Du Zhaohui’s ambitions weren’t excessive – he simply wanted Parcel No. 1.

His entry into the bidding created a small stir in the venue.

Zhu Suizhou withdrew after two rounds of bidding on Parcel No. 1… it was too expensive to continue!

Tang Yuanyue thought for a moment and told He Shi’en to stop bidding as well.

He Shi’en was still unwilling to concede, questioning why his brother-in-law should yield to someone named Du.

Tang Yuanyue explained in a low voice: “There are three parcels – why are you in such a hurry? If we keep bidding against each other, the only one who’ll be happiest is the Ye City government. This is business, not a battle of pride!”

When it comes to business, one needs to keep a clear head. This wasn’t an art auction where multiple parties fixated on a single piece and gradually worked themselves into a heated bidding war, unable to back down with so many eyes watching.

The wealthy could spend their money however they pleased, but business required consideration of costs and profits. Spending millions on houses and cars to please a girlfriend might not hurt – that kind of spending brought joy. But losing millions on a business deal would be painful from head to toe.

Tang Yuanyue was still angry at Du Zhaohui, but if Du wanted Parcel No. 1 now, he was willing to let him have it.

He could have continued bidding to drive up the price, making Du Zhaohui spend a few more million on the land. But then Du Zhaohui would retaliate by bidding recklessly on Parcels No. 2 and 3, preventing Yuhua from acquiring any land today.

So Tang Yuanyue stopped bidding.

He Shi’en only half understood. Young people were quick to roll up their sleeves and fight at the slightest disagreement – he couldn’t comprehend Tang Yuanyue’s approach.

But the bidding paddle in He Shi’en’s hand belonged to Yuhua, and Tang Yuanyue had only let him bid for the thrill. Without Tang Yuanyue’s permission, He Shi’en couldn’t raise the paddle arbitrarily.

If he impulsively bid 30 million, he could certainly win Parcel No. 1, but he couldn’t produce that money himself, and Yuhua Group would have to pay… back in Hong Kong, his father would probably break his legs.

He Shi’en glared at Du Zhaohui.

Du Zhaohui remained completely oblivious.

With Tang Yuanyue’s withdrawal, only three parties remained in competition: Du Zhaohui, Harold’s representative Karl, and a Hong Kong company.

Following Tang Yuanyue’s withdrawal, the representative from the other company also gestured respectfully to Du Zhaohui, conceding the opportunity to Cheng Rong.

Finally, only Du Zhaohui and Karl were left bidding.

They took turns raising their paddles until Karl bid 24 million, and Du Zhaohui added another 500,000 yuan. At this point, even Karl didn’t want to continue bidding.

“Parcel No. 1, Number 20 bids 24.5 million going once, any higher bids? Parcel No. 1, located in western Ye City suburbs, total area 122.3 mu, starting price 18 million, Number 20 bids 24.5 million going twice, 24.5 million going three times—sold!”

The gavel struck forcefully, and Parcel No. 1 was finally sold for 24.5 million!

“Thank you, everyone, much obliged, much obliged!”

Du Zhaohui stood up and waved to the crowd, showing off shamelessly.

Du Zhaohui felt the price was acceptable, and the Ye City government was quite satisfied – it was considered a good start.

After sitting down, Du Zhaohui asked Xia Xiaolan:

“Will I lose money?”

“Both the Ye City government and real estate industry should be grateful for your contribution – your bid has pushed Ye City’s land price past 200,000 yuan per mu!”

He wouldn’t lose money, just make less profit.

But compared to Qiong Island’s land price increases over the next three to four years, the reduced profit was almost negligible.

For 122.3 mu of land, the final transaction price was 24.5 million, reaching a unit price of 200,300 yuan per mu. It was only late 1988, and Xia Xiaolan felt that Qiong Island’s real estate boom was coming faster than in her previous life.

Was it because of her influence?

This wasn’t Xia Xiaolan being conceited – her influence might have genuinely affected things. For instance, Zhu Suizhou wouldn’t have come to Qiong Island to speculate on land otherwise.

As for Du Zhaohui and Tang Yuanyue, Xia Xiaolan didn’t know if they would have invested in Qiong Island in their previous lives, but even if they had, it wouldn’t have been this early… With excess capital flowing in too early, Qiong Island’s land prices would naturally rise faster and more dramatically than in her previous life!

The bubble would form quickly and burst quickly.

Xia Xiaolan quietly reminded herself not to rely on memories from her previous life when viewing Qiong Island’s real estate situation. At the current rate, the Qiong Island real estate bubble wouldn’t wait until 1993 to burst. If she continued to fuel it, that time would come even sooner—

Since Xia Xiaolan didn’t say he would lose money, Du Zhaohui automatically interpreted it as “will make money.”

Making money was good enough.

Profit meant Cheng Rong Group’s investment in Qiong Island was correct, and as Cheng Rong’s chairman, he could rightfully stay in Qiong Island.

Du Zhaohui was delighted.

Tang Yuanyue’s advice hadn’t affected his mood. He was simply a selfish person. Whether the Du family had an heir was too early to worry about – he wasn’t even 30 yet, there would be time to consider that question at 40!

Right now he just wanted to live according to his wishes. He had been unhappy for over 20 years, and having finally defeated others in the Du family to take charge, no one could force him to do anything unpleasant anymore—

Having secured one plot, Du Zhaohui paid less attention to the subsequent auctions.

Of course, when Parcel No. 2 came up for auction and Xia Xiaolan raised her paddle, Du Zhaohui followed suit.

Parcel No. 2 was 69 mu with a starting price of 9.5 million, cheaper per mu than Parcel No. 1 and not as well located. But it triggered frenzied bidding from the entire venue – this was the plot most accessible to bidders with limited capital!

Zhu Suizhou wanted it too.

Sheng Xuan’s heart was in knots.

After Du Zhaohui showed his determination to acquire Parcel No. 1, others gradually yielded, but Zhu Suizhou didn’t command such respect. Everyone bid as they pleased, and Parcel No. 2’s price was slowly pushed up. From a starting price of 9.5 million, it finally reached 14.6 million.

“Parcel No. 2, 14.6 million going once! Parcel No. 2…”

At 211,600 yuan per mu, it was even higher than Parcel No. 1, and Karl was competing against Zhu Suizhou.

Zhu Suizhou could only reluctantly prepare to give up.

Sheng Xuan felt frustrated for her husband, and Zhu Suizhou’s own emotions were unsettled.

They had agreed to be rational – whether they won or lost the bid would be fine. But once in the bidding mode, raising the paddle repeatedly, quickly calculating unit prices, gradually increasing bids… finally having to give up when it exceeded their capacity – how could they not feel regret?

“Suizhou, bid one more time?”

Having already pushed the price so high, what harm would one more bid do?

If Yangfan Real Estate couldn’t secure Parcel No. 2, why not push its price even higher?

“Xuan—”

Zhu Suizhou didn’t want to give up either and ultimately didn’t voice any opposition. Sheng Xuan directly raised the paddle:

“15 million!”

“Number 31 bids 15 million!”

The venue again broke into whispers. They didn’t know Yangfan Real Estate’s background, but they had gradually bought quite a bit of land in Qiong Island over these months. Now it was clear – their financial strength was truly substantial!

On the other side, Du Zhaohui laughed softly:

“If he wants to compete with the Wilson family, where will this Zhu fellow get so much money?”

Du Zhaohui viewed Zhu Suizhou merely as Sai Zai Ji’s follower… it was too bad that Sai Zai Ji was in prison and couldn’t witness such an entertaining scene.