Mind reading saves the whole family; I'm firmly in the role of a charlatan.

Chapter 183 Isn't this just scarcity marketing?

Du Anrao was stunned by the huge accusation that someone had suddenly slapped on his head, and for a moment he didn't know how to react.

【No, am I wrong for not spending Grandpa's money? Why does it seem like I'm breaking a cardinal rule if I don't spend it? It's so strange. Other parents worry about their kids spending money recklessly, but my kids seem afraid I won't spend it. They're all pushing me to go out and spend money, and they get upset if I don't...】

Du Desheng and Qin Yanqing exchanged a glance, both feeling somewhat helpless.

Their blood relatives and close friends were all scheming to take all their money and connections, wanting nothing more than to suck them dry and collect even the bone fragments for reuse.

The woman in front of them was quite something; they personally washed the clothes and delivered them to her, yet they dared not spend the money casually. They were truly at a loss for words.

"Grandpa, you've misunderstood! I just... I just think this is all small change, my own pocket money can handle it, why would I need your awesome Supreme Black Card? Wouldn't that lower the card's prestige?"

Du Desheng, leaning on his cane, raised an eyebrow: "Oh? Really?"

"Of course it's true." Du Anrao said with a forced smile, "I'm going to stay in B City for a while, are you worried that I won't have any expenses? You said it yourself, living expenses in B City are high. It's not easy to make money, but it's not hard to spend it, right? Just don't feel bad if I spend too much money."

“Listen to this, listen to this.” Du Desheng pointed at Du Anrao and laughed loudly. “Then you’d better work harder. Your great-uncle’s family is very wealthy. If you can make him feel sorry for you by spending even a small fraction of his wealth, then you’re really capable.”

Du Anrao chuckled twice, his face full of embarrassment.

Although I know what my great-uncle said is true, isn't it a bit too much to just say it out loud... I seriously suspect that all those who covet my great-uncle's wealth were attracted by his unrestrained and ostentatious displays of wealth.

The show-off who has no way to express his suffering: "..."

Little rascal, how could your great-uncle not understand the principle of not flaunting wealth? But at his level, even if we don't know exactly how much wealth he has, the things he has to show off are enough to make people's hearts flutter.

And another thing, do you really think your great-uncle is a generous old man who gives away money like water? It's only you and your Grandma Qin who are so generous. Everyone else who tries to squeeze a penny out of your great-uncle has to see if they'll live to spend it!

Du Desheng's frustration and resentment were so obvious that Qin Yanqing felt helpless and amused: "Alright, alright, the child must be tired after encountering such a distressing situation on her first day here. Don't make things difficult for her anymore. An'an, are you hungry? Let's go eat."

Grandma, you really are my grandma!

"Mmm, I want to eat roast duck and braised chicken legs today."

"Yes, yes, yes, I have them all. When you mentioned it yesterday, I asked your Uncle Du Miao to prepare them, as well as your favorite crab roe buns and sweet and sour pork ribs."

"Yes, yes, these are all my favorite foods. Grandma, I love you so much! If this keeps up, I really won't want to go back after you get married."

"If you don't want to leave, then don't. Grandpa and Grandma will always keep this place for you. Come back and stay if you miss us."

"Uh-huh."

The old man and the young boy walked away hand in hand, leaving Du Desheng, the head of the family, behind.

But he wasn't angry. Just looking at their backs, he felt a void in his heart being filled, and a smile appeared on his face.

Once the two entered the inner room and were completely out of sight, Du Desheng gave Amin a wink.

Amin nodded and immediately turned and left. It's easy to imagine how miserable those people would be afterwards.

Of all people to mess with, they had to provoke one of the two people that Ninth Master cares about most. Now look what's happened, they've ruined themselves.

Perhaps because Du Anrao did not accept Qiu Jichen's apology and took the jewelry from his branch store for free, the other party was worried that she was still angry.

The next morning, he called to say that someone had sent another gift and hoped that Duan would come out to pick it up, or simply give him his address so that someone could deliver it to him.

Du Anrao knew that if he didn't accept the gift, the other party would probably keep thinking about it, so he simply asked Uncle Wen to go out and get it for him.

When he got it back, he discovered that what Qiu Jichen had sent was actually an invitation with gold lettering...?

"Duobaoge?" Qin Yanqing had only recently arrived in City B and wasn't very familiar with the name. She turned to Awen, "Have you heard of this store? What does it do?"

"Duobaoge Auction House is the largest auction house in City B. This auction house collects rare treasures, antiques and calligraphy and paintings from all over the world, and holds an auction every quarter. Most of the people who attend the auction are business tycoons and newly rich families from City B and other places."

Du Anrao waved the invitation in his hand at him: "Is this it?"

"Yes, but the one in the young lady's hand is an invitation to the annual meeting, which is much rarer, more valuable, and more precious."

Are the invitations to the annual meeting different from those for the quarterly auctions?

"Their annual auction, which is the last auction of the year, showcases the most collectible treasures from the past year. Every year at this time, wealthy people from all over the country flock to attend this auction, which makes the invitation all the more valuable."

"...Isn't this just scarcity marketing?"

Awen chuckled at her description: "You could say that, but the quality of the items auctioned by this auction house is widely recognized; they are indeed excellent. Otherwise, so many wealthy people from other places wouldn't come here."

[Got it. It means the items being auctioned are indeed rare enough to be considered treasures, which is why so many people are rushing to throw their money away and get ripped off.]

Qin Yanqing: "..." That's not wrong.

"Does An'an want to go to this auction?"

"Yes, I'll go." Du Anrao was worried about not finding a suitable wedding gift. If this auction house really had some rare treasures that were not available outside, she might not have to worry about how to get someone to help her go up the mountain and bring down one of the treasures she kept in the Taoist temple.

When Qin Yanqing learned that Du Anrao's purpose in going to the auction was still for the two old people, her smile deepened: "If you want to go, then go. But there are many people at the auction, and they are a mixed bag. Remember to bring Awen and the others with you, so that you can look after them."

Knowing that this was the old man's good intention, and that he was indeed unfamiliar with B City and it would be inappropriate for him to go alone, Du Anrao did not refuse.

The auction was scheduled for three days later, but before that day even arrived, Jiang Younian called first.

"Huh? What did you say? My aunt wants to invite me to your house for dinner?"

(End of this chapter)