The previously sealed roof suddenly cracked open!
Winter sunlight streamed through the opening, casting its rays directly onto the raised platform.
It enveloped Xing'er entirely.
Fang Er had specially commissioned a Republic of China-style outfit for her.
A long-sleeved qipao in bright red, paired with a white shearling jacket.
Her oval face, fair with a hint of rosy hue, appeared exceptionally delicate and tender under the sunlight.
This never-before-seen attire left everyone present with a refreshed impression.
"Your humble servant Xing'er, by the command of my young master, will preside over this auction. I humbly request all esteemed guests present today to show their patronage."
Her crisp voice echoed throughout the Drunken Immortal Tower.
As her words fell, Xing'er bowed deeply to the guests on the platform and in the upper levels.
"Haha! No need to say more, as long as the goods are good, this young master has plenty of money!"
"Exactly, exactly, let's show our appreciation!"
Cui Yu, from the upper floor, was the first to respond.
Wang Zhigang even threw a silver ingot directly from the second floor onto the auction stage below.
Xing'er picked up the silver ingot without arrogance or subservience and placed it on the auction table.
She then turned to Wang Zhigang and said,
"Thank you, young master, for your favor. However, today, your humble servant is my young master's maid, and therefore, I dare not accept gifts from outsiders."
"Consider this silver ingot as your deposit for participating in the auction. Should you fancy anything later, simply bid. This silver will be deducted from your purchase."
Upon hearing Xing'er's words, Wang Zhigang lost the desire to tease her further.
He only felt that some of the fun was lost.
Fang Er, however, was very satisfied with Xing'er's performance.
Xing'er waved the small wooden hammer in her hand and gently tapped it on the table.
Zhu Zi carried a tray bearing a tall object, covered with brocade silk, making its contents indistinguishable from the outside.
He ascended the platform and placed it gently on the table before Xing'er, then turned and descended.
"This item originates from overseas, and was chanced upon by my young master."
"As the ancient saying goes, treasures belong to the virtuous. My young master, having spent quite a bit to aid disaster victims some time ago, has therefore decided to present this item for everyone's admiration!"
As Xing'er finished speaking, she gracefully lifted the silk cloth from the tray.
"Whoa!"
"Hiss!"
"This is impossible!"
"What a magnificent coral!"
Everyone present exclaimed in unison!
This was an artifact Fang Er had exchanged from the system.
He didn't understand its material.
But this thing really had a good presentation!
A three-foot-tall red coral, as red as blood!
Especially under the sunlight projected from the roof, it gleamed brilliantly.
"I believe that everyone present today is not of ordinary background, and can naturally discern the value of this item. Treasures belong to the virtuous. The starting bid is ten taels of silver, with each increment no less than five taels. I invite everyone present to place your bids!"
After speaking, the small hammer fell, commencing the auction of the first item.
"I bid fifty taels!"
"Two hundred taels!"
"Two hundred and thirty taels!"
The chaos below erupted into bids.
Fang Er looked at Xing'er and smiled with satisfaction.
Why?
It was because Xing'er's words were rather cunning.
Although it was an auction where the highest bidder wins, Xing'er added the phrase, "treasures belong to the virtuous."
Hmm.
Alright, you have no money, therefore you lack virtue.
Heh heh.
I like it!
Below, the clamor had already pushed the price to eight hundred taels of silver.
Such a large coral was truly a rarity, and with the understanding of this era, there were no techniques to make coral look so lifelike.
Therefore, this must be a genuine piece.
"Alright, I bid two thousand taels."
Wang Zhigang from the second floor's bid immediately quieted the crowd below.
"Two thousand five."
Cui Zhichong leaned back in his chair and uttered the number softly.
"The New Year is fast approaching, so bidding on this as a gift for someone would be nice. I bid three thousand taels."
Lu Xuanyi also made a bid.
Li Shichang glanced at them and did not speak.
"Four thousand."
Cui Yu Zheng said, looking at the coral.
Fang Er watched these "second-generation" heirs with great interest.
"Interesting."
"Are these noble families so wealthy?"
"This is only the first item!"
No one below dared to bid.
Only these few were continuously increasing the price.
Ultimately, this coral was secured by Cui Zhichong for six thousand taels.
The second item was a complete set of glass tableware.
A wine pot and eight wine cups.
Xing'er had also thoughtfully filled the wine pot with grape wine.
This wine was purchased from Persian merchants.
Poured into the glass wine pot.
It instantly exuded an aura of sophistication.
Xing'er gently recited a poem.
"Grape wine in jade cups, music urging us to drink.
Drunk in battle, blame me not; how many have returned from wars of old?"
This further enhanced the significance of the glassware set.
She looked at the assembled guests and continued,
"This set is the only one in existence; there are no others. I invite everyone to place your bids!"
"The starting bid is one hundred taels, with each increment starting at fifty taels!"
"Good poem! Good glass! I bid five hundred taels!"
A young man from below, after hearing Xing'er's words, clapped his hands and said.
"This set of tableware alone is worth more than five hundred taels, and with the poem you recited, it's worth a thousand taels!"
A person at another table said.
"Heh heh, don't even think about such treasures, I bid four thousand taels!"
Cui Zhichong said.
"Drunk in battle, blame me not; how many have returned from wars of old! Excellent! Excellent! I bid five thousand taels!"
After Cui Yu Zheng finished speaking, he glanced at Cui Zhichong.
That young man had snatched away the blood-red coral just now.
If he snatched this one too, it would lead people to believe that the Cui family of Qinghe was inferior to the Cui family of Boling.
"Young Master Cui of Qinghe bids five thousand taels! Are there any higher bids?"
Xing'er's clear voice rang out on the first floor.
"Five thousand taels once."
"Five thousand taels twice."
"Five thousand taels..."
"I bid five thousand five hundred taels."
Lu Xuanyi suddenly spoke.
His last-second bid made Cui Yu Zheng very displeased.
"Damn it!"
"Is he doing this on purpose?"
"Six thousand taels!"
Lu Xuanyi did not engage further.
Finally, Cui Zheng Yu secured the glassware set for six thousand taels.
The entire auction was almost monopolized by these few individuals.
Fang Er had prepared forty auction items.
Over thirty were taken by these five individuals.
And this was even before they voluntarily stopped bidding.
It was because a few unusual items appeared in the middle.
Blue little pills.
Yes.
That's right, these items.
Fang Er had exchanged a total of seventy-two pills.
He took out twelve of them, dividing them into three bottles.
They were auctioned in three separate rounds.
Others didn't know what these things were.
Zhu Zi introduced them in place of Xing'er, but few present believed it.
Coincidentally.
Fang Er's old neighbor, Steward Zhang, also came to join the fun.
Upon seeing Zhu Zi pour the small pills out of the bottle, he looked up with a resentful gaze at Fang Er on the second floor.
"Brother, what about our brotherhood!"
"What about your promise to give me a few pills every month!"