Chapter Fifty-Six: The Slave Auction

After witnessing the wonders of foreign lands along the way, Li Wenyuan finally arrived at Xingli Auction House just before the event began. The name clearly indicated it was run by Han people, but the style of auction itself had been imported from the West in recent times.

Li Wenyuan presented his waist token to the doorman and entered the auction house. A man dressed in somewhat ornate clothing approached and asked, "Gentlemen, would you prefer a regular seat or a private room?"

Li Wenyuan replied, "This is our first visit. Would you kindly explain the difference between a regular seat and a private room?"

The man smiled, gesturing to the side where rows of wooden chairs stood beneath the stage. "Look—these seats, lined up one after another, are the regular seats. You may sit anywhere you wish." He then pointed to several rooms upstairs with open windows. "Those are the private rooms. During the auction, tea, fruit, and refreshments are served, and someone will even bid on your behalf."

Li Wenyuan smiled. "Such fine private rooms—how much do they cost?"

The man grinned. "Since it's your first time here, we won't overcharge. Fifty taels will suffice."

Li Wenyuan placed fifty taels directly into the man's hand and said, "Lead the way, please."

In the past, he would never have spent money so lavishly, but after confiscating the county magistrate's ill-gotten gains in Yongdeng County, Li Wenyuan had become wealthy overnight. Though it was the people's fat and blood, who would bother accounting for money acquired through corruption? With no way to return it, he simply pocketed it all, telling himself he would find other ways to compensate the common folk in the future.

The man, having received the silver, led Li Wenyuan to a room labeled "Second Earth" and handed him a token. The token was engraved with the character for "seven," filled with gold powder in the recesses, glittering brilliantly in the candlelight.

"This is a VIP token," the man explained. "With it, you need pay only ninety percent of any auction price. If you consign goods, you’ll be exempt from half the commission."

Li Wenyuan toyed with the token, silently admiring its craftsmanship. He wondered what kind of wood it was made from—it felt cool to the touch, even in the desert, and was exceedingly pleasant. He couldn’t help but ask, "Why do we receive this token?"

"All VIPs in the private rooms are given such tokens," the man replied.

Li Wenyuan nodded and sat down, closing his eyes to rest and ease his travel fatigue. Soon, the sun outside set completely and a servant brought in a brazier of charcoal. Li Wenyuan knew that desert nights grew cold and silently praised the considerate service.

Downstairs, the stage was now brightly lit, and the once noisy regular seats had fallen quiet. A beautiful woman gracefully stepped onto the stage and addressed the crowd, "Gentlemen, tonight’s auction is about to begin. For some, this is your first time here, so allow me to repeat: all auction items are consigned goods—we cannot guarantee their quality; it’s up to your own judgment and courage."

Her repeated use of "gentlemen" delighted the many merchants present. After all, in the hierarchy of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, the merchant’s status was quite low—they could only wear the most inconspicuous black robes. Who would ever address them so respectfully? As a result, many felt flattered, and a few with less composure even spoke up, "Madam Wen, if we buy inferior goods, it’s our own lack of discernment. We won’t blame your establishment. Let’s get started!"

Madam Wen smiled warmly. "Since you gentlemen are eager, I won’t delay any longer. Let’s begin with tonight’s first item: a snow lotus from the High Mountains of the Women’s Kingdom."

At that moment, several people carried a large chest onto the stage and unlocked it. As the lid opened, a plume of white vapor burst forth. Once the vapor cleared, it revealed a chest filled with ice, upon which rested a wooden box. Madam Wen gently lifted the box, unfastened its clasp, and opened the lid.

All eyes fixed on the contents. Li Wenyuan, too, couldn’t help but stare. Inside was a delicate plant—emerald leaves still beaded with water, supporting a cluster of pure white petals, within which nestled a purple-red stamen, looking especially graceful in the candlelight.

After allowing everyone a brief look, Madam Wen closed the box and returned it to the chest, addressing the audience, "Gentlemen, the snow lotus is a marvelous thing: it strengthens muscles and vitality, promotes circulation, warms the body, dispels cold and dampness. It’s especially suited for those who travel north to the Turkic lands or south to Lingnan for business."

Surveying the room, Madam Wen suddenly adopted a coy and alluring tone, "Moreover, its fiery nature can remedy weakness from excessive indulgence and help those with congenital deficiencies unable to fully enjoy marital life." She paused, as if speaking for too long had left her parched, and licked her lips with her tongue, provoking the crowd below to a state of dry-mouthed anticipation. Finally, she announced, "Gentlemen, the starting bid is five hundred taels."

The hall instantly erupted. The atmosphere Madam Wen had cultivated had already stripped the crowd of their reason, and the price of the snow lotus soared, finally selling for four thousand taels.

Li Wenyuan found it amusing, and was about to turn and make a remark to Zhang Juntai, only to find that Zhang Juntai was staring, mesmerized, at Madam Wen downstairs. Li Wenyuan nudged him, saying, "What are you staring at? She’s not yours. Such a woman wouldn’t bring peace to a household."

Zhang Juntai snapped out of it and, realizing his lapse in manners, blushed and fell silent. Li Wenyuan said, "Madam Wen truly has skill. With just a few words, she can make even the shrewdest merchants lose their senses. The auction house has found a real treasure."

After the snow lotus was sold, attendants sought out the buyer, while Madam Wen continued on stage, "It seems the snow lotus didn’t suit the tastes of the gentlemen upstairs. Not to worry—I’ll bring out another item." She clapped her hands, and another attendant appeared, carrying a wooden box and handing it to her.

Madam Wen once again gently opened the box, revealing something wrapped in silk. Autumn Maiden carefully unfolded the silk, exposing the object inside, and the crowd gasped.

The silk contained a precious jade stone.

During the Sui dynasty, the previous calendar system was retained, and commoners were forbidden to own or trade jade. Thus, even the wealthiest merchants could not pass jade down in their families. Yet forbidden or not, they still understood its value, and so the appearance of this jade astonished everyone. Li Wenyuan’s mind began to turn. Hearing Madam Wen start the bidding at two taels, he summoned the attendant and said, "Add one hundred taels."