Hotel, Ballroom.
Charity fundraising events were almost identical, especially those with heavy political influence. It started with the leaders talking about the damages caused by the earthquake and the hardships civilians were facing. After that, they would start the fundraising or auction to raise funds. TV station and newspaper reporters were there, taking lots of photos.
After a long speech, the fundraising began.
This event still followed the traditional way of fundraising.
The pretty host announced. “We are starting the auction now. The first item up for auction is author Teacher Zhang’s second novel’s original manuscript.
Dong Xuebing glanced at Teacher Zhang, who was seated in the audience. He had not read his novel but had heard of it. Teacher Zhang should be a Fen Zhou City native and was invited to attend this event.
“I bid 1,000!” A businessman shouted.
“5,000!” Another businessman shouted.
“10,000 RMB!” One more person joined the bidding.
“I bid 20,000 RMB!” City Party Secretary Wan Fanglei said.
This manuscript was not worth 20,000 RMB. After all, it’s not a bestseller. However, the purpose of this auction was to donate to the earthquake victims. Even if Wan Fanglei threw a cigarette box onto the stage, it could be sold for tens of thousands. After Wan Fanglei bid, the businessmen stopped bidding. No one dares to compete with the City Party Secretary.
Wan Fanglei won the manuscript for 20,000 RMB. The reporters immediately took pictures of him collecting the manuscript.
A short while later, the second item was put up for auction. It was a painting by an artist at the event. It was specially painted for this event.
“10,000!”
“30,000 RMB!”
“50,000 RMB.”
“100,000 RMB!”
“150,000 RMB.”
In the end, this painting, worth 10,000 RMB, was sold for 200,000 RMB. This was because no leaders had bid for it, and the few businessmen competed among themselves. Wang Fanglei and the other civil servants could not make large donations due to their low salaries. They were here to lead, and most fundraising depended on the businessmen. In return for their donations, Fen Zhou City Government would offer some subsidies or help them.
Third item….
Tenth item….
Twentieth item….
Many items were auctioned off quickly.
Yang Zhaode bought a handcrafted ornament for 20,000 RMB.
City Mayor Zhong Zhengwei bid for a hand-sewn doll made by child victims of the earthquake for 18,000 RMB.
Other Fen Zhou City leaders bought small items at the auction. Luo Haiting spent 3,000 RMB on a small item.
Dong Xuebing saw Xie Huilan hesitating and asked. “What are you waiting for? We should also bid something.”
Xie Huilan smiled. “I am waiting for a calligraphy piece. Eh? It’s here.”
The host announced. “The next item is our Fen Zhou City Mayor Zhong’s calligraphy. Mayor Zhong is a calligraphy master, and his works are beautiful.”
Zhong Zhengwei smiled and interrupted. “It’s not that good. Stop flattering me and start the auction.”
Dong Xuebing understood why Huilan was not bidding on anything. She was waiting for Mayor Zhong’s calligraphy. Although he could not tell how good it was, winning this calligraphy piece would pull them closer to Mayor Zhong. Sigh…. Xie Huilan thought much further than Dong Xuebing and planned everything she did. He had a conflict with Wan Fanglei, and they could only join Mayor Zhong’s side.
Xie Huilan wanted that calligraphy piece, and other people had the same idea.
The ballroom was tense before the auction for the calligraphy piece started. The businessmen were raring to bid.
“I bid 50,000 RMB!”
“80,000 RMB!”
“100,000 RMB!”
“150,000 RMB!”
The mayor’s calligraphy is different. That artist’s painting was only sold for 200,000 RMB, and within a minute after the auction started, bids for Mayor Zhong’s calligraphy reached 350,000 RMB. This was because of his title. This piece might not have been sold for 500 RMB if not for his title.
Dong Xuebing said. “It’s already 350,000 RMB. You said we should not bid higher than the City Party Secretary.”
“Haha… it depends on the situation.” Xie Huilan raised her hand. “360,000 RMB.”
Everyone looked at Xie Huilan when she raised her hand. The businessmen were shocked when they saw a Deputy City Mayor making such a high bid. 360,000 RMB was a civil servant’s several years’ salary. The businessmen were savvy. They could compete with other businessmen but do not want to compete with Mayor Xie. They would instead give up than offend her.
Mayor Zhong looked at Xie Huilan and smiled.
360,000 RMB for an ordinary calligraphy piece was astronomical.
Song Fei raised the bid without any hesitation. “400,000 RMB.”
Xie Huilan looked at him. “430,000 RMB.
“500,000 RMB.” Song Fei made a higher bid. He seemed determined to win it.
Everyone frowned and looked at Song Fei. They thought to themselves, do you have nothing better else to do? Mayor Xie made a bid, yet you are trying to outbid her?! This is only a charity event. Do you need to be so competitive?
But Song Fei had his ideas. He is a businessman dealing with construction materials. His business in the south was doing well, and he was here to open the market. He needs an opportunity. Although he won a few projects for rebuilding after the earthquake, he was not satisfied. He likes to take risks. He heard Secretary Wan has conflicts with Xie Huilan and Dong Xuebing and got an idea. This is Mayor Zhong’s calligraphy, and the more he had to get it. He could please Mayor Zhong and Secretary Wan if he can win it. He does not care about Yang Zhaode’s relationship with Xie Huilan and Dong Xuebing or Xie Huilan’s position. With the Mayor and Party Secretary supporting him, who cares about them? A Deputy Mayor cannot stop him from developing his business in Fen Zhou City.
Song Fei bids without hesitation and does not care what Xie Huilan thinks.
The whole ballroom was looking at both of them.
Xie Huilan narrowed her eyes and said. “520,000 RMB.
Song Fei immediately increases the bid. “550,000 RMB.”
It was tense, and everyone stopped talking.
The host could feel the tension and said. “Mr. Song bids 550,000 RMB. Any higher bids?”
Dong Xuebing was looking terrible. “Who is this person?”
Xie Huilan replied. “I think he is a building construction material businessman. He dares to bid.”
This event was insignificant compared to the nationwide fundraising, and most guests were ordinary businessmen from within the City. A few hundred thousand RMB was the best they could donate. That’s why 550,000 RMB was a large bid.
Dong Xuebing said softly. “This guy is ignorant.”
Xie Huilan smiled. “Since he likes it so much, let him have it.”
“Let him have it? Bullshit!” Dong Xuebing was mad. “I will not allow him to have it!”
Xie Huilan was amused. “You are acting up again. Let’s forget it.”
“No!” Dong Xuebing might give in if it was him. But Song Fei was competing with his wife. He cannot accept it.
You dare to compete with my wife?!
Go to hell!”
The host was about to announce Song Fei as the winner when Dong Xuebing shouted. “1 million!”
Silence.
1 million RMB?! Are you mad?
Xie Huilan shook her head and did not say anything.
Song Fei frowned and looked at Dong Xuebing. “1.02 million RMB!”
Before everyone gasped, Dong Xuebing shouted. “2 million RMB!”
Song Fei was angry. “2.01 million!”
Dong Xuebing shouted without any hesitation. “3 million RMB!”
Song Fei increased his bids by ten thousand RMB, while Dong Xuebing increased them by a million. It’s clear who was the winner.
Song Fei was shocked and did not make any higher bids. Are you crazy?! Are you a civil servant?! 3 million RMB?! You are richer than me! Which civil servant is so rich?! Three million RMB was way off his budget.
In the end, the calligraphy was sold for 3 million RMB.
Dong Xuebing smiled and went forward with Xie Huilan to receive it.
Everyone exchanged looks and inhaled deeply.
Only Fen Zhou City leaders were not surprised by this outcome and looked at Song Fei speechlessly.
Do you know who you are dealing with? He is the God of Plague!
Dong Xuebing’s asset was worth over 100 million RMB in cash. Even if you are wealthy and have a few hundred million RMB worth of assets, do you have it in cash?! Most of your assets should be fixed assets or bank credits. He can even spend thirty million on that calligraphy. How are you going to compete?
You must be crazy.
Why did you provoke him for no reason?!
