Chapter 18: The Auction II

“Five million, going once; five million, going twice; five million—sold!” A crisp sound rang out the instant the auctioneer’s hammer was raised!

“Six million.”

The hall erupted. Everyone turned to find the source of the voice. Who was bold enough to actually go against the Li family?

Li Changhai’s smiling face suddenly froze, and his whole demeanour darkened.

“6.5 million.”

Zhang Lihua glanced at Su Pingnan.

“Keep going. 7 million.”

Su Pingnan sat upright, meeting Li Changhai’s gaze without flinching. Their eyes, one icy and one defiant, were like two tigers meeting on a narrow path.

“7.5 million.” Li Changhai’s look was almost murderous. He didn’t have much liquid capital now—the earlier auction had tied up a lot of his cash flow. The news had come too suddenly, and to make matters worse, the young man he had just praised for being sensible, Su Pingnan, was unexpectedly so stubborn.

“8 million.”

Su Pingnan was also at the end of his tether. This would require dipping into the funds of the Ertai Town storage center.

Seeking wealth amid risk, Su Pingnan’s gaze was calm and he deliberately adopted a provocative posture. He was gambling—betting that Li Changhai didn’t have the funds to keep going, betting that Li Changhai would assume he had reserves and thus give up.

After all, Li Changhai couldn’t possibly know the course of the future. He hesitated for a moment, then furiously threw his paddle to the ground.

Su Pingnan exhaled deeply—he had won.

The auction ended. At the end of 1992, Su Pingnan made a powerful entrance into Wucheng’s business world. Everyone had one word for him: tough.

After finishing the paperwork, Su Pingnan was in high spirits. Though temporarily broke again, Jinxiu Foods, Jinxiu Catering and Jinxiu Taxi Service Company’s frameworks were intact—the three steady cash-flow vehicles had already laid the capital foundation for his soaring ambitions.

“I see Mr. Su is very pleased—congratulations, congratulations.”

The words were polite but the tone cold. Li Changhai and his party waited in the downstairs hall. Seeing Su Pingnan come out, they walked straight up to him.

Su Pingnan looked back and signalled with his eyes to stop Su Wenwen and the few underlings who were getting restless, then approached with a smile and a calm tone, “Mr. Li, you flatter me—today I should thank you for your generosity.”

Li Changhai stood steadily, just a step away from Su Pingnan. “Haven’t seen such an outstanding young man in a long time.”

Su Pingnan’s expression was calm and he did not respond.

“Young people have to go through storms to grow!” Li Changhai said with a hollow smile and a sinister tone.

“I was born amidst great hardship. I’ve got tough skin and thick flesh. I can take it,” Su Pingnan retorted sharply, his face still smiling.

Li Changhai’s expression turned nasty. He lowered his voice and hissed, “Blood-stained white clothes, Wucheng’s most ruthless? I know you come from a messy background!”

Su Pingnan continued smiling. “Youthful ignorance—fortunately it was a misunderstanding. I can withstand scrutiny.”

Li Changhai turned serious—he hadn’t expected this man to be airtight. All those stains on him must have been cleaned thoroughly.

Su Pingnan looked indifferent. Since his rebirth he had been careful. The rumors came from others who enjoyed twisting the facts. An upright person fears no trouble. He wasn’t scared.

“Qingsheng, I don’t like dealing with country bumpkins. Connect with Mr. Su more often on my behalf from now on.” Before Li Changhai finished speaking, a short, thick-necked middle-aged man stepped forward.

“Yes, Mr. Li.”

The burly man, Jiang Qingsheng, stood there right in front of Su Pingnan.

“Wucheng’s toughest? I want to try going against him.”

“Gate God Jiang?” Su Pingnan’s gaze showed a flash of ferocity. He hadn’t expected to run into the ruthless man who had changed his fate in his previous life within just two months after his rebirth.

Su Pingnan knew Jiang Qingsheng’s background well. Jiang Qingsheng had opened Wucheng’s largest entertainment venue and was mockingly called “Gate God Jiang”. He was completely different from Su Pingnan—he had done many unsavory things and was now the most ruthless man in Wucheng’s underworld.

Su Pingnan had been trying hard to walk the straight path and thought he would never get entangled with these vicious gangsters in this life. Yet fate, mischievous as ever, brought them together.

Su Pingnan clearly heard Su Wenwen and the others’ heavy breaths. He didn’t turn back. Instead he raised his hand and wagged his index finger.

He addressed the man standing before him by speaking calmly, yet with contempt: “Young Master Li doesn’t like playing with country bumpkins; likewise, I, Su Pingnan, don’t like dealing with dogs.”

Gate God Jiang’s face turned somewhat pale, his gaze dark. Oddly enough, he said nothing and just stared intently at Su Pingnan.

Su Pingnan tapped Gate God Jiang’s chest with his index finger, then turned his head toward Li Changhai as a smile spread across his face. “Your dog doesn’t know how to behave appropriately, and neither do you?”

Li Changhai suppressed the murderous rage in his chest and said to Jiang Qingsheng, “Let him go, Qingsheng.”

Su Pingnan laughed loudly and led his party away. As he walked past Jiang Qingsheng, he made a passing comment.

“An obedient dog is a good dog.”

That day, a rumor spread throughout Wucheng.

“Little Red Robe has gone up against Gate God Jiang.”