The corridor outside the ICU ward of the hospital.
"Dad, this immortal elixir... it's good for health."
Yang Chen carefully took out a black bead from his pocket and walked to his father's side.
Seeing that his son was holding what was clearly a dark, dull stone as if it were a treasure, Yang Zhigang's eyes immediately welled up.
"Son, when will you get better..."
His voice choked with emotion. A simple country man, uneducated, wiped away tears continuously.
Yang Zhigang knew very well that his son was not naturally foolish. In fact, he was quite intelligent, having been recommended to university before graduating high school.
Everyone said that his Yang family must have accumulated virtue over generations to produce a university student.
But no one could have imagined that during university, Yang Chen fell in love, and because his girlfriend cheated, he impulsively offended an unoffendable rich young master.
He was beaten into a fool!
Misfortunes never come singly.
His son became foolish, and his wife, overcome with grief, fainted and was hospitalized. Who would have thought that a tumor would be discovered in her brain, pressing on her nerves, leaving her unconscious.
She could only stay in the ICU ward, her life sustained by medication.
But the exorbitant daily fee of two thousand yuan not only drained all their savings but also left them in debt!
"I've said all I need to say. The money in your wife's account is only enough for today's infusion. Hurry up and top up another ten thousand yuan, or tomorrow the medication will stop."
Doctor Huang Hai's cold words instantly shattered Yang Zhigang's spine.
With a thud!
Yang Zhigang knelt heavily on the ground, grabbing Huang Hai's white coat, and pleaded desperately,
"Doctor, my wife will die if the medication stops in her current condition. I beg you, please be kind, continue her infusion and give me a few more days to raise the money."
"I promise, I'll make it up to you later!"
"Let go!"
Huang Hai was unmoved. He slapped Yang Zhigang's hand away and said impatiently,
"The hospital's rules are like this. If there's no money, the medication stops. Begging me is useless."
"If you have no money, go borrow some. Kneeling here until your legs break is useless!"
Huang Hai ignored Yang Zhigang's desperate pleas and turned to leave. Suddenly, a tall figure blocked his path.
"Immortal elixir... this is an immortal elixir..."
Yang Chen held out the elixir, carefully trying to show it to Huang Hai.
"What kind of bullshit immortal elixir! Is this fool your son?"
Huang Hai, displeased, kicked Yang Chen, who was blocking his way, to the ground and cursed,
"This is a hospital. Who let you bring a fool in? If you scare other patients, you won't be able to bear the responsibility!"
"Waa, waa..."
After his mind was damaged, Yang Chen became like a seven-year-old child. He fell to the ground, crying and making a fuss.
"Dad... Dad, he, he hit me... It hurts, waa, waa..."
"Son, don't cry... don't cry, Dad is here!"
Yang Zhigang quickly went to embrace the sobbing Yang Chen and knelt before Huang Hai again:
"Son, hurry up and kowtow to the doctor!"
"Beg him to treat your mother!"
Bang, bang...
Following his father's instructions, Yang Chen forcefully kowtowed on the ground, his forehead already red and swollen.
Unknowingly, blood from Yang Chen's forehead dripped onto the black bead. A faint glow entered his body through his hands, flashing and disappearing.
No one noticed this scene, but as Yang Chen kowtowed, he suddenly shivered all over and fainted.
"Son... Son! Doctor, quickly check on my son!"
Yang Zhigang's lips were pale, and his voice trembled incessantly.
He didn't dare to think, his wife's medical expenses were not yet enough, and if his son also had an accident, how could he endure it!
"There's no major problem. I warn you, don't try to extort us!"
Huang Hai did a cursory examination, breathed a sigh of relief, and after warning them, he didn't want to linger. He instructed a nurse beside him and left.
"Young Yang, remember this: tomorrow, check the balance of the patients in room 3. If the payment hasn't been made, stop the infusion and process their discharge!"
"Also, quickly get him and his foolish son out of here! So they don't try to blame us if something happens!"
"Yes!"
Watching Huang Hai's receding back, Yang Zhigang was filled with despair. Tears that could no longer be held back rolled down his cheeks, hot and scalding. He silently hugged his son, who had not yet woken up, and returned home.
...
Yang Chen didn't know how long he had been unconscious.
But in a daze, he heard a faint, unclear voice, as if in a dream.
"I have endured for years, and finally, I have met such a simple child like you."
"Never mind, since fate has decreed it, at the moment of my primordial spirit's dissipation, I will send you on your way, wishing you a complete transformation and a remolded destiny!"
As the voice faded, streams of light, like a galaxy, poured into his body.
As the last trace of light vanished, his body began to feel scorching hot.
"Hmph!"
Yang Chen lay on the bed, kicked off the quilt, tossing and turning, his face contorted in pain.
The next second, he suddenly opened his eyes and sat up from the bed.
He looked as if he had just been fished out of water, not a dry spot on him.
Even the bedding was soaked with sweat.
"What... what happened to me?"
Yang Chen lowered his head and looked at the wet bed, stunned.
After staring for a while, the memories of the past three years overlapped.
Yang Chen was suddenly shocked; he finally understood.
He had woken up!
Completely awake!
His senses had fully recovered!
Not only that, but his body had also undergone an unprecedented change. Strength surged within him, as if he could run for three days and three nights without stopping if he wished.
Then, the "Treasure Appraisal Heavenly Eye" appeared in his mind, recording the divine techniques of treasure appraisal from ancient times to the present.
With just a glance, Yang Chen had mastered them by heart.
He recalled the scene in his dream and instinctively took out the mysterious black bead.
This bead was something he had picked up when he was foolish and his father had asked someone to let him work sweeping floors at an auction house. He never expected it to bring about such a dreamlike transformation!
Yang Chen was overjoyed.
Putting aside the physical changes, the divine techniques of treasure appraisal alone could help him soar to new heights.
When misfortune turns into fortune!
Yang Chen couldn't contain his excitement, especially thinking of his father kneeling and begging the doctor at the hospital this morning...
"I will never let my father kneel and beg anyone again!"
"No matter what, I must earn money first, treat my mother, and repay my father's great kindness!"
Yang Chen made up his mind, immediately got out of bed, pushed open the door, and shouted loudly,
"Dad... Dad, I'm better, I'm completely better..."
However, there was no sign of Yang Zhigang.
"Dad must have gone to find a way to raise the medical fees... No, how could he possibly borrow money? I have to raise this money today!"
Anxious, Yang Chen immediately went to the auction house.
He planned to test his abilities. If he could truly discern treasures, then going to antique markets like Panjiayuan would surely allow him to easily find treasures!
As soon as he arrived at the auction house, he was slapped on the back.
A cold, deep voice came, "Kid, have you seen a black prayer bead?"
"If you have, you'd better tell me the truth, or I'll kill you."
Yang Chen turned around and saw a stranger with a long face, his features carrying a sinister air, his slender eyes like a snake's, chilling one to the bone.
Yang Chen was about to answer when he suddenly realized that if people knew he was no longer foolish, he might be suspected!
Being a fool was still the best shield!
Thinking this, Yang Chen immediately feigned fear and cried out, "Don't hit me, don't hit me!"
The long-faced man was furious.
Just then, a contemptuous voice came, "Old Crow, why are you arguing with a fool? What could he possibly know?"
Zhang Chi, the chief appraiser of the auction house, quickly stepped forward.
"Who knows if he's truly foolish or pretending."
Old Crow's face darkened, and his casual remark almost made Yang Chen's heart leap into his throat!
"Alright, I'll keep an eye on this fool for you."
Zhang Chi glanced at Yang Chen, who was still standing there dumbfounded, and slapped him on the forehead.
He scolded, "Fool, why are you standing here? Get to sweeping the toilets."
Yang Chen nodded and walked towards the restroom without a word.
At that moment, he overheard their conversation.
"Old Zhang, I don't need to tell you how important this prayer bead is to the boss."
"If anyone has taken it, deal with them directly. We absolutely cannot let this get out... otherwise, our good days will be over."
Hearing their conversation, Yang Chen trembled all over. He never expected that the prayer bead he found would lead to a deadly peril.
It seemed he had to keep this secret and not mention a word.
...
After sweeping the toilets, Yang Chen didn't want to stay at the auction house any longer. He just wanted to test his appraisal skills and then resign.
He pushed open the door and, unnoticed, went to the display shelf.
As soon as Yang Chen scanned a small cup placed in one of the compartments...
[Yongzheng Eight-Lobed Master Cup, Sweet White Glaze, 80% complete condition, with wear, market value one hundred thousand...]
He could see the information about antiques?
Yang Chen's body trembled violently, filled with ecstatic joy.
"I'm rich now!"
"With this ability, can't I defy fate!"
"Mom, wait for me, I will definitely earn money to cure you!"
Yang Chen was overjoyed, a storm raging in his heart.
He knew very well what this ability would bring.
From now on, he would soar to the heavens and would never be looked down upon again!
His father's spine would no longer have to bend for the sake of begging others!
Filled with emotion, Yang Chen wanted to verify again and hurriedly looked around.
[Qing Dynasty White Jade Magpie Bridge Meeting Poem Plaque, White Jade material, inscribed on the back 'Moonlight illuminates the Milky Way, twin stars meet at the Magpie Bridge, a curio', 90% complete condition, market value eight hundred thousand...]
[Ming Dynasty White Jade Linghua Pendant, counterfeit, market value one thousand...]
Huh?
How could there be a counterfeit?
Before he could react, Yang Chen saw the storeroom door open, and Zhang Chi sneakily walked out, holding a light green shallow bowl.
[Qing Yongzheng Shallow Bowl, overglaze enamel, 80% complete condition, with wear, market value one hundred and fifty thousand...]
Zhang Chi did not expect Yang Chen to be standing by the display shelf outside the storeroom instead of sweeping the toilet.
He panicked for a moment, but then calmly put the bowl into his bag.
"Fool, this thing is a counterfeit, I'm going to destroy it... Don't you dare say anything! Or I'll deal with you!"
Yang Chen's heart suddenly raced.
He wasn't truly foolish, of course he could see that Zhang Chi intended to pocket the money for himself!
Unexpectedly, the slight change in his eyes at this moment startled Zhang Chi.
"Why are this kid's eyes so sharp?"
Yang Chen quickly reacted and put on a foolish expression again.
"I... I'm tired, I want to go home..."
Seeing this, Zhang Chi still felt uneasy. His eyes rolled, and he beckoned Yang Chen over.
"Fool, don't go home yet, come help me with something."
This old scoundrel was definitely up to no good!
Yang Chen's heart pounded, but he didn't dare to refuse. He could only follow him to the office.
Zhang Chi opened a drawer, and inside was an identical light green shallow bowl.
After observing Yang Chen's reaction without a word, he pretended to say, "This is the real one, understand?"
[Qing Yongzheng Shallow Bowl, counterfeit, market value 0...]
He called it the real one, did he think I was a fool?
Yang Chen sneered inwardly, but he was also puzzled why this counterfeit had no value at all.
Before he could react, Zhang Chi had already stuffed the bowl into his hand.
"Fool, take this and deliver it to President Li for me."
Deliver a counterfeit?
Isn't this asking me to take the blame?
Just as Yang Chen was about to refuse, Zhang Chi had already shoved the shallow bowl into Yang Chen's hand.
As soon as it touched his hand, Yang Chen's heart sank!
He immediately sensed that something was wrong.
This bowl was broken!
As expected, before Yang Chen could react, the shallow bowl shattered, and uneven fragments fell to the ground.
Making a clanging sound.
Seeing the shallow bowl break, Zhang Chi's face changed drastically: "Fool, you've done a great job. Do you know how much this thing costs?"
As he cursed, a sinister glint flashed in Zhang Chi's eyes.
He had done it on purpose!
He wanted Yang Chen to break the bowl and take the blame, so that he could not only make a fortune but also get rid of this fool who had witnessed him switching the items!
"Come, let's go out!"
Zhang Chi, feigning anger, grabbed Yang Chen's hand and left the restroom.
"Fake, this, this is fake..."
Yang Chen suddenly became flustered, stammering incoherently.
"What fake! What do you know, you fool!"
Zhang Chi was shocked and wished he could immediately slap Yang Chen to shut him up.
Just then, a woman in a black dress walked towards them. The woman was slender and exceptionally graceful.
Seeing Zhang Chi yelling at Yang Chen, she frowned and asked, "What's going on?"