Chapter 62 - Herbal Auction (2/2)

“The auction for precious herbs? I thought that was just fake news.” Master Wu asked.

“It’s real. It is held every few months, and the bidder buys the herbs directly from local herbalists. If you are lucky, you might be able to find something really rare there. You would never see those herbs on the market since they were auctioned off to the rich people before they reached the store counter. The auction is invite based, and cash only.”

Most auctions like this were held in secrecy, and therefore no a lot of people had heard of it.

“When does it start.” Chen Fan didn’t care if it was a private auction or not. His goal was to get precious herbs, and he would do anything to get it.

“The next one is in three days, seven o’clock at the Clear Lake Manor.” Chief apothecary announced under his breath.

“Very well.” Chen Fan stood up, and so did Master Wu, and they both left the store after waving the old man a farewell.

After they were out of the Hall of a Hundred Medicines, they found a hotel and settled in.

Three days later…

Chen Fan and his entourage took a taxi and arrived at the Clear Lake Manor. The manor was heavily guarded, and a group of security stood guard at the entrance.

“I am sorry, this is private property. Please turn back if you don’t have an invitation.” A security guard walked over the Chen Fan and said annoyedly.

“We don’t have an invitation.” Master Wu said lightly. “Please let your boss know that Wu Shanhe from the Dong Du City came to visit him.”

The security noticed the unusual calmness in Master Wu and started to think that he was an influential person.

Suddenly, a black Mercedes pulled over to the entrance, and a plump middle age man waddled over to Master Wu.

“Master Wu! What brings you here? I thought you went to Jiang Bei.”

“Haha, it’s you, Boss Hu!” Master Wu said. The memory of what happened in Jiang Bei made Master Wu blush a little.

He had planned to make a fortune in the Jiang Bei region; however, he was brought down by a young boy. It was an embarra.s.sing matter; as such, he quickly changed the topic.

“Are you here to join the auction? Very well then, we need a ticket to get in.”

“Oh-why, follow me. But please help me judge the quality of the herbs when we are in there.” Boss Hu reply.

Since the items for sale in the auction were from private owners, it was not uncommon to encounter scammers during the sales event. The host of the auction a.s.sumed no responsibility for the quality of the product; it was all “Caveat emptor” inside the auction house. Although Master Wu was not a skilled Traditional Chinese doctor, no one in the Zhong Zhou Province would dare sell any fake herbs to him.

The security let them pa.s.s without any protest.

As they filed through the gate, they found the manner was huge inside. A hostess had guided them through many lobbies until they arrived at a quiet courtyard.

The small courtyard was already packed with well-dressed men and women. From their accents, it was easy to tell that these buyers were from all over China.

“Nice to see you here, Master Wu.”

“Hi, Master Wu.”

“How are you doing Master Wu?”

As soon as Chen Fan and Master Wu walked into the courtyard, many greeted the latter like an old friend.

Some started to introduce Master Wu to those who were not familiar with him. He was the jewel of the Dong Du City and was able to summon the ghost and command the spirits.

Chen Fan was amused by the popularity of Master Wu. He found it hard to imagine that someone who kneeled in front of him, begging for his life was revered so much here.

Suddenly, he heard a cold snort.

“Master Wu? More like Swindle Wu.”

Wu Shanhe’s face hardened, and then he looked toward the speaker.

It was a woman of tall stature and a face harder than rock with chiseled features, making her look like a mix of Asian and White. She glared at the old man contemptuously.

“That is Miss Zheng From Hong Kong.” Boss Hu explained under his breath. “She has bought all the rare herbs in the city. Rumor has it that her father was dying and needed as many rare herbs as possible to extend his life.”

“The Zheng Family of Hong Kong?” Master Wu gasped.