pjbooks Chapter 805: Feigning Compliance
Chapter 805: Feigning Compliance
Chapter update reminder: Chapter 805: Feigning Compliance, reading address.
A few days after Chen Zhe's wedding, Huang Xiaochuan and Ding Yi attended a charity gala hosted by the Federation of Industry and Commerce, along with Zhang Gaolei.
The banquet was held at the Shangri-La Hotel in Pudong. Tonight, the hotel's banquet hall was brightly lit and filled with guests, both men and women, all dressed in their finest attire, showcasing their image and status.
Most of the guests were celebrities from Shanghai's business and cultural circles, and many of them knew each other well, so the atmosphere at the event was quite good.
However, Huang Xiaochuan's arrival caused a stir among all the guests present. Tonight, Huang Xiaochuan maintained his low-key style, wearing a custom-made suit, and appeared in the banquet hall accompanied by Ding Yi and Zhang Gaolei.
Although Huang Xiaochuan wanted to keep a low profile, his status as Asia's richest man was too dazzling. Moreover, with Zhang Gaolei, the former richest man in China, accompanying him, he was immediately recognized by some observant people who were always keeping an eye on the movements of the wealthy.
Among them was Li Yun, the financial elite woman who had previously tried to flirt with Huang Xiaochuan by offering him drinks. Tonight, she was attending this charity gala as the female companion of the president of the Shanghai Lianjiang Chamber of Commerce.
Because he was recognized immediately, Huang Xiaochuan instantly became the focus of the banquet hall. Many people came up to greet him and handed him their business cards.
Huang Xiaochuan smiled and responded to everyone's enthusiasm, but he kept walking. Led by Zhang Gaolei, he headed towards the host, Chairman Liu of the Federation of Industry and Commerce, who also took the initiative to come over.
Chairman Liu extended his hands from a distance: "Mr. Huang! Welcome, welcome! Thank you for your support of our charity."
Huang Xiaochuan shook hands with him and exchanged pleasantries: "President Liu, you're too kind. It has always been my wish to do something for the cause of education."
Zhang Gaolei then introduced Ding Yi to Chairman Liu. After learning about Ding Yi's background, Chairman Liu hurriedly exchanged pleasantries with Ding Yi.
Huang Xiaochuan quietly looked around. He was surrounded by intense gazes, and many people were smiling and greeting him while whispering to their companions.
Huang Xiaochuan was already used to this. Since he had become a public figure, such things were unavoidable. However, in order to avoid being disturbed in his life, he tried his best to keep a low profile.
Soon the auction began, and most of the items were donated by wealthy people who then used the auction as an excuse to buy them back. That's how the donations came about!
In fact, Huang Xiaochuan despises this kind of showy donation. There are many ways to donate; using this method is just an attempt to gain fame.
But despite his thoughts, Huang Xiaochuan would never say them aloud. Only someone with a screw loose would do that. He'd just treat it as watching the show. Besides, he had to bid on something tonight, but he would bid on a so-called naming rights, not a physical item.
As for the treasures donated by those wealthy people, let them buy them back themselves! Huang Xiaochuan has no interest in accepting those junk.
After the previous items, such as "contemporary artworks," "limited edition luxury goods," and "various jewelry," were auctioned off, the item that Huang Xiaochuan wanted to bid on was projected onto the large screen in the banquet hall.
The starting bid for the naming rights to a Hope Primary School is two million yuan.
At this point, the auctioneer passionately explained to everyone present the predicament of education in the southwestern mountainous areas and the significance of building Hope Primary Schools.
Upon hearing this, Ding Yi curled his lip in disdain. He and Huang Xiaochuan had been quietly doing these things for over ten years, donating an average of 100 million yuan in money and goods each year. In other words, the foundation he and Huang Xiaochuan established had donated a total of 1 billion yuan.
Ding Yi is an anomaly in officialdom. It can be said that he is the person with the most legal assets within the system, without exception.
The auctioneer finished speaking quickly, and the bidding began.
At this moment, people kept raising their paddles to bid, while Huang Xiaochuan watched quietly, and Gao Song held his paddle and waited for his boss's instructions.
"Two million one hundred thousand!"
"Two million two hundred thousand!"
"Two million three hundred thousand!"
""
"Two million eight hundred thousand!"
""
"Three and a half million!"
So slowly, more than ten minutes passed, and they still hadn't reached five million. Huang Xiaochuan gave Gao Song a wink.
Gao Song immediately raised the sign in his hand: "Ten million!"
The room fell silent, followed by gasps of surprise. The auctioneer was stunned. Wasn't it agreed that the gavel would fall when the bid reached five million? Why did they call out ten million?
Chairman Liu of the Federation of Industry and Commerce was also stunned; this wasn't how things were supposed to go!
He looked at Zhang Gaolei with pleading eyes, and Zhang Gaolei smiled and said, "It's alright, since Xiao Chuan has asked, it's ten million."
At this moment, Li Yun stared intently at Huang Xiaochuan with her beautiful eyes. In her eyes, rich men are the most charming, especially since this man was not only the richest among them, but also the most handsome. How could such a man not be attractive?
Besides Li Yun, countless eyes were also focused on Huang Xiaochuan, mostly filled with envy, but also mixed with calculation and complex emotions.
After the initial amazement, thunderous applause erupted. Huang Xiaochuan stood expressionless beside Ding Yi, ignoring the thunderous applause.
At this point, Gao Song arranged for someone to go up on stage to handle the relevant procedures; even he himself didn't bother to go up on stage and show his face.
Chairman Liu clapped his hands and strode over to Huang Xiaochuan: "Mr. Huang, thank you for your generosity. The naming rights for this school are now yours."
Huang Xiaochuan smiled faintly: "The school can be named after the place where it's built. If there's really no other place, we can call it Hope Primary School."
"Huh?" Chairman Liu's jaw almost dropped to the ground.
Are you kidding me? That's ten million! Even if you threw it into water, it would make a huge splash. You just give up the naming rights like that? Does having money mean you can be this capricious?
At this moment, Ding Yi walked up to Chairman Liu and patted him on the shoulder: "Chairman Liu, I want to discuss something with you. We're talking about donating a school, right? The county I live in happens to need one, otherwise..."
Chairman Liu immediately understood Ding Yi's meaning. He was a very shrewd person! He also knew about the relationship between Ding Yi and Huang Xiaochuan. Naturally, he readily agreed to the request. After all, it was a favor to do, so why not give it to him?
"Of course, that's no problem. The donation came from Mr. Huang, so he can naturally decide how the funds are used."
Ding Yi then extended another invitation: "Then thank you for your support, Chairman Liu. Please visit me sometime. I can't guarantee anything else, but I guarantee you, Chairman Liu, will have a wonderful time!"
Chairman Liu agreed, "I'll definitely go if I have the chance!"
Huang Xiaochuan watched from the side, a slight smile playing on his lips. He had seen through all the pretense and evasion in this interpersonal interaction.