Chapter 148: I bid ten thousand!

"Is it that you're upset and don't want this money?" Lao Wang shook the big red envelope in his hand.

Ye Cheng snatched it away in one grab, weighed it, then, still uneasy, opened it to look—sure enough, it was a thick stack of bills, and only then did he put it away reassured.

While putting it away he said, "Well, this is what I deserve; you still haven't paid me back for the pig liver noodles."

"Fine, fine, I'll treat you later." Lao Wang himself laughed.

"Uncle Wang." A clear voice came from beside.

Cui Shuran walked over, and on his normally deadpan face appeared a semblance of a fawning smile.

"Shuran, you didn't get first place this time, are you a bit unhappy?" Lao Wang teased him familiarly.

Cui Shuran lightly pursed his lips, dead-duck stubborn, saying, "Just luck; sometimes a male eagle flies lower than a hen, but a hen can never reach the height of a male eagle."

"Good, good, Shuran is impressive; no wonder he's a top-university student among overseas returnees." Lao Wang's face showed an appreciative expression.

Damn!

Ye Cheng turned his head and glanced at that guy; he was saying I'm the hen, right?

With his pretentious look, calling himself a male eagle? More like a vulture.

But Ye Cheng didn't expect Cui Shuran to actually be an overseas returnee; nowadays overseas returnees still have some genuine ability, somewhat different from later generations of "left-behind" kids.

The award ceremony ended quickly; next up was selling the fish.

Ye Cheng's total catch this time:

Horse pomfret: 1 piece, 185 catties.

Red seabream: 1 piece, 2 catties.

Sea eel: 1 piece, 7.5 catties.

Cod: 1 piece, 2 catties 1 tael.

Hairtail: 2 pieces, 16 catties 2 taels.

Black seabream: 1 piece, 3 catties.

Mouse grouper: 1 piece, 3 catties 1 tael.

Tiger grouper: 2 pieces, 4 catties 4 taels.

East Star grouper: 2 pieces, 3 catties 8 taels.

Originally Ye Cheng thought it would be the same as last time—just have someone come collect the fish and be done.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Zhiming walked over, pointed at that horse pomfret, and said, "Brother, why not auction this fish on the spot? It'd probably fetch more than selling it to the collector."

"An auction?"

Ye Cheng actually recalled what Wang Ke had told him about that red-spotted fish—saying an auction could fetch more.

Ye Cheng had never tried it either, but what the hell, let's give it a shot.

"Fine, let's auction." Ye Cheng nodded.

"Then you and Xiao Hu lift the fish up; I'll go up to host the auction—absolutely a good price, you can rest assured."

Zhao Zhiming seemed quite familiar with this; he rushed onto the stage and grabbed the microphone.

"Everyone, everyone, look this way, look this way." Zhao Zhiming shouted, instantly gathering everyone's attention.

"Everyone, have you seen this 185-catty fish king? Let me tell you the good news—its owner is selling it. Do you think it's good? Do you support it? Want it?"

Ye Cheng's face darkened with black lines; "Damn, I thought you were a pro, turns out you're just a hype-man."

But after he finished shouting, quite a few people actually gathered to look; Ye Cheng and Xiao Hu stood on the stage, neither going up nor down, as if they themselves were being auctioned.

After old Wang exchanged pleasantries with everyone, he also stepped over; judging by the positions, this guy stood in front, with everyone behind pushing him half a step—clearly he was the center.

"Damn, this guy is not simple."

Cui Shuran also stood below, right next to old Wang, looking with disdain at the two big monkeys on stage.

"This fish king, horse pomfret, 185 catties, starting bid 2000 bucks—those who want it, raise your hands!"

2000 bucks works out to over ten bucks per catty, which is quite cheap; going by horse pomfret prices, it should sell for 30-40 per catty, and according to Ye Cheng's estimate, this fish would fetch around 6000 to 7000 bucks.

"I bid 2000!" a hand rose from the crowd.

"2500!"

"3000!"

"4000!"

"5000!"

"6000!"

After the first person bid, a crowd followed with offers, the scene turned surprisingly hot, pushing the price up to 6000 in no time.

Based on Ye Cheng's years of experience raiding in online games, he judged that an auction is just luck; usually once everyone agrees on a price you can see the approximate result—either it keeps climbing or it goes silent after a question.

6000 bucks should be the price most people accept, so after reaching 6000 the bidding speed slowed.

"6200."

"6300."

"6500."

At some point Zhao Zhiming had a stick in his hand, energetically pointing at the crowd below and loudly calling for bids,

"It's at 6500, brothers, any higher price? 185 catties, the 185-catty fish king—you think it's just for selling meat? No, it's a gimmick, a fish king, a king—take it back to put in your shop as a live advertisement."

"Such a big advertisement that also makes money—for just 6500 it's really a bargain; any more?"

Old Zhao's rousing words are quite easy to sway hearts with, but they're also true.

A fish king has never been about the meat's worth; it's all about the hype.

Just like the fish king from Chagan Lake each year, auction price over a million—it's all about that hype.

"7000!"

Finally someone bid 7000, and Ye Cheng's hanging heart finally let go.

He could accept 7000, but 6000 always felt like a loss.

You know, he spent two hours to catch this fish.

"7500!"

"8000!"

The 8000 price held for a minute; no matter how Zhao Zhiming promoted it, no one raised the bid.

8000 is not a small sum for this era; actually, if there were a few more people, it might have fetched even more, after all this is just a small gathering.

"Any more 8000? 8000 first call, 8000 second call." Zhao Zhiming shouted about the same, planning to wrap up.

Just then, a clear, cold, and magnetic voice cut through the noisy chatter, carrying a hint of arrogance as it rang in everyone's ears.

"I bid 10,000!"

10,000?!

Ye Cheng stood on stage, eyes wide, wondering which blockhead?

Everyone's gaze gathered together; in the midst, Cui Shuran raised his right hand high, looking around like a victorious king.

Damn, it turns out to be that arrogant blockhead.

Zhao Zhiming froze for a moment; Cui Shuran usually dislikes Ye Cheng, so why would he bid high for this fish?

Lao Wang and Jiang Weiyang were also puzzled, not knowing what Cui Shuran was up to.

"Shuran, you want to buy this fish?" Lao Wang asked quietly.

Cui Shuran nodded respectfully, "Uncle, I'll buy it."

Since everyone had spoken, Lao Wang didn't ask further.

With the 10,000 price, there was no need to ask further; Zhao Zhiming started the countdown directly.

"10,000, first call."

"10,000, second call."

"10,000, third call, deal!"

"Congratulations to our Young Master Cui for securing the Fish King."

Cui Shuran walked up leisurely, had someone give the money to Zhao Zhiming instead of directly to Ye Cheng, then took the microphone from Zhao Zhiming's hand, his voice arrogant.

"I bought this fish to tell everyone that first place is always with me."