Chapter Thirty-Eight: Truth and Falsehood Are Hard to Distinguish

  These days, following Zhao Menfeng's studies, Wang Ke can be said to have benefited greatly. Although he still doesn't have the ability to simply distinguish between genuine and fake antiques and artifacts, through the knowledge he has learned, he is still able to form a somewhat vague concept. As for the bronze Buddha statue in his hand, Wang Ke feels that this shouldn't be a fake artifact; even if it's a fake artifact, there should still be a great possibility that it's a genuine antique.

  A few days ago, when Zhao Menfeng was explaining antique knowledge to him, he took out several antiques and a few Buddhist instruments from his Zixingju collection for him to identify and appraise. This bronze Buddha statue looks very similar to one of the Buddhist instruments that Zhao Menfeng showed him at the time.

  Its carving craftsmanship, although it doesn't look very exquisite, is rough and fine, with an inexplicable charm in its coarse appearance, just like a person's rough and heroic appearance hides a delicate heart.

  Under Li Hui and Cheng Renjie's bewildered gaze, Wang Ke stood up from the sofa, took big strides to the door, and through the light, he found that although the refracted colors of sunlight were bright, yet amidst the brightness, there was a patch that presented a dull glow.

  Is it an old thing refurbished?

  Wang Ke's heart moved, he had seen non-goods people take a genuine article and process it, although it looked more like the real thing, but many insiders would misjudge it as genuine, just because after processing, it had a more fake appearance.

  Is this bronze Buddha statue genuine or fake?

  Wang Ke was somewhat uncertain. After hesitating for a moment, he decided to use his heterochromatic eyes to take a look and see if the bronze Buddha was a magical instrument.

  Slowly mobilizing the true energy to gather on both eyes, because of the repeated use of the heterochromatic eye, the stinging pain that occurred before each use of the heterochromatic eye has now disappeared a lot, it just feels like being bitten by two ants, and after a slight pain, a cool and refreshing feeling comes from both eyes.

  Is there no white gas?

  Isn't it illegal?

  Wang Ke quickly cut off his true energy, and after his eyes returned to their normal state, he shook his head with a wry smile.

  "Brother Wang, can you see any flaws in the technique? Many masters have said it's fake, could they all be wrong?" Cheng Renjie asked curiously, sizing up Wang Ke.

  Li Hui showed a hint of anticipation, if those masters had misjudged it, then the money he invested could be recovered. Now he didn't dream of making much money, as long as he could recover his investment, he would be content!

  Wang Ke shook his head and said, "This is a fake magic weapon."

  Li Hui's face showed a look of disappointment, and he smiled wryly, shaking his head silently.

  Wang Ke didn't notice the expression on Li Hui's face and continued to say: "Although this is not a magical weapon, I think it should be an antique, only that I don't have 100% confidence to confirm."

  Li Hui's dejected expression changed slightly, and Wang Ke's words made the hope in his heart reappear. Even if it wasn't a magic weapon, as long as it was an antique, that would be okay too! The price might not be as high as a magic weapon, but it wouldn't be worthless junk either!

  "Wang Ke, little brother, are you telling the truth? Could it really be an antique?" His body trembled slightly, and the hopeful look in his eyes grew even stronger than before.

  Wang Ke did not immediately respond to Li Hui's question, but instead quickly thought to himself, his eyes fixed on the copper Buddha in his hand, and he carefully scanned the entire copper Buddha again. Only then did he seem to make up his mind, turned his head to look at Li Hui, and asked: "Brother Li, how much money did you spend when you bought this copper Buddha?"

  "Forty-eight thousand."

  Wang Ke pondered for a moment, then said: "Li brother, I'll give you 48,000. How about selling this bronze Buddha to me? To be honest, I really can't tell right now whether this bronze Buddha is an antique or not, but one thing's for sure - it's not a ritual object."

  Li Hui's eyes burst out with a sharp light, and his face also showed a hint of surprise. But Wang Ke's words made his heart sink again, and after hesitating for a while, he shook his head and smiled bitterly: "Wang Ke, my brother, if someone else told me this, I would sell it without hesitation. After all, being able to get back the capital is already a blessing from heaven. But since it's you who said this, and you don't have 100% confidence, I can't let you take the risk. This life of mine was saved by you, if you really want it, I'll give it to you for free, not even one cent."

  Wang Ke secretly sighed in his heart, and the reason he decided to buy this bronze Buddha was not 100% sure that it was an antique. If he made a mistake, then all his efforts would be in vain! His final decision also had another reason, which was to help Li Hui out. Wang Ke was very clear about Li Hui's family situation, and without mentioning that all their savings had been swindled away, just the fact that Li Hui's wife had some illness that required surgery made him unable to ignore it.

  He is not a philanthropist, nor does he think that money is burning his hands. Ten days or half a month ago, he was still a poor and miserable young man. However, he knows the taste of poverty and understands the feelings of the poor, especially when they need money for urgent matters.

  In these times, everything can be delayed except for treating illnesses.

  Li Hui's words made Wang Ke even more determined to buy the copper Buddha statue.

  If Li Hui had agreed with joy, Wang Ke would have thought that even if the bronze Buddha was fake, he would have lost money. However, Li Hui's words were filled with emotion, and he was an upright man, so even if he had lost, he would have been willing to do so.

  "Li, don't refuse! I believe in my own skills, so I have great confidence. This is a genuine antique, of course, if it's real, maybe I can even make a profit from it. I saved you, and you're grateful to me, I appreciate that. So I agree to go back with you for dinner, but don't worry about not being able to clear your conscience. As brothers, we should be open and honest in our dealings. I won't take advantage of you without giving anything in return, otherwise, my heart wouldn't feel at ease." Wang Ke said firmly.

  "This..."

  Li Hui stared blankly at Wang Ke, his heart filled with a mix of emotions.

  Forty-eight thousand yuan, for him, was a staggering sum. If he said he wasn't tempted, that would be a lie. After all, of the forty-eight thousand yuan, aside from the five thousand yuan he owed his friend, there were also the savings of the couple over the years.

  However, the kind-hearted lifesaver in front of him wanted to buy it at the original price without being 100% sure, which made him hesitant even though he was excited.

  Wang Ke could see Li Hui's inner struggle and knew how important this money was to Li Hui.

  To prevent Li Hui from persisting, Wang Ke said: "Li brother, even if you think I'm a good person, then I'll thoroughly be a good person this time. Since you're grateful to me, I'll make you even more grateful. Don't worry about telling you, actually, my purchase of this copper Buddha has a big reason, which is to test what kind of person you are. If you had readily agreed just now, maybe I wouldn't have bought it! But your words really moved me. I don't know what illness your wife has, and I won't be able to help much either. You're a grown man, so don't be hesitant. 48,000, I'll buy it. If you don't want to sell, I'll immediately return the copper Buddha to you and leave. Let's just pretend we've never met before, and even if we meet in the future, neither of us will recognize each other."

  Li Hui looked at Wang Ke's persistent expression, and a hint of tears appeared in his big eyes. He felt his heart trembling, and the warm flow in his chest made his nose tip sour.

  Gritting his teeth, Li Hui nodded heavily and said: "Since you've said so much, Brother Wang Ke, I'll remember your great kindness. I do need money, a lot of it, but I'm not someone who's blinded by wealth. It's really that my wife needs surgery soon. I won't decline anymore, I'll sell the thing to you."

  Wang Ke nodded in satisfaction and smiled: "That matter should not be delayed, let's go to the bank now! I'll withdraw money for you."

  Li Hui shook his head and said, "Don't rush it. I promised to treat Wang and Cheng to dinner today. Let's talk about the money after we've eaten our fill."

  Cheng Renjie, standing beside Wang Ke and Li Hui, looked at Wang Ke with a strange gaze, and the strangeness deep down was a subtle respect.

  In his heart, Wang Ke jumped into the river to save him. He was grateful to Wang Ke and felt that Wang Ke's character was good, a very good person. He was grateful to Wang Ke and admired him. But if he were to describe it with respect, it would be somewhat inadequate, after all, saving people was something he had also done, even though he didn't have the ability.

  But now, using "respect" to describe his thoughts is absolutely not an exaggeration at all.

  At this moment, Wang Ke is a good person in his heart, a kind person, and a person with a compassionate heart.

  Afterwards, Wang Ke's attention was no longer focused on the bronze Buddha statue, but instead he chatted casually with Cheng Renjie and Li Hui. During their conversation, Wang Ke keenly observed that within three minutes of returning to the house, Li Hui excused himself to change clothes in the adjacent room and secretly handed his son a 100-yuan bill, whispering something in his ear. Although Wang Ke couldn't hear what Li Hui said, he could guess that he was probably asking his son to find his wife and tell her to buy more good wine and dishes.

  At lunchtime, neither Wang Ke nor Cheng Renjie drank alcohol. Because Wang Ke had to go back in the afternoon and continue his work as a bodyguard, while Cheng Renjie still had to work at night, being drunk on the job was not an option.

  Li Hui did not force them, he understood that even though they were full of gratitude, it could only be suppressed in their hearts, and repeatedly advised the two to eat more.

  After eating and drinking enough, Wang Ke led Li Hui to a nearby bank, transferred 48,000 yuan to Li Hui's account, and then took the bronze Buddha statue and bid farewell, taking the bus back to Li Ruoxi's villa.

  He didn't immediately go to the antique market to ask Zhao Menfeng to take a look at whether this bronze Buddha was a genuine antique or not. Although he really wanted to know as soon as possible whether this bronze Buddha was a genuine antique or not, he had just spent the morning studying with Zhao Menfeng at Zixing Residence and wasn't in a hurry for the time being. He could go again tomorrow to study and ask then, it wouldn't be too late. It would also be a good opportunity to look up some information about bronze Buddha statues after returning home.

  Wang Ke didn't know that after he left, the news of his rescue had already spread far and wide in the antique trading market. Many people thought it was unbelievable that he could save two people in a river with rapid currents, and the title of great hero and mastermind was also bestowed upon him.

  Zhao Menfeng, who was sitting in his Zixingju residence, sipped on fragrant tea while leisurely reading a book about Feng Shui. Two middle-aged men carrying antiques walked into the Zixingju, discussing Wang Ke's recent heroic act of saving someone.