At that moment, spurred by Wang Guan's reminder, Gao Zhuang also snapped back to attention, quickly getting up to gesture, "Come, sit down, eat first, and then I'll tell you everything slowly."

"Sis..."

Tao Dou was clearly tempted. Looking at the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall in the jar and catching the familiar aroma, his mouth was already watering, desperate to sit down and savor the delicacy again. Yet, he was also somewhat intimidated by Tao Li's stern presence, leaving him noticeably hesitant.

"Don't be shy, quick, sit down."

Seeing this, Gao Zhuang walked right over, pulled Tao Dou down into a seat, then turned back with a smile, "Speaking of which, I was your father's apprentice, so calling me Big Brother isn't wrong at all."

As he spoke, Gao Zhuang turned back toward Boss Ding, a smile playing on his face. "Boss Ding, the young man is naive; with your broad tolerance, you shouldn't stoop to his level. Since the dragon painting is rightfully theirs, it's only proper that they redeem it now. If you find any issue with that, we can discuss it further another time."

"For now, just return the item to them so they can take it back."

Gao Zhuang's words, though seemingly mild, carried an undeniable weight of authority. Combined with his tall and imposing stature, they exerted a considerable deterrent effect.

"Esteemed guest, you jest."

Boss Ding, ever the smooth operator, immediately understood the shifting dynamics and made his decision in an instant. He chuckled immediately, "It was collateral in the first place; redeeming it now—how could I possibly object? Moreover, it’s my fault for being petty and grasping at small gains. I deserve a penalty. I shall fine myself three extra cups..." Boss Ding decisively poured wine, raised his cup, and drank five cups consecutively as an apology. Only then did he wipe his lips and retreat with a smile. Internally, he felt a surge of relief; luckily, he hadn't pushed things too far back then, or handling this now would have been difficult. Gao Zhuang’s resemblance to certain triad bosses was primarily what unsettled him.

Regardless of the preceding tension, the painting was redeemed, and Tao Li visibly relaxed. Naturally, she began inquiring about Gao Zhuang's background. To this day, she hadn't grasped exactly what kind of "apprentice" he was.

"An apprentice in sailing and fishing," Gao Zhuang chuckled. "Ten years ago, weren't you living in Hucheng? Uncle Tao worked at the fisheries company back then. I had just started my job, and Uncle Tao personally taught me how to navigate and fish. I even visited your home a few times; you two siblings were still in school then, weren't you? Later, Uncle Tao saved enough money and decided to return home to run his own business, even planning to bring me along."

"But at that time, my mother was ill, and my younger sister was still small, so I had to decline Uncle Tao's kind offer."

As he spoke, Gao Zhuang sighed slightly, "Time flies so fast; it's been ten years in the blink of an eye. I wonder how Uncle Tao is doing now?"

"...He's managing."

Even though she still didn't recall Gao Zhuang, hearing him recount the details of her family situation without a single error convinced Tao Li. Her suspicion vanished, replaced by a bright smile. "He's still quite robust..."

"Robust my foot," Tao Dou interjected irritably. "He failed in business, the company collapsed, and he became completely despondent. If it weren't for Big Sis holding things up, this family would have crumbled long ago. If I had known things would turn out like this, he shouldn't have tried being his own boss; staying in Hucheng would have been much better! If we had stayed there, I’d probably have Hucheng residency by now."

"Watch your mouth and eat your food!" Tao Li snapped, deeply displeased that Tao Dou was carelessly revealing their family's private matters.

"Sis, Big Brother Gao is Dad's apprentice, not an outsider. What's the harm in telling him?" Tao Dou argued, then grinned, "Right, Big Brother Gao?"

The kid might be a bit of a rogue, but he possessed some perceptiveness. Seeing that Gao Zhuang appeared to be doing well now, he quickly sought to strengthen their connection by latching onto this relationship.

"Yes," Gao Zhuang nodded, asking with concern, "Is Uncle Tao really alright?"

"Can't say he's in serious trouble, but can't say he's fine either," Tao Dou said casually. "He drowned his sorrows in alcohol for a few years, and his health suffered greatly. Only in the last two years has he managed to pull himself together somewhat. He usually helps people mend fishing nets or dry fish. Having something to do has helped him recover perhaps twenty percent of his former self."

"I see."

Gao Zhuang frowned slightly. "Where do you live? I'll drop by for a visit when I have time later."

"It’s not close," Tao Dou replied after happily devouring a mouthful of Buddha Jumps Over the Wall. "It’s over in Mawei Langqi. We used to be in Fuzhou city proper, but when we ran out of money, we had no choice but to move back to the dilapidated ancestral home..."

"Dou Zi, will you die if you say less?"

Tao Li was genuinely angry. She understood her brother's motive: painting a pitiable picture of their home was clearly an attempt to win Gao Zhuang's sympathy and perhaps secure some financial aid. But Tao Li's pride forbade her from resorting to such measures, naturally causing her immense dissatisfaction.

"Fine, fine, I won't say anything more, I won't," Tao Dou conceded easily, falling silent and focusing on the delicious meal. Everything important had been said; if Gao Zhuang truly cared, he would know what to do next.

"We can discuss that later..."

Gao Zhuang smiled. He couldn't focus solely on the Tao siblings while ignoring Wang Guan and Expert Zhu. After learning some necessary details, he immediately raised his glass in a toast. "Brother Wang, Expert Zhu, let’s have a drink too."

"I'll join!"

Tao Dou, being naturally sociable, was about to pour himself a drink and join the revelry, but Tao Li stopped him. Being a few years older, Tao Li had richer life experience and instinctively understood that Wang Guan and Expert Zhu likely held significant status. Given Gao Zhuang's connection, allowing them all to share a table was already generous. If Tao Dou acted improperly, the resulting embarrassment wouldn't just be theirs; it might even put Gao Zhuang in a difficult position. With this in mind, Tao Li absolutely could not let her brother run wild and quietly issued a warning.

Receiving the subtle signal, Tao Dou shrank back slightly in apprehension and obediently set down his cup. He couldn't argue; if he disobeyed now and caused trouble later, there would be no one to clean up his mess.

Wang Guan and the others witnessed these small gestures, which further raised their estimation of Tao Li. One should know propriety; a person lacking such awareness wasn't being spirited, but foolish.

After a round of drinks, the atmosphere warmed considerably. Expert Zhu seized the opportunity, smiling, "Xiao Gao, meeting an old acquaintance in a strange land—that's one of the Four Great Joys of life. You really must share a toast with young Brother Tao."

"Alright, Brother Tao, let's have a drink..." Gao Zhuang readily agreed.

Hearing this, Tao Dou was overjoyed, realizing Tao Li had no grounds left to refuse. He quickly and expertly poured wine for everyone, then raised his cup in a full, respectful salute. His practiced movements suggested he had been drinking for quite some time.

As glasses were raised and camaraderie flowed, the banquet gradually neared its end. Gao Zhuang excused himself under some pretext to settle the bill, then returned to the private room for tea and casual conversation.

A short while later, Expert Zhu also found an excuse to step out, returning quickly only to complain playfully, "Xiao Gao, we agreed I was treating today; why were you in such a rush to pay?"

"Just helping out, just helping out," Gao Zhuang laughed. "We'll settle up next time; there will certainly be a chance for you."

"Fine, it's settled then."

As they spoke, the lunch gathering concluded. Despite the minor interruption, the event was largely a success. Just then, the Manager Ding, who had disappeared earlier, reappeared. Acting as if nothing had happened, he enthusiastically escorted them out, hoping they would visit again.

As soon as they stepped outside, Expert Zhu realized Wang Guan and the others had pressing matters to attend to and tactfully excused himself. Only then did Gao Zhuang turn to the Tao siblings. "Have you gone home yet? I'll drive you back."

"Yes, yes, yes!" Tao Dou nodded immediately, his expression bright with excitement. Tao Li hesitated slightly but, after a moment's consideration, didn't object, tacitly agreeing.

Seeing this, Gao Zhuang smiled, then turned back to Wang Guan. "Brother Wang, would you... like to come along and take a look?" Wang Guan smiled warmly. "I don't have anything urgent. It would be nice to take a walk around and experience the local customs here."

"We absolutely should go see," Tao Dou declared, sounding boastful. "Our Langqi is known as the Pearl of the Min River Estuary, Fujian Province's fourth-largest island. Our natural conditions are superior—a wonderful place for tourism, sightseeing, and relaxation. The island is rich in culture, with countless historical sites..." Tao Dou spoke fluently, rattling off names like "White Cloud Watching the Sun, Cloud Dragon Tide Sound, Twin Turtles Guarding the Mouth, Five Tigers Protecting the Gate..."

"Is that so? Then we must certainly go have a look."

As he spoke, Wang Guan signaled for someone to bring the car around. When the luxurious vehicle slowly approached, Tao Dou trailed off, his eyes fixed on the car, displaying an expression of deep yearning.

A fine car is undoubtedly different from an ordinary one. The metal shell, reflecting sunlight like a glass mirror with its perfect curves, exuded an air of opulence visible from the exterior. Tao Dou had seen many such vehicles, but they were always objects to be admired from afar, never touched. This was his first time having such close contact. Sometimes he envied the parking attendants at the grand hotels, who at least got to experience such machinery. He never expected today he might realize that desire. For a moment, Tao Dou was thrilled. "Big Brother, does this car belong to you?"

"No!"

At the same time, Wang Guan shook his head with a smile. "It belongs to someone else; I'm just borrowing it for a while."

"Oh, I see." Tao Dou's disappointment was plain to see.

After the brief explanation, Wang Guan invited everyone into the car and instructed the driver to head back toward the pier. On the way, Tao Dou acted like a child with ADHD, fidgeting and touching things inside the car. Tao Li, however, couldn't stand it and immediately disciplined him**, leaving him silently resentful until they arrived at the pier, where he reluctantly exited.

At that moment, seeing Wang Guan and Gao Zhuang walking toward the side, Tao Li quickly reminded them, "The ferry isn't over there..."

"My boat is nearby; we don't need the ferry," Gao Zhuang explained over his shoulder.

Tao Li realized this and nodded gently, saying no more. A few moments later, following Gao Zhuang to where the vessel was docked, her eyes widened in disbelief.

"Big Brother, this is your boat?"

Tao Dou's reaction was similar—his jaw dropped in stunned silence, followed by an explosion of ecstatic joy...