Ambition, by itself, does not guarantee success. Throughout history, countless individuals brimming with lofty aspirations have sought to achieve something monumental. Yet, only a precious few ever manage to realize their goals. The root cause, upon investigation, is invariably a matter of opportunity and timing. The times forge the heroes; this is no idle saying. Consider how many talented people throughout antiquity found no appreciative audience for their skills. Even in modern times, it is practically the norm for graduates to struggle finding satisfactory employment or for their work to be entirely disconnected from their field of study due to various constraints. This is the unfortunate reality, and it explains Gao Zhuang's lack of confidence. “Forget it, I won’t say any more.”

Though Gao Zhuang lacked confidence, he remained decidedly optimistic: “Sincerity can move mountains. Perhaps the Sea Dragon King will take pity on my earnestness one day and send a dream to guide me.” “Heh, shouldn’t you be praying to Mazu here?” Wang Guan chuckled, knowing that the worship of Mazu originated in Min territory before spreading elsewhere. “It’s different,” Gao Zhuang shook his head. “When venturing out to sea for safety, praying to Mazu is certainly correct. But if you want to get rich, praying to the Sea Dragon King is better.” “How so?” Wang Guan was intrigued. “Mazu is responsible for saving the living and rescuing the dead, but the Dragon King controls the treasures of the sea.” Gao Zhuang’s eyes shone with longing. “The legendary Dragon Palace holds countless rare treasures; one must certainly pay homage. If the Lord Dragon King manifests and accidentally drops a few trinkets, we won't have to worry for generations.” “That actually sounds quite logical…”

Amidst their joking and chatting, the late-night seafood meal concluded. After strolling by the sea to aid digestion, Wang Guan decided to spend the night right there on the boat, allowing him to catch the sunrise over the ocean the very next morning. The crimson sun slowly emerged from the horizon, painting the vast, surging ocean in vibrant hues—a spectacle truly never tiresome to behold. Of course, viewing it once every so often would never bore anyone, but if one were to witness it daily, like Gao Zhuang and his crew, it would likely lose its novelty. Wang Guan, however, felt a touch of the artist in him, sitting quietly on the deck, watching the sun climb to mid-sky and cast down its warm, soothing light, before finally returning contentedly to the cabin for seafood congee.

As they ate breakfast, a sudden clamor erupted from outside. Wang Guan, quite curious, quickly finished the last bite of shrimp, set down his bowl, and walked out. “Liu Zi, what’s going on?” At that moment, Gao Zhuang also emerged, his eyes half-open, seemingly having just woken up. “Big Brother, Expert Zhu is here.” As the reply came, a couple of figures were climbing the gangway. A young lad was the Gao Zhuang’s Liu Zi, and accompanying him was a middle-aged man in his fifties with streaks of grey in his hair. “Oh my, Expert Zhu! My apologies, my apologies.” Seeing the man, Gao Zhuang instantly brightened, rushing forward with a welcoming smile. Their relationship seemed cordial, and Expert Zhu’s tone was relaxed as he said with a smile, “Xiao Gao, coming so early, I hope I haven't disturbed your rest.” “Not at all, I’m up early.” Gao Zhuang waved his hand, ushering Mr. Zhu towards the cabin, then turning back, he spotted Wang Guan and took the opportunity to introduce them: “Brother Wang, come meet him—this is Expert Zhu from the Provincial Ceramics Research Institute.” “What expert? You mustn't speak so casually; people will laugh,” Expert Zhu quickly shook his head, then extended his hand with a smile, “In front of the young and accomplished Mr. Wang, I dare not claim the title of expert.” “You know me?” Wang Guan was momentarily surprised. “Mr. Wang’s arrival in Fuzhou yesterday caused quite a stir throughout the city. Everyone has been eagerly anticipating things,” Expert Zhu smiled. He had been among the welcoming party and naturally recognized Wang Guan. Running into him here was an unexpected delight. “Haha, Expert Zhu is joking,” Wang Guan chuckled lightly. “What people are anticipating isn't me, but those treasures, right?” “Much the same; it makes little difference,” Expert Zhu admitted frankly. “The arrival of the man signals the arrival of the objects.” “That’s true…”

While speaking, the two were invited by Gao Zhuang into the cabin to sit down. As Gao Zhuang prepared hot water for tea, Expert Zhu, somewhat curious, asked, “Mr. Wang, how do you know Xiao Gao?” “We’re friends,” Wang Guan replied. “Haven't seen him in a long time. I heard he was here and came over last night to catch up.” “I see.” Expert Zhu nodded, a flicker of realization crossing his face. This explained why so many people visited Wang Guan’s hotel yesterday only to return disappointed. They had assumed Wang Guan was deliberately avoiding them, not realizing he was genuinely meeting with friends. Of course, it could have been both—a gathering and a calculated avoidance—killing two birds with one stone. “And what about Expert Zhu?” Wang Guan then asked out of curiosity, “The treasure exhibition should be starting soon; why aren't you there visiting?” “My ticket is for tomorrow.” Expert Zhu sighed with a smile. “The exhibition is too popular. I was a step too slow and only managed to secure a spot for tomorrow.” At the same time, he felt a touch of relief; if it were today, he would have missed the chance to meet Wang Guan face-to-face. “Is that so.” Wang Guan smiled and offered, “If Expert Zhu is willing, I can take you in directly later today.” It was a small favor; considering Gao Zhuang, Wang Guan didn’t mind doing a courteous turn. However, he was also curious how Expert Zhu and Gao Zhuang had come to know each other. “That would be excellent!” Expert Zhu readily agreed, seizing the opportunity.

At the same time, seemingly sensing Wang Guan’s confusion, Gao Zhuang quickly interjected with a smile, “Expert Zhu, I understand your eagerness to see the treasures, but don’t forget the reason you came today.” “Oh, right.” Expert Zhu snapped back to attention and immediately urged, “In that case, Xiao Gao, hurry up and bring out the items.” “Just a moment.” While Gao Zhuang went to fetch the items, Wang Guan understood. The connection between the two must have been forged through the trade of salvaged ceramics. Expert Zhu's purpose today was almost certainly to inspect the goods. Wang Guan’s guess was correct. A moment later, Gao Zhuang reappeared, carrying a large tray. On the tray lay scattered shards of porcelain. It couldn't be helped; intact salvaged porcelain was extremely rare, and finding even fragments was considered fortunate. Both Wang Guan and Expert Zhu were accustomed to this reality, but their reactions upon seeing the tray differed. Wang Guan, familiar with ceramics, remained calm, whereas Expert Zhu frowned, appearing somewhat dissatisfied. “Longquan celadon.” After a glance, Expert Zhu shook his head. “Xiao Gao, the items are decent enough, but I already have too many of this type in my collection. Do you have any other varieties?” “I wish I did,” Gao Zhuang set the tray on the table with a wry smile. “The problem is, I can’t always salvage whatever I wish to find.” Expert Zhu nodded, understanding the reality, and sighed again before reaching over the tray to pick through the fragments. Most of the pieces were celadon shards—the famous Longquan ware. Historically, Longquan kilns began production during the Three Kingdoms and Jin dynasties and ceased under the Qing, spanning over sixteen centuries, making it the longest continuous ceramic production site in Chinese history. This kiln lineage specialized primarily in celadon, which was being successfully exported across Asia, Africa, and Europe as early as the Song Dynasty. Over these centuries, these celadons survived not just in China but in numerous countries abroad. If these were whole, intact pieces, they would hold value regardless of quality, even at a low price. However, since they were merely shards, they held little inherent worth. After picking through them, Expert Zhu selected a few fragments bearing discernible patterns and then stopped, indicating, “These are what I’ll take; the rest can be discarded.” “That’s fine,” Gao Zhuang nodded, aware of Expert Zhu’s high standards and not taking offense. At that moment, Expert Zhu turned and smiled at Wang Guan. “Mr. Wang, now that business is concluded, shouldn't we head over to see the treasures?” “No problem.” Wang Guan readily agreed, then asked, “Big Brother Gao, would you like to come along?” “Certainly! Xiao Wen described it so magically; I’ve been wanting to see it for ages.” Gao Zhuang readily accepted. After saying goodbye to the crew, he enthusiastically accompanied Wang Guan and Expert Zhu to the Fuzhou Museum. At that moment, the museum was thronged with people, creating a bustling, noisy scene. “So many people.” Seeing the crowd, Gao Zhuang couldn't help but express surprise. This wasn't entirely his fault; he had been at sea these past few days. Even if he occasionally glanced at newspapers or news reports, his information was always slightly detached. He hadn't experienced the atmosphere firsthand and thus hadn't grasped just how wildly popular the treasure exhibition was. “This is just the first day; it’s only a warm-up and nothing special,” Wang Guan laughed. “The last day is when it gets truly lively.” “That’s right,” Expert Zhu nodded repeatedly, then suddenly smiled. “But the liveliest part should be the moment of surprise. Mr. Wang, we are really looking forward to the surprise you’ll bring us.” “What surprise?” Wang Guan looked utterly bewildered. “Mr. Wang, you can’t play favorites,” Expert Zhu chided lightly. “In Shanghai, the Xiyi Museum brought out two new treasures for display. But Fuzhou has had no such announcement—that simply won’t do…” “Something has gone wrong; I knew it,” Wang Guan couldn't help but give a wry smile, feeling helpless. “Expert Zhu, rare treasures aren't cabbages that appear on demand. The Xiyi Museum has displayed its holdings; there’s nothing else to bring out.” “Really?” Expert Zhu frowned slightly, his expression filled with doubt. “Really!” Wang Guan nodded seriously, then averted his gaze to avoid seeing Expert Zhu’s disappointed face. He couldn't help it; this was the extent of his personal collection, barring a few items lent to Master Banshan and the Longhu Mountain sect; everything else had been contributed. But then again, perhaps he could use this as an excuse to talk to Old Man Qian? In Wang Guan's memory, Old Man Qian’s collection remained an enigma. He never showed off his wealth normally, but when needed, he could somehow produce countless items, like a Doraemon. . . RS