Wang Guan looked down, his brow immediately furrowing. “What treasure? This is clearly just junk metal.”

It wasn’t that Wang Guan was deliberately demeaning the items; they truly were worthless scraps. There were copper wires, iron strands, aluminum sheets, and even rusted screw caps. If taken to a scrap yard, they might even refuse the collection due to the small quantity.

“These are all of it?”

Wang Guan’s tone held a noticeable degree of disappointment. “If it’s just this stuff, then there’s nothing much to see. The items… they’re passable, I suppose, but I’m not particularly fond of them.”

“Sir, take another look. Since you think they’re decent, why not just buy them?” Kong Chao was a silver-tongued smooth talker, clearly treating Wang Guan like a soft mark ripe for fleecing. Naturally, his efforts were doomed to be in vain.

Wang Guan might occasionally feign ignorance, but he was certainly no fool. No matter how much Kong Chao pressed, there would be no result. Furthermore, seeing Kong Chao persist obliviously and drone on, Wang Guan grew irritated. He cut the conversation short with finality. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll be heading back. I had a bit to drink earlier, and the lingering effects are hitting me now. I need to get back to the car to rest.”

The buzz was hitting him, yet he wasn't staggering around drunk enough to mindlessly buy things? Kong Chao thought resentfully, but he couldn't afford to let such a significant customer walk away. He quickly moved to stop him.

“Sir, wait just a moment longer.”

At the opportune time, Kong Chao put on a serious expression. “Give me one more chance. This is just the appetizer. If you dislike this, I’ll bring out the real main course.”

As he spoke, Kong Chao hurried back out and was gone for a considerable time.

“What trick is he playing?” Wang Guan frowned slightly but waited with patience.

Several minutes later, Kong Chao finally returned. This time, he held a box, which clearly contained the 'main course' he had mentioned.

This piqued Wang Guan’s interest, and he asked curiously, “What is that?”

“A treasure, a precious relic once used by the Kong family,” Kong Chao said mysteriously, then lifted the lid of the box in front of Wang Guan. However, the box was lined with a layer of red cloth, indicating how carefully the contents were protected.

Initially, Wang Guan did think so. But as he urged Kong Chao on, the moment the red cloth was pulled back, Wang Guan felt an urge to spit at Kong Chao. Did he take him for some unknowing idiot?

Wang Guan glanced sideways. Inside the box lay a bowl—a common, large serving bowl, just like the rough one he’d used for the bitter tea earlier. Such things were worth, at most, a few yuan each. Yet, Kong Chao had packaged it like a rare gem, intending to swindle someone.

Whoever Kong Chao intended to defraud, Wang Guan took one look, turned around, and walked away.

Kong Chao had intended to say something more, but seeing this, he froze for a moment. Only when he saw Wang Guan had walked several paces did he react, quickly hurrying after him to block his path, asking with genuine confusion, “Sir, why are you leaving already?”

“Why shouldn’t I leave?” Wang Guan’s expression was impassive. “If this kind of large bowl is a treasure, I recall there are many in the ancestral hall. I’m in a rush to go collect some…”

“How can this be the same? This one was used by Confucius himself…” It seemed Kong Chao was determined to treat Wang Guan as a fool, still spouting nonsense.

“Is that so?”

Wang Guan’s eyes finally held a hint of mockery. “Do you know which period Confucius lived in?”

“This…”

Kong Chao’s eyes flickered. “Of course, I know. He was that… sage from very, very long ago.”

“The Spring and Autumn period.”

Wang Guan kindly offered the reminder. Seeing Kong Chao nod repeatedly, he continued slowly, “However, to my knowledge, the most prevalent materials during the Spring and Autumn period were bronze or pottery. Porcelain firing techniques were not yet mature. They certainly couldn't produce a hard, dense ceramic bowl like this. Are you suggesting Master Kong was resurrected, or that this bowl time-traveled?”

“Uh…”

Under normal circumstances, anyone caught in this situation would be blushing furiously, ashamed of their ignorance. But Kong Chao was no ordinary person, at least not one easily embarrassed. He showed no sign of awkwardness; instead, he smiled genially. “Sir has quite the insight, knowing so much.”

“That’s common knowledge, isn’t it?”

In that instant, Wang Guan confirmed it: Kong Chao definitely didn't possess anything truly valuable. That half-piece of the Iron Certificate must have been acquired by sheer fluke. There was no point wasting more time on him.

Wang Guan stated calmly, “It’s getting late. I’m going back to rest. That’s that, goodbye.”

“Sir, wait, just a moment more…”

Kong Chao lunged forward, clinging to him for a second time. To him, Wang Guan was a walking goldmine; missing this opportunity felt like defying heaven. He couldn't possibly let Wang Guan leave before securing some benefit.

Even with Wang Guan’s good temper, he was growing annoyed now. He said impatiently, “What more is there to wait for? To watch you make a fool of yourself? Please, I’ve emphasized repeatedly that if you’re going to lie, have some sincerity. I see no sign of that quality in you…”

At this, Kong Chao was stunned, his expression freezing instantly. He hadn't expected the man he saw as a ‘good person’ to have such a sharp, cutting side.

“Excuse me, please move aside.” Wang Guan cleared his throat, regaining his refined composure. “Thank you for your hospitality. However, I am tired and will leave now.”

“Sir, you cannot leave.” Kong Chao quickly regained his composure and continued to obstruct the path.

“Why can’t I leave?”

This time, Wang Guan was unapologetic. “Is this some kind of den where you can let people in but not out?”

“Certainly not.”

Kong Chao quickly shook his head, but his voice dropped to a low register. “Actually, I’m an orphan…”

“Hm?”

Wang Guan paused in his steps. “What do you mean?”

Seeing Wang Guan stop, Kong Chao lowered his hands that had been blocking him, bowed his head, and began to recount. “My parents passed away very early. In my memory, I have no impression of them at all. You could say I grew up eating the charity of a hundred families. It was only thanks to the support of the village elders that I could get to where I am today.”

“Sir, you can see that the village conditions aren't great; it’s not prosperous. In the past, it was even harder, and with so many children in the village, raising one more person was a burden.”

At this moment, Kong Chao was deeply emotional, and tears shimmered in his eyes when he looked up. “A person must never forget their roots. Even if they don't care, I hold this kindness in my heart. Perhaps you don't know, but the village is planning to clear land to grow wild vegetables and urgently needs some funds. But I’m useless; I can’t offer any real help, so…”

“…Sir, please just buy these things.”

As he spoke, Kong Chao’s voice was filled with sadness. “I know you aren't short of money. Just consider it a great act of kindness, a way to help the old and young of the village. We will remember you for life…”

Under Kong Chao’s expectant gaze, Wang Guan’s expression softened slightly.

It looked like success was imminent…

For a moment, Kong Chao’s eyes filled with joy and expectation, waiting for Wang Guan to nod. However, just as Wang Guan was about to nod, he revealed a look of playful amusement. “Do you know the purpose of the banquet at the ancestral hall just now?”

“What?” Kong Chao blinked, looking puzzled and uncertain of the meaning.

“As expected.”

Wang Guan immediately sneered. “You don’t even know the purpose of the banquet, and now you come telling me this? Isn’t that ridiculous? It’s a shame. If you had told me this earlier, perhaps I would have believed you. The problem is, after seeing your performance at the banquet, do you really think I would fall for it?”

“…Sir, I don’t understand what you are talking about.” Kong Chao looked taken aback, his face a mask of confusion.

“You weren't a guest; you are young and capable. While the villagers were setting tables and serving food, you showed no inclination to help. You only shamelessly freeloaded once the bowls and chopsticks were set down. Even though the villagers were generous and said nothing, your behavior made me deeply question how profound your supposed gratitude truly is.”

Wang Guan smiled faintly. “Of course, the most crucial thing is, didn’t the villagers tell you that Elder Yan discovered a wild ginseng root and donated it to the village, letting everyone share the cost of cultivating the wild vegetables? In other words, the issue has been resolved, yet you are completely unaware. This makes me even more suspicious of your standing within the community…”

“They kept even this information from you, which shows what kind of person you are in their eyes. Yet now you act so mournful and compassionate, pretending to care for the villagers. Doesn't that seem utterly absurd? Whether you genuinely possess this conscience or not, I certainly won't believe it…”

As he finished speaking, Wang Guan shook his head and walked straight toward the exit.

“Sir, let me explain…”

At this, Kong Chao’s face flushed red and then pale, a mix of shame and anger, but mostly desperation. Yes, desperation. After all, compared to everything else, the immediate profit was most important.

He had finally managed to snag a big fat goose; how could he let it go so easily? So, Kong Chao chased after him again, continuing to pester him, looking as if he was resolved to stick to Wang Guan.

In truth, Kong Chao was inherently a scoundrel, so acting like a rogue at this moment was perfectly natural for him. However, this routine didn't work on Wang Guan; perhaps it was because Wang Guan had already dealt with this type of shameless behavior before.

Wang Guan was now considered experienced and well-traveled, naturally knowing how to handle such rogues.

Ignoring him was the way to go—like dealing with a rabid dog. The more you engage, the fiercer it barks. If you ignore it, it will eventually get bored of barking and shut up obediently.

So, no matter how Kong Chao clung to him, Wang Guan paid him no mind, acting as if he saw nothing and heard nothing, focusing only on walking out the front door. But because there were no lights outside and the night was growing deeper, he didn't notice the two or three steps leading down as he walked out. His foot missed the ground, and he nearly tumbled.

Fortunately, Wang Guan reacted quickly, steadying himself by grabbing onto something nearby, successfully averting disaster…

“Sir, Sir, are you alright?”

At the same time, Kong Chao rushed over to help, fussing over him while muttering indignantly, “Ah, it’s all these steps! I’ll have them flattened tomorrow…”