PDLP Chapter 30 The Auction of the Little Crown
Chapter 30 The Auction of the Little Crown
"Wow, that's ruthless! Greentown Group offered 100 billion!"
The speaker's eyes widened in shock.
The other person beside him stared intently at the computer screen, his eyes flashing with sharp light, and said confidently, "This location is definitely worth it. Just watch, it'll be worth more than 100 billion."
When Greentown Group offered 100 billion yuan, the auction entered the next stage.
—A stage where only giants can participate.
Other less qualified competitors have already withdrawn from the bidding process.
A small computer screen was crowded with people.
As the company's investment risk assessment team, they were mainly responsible for the company's investment direction. The "Little Crown" office building in Lujiazui was originally one of their target projects this year, and they had prepared a thick stack of documents for it. However, because the project was too risky, it was vetoed by senior management, which is why they were able to slack off and watch the show tonight at this crucial moment.
The screen's glow reflected on everyone's faces, and each person's expression changed with the fluctuating prices. The ever-increasing prices on the website elicited gasps of surprise.
"China Overseas Land & Investment has raised the price by another 1 million yuan. Another real estate giant has made a move!" someone shouted at the top of their lungs, their voice filled with excitement, as if they themselves were in the midst of this fierce bidding.
"The real estate company is hoping to collect rent from 'Little Crown' for the next few years. It's conservatively estimated that the annual rent will be over a billion yuan. Everyone wants a piece of this hot commodity," someone nearby chimed in.
"How about we bet on the final winner with a late-night snack? I bet the final winner will still be a long-established state-owned enterprise developer," a young man suggested with a smile.
"It will definitely be the government departments that finish up; don't underestimate the Lujiazui Management Committee." A senior member shook his head and said firmly.
“The price has already reached 121 billion. Neither established developers nor government agencies are aggressive investors. They won’t go any higher. From the perspective of obtaining asset appreciation returns, I think it’s more likely to be private equity funds or trust companies,” analyzed a bespectacled, refined-looking man.
"Team leader, what do you think?" All eyes turned to the team leader.
The team leader sat on the stool, calmly lighting a cigarette. Smoke swirled in front of his eyes, and he squinted slightly, seemingly deep in thought.
“You’re all right, but you’ve all overlooked an important factor – considering the facts.” The team leader paused for a moment, “Have you been paying attention to the recent developments in the Chinese community? Uco, who’s known as the shipping magnate, has given his shares in the Global Shipping Group to a younger generation.”
"You mean that world's largest international shipping group—Worldwide Shipping Group?"
The team leader puffed out a cloud of smoke, exhaled a puff of white smoke, and nodded: "Actually, behind the Global Group is a Chinese family—the Wu family. Back then, shipping magnate Wu Ke started his business in the port city, and with his extraordinary courage and wisdom, he gradually built his own shipping empire, dominating the shipping industry for decades. Today, their family is no longer limited to shipping. Among the second generation of the Wu family, the eldest son entered politics and was the first Chinese American to serve as a cabinet minister, demonstrating extraordinary charm and ability on the political stage; the second son married into a century-old family, and his wife, Milan Blaine, is a director of Fortune 500 companies such as Walmart and Facebook; the third son is in the field of biotechnology, having founded three pharmaceutical companies, including Abbott Biotech, the largest biotechnology company in the United States, with a net worth of up to 700 billion. His research achievements have saved countless lives and brought enormous wealth to the family."
"Wow, what a powerful family! They've got connections in politics, business, and medicine." Someone exclaimed in amazement. "But what does that have to do with this auction?"
"Don't rush, listen to me. The third generation of the Wu family is connected to this auction." The team leader said calmly, "The third generation of the Wu family is also extremely outstanding. The youngest son of the third young master, at only twenty-five years old, founded the Haiyu Group, which has flourished in multiple fields such as commerce and finance. The company's business has expanded rapidly, and he is very wealthy. Outsiders call him the 'Small Boat King.' The shipping magnate Wu Ke directly passed on the shares of the Global Shipping Group to him in one generation. Isn't that amazing?"
"Wow, could it be that the Little Boat King is also bidding?" someone speculated.
“Haiyu Group has been very active in China recently. I heard that Xiao Chuanwang is coming to Shanghai to develop his business, so I bet he will participate in the bidding and be the final winner,” the team leader said confidently.
"Damn, team leader, you're amazing! Haiyu Group has made an offer of 150 billion!" someone shouted excitedly, and the room erupted in cheers.
Meanwhile, in other corners of the world, financial tycoons and investment experts who were watching the auction were also closely monitoring the situation. They were all shocked to see the price soar from 121 billion to 150 billion.
Inside the conference room of China Overseas Land & Investment, the lights were somewhat glaring. The person in charge had a furrowed brow, the veins on his forehead bulging slightly, and his hands were clenched tightly together. The team members sat around the conference table, urgently discussing countermeasures.
"Haiyu Group's move was too sudden. They're trying to disrupt the rhythm. We can't let them succeed."
“But adding any more risk would be too great; this price has already far exceeded our initial budget,” a finance staff member said worriedly, looking at the report in his hand.
Everyone else fell silent, and a tense atmosphere filled the meeting room.
The auction seemed to freeze at 150 billion, with no second bidder making a move.
The entire auction seemed to be paused, enveloped in a subtle tranquility.
Just then, with Xiao Hao's guidance, Bai Li found the auction website.
Bai Li clicked the mouse curiously and entered the auction website.
Upon entering the website, I was startled by the long string of zeros on the webpage.
"Wait, how many zeros is this?" Bai Li murmured subconsciously, her eyes wide open. She leaned closer to the screen, her breathing becoming rapid, and counted three times. It was 15 billion.
Not 15 million, not 1500 billion, it's 150 billion...
Bai Li took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down, but her heart was pounding uncontrollably.
In the past, online shopping prices were simple and straightforward, rarely exceeding four figures, and easily understood at a glance. But this time, this long string of numbers made her feel as if she had entered a completely unfamiliar world, a world where the sheer scale of wealth was dizzying. She even had to count for a long time to confirm the astonishing price.
What does 150 billion represent?
Once assets exceed one's consumption capacity, the only way to understand their value is through conversion. Bai Li silently calculated in her mind that it amounted to 4500 million yuan.
That means you can enjoy a life of wealth above most people by living off interest without having to work for a whole year.
Moreover, the auction was not over yet, and 150 billion was not the final price. In the midst of the silence, a new price popped up on the webpage.
"The Lujiazui Management Committee offered 155 billion yuan."
Bai Li's eyes widened. If she wasn't mistaken, the management committee was the government, right? The government was involved in this auction. What kind of magical auction house had she stumbled into?
With trembling fingers, she scrolled up the auction records, past rows of names that belonged to either renowned business giants or famous companies with outstanding reputations in their respective fields. They were bidding against each other on this auction stage, scattering enormous wealth in a game of the strong.
As Bai Li watched, she became dazed, feeling as if she were dreaming. She felt like a dwarf who had accidentally stumbled into a world of giants, where everything around her seemed enormous and untouchable, and she was just a mortal who had mistakenly entered forbidden territory. Should she really participate in such an auction? Wasn't it too crazy? Did she really have to compete against these business giants?
What are you afraid of?
Suddenly, another voice echoed in Bai Li's heart.
The voice was faint and eerie, as if it came from the depths of an abyss. Like a bolt of lightning, it jolted her awake from her daze, and Bai Li's thoughts began to churn.
Yes, what is she afraid of?
Ordinary people cannot defeat capital. In the face of the torrent of capital, they are as insignificant and vulnerable as ants. Those astronomical bids are the impregnable walls built by capital, keeping individuals far out of this game.
But she was different. From the moment she got Xiao Hao, she was no longer an ordinary person. The constraints that ordinary people had to passively accept did not exist for her.
This auction may be a battlefield of capital, where they fight and vie for power, and every move they make carries the domineering nature of money and power, as if they want to prove their strength and status.
But for her, it wasn't like that. She simply thought the building was beautiful and decided to buy it. She never needed to prove anything. She wasn't an ant under the giant's feet; she was a manipulator far above the giant.
Perhaps because she had been ignored and looked down upon for so long, Bai Li was somewhat unaccustomed to the enormous wealth that was placed before her. But after she came to terms with it, she felt at peace.
Bai Li looked at the absolute bidding rights she had redeemed from the Wheel of Myriad Phenomena. This was a privilege that transcended all capital, a power that broke with convention, and a completely new perspective and sense of control, which gave her a more determined idea in her heart.
The "little crown" is mine.
Time ticked by, and the auction drew ever closer to its end. Every second felt like a hammer blow, pounding on everyone's hearts.
In a luxurious residence, the decor was extravagant. Expensive oil paintings adorned the walls, and thick Persian carpets covered the floor. A middle-aged man gently knocked on the door, his movements soft as if afraid of disturbing the person inside. He asked in a low voice, "Boss, the government has offered 155 billion. Should we still bid?"
The room was dimly lit, with only wisps of sandalwood smoke rising in the air, exuding a mysterious atmosphere. After a while, a young man's languid voice came from the room, his reply brief and confident: "Choose, no price, no limit, win beautifully."
Shortly afterward, new prices appeared on the website.
"Haiyu Group offered 160 billion."
These words were like a bomb thrown into a calm lake, instantly creating a huge uproar: "Has Haiyu Group gone mad?"
A seasoned business commentator looked at the screen, frowned, and said, "This is no longer a simple business investment; it's more like a strategic move."
He was well aware of the deeper meaning behind this price; in the competition among these giants, value no longer seemed to be the only factor to consider.
Silence fell over the meeting room of China Overseas Land & Investment Limited. They had completely given up on the idea of continuing the bidding. The price was far beyond their means, and continuing would only plunge the company into huge financial risks.
The person in charge slumped back in his chair, his eyes filled with helplessness and resentment. The others also hung their heads, their hearts heavy.
With the price already reached this level, the outcome of this auction seemed to be a foregone conclusion. Everyone was waiting for the final bell to ring, ending the bidding.
And indeed, that was the case. Time ticked by, and no one offered a new price. Just when everyone thought the outcome was decided, at the very last second, the webpage refreshed, and a new price appeared.
"Bai Li offers 200 billion."
The auction has ended.
The sudden price stunned everyone; the whole world seemed to stand still for a moment.
Are there more experts?