Chapter 488 — The Second Fragment Appears
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
"The other party seems cautious as well. Hard to say whether he truly wants it or not." A middle-aged man's voice came through the earpiece. "Put in a token increase of ten or twenty thousand and see."
"Understood!" the man answered. Just as the auctioneer said, "A hundred and ten thousand, going thrice," he raised his paddle. "A hundred and twenty thousand!"
"Oh? Then this must be a fine thing after all — I'd better not let it go!" Fatty Lai shot the bidder a look of some surprise. Without waiting for the auctioneer to speak, he rose to his feet. "A hundred and twenty-five thousand!"
"Huh?" Everyone in the hall was taken aback. At first, seeing that someone had bid, they had wondered whether the sheepskin scroll might really be something worthwhile. But Fatty Lai's words made it quietly plain to them: the way he was bidding showed that he was not set on having the thing at all. Otherwise, who would bid like that? It was practically thuggish.
For an item with a reserve of a hundred thousand, the minimum increment was five thousand, yet few ever bid in such a manner. Most added ten thousand at a time. Fatty Lai's way of bidding could only mean that he did not particularly care whether he got the thing or not. If someone contended with him, he would put in a token raise; if the other party went too high, he would simply let it go.
So no one else had any interest in joining in. To join now would be to make an enemy. They would just watch the two of them put on their show.
"Second Uncle, what does he mean by that?" the man with the paddle asked, somewhat hesitantly.
"Hard to say. Raise it another five thousand and see. If he goes higher, give it up," said the middle-aged man.
"A hundred and thirty thousand!" The man raised his paddle.
"A hundred and thirty-five thousand!" Fatty Lai gave his ample backside a twist and lifted his paddle.
"Withdraw!" said the middle-aged man. "Have someone look into his background!"
"Yes, sir." With that, the man raised his paddle no more.
"One hundred and thirty-five thousand, going once; one hundred and thirty-five thousand, going twice; one hundred and thirty-five thousand, going three times — sold!" The auctioneer brought down his hammer, and those who had hoped for some spectacle were left rather disappointed.
The man who had bid against Fatty Lai earlier had plainly been calling out for amusement, with no real intention of buying. Fatty Lai, one could surmise, had much the same idea — bidding for fun.
So no one imagined the fragment of a map could be anything of value. And seeing that after Fatty Lai's winning bid there was not the slightest look of delight on his face, they were all the more certain he had merely been playing along, not bent on securing the thing at any cost.
"Congratulations to the gentleman with paddle number one hundred and eighty-three, who has won this sheepskin scroll for one hundred and thirty-five thousand. A member of our staff will contact you shortly to discuss the arrangements for delivery." With that, the auctioneer went on to introduce the next lot.
Fatty Lai had bought a sheepskin scroll — a trifle, no more — and not a soul paid him any further attention. No one, that is, except the man who had bid against him before...