"Uncle De, Fang Boss's company, is it called Taihe?" Yu Feibai asked, a slight smirk playing on his lips, barely suppressing a laugh.

"It is Taihe, indeed."

Gao Dequan chuckled lightly, "They have jewelry shops and pawnshops, spread across the entire province, with over a dozen chain stores."

"Heh heh, you two have heard of Taihe too?"

Although finding Gao Dequan's and Yu Feibai's reaction somewhat odd, Fang Mingsheng didn't dwell on it, assuming they were displeased about him poaching talent.

However, Fang Mingsheng paid it no mind; in his view, these were minor details.

After all, Wang Guan was merely an employee of Jigu Zhai, not a bound slave signed over by a contract—he was free to come and go. If Fang Mingsheng could meet the price and Wang Guan willingly agreed, what could Gao Dequan possibly say?

Alas, Fang Mingsheng counted every possibility but remained utterly unaware of Wang Guan's true background.

Thus, regarding Fang Mingsheng's attempt to poach his man, Gao Dequan paid it no attention whatsoever, merely watching with cold detachment.

As for Wang Guan, he was entirely unmoved. Had this occurred half a month earlier, right after being dismissed by Taihe, if Fang Mingsheng had extended an olive branch, Wang Guan would certainly have agreed instantly without a second thought.

Now, things were different. Setting aside the proverb about a good horse not returning to its old pasture, Wang Guan no longer cared about an annual salary of a million; needless to say, he had already firmly decided to follow Uncle De in learning the lore of antique appraisal.

With his true intention unshaken, Wang Guan naturally smiled and declined, "Thank you for your kindness, Boss Fang, but my skills are limited. I still need several more years of dedicated study. I'm afraid I must decline your generous offer."

"Oh..."

Fang Mingsheng paused slightly, then conceded that Wang Guan had a point. Feeling the young man possessed self-awareness, he relaxed and laughed heartily, "Very well then, I'll wait a few years for you."

"Thank you, Boss Fang." Wang Guan smiled and slid into the car.

"Farewell!"

Waving goodbye, the sedan sped away quickly, leaving the villa behind.

On the road, Yu Feibai chuckled, "To be honest, Boss Fang was a bit stingy. The money Wang Guan has earned in the last half month could cover his salary for several years. It hardly seems tempting."

"It's not about the money," Wang Guan replied. "After spending time with Uncle De, I truly recognized my own shortcomings. Naturally, I must study seriously for a few years to avoid embarrassing myself later on."

"Mmm."

Gao Dequan nodded in satisfaction. "Feibai, you need to emulate Wang Guan in this respect. Once you decide to learn something, you must dive deep and study it diligently. Do you know what kind of person antique dealers prefer most?"

Gao Dequan answered his own rhetorical question, "It's someone like you—only half-baked, knowing a little but not fully understanding. That makes you the easiest to fool."

"Understood, I will certainly study hard and make daily progress..." Yu Feibai exclaimed, showing no fear of being put down, possessing the spirit of someone who fights on despite repeated failures—precisely the kind of person who often achieves success.

As they spoke, the three returned to the Tourist Reception Center.

Alighting from the car, Yu Feibai asked, "Uncle De, it's still early, where to next?"

"We still have two leisurely days. Since we've made the rare trip to Longhu Mountain, we should certainly look around and take in the scenery."

Gao Dequan smiled, "However, I am old now, and my body isn't up to it. Climbing mountains and exploring adventures aren't suitable for me anymore. I'll just look around nearby. As for you two, go do whatever you please."

"Uncle De isn't old; he's clearly just grown tired of it and has lost his enthusiasm," Yu Feibai bantered, but it seemed he had been waiting for this cue. After a brief exchange, he vanished from sight in the blink of an eye.

"That brat, running off so fast. Does he really think I don't know he's off chasing girls?" Gao Dequan muttered under his breath.

Beside him, Wang Guan listened, momentarily stunned, never expecting a man of Gao Dequan's age to know the slang term for picking up women.

Seeing this, Gao Dequan realized he might have compromised his image of being dignified and awe-inspiring. He straightened his collar, coughed lightly, and asked, "Wang Guan, where do you plan to go?"

"I'll just wander around casually, perhaps buy some gifts to send home," Wang Guan replied.

"Very good, much better than that fellow Yu Feibai," Gao Dequan said with a smile. "You could go to Shangqing Ancient Town. You can buy some particularly unique items at the Sihan Celestial Master's Residence there."

"Thank you for the guidance, Uncle De. I'll head there then." Wang Guan said, boarding a sightseeing shuttle at the stop and heading toward Shangqing Ancient Town.

Soon, Wang Guan arrived in the small town. Perhaps due to the large number of tourists, the ancient town wasn't as quiet and peaceful as the promotional photos suggested; instead, it felt quite bustling.

The ancient town held many historical sites and scenic spots, but the most famous were the Shangqing Palace and the Sihan Celestial Master's Residence.

Following the flow of people, Wang Guan reached a long street, nearly two li in length, lined with ancient architecture. His feet trod upon smooth, rounded, unevenly shaped, yet neatly arranged cobblestones, while his eyes surveyed the densely packed old buildings, evoking a somewhat ineffable sense of feeling.

However, the sheer number of pedestrians and tourists, the thronging crowds, and the goods displayed on the street made it impossible to truly sense the timeless charm of the ancient town anymore.

After walking for a while, Wang Guan arrived at the renowned Celestial Master's Residence.

In ancient times, from high-ranking nobles to common folk, everyone knew of the two great clans: the Northern Kong and the Southern Zhang. The Northern Kong referred to the Confucius family of Qufu, while the Southern Zhang naturally referred to the family of Celestial Master Zhang.

To be compared to the family of the Sage Confucius showed just how immense Celestial Master Zhang's influence had been. In a sense, the Kong family pursued the upper-class route; the title of Hereditary Duke commanded respect even from the Emperor among all scholars.

But the Zhang family followed the grassroots route; their influence among the common populace was likely a source of apprehension even for the Emperor.

After all, for the common people, the Celestial Master had become a form of faith.

Of course, even the most illustrious families inevitably declined under the relentless erosion of history's long river. Today, the Celestial Master's Residence no longer possessed the glory of its former days.

Like countless other structures, the Celestial Master's Residence had devolved into a historical scenic spot, open for visitation and admiration.

With a touch of melancholy, Wang Guan stepped into the Celestial Master's Mansion.

It was said that in its prime, the entire Celestial Master's Residence was vast in scale, magnificent in appearance, opulent in architecture, and exquisite in craftsmanship—a structure modeled after a royal residence, and one of the largest existing feudal mansions in China. Within its courtyards grew dense groves of Yuzhang trees, ancient timber reached toward the sky, casting deep, verdant shade, and the environment was tranquil, once earning the appellation of "Immortal Capital" and "First Family of the Southern Kingdom."

Legend had it that Celestial Master Zhang took great pains in selecting this site. Its main gate faced the Luxi River, its back rested against Xihua Mountain, and it was embraced by green hills on both flanks—truly a prime Feng Shui location in ancient China, with a clear front view and a solid backing, flanked by the Azure Dragon and White Tiger.

Once the location was chosen, the design followed the shape of the Bagua, featuring a front gate, an outer gate, private quarters, and a rear courtyard, thus earning the reputation of "Unparalleled Ground in the South" and "First Household of the West River."

Alas, after several periods of warfare, the Celestial Master's Residence was destroyed by fire. After the founding of the People's Republic, it received little attention and nearly fell into ruin. Fortunately, it welcomed the spring breeze of Reform and Opening Up, allowing the Celestial Master's Residence to undergo gradual restoration.

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