Free Web NovelChapter 35: Chapter 35: Auction Venue _1
After a quick tidy up, Ye Ming donned his most presentable outfit and then followed Xu Lele out the door.
Before they left, Lin Bingqing suddenly said, "Master and Mistress, please go slowly."
That simple greeting made Ye Ming feel somewhat embarrassed, but once Xu Lele heard those words, her face immediately blossomed into a smile.
All the way to the car, the address of ’Mistress’ echoed in Xu Lele’s mind, and she couldn’t help but praise, "Ye Ming, your disciple really is courteous. You must teach her something worthwhile."
Xia Ningning frowned. She couldn’t help saying, "You’re really naive, just a word ’Mistress’ and she has you charmed. You should ask him how he coaxed this disciple into following him."
"It couldn’t have been with his good looks, could it?"
Faced with Xia Ningning’s aggressive questioning, Ye Ming replied irritably, "If you insist on thinking that way, I have no objections, but what does it have to do with you?"
Xia Ningning felt a bit awkward. She found her own reaction strange. There was no longer any relationship between Ye Ming and herself, the only connection being a nullified marriage arrangement. What he wanted to do was his freedom, so why should she care?
After much deliberation, Xia Ningning still laid the blame on Xu Lele, pretending it was out of concern for her best friend.
On the way, in order to prevent the two of them from arguing, Xu Lele incessantly broached new topics, discussing matters concerning the auction.
Through her introduction, Ye Ming gained a general understanding of the auction.
It was merely a game among the wealthy, where they liked to compete in bidding to accentuate their status.
Of course, the auction was not short of treasures. Some hoped to find a bargain, buying low and selling high, thus making a profit.
By comparison, Ye Ming’s intent was far simpler. He was just hoping to find some precious medicinal herbs.
The auction site was set in the International Trade Center. By the time Ye Ming and the others arrived, the area was already swarmed with luxury cars.
Entering the venue, the noise was deafening as tycoons from every corner had already started to rub their hands in anticipation, waiting for the auction items to be presented.
Xu Lele had no interest in this; she wouldn’t normally attend such an event. Her presence today was solely to accompany Ye Ming.
The first few auction items were nothing more than antique wooden furniture and peculiar ornaments.
Ye Ming started to observe the crowd, some faces were familiar; he had seen them previously at the Garden Hotel.
After the fifth item was presented, the auctioneer began to describe it with great enthusiasm.
"Ladies and gentlemen, our next item comes with quite a history. It is the Centennial Seven-Star Grass, discovered last year by an herbal merchant on the edge of a cliff."
The auctioneer spoke this way because he was uncertain.
No matter what, an herb that wasn’t too pleasing to the eye still remained to be sold, a matter not yet settled.
Furthermore, Seven-Star Grass had peculiar medicinal effects, and not like Ginseng and Lingzhi, known for their significant nourishing benefits – it could only show its true potential in the hands of a professional physician.
"Centennial Seven-Star Grass, starting bid one million!"
Below the stage, silence ensued and the atmosphere turned a tad cold.
At this moment, Xu Lele opened her mouth and bid two million.
Recognizing her as the young mistress of the Xu Family, no one else dared to bid.
Just as the herb was about to fall into her hands, suddenly, an elder sitting at the back of the venue stood up and shouted, "I bid five million!"
Instantly, the previously quiet venue erupted into a stir, as everyone turned their eyes to the bidder, curious to see who dared to raise the price against Miss Xu of the Xu Family.
"That old man looks familiar; if I’m not mistaken, isn’t he Zhang Tianlai, the fortune-teller who made a big splash in Hai City a few days ago?"
"Yeah, isn’t this old guy a fortune-teller? Has he switched to being a doctor now?"
Whispers arose from all around, but the elder did not react in any way, his gaze firmly fixed on the Seven Star Grass on stage, showing a determination to win it at all costs.
Xu Lele frowned, somewhat displeased, and then placed a bid of six million.
Zhang Tianlai followed closely behind with a bid of seven million.
He was very straightforward, without the slightest hint of hesitation.
"Lele, it’s just a piece of useless herb, why not just let him have it?" Xia Ningning could hardly bear to watch anymore. Although they were wealthy, this was not the way to spend money; it was simply wasteful.
In the blink of an eye, ten million was down the drain, completely unnecessary, and all the more so for the sake of Ye Ming.
"But..." Xu Lele was about to say something when she heard Ye Ming suddenly stand up and say, "I bid eight million!"
His statement once again stirred up the atmosphere at the scene.
An item that initially needed only one million was now bid up to eight million, increasing its value manyfold, making it the most expensive item auctioned so far.
Zhang Tianlai frowned, clearly unwilling to bid any further.
Ye Ming’s sudden move irked Xia Ningning, who said, "Ye Ming, have you lost your mind? You want Lele to spend eight million on a piece of useless medicinal herb?"
Living off a woman to this extent, Xia Ningning was utterly disgusted.
"Ningning, don’t say anymore, Ye Ming has his reasons, and besides, it’s not that much money." Xu Lele’s face remained calm, without a trace of fluctuation. Eight million was nothing to her; what mattered was that Ye Ming was happy.
However, Ye Ming calmly said, "The things I want, of course, must be bought by myself, you all don’t have to worry about it."
"What? You’re going to buy it yourself? That’s eight million, not just eight hundred," Xu Lele said.
Ye Ming took out the card Scarface had given him and then said, "It’s just enough." freeωebnovēl.c૦m
As the auctioneer’s final hammer fell, the Centennial Wild Ginseng became Ye Ming’s.
Ye Ming took the card to make the payment and soon came back holding the wooden box.
Xia Ningning asked in shock, "Ye Ming, you’re too impressive, using Lele as a front to swindle so much money; you really have your ways."
Although it sounded like a compliment, the sarcasm in her words was all too clear for anyone to hear.
Xu Lele wanted to intervene but heard Ye Ming explain, "I think you’ve misunderstood; this money was not swindled by me, it was earned by me."
"Someone had placed an order for my Herbal Pill and given me a deposit of eight million."
"I’m selling my own medicine, how does that relate to living off a woman?"
Ye Ming asked, his gaze intently fixed on Xia Ningning, seeking an explanation.
Xia Ningning, rendered speechless by his retort, did not know how to respond, while Xu Lele quickly asked, "What? Are you saying your Herbal Pill really works?"
Xu Lele thought of the Herbal Pills Ye Ming had given her before.
Ye Ming said earnestly, "Of course, it’s effective; I would never sell fake medicine!"
