Steadfast and Earnest  

When you encounter something you truly desire, it could be worth three to five hundred thousand or even more..." 

Observing the astonished expressions on the faces of the two young men, Sun Chao could only manage a wry smile. Over the years, he had amassed a considerable collection of exquisite prayer beads, yet none of his treasures could rival the exceptional agarwood beads before him in terms of material, quality, or lineage. 

"Three... three to five hundred thousand?" The portly man stared blankly at Fang Yi and said, "Brother Yi, are you really not considering this? With that kind of money, we could do anything in the city..." 

As the saying goes, wine emboldens the timid, and money inflates the pride of the impoverished. Upon hearing that such an unassuming string of beads could fetch such a staggering sum, the portly man's trepidation towards Fang Yi dissipated, and he wished he could sell the beads on Fang Yi's behalf. 

"Indeed, Xiao Fang, you should truly contemplate this..." 

Seeing the portly man advocating for him, Sun Chao felt a flicker of hope ignite within him. He then proposed, "You two must be new to the city, right? How about this: if you are willing to part with the beads, I can offer you a 120-square-meter apartment in the city center along with fifty thousand in cash. What do you think, Xiao Fang?" 

The price Sun Chao offered was exceedingly generous. In the year 2000, housing in the heart of Jinling cost around two to three thousand per square meter, making a 120-square-meter apartment worth three to four hundred thousand. Coupled with fifty thousand in cash, the value of the beads would be nearly a million. 

"A house and fifty thousand?" 

This time, even San Pao couldn't contain himself. Although his family had moved to Jinling, their home was outside the city walls, and their total living space for six people was barely over eighty square meters. This situation was precisely why San Pao preferred to return to the countryside rather than squeeze in with his family. 

"Brother Sun, I really can't sell..." 

The mere inability to afford transportation had already made Fang Yi acutely aware of the advantages of wealth. However, he held firm to his principles: he could earn money through his own efforts, but he would never trade his master's legacy for it. 

"A gentleman does not take away what others cherish; I must apologize for my presumption..." 

Upon hearing Fang Yi's words, Sun Chao chuckled self-deprecatingly. He produced a business card along with the agarwood beads from his wrist and handed them to Fang Yi, saying, "Xiao Fang, if you find yourself in need of money in the future, you can always turn to your Brother Sun for assistance. Just pledge the beads to me, and I'll keep them for a while..." 

Sun Chao could see that the young men before him appeared to be newcomers to the city, undoubtedly facing financial constraints. He spoke these words out of concern that Fang Yi might later feel compelled to part with the beads in times of difficulty, leaving him with regrets. 

"Thank you, Brother Sun..." Fang Yi accepted the business card, noticing it bore only Sun Chao's name and a phone number. Having never made a phone call in his life, he couldn't help but examine it a few extra times. 

"That number is my mobile; I'm available twenty-four hours a day, so feel free to call me anytime..." 

Sun Chao explained, noting that he typically carried two types of business cards—one for business associates, adorned with various titles but only the studio's phone number, and the personal card he offered to Fang Yi, reserved for close friends. 

"Haha, Sun Chao, you know that wealth is not omnipotent, right?" Seeing that his son had failed to persuade Fang Yi, Sun Lianda let out a hearty laugh, his gaze towards Fang Yi radiating fondness and admiration. 

Sun Lianda, embodying old-fashioned values, placed great importance on loyalty, filial piety, and righteousness. Fang Yi's refusal to part with his master's belongings struck him as an admirable quality. After all, faced with the allure of nearly a million, it was rare for someone, especially a young man in his twenties, to maintain such integrity. 

"Dad, I never claimed that money is all-powerful..." Sun Chao, now calmer, pointed to the meal he had brought, saying, "Dad, hurry up and eat; there's bone soup simmering at home. I'll bring some over tonight..." 

"Yes, bring extra for Xiao Fang as well..." Sun Lianda found himself increasingly fond of Fang Yi. If only he knew more about Fang Yi's background and whether he had an interest in antiques, he might have entertained the notion of taking him on as a disciple. 

"Alright, I'll whip up a couple of dishes later!" Sun Chao nodded with a smile. Fang Yi's reluctance to part with the agarwood beads did not mean he would never sell them; building a good relationship with him could only benefit them in the future. 

"Thank you, Old Sun..." In light of the elder's kindness, Fang Yi did not decline. Whenever herbalists came to stay at the temple, the old Taoist would always prepare meals for them, which Fang Yi regarded as nothing out of the ordinary. 

"Here, Xiao Fang, I don't eat meat, so you can have these ribs..." Old Sun glanced at Fang Yi's meal and said, "The stir-fried dishes from outside are too greasy; they're not good for your health. Though you're young, you should still eat less of it..." 

"You're right, Old Sun; I'm used to simple fare..." Fang Yi nodded in agreement. In the mountains, he rarely consumed oil, and after coming down, he found the two meals he had eaten quite unaccustomed, especially the fast food the portly man had brought back, which always tasted a bit off to him. 

"The lunch was too rushed; I'll buy a salted duck for dinner. I guarantee you'll love it..." After glancing at Old Sun's meal and then at his own scrambled eggs with tomatoes and shredded potatoes, the portly man felt a twinge of embarrassment. 

"No need; just stir-fry some greens and cook a fish..." Fang Yi shook his head. He often recalled his master's words: what runs on land is not as good as what flies in the sky, and what flies is not as nutritious as what swims in water. Overall, fish offered the highest nutritional value. 

"Alright, I'll find a restaurant this afternoon to stew the soft-shelled turtles we brought..." The portly man nodded; the two soft-shelled turtles he had initially planned to sell now seemed quite useful. 

"Hmm? Young brother, are those wild soft-shelled turtles?" Upon hearing the portly man's words, Sun Chao inquired. 

"Absolutely wild; they were caught from the reservoir..." the portly man replied. 

"Then don't bother looking for someone to cook them; just bring them to me. I'll stew them for dinner..." Sun Chao chuckled, saying, "I've been wanting to buy a wild soft-shelled turtle for my father to nourish him, but I haven't come across any. Where are your turtles? Let me see..." 

"Here they are..." The portly man retrieved a bamboo basket from the corner, which contained the two turtles he had caught yesterday. 

"Wow, these soft-shelled turtles are quite sizable..." 

Not only was Sun Chao a painter, but he was also a gourmet. Just by looking at the turtles' skirts, he could tell they were indeed wild, and his eyes instantly lit up. "One for stew and one for braising; you all should eat here in the ward tonight and sample my culinary skills..." 

"That sounds wonderful..." Although the portly man felt somewhat reluctant, he nodded in agreement, considering that those two turtles were worth two to three thousand yuan. Yet, thinking of Fang Yi's injury, he refrained from voicing any objections. 

"Here's three thousand yuan for you; consider it my purchase of the turtles..." Just as the portly man was mentally calculating, Sun Chao pulled out a stack of cash from his pocket and placed it directly on Fang Yi's bedside. 

"Brother Sun, this isn't necessary..." Before Fang Yi could speak, the portly man began to decline, yet his hands swiftly tucked the stack of cash into his own pocket. 

"You rascal, can't you at least pretend to be a bit more reserved?" Sun Chao laughed, pointing at the portly man. Looking at his innocent demeanor, Sun Chao found it hard to feel angry; genuine scoundrels often seemed far more endearing than hypocrites. 

"Golden Pond? Is that a pond made of gold?" The portly man feigned ignorance, looking bewildered. 

"Hahaha..." The portly man's words sent Sun Chao into a fit of laughter, nearly causing Sun Lianda to spit out the mouthful of soup he had just taken. 

After their father finished eating, Sun Chao tidied up his things, picked up the bamboo basket, and left. Meanwhile, after lying down for several hours, Fang Yi found the numbness in his body had significantly subsided, and he could now support himself with both hands. However, he still required assistance to walk. 

"Fang Yi, San Pao and I need to discuss something with you..." After helping Fang Yi to the restroom and returning to the ward, the portly man's expression grew serious. 

"Mm? What is it?" Fang Yi was momentarily taken aback by the change in tone. 

"It's about our future work..." 

The portly man began, "While we were out buying food, San Pao and I discussed that instead of working for others in Jinling, it might be better to start a small business. This way, we would have more freedom and wouldn't have to rely on anyone's whims. Plus, we could learn a great deal along the way. What do you think?" 

"Engaging in the antique trade?" As soon as the portly man finished speaking, Fang Yi realized he wasn't merely joking; he was genuinely interested in pursuing this path. 

"Exactly! There are methods for doing business on both large and small scales. Although we only have twenty thousand... no, twenty-three thousand yuan to start, we could sell some inexpensive items at a stall. If the three of us are willing to work hard, we should be able to make a living, right?" 

Though the portly man had never been involved in the antique business, he had frequently seen street vendors at various tourist spots. He firmly believed that none of the items sold at those stalls were genuine; success depended solely on one's ability to persuade buyers. 

While it was unrealistic to expect the portly man to learn how to authenticate antiques, he was confident in his ability to charm and persuade people. As the saying goes, there's endless joy in competing with others. With this realization, the portly man was determined to pursue this line of work. 

"Hmm? Little Fatty, your words carry some weight. In the antique trade, one must guard against the temptation of striking it rich overnight through sheer luck..." 

Before Fang Yi could respond, Sun Lianda interjected. Surprisingly, while he had previously held a low opinion of the portly man, this statement had altered his perspective somewhat. 

Having lived for over half a century, Sun Lianda had encountered many city dwellers who, with just a hundred yuan, aspired to conduct million-yuan businesses, their ambitions far exceeding their capabilities. In the end, these high-minded individuals rarely achieved wealth and often remained mediocre. 

Conversely, those from rural backgrounds tended to approach their endeavors with diligence and humility, and after more than a decade of hard work in the city, their accomplishments often surpassed those of their urban counterparts. 

In front of him, this little portly man, though sometimes overly dramatic in speech, exhibited a grounded mindset that Sun Lianda regarded as a fundamental quality necessary for achieving success.