Dawn of a New Era-Chapter 553 - 527: Face

This auction that caused a sensation in Jiangnan Province started in the morning and finally ended near dusk.

The increase in Chen Shouyi’s faith points for the day also soared past 200 points.

"The auction proceeds have been tallied." Despite her exhausted look, Bai Xiaoling was brimming with excitement: "A total of thirty-one billion five hundred and thirty-six million eight hundred seventy-eight thousand."

"That much?" Chen Shouyi was a bit surprised.

He was a bit troubled. With so much money, he didn’t even know where to put it. The bedroom probably couldn’t fit it all.

"It mainly comes from the high auction price of the hundred pounds of True God meat, which fetched over six billion." Bai Xiaoling couldn’t hide her excitement as she chattered, almost as if the money were hers:

"Actually, I feel it was a bit of a loss. We shouldn’t have auctioned so much at once. If we auctioned it off bit by bit, the price would definitely be higher. You wouldn’t believe how crazy the scene was; it’s like money was just paper. A million per pound—utter madness..."

What’s the point of keeping Demigod meat around?

It just takes up space.

Next time, even if there’s an auction, it has to be True God meat.

Chen Shouyi felt indifferent and handed her an auction receipt.

This was something he specially requested from the City Government today.

"General Manager Chen... What is this?"

"It’s for you. You’ve worked hard during this time," Chen Shouyi said.

Bai Xiaoling took a look, and as she saw the ten pounds on the auction receipt, her body shuddered, her mind buzzing: "Chen... General Manager Chen, this... this is too valuable, I can’t accept it!"

Ten pounds of Demigod meat is equivalent to ten million.

Selling her wouldn’t be enough to cover it.

She’s still a civil servant on the payroll with county-level benefits, and her monthly salary is just four to five thousand. She wouldn’t earn ten million even in a hundred years.

"You just take it! Go back and replenish your body." Chen Shouyi said impatiently.

Why is she so penny-wise?

Ten pounds of Demigod meat is just like a single hair to him.

Or rather, not even a hair.

Bai Xiaoling immediately didn’t dare to make a sound, clutching the receipt with her head spinning and her body limp; a gust of wind might even topple her.

A thought lingered in her mind: does this count as bribery or accepting bribes?

...

During dinner.

Mrs. Chen asked about the auction.

"My brother is super-rich now!" Chen Xingyue impatiently interjected. Looking at her brother now felt different; he seemed almost not human.

More like he was made of gold.

Seeing the parents and sister looking over.

Chen Shouyi spoke in a calm tone: "Over thirty billion."

Hehe!

The atmosphere suddenly quieted!

"Clink!"

Father Chen’s chopsticks fell on the table; his old face flushed as he hurriedly picked them up, coughing: "How much?"

"Thirty-one billion five hundred million!" Chen Shouyi couldn’t help but feel proud, his face beaming.

Though the sheer amount of money is just a number, the perception of a small number and a large number is quite different.

Thirty-one billion five hundred million.

If the Shell Lady were to count it, even if she counted three a second, she could count for three hundred years without sleep or rest.

By then, she’d probably be at the second generation, or even third generation of Shell Ladies!

This enormous sum had completely exceeded the imaginations of his parents, who knew Chen Shouyi was auctioning Demigod meat today but had no idea it would fetch so much.

After a long while, they finally digested this staggering news.

"Did you bring the money back?" Mrs. Chen asked.

"It’s still in the bank," Chen Shouyi replied.

"You should bring it back soon. It’s uneasy leaving it in the bank; we don’t care about the interest, but what if it disappears one day?" Mrs. Chen worriedly said.

"Alright, I’ll get it in a few days." Chen Shouyi agreed.

"But where will you put it?" Chen Xingyue asked.

"In the basement storage. I’ll clean it up tonight, just for storing the money!" Father Chen said. "It’s a pity gold can’t be traded now; otherwise, converting it all to gold would maintain its value."

Actually, gold can still be traded.

But it’s mostly private transactions, with a small market.

Dumping thirty-one and a half billion on the market could make gold prices surge one or two times over.

Moreover, what’s more valuable than True God meat? That’s the hardest global currency there is.

"Brother, you have so much money now, how about giving me a little?" Chen Xingyue asked expectantly.

She didn’t want much.

Just the fraction would do.

"What do you need so much money for, isn’t your salary enough?" Mrs. Chen immediately scolded.

...

While the Chen family was enjoying a harmonious and cheerful atmosphere.

Not far from Chen Shouyi’s villa.

A man stood in the shadows, pacing back and forth, smoking one cigarette after another, with a large duffel bag at his feet, occasionally glancing toward the distant villa, looking hesitant.

His suspicious behavior soon drew the attention of the patrolling soldiers.

"Stop, don’t move, the curfew is about to start, where’s your residence permit?" the leading soldier shouted.

"I’m just staying here for a bit," Qin Liuyuan said, looking up, revealing deep forehead lines, his voice hoarse.

"You are... General Manager Qin, are you alright?" the leading soldier quickly recognized him and asked in surprise.

As the troops responsible for the security of this villa community, recognizing people was a basic skill.

How could they not know the famous General Manager Qin?

"I’m fine."

Qin Liuyuan finished his last cigarette, took a deep breath, and steeled himself:

"When facing such a big shot, what’s dignity?"

"Today I don’t give a damn about dignity!"

He crushed the cigarette butt, picked up the large duffel bag by his feet, and walked briskly toward the gate of Chen Shouyi’s villa.

...

Chen Shouyi had just finished eating.

When he saw Qin Liuyuan arrive, he stood up and laughed:

"Lao Qin, you didn’t have to bring a gift again when you came."

He glanced at the large duffel bag he was carrying.

Thinking to himself that it must be filled with tea leaves.

Qin Liuyuan’s face showed an awkward smile, but at this point, he could only brace himself.

From just one look, Chen Shouyi knew there was trouble.

The two walked to the tea room.

Mrs. Chen came in with a cup of tea, and Qin Liuyuan quickly stood up, taking it with both hands: "Sister, you’re too kind; I’ll just sit for a bit then leave."

In reality, he was a few years older than Mrs. Chen.

"No need to be formal, I’ll leave you two to talk!" Mrs. Chen said with a laugh.

After Mrs. Chen left.

Chen Shouyi said, "Is there something you need? If I can help, I certainly will!"

Qin Liuyuan’s expression changed, hesitating for a while before finally gritting his teeth and reluctantly saying: "I was short on money earlier, today I scraped together another ten million, and I want to buy some more Demigod meat from you."

Chen Shouyi glanced at him.

Qin Liuyuan’s face flushed hotly, feeling like he’d been seen through as if he’d completely tricked General Manager Chen.

If there were a hole, he’d want to crawl inside.

His face was all but gone.

Could such a big shot be interested in this small amount of money?

Was it even tactful to accept it?

Ultimately, it’d be like getting Demigod meat for free.

"What money, but... I’ve sold all the Demigod meat now," Chen Shouyi said.

Qin Liuyuan felt a wave of disappointment and regret, but also a hint of relief, just as he was about to stand up.

He heard Chen Shouyi say, "I’ll give you some True God meat then, wait a moment."

He stood up, went upstairs, and soon came down carrying a plastic bag filled with the brilliant shimmering True God meat.

PS: Next Chapter around 11:00.