Antique Market (Part Four)  

Maintain that smile, yes, just like that..." 

Observing the smile on Fang Yi's face, Man Jun couldn't help but give a thumbs up. While diligence is undoubtedly important, innate talent is even more crucial; a mere change in Fang Yi's demeanor transformed his entire presence. Man Jun mused that he could never achieve such a transformation. 

"Come on, you three brothers should go introduce yourselves to avoid any future troubles..." 

As he ushered Fang Yi, the plump man, and San Pao out the door, Man Jun turned back to lock up the shop and lowered his voice, saying, "These guys are more trouble than they're worth. If you want to navigate this market successfully, be sure not to offend them. If they start causing trouble, just let me know..." 

The management office of the Chaotian Palace antique market used to be affiliated with the Chaotian Palace Museum. There were few official employees; most were relatives and friends of museum staff. With their modest salaries, they were quick to exploit any opportunity, creating a chaotic environment in the antique market. 

"Brother Man, don't worry; we know how to handle it..." Fang Yi nodded, and after a moment's thought, he dashed over to a nearby shop selling drinks and cigarettes, purchasing a pack of cigarettes for eighteen yuan. 

"Fang Yi, didn't you say you don't smoke?" The plump man was taken aback when he saw Fang Yi return with a pack of cigarettes, having previously been lectured about smoking. 

"I don't smoke; these are for someone else..." Fang Yi awkwardly opened the pack, taking out a cigarette and offering it to Man Jun. "Brother Man, you've been a great help these past few days; here, have a smoke..." 

"Oh, you rascal, truly a marvel..." 

Upon hearing Fang Yi's words, Man Jun's eyes widened in surprise. He had just taught him, and here he was, already putting it into practice. Although the gesture of offering a cigarette was a bit clumsy, the sincerity in Fang Yi's expression was genuinely refreshing. 

"Hey, Fang Yi, that's not how you open a cigarette pack..." The plump man chimed in, somewhat critical. "Your technique clearly shows you're not a smoker..." 

Indeed, Fang Yi had never smoked before; this was his first attempt at opening a cigarette pack. He was unaware of the perforated plastic strip on the side, so he had ripped the entire top off the soft pack. 

"Little Fatty, teach him later; what we need now is this effect..." Man Jun glanced at Fang Yi's hands, his eyes revealing a hint of amusement. 

"Brother Man, what effect?" the plump man asked, puzzled. 

Man Jun chuckled and shook his head. "I won't spoil the surprise; you'll figure it out later..." 

"What effect could opening a cigarette pack have? Hey, Fang Yi, let me see..." The plump man muttered, seizing the opportunity to snatch the pack from Fang Yi's hands, distributing cigarettes to himself and San Pao before returning the pack. 

"Remember, this management office is essentially a departmental unit. The head is a museum staff member who rarely comes here. The one in charge is a deputy director named Gu; when you meet him, address him as Director Gu. You don't need to overly flatter the others, just maintain a good balance..." As they walked, Man Jun briefed them on the management office's dynamics. 

Unlike the antique market outside the Chaotian Palace, the management office was located within the palace itself. The entrance was modest, and as they approached the door, they could hear the raucous sounds of card games from inside. Upon opening the door, a rush of cold air greeted them. 

"Who opened the door? Close it quickly; we're letting in all this heat..." Before Man Jun and the others could step inside, an impatient voice called out from within. 

"Director Gu, it's me, Old Man..." Man Jun entered with a grin, addressing a middle-aged man in his forties who stood at the entrance. "How's your luck today, Director Gu? Won much?" 

Director Gu stood about 1.7 meters tall but weighed around 180 to 190 pounds. Despite the ample air conditioning, he was still wiping sweat from his brow, clearly irritated by the interruption. 

"Won nothing, lost three hundred..." 

Director Gu stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, grumbling, "Those two little brats must have taken something; they keep getting good hands. Last round, I had five pairs!" 

"Isn't that because you were letting them win?" Man Jun laughed. "I heard a new pickled fish place opened; let's grab a bite and have a drink. By the afternoon, Director Gu, your luck will surely turn around..." 

"Hey, I do enjoy your words, Old Man; they're always so thoughtful..." 

Upon hearing Man Jun's remarks, Director Gu tossed his cards aside and declared, "No more playing; no sense in it. Don't you see we have work to do? By the way, Old Man, who are these folks behind you?" 

"These are my younger brothers; they've come to seek their fortunes in our Chaotian Palace..." Man Jun smiled at Director Gu while subtly gesturing to Fang Yi. 

Understanding the cue, Fang Yi stepped forward with a bright smile, saying, "Director Gu, my name is Fang Yi. These are my two friends, Wei Jinhua and Peng Sanjun. We hope to count on your support in the future..." 

As he spoke, Fang Yi produced the pack of eighteen-yuan cigarettes, first offering one to Director Gu, then distributing them to the other three in the room, eagerly pulling out a lighter to help Director Gu light up. 

"Hmm?" 

Taking a puff from the cigarette Fang Yi lit, Director Gu's expression was initially sour. However, when he noticed the two packs of Zhonghua cigarettes and the open pack of loose cigarettes that Fang Yi had placed on the table, his demeanor softened, and a smile crept onto his face. 

"Little Fang, Old Man has been around in this antique market for a long time. With him guiding you, you'll surely be in good hands..." 

Director Gu was pleased with Fang Yi's actions. Although he had been somewhat displeased with the eighteen-yuan cigarettes initially, upon seeing the packaging, he realized Fang Yi was not a smoker. 

Noticing Fang Yi's natural gesture of placing the two packs of Zhonghua cigarettes on the table, Director Gu recognized that this young man was quite savvy. If Fang Yi's business flourished, he could potentially provide a steady supply of cigarettes for Director Gu. 

"You all go patrol the market; take this pack of cigarettes and enjoy them. We'll have lunch together..." 

Director Gu instructed his subordinates, generously tossing one of the packs of cigarettes Fang Yi had offered into their midst. Upon receiving the cigarettes, the men glanced at Fang Yi with grins before exiting the management office. 

"Director Gu is quite magnanimous; he's trained those fellows well..." 

Once the others had left, Man Jun complimented with a smile. In the management office, Director Gu was the only official, while the others were temporary workers. Even if he indulged himself, no one would dare complain. 

As the saying goes, "It takes a village to raise a child." While Man Jun didn't particularly need to curry favor with Director Gu, he understood the value of occasional meals and drinks, as well as the importance of maintaining friendly relations. Spending a little to avoid trouble was worthwhile. 

"Little Fang, do you know if you want to rent a storefront or just a stall?" 

Casually putting away the remaining pack of Zhonghua cigarettes into a drawer, Director Gu pulled out a document and said, "Renting a storefront requires a contract. There are six storefronts left, with the cheapest one costing three thousand yuan a month, and you must pay a year's rent in advance..." 

"Director Gu, we're just looking to dabble a bit; renting a stall will suffice..." As Director Gu finished explaining the storefronts, Fang Yi quickly interjected. What a joke; together, they barely had over twenty thousand yuan, not enough even for the storefront rent. 

"Oh, stalls are cheaper—twenty yuan a day, payable a month in advance. Does that work for you?" 

Upon hearing Fang Yi's request for a stall, a hint of disappointment crossed Director Gu's face. The lower rent meant more hassle, and stall renters often lacked funds, resulting in minimal profit for the management office. 

"No problem, Director Gu, we have the money ready..." 

Fang Yi exchanged a knowing glance with the plump man and lowered his voice slightly, saying, "Director Gu, we're not running a company, so receipts aren't necessary. We can just report your name if needed, right?" 

As Fang Yi spoke, the plump man pulled out six hundred yuan. However, instead of placing the money on the table, he grinned and slid it into the drawer that Director Gu had just opened. 

"Old Man, these young brothers are quite impressive..." Hearing Fang Yi's words and witnessing the plump man's actions, Director Gu's face broke into a smile. 

It's worth noting that while owning a shop typically requires substantial financial backing, most shopkeepers have some connections. Director Gu usually only received small favors in terms of meals and drinks, with limited opportunities to pocket money. 

However, with stall rentals not requiring invoices or receipts, that six hundred yuan would end up directly in his pocket each month. In the management office, Director Gu held significant power, and he didn't need to share with anyone else; this was a substantial part of his monthly income. 

Of course, Director Gu was cautious about accepting this money. If Fang Yi and his companions weren't brought in by Man Jun, he might have hesitated to accept it. Such matters, once leaked, could lead to repercussions from the museum's higher-ups, regardless of their veracity. 

"Come, I'll take you around the market. Let me know which stall you like..." With an additional source of income, Director Gu was evidently in high spirits, even suggesting a tour of the market on a hot day as he stood up first. 

"Impressive, truly impressive!" 

As Director Gu led the way, Fang Yi, the plump man, and San Pao all gave Man Jun a thumbs up. The earlier suggestion to forgo receipts was clearly Man Jun's idea, and the change in Director Gu's attitude was unmistakable. 

The effect of Fang Yi's clumsy cigarette-opening technique became clear to the plump man. 

The reasoning was simple: if Fang Yi were a smoker offering eighteen-yuan cigarettes to his superior, it would come across as disrespectful. 

However, if Fang Yi didn't smoke, Director Gu could understand, and his expectations of Fang Yi would lower. When Fang Yi later presented the Zhonghua cigarettes, Director Gu would feel much more at ease, making the gesture far more effective than simply offering Zhonghua cigarettes twice.