A Ray of Hope Amidst Adversity

It must be said that Director Gu was a man of considerable tolerance. After completing his report at the office, he returned home, feeling rather downcast, and poured himself a couple of small drinks to ease his nerves. 

However, he could never have anticipated that the scarred face, who had sworn up and down at the police station that he would not betray him, would soon after his departure divulge in detail the illicit activities he had undertaken over the years, using stolen funds to bribe Guo Guo Guang. 

Following the verification of the scarred man's testimony, and under the influence of certain individuals, the municipal bureau promptly initiated the arrest of Guo Guo Guang. It was only when the cold handcuffs were fastened around his wrists that Director Gu truly comprehended the folly of having placed his trust in the words of the scarred man, akin to believing that a sow could climb a tree. 

"You've managed to predict this perfectly, haven't you?" 

Seizing the opportunity while Zhao Hongtao conversed with Old Sun, the rotund man and San Pao exchanged subtle glances with Fang Yi. Earlier that afternoon, Fang Yi had mentioned that Director Gu might face legal troubles; little did they expect that just a few short hours later, his words would ring true. 

"Enough of your chatter..." Fang Yi shot a glance at them, and the rotund man and San Pao immediately understood that Fang Yi wished to keep his earlier prediction under wraps. 

"Xiao Fang, it is now almost certain that Guo Guo Guang's actions against you this afternoon were acts of retaliation..." 

While conversing with Old Sun, Zhao Hongtao noticed the unusual expressions on Fang Yi and his companions' faces and assumed they were contemplating the matter. He then remarked, "I will bring this up at tomorrow's meeting and propose doubling your rewards; consider it a small compensation from the museum for your efforts..." 

Having worked for many years to attain his current position, Zhao Hongtao was acutely aware that without his and Old Sun's market visit, even if Guo Guo Guang was brought to justice that evening, Fang Yi and his friends would still have been expelled from the market, potentially suffering further losses. 

"Thank you, Brother Zhao. We've been quite worried about our finances..." Fang Yi accepted Zhao Hongtao's offer without hesitation, for he would never allow pride to lead him to suffer in silence. 

"Haha, as the old saying goes, 'Do not underestimate the young and impoverished.' As long as you work hard, better days will come..." Zhao Hongtao, unfamiliar with Fang Yi's ways, was taken aback by his lack of reluctance and could only laugh heartily in response. 

"Alright, Hongtao, I need to discuss something serious with Xiao Fang..." 

Old Sun, who had been sipping tea, turned his gaze to Fang Yi and began, "Xiao Fang, may I inquire about your educational background? Do you have any plans for further studies?" 

There exists a certain serendipity in human connections. For reasons unknown, Sun Lianda found himself increasingly fond of Fang Yi. Initially intending to observe him for a while longer, he was emboldened by the effects of the wine to ask his question. 

"Educational background? School?" Fang Yi was momentarily taken aback by Sun Lianda's inquiry. Having spent over a decade living in the mountains, he had no formal education to speak of. 

As for attending school, Fang Yi had longed for it when he was around seven or eight years old. At that time, the rotund man and San Pao would bring him their textbooks from the previous semester, and gradually, he grew accustomed to self-study. Before enlisting, the rotund man even managed to procure a set of high school textbooks for him. 

"Fang Yi, you must be under twenty, right?" 

Seeing Fang Yi's silence, Sun Lianda assumed he was unwilling to share and continued, "You are still young; acquiring knowledge is never a mistake. If you have a high school diploma, you could apply to the Continuing Education College of Jinling University. I could have you enrolled as my graduate student in your second year of college..." 

Sun Lianda, being an old-school individual, adhered to the belief that "all pursuits are inferior; only education is paramount." Thus, in his desire to take Fang Yi under his wing, he had already mapped out a potential path for him. In Sun Lianda's eyes, lacking a graduate degree would make it exceedingly difficult to navigate society. 

"Teacher, I would like to pursue my studies, but... I possess no qualifications..." 

Fang Yi replied with a wry smile, "I am an orphan, raised by a master in the mountains. For the past decade, I have lived as a Taoist priest in a mountain temple. While I have self-studied up to high school level, I have no diploma to show for it..." 

Fang Yi had never mentioned his past life to Sun Lianda, but he could see that the elderly man genuinely wished to help him, so he felt no need to hold back and shared his experiences. 

"What? You... you truly have never attended a day of school?" 

As soon as Fang Yi finished speaking, Sun Lianda stood up in astonishment. He had previously heard Fang Yi mention a master while in the hospital, but he had assumed Fang Yi was merely learning Taoist knowledge in his spare time. He had never imagined that Fang Yi was an orphan who had genuinely lived as a Taoist priest for over a decade. 

"Yes, aside from what my master taught me, all the knowledge in textbooks was self-taught..." Fang Yi nodded. After more than a decade of cultivating his spirit, he had long since learned to remain unperturbed by external circumstances, and he felt no shame in lacking formal education. 

"Not having attended school is not a grave matter; textbook knowledge is often rigid. I have seen many graduate students who are not as capable as you..." Sun Lianda waved his hand dismissively, frowning as he added, "However, without a diploma, you cannot apply to the Continuing Education College, which poses a bit of a challenge..." 

In Sun Lianda's view, given Fang Yi's keen insight and solid historical foundation, if he were to study systematically for a few years, he would undoubtedly shine in the antique world, and he would consider it a personal legacy to pass on his knowledge of artifact appraisal. 

Yet, Sun Lianda was acutely aware that the antique trade is one with a strict hierarchy, especially one that has existed for over a millennium, which places great emphasis on seniority and educational credentials. While Fang Yi's qualifications would be acknowledged within the antique community due to Sun Lianda's influence, without formal education, it would be nearly impossible for Fang Yi to gain entry into official research institutions like the Palace Museum. 

Sun Lianda's ambition was to see Fang Yi achieve success in the realm of cultural relics, which necessitated an official identity. It is well known that the so-called experts from private sectors lack the recognition of their official counterparts; no matter how renowned an antique dealer or collector may be, they will always appear inferior next to an official expert. 

"Teacher, why don't I arrange for Jinling Primary School to create a student record for Fang Yi?" Zhao Hongtao, noticing Sun Lianda's troubled expression, proposed a solution. Given their statuses, both he and Sun Lianda could easily facilitate the creation of a high school record. 

"Hongtao, that would be falsification!" 

Upon hearing Zhao Hongtao's suggestion, Sun Lianda's eyebrows shot up. Having dedicated his life to the field of cultural relics, he despised the proliferation of counterfeits, and he would never allow Zhao Hongtao to create a false academic record for Fang Yi. 

"Teacher, if Fang Yi possesses knowledge equivalent to that of a high school graduate, it wouldn't be considered fraudulent..." Zhao Hongtao initially sought to argue further but, noticing Sun Lianda's stern demeanor, his voice dwindled. He realized that he had crossed a line with his suggestion. 

"Let us not discuss this matter further..." 

Sun Lianda waved his hand, stating, "My father was a well-known antique collector and appraiser in both the North and South, and he held no official title or credentials. Therefore, a diploma is not of utmost importance. The antique trade values proper succession; how could my disciple, Sun Lianda, be inferior to others?" 

"Old Sun, actually... I do possess a diploma, though I am uncertain if it is recognized by the relevant authorities?" As Sun Lianda reprimanded Zhao Hongtao for his suggestion, Fang Yi suddenly recalled an item left to him by his master. 

"Hmm? You have never even left the mountain; how could you have a diploma? What kind of diploma is it?" The others in the room were taken aback by Fang Yi's statement, including the rotund man and San Pao, who were unaware that Fang Yi possessed any qualifications. 

"It is... a diploma issued by the National Taoist Academy..." 

Fang Yi scratched his head, feeling somewhat embarrassed as he explained, "It was for a Taoist knowledge continuing education program. My master once mentioned that the completion certificate is equivalent to a college diploma, though I am unsure of its validity." 

Fang Yi had not considered this earlier, as he lacked confidence in the legitimacy of the document. Regardless of whether the authorities recognized it, Fang Yi believed that the completion certificate and his Taoist priest certificate were likely creations arranged by his master. 

"A certificate issued by a religious institution?" 

Upon hearing Fang Yi's description, Sun Lianda's eyes lit up, and he slapped his thigh, exclaiming, "Xiao Fang, quickly retrieve that certificate for me to examine! As long as we can find a record of it, the certificate will be valid!" 

Sun Lianda was aware that the government has special policies regarding minority groups and religious beliefs. For instance, ethnic minorities are permitted to have two children, while Tibetan individuals can carry knives, and religious practitioners have specialized training institutions. According to government policy, their diplomas are recognized. 

Moreover, individuals with religious credentials often receive additional points when applying for national standardized exams, making Fang Yi's completion certificate potentially far more valuable than an ordinary college diploma, provided it has been documented. 

"Fang Yi, those certificates weren't fabricated by the old Taoist down the mountain, were they?" The rotund man had previously heard Fang Yi mention that the old Taoist had procured some certificates for him, but he deeply doubted their authenticity. 

"I'm not sure; please wait a moment while I retrieve it..." 

Fang Yi responded with a wry smile. He had been considering finding a temple to hang his priest certificate to verify its authenticity. If the priest certificate proved genuine, it was likely that the other certificates would be as well. 

"Go quickly; I can have someone check it immediately..." 

Sun Lianda waved his hand, a hint of excitement crossing his face. Initially, he had feared that Fang Yi would have to take a less reputable path, but he was pleasantly surprised to learn that Fang Yi held a continuing education certificate issued by a religious association. This was undoubtedly a turning point, a glimmer of hope amidst the shadows.