The Swapped Heir Came Home Hungry novel · Chapter 11 of 24

Chapter 11: Paddle Number One

"Number one bids forty thousand yuan for lot fourteen," said Linchuan.

His voice carried to the back of the ballroom without effort.

The auctioneer stared at him. A photographer lowered his lens, then raised it again.

"Sir, the current bid is two million two hundred."

"I know. Mine is forty thousand, which is what the lot cost," said Linchuan. He lowered the paddle.

"As chairman of the Jiang Foundation, I ask that the receipt for this jar be read to the room. Wei Anzhi has it."

"Linchuan," said Second Uncle, quite pleasantly. "This is a family matter. We can discuss it tomorrow."

"You made it a public matter with a rice bowl."

A small noise went round the room that was almost a laugh.

Second Uncle's mouth tightened.

Anzhi took the crumpled paper from his pocket and unfolded it under the lights.

"Dealer's invoice, Shantang Street, dated the eleventh of March," he read.

"One reproduction blue-and-white jar with presentation box. Forty thousand yuan. Delivered to Jiang Zhongping, personal."

"Charged to the Jiang Foundation, Hungry Children Meals, forty counties."

Nobody moved.

"There's a paper tag inside the lid," Anzhi said to the auctioneer. "A stock number. I think it says three three one eight."

The man in the gold waistcoat looked at the jar for a long second.

Then, with the tips of two fingers, he lifted the lid.

His face changed.

"Three three one eight," he said, in a small voice. "In the dealer's hand. And a printed word. Reproduction."

The ballroom exploded.

Cameras flashed everywhere. Someone at table nine stood up shouting. A woman in a green silk dress began to laugh and could not stop.

"This is slander," said Second Uncle, white to the lips. "The boy forged a receipt."

"He has been in the cellar for ten days with the keys, and we all know why."

"Then let's ask the dealer," said Linchuan. "He is in the third row. I invited him."

An elderly man in a grey suit half rose, bowed to nobody, and sat down very fast.

Anzhi stepped to the edge of the stage.

"One more thing," he said. "Paddle twenty-two."

"It's registered to a flat over the Jiang garage, where Second Uncle's driver lives. He earns eight thousand a month. I'd like to ask him to stand."

At table thirty, a thick-necked man in an ill-fitting suit was sitting stiffly with his paddle in his lap.

He tried to hide it behind a menu.

A hundred heads turned.

"Stand up," said Linchuan, almost gently.

The driver stood. He opened his mouth. He sat down again, and put his face in his hands.

There was a silence, and in it the auctioneer set down his gavel.

"Withdrawn," he said. "Lot fourteen is withdrawn."

"Gentlemen," said Second Uncle, "this is a misunderstanding among my staff, I will look into every..."

"As chairman of this foundation," said Linchuan, over him, "I suspend the vice-chair from all duties, pending a full audit of every gift in the last ten years."

"The board will be informed tomorrow. Please sit down, Second Uncle."

It was said without heat.

That was what broke the room.

A man who had been cheered for twenty years walked off a stage in front of the city, because of one receipt.

Second Uncle did not look at anyone.

He took his handkerchief out of his pocket, looked at it, and put it back.

"You will regret this," he said to Anzhi, very quietly. "You are a county boy with a lucky stomach."

"It was a very good jar," said Anzhi. "For forty thousand."

At table one, Yuan had stood up.

He stood alone, in the middle of the hall, and began to clap, with his head high and his face wet.

← Chapter 10 · All chapters · Chapter 12 →

Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend