He was named Lin Hai, the nephew of the boss of Taihe, and currently worked at the Taihe Pawnshop in the Porcelain City. A month ago, I didn't know about his relationship with the boss, and after discovering his fraudulent accounting, I reported him to the manager.

Saying this, Wang Guan shrugged, his expression blank: "The rest of the story, I presume Boss Fang has already figured out."

"Heh heh, so that's how it is..."

After a moment of silence, Fang Mingsheng managed a wry smile: "I see now why when Brother Gao recruited you that day, his expression was so strange. I thought then that he just disapproved of my actions. Now, it seems he was actually laughing at me."

Wang Guan offered a faint smile, not picking up on the thread of conversation, but instead turned his gaze toward Lin Hai.

At this moment, Lin Hai also realized he had done something utterly ridiculous. The weather had turned a bit chilly, yet Lin Hai felt a burning heat sweep over him, sweat constantly beading on his forehead. Especially when he saw Wang Guan looking his way, a surge of panic flooded Lin Hai’s heart, and a look of desperate pleading involuntarily entered his eyes.

Wang Guan noticed but showed no particular reaction. His gaze settled on Lin Hai, yet it seemed unfocused, as if the man didn't exist in his sight.

"Actually, to be honest, I might not be the most magnanimous person, but I do possess a degree of tolerance," Wang Guan said with remarkable ease, as if chatting with a friend. "You caused me to lose my job, and initially, I certainly harbored some hatred toward you. But, as the old saying goes, a loss can sometimes turn into a fortunate encounter. So, I consider us even now."

"But I simply don't understand. Logically, I was the one who suffered a loss, so why do you resent me more? It was the same when we met at the Tourist Center, the same at the hotel entrance this morning, and it's the same now..."

Wang Guan shook his head calmly. "You said you would blacklist me, ensuring I could find no footing anywhere in the country. I didn't believe you could achieve that. But I did believe that this matter certainly wouldn't be too difficult for Boss Fang to handle."

After speaking, Wang Guan tilted his head slightly and asked, "Wouldn't you agree, Boss Fang?"

"Good..."

Fang Mingsheng's eyes flickered, and after a moment, he slowly nodded.

"No!"

In an instant, a feeling called despair flooded Lin Hai’s heart, filling him with terror to the point of near collapse. His body lunged forward violently, and he dropped to his knees at Fang Mingsheng’s feet, desperately pleading, "Boss Fang, for the sake of my uncle’s relationship with you, please let me go, give me a way to live!"

"Drag him away."

Fang Mingsheng waved his hand with clear annoyance.

One must obey the one who holds the purse strings. With the big boss giving the order, the security guards dared not voice any objection. They swarmed forward, grabbing Lin Hai with fumbling hands, and began dragging him out.

"Wang Guan, I was an idiot, it was my fault, spare me..." Lin Hai cried out, his struggles proving futile, and he could only be dragged out by the guards like a mop.

Wang Guan paid no mind to Lin Hai’s cries. He walked lightly toward the side room. As he passed by Fang Mingsheng, he paused, speaking with genuine sincerity: "Thank you!"

"You're welcome."

Fang Mingsheng was momentarily stunned, then a smile bloomed on his lips. "Don't worry, I will give you a satisfactory resolution."

Wang Guan blinked, slightly confused. Several days later, he heard the news that the chairman of the Taihe Company had suddenly been replaced. And from that day forward, Wang Guan never saw Lin Hai again within the borders of China.

However, at that moment, Wang Guan had no inclination to speak further. He nodded silently and walked into the side room.

The room was furnished with refined elegance. The window was open, offering a view of lush greenery outside. A gentle breeze drifted in, carrying faint, delicate fragrances that soothed the mind and refreshed the spirit.

Gao Dequan was brewing tea, while Elder Qian and the other two were leisurely savoring theirs. Among them, Elder Zhou was carefully examining the Ming Dynasty jade belt brought by Yu Feibai.

Seeing Wang Guan enter, Gao Dequan looked up and asked, "Why did it take you so long?"

"Someone was drunk and causing a disturbance at the door, pestering me so I couldn't come in," Wang Guan explained with a smile. "Thankfully, Boss Fang came out and had someone escort him away."

"That's good then..." Gao Dequan nodded, asking no further questions.

Including the others, they continued drinking tea or admiring the jade belt, showing no unusual reaction, as if they hadn't heard Lin Hai's desperate cries at all.

"Is the soundproofing in this side room really that thorough?" A strange thought suddenly crossed Wang Guan's mind.

Simultaneously, Fang Mingsheng also entered. Hearing Wang Guan's explanation, his smile deepened, but he didn't mention the recent incident. Instead, he asked, "Elder Zhou, how is the jade belt?"

"Exceedingly exquisite."

Elder Zhou smiled. "What's even rarer is that all twenty plaques are present, allowing for a complete jade belt."

"Elder Zhou, the reason for bringing the jade belt wasn't just for your appreciation, but also so you could help design a leather belt to properly set these plaques into, restoring the jade belt's original splendor," Gao Dequan said with a laugh then. "That way, it will be considered a form of cultural restoration."

"No problem at all."

Elder Zhou agreed readily, even immediately taking out a pen and paper to sketch enthusiastically on the table.

In a short while, a detailed geometric diagram of a leather belt appeared on the drawing. Every detail, including the length and width of the belt and the exact placement for embedding the jade plaques, was precisely marked.

A moment later, Elder Zhou set down his pen and said with a smile, "Use some good quality leather and proceed according to this. If anything is unclear, you can call me..."

Yu Feibai expressed his sincere gratitude repeatedly. However, when he took the drawing and looked at it, he was surprised to find that the dimensions of the belt in the diagram were exceptionally long, far exceeding the waist circumference of an ordinary person.

Noticing Yu Feibai's confusion, Elder Zhou smiled. "Do you find the belt's dimensions too long?"

"Yes, I do," Yu Feibai admitted honestly, measuring with his hands and giving a wry smile. "It's bigger than my stomach by at least two sizes."

"It's an ornament, not meant for you to actually wear," this time, before Elder Zhou could speak, Gao Dequan frowned. "Besides, these are the original specifications for a jade belt; do you intend to alter them?"

"No, I just can't help but feel how inconvenient such a long jade belt must have been for people in ancient times to wear," Yu Feibai sighed.

"That is certainly true," Elder Zhou said with a gentle smile. "When ancient people wore jade belts, they generally fastened them loosely and held the ends with both hands, believing this posture displayed their imposing authority."

"If you've watched historical dramas and paid close attention, you would understand."

Elder Zhou instructed, "In dramas, when major figures make an entrance, they are often seen holding the dangling ends of their belts with both hands. This posture is simplified from the form of ancient jade belts."

At this point, not only did Yu Feibai have a sudden realization, but Wang Guan, standing nearby, also felt he had gained considerable insight. It further confirmed the deeply interconnected relationship between ancient artifacts and the culture across various dynasties.

"Speaking of jade belts, the one that left the deepest impression on my memory is that of Emperor Taizu of Ming, Zhu Yuanzhang."

Elder Zhang chimed in, joining the conversation. "It is said that when Zhu Yuanzhang's jade belt hung up to his chest, it indicated he was in a very good mood. Conversely, when his jade belt hung down below his abdomen, it signaled that he was about to erupt in fury, perhaps even contemplating murder..."

"Knock, knock!"

Just as everyone was sharing anecdotes about jade belts, a series of knocks sounded from outside the door.

................... Thanks to book friends xianshilosesmemory and philomena for the tips. Finally, continuing to solicit collections and recommendations, please offer your generous support. C