Group Dynamics (Part 1)

"Man Ge, are there any taboos about going to such a place?" As Fang Yi contemplated the venue for the following day, he inquired, not out of fear, but rather concern for his ignorance of the underground auction's customs, worried he might inadvertently cause trouble for Man Jun.

"There aren't any taboos, just remember to observe more and speak less when you get there..." After hearing Fang Yi's words, Man Jun scrutinized his face and remarked, "It's just that you've grown up too handsome; you look a bit too youthful. If only you could appear a tad older..."

Fang Yi was uncertain which of his unseen parents' genes he had inherited, but he was blessed with striking good looks, far surpassing many male celebrities in the entertainment industry. This was likely why he often attracted the attention of girls while manning his stall.

"Man Ge, there's nothing I can do about that..."

Fang Yi chuckled wryly and shook his head. He had never anticipated that being handsome could be a source of distress. He had already begun to feel the effects, encountering girls who would strike up conversations with him almost daily. Consequently, he spent most of his time wandering the market rather than tending to his stall.

"You may not be able to help it, but I can..." Man Jun exclaimed, slapping his forehead as he stood up and walked into the back room. After rummaging for a moment, he emerged holding a pair of square black-framed glasses. "Here, Fang Yi, try these on for me..."

"Wear glasses? But Man Ge, I'm not nearsighted..."

Fang Yi felt a bit helpless at Man Jun's insistence. Among their group, only San Pao wore glasses, and although Fang Yi had previously borrowed them out of curiosity, he knew that anyone without vision issues would feel dizzy upon wearing prescription lenses.

"These aren't prescription glasses; they're simply fashion frames, without any corrective lenses..." Man Jun handed the glasses to Fang Yi.

Realizing they were non-prescription, Fang Yi accepted them without resistance and casually asked, "Man Ge, what do you keep these for?"

"Me? Ahem... this isn't mine; someone left it here..." Man Jun suddenly coughed, his response tinged with awkwardness.

In his younger days, Man Jun had a much fiercer appearance. When he first started in the market, he had frightened a seven or eight-year-old child to tears. It was only after hearing that glasses could soften one's looks that he decided to purchase this pair.

As the saying goes, one's appearance reflects their inner self. After years in the antique business, although Man Jun had lost some hair, the lines on his face had softened considerably, rendering the glasses unnecessary.

"Man Ge, let me see that mirror..."

After putting on the glasses, Fang Yi pointed to a mirror behind the counter. The glasses, as Man Jun had claimed, had no prescription, resting comfortably on his nose without causing dizziness.

"Not bad, you look at least five or six years older..." Man Jun handed the mirror to Fang Yi, nodding in satisfaction.

"These glasses are quite nice; I think I'll buy a pair myself..." Fang Yi noticed that donning the glasses seemed to alter his entire demeanor. The square frames obscured much of his face, and the non-prescription lenses blurred his lively gaze, making him appear almost unrecognizable.

"No need to buy them; this pair is a gift for you..." Upon hearing Fang Yi's comment, Man Jun waved his hand and stood up, grabbing his bag. "Let's go; you need to hurry home and prepare dinner. The old man will be arriving soon. And remember, don't mention anything about going to the underground auction to Old Sun..."

After spending several days together, Man Jun understood that Old Sun held a deep disdain for tomb raiders, often berating antique dealers who purchased items from them. According to Old Sun, without the demand, there would be no tomb raiding.

"I understand, Man Ge; you can rest assured..." Fang Yi smiled in response. His studies under Old Sun did not imply agreement with all of Old Sun's views. Fang Yi, being quite mature, chose not to oppose, adhering to his Daoist upbringing, preferring to follow his own path without being swayed by Old Sun's opinions.

As Fang Yi exited the shop, he kept the glasses on. To his surprise, he noticed that among the many familiar vendors he encountered along the way, very few recognized him. It seemed that a simple pair of glasses had drastically altered his appearance.

"By the way, Fang Yi, make sure to bring some money tomorrow; you never know when you might stumble upon something valuable..." 

While walking, Man Jun offered this advice. In such auctions, there were often items that had been artificially aged. Although these were not genuine antiques, the materials used were typically of excellent quality, and if something went unsold, it could present an opportunity for a bargain.

...

"Man Ge, I hope I'm not late?" 

Around eight twenty the next morning, Fang Yi arrived at Man Jun's antique shop. They had originally agreed to meet at eight, but he had been delayed by a few extra words from his teacher.

"There's no rush; it's Saturday, and traffic in the city will be light. The auction doesn't start until nine thirty..." Upon seeing Fang Yi, Man Jun locked the shop door and headed to the market's parking lot, where he typically left his van.

"Man Ge, aren't you going to get a driver's license?" 

Having lived together for several days, Fang Yi was aware that Man Jun had been driving without a license when he collided with Fang Yi. Although Man Jun was quite skilled behind the wheel, the thought of him driving without a license made Fang Yi uneasy.

"I would like to, but my license will be suspended for two years before I can retake the test..." Man Jun replied, somewhat dejected, as he started the engine. "It won't be until February of next year that the two years are up. You should come with me to get your license; driving has become an essential skill nowadays."

It was indeed unfortunate for Man Jun. Last year during the New Year, a friend had borrowed his car to deliver goods to relatives. Without a second thought, Man Jun lent it out, only to discover later that the friend had previously had his license revoked due to drunk driving. Undeterred, the friend drove Man Jun's car and then drank heavily at a relative's home.

During the New Year, no one was checking for drunk drivers, but Man Jun's friend ended up in a serious accident, resulting in one fatality and one injury. Consequently, the matter escalated; the friend was criminally detained and later sentenced to two years in prison.

As for Man Jun, he did not fare any better. According to regulations, not only was his car confiscated, but he also lost his driving privileges for lending his vehicle to an unlicensed driver. This misfortune cast a shadow over his entire year.

Due to the frequent need to travel to the countryside for deliveries, and finding taxis inconvenient and costly for long distances, Man Jun purchased the current van. However, aside from urgent matters or longer trips, he typically relied on taxis within the city.

"Alright, I'll get a license too..." Fang Yi nodded. Whether he would purchase a vehicle was another matter, but acquiring skills was undoubtedly beneficial.

"Hey, Man Ge, where are we headed?" As they conversed, the car had already circled much of the city without showing any signs of leaving. Fang Yi curiously asked.

"We're almost there. Do you see that large building ahead? That's our destination..." Man Jun pointed ahead, and by the time he finished speaking, the vehicle had already turned into the parking lot of the building.

"The auction is being held here?" 

Upon entering the building with Man Jun, Fang Yi realized it was a luxurious hotel. The opulent decor of the lobby indicated that this establishment was of high caliber.

"Yes, right here..." Man Jun smiled at Fang Yi. "Surprised to find the auction taking place in a five-star hotel?"

"Indeed, I didn't expect that..." 

Fang Yi replied honestly. Given the term "underground auction," he had assumed such activities would be clandestine. He had imagined they would rent a large courtyard in the countryside for the auction, never anticipating the audacity to host it in a grand hotel.

"These days, tomb raiding is no small matter..." 

Observing the well-dressed successful individuals entering and exiting the hotel, Man Jun lowered his voice. "Tomb raiders have become organized; the main organizers have trade companies in Henan and Nanjing, facilitating the smuggling of precious artifacts abroad..."