HLM – Chapter 118 Even Lamb Can Go Wild

The bidding had been intense earlier because people were looking to profit. Twenty thousand U.S. dollars converted to about twenty-eight thousand New Zealand dollars, so buying the coin for anything under that meant easy money.

When Porter raised the bid to thirty thousand, no one else joined. At that price, it would be a loss unless the buyer truly wanted it for their collection.

After repeating the bid three times, Wang Bo gave the gavel a firm knock. “Congratulations to Mr. Porter—thirty thousand New Zealand dollars! The Maundy Coin is his!”

The audience applauded, and a few people around Porter shook his hand. In any case, the money from the auction was going to charity, so most attendees appreciated and supported the event.

Of course, Downton’s group was the exception. They were the least thrilled to see Wang Bo in the spotlight.

After handing the coin to the staff, Wang Bo left the stage. As he passed by Eva, she smiled warmly and said sincerely, “Hi, thank you, Wang. You’re truly a good person.” There it was—another “good guy card.” Wang Bo smiled in return.

The Maundy Coin had been the climax of the auction. Though many items followed, they were just small gifts and didn’t cause much excitement.

Porter swiped his card and received the coin. He opened the brocade box and admired it for a while, then laughed, “This little thing is really beautiful. Wang, your ancestors must’ve been serious collectors.”

Wang Bo laughed heartily. “Thanks for the compliment, but actually my ancestors were all fishermen.”

“Then they must’ve been big-time fishery owners,” Porter said, clearly convinced Wang Bo came from old money.

After the auction, there was a celebratory party. The school had set it up buffet-style—some were grilling, others were making pizza, and a few were mixing drinks. The atmosphere was lively.

Wang Bo’s charitable act had earned him admiration from the crowd. People kept coming up to chat or ask about Chinese culture. Though he wanted to talk to Eva, he couldn’t break away.

The thoughtful Juan noticed this and brought Wang Bo a bottle of beer to help him soothe his throat.

The man chatting with Wang Bo noticed and excused himself politely. “Wang, I’ll go grab some barbecue. Want any?”

Wang Bo shrugged, “Thanks, Buck, but I think I’m good.”

The middle-aged man, Buck, took a plate and wandered to a grill. He casually picked up a couple of pieces of golden-brown lamb, tossed them into his mouth, and began chewing.

As soon as the meat hit his tongue, an intense aroma bloomed. With each chew, rich juices burst out and coated his taste buds. The flavor of the lamb filled his mouth completely.

Buck froze for a second, stunned. The tenderness and smoothness of the lamb far exceeded his expectations. This was a sensation unlike any he’d had before.

After finishing one piece, he popped the other in his mouth. The repeated experience made him exclaim, “Shit! This lamb is amazing! My God, this flavor is incredible!”

Someone nearby chuckled, “Buck, don’t be so dramatic. It’s just grilled meat. Don’t tell me you skipped lunch today.”

Unconvinced, Buck grabbed a piece and threw it on the other guy’s plate. “Shit, Bimon, you idiot! You’re always doubting people! Try it—taste this damn meat and see how good it is!”

Skeptical, Bimon bit into it—then his eyes widened. “F**k! This grilled meat tastes amazing!”

Seeing their almost ridiculous reactions, more people gathered to try it. Soon, all the grills were surrounded by curious tasters.

Over four hundred people had shown up, and the school had set up ten grills to meet demand.  In New Zealand parties, barbecue is the main dish—quick to prepare, delicious, and easy enough for anyone to cook, perfect for the party vibe.

But not all the grilled meat was praised. People shrugged off the meat at six of the grills, saying it was just okay. The other four, though, were getting rave reviews.

The four grills were quickly emptied. One of the grillers had to shout, “Hey, folks, step back, will ya? For God’s sake, you’re about to knock over my grill! Let me cook more! I’m grateful for the compliments, but I need space!”

Buck yelled, “It’s not your grilling skills, buddy! Separate the meat—it’s the meat itself! Is this Wagyu? It’s insanely good!”

Someone added, “Yeah, the meat is different! Look at the trays—the source is labeled. Tonight’s meat came from various ranches and farms.”

Buck grabbed a tray full of lamb and held it up under the light. Two words were printed clearly on the label: Sunset Town, Wang Bo.

At that moment, Wang Bo was having an animated chat with Eva. Once Buck left, the lovely teacher came over and smiled, “Wanna have a drink together?”

“I’m a lightweight. Don’t try to get me drunk,” Wang Bo joked.

They clinked glasses. Eva’s moist red lips took a sip of wine, the liquid staining her lips so you couldn’t tell whether it was the wine or her lips that were redder.

After a sip, she seemed more animated. She smiled and said, “Wang, what you said today was wonderful. The most precious things in this world aren’t gold or jewels, but crystal-clear compassion and kind humanity. I know you have a pure heart. I’m proud to call you my friend.”

Hearing such praise, Wang Bo chuckled, “Ah, that was nothing…”

Just as he was about to get carried away, a rough voice interrupted him: “Wang, was that meat yours? From your ranch?”

Buck approached, holding up the tray, followed by more than a dozen people.

Wang Bo was stunned. He looked at the tray—the lamb inside was bright red, with fine marbling and clear texture. It was indeed the lamb he brought.

Not knowing what was going on, he asked cautiously, “Yes, that’s my lamb. Why? Did someone get sick from it?”

Just as Buck and the others were about to speak, Eva stepped forward and blocked Wang Bo, saying firmly, “Impossible. I received the lamb from Wang myself. It’s very fresh. If there’s an issue, it’s definitely not the meat’s fault—don’t wrong a good man!”

Wang Bo was touched. Eva really trusted him. But… he’d just earned another good guy card again.

Buck said quickly, “No, no, no—the meat is perfect—damn, it’s not just good, it’s amazing! My God, it’s the best lamb I’ve ever had. Is it baby lamb?”

Wang Bo shook his head. “No, it’s from adult sheep. I didn’t bring lamb because there wasn’t enough of it.”

Someone nearby grabbed his arm. “Wang, this meat is from your ranch? Are you selling it? God knows how much I love that flavor—it’s absolutely divine!”