“Today we have three land parcels for auction. Parcel No. 1 measures 122.3 mu, located in the western suburbs of Ye City. It’s designated for residential use, with a starting price of 18 million yuan. Each bid increment must not be less than 100,000 yuan…”

As soon as the details of Parcel No. 1 were introduced, the entire venue erupted in commotion.

While Xia Xiaolan and her associates remained composed, the private investors and individual buyers were genuinely shocked.

The Ye City government was being too ruthless!

For Parcel No. 1’s 122.3 mu, the starting price of 18 million yuan meant a unit price of 147,200 yuan per mu. This starting price already matched the current market price. With further bidding increases, how could the buyers possibly recover their investment?

“This is far too expensive,” even Liu Yong was surprised.

He recalled buying land in Ye City last year when plots were available throughout the city for the picking. Even the best locations were only 50,000 yuan per mu, and on average, one could secure land for 40,000 yuan per mu.

Now, the Ye City government had set Parcel No. 1’s starting price at 147,200 yuan per mu – a terrifying increase.

Although Ye City’s current land prices could indeed command such figures in the market, that was the trading price on the open market.

The government’s pricing showed they had officially acknowledged the market price.

No, more than that – the Ye City government was fueling the fire of land prices. With a starting price of 147,200 yuan per mu, what would the final transaction price be?

Liu Yong felt the Ye City government shouldn’t act this way, his voice full of disapproval. Xia Xiaolan gently shook her head:

“This aligns with market economics. The land price isn’t solely determined by the Ye City government.”

It was the constant influx of capital into Qiong Island that gave the Ye City government such confidence.

While land approval remained in the government’s hands, they weren’t forcing anyone to buy. With so many people eagerly competing to purchase, this pricing was based on Ye City’s land price increases following the establishment of the Qiong Island Special Economic Zone – it followed market economic principles. If anyone thought it was too expensive, they were free not to bid.

Though the venue buzzed with private discussions, and everyone except the major companies debated Parcel No. 1’s starting price, nobody immediately stood up to discard their auction number and leave!

Their words said no, but their actions proved otherwise.

Xia Xiaolan wasn’t planning to buy anyway, so she remained completely calm.

“Please maintain silence, the auction will begin shortly.”

The gavel struck heavily on the platform. The Ye City government wasn’t entirely confident – was this pricing too high? It would be somewhat embarrassing if no one bid.

But with so many people present, surely some wouldn’t mind the price?

Eight months had passed since the Qiong Island Economic Special Zone was established. Many people had responded to the call and flooded into Qiong Island seeking opportunities. While the true pillar industries hadn’t yet been established, land prices had skyrocketed, leaving the Ye City government both surprised and delighted.

This land parcel auction was a test of the waters.

“The auction for Parcel No. 1 begins. Those interested in Parcel No. 1, please raise your bidding paddles!”

With the strike of the gavel, the venue fell completely silent.

The auctioneer was sweating profusely. For a full one to two minutes, no one raised their paddle. Everyone was watching and waiting, nobody willing to make the first move!

Xia Xiaolan, feeling relaxed, decided to warm up the atmosphere and signaled Bai Zhenzhu to raise her paddle.

Comrade Bai Zhenzhu was attending today as her assistant to observe the proceedings.

Raising the paddle meant committing to 18 million yuan – the pressure was considerable…

However, upon receiving Xia Xiaolan’s eye signal, Bai Zhenzhu steadily raised her paddle.

The auctioneer was almost moved to tears, his voice rising three octaves:

“Number 19 has bid! Number 19, 18.1 million, going once. Number 19, 18.1 million, going twice, Number 19, 18.1 million… Number 12 has bid, 18.2 million, going once!”

Qihang was Number 19.

Du Zhaohui was Number 20.

Number 12 was Yuhua Group, meaning Tang Yuanyue had immediately followed with a bid!

While Xia Xiaolan had Bai Zhenzhu bidding, Tang Yuanyue had given his paddle to He Shi’en. He Shi’en was currently extremely excited. Though this young second-generation rich kid received a substantial allowance from his family and owned luxury cars, he had never experienced spending 18 million yuan at once.

He couldn’t even come up with 1.8 million yuan on his own!

Although he was bidding on behalf of his brother-in-law Tang Yuanyue, He Shi’en was still thrilled. A wave of excitement surged from his feet through his limbs – the feeling was indescribably exhilarating.

Du Zhaohui sneered, “Just a little brat!”

Getting excited over 18 million yuan?

Look at Hong Kong’s land auctions – starting prices were in the hundreds of millions. What was 18 million? People who had seen truly grand occasions wouldn’t even blink.

But in this auction venue, while there were experienced major companies, there were also many inexperienced bidders. Quite a few had total assets of just a few million yuan and were planning to form partnerships to bid together.

Parcel No. 1 was too large and the starting price too high – even pooling money together didn’t give them confidence. Only after Xia Xiaolan and Tang Yuanyue took the lead did others timidly begin raising their paddles.

Everyone played it safe, raising the price by 100,000 yuan each bid.

Through this slow increase, Parcel No. 1’s price was pushed up to 19.6 million.

Even Meng Guanchao raised his paddle twice.

Though the chances were slim, what if he won the bid?

19 million and change was expensive for this plot, but if he really won it, Meng Guanchao would scrape together the money from wherever he could. After this auction, Ye City’s land prices would certainly continue to rise – what was there to fear?

When the price reached 19.8 million, even Zhu Suizhou couldn’t resist raising his paddle once.

“Number 31, 19.9 million going once. Is there any bid higher than Number 31?”

Xia Xiaolan smiled at Mr. and Mrs. Zhu Suizhou, signaling Bai Zhenzhu to continue bidding.

Zhu Suizhou followed with another bid, pushing Parcel No. 1’s price to 20.1 million.

20.1 million.

Parcel No. 1’s unit price had reached 164,300 yuan per mu – was it worth it?

Xia Xiaolan and Du Zhaohui exchanged glances, suggesting that if Du Zhaohui was certain about wanting Parcel No. 1, now was the time to bid.

Du Zhaohui nodded slightly.

Parcel No. 1 was Du Zhaohui’s true target.

“Number 31, 20.1 million going twice. Is there any bid higher than Number 31… Number 5 bidder has raised their paddle!”

Who was Number 5?

Number 5 was Harold’s assistant Karl.

Karl had worked in China for several years and had learned to speak Chinese. His Mandarin carried a distinctive accent that was easily recognizable:

“21 million!”

Finally, a bidder who was generous with their offers, no longer just raising by 100,000 yuan each time!

The auctioneer with the gavel perked up.

“Number 5, Number 5 bids 21 million, Parcel No. 1 going once!”

While the private investors and individual buyers were lamenting, Tang Yuanyue sat up straight. “Shi’en, raise the paddle, 21.5 million.”

Increasing by 100,000 yuan each time was making people drowsy – better to eliminate the bidders with insufficient capital and reach a conclusion swiftly.

He Shi’en followed the instructions and raised his paddle.

“Number 12, Number 12 at 21.5 million going once—”

Bai Zhenzhu looked at Xia Xiaolan – the price was getting very high, should they continue bidding?

Xia Xiaolan shook her head slightly. At 21.5 million for 122.3 mu, the unit price had reached 175,000 yuan per mu – this would tie up too much of Qihang’s capital.

However, Du Zhaohui suddenly became energized, abandoning his previous languid manner and directly raising his paddle:

“I bid 23 million!”

A collective gasp swept through the room—

All eyes turned to Du Zhaohui. This was too impulsive, wasn’t it? Raising the price so dramatically at once – how were others supposed to compete?

Wait a minute, hadn’t this Mr. Du from Cheng Rong earlier said he wanted Parcel No. 2?

Why was he causing such disruption now?

…Or was his ambition too great, wanting to acquire all three parcels?!