Although vajra bodhi beads are not exactly rare treasures, they hold value because of their scarcity. Most business people are superstitious about feng shui, and many consider these beads to be quite extraordinary. Furthermore, a twenty-one-facet vajra bodhi is truly a rarity. Consequently, within minutes, the price for the string of beads had been bid up to 500,000.
However, no matter how precious the item might be, this price already exceeded its market value by more than tenfold. As the bidding continued, the number of participants dwindled. When the price hit 800,000, the auction floor fell into a brief silence. The auctioneer struck the gavel for the first time. "800,000, going once. Are there any further bids?"
A moment of silence passed. Just as the auctioneer was about to strike the second time and declare the sale, a delicate, soft voice suddenly chimed in: "850,000!"
Chapter 192