In a striking turn of events, a bottle of Sprite became the last possession of a bankrupt millionaire, surnamed Chen, to be auctioned off by the Dafeng District People’s Court in Yancheng, Jiangsu province, China. The auction commenced at a mere 4.2 yuan (approximately 0.6 US cents), despite the retail price being 6 yuan (9 US cents). This unusual auction attracted 366 registrants and garnered over 13,000 views before it was ultimately withdrawn due to a settlement. Chen's companies, which included a biotechnology firm and a marine food company, declared bankruptcy without any significant assets, raising questions about the implications of such a sale. The auction sparked considerable online criticism, with many questioning the waste of judicial resources in auctioning off such a trivial item. [bafa5d8c]
In a contrasting narrative, another story emerged from China involving a man named Huang from Hefei, Anhui province, who won 24 million yuan (approximately US$3.4 million) in the Double Colour Ball lottery on September 10, 2024. Huang had been using family birthdays as his lottery numbers for seven years, showcasing remarkable persistence. He purchased a 10-yuan (US$1.4) ticket and claimed his prize just two days later, on September 12, 2024. Following his win, Huang donated 100,000 yuan (US$14,000) to charity, reflecting his commitment to giving back to the community. He also plans to buy a better house for his family, highlighting his desire to improve their living conditions. The Double Colour Ball lottery has been popular since its launch in 2003, with cumulative sales of 30 billion yuan (US$4.3 billion) as of mid-July 2024. Huang's story has sparked discussions on social media, with reactions ranging from admiration for his persistence to envy over his win. [0fa50182] [b8fb41d8] [283a2b2d]