Gao Dequan felt a flicker of interest, yet curiosity gnawed at him. "Wang Guan, if this thing is truly as you describe, it should hold significant collectible value. Why didn't you just buy it yourself?"

Noticing Elder Cao straining to overhear, Wang Guan chuckled vaguely. "The old man's asking price was too high; I couldn't afford it."

"What did he quote you? Even you couldn't manage it?" Gao Dequan inquired, intrigued.

"Sir, what is your final asking price? Give me a concrete number."

At this moment, Wang Guan deliberately covered his phone, asking in a serious tone, "Don't try to fool me with something like a million dollars."

"Six hundred thousand!" Elder Cao quickly stated, raising his initial figure mentioned to Wang Guan by a hundred thousand from fifty.

Wang Guan wasn't surprised; setting a high initial price and accepting a lower final settlement was standard practice. The opening bid was never the agreed transaction price.

Wang Guan relayed the price. Thousands of miles away, Gao Dequan heard Elder Cao's voice through the phone. He frowned slightly and decisively stated, "Wang Guan, if you truly believe in the item, then represent Collectibles House and negotiate with the seller. Once you settle on a price, let me know, and I'll wire the money over. When you return to work, bring the item with you."

With that, Gao Dequan abruptly hung up. Hearing the dial tone in his ear, Wang Guan was suddenly struck by a sense of trust placed in him, coupled with the understanding that this was a moderate test.

Just then, seeing Wang Guan pocket his phone, Elder Cao asked with a hint of eagerness, "Nephew, what did the other party say?"

"That's a client of mine. He is genuinely interested in the inkstone and trusts my judgment, so he asked me to talk to you," Wang Guan replied with a smile. "Truthfully, I also think this inkstone isn't worth six hundred thousand. Thirty-six would be more appropriate."

Thirty-six, exactly one ten-thousand more than the official who had visited three times previously.

"Nephew, how can you turn against me like this?" Elder Cao sounded displeased. "That's not very honorable of you."

"Sir, entrusted by a client, I must fulfill my duty. I can't let you down," Wang Guan laughed. "After all, the customer is god. I'm counting on him to patronize me more in the future, buy more antiques, and earn me a commission."

Wang Guan’s frankness surprisingly diffused Elder Cao’s anger.

After a moment of consideration, Elder Cao extended his hand. "Nephew, let's stop playing games. Five hundred thousand—ten thousand less than the original quote. You should be able to explain that, right?"

"Four hundred thousand."

Before Elder Cao could launch into a complaint, Wang Guan spoke first. "Sir, this inkstone is probably worth only this much. Even if you took it to the provincial auction house, you might get five hundred thousand. But auction houses take a commission. Including taxes and fees, you might walk away with less than four hundred thousand anyway."

Elder Cao hesitated. He knew Wang Guan was speaking the truth; he had only brought it back to wait for a better price because he hated the auction house's cut. Asking the official for a million was born of pique. But the four hundred thousand now was solid cash. If he missed this chance, who knew when another such high offer would surface?

After a moment of wavering, Elder Cao suddenly stated, "Five hundred thousand, and I'll give you twenty thousand."

"Uh!"

Wang Guan froze for a beat, then realized this was a kickback. He found the situation both exasperating and amusing. "Sir, this is an issue of credibility. If people find out that you and I are colluding to cheat a customer, I won't have a place in this industry anymore."

"Four hundred ninety thousand, with thirty thousand for you." Elder Cao conceded another step.

Wang Guan calculated briefly, then slapped the table. "Four hundred fifty thousand. I won't take any kickback either. It's settled or we scrap the deal."

"Done!"

Elder Cao nodded slowly, a smile spreading across his face. "Nephew, you truly have a good heart. You're too honest; you'll easily be taken advantage of."

Wang Guan smiled, offering no defense. After composing a text message, he asked directly, "Sir, it's settled then. I've reported the price. If the other party agrees, how should I pay you?"

"A bank transfer is fine. Too much cash, and I can't carry it," Elder Cao chuckled, a hint of cunning in his eyes.

"Good."

Wang Guan relayed the bank account information and waited for Gao Dequan's reply.

Not long after, Wang Guan suddenly heard a loud mobile phone ringtone. Then, to Wang Guan’s astonishment, Elder Cao gave an awkward smile, pulling a dazzling, brand-new model phone from his pocket and deftly checking the text message.

"The money is in."

Elder Cao’s face lit up with joy. Without further ado, he retreated into the back room and returned with the Kui Xing Inkstone, handing it to Wang Guan with a broad smile. "Here's the item, take a look and see if it’s right."

Wang Guan naturally inspected it, even activating his special ability to perceive the faint treasure light emanating from the stone before nodding in satisfaction. "Alright then, I'll be going now. Of course, if you have any other treasures in the house, Sir, feel free to call me over anytime."

"Alas, you've bought up everything I had; where would any treasures be left?" Elder Cao sighed.

Wang Guan wasn't sure if Elder Cao was lying, but it didn't matter much. With the inkstone secured, Wang Guan tied a box of antique ink sticks onto the back of his motorcycle, started the engine, and slowly rode away.

Wang Guan never saw Elder Cao again after that day.

Much later, during a casual conversation with his brother-in-law, Wang Guan learned that the day after the transaction was finalized, Elder Cao had packed up and moved out of the village. No one knew where he had gone.

Wang Guan surmised that Elder Cao feared retaliation from the official and had decided to escape to a place where no one knew him to live out his later years peacefully.

Hearing this news, Wang Guan felt a pang of regret. He suspected that Elder Cao must have possessed many more good items, treasures collected during that turbulent era. But perhaps Elder Cao feared that too many valuable items would attract envy, which was why he only sold one or two pieces at a time.

Of course, Wang Guan couldn't be certain about the reality of the situation.

However, from Elder Cao, Wang Guan truly learned many lessons. For the first time, he deeply understood the complexity of the antique collecting trade. If this seemingly kind and simple old man could lie without batting an eye, then the methods of true professional experts were likely even more bizarre and unpredictable.

Wang Guan sighed inwardly. An hour later, he smoothly returned to the county town. His first priority was not going home, but heading straight to the bus station. There, he had a box of ink ingots packaged for consignment.

After all, a whole box of items was too conspicuous. Wang Guan was certain that bringing the haul home would only invite endless nagging from his mother. It was better to avoid trouble than to create it.

After completing the procedures, Wang Guan returned with the Kui Xing Shadow Stone small inkstone. Upon arrival, he first placed the inkstone in his room before reporting the results of his visit to his mother.

Wang Guan naturally knew what to say and what to omit during the account. Soon, evening arrived. After dinner and watching some television, Wang Guan grew restless and retreated to his room.

Lying on the bed, reviewing the day's events, Wang Guan closed his eyes, focusing his mind in deep contemplation.......................Recommendation votes are the face of the work; currently, the total recommendations are under eight hundred, and one-tenth of those were cast by me. Heavens, please cast a few more votes!