Chapter 40: Your Eyes Are Blind to Worth

The fourth auction item was a jade pendant, its color translucent and lustrous. Most importantly, it had been carved with exquisite craftsmanship by a legendary master. It symbolized blessings as vast as the Eastern Sea and longevity as enduring as the Southern Mountains. This was the perfect gift for Jiang Wan’s grandfather’s upcoming birthday.

Jiang Wan felt a surge of excitement. The starting bid was only three million, and she raised her paddle without hesitation. Qiao Ruowei, standing nearby, immediately raised her own. The two of them went back and forth, driving the price of the three-million-yuan item up to five million.

Eventually, Jiang Wan began to hesitate. Although the Jiang family was a prominent household, a few million was usually not a problem, but that money belonged to the company. To put it bluntly, most of the money Jiang Wan used for these purchases came from her own dividends. Coming up with several million all at once was indeed a pressure. She stared at Li Mu, unsure of what to do.

"Miss Qiao Ruowei of the Qiao family, five point five million for the first time. Five point five million for the second time."

Watching such a perfect item slip through her fingers, Jiang Wan gritted her teeth and raised her paddle once more.

"Honey, why don’t we look at something else?"

Hearing Li Mu’s words, Qiao Ruowei sneered. "I told you you were paupers. To come here and act like you’re rich when you can’t afford it—why are you even sitting here!"

"Who said I can't afford it? Six million!" Jiang Wan raised her paddle indignantly. This was every cent of her savings. If she couldn't win the prize, she would at least win some dignity.

Qiao Ruowei stared at Jiang Wan’s face, a look of disdain on her lips. "Six point five million! Since you chose this good-for-nothing, you have to accept the cold shoulders of others. I don’t believe this loser can pull out tens of millions to help you buy this!"

Li Mu pressed down on Jiang Wan’s hand as she was about to raise it again. "Honey, let’s just skip this item."

"But I really want to buy it as a gift for Grandpa. After all, it’s his first birthday since his recovery..."

Qiao Ruowei laughed out loud. "Everyone, look! This is a beggar! Come and see how the eldest daughter of the Jiang family can’t even afford a jade pendant because of a beggar like this!"

The eyes of everyone in the room turned toward Li Mu and Jiang Wan.

"Qiao Ruowei, don't go too far!" Li Mu didn't care how they insulted him, but he wouldn't allow anyone to disrespect his wife.

"Did I say something wrong? You are a loser, a beggar. Your whole family makes a living picking through trash. Tell me, how many plastic bottles do your parents have to collect to trade for a jade pendant like this?" She laughed, "I heard you have a crippled sister, too. Someone like you dreaming of marriage—it’s nothing but a daydream!"

The surrounding crowd cast mocking glances. Jiang Wan lowered her head, biting her lip tightly.

"Listen well, Qiao Ruowei. The only reason I didn't bid on this pendant is because it’s a fake!"

A fake? The crowd gasped at the absurdity. Even if he hadn't seen much of the world, to claim an item in this auction house was a fake was madness. Everyone knew the antique market in Cloud City was monopolized by the Lu family. How could such a prestigious clan sell fakes?

"How insolent! You clearly don't know who the mistress of this auction house is!"

Li Mu picked at his nose with indifference. "What does the owner have to do with you selling fakes?"

"This auction house is run by Wang Yurou, the eldest daughter-in-law of the Lu family. You claiming her goods are fake is a laughingstock!"

"That's right! You must not know the strength of the Lu family. Not only the antiques in Cloud City, but half of the antique market in all of China belongs to them!"

Lu Xinrou, sitting next to Qiao Ruowei, looked furious. "You reckless fool! How dare you say our auction house sells fakes? Do you know that with a mere flick of a finger, the Lu family can ensure you have no place to be buried!"

Li Mu glanced at the eldest daughter of the Lu family. To be honest, he didn't like her. Even though she was a stunning beauty, her arrogance was loathsome. At this moment, he found even Bai Weiwei more pleasant than her. For a split second, he considered pulling out the video of her sister-in-law and throwing it in her face. Why would it be impossible for a woman like this to sell fakes?

"Everyone, I suggest you take your own items to be appraised later. Don't spend your money only to find out you've bought a fake and become the laughingstock of the city!"

The onlookers, who had been enjoying the show, were stunned to find the fire spreading to them. They began to whisper and argue among themselves. Lu Xinrou’s eyes turned cold. Was this guy here to wreck the place?

"Li Mu, even though our family broke off your engagement, it was simply because of the vast gap in our social standing. There is no need for you to come here and stir up trouble."

Li Mu raised an eyebrow. "If you want to know if I’m the one causing trouble, why don't you call your security manager over and ask?"

Soon, a short, stout man in a tailored suit was brought to the auction floor. He walked up to Li Mu and glared at him arrogantly. "So, you’re the one saying our items are fake?"

Li Mu nodded noncommittally. Although the man appeared calm, the way he walked clearly betrayed his guilty conscience. If it had been a guess before, the man’s behavior now confirmed the item was indeed problematic.

"If you can't afford it, get out! Don't cause trouble here. Do you even know what an auction item is? Have you ever even seen an auction?"

"I admit, I haven't been to an auction house before," Li Mu said, speaking freely, causing an uproar in the crowd. Someone who had never stepped foot in an auction house dared to spout such nonsense? Had this guy gone crazy from poverty?

"Then you probably don't know that this jade is top-grade glass-seed jade, and most importantly, it was carved by Master Hong En, the ceiling of the contemporary art world!"

At the mention of the name, the crowd showed looks of adoration. Not to mention the material, even an ordinary stone would become priceless once carved by Master Hong En.

"Is that all? Hong En? A while ago, he came to my master's house, begging and crying to be my apprentice. I didn't even give him a second look! My master even thought his carving technique wasn't refined enough and rejected many of his gifts."

The crowd erupted into boisterous laughter. Jiang Wan felt humiliated and tried to pull Li Mu away to stop him from making a fool of himself. Li Mu looked at the crowd, confused as to why they were laughing.

"You want to be Master Hong En’s master? Do you think you're worthy?"

"You really have gone crazy from being poor. Are you hallucinating now?"

"More than that, I think we should call someone to take him to a mental hospital right now!"