Chen Li finally raised his hand slowly. "One hundred thirty-eight thousand taels."
In the Liu Family’s designated area, a lavishly dressed young master glanced at Chen Li, a flicker of surprise and malice in his eyes. He clearly hadn’t expected this member of the gentry, who had come out of nowhere, to dare compete with the Liu Family for this prize.
The old steward raised the price again.
Chen Li followed suit immediately, not backing down in the slightest.
The price climbed steadily as the two bid back and forth, soon breaking the one hundred fifty thousand tael mark.
The Liu Family’s old steward’s expression was grave. He took a deep breath and spoke again, "One hundred fifty-three thousand taels."
With almost no hesitation, Chen Li countered, "One hundred fifty-six thousand taels."
The old steward was about to speak again, but the young master beside him suddenly reached out and gently pressed down on his arm.
The young master’s eyes were sinister, and the corner of his mouth curled into a cold smile. He said in a low voice, "Stop, Uncle Qin. Since he wants it so badly, let him have it."
The old steward opened his mouth to protest, but seeing the young master had made up his mind and the sharp glint in his eyes, he could only sigh and stop insisting.
County Magistrate Li asked three times as per custom, then brought the gavel down, finalizing the deal. "Sold! This lot of forty-three hundred acres of land belongs to the Lingxi Chen Family!"
A government constable handed the bid-winning documents to Chen Li.
County Magistrate Li’s gaze swept over him as he gave a routine reminder, "Landlord Chen, be aware that after winning the bid, you must pay the full amount within seven days. Failure to do so will result in a heavy penalty. If you still fail to pay after three reminders, the land will be permanently repossessed."
Chen Li accepted the documents with both hands and gave a slight nod, his tone as calm as ever. "Thank you for the reminder, my lord. I understand."
After receiving the deed, Chen Li didn’t linger, leaving the back hall directly with Chen Shouheng.
As they stepped out, a new round of bidding had already begun inside the hall.
Everyone’s attention had already shifted, as if the preceding struggle was just an insignificant little interlude.
Only from the Liu Family’s seats did the young master’s sinister gaze follow their backs like a venomous snake, watching until they disappeared around the corner of the outer corridor.
「An hour later.」
「In the back hall of the County Magistrate’s Office.」
The auction had concluded.
The various families were either pleased with their gains or nursing slight regrets, but most had begun to handle the transfer procedures, discussing subsequent matters in low voices.
Although the young master of the Liu Family still maintained the reserved demeanor of a scion of a Noble Family, the sinister look in his eyes could not be concealed.
He did not leave immediately. Instead, he strolled over to the newly appointed County Magistrate, Lord Li, and casually clasped his hands. "Lord Li, this Chen Family has certainly been an eye-opener for me today. But I wonder, what is the origin of this Lingxi Chen Family? How did they gain the favor of the County Magistrate’s Office and receive the qualifications to participate in this auction?"
His tone was mild, but his questions were extremely detailed. He was clearly trying to get to the bottom of the Chen Family’s background.
County Magistrate Li smiled faintly and replied, "Young Master Liu, this official has also just taken up my post and am still familiarizing myself with the people and affairs of Mirror Mountain. I have only heard that this Chen Family is part of the local Gentry in Lingxi Village. Their eldest son, Chen Shouheng, became a Martial Scholar in the last County Examination, and... I hear he took the top spot with his Spirit Realm Cultivation. As for their participation today, it was all arranged by the County Magistrate. I am not too clear on the specific reasons myself."
A young man from the Li Family who had yet to leave heard this and sneered. His voice wasn’t loud, but it was piercing enough. "And here I was thinking some great power had come to town. Turns out it’s just a nouveau-riche country bumpkin and a Martial Scholar who got lucky.
"Liu Yunfeng, to think someone like that dares to snatch food from right under the Liu Family’s nose. If word of this gets out, the Liu Family’s reputation will be dragged through the mud at the foot of Mirror Mountain for all to see!"
His words were overtly contemptuous of the Chen Family, but covertly, he was fanning the flames, seemingly trying to provoke Liu Yunfeng intentionally.
Someone from another family nearby chuckled darkly. "Brother Li has a point. A minor member of the Gentry, yet he spends over a hundred thousand taels of silver just like that. The origin of those silver coins... heh heh, it’s quite intriguing. Brother Liu, why not send some men to investigate thoroughly? Perhaps some family was robbed, and the stolen funds ended up here."
This remark was even more malicious, directly insinuating that the Chen Family’s wealth was ill-gotten.
Another person added sinisterly, "Young Master Liu, if you ask me, why even bother investigating? Just send some capable men to watch the main roads from Lingxi to the county seat. The moment the Chen Family’s convoy transporting the silver taels arrives, intercept them for a detailed inspection.
"Heh, and if you happen to find that the silver matches the description of some stolen batch... say, for instance, the one the Liu Family lost a while back? Wouldn’t that be catching them red-handed, a perfectly justifiable seizure?"
Liu Yunfeng remained noncommittal about everyone’s "enthusiastic" suggestions, merely clasping his hands and saying coolly, "Thank you all for your concern. I know what to do."
He was a meticulous thinker. It wasn’t that he hadn’t considered these ideas himself, but hearing them from others further convinced him that this course of action was viable and wouldn’t attract too much criticism.
He exchanged a look of tacit understanding with the old steward, Uncle Qin, and the two of them left the somewhat noisy back hall, one after the other.
They arrived at a relatively secluded spot by the entrance of the County Magistrate’s Office.
The last trace of a polite smile vanished from Liu Yunfeng’s face, replaced by an icy, severe expression. He ordered in a low voice, "Uncle Qin, send a message home at once. Have Third Uncle dispatch five more Spirit Realm experts.
"Give the order to all our Guests and spies still in Mirror Mountain: drop everything and watch every main road and side path from Lingxi to the county seat. Find a pretext, something like... inspecting for suspicious stolen silver. The moment you spot a large convoy from the Chen Family transporting silver coins, intercept and inspect it thoroughly."
"Also, have men watch the County Magistrate’s Office’s Household Department and the two largest money houses in the city. Prevent them from directly exchanging silver notes to complete the transfer."
The old steward bowed and replied, "This old servant understands. I’ll go make the arrangements."
Just as Liu Yunfeng was about to turn and leave, he caught sight of Chen Li and his son, who had left, now returning.
They were about to walk into the County Magistrate’s Office.
His brow furrowed. A sliver of doubt rose in his heart, and he couldn’t help but step forward. "The auction is over. Why have you returned to the County Magistrate’s Office?"
Chen Li stopped, glanced at Liu Yunfeng, and didn’t directly answer the hostile question. He simply gave a slight nod as a form of greeting.
Then he walked straight toward the Household Department on the east side of the County Magistrate’s Office.
The ominous feeling in Liu Yunfeng’s heart grew stronger. He snorted coldly and followed them. ’I’ll see just what tricks this Chen Family is trying to pull.’
He saw Chen Li walk into the Household Department, where the Head of the Revenue Division, Qian Yiqian, was speaking in low tones with County Magistrate Li, who had not yet left.
Chen Li stepped forward, smiled, and clasped his hands. "Lord Li, Steward Qian, my apologies for the interruption."
County Magistrate Li was a little surprised. "Landlord Chen, haven’t the deed procedures already been completed? What else is there?"
Chen Li replied, "I have come to pay for the land and finalize the procedures."
"Now?"
County Magistrate Li and Qian Yiqian were both stunned.
According to convention, it was permissible to pay the silver taels on the spot after a successful bid.
But for such a huge sum, who wouldn’t need a few days to gather the funds? Who would come to pay immediately after the auction ended?
Following behind, Liu Yunfeng’s face darkened when he heard this. He couldn’t resist mocking him, "Did you perhaps mishear the amount? That was one hundred fifty thousand taels of silver, not fifteen taels! You’ve come empty-handed like this—are you here to perform a magic trick?"