I lent my brother 500 yuan, and he offered his wife as collateral.

……

"It's fake! It's all fake!"

Gu Shao Cong, whose arms were already being held by the bodyguards, suddenly bit the bodyguard's wrist with unexpected strength.

The bodyguard, in pain, loosened his grip, and Gu Shaocong seized the opportunity to break free.

He picked up a fist-sized piece of grayish-white waste and slammed it hard against the stone-cutting machine.

"Bang!"

The machine casing was dented, and sparks flew everywhere.

"What kind of bullshit Dragon-Suppressing Stone is this! What kind of divine python belt is this! This is cement! This is a fake skin made by the Su family!"

Gu Shao Cong, his hair disheveled and face covered in blood, stood amidst the pile of garbage, waving his hands and roaring, pointing at Manager Wang's nose:

"Your Su family is a shady business! This is a pig-butchering scam! You sold a pile of construction waste for 2.5 billion yuan, you'll all die a horrible death!!"

His voice echoed in the enclosed underground space, carrying a penetrating power of despair.

Manager Wang's face turned ashen. He waved his hand and shouted angrily, "Shut him up! Isn't he embarrassed enough already?"

Four bodyguards in black surrounded them again, raising their rubber batons high.

"Fight! If you have the guts, kill me!"

Gu Shao Cong not only didn't dodge, but instead ripped open his expensive shirt, revealing his bony chest, and roared with red eyes:

"Everyone, look! Take pictures! This is the Su family of Yanjing! They swindled people out of their fortunes and then murdered them to cover it up! My Gu family has been in Sichuan for decades, and this is our fate today. Tomorrow it will be yours!"

That shout hit the nail on the head.

The crowd, which had initially just been watching the spectacle, began to stir.

Normally, Gu Shao Cong's sore loser behavior would only be ridiculed.

But today, this "Dragon-Suppressing Stone" has deteriorated drastically.

The 2.5 billion yuan bidding king, once cut open, is so ugly that it's not even suitable as an ashtray.

Although gambling on stones is inherently a losing proposition with nine out of ten bets, the Su family's behavior clearly shows that they didn't even give them a chance to "win," directly feeding them a mouthful of shit.

"This... really doesn't make sense." In the crowd, a coal mine owner wearing a gold chain frowned and muttered, "Such a good outer shell, but inside it's full of cracks, there's not a bit of flesh. This doesn't seem like it was formed naturally."

"I've heard that some expert counterfeiters can make fake leather using glue and stone powder, so well that even a god couldn't tell the difference."

"If the Su family really does such a thing, then the stones we have..."

Whispers spread like a plague.

Those wealthy people who had originally planned to make a big splash tonight looked at the uncut rough stones in their hands with suspicion and uncertainty in their eyes.

The crisis of trust, like the musty smell in this basement, is fermenting rapidly.

Several prominent local figures from Sichuan exchanged glances and stepped forward.

"Manager Wang," one of the older men, dressed in a Tang suit, said with his hands behind his back, his tone indifferent, "Young Master Gu's words, though harsh, are not without reason. Such a large plate, cut into something like this—shouldn't the Su family provide an explanation?"

"Yes, if your Su family were a greedy creature that only takes in and never gives out, who among us would dare to come here to play in the future?"

Doubts arose.

Manager Wang's forehead was instantly covered in cold sweat.

He felt like he was being roasted over a fire.

If this matter isn't handled properly today, not only will the fundraising goal be unsuccessful, but the reputation that the Su family has painstakingly built will be ruined tonight!

Once the Su family lost the trust of the Sichuan antique circle, half of their foundation in Southwest China was severed.

He cannot bear this responsibility.

"Everyone! Please calm down!" Manager Wang wiped his sweat, forcing a smile. "Our Su family values ​​integrity above all else. How could we possibly fake it? This is truly a variable inherent in the raw stone itself..."

"Reputation?" Gu Shao Cong spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva. "Twenty-five billion for a pile of rock rubble, and you're talking to me about reputation? Give me my money back! Otherwise, I'll kill myself right here today!"

After saying that, he made a move as if he was about to crash into the stone-cutting machine.

The scene was in chaos.

Qin Feng stood at the edge of the crowd, a freshly lit cigarette between his fingers, watching the farce with an indifferent expression.

"This young master Gu, he's useless as a dog, but he's got some fighting power as a mad dog." Qin Feng flicked his cigarette ash, a half-smile on his face.

Su Qingxue hid behind him, tugging at his clothes with some fear:

"Brother Feng, will they... start fighting?"

"There won't be a fight." Qin Feng exhaled a smoke ring and looked at Manager Wang, who was hiding in a corner with his phone in hand. "That woman from the Su family, although she's crazy, isn't stupid enough to make an enemy of the entire Sichuan antique circle at a time like this."

in the corner.

Manager Wang's hands were shaking as he held his phone.

Su Linglong's indifferent voice came from the other end of the phone, without any roaring, only a chilling calm.

"waste."

"Second Miss, this...this can't be blamed on me. It was Gu Shao Cong who went crazy, and those..." Manager Wang tried to explain.

"I don't want to hear the details," Su Linglong interrupted him. "If we don't quell public anger in the current situation, the Su family's reputation will be ruined. I need this money for tomorrow's auction, and I also need these people to attend."

"Then... what should we do?"

"Give it to him."

"Huh?" Manager Wang was taken aback.

"Give him half back." Su Linglong's tone was icy. "Shut his mouth, and shut everyone else up. Tell them that the Su family can afford to play games, and can afford to lose. This is the last bit of face we can give the Gu family."

"But...but that 2.5 billion..." Manager Wang's face twitched with pain.

"I want cash! Not a bunch of unfinished buildings and dilapidated antiques!" Su Linglong's voice suddenly rose. "The remaining half of the assets, liquidate them immediately! Tonight! If it's a penny less, you'll have to make up the difference yourself!"

"Beep beep beep..."

The phone hangs up.

Manager Wang took a deep breath, feeling completely exhausted, as if he had just been pulled out of the water.

But he dared not delay.

He straightened his tie, strode back to the center of the venue, and snatched the megaphone from the bodyguard's hand.

"Quiet down!"

That shout stunned everyone.

Even Gu Shao Cong, who was about to bang his head against the wall, stopped and looked at him with half his face swollen.

Manager Wang looked around, his face adopting a compassionate expression.

"Young Master Gu, what you just said was too hurtful. The Su family has been in Sichuan for so many years, relying on the word 'integrity'."

"but……"

Manager Wang changed the subject and sighed, "We understand how Young Master Gu feels right now. Losing all his wealth overnight is unbearable for anyone. The Su family and Old Master Gu have been friends for many years, and we can't bear to see the Gu family line end."

He paused, then announced loudly.

"The Second Miss just gave the order! Given Young Master Gu's emotional outburst and the truly...unexpected result of this stone-cutting, the Su family has decided to show leniency!"

"We're returning half of the mortgage agreement we just signed! Young Master Gu, we don't want those 1.25 billion in assets anymore, we're giving them back to you!"

The audience was silent.

Immediately following was an incredible gasp of shock.

"Holy crap? The Su family has changed their ways?"

"You can spit out meat that's already in your mouth? Has the sun risen in the west?"

"This...this is too generous! It's supposed to be a gamble where the loser pays off, and they're even giving back half?"

The wind direction suddenly reversed.

Those who had previously questioned the Su family's shady business now looked at Manager Wang differently.

Such vision and magnanimity—truly befitting a prestigious family in Yanjing!

The one who reacted the most was Gu Shaocong.

He had already prepared himself for either going to northern Myanmar to mine or dying there.

Upon suddenly hearing that he could get half of his family's assets back, he stood there dumbfounded.

half!

That's 1.25 billion!

Although he lost half, the remaining half was enough for him to squander for the rest of his life, enough for him to buy a manor abroad and live a life of luxury!

"Really...really?" Gu Shao Cong asked in a trembling voice.

"Would I lie to you in front of so many people from Sichuan?" Manager Wang tore off half of the supplementary agreement and threw it on the ground. "Take your things and leave."

"Thump!"

Without any hesitation, Gu Shao Cong's knees buckled, and he knelt heavily on the ground.

The mad dog who was just about to fight the Su family to the death disappeared in the blink of an eye.

It has become a mangy dog, wagging its tail and begging for mercy.

"Thank you! Thank you, Miss! Thank you, Manager Wang!"

As Gu Shao Cong kowtowed, tears streaming down his face, he cried, "I, Gu Shao Cong, will never forget the great kindness and virtue of the Su family! The Su family is so righteous! From now on, if anyone dares to speak ill of the Su family, I, Gu Shao Cong, will be the first to kill him!"

That servile and obsequious manner was nauseating.

One second they're cursing the shop as a rip-off, the next they're calling it "daddy" after being given a bone.

This spineless coward deserves to be slaughtered.

Qin Feng watched this scene with a hint of mockery in his eyes.

"Cutting off an arm to survive, winning people's hearts," Qin Feng commented in a low voice. "Su Linglong is indeed quite shrewd. However, this also shows that she's really short of money."

Manager Wang looked at Gu Shao Cong kneeling on the ground, a look of disgust flashing in his eyes.

But he didn't have time to bother with this good-for-nothing.

Time is tight.

Manager Wang raised the megaphone again, speaking loudly.

"Everyone! Young Master Gu's matter has been resolved, but the Su family's rules cannot be broken."

"Although half of the assets that Young Master Gu mortgaged were returned, the remaining half, which is the Gu family's ancestral property worth 1.25 billion, includes three prime shops in the city center, two office buildings, and seven pieces of Ming and Qing dynasty porcelain treasured in the Gu family's storeroom..."

Manager Wang's gaze swept across the entire room intently.

"Now, let's begin the auction!"

"For sale as a package! Starting bid: 800 million!"

The moment that price was announced, all the wealthy people in the room were green with envy.

Eight hundred million?

The three prime shops and office building in the city center alone are worth over a billion! Add to that the antiques, and this is practically a 50% off sale!

This is a steal!

"I'll offer 800 million!" The coal mine owner was the first to raise his hand.

"Eight hundred and fifty million!" The old man in the Tang suit followed closely behind.

"Nine hundred million!"

The atmosphere at the scene immediately exploded.

The fear I had felt about the "Dragon-Suppressing Stone" vanished, leaving only greed for wealth.

Manager Wang smiled with satisfaction.

This is exactly the effect I wanted.

Once I turn these things into cash, tonight's mission will be complete.

"Wait a minute." Manager Wang suddenly raised his hand, suppressing the bidding from everyone.

He added a crucial point.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the Su family urgently needs funds tonight. Therefore, there is one strict condition for this auction."

Manager Wang held up one finger.

"Cash only."

"And it's instant cash. No checks, no collateral, no installments. Cash on delivery."

These words were like a bucket of ice water poured over the heads of those enthusiastic and wealthy people.

The coal boss who had been bidding the most aggressively froze in mid-air and awkwardly withdrew his hand.

The old man in the Tang suit also shut his mouth, his face grim.

The atmosphere immediately fell silent.

Are you kidding me?

Although everyone here is quite wealthy, who doesn't have assets worth billions?

But those are assets!

It's mines, it's stocks, it's real estate!

Who the hell would have 800 million in working capital sitting in an account in the middle of the night?

"Manager Wang, aren't these conditions too harsh?" someone complained. "Could we get a two-day extension?"

"No way," Manager Wang said firmly. "It has tonight."

silence.

The once bustling auction hall suddenly became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Everyone was eyeing that pile of coveted assets, but no one dared to reach for them.

Those with money can't afford that much cash, and those with cash don't care about these things.

Manager Wang became anxious.

If this fails to sell at auction, the Second Miss will skin him alive tomorrow!

"Eight hundred million... really no one wants it?" Manager Wang's voice trembled slightly. "This is the wealth accumulated by the Gu family over generations! Even if you just resell it, you'll make hundreds of millions in profit!"

No one responded.

Just when Manager Wang was in despair.

A slightly languid yet powerful voice drifted over from behind the crowd.

"Sigh, these days, why is it that even offering money doesn't work?"

Everyone turned around.

A fat man wearing a floral shirt and with a large belly slowly walked out from behind Qin Feng, holding two walnuts in his hands.

Qian Wanda.

The richest man in Sichuan.

He was also a nouveau riche who was so poor that all he had left was money.

Qian Wanda walked to the center of the field, didn't even glance at Manager Wang, but turned around and bowed slightly in Qin Feng's direction, as if asking for instructions.

Qin Feng nodded slightly.

Qian Wanda immediately straightened his back, his fat face jiggled, revealing his signature big gold tooth.

He pulled a black card from his pocket, held it between two fingers, and waved it in front of Manager Wang.

"cash?"

Qian Wanda grinned, a smile that appeared both arrogant and friendly under the lights.

"What a coincidence, I don't have any other hobbies, I just like saving money."

"I'll take this plate."