huo Zhenting also replied with a smile. Both of them looked completely relaxed.
Judging by their demeanor, the two sides had probably reached some kind of agreement.
The representatives of Chengyu Group and XN Mining finally lowered their bidding paddles and shook their heads with bitter smiles.
The price had already far exceeded the maximum budget they had set before coming. They were prepared to give up.
“Two billion and fifty million!” Qi Tianhu raised his paddle again.
This figure was already close to the limit of the cash flow Tiger Might Group could mobilize.
If he still couldn’t win the mine, he would have to resort to some measures outside the auction.
Make an example of someone!
Qi Tianhu hadn’t even fully lowered his hand when Zhang Ting raised his paddle again.
“Two billion two hundred million!”
2.2 billion!
That was nearly three times the starting price.
Yang Xin’s expression also grew serious. He turned slightly and said in a low voice to Xu Shishi, “President Xu, it’s 2.2 billion now. That’s already beyond our original expectations.”
When they had initially appraised the lithium mine, they had set the upper limit at 1.8 billion. Now that the price had been pushed directly to 2.2 billion, it had indeed exceeded their expectations.
Xu Shishi’s brows drew together slightly.
Although they both knew that Liu Yutong’s side must have made preparations in advance, the price had reached this point, so it was still best to ask for instructions.
Yang Xin took out his phone and sent Liu Yutong a text message, briefly reporting the situation at the auction.
Less than ten seconds later, Liu Yutong replied.
There were only four words on the screen:
[Bid with confidence.]
After reading the message, Yang Xin and Xu Shishi felt the tight string in their hearts instantly relax.
Then, without the slightest hesitation, Xu Shishi raised her bidding paddle again.
“2.3 billion!”
The entire hall erupted once more.
The Wanlong Association had joined in! Faced with the aggressive Hong Kong capital, they had actually chosen to keep bidding!
2.3 billion!
No wonder they were a major company that had donated two billion in a single stroke the previous year. They certainly had deep pockets.
Surprise flashed through Zhang Ting and Xie Jichuan’s eyes.
They had originally thought that their earlier psychological tactics would suppress these mainland companies. They had even believed victory was within reach. They hadn’t expected this previously unknown Wanlong Association to follow their bid.
Zhang Ting didn’t think much of it and raised his paddle again.
“2.4 billion!”
“2.5 billion!” Xu Shishi followed almost without hesitation.
Everyone in the auction hall felt their heartbeats quicken at the sight.
This was a spectacle!
Mainland capital was going head-to-head with Hong Kong capital.
“2.6 billion!”
“2.7 billion!”
“2.8 billion!”
“……”
The two sides went back and forth, raising the price by one hundred million each time without any sign of stopping. The people present cried out in astonishment one after another.
Just as the price reached 2.8 billion, Zhang Ting suddenly turned around and looked toward Xu Shishi and Yang Xin with a genial smile.
“Your mainland economy has certainly developed rapidly. However, I’ve heard that most of it revolves around real estate. I imagine the Wanlong Association got its start in that line of business too, didn’t it?”
“But I have to remind you that mining is completely different from real estate. It isn’t something you can manage simply by throwing money at it.”
Xie Jichuan smiled as well. “That’s right. Between our two companies, we have numerous mines around the world. We’ve invested more than five billion just in exploration equipment. Young people, don’t act on impulse. 2.8 billion is already a lot. If you keep raising the price, I’m afraid you’ll have a hard time explaining it to your boss when you go back.”
His words sounded polite, but everyone could hear the underlying message:
You don’t understand this industry. Don’t force yourselves. You might not be able to clean up the mess afterward.
Xu Shishi naturally understood that the two men were deliberately trying to pressure them into backing down, but she wasn’t intimidated in the slightest.
“Thank you both for your concern. You’re right. The Wanlong Association really doesn’t have much equipment or any experience in mining.”
She raised her bidding paddle once again.
“But we do have plenty of money!”
“Three billion!”
The smiles vanished from Zhang Ting and Xie Jichuan’s faces.
These mainlanders were unbelievably arrogant!
But just as they were considering whether to continue raising the bid, something unexpected happened.
Suddenly, a middle-aged man sitting in the back row stood up.
He was Wang Fei, the owner of a local entertainment venue in Jinchuan. He was also a pawn Qi Tianhu had arranged in advance.
The moment Wang Fei stood up, he pointed at Yang Xin and Xu Shishi.
“I want to report them! The Wanlong Association isn’t a legitimate company at all. They’re gangsters! They’re a criminal organization!”
“They have no right to participate in this auction!”
The hall erupted.
Everyone’s eyes immediately turned toward Xu Shishi and Yang Xin.
Sitting in his chair, Qi Tianhu smiled.
Here it comes.
The time to make an example of someone had arrived!
Wang Fei immediately raised the USB drive in his hand and shouted, “Everyone, take a look. This contains evidence. It clearly records all the things the Wanlong Association has done! Just the day before yesterday, they brought more than a hundred gang members into Jinchuan City, armed with weapons. They smashed, looted, and set things on fire, assaulting people with violence. They even wrecked and robbed my KTV!”
“They may look like a legitimate company on the surface, but in reality, they throw their weight around and stop at nothing! What right does a company with criminal connections like this have to participate in an auction?!”
The entire hall erupted into an uproar.
Those who had already heard vague rumors that the Wanlong Association had ties to criminal forces now believed them without a doubt.
“Damn, the Wanlong Association really is a criminal organization?”
“No wonder they dared to go head-to-head with Tiger Qi. So this is what they do behind the scenes.”
“A company like that should have its bidding qualifications revoked immediately. How can we let a criminal enterprise mine the country’s resources?”
“That’s terrifying. I thought they seemed pretty legitimate just now. Who would’ve guessed they were so ruthless behind closed doors?”
“……”
Even the two Hong Kong businessmen’s expressions changed. Their faces became uncertain.
As Hong Kongers, they were no strangers to criminal gangs.
Many years ago, there had even been a kidnapping case that shocked the entire world.
Precisely because they knew how dark and ruthless those organizations could be, they were wary of them.
They hadn’t expected such groups to exist on the mainland as well.
Wasn’t the mainland known for cracking down extremely hard on organized crime and maintaining a very safe environment?
Then what was going on here?
Qi Tianhu watched the crowd’s reaction, and the smile on his face deepened.
This was exactly the effect he wanted.
Even if this tactic couldn’t directly drive the Wanlong Association out of the auction, it would make everyone present wary of them. They would be afraid to continue bidding, and perhaps even afraid to have anything to do with them.
In the end, the mine would still belong to Qi Tianhu.
Wang Fei continued fanning the flames from the floor, portraying the Wanlong Association as a ruthless criminal organization that could kill without blinking and stop at nothing. His words sent shivers through the people below.
Yang Xin and Xu Shishi had been prepared for this, but they were still furious.
Who were they insulting?!
Who were they insulting?!
The Wanlong Association either didn’t make a move at all, or, once they did, they wiped out the opposition completely. If that were really what they had done, how could Wang Fei still be standing there in one piece?
He would have been taken care of long ago.
Because the incident had happened so suddenly, the auction, which had been proceeding normally, was forced to come to an abrupt end.
Just then, Qi Tianhu stood up and put on a righteous, indignant expression. He pressed down on the air with one hand and said, “Everyone! Everyone, please be quiet! Listen to me!”
Everyone present turned to look at him.
In fact, some of them had already guessed what was going on. This was probably Tiger Qi’s doing. That man was no cleaner than the Wanlong Association.
But no one dared say it aloud. After all, this was Jinchuan.
Qi Tianhu raised his hand and pointed at Yang Xin and Xu Shishi, declaring sternly, “In light of the Wanlong Association Group’s involvement in organized crime, I have already notified the police. They will be here shortly and will bring all relevant parties to justice!”
The room erupted.
Several local small-business owners seated in the back immediately began whispering among themselves, their expressions growing more animated by the second.
“Here we go. Tiger Qi is making his move.”
“I knew it. How could Qi Tianhu possibly let an out-of-town company lord it over him on his own turf? There it is—the killing blow.”
“I know this Wang Fei fellow. He’s one of Tiger Qi’s lackeys. He was ordered to make the attack.”
“Whether he’s attacking them or not is beside the point. The real issue is that he stripped the Wanlong Association bare in front of everyone. That’s like putting them over a fire to roast. What a ruthless move. If you ask me, the Wanlong Association is in for a world of trouble today.”
“I heard Tiger Qi has been established in the Jinchuan area for many years and has connections with people higher up.”
“Keep your voice down. Just know what’s going on.”
“This is a clash between immortals. We small fry should just watch the show and make sure we don’t get involved.”
“But look at those two from the Wanlong Association. They seem pretty calm. Could they have another card up their sleeves?”
“Calm my ass. They’re just pretending to keep their composure. Going up against Tiger Qi in Jinchuan—isn’t that just asking to die?”
“Exactly. They’re outsiders. How could they possibly match the Qi family’s foundation?”
“...”
