"Alright, Mr. Du has withdrawn from the bidding. Mr. Lin Chen's current offer is thirty-six million. Are there any higher bids than thirty-six million?"
Qiu Hanying nodded slightly and continued.
"Thirty-six million, once."
"Thirty-six million, twice."
"Wait! I bid forty million!"
Just as Qiu Hanying was about to bring down the hammer, an abrupt voice sounded from a private room on the second floor.
Hearing the voice, Qiu Hanying subconsciously looked up towards the private room.
"Alright, the head of the Zhong family is now bidding forty million. Are there any higher bids than forty million?"
As Qiu Hanying's words fell, the entire venue erupted in an uproar.
"My heavens, the head of the Zhong family, Zhong Shanhe, is a man of mystery, rarely seen. I didn't expect him to show up this time?"
"Tsk tsk tsk, don't even mention it. I heard that Zhong Hao, the eldest young master of the Zhong family, died inexplicably in his own villa, and his body was burned to ashes."
"Good heavens, such a thing happened? Who would dare to provoke the Zhong family?"
Throughout the auction hall, whispers and exchanges rose and fell, with almost everyone discussing the news of Zhong Hao's untimely death.
"I also heard that the Zhong family has hired a master with a large sum of money to find out who killed the young master Zhong!"
A middle-aged man said mysteriously to his companion.
These words naturally fell into Lin Chen's ears.
However, Lin Chen was not paying attention to the matter at hand.
Zhong Hao brought his death upon himself. Even if he was sought out, Lin Chen would not be afraid.
"I bid forty-one million!"
Lin Chen immediately continued to bid without further ado.
After all, his purpose here was for the nameless bronze cauldron, not to listen to gossip.
"I bid forty-five million!"
However, as soon as Lin Chen finished speaking, the deep voice from the private room sounded again.
It had an air of determination, as if they would not stop until their goal was achieved.
"Brother, the Zhong family needs this cauldron. I hope you are sensible."
While bidding, Zhong Shanhe directly pushed open the window of the private room and looked down coldly at Lin Chen, his meaning unmistakable.
"I apologize, I don't know any Zhong family. I bid forty-six million."
Feeling the threatening gaze from Zhong Shanhe, Lin Chen shook his head, unconcerned.
Given Zhong Hao's character, his father was likely no better!
"I bid fifty million!"
Zhong Shanhe gritted his teeth, his face contorted with anger. "Young man, are you refusing to give my Zhong family face?"
Fifty million for a broken cauldron! He knew he had to be the one to overpay!
There was no other way. His son, Zhong Hao, had died too mysteriously!
He had investigated all the surveillance footage around the villa, but the killer's face was never captured.
In desperation, he had to spend a large sum of money to hire a fortune teller, hoping to divine the murderer of his son.
However, this fortune teller not only charged an exorbitant fee but also had an additional condition: they must obtain this nameless bronze cauldron!
Therefore, even if the price was raised to sixty million, he would definitely have to match it!
Fortunately, Lin Chen seemed to be sensible and showed no intention of raising the bid further. Spending fifty million to find the real killer of his son was not a complete loss.
"The head of the Zhong family bids fifty million. Are there any higher bids than fifty million?"
Seeing Zhong Shanhe directly raise the price to fifty million, Qiu Hanying's face lit up with a smile.
They had only spent a little over ten million to acquire this nameless bronze cauldron before, and now it had multiplied so many times!
This time, their Shuang Group would indeed make a fortune!
"Fifty million, once!"
"Fifty million, twice!"
"Fifty million, third time, sold..."
"Wait!"
However, just as Qiu Hanying raised the wooden hammer, intending to bring it down, a woman's voice once again echoed from the private room on the second floor.
"My Shangguan family bids fifty-five million."
As the private room window opened, Shangguan Ling'er's fair face appeared before the crowd.
"Oh? Alright, the Shangguan family bids fifty-five million."
Upon hearing Shangguan Ling'er's bid, Qiu Hanying was momentarily dazed.
Good heavens, was this nameless bronze cauldron really that valuable? Even the Shangguan family was bidding?
Could it be that the appraisers from Shuang Group had made a mistake?
"Hmph, Shangguan Ling'er, are you deliberately opposing me?"
Hearing Shangguan Ling'er's bid, Zhong Shanhe was furious.
His son had an accident after returning from the Shangguan family!
Although it was later confirmed that his son's death was not caused by anyone from the Shangguan family, he had a gut feeling that his son's death was definitely connected to the Shangguan family!
It was precisely because of this that he had spared no expense in hiring that fortune teller, hoping to obtain irrefutable evidence!
He never expected the Shangguan family to make a move against him at this time!
"Uncle Zhong, the Shangguan family has no intention of opposing you. It's just that this nameless bronze cauldron has caught the eye of a distinguished guest of our Shangguan family. Today, our Shangguan family must obtain it, even if it means exhausting all our financial resources!"
Shangguan Ling'er said resolutely to Zhong Shanhe.
Indeed, she was well aware that Lin Chen currently only had fifty million, but he was willing to spend it on this cauldron, which indicated how much he valued it!
Especially Shangguan Xiong, who was wholeheartedly trying to get Lin Chen to owe him a favor, so how could he miss such a good opportunity?
Since Lin Chen's financial resources were insufficient, their Shangguan family was probably not lacking in money right now.
"Oh? A distinguished guest? Hehehe, then it seems today we can only compete in financial strength between our two families."
Hearing that Shangguan Ling'er was also buying it as a gift, Zhong Shanhe began to hesitate.
Given the Shangguan family's status in Hangzhou, they actually needed to buy such an expensive item as a gift for someone?
Could it be a gift for that important person?
Seeing this, the entire auction hall was in an uproar.
The Shangguan family and the Zhong family were considered one of the top influential families in Hangzhou. Who would have thought that today, at this seemingly unremarkable auction, a great battle would unfold?
"You bastard! Lin Chen, you useless good-for-nothing, why are you so lucky?"
Qin Wanru also saw the situation and felt immense dissatisfaction.
She had genuinely wanted to see if Lin Chen could really produce tens of millions to buy a bronze cauldron, but now these two major families had interfered!