In a world bustling with activity, all are driven by profit

"Don't look at me; if you do, I might just turn hostile…" 

Upon seeing the pitiful gaze of the chubby fellow, Fang Yi could only shake his head in disbelief. Man Jun had merely used a metaphor about the complexities of romantic relationships, yet Fang Yi was astonished that the chubby one took it to heart. 

"San Pao is here, oh, San Pao has arrived…" Fang Yi's ears perked up at the sound of the door opening outside, and he quickly added, "San Pao has a girlfriend; you should ask him! He can surely teach you a thing or two…" 

"Damn it, that dead San Pao! I've called him over a dozen times, and he just now returns…" 

Before Fang Yi could finish, the chubby one lunged towards the door. However, as soon as it swung open, his face transformed into a beaming smile, and he exclaimed, "San Pao, you're back! I've missed you terribly! If you hadn't come, I would have ended up sleeping in your bed tonight…" 

"Get lost, stop being so nauseating…" 

San Pao pushed the chubby face away from him and called out to Fang Yi, "Yi Ge, can't you keep this lovesick fool in check? I was having dinner with Qian Qian, and he bombarded me with calls—does he not care about phone bills?" 

Though he feigned annoyance, San Pao secretly relished the attention. 

What is the greatest fear of someone who has just purchased a phone? Naturally, it is the dread of receiving no calls at all. The chubby one's incessant ringing satisfied San Pao's vanity in front of his girlfriend. If the chubby one had been present, San Pao might have even embraced him in gratitude. 

"From now on, each of you will receive five hundred yuan as pocket money each month, and that will cover your phone expenses…" Fang Yi stated nonchalantly, but the expressions on the faces of the chubby one and San Pao immediately soured. 

While mobile phone charges are not as exorbitant as they once were, one would still expect to spend at least one or two hundred yuan monthly. Given that both the chubby one and San Pao were either preparing for or already engaged in romantic pursuits, the remaining two or three hundred yuan would scarcely suffice. 

"Ahem, Yi Ge, isn't five hundred a tad too little?" 

San Pao ventured closer to Fang Yi, stating, "Look, we need to eat lunch; a single meal costs five yuan. By the end of the month, that adds up to one hundred and fifty yuan. We also need to buy toothpaste, toothbrushes, and other toiletries—five hundred certainly won't cut it…" 

"Indeed, Fang Yi, considering our smoking habit, that adds another expense, not to mention…" 

At this point, the chubby one had forgotten all about seeking advice on romance and began tallying their expenses on his fingers, stopping just short of mentioning his need for sanitary products. After all, if they ran out of money, relying on girls to treat them would hardly be conducive to a romantic relationship. 

"Stop, stop! How much do you think you need for pocket money each month?" 

Fang Yi could no longer endure the chubby one's incessant rambling and waved his hand to interrupt. He was not being stingy with the five hundred; rather, he did not wish to encourage the chubby one and San Pao to become extravagant spenders. The old adage, "It is easy to fall into extravagance but hard to return to frugality," holds its weight. 

"Um, a thousand should be about right?" The chubby one and San Pao exchanged cautious glances before timidly proposing a figure. They felt somewhat insecure in front of Fang Yi. 

It is important to note that Man Jun allowed them to stay at his place and helped them establish themselves in the antique market purely out of respect for Fang Yi. The expenses they incurred over the past few days were all covered by Man Jun's compensation for Fang Yi's medical expenses; they were essentially living off his generosity. 

Although Fang Yi did not mind, the chubby one and San Pao were acutely aware of their situation. After all, even among siblings, there is a need for clear accounting. Thus, during their time together, they unconsciously regarded Fang Yi as the decision-maker of their trio. 

"Fine, a thousand it is. Not a cent more, so you'll have to figure out the rest yourselves…" 

Fang Yi nodded in agreement. He had inquired with Man Jun, and the average monthly salary for a regular worker in Jinling was around eight to nine hundred yuan. With the chubby one and San Pao managing their own living expenses from San Pao's shared funds, a thousand yuan should suffice for both of them. 

"Alright, a thousand is sufficient…" 

San Pao and the chubby one nodded in unison. San Pao typically met his girlfriend once or twice a week, spending roughly one hundred to one hundred and fifty yuan each time. The chubby one had only spent forty-eight yuan on a salted duck today; even if he treated Meng Shuangshuang to dinner daily, he could manage to save a little. 

"By the way, Man Ge, didn't you mention you wanted to speak with me?" After settling matters with the chubby one and San Pao, Fang Yi immediately stood up and signaled to Man Jun, saying, "Let's step into the room; it's also a good opportunity for San Pao to teach the chubby one how to pursue girls…" 

After witnessing the earlier exchange, not only did San Pao avoid the chubby one, but Fang Yi also felt exhausted. Whenever the topic turned to women, the chubby one's intelligence seemed to plummet, rendering his comments akin to those of a five-year-old child. 

"Chubby, my legs are sore from walking back just now…" San Pao settled into the recliner that Man Jun had vacated, propping his legs up. 

"Oh, that's easily remedied! I'll give you a massage…" Without hesitation, the chubby one fetched a small stool and sat in front of San Pao, ready to provide relief. 

"You guys really know how to make a ruckus…" Man Jun chuckled, shaking his head as he and Fang Yi entered the room. 

Upon stepping into the living room, Fang Yi noticed that it was nearly eleven o'clock. He promptly remarked, "Man Ge, you should get some rest; after last night's revelry, don't stay up too late today…" 

Fang Yi was mindful of his debt to Zhao Hongtao for a string of Bodhi beads, and he had purchased numerous strings today, wanting to conduct some experiments to understand the nature of his ability to accelerate the aging of objects. 

"Wait, Fang Yi, I genuinely have something to discuss with you…" Just as Fang Yi was about to head upstairs, Man Jun called him back, gesturing towards the sofa and saying, "Let's sit down and talk…" 

"What is it, Man Ge?" Fang Yi inquired. 

"Are you free this Saturday?" Man Jun asked. 

"I'm free during the day, but I still have to go to my teacher's place in the evening…" 

Fang Yi had tightly scheduled his days. Although Zhao Hongtao had the weekend off, he was free on Saturday afternoons but had to attend English tutoring in the evening, as his teacher had arranged for him to attend classes on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. 

"Alright then, during the day, you and I will go out for a bit while the chubby one and San Pao watch the stall…" Man Jun nodded in response. 

"Man Ge, you have to tell me what we're doing, right?" Fang Yi scratched his head, feeling perplexed by Man Jun's vague statements. 

"Well, I suppose I can tell you, but don't go spreading it around. San Pao and the chubby one can't know…" Man Jun hesitated before deciding to be forthright with Fang Yi. 

"Last time you saw someone come into my shop to discuss business, right?" 

Man Jun lowered his voice slightly and continued, "They're about to release a batch of goods, and the quantity is substantial—too much for a single person to handle. So they've invited several prominent antique dealers and collectors from Jinling to organize a small auction…" 

In the business world, one must interact with various types of people, and this upcoming small auction would be hosted by individuals from Henan Province, who are part of the largest tomb-raiding gang in the north. It is rumored that they will be offering a significant number of valuable items. 

Such auctions are typically referred to as underground auctions in the industry. Don't be misled into thinking that an auction organized by tomb raiders is filled solely with genuine artifacts; in reality, the ratio of authentic items to fakes in these underground auctions is about two to ten. This means that among ten items, only one or two might be genuine. 

So, why do antique dealers and collectors still participate, given the prevalence of fakes? The answer lies in the low starting prices for items at these auctions. As long as one can discern the genuine from the fake, they can unearth remarkable treasures. 

Of course, the risk of purchasing counterfeit items is significant, as approximately seven or eight out of ten items are fakes. If someone happens to buy a genuine piece amidst the fakes, the losses are typically absorbed by the original owners. 

However, when calculated against market prices, even if one buys several fakes, acquiring just one authentic item can lead to substantial profits. As the saying goes, "In a world bustling with activity, all are driven by profit," this serves as a primary reason why many antique dealers and collectors are drawn to underground auctions.