Chapter 377 Auction

"It's started!" Zhu Hongxiu looked out the window.

At this time, the person organizing the auction went up to the auction platform and gave some passionate warm-up words. At the urging of everyone, he began today's theme.

The auctioneer brought the auction list. There were 20 items for today's auction. Although each item was rare, the rarer the items were, the rarer they were. The herb that Qin Huiyin and Xia Ruwan wanted to bid for was ranked 12th. As for the items at the front, there were famous unique items, heirlooms, and so on.

Qin Huiyin was not interested in those things. Only when she saw a rare bracelet, she paid special attention to it, thinking of taking a picture of it and giving it to Li Taohua.

"This inkstone is nice." Xia Ruwan reminded Qin Huiyin, "Your elder brother might like it."

Qin Huiyin read the detailed explanation on the auction list and nodded: "Yes. Let's see if we can win the bid later. After all, there are many people who like this kind of exquisite item, and we may not be able to compete with others."

"What do you want to shoot?" Zhu Hongxiu asked.

Xia Ruwan smiled and said, "We are just here to join in the fun. We don't really want anything in particular."

Zhu Hongxiu had no doubts and said truthfully: "We came here for that herb."

When she said this, she glanced at Zhu Jingxuan, and seeing that he didn't care, she continued, "Seven years ago, my eldest brother rushed into the fire to save my grandmother, but he was left with a scar. That herb has the effect of removing scars and marks. If we can take a picture of it and give it to the Imperial Hospital to make an ointment to apply, it can remove the scars on my eldest brother's face. Our family must get this herb."

Qin Huiyin and Xia Ruwan secretly looked at each other and exchanged glances. The two of them were still holding on to a glimmer of hope, but now this glimmer of hope was extinguished by Zhu Hongxiu.

"We can arrange someone to go to the lobby to bid. At least there will be a chance to compete." Qin Huiyin whispered in a voice that only Xia Ruwan could hear.

"No, Yinyin, we can't be enemies with the Shangshu Mansion."

"But this opportunity..."

"If there is a first time, there will be a second time. There is no way there is only one herb in the world. I am still young and can wait slowly." Xia Ruwan said, "Let's just come here to relax today."

The bidding has begun.

It was the first time that Qin Huiyin witnessed the fighting at an auction.

When she heard those people bidding, she had the illusion that what they were holding out was not money, but paper. The original starting price of the item was 100 taels, but the final transaction price was as high as more than 1,000 taels.

According to the current price, one tael of silver is equivalent to 200 yuan, and one thousand taels of silver is equivalent to 200,000 yuan.

According to the current prices, one cent can buy two steamed buns, and an average family's monthly expenses can be covered by one hundred cents. This more than one thousand taels is money that others cannot earn in their entire lifetime.

"Five hundred taels." A cold voice came from the side.

Qin Huiyin came back to her senses and looked at Zhu Jingxuan beside her.

The uncovered half of Zhu Jingxuan's face turned red, his eyelashes trembled, and he turned his head.

Qin Huiyin looked at the auction table and saw a tattered book on it.

That's his style.

The bamboo building in the plum blossom forest houses a variety of rare books, which shows that this person is very obsessed with books.

"Seven hundred taels." Another person was competing with Zhu Jingxuan for the book.

Zhu Jingxuan wanted to continue bidding but was stopped by Zhu Hongxiu.

"We mainly want that herb, so we have to save some money. Otherwise, if someone bids for it later, we won't be able to win."

"It's okay. We brought some money with us. If Mr. Zhu really likes it, just buy it. If it's not enough later, we can support him." Xia Ruwan said.

"How embarrassing is this?"

"Sister Hongxiu is very generous and kind-hearted. We are not stingy people!" Xia Ruwan said with a smile.

After hearing what Xia Ruwan said, Zhu Hongxiu stopped trying to stop Zhu Jingxuan from bidding for the rare book. In the end, the book was sold for 950 taels.

"I've been wanting to ask this for a while now, why does your sister always wear a mask?" Zhu Hongxiu saw that they were having a pleasant conversation, so she asked the question that she didn't dare to ask just now.

Xia Ruwan touched the mask and said, "I..."

It was time to auction the herbs.

Zhu Hongxiu was so excited when she saw the herbs appear that she no longer paid attention to Xia Ruwan's question and said to Zhu Jingxuan, "Brother, they are here. Get ready."

Xia Ruwan let out a breath.

She just didn't know how to explain the fact that she was wearing a mask.

Qin Huiyin felt a little regretful. If she had known earlier, she should have stayed in the lobby. At least she would have had a chance to argue. Now she was in the same room with Zhu Hongxiu and her brother and sister, so it was not easy to bring it up.

Even though Zhu Hongxiu had asked Xia Ruwan about wearing a mask, they couldn't say that her face was damaged. After all, Zhu Hongxiu had already spoken first, and it would be ignorant for them to bring it up again.

"These herbs are extremely rare. It can be said that even the great doctors have only heard of their names but have never seen what they look like. This herb can be applied externally to remove scars and marks, and taken internally to treat congenital deficiencies brought from the mother's womb. The bidding will begin now, with a starting price of 200 taels."

"Five hundred taels."

"Six hundred taels."

"Six hundred and fifty taels."

"Seven hundred taels..."

Zhu Hongxiu shouted, "Nine hundred taels."

"One thousand taels." A male voice sounded.

When Qin Huiyin heard the male voice, she was puzzled at first. She looked at Xia Ruwan next to her and found that the latter was also stunned for a moment and also showed a puzzled look.

"It's Li..." Qin Huiyin asked her in a low voice.

"Kind of, but it's so noisy that I can't be sure."

"One thousand two hundred taels." Zhu Hongxiu frowned and shouted out the price in their minds.

"Two thousand taels." The male voice from before sounded again.

This time Qin Huiyin was certain that the voice was definitely Li Congxiao.

If it was Li Congxiao, he wanted this herb just for Xia Ruwan. In this case, the scar on Xia Ruwan's face could be cured.

Xia Ruwan's cheeks felt hot, and she didn't know what she was thinking. She looked towards the window opposite.

Zhu Hongxiu said to Qin Huiyin and Xia Ruwan, "My two sisters, how much silver did you bring with you?"

Qin Huiyin certainly didn't want to lend the money. If Li Congxiao and Zhu Hongxiu were competing, no matter how much Zhu Hongxiu said, Li Congxiao would definitely grab the herb. Since the herb would belong to Li Congxiao sooner or later, the higher the price was raised, the more Li Congxiao would suffer.

"I am determined to get the herbs. No matter how much you bid, I will get them." Li Congxiao said loudly.

"Forget it." Zhu Jingxuan said to Zhu Hongxiu, "Let's not fight anymore."

"Brother!" Zhu Hongxiu frowned, "My family said that we must buy this herb no matter how much money it costs."

"Didn't you hear what that guy said? No matter how much we offer, he will pay more than us. He is determined to get the herbs. Two thousand taels is not a small amount, not to mention a higher price. Even if we win, will the rest of the family be happy?" Zhu Jingxuan said calmly, "I'm used to it. Whether it can be cured or not is not that important to me."