Jinling Sun Family, what's your opinion?

After Qin Yan's speech, the auction host presented the first item: a Blue-and-White Double-Eared Vase.

Most of the dignitaries in the hall showed little interest; they had come solely to pay respects to Qin Yan.

If they truly wanted antiques or curios, they wouldn't have wasted time traveling to Jiangcheng.

Soon, the Blue-and-White Double-Eared Vase was sold for one million six hundred thousand.

What followed were mostly odds and ends.

An hour slipped by.

Jiang Cheng leaned back on the sofa and yawned, nearly dozing off.

"Next up is the final item of tonight's auction: the Thousand-Year Blood Ganoderma, hailed as a 'fairy herb.' Starting bid: fifty million. Minimum increment: five million. Begin!"

As the hostess's words fell, the eyes of everyone in the auction hall blazed with fervor.

The Thousand-Year Blood Ganoderma—a treasure priceless on the open market!

They never expected to encounter one here.

"Fifty million!"

"Sixty million!"

"Sixty million and one yuan!"

From the VIP Room, Jiang Cheng's voice rang out, plunging the venue into silence.

No one had ever bid like that!

At the top floor of the auction house, Qin Yan crossed her shapely legs on the sofa. Hearing Jiang Cheng's voice, she couldn't help but smile.

"My little man wants this?"

The crowd recognized the Jiang Family's VIP Room and furrowed their brows in deliberation.

As the saying went, a mighty dragon cannot crush a local snake.

Offending the Jiang Family in Jiangcheng was unwise.

Compared to paying respects to the Qin Family's Miss, the Thousand-Year Blood Ganoderma seemed trivial.

At this juncture, it was best not to stir up trouble.

With that thought, no one raised their bid.

"These people know their place."

A light smile curled on Qin Yan's lips. Time to go meet my little man!

Just then, a discordant voice cut through.

"The Sun Family of Jinling bids eighty million. I ask everyone to grant us this favor."

"Should you ever visit Jinling, my son Sun Teng will repay you handsomely!"

The speaker was an Old Man in Tang Suit, with a kindly face but a tone that held no courtesy whatsoever.

There was even a faint hint of threat!

Was he trying to throw his weight around?

Though the crowd had already given up on the Thousand-Year Blood Ganoderma, their expressions soured.

The Sun Family of Jinling, though merely a second-rate clan, had latched onto a big shot from the Capital, holding a high-ranking post in the political sphere—far beyond what they could provoke.

After all, they were mere merchants; the common folk didn't fight officials!

"You're too kind, Elder Sun. How could we refuse the Sun Family of Jinling's request?"

"Indeed, we hope Elder Sun will look out for us in the future."

"This blood ganoderma in Elder Sun's hands—truly put to its best use."

Basking in the flattery, the Tang Suit Elder stroked his beard, thoroughly pleased.

"Eighty million, first call! Eighty million, second call! Eighty million, third call!"

Just as the hostess's gavel was about to fall, Jiang Cheng made his bid.

"I bid eighty million and one dime!"

The moment the words left his mouth, the Tang Suit Elder's smug face turned visibly livid, and he even yanked out a tuft of his beard.

This was a blatant disregard for the Sun Family of Jinling!

The crowd fell silent, turning away with odd expressions.

In the VIP Room, A Long's face showed concern as he advised, "Young Master, the Sun Family's influence in Jinling is no small matter. Even the family head has to address that old man as Elder Sun."

"Relax, I've got this!"

Jiang Cheng patted A Long on the shoulder.

Familiar with the plot, he knew plenty of the Sun Family's unsavory secrets.

Any one of them, in ancient times, would have been enough to wipe out their entire clan several times over!

This old geezer still thought he could throw his weight around with me? Little master here wasn't about to indulge him.

On my own turf, how could I let some old codger push me around?

Seeing this, A Long said no more and followed Jiang Cheng downstairs.

In the main hall of the venue, as Jiang Cheng appeared, the crowd showed curiosity, surprise, and some shaking their heads with sighs.

They thought it was unwise to clash with the Jinling Sun Family over a blood ganoderma.

Young people—too hotheaded!

"So you must be Elder Sun. I'm Jiang Cheng, a junior. My father often speaks of you."

Jiang Cheng spoke neither humbly nor arrogantly.

Hearing this, the crowd was baffled, and even the Tang Suit Elder froze for a moment.

Was he backing down?

Or was it deliberate—using the blood ganoderma as a way to connect with the Sun Family?

In an instant, the crowd's gaze toward Jiang Cheng shifted.

This kid—truly a prodigy!

Eighty million for a favor from the Jinling Sun Family—what a steal.

Even the Tang Suit Elder thought so. His originally grim face softened, and he nodded calmly.

Jiang Cheng, of course, had no idea what they were thinking. He smiled and said, "This blood ganoderma really catches my eye. But since Elder Sun likes it too..."

Here it comes!

Many of the wealthy elites glared at their own useless, pleasure-seeking sons and shook their heads.

Look at that—what a difference.

The Tang Suit Elder had already prepared his acceptance speech.

Step one: pretend to decline, with a face that said, "Oh, I couldn't possibly";

Step two: accept with great reluctance, making sure not to smile;

Finally, nod with a smile, pat Jiang Cheng on the shoulder, and say approvingly, "Jiang boy, I've got my eye on you."

Perfect!

Under the crowd's expectant gaze, Jiang Cheng closed his eyes, furrowed his brows, and put on a reluctant expression.

"Then I'll have to grit my teeth and take a loss. How about I sell it to you for a hundred million, Elder Sun?"

The crowd was stunned into silence by Jiang Cheng's slick move, their lips twitching almost imperceptibly.

A loss?

This kid's sharper than a fox!

A clean profit of nineteen million, nine hundred ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred ninety-nine and nine-tenths.

Down to the last cent.

"Fine, fine, fine!"

The Tang Suit Elder laughed in anger. "Jiang boy, I've got my eye on you!"

Jiang Cheng flashed a row of white teeth, grinning brightly. "Thanks for the compliment, Elder Sun."

A Long, standing nearby, swallowed hard, cold sweat pouring down his forehead.

My dear Young Master!

So this is what you meant by having it under control?

More like having it under control to piss this old man off to death.

Everyone present was sharp as a tack; none would wade into this muddy water.

They silently pondered—

Could Jiang Cheng be so reckless because he had some backing?

The Tang Suit Elder's face was dark enough to drip water. Being publicly humiliated by a junior—

if he couldn't save face, how would the Jinling Sun Family hold its head up from now on?

He might as well become the laughingstock of all Jinling!

"Jiang boy, think carefully. Cross the Sun Family, and your Jiang Family's businesses in Jinling won't be able to take a single step from now on!"

Hiss!

The crowd drew in a sharp breath, all eyes turning to Jiang Cheng.

This was no joke.

The Jiang Family might hold considerable power in Jiangcheng, but the Sun Family had the backing of big shots from the Capital.

Truly connected to the heavens above!

"Oh? And what brilliant advice does Elder Sun have?"

Jiang Cheng raised an eyebrow, sneering inwardly.

"Brilliant advice, I dare not claim. But this old man would like to ask what opinion you have?"

The Tang Suit Elder said in a deep voice.

Today, he would make sure everyone knew that the Sun Family of Jinling was not some stray cat or dog to be trifled with!

Just as the standoff reached a stalemate, a steady, crisp clatter suddenly rang out, "The Sun Family, quite the show of might!"

"I'd like to hear what opinion you have."