Unlimited Resources: Raising a Minister with a Space Supermarket-Chapter 561 - 495: Competition

Yu Xiaolian had a discerning eye; her selections were also favored by others. After bidding against them a few times, her door received a knock.

The Juming Pavilion clerk grinned obsequiously at Yu Xiaolian, saying, "Dear customer, apologies. The bidder across from you is Princess Jin, who wishes to present this Jade Pendant to Prince Jin as a birthday gift. Could you perhaps let it go?"

Fu Zihan?

Yu Xiaolian frowned. Was it the emperor who restricted Prince Jin’s freedom, prompting him to send Princess Jin to inspect the business?

"I like this Jade Pendant too, and I can’t let it go. If Princess Jin likes it, then let’s compete fairly!"

Since Fu Zihan for unknown reasons quarrelled with her and they were no longer friends, she had no reason to yield.

The clerk frowned but said no more, turning to leave.

After closing the door, Yu Xiaolian raised the price of the Jade Pendant directly from two thousand taels to five thousand taels.

Fu Zihan’s dowry was very generous; though five thousand taels made her frown, she clenched her teeth and added another five hundred taels.

Fu Zihan increased by five hundred taels each time while Yu Xiaolian raised by a thousand, quickly escalating the Jade Pendant’s price to ten thousand taels.

"Twelve thousand taels!" Fu Zihan’s voice was imbued with anger.

Yu Xiaolian chuckled slyly; Fu Zihan was truly upset. Previously, her maid had been bidding for her, but now Fu Zihan couldn’t help speaking out herself.

Yu Xiaolian paused for a moment, just when everyone thought she’d continue bidding. In a regretful tone, she said, "I only brought a little over ten thousand taels on this trip, so it seems you’re lucky!"

This Jade Pendant was worth at most five thousand taels. It wasn’t worthwhile for Yu Xiaolian to bid for it, unlike Fu Zihan. Juming Pavilion was Prince Jin’s business, and as a couple, it’s just money moving from one pocket to another; they wouldn’t lose anything.

Initially, Fu Zihan appeared to Yu Xiaolian as an innocent girl, unworldly and without ill intent.

But as time passed, Yu Xiaolian found Fu Zihan harder to understand.

Soon, a solar-powered night lamp took the stage. The auction atmosphere reached a climax following the shopkeeper’s enthusiastic promotion.

It could stay lit and wasn’t extinguished by the wind.

The shopkeeper turned on the lamp and had someone blow out the candle temporarily. The lamp emitted a gentle glow amidst the dark auction stage.

"See, this light is soft, not harsh, and won’t blow out...

During the day, place it where sunlight is abundant, and at night, press this button to make it light up. To turn it off, just press again," the shopkeeper provided detailed explanations.

"I want this one! Quickly tell me the starting price!" someone shouted from the audience.

The shopkeeper gestured to calm the audience, then mysteriously introduced the lamp’s unique material before stating the starting bid.

Thirty thousand taels!

The audience gasped! The item was excellent, but the price was quite substantial!

"Thirty-five thousand taels!" someone started bidding.

"Old Hu, can’t you bid in increments of a thousand? I knew you, old guy, were determined to snatch good stuff from me!" A gray-bearded old man glared at the nearby Old Hu, then hurriedly raised the bid, "Thirty-six thousand taels!"

"Old Bao, you have enough good stuff at home. Let me have this one?" Old Hu played on emotions with Old Bao, then made a peace sign at the shopkeeper as he raised another two thousand taels. "Thirty-eight thousand taels!"

"Forty thousand taels!"

Yu Xiaolian supported her arm on the second-floor window sill, resting her chin on her hand. Let them vie; the higher, the better.

Amidst the two old men’s price war reaching fifty thousand taels, Fu Zihan’s voice suddenly rang out, "Fifty-five thousand taels!"

The two old men didn’t mind competing, but with a young lady suddenly joining in, they were displeased. In unison, they shouted, "Sixty thousand taels!"

Yu Xiaolian observed the clerk who had entered her room earlier swiftly approaching Old Hu and Old Bao to whisper something.

Old Hu and Old Bao’s expressions changed as they glanced at the second-floor room before sitting back down.

When Fu Zihan thought there would be no more competition, a man’s voice suddenly emerged from the room opposite Yu Xiaolian, "Sixty-five thousand taels!"

The crowd’s attention shifted to the second-floor male voice, but the room’s window was closed, concealing the person inside.

"Old Hu, who is that upstairs?" Old Bao sidled closer to an old acquaintance.

Old Hu shook his head, "No idea. I despise those who act mysteriously, huh. What’s the point of hiding? Might as well sit in the lively first floor!"

"Exactly!" Old Bao echoed.

They had money, earned fairly, and loved sitting in the main hall, basking in the envious stares of others.

"Seventy thousand taels!" Fu Zihan raised her bid again.

Yu Xiaolian excitedly rubbed her hands together; the ten thousand taels swallowed by space might suddenly be recouped. How could she not feel excited?

"Eighty thousand taels!" The male voice upstairs carried a teasing tone, suggesting familiarity with Fu Zihan.

Fu Zihan quickly noticed this, sending a maid over.

Yu Xiaolian concentrated her robust inner strength, fully focused on overhearing the conversation across the hall.

Unexpectedly, the people in the opposite room didn’t allow Fu Zihan’s maid entry, instead telling her to have Fu Zihan come herself before they would open the door.

Yu Xiaolian’s curiosity became intensely strong; who was this man?

Soon enough, Fu Zihan went over in person.

A sound of knocking followed by Fu Zihan’s gasp was heard.

"You... why are you here in Bohai City?"

"Why can’t I be here? You came too, didn’t you?" the man’s voice was filled with mockery.

Then came hurried, chaotic footsteps, seeming like Fu Zihan wanted out but was swiftly caught by the man.

"Let go!" Fu Zihan exclaimed softly!

"I followed you from Yu State, yet you never looked back at me, huh..." The man chuckled self-deprecatingly.

"Did the guards Jun Yian assigned you protect you this way?" Stalking, yet unaware. Or perhaps Jun Yian knew and instructed those men long before. Only naive Fu Zihan remained oblivious.

Indeed, if he hadn’t come, maybe Jun Yian wouldn’t have considered having Fu Zihan inspect their estate businesses.

"How dare you address him by name? Are you courting death?"

Fu Zihan’s wrist hurt as it was clutched tightly, her elegant brows furrowed.

"He sent his Princess Consort to me; what’s wrong with calling his name?" The man abruptly pulled Fu Zihan tightly into his embrace.

Fu Zihan became frantic but still whispered, "Yu Zhengyang, let go of me, calm down!

He’s just using you to fulfill his aims. If you truly conform to his desires, I guarantee his first act after gaining the throne will be to eliminate you and your father!"