In an instant, Tao Dou’s jaw dropped, followed by an excited exclamation: "I don't believe it! Oh, right, that painting. That painting proves this is real. Grandpa said it was an heirloom of the Pirate King, that’s why he cherished it so much…"

"Douzi, stop messing around."

At this moment, Tao Li spoke with irritation: "That painting is indeed an heirloom passed down from our ancestors, but it absolutely has nothing to do with the Pirate King. Because the item wasn't passed down from our side of the family; it was part of Grandma’s dowry, which is why Grandpa valued it so highly."

"What?" Tao Dou’s mouth hung wide open, feeling as if his entire belief system was crumbling.

"Mm, your sister is right."

Just then, Tao Tao also affirmed with certainty: "The painting was indeed part of your grandmother’s dowry. Actually, your grandmother came from a scholarly family, but their fortunes declined, leading her to marry your grandfather. So, stop having those unrealistic daydreams, work diligently, and don't make your sister worry anymore."

"...How could this be." Tao Dou was utterly crestfallen, his expression one of utter dejection. Just moments ago he thought he had reached paradise, only to realize in the next second that it was hell. Life's dizzying peaks and troughs came too fast, making it hard to accept.

"Who told you to let your imagination run wild," Tao Li shot him a glare before turning back. "I apologize; this child is often like this. He’s twenty years old and still hasn't matured. His mind is always filled with nonsense; I hope you can forgive his antics."

"It's nothing, really," Gao Zhuang waved his hand and said with a smile, "He's young, after all. Having a rich imagination is understandable. I was just like that back in the day, always hoping one day I’d find a treasure map and dig up riches left by the Pirate King…"

"Brother Gao, aren't you doing exactly that now?"

At the same time, Wang Guan chuckled: "When you lacked the capability, all of that was surely just fantasy. But now that the conditions are met, it’s certainly possible to turn that dream into reality."

"You speak the truth."

Gao Zhuang heartily agreed, mused for a moment, and then suddenly asked, "Brother Tao, are you truly willing to work on the ship?"

"...Willing, of course, I am willing."

The tide turned. Tao Dou paused for a beat, then instantly recovered, a flicker of excitement crossing his eyes as he nodded repeatedly: "This has always been my dream."

"Then you should know that working on a ship is no easy task," Gao Zhuang said seriously. "Sun and wind, being soaked by seawater from time to time—the hardships involved are not something the average person can endure."

"Little Gao is right," Tao Tao chimed in from the side, a look of reminiscence on his face. "Furthermore, sometimes you drift at sea for months without seeing land. That kind of tedious boredom can even make a person ill from confinement."

"I'm not afraid; I can overcome it," Tao Dou declared firmly, exhibiting the fearlessness of a newborn calf.

"Easy to say," Tao Li frowned at this opportune moment. "I'm afraid after a few days on board, you’ll be crying to come ashore. At that point, it won't just be you losing face; Brother Gao will look bad too."

"Sister, am I that kind of person?" Tao Dou exclaimed, genuinely annoyed. "I'm not that much of a coward!"

"Hard to say," Tao Li shook her head. "It’s one thing that you aim too high; you can’t even stick to hard work on land. How much more so on a ship? I fear once you’re floating, you’ll get carried away…"

Tao Li’s words were not just a gentle reprimand for Tao Dou, but also a prophylactic measure aimed at Gao Zhuang, letting him understand Tao Dou’s flaws so he would be forewarned. With this caveat laid down, even if Tao Dou truly couldn't stand the hardship later and quit, it wouldn't be too awkward for anyone involved.

"Sister, can you please not undermine me?" Tao Dou was truly anxious now, thumping his chest. "I am stating my commitment now: after I start working on the ship, even if I die on board, I will absolutely not disembark."

"Having ambition is good, but please don't say such inauspicious things," Gao Zhuang quickly waved his hands, then smiled. "Besides, there’s still a one-month probationary period. Whether he can make it depends on himself."

"I can definitely do it..." Tao Dou beamed, affirming his vow.

"Very well, get your things packed, and come find me on the ship later," Gao Zhuang nodded. "I’ll be here for the next two or three days. We are setting sail in a few more, so you need to be mentally prepared."

"No problem, I can leave right now..." Tao Dou was eager, unwilling to miss this chance.

"No rush, discuss it with your family first," Gao Zhuang smiled. "Staying two more days is fine. After all, once we set sail, it might be at least two or three months before we return to Fuzhou."

As he spoke, Gao Zhuang bid farewell to Tao Tao and, escorted by the Tao family, left briskly with Wang Guan. After returning to the dock and boarding, they soon left Langqi Island and headed back to the Fuzhou pier.

Along the way, Wang Guan suddenly laughed, "Brother Gao, are you perhaps a little disappointed?"

"What?"

Gao Zhuang paused, then understood Wang Guan's meaning, smiled, and sighed, "Disappointment is inevitable. After all, what Tao Dou said was quite plausible and actually stirred my interest. It’s a pity it turned out to be a fabricated story."

"Do you really think it was a fabricated story?" Wang Guan countered.

"What do you mean?"

Gao Zhuang frowned. "Are you suspecting Uncle Tao and Tao Li lied?"

"That’s hard to say," Wang Guan smiled. "After all, you aren't overly familiar with their family; strictly speaking, you’re still strangers. Tao Dou is loose-lipped and would certainly say anything. But Uncle Tao and Tao Li are more mature and steady; they surely understand the principle of only revealing three parts of what they know."

"Moreover, even if the two of them didn't know, it doesn't necessarily mean Tao Dou's grandfather was making up the story." Wang Guan pondered. "Stories aren't created so easily. To weave one that is plausible and without obvious flaws certainly requires some frame of reference. That’s why I suspect the matter is six or seven parts likely true."

"At the very least, such an event certainly occurred. The characters might be ancestors of the Tao family, or perhaps ancestors of Tao Dou’s grandmother, or maybe the deeds of some other person that Tao Dou’s grandfather learned and then recounted to him."

As he spoke, Wang Guan sighed, "But it's a real shame—all of this is speculation, with no way to verify. Otherwise, it would have been a very useful clue."

"It doesn't matter," Gao Zhuang smiled. "We'll take it slow; I'm not in a hurry..."

"Mm."

Wang Guan nodded and said no more. Upon reaching the Fuzhou dock, he naturally disembarked. As the main person in charge of the Treasure Exhibition Tour, it wasn't good to be away for too long. There wasn't much pressing business, as the specific work of the exhibition could be replicated, following procedures step-by-step. It was mainly the social gatherings that were difficult to refuse.

So, over the next two or three days, Wang Guan was like a fluttering butterfly, flitting between various restaurants, mingling with all sorts of people. There were government officials, business elites, and, most numerous, industry peers. This was a prime opportunity to expand his network, which Wang Guan naturally wouldn't miss.

Besides, it was only banquets. With his supernatural abilities as backup, Wang Guan was practically the reincarnation of the God of Wine, unrivaled in any drinking contest. Over those two or three days, many people might not remember anything else, but Wang Guan’s immense capacity for alcohol left a deep impression. More than once, they warned themselves never to challenge him to a drinking contest again. To knowingly attempt the impossible isn't courage; it’s pure self-torture.

In the blink of an eye, the Fuzhou exhibition was drawing to a close.

As he prepared to leave, Wang Guan didn't forget to go say farewell to Gao Zhuang. The moment he stepped onto the ship, he saw Tao Dou’s smiling face; clearly, the young man had officially reported for duty aboard.

"Brother Wang, you're here."

Seeing Wang Guan, Tao Dou quickly gestured, "Brother Gao is in the cabin; I’ll take you..."

"No need, I can find him myself. You carry on with your business."

Wang Guan smiled and nodded, then walked into Gao Zhuang’s cabin with practiced ease. As the captain, Gao Zhuang's quarters were certainly spacious. He wasn't idle at the moment, scrutinizing a navigational chart, seemingly contemplating where to begin salvaging operations.

"Brother Wang, you've arrived."

Hearing the movement, Gao Zhuang looked up and immediately broke into a smile. "What, are you preparing to depart?"

"Mm, the Fuzhou exhibition is over, and I’m heading to the next stop," Wang Guan smiled. "I came to say goodbye, but by the looks of it, you’re preparing to set sail too."

"That’s right," Gao Zhuang confirmed. "We’ve been anchored for over ten days; it’s time to stretch our legs."

"What’s the destination?" Wang Guan asked curiously. China's waters are vast, offering too many areas for salvage. But whether anything could be recovered was another matter entirely.

"The sea area near Wenzhou."

Gao Zhuang didn't conceal anything, smiling directly. "We've smoothed things over; we have permission to conduct salvage operations there."

"That’s not bad," Wang Guan considered it, nodding. "Wenzhou, in ancient times, even if it wasn't an officially designated port, smuggling must have been quite prosperous. There should be plenty of shipwrecks underwater."

"I think so too," Gao Zhuang heartily agreed. "The Fujian and Zhejiang coast was the most rampant area for maritime activity in antiquity. There must be many wrecks, but finding them is troublesome. Because the currents in the sea vary in speed and force, they can easily sweep up silt and cover the vessels."

"Mhm, mhm..."

Wang Guan wholeheartedly agreed. After offering a few words of comfort, he suddenly noticed a scroll next to the sea chart on the table—a scroll that looked somewhat familiar.

"What is this?" Wang Guan asked, curious.

"A painting," Gao Zhuang let out a wry smile of helplessness. "The dragon painting from the Tao family."

"What?"

Wang Guan froze, quickly reaching out to pick up the scroll, carefully unrolling it. Inside, there was indeed a massive dragon, baring its fangs and claws, swimming amidst crashing waves. The dragon’s physique was robust, its talons sharp, radiating a fierce aura.

In that moment, Wang Guan was astonished. "How did this painting end up in your possession?"

"Tao Dou brought it; he said it was a gift for me," Gao Zhuang sighed. "But I strongly suspect this was his private decision, and he didn't actually get the family’s consent."

"Highly possible..." Wang Guan expressed his agreement. After all, changing nature is harder than changing mountains and rivers. This was exactly the kind of thing Tao Dou might do.