(Yicai Global) June 12 -- Li Guoqing, the founder of online book-selling platform Dangdang who was ousted by his wife Yu Yu, will re-auction luncheons with himself after their price topped CNY1 billion (USD141 million), inflated by a prankster from a starting price of CNY1,000 (USD141).

The auction went on until 1.27 p.m. when Li stopped it after 151 people had bid, as someone had maliciously driven the price too high, and he wanted to give some friendly person in need the chance to exchange ideas on reading or starting a business, he said on China’s Twitter-like Weibo today. “I will treat them with sincerity and tell them everything I know," Li pledged.

Editor: Ben Armour