### Chapter 40: The Wealthy People’s Auction
The venue prepared by the first auction company in Xiabei was situated on the grasslands of a large manor. The facilities were well-equipped, with various items displayed everywhere. Waitstaff moved about, offering guests fine wine and drinks.
Only family enterprises that received invitations could attend this auction. Only true wealthy individuals could participate in such a grand auction. Of course, even among the wealthy, there were distinctions in status.
In this instance, the Qin family was not particularly notable. Qin Xiaoyu’s arrival barely attracted any attention. The focus was primarily on those of special status. This type of auction was essentially a large networking event for the elite.
"Mr. Chu, the Qin family is very pleased that you could attend this auction," a member of the Qin family greeted them with a friendly smile as Qin Xiaoyu and Chu Ping approached.
Chu Ping had no particular feelings about the Qin family. If it weren't for Qin Xiaoyu, he probably wouldn’t even bother to acknowledge the snobbish Qin family.
Nodding, Chu Ping remained indifferent. After all, he wasn’t there to build relationships with family enterprises; his goal was solely to complete his special task and obtain the LV3 special wealthy box as soon as possible.
He just hoped that the auction would start soon so he could finish the task. However, the reason for gathering so many people for this charity auction was not simply to hold an event. Those present weren’t likely there purely for charity.
"You Qin family really have a thing for such a kid!" a voice called out as the Qin family warmly welcomed Chu Ping. A middle-aged man approached, radiating an air of authority. His displeasure was evident in his gaze as he looked at Chu Ping.
His words made the Qin family momentarily stunned. Sensing the man’s disdain, the faces of the Qin family members darkened.
Accompanying the middle-aged man was a woman named Huang Yan, who was also from the Huang family. Her identity was not simple; she was the eldest daughter of the Huang family. The Huang family ranked high among Xiabei’s business families and was a force to be reckoned with.
They sought to trample the Qin family to further elevate their own standing. Last time, the Qin family had snatched a prime piece of land in the development zone, leaving the Huang family frustrated.
Huang Yan had originally been responsible for securing that area, making her even more resentful since the Qin family had outmaneuvered them. This time, with an opportunity to strike at the Qin family, how could they let it slip away?
"I’ve heard that your Qin family found a son-in-law, the kid who helped you secure that development zone," Huang Yan continued. "I heard he’s quite wealthy. But here, everyone is wealthy, haha. No matter how rich he is, can he compare to our family enterprises?"
Her eyes held a hint of amusement as she glanced at Chu Ping, sneering.
In this auction, everyone was wealthy. No matter how rich this kid was, he couldn’t compete with the true business families.
To undermine the Qin family, Huang Yan focused solely on Chu Ping.
"Let me tell you, this is the gathering place for family enterprises. Each one here has a minimum valuation of several billion."
"Our Huang family enterprise isn’t just worth billions; we also have family enterprises worth hundreds of billions."
Families that amassed assets exceeding a hundred billion were undoubtedly among the elite in Xiabei and were the most prominent in the region.
Huang Yan looked at a group of people not far away, pointing out to Chu Ping, "Take that guy over there, from the Xu family, the first family in Xiabei. Their assets are worth billions, making them the top family enterprise here."
"You could say that the most prominent presence at this auction belongs to them. We Huang family have business dealings with the Xu family. It won’t be long before we can hitch a ride on the Xu family’s coattails!"
With a smug expression, she seemed proud of being a sycophantic family.
Chu Ping narrowed his eyes, his gaze falling on a young, handsome man not far away. This must be the young master of the Xu family, who represented the family with assets in the billions.
It sounded impressive.
It seemed that to compete for the title of the highest donor at this charity auction, he would need to outbid the Xu family!
With narrowed eyes, Chu Ping had an enigmatic expression.
Huang Yan didn’t expect that Chu Ping wouldn’t even look at her, which made her furious. Gritting her teeth, she turned to Chu Ping and the Qin family, sneering, "When the auction begins, you’ll see how formidable our Huang family is. This auction isn’t just about family honor; it’s about the status of the entire family enterprise."
"Those who offer the highest prices will inevitably attract the attention of other families. Our Huang family will completely crush your Qin family, no matter how much you donate; we will compete with you to the end!"
She laughed heartily and turned away, heading toward the young master of the Xu family, clearly intending to greet him.
As Huang Yan said, this auction would determine the future of a family and their reputation.
Proving one’s family assets depended on the prices they could offer at the auction. Only those who could genuinely afford to bid would gain more attention and attract more people eager to curry favor.
For the Qin family, this auction was also crucial.
The members of the Qin family wore serious expressions, well aware of the event's significance. One of them stated earnestly, "We cannot show weakness this time; we need to mobilize 30 million in funds."
"To prove our Qin family’s worth, we can’t let the Huang family look down on us. We must win at least one item in the auction!"
Thirty million was indeed a considerable sum.
However, compared to ordinary auctions, it was hardly sufficient in such a high-stakes environment!
(End of Chapter)
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