With Ge Daquan exposed as the culprit, Yuan Minsheng's innocence was proven. Overwhelmed with gratitude, Yuan repeatedly thanked Fang Ming.
"Thank you, thank you so much, Master!"
Indeed, in Yuan's eyes, Fang Ming was no ordinary man—he was a master of his craft. And Yuan wasn't the only one who thought so; everyone in the hall looked at Fang with a mix of respect and awe.
"Thank you, Master Fang, for helping us recover the stolen jewelry," Cai Wenli said earnestly. "May I ask for your full name, Master?"
"Fang Ming," he replied calmly.
"Mr. Fang," Cai continued, his tone filled with gratitude. "You've done us a great service. Without your help, I might have wrongly accused Old Yuan. Please, if there's anything you need, just name it. As long as it's within my means, I'll make it happen."
Fang Ming smirked knowingly. He could see right through Cai Wenli's intentions.
"Don't worry," Fang said, his tone steady. "The matter is settled now, and the Pixiu will no longer bring misfortune to your shop. But there's something I must warn you about, Mr. Cai."
"Of course, Mr. Fang. Please, I'm all ears," Cai responded, nodding eagerly.
"There's a saying: It's easy to invite a deity but hard to send one away. Feng Shui items like this Pixiu are not to be taken lightly. If you're going to bring them into your life, you must fully understand them. Some Feng Shui items may not bring you wealth as you hope, but mishandling them can certainly bring misfortune."
Cai and the others exchanged puzzled glances. This was the first time they'd heard such a perspective.
"Changing one's fortune through Feng Shui isn't as simple as people think," Fang explained. "Many have heard of Pixiu statues, Wen Chang Towers, or peachwood fans as tools to alter one's luck. But how many have actually seen them work as intended?"
His words struck a chord with the crowd. Many nodded in agreement. As seasoned professionals in the antique and jewelry trade, they had encountered plenty of such items but rarely witnessed anyone's fortunes genuinely improve because of them.
"There's an old saying in our culture: Good fortune rarely strikes, but misfortune is always certain. This applies perfectly to these Feng Shui items. Bringing them into your life might not change your luck, but mishandling them could bring disasters. This Pixiu is a perfect example."
Fang's explanation wasn't an exaggeration. Feng Shui items often come with intricate rules about placement, timing, and daily rituals. A slight misstep could lead to unforeseen consequences.
Cai nodded repeatedly, his face pale. "I'll never make the same mistake again," he muttered, visibly shaken.
"Well, everything's resolved now. It's time for me to leave," Fang said with a faint smile. He bent down and patted Yuan Minsheng's daughter on the head. "See? Big brother didn't lie to you, did he?"
"Thank you, big brother," the little girl said sweetly, her voice full of gratitude.
Fang ruffled her hair gently before turning to leave.
"Mr. Fang! Please wait!" Cai Wenli hurried after him, holding an envelope. "I can't thank you enough for what you've done. Please, take this as a token of my gratitude."
Fang glanced at the envelope and estimated it contained at least 10,000 to 20,000 yuan—a significant sum. But he couldn't accept it.
"Thank you for your generosity, Mr. Cai," Fang said. "But I can't accept this. If you truly want to make amends, why not give this money to Yuan Minsheng instead? He deserves it after being wrongfully accused."
Before Cai could respond, Fang strode away. At the entrance, Ouyang Xueqing overheard his words, her eyes flashing with a mix of admiration and intrigue.
"Uncle," she said, turning to Cai Wenli. "He's right. You should give the money to Yuan Minsheng since you wronged him."
With that, Ouyang quickly followed Fang, leaving Cai standing there, conflicted.
"Officer, is there something else you need?" Fang asked without turning around as he exited the market.
"How did you know I was following you?" Ouyang asked, astonished. "You never even looked back."
"Your presence," Fang replied cryptically, turning to face her.
Ouyang frowned, unsatisfied with his vague answer, but decided to move on. "I wanted to ask you about something."
"You want me to help Ge Daquan's daughter, don't you?"
Ouyang's eyes widened in shock. "How... how did you know that?"
Fang chuckled. "If it were anything else, you could've asked me back in the shop. The fact that you waited until now means you didn't want to bring it up in front of your uncle or the others. It wasn't hard to figure out."
Ouyang stared at him in disbelief. She couldn't help but think that Fang Ming's deductive skills would make him an excellent detective.
"Yes," she admitted. "I think it's unfair for a child to suffer because of her father's mistakes. Isn't that too cruel?"
Fang smiled faintly. "Don't worry. Ge Daquan's daughter will recover soon and won't suffer from any more illnesses."
"Why?" Ouyang asked, puzzled. "Didn't you say her condition was caused by the Pixiu's curse?"
Fang raised an eyebrow. "If I hadn't said that, do you think Ge Daquan would've confessed so easily?"
Before she could respond, Fang added, "And besides, didn't you already destroy the Pixiu?"
"So, breaking the Pixiu lifted the curse on Ge Daquan's daughter?"
"Exactly. By smashing the Pixiu, you severed the karmic link between it and Ge Daquan," Fang explained. He didn't mention the whole truth—that the Pixiu's lingering resentment had transferred to Ouyang herself. However, because she had freed the Pixiu from its defilement, her retribution would be minimal—perhaps just a minor inconvenience.
Ouyang breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing Fang about to leave, she called out, "Fang Ming, you're not from around here, are you?"
"No," he replied.
"Then why are you in Shanghai?"
"To visit some old friends," Fang answered honestly.
"Did you find them?"
Fang shook his head. "Not yet. But I've fulfilled my teacher's wishes."
"Do you know the city well? If not, I could drive you to where you need to go," Ouyang offered. She was more curious than anything—Fang Ming had turned her understanding of the world upside down, and she wanted to learn more about him.
Fang considered her offer before nodding. "Alright, thanks."
"No need to thank me. My car's just around the corner. Wait here, and I'll pick you up."
Minutes later, Ouyang returned in a sleek red BMW Z4 convertible. Fang raised an eyebrow but didn't comment. He gave her an address, then pulled out his phone to browse as they drove.
Ouyang glanced at him curiously. "I thought people like you wouldn't use phones," she teased.
Fang laughed. "That's a common misconception. While ancient wisdom is valuable, using modern tools to enhance our understanding is just as important."
As they drove, Fang focused on a forum he had been browsing, his expression thoughtful.