"Alright then, let's start the auction. Young Master Yang, what do you think the starting bid should be?" Housekeeper Sun reluctantly agreed and asked Yang Hong.
"I'm not too familiar with this either, how about starting at ten thousand taels, with each increase no less than one thousand taels?" Yang Hong suggested. This was as Fourth Miss Zhao had instructed, to start high so that the pit could be dug deeper and Mu Hanyan could fall harder.
"Good, let's begin then. Ten thousand taels to start, with each increment no less than one thousand taels," Housekeeper Sun announced.
"I bid eleven thousand taels," Yuan Tianbo provocatively glanced at Mu Hanyan, making the first bid.
"Twelve thousand taels." Playing along with the act, Mu Hanyan promptly followed.
"Thirteen thousand taels." Yuan Tianbo pressed on.
"Fourteen thousand taels." Mu Hanyan didn't yield an inch.
...
The two of them calmly increased their bids, and little by little, the fire was stoked.
