Chapter Seventy-Seven - The Auction (Part Four)

My Rebirth Legend – No Pop-ups

Forty-five years ago, the eastern outskirts of City C became a vast expanse of water, averaging more than forty meters deep, forming a huge artificial lake. This was created to build the first domestic hydroelectric station in Huaxia, forcing over three hundred thousand people to relocate and ultimately resulting in an immense reservoir. From that moment on, the eastern district of City C became a true refugee shelter: no housing, no buildings, only endless tents and thatched huts. After a decade or so of rough development, this area gradually formed residential and industrial zones; the City C Steelworks settled here and for a time it was the fastest-growing part of City C. However, as the wave of state-owned enterprise collapse swept the nation, the old steelworks lasted fifteen years before finally succumbing and closing down. Thereafter, the area became a haven for laid-off workers and struggling entrepreneurs, and the eastern district was officially recognized as City C's impoverished area.

Even now, nothing has changed; it remains backward and dilapidated, like a virgin land untouched by human hands, with buildings from over ten years ago still standing. So this year, today, the government finally announced its revitalization plan: to transform this backward old district into City C's glittering, magnificent future metropolis. I must admit, I admire the city government's vision—the eastern district is surrounded by water on three sides and mountains on one, with beautiful scenery. If developed, tourism alone could supply City C with plenty of revenue, not to mention real estate, trade, and industry.

It must be said that the City C government is both skilled and lucky. Since the eastern district was originally state-owned steelworks land, and after the steelworks collapsed, most of its debts were offset by the government using public funds, the ownership of this vast area remained with the government. This allowed them to be the absolute masters in this transformation. Imagine if the land was in private hands—just acquiring the land and demolishing old houses would be an uphill battle. Everyone knows to squeeze the government for money when the opportunity arises.

Thus, with the land in their hands, the government could boldly prepare for redevelopment. Today, the auction is for the most economically valuable plot by the lakeside steelworks, the centerpiece of the revitalization!

“It is my great honor to announce the official start of the 1997 City C East District old steelworks lakeside redevelopment auction! Today, our city government is delighted to invite over a dozen large real estate development companies, all renowned enterprises from both inside and outside City C. They must be familiar with our revitalization plans. Now, we will auction the land development rights for the old district steelworks lakeside area. Please welcome the notary office and auctioneer to the stage.” The host, a certain bureau chief, bellowed like a butcher, snapping me awake.

Finally, the most exciting part of the day had begun!

Once the notary and auctioneer took the stage, the auctioneer received a document from Mayor Xia Guomin. If I’m not mistaken, that document contained the land development and usage rights. As expected, the auctioneer formally announced the start of the eastern district’s land ownership bidding.

The previously subdued venue suddenly erupted with a palpable sense of warfare. Everyone knew that winning these development and usage rights meant enormous profits and limitless returns. More importantly, whoever secured the plan would be able to participate in...

The starting price was six hundred million Huaxia yuan. This amount caused several smaller companies, hoping to try their luck, to shake their heads and quietly withdraw from the competition. Six hundred million! Even if they mortgaged everything to the bank, they couldn't come up with that amount. There was no hope for them. The government knew the price was steep, but this was a prized plot, the most valuable in the redevelopment, so it was auctioned first while other plots would be sold later.

“Seven hundred million! Number 5 bids seven hundred million. Any higher offers?” Some had just shaken their heads when someone raised their paddle. I looked closely—it was none other than Xia Fugui, that old fox. Seeing him raise the number 5 paddle, I couldn’t help but smirk inwardly. "Your funds barely reach five hundred million; the rest relies on your brother raising his paddle. So slick, acting wealthy..."

“Eight hundred million! Miss Number 10 bids eight hundred million! Any higher offers?” Others were astonished at Number 5’s bold bid, but then the Number 10 beauty caught everyone’s eye, causing even greater commotion in the crowd. The dozen companies seemed to instantly resign themselves to being spectators, envious but powerless to compete.

Xia Fugui glared fiercely at the calm Zhang Jing and gritted his teeth, raising his bid to nine hundred million. Many drew sharp breaths; even Mayor Xia Guomin on the stage frowned slightly. Perhaps he had never seen such competition in units of hundreds of millions. In my previous life, even after thirty years, not even the television showed such scenes, let alone now.

“Any bids higher than Number 5? Nine hundred million once, nine hundred million twice, nine hundred million three times—sold! Number 5 secures the land development and usage rights for the steelworks lakeside area at nine hundred million. Congratulations on becoming part of the city government’s old district revitalization plan!” The auctioneer shouted, and the audience responded with scattered applause. Nine hundred million for a lakeside curve—worth it, but it took real nerve. Nine hundred million was almost a life-or-death gamble!

Xia Fugui’s face showed no joy at winning the bid—because I knew the price was much higher than he expected. His bold bids in hundred-million increments were mainly to intimidate Zhang Jing, hoping she’d back down. Instead, he scared no one and ended up paying two hundred million more. Now, he was probably worrying about how to raise the money.

Originally, my plan with Zhang Jing was to let Xia Fugui win at a high price, then use my technical skills to ruin him. But the risks were high, and Zhang Jing’s company would be implicated, so it wasn’t a perfect plan. In hindsight, I should thank fate—thanks to that car accident, I met someone who changed my entire strategy...

At this point, I lost all interest in watching further. With the most exciting part over, I had no need to stay for the closing ceremony, document presentation, contract signing, and so on. Besides, next to me was Miss Chu, staring and waiting for me to come up with excuses. After a covert signal to Zhang Jing, I took Chu Qitong and left the venue.

Only one person watched my departing figure in silence: Zhou Zisheng. He truly believed I wasn’t Zhang Jing’s company’s mysterious boss, because no one would deliberately pass up such tempting profits and prospects. He also didn’t believe Zhang Jing would be foolish enough not to compete with Xia Fugui if she had the ability. Regardless, even if I wasn’t the person he and Xia Fugui were looking for, he would still report my actions to Xia Fugui—he knew very well about my enmity with Xia Jianren.

Nearly an hour later, after the follow-up ended, the auction concluded successfully. Aside from some local officials, the other company representatives had long since left, leaving only Zhou Zisheng anxiously waiting for Xia Fugui to come down from the stage.

“Zisheng, why are you still here?” Although Xia Fugui was somewhat disgruntled, he still wore a radiant expression as he prepared to leave, only to notice Zhou Zisheng standing ahead and greet him.

Upon seeing him, Zhou Zisheng hurried over and pulled him to a corner by the door, his expression serious. “Uncle Xia, I have something to tell you. I think I misidentified Zhang Jing’s mysterious boss.”

“Hm? What do you mean?” Xia Fugui was surprised and puzzled. Thinking further, he became even more alarmed. “Don’t tell me you met that person at the venue?”

“Yes, it turns out your son knows him.” Zhou Zisheng smiled bitterly, almost mocking himself. “That man’s name is Xiao Qiang—your son’s rival in love.”

“What?? You mean that boy who casually threw around tens of thousands and has millions in his bank account is Xiao Qiang?” Xia Fugui was dumbstruck, as if hearing a myth. His expression darkened. “So that’s it! No wonder my boy couldn’t handle him, even with Lao De’s men. Turns out this guy is playing the fool! Oh no!”

“What’s wrong?” Zhou Zisheng, seeing Xia Fugui both startled and alarmed, asked in confusion.

He sighed, “Just yesterday, I personally went to see Lao De, asking him to deal with that kid. Lao De’s people are always swift—in the underworld, they’re top-notch. I’m afraid they targeted him this morning. They might have already made a move. If only I hadn’t listened to that brat. Now, with Zhang Jing’s side unresolved, I’ve offended a wealthy player. Xiao Qiang is so rich; his backers must be powerful. I’ve really shot myself in the foot, creating trouble for myself…”

“Oh, really?” Zhou Zisheng was taken aback and quickly added, “Damn, I forgot to mention, that kid is accompanied by a girl named Chu Qitong!”

“Chu Qitong?” At first, Xia Fugui felt the name sounded familiar but couldn’t recall where he’d heard it. Seeing his puzzled look, Zhou Zisheng hastily explained, “She’s the daughter of Chu Zhengsheng, CEO of Imperial Group—the granddaughter of the CEO of West Chu Group!”

Boom—Xia Fugui felt dizzy, barely able to steady himself, and forced a bitter smile. “What’s wrong with me this year? Bad luck, really bad luck! How did I run into Chu Zhengsheng’s daughter? If anything happens to her, damn, her father is terrifying enough, and he’s close with Su Guohui, who’s equally formidable…”

At that moment, Xia Fugui really felt close to collapse. In his panic, he didn’t even hear Zhou Zisheng’s further words, and hurriedly pulled his phone from his pocket, frantically dialing.

“Hello? Lao De? What? You’re his secretary? Where’s Lao De? Who am I? I’m Lao De’s good friend.” Xia Fugui shouted into the phone, sweating profusely, paying no attention to the people around him. “Gone? Where? The south side? Damn, didn’t he take his phone? What about his men? Don’t know? What the hell do you do all day! Hey, hey?” Evidently, the line was cut; he glared at Zhou Zisheng, his face ashen. “Lao De’s already gone to deal with Xiao Qiang. That was his secretary on the phone. Damn, Lao De’s black-to-white transition is too clean—even his underworld men’s own company secretary doesn’t know what’s going on!”

“Uncle Xia, I think we’d better hurry to the south side, or you’ll be in big trouble if something happens. They’ve been gone for over an hour; I bet Uncle De has already started dealing with Xiao Qiang!” Zhou Zisheng urged him, joking that provoking the West Chu Group could mean an untimely death. West Chu Group is a multinational, with connections even at the central level—how could Xia Fugui possibly compete!

“Go to the south side? Are you kidding? The south side’s huge. How will we find them?” Xia Fugui scoffed, then suddenly frowned, “Why did the kid go there? There’s no shopping, no restaurants—he’s accompanying a girl… Of course, they must be car shopping. Only the south side has dealerships!” Wise as ever, Xia Fugui immediately realized this, and hurriedly beckoned Zhou Zisheng. He even ignored officials trying to greet him, rushing straight out of the venue.