Chapter 99

Suniang furrowed her brows, somewhat puzzled, but then saw the old Taoist priest already pointing to a small stool opposite and saying, "Young lady, please sit down!"

Suniang shook her head and said, "I... I don't read fortunes!" She didn't have much copper money and felt that this old Taoist priest, with his air of a sage, would likely charge a lot of silver if she asked for a fortune.

Not to mention, even if she had the money, she wouldn't spend it on a fortune.

The old Taoist priest, however, smiled mysteriously and stroked his beard, saying, "Young lady, please sit down first. This poor Taoist only reads fortunes for those with a connection. If you have a connection, the reading is free, but if you don't, even a thousand gold pieces won't get you a reading from me!"

Suniang was somewhat hesitant, but the old Taoist priest laughed and said, "Young lady, a great calamity is about to befall you. Don't you want to find a way to avoid it?"

After all, she was a country girl, and people in this era were very superstitious. Even noble ladies believed in fate. The old Taoist priest's words made Suniang uneasy. After a moment of hesitation, she reluctantly walked over and asked, "If you read my fortune, will you really... really not ask for silver?"

"Not a single coin!" the old Taoist priest said firmly.

Suniang was somewhat skeptical but couldn't help sitting down and asked, "What should I call you, Daoist Master?"

"Leisurely cloud and wild crane, not bound by a Taoist name," the old Taoist priest smiled. "But those who know me call me Daoist Master Lu!"

"Daoist Master Lu, you said a great calamity is about to befall me. What do you mean by that?" Suniang asked curiously, feeling somewhat uneasy.

"Please don't move, young lady!" Daoist Master Lu stared at Suniang's face. Suniang, hearing this, really didn't move. The old Taoist priest carefully examined her face, making Suniang feel quite uncomfortable. She fidgeted with the corners of her clothes, looking very nervous.

"Young lady, you have a clear and unique bone structure, and your facial features are well-proportioned...!" Daoist Master Lu stroked his beard and said slowly, "However, there is a grayish aura between your eyebrows, indicating that a great calamity is coming... Hmm, that's not right, this grayish aura has a hint of red... Strange, strange!"

Suniang couldn't help but ask, "Daoist Master, can you really tell a disaster from one's face?"

"Of course!" Daoist Master Lu said solemnly, "This poor Taoist is not a deceiver. Generally, when observing a person's appearance, we first look at their bone structure, then the five elements. We measure the length of the three stops and observe the fullness of the face. Young lady, you have a full forehead, abundant spirit, and balanced yin and yang. This is a rare face I've seen in many years. You know, a person's face always has its highs and lows, strengths and weaknesses, coarseness and smoothness, but you have a balanced face, and you have a plum blossom mole below your lips, indicating a refined and noble fate... You will surely be a person of wealth and honor in the future!"

Suniang, listening to his eloquent words, found them quite profound. She also felt that the old Taoist priest had some skills and believed him to some extent. However, she was quite intelligent, and although she didn't understand much of what he said, she grasped the general meaning. She frowned and said, "If you say so, it seems there's nothing wrong with me? Just that I will be a person of wealth and honor...!" She didn't continue, but she felt that she came from a humble background. Although her life had improved somewhat, the idea of wealth and honor seemed impossible.

Daoist Master Lu seemed to understand Suniang's thoughts and smiled. Just then, someone called out, "Move, move!" A lean man pushed through the crowd, bypassed Suniang, and knelt down in front of Daoist Master Lu, saying, "Daoist Master Lu, you are truly a living god! You said I would become wealthy this month, and indeed, I got a large sum of silver a few days ago. You are truly a divine fortune-teller, with the ability to predict the future!" He took out a small bag, which looked heavy, and presented it to Daoist Master Lu with both hands, saying, "Daoist Master, this is my gift of gratitude. You must accept it!"

Daoist Master Lu shook his head and said, "This poor Taoist said that for those with a connection, not a single coin is taken, and for those without, even a thousand gold pieces won't get a reading. I read your fortune because we have a connection. Since we have a connection, I won't take a single coin from you!" He raised his hand and said, "Go, and do more good deeds in the future. I see from your face that you will become even more successful next year!"

The man bowed repeatedly, saying, "Thank you, Daoist Master, thank you, Daoist Master!" He got up and repeatedly said, "You are truly a living god, a living god!" and then walked away, his voice fading into the distance.

Suniang, watching from the side, was stunned and became even more convinced that the old Taoist priest was extraordinary.

Daoist Master Lu sat up straight and looked at Suniang, saying slowly, "Young lady, I saw what happened at the cloth shop just now. Who is that young man to you?"

His fortune-telling stand was not far from the Chen family cloth shop, so he could see what was happening there.

Suniang thought for a moment and said, "He... he is my... my younger brother!"

"No!" Daoist Master Lu shook his head and smiled, "Young lady, don't try to hide it from me. If I can't even figure this out, I shouldn't be here reading fortunes." He lowered his voice and said, "Young lady, is that man your lover?"

Suniang's face suddenly changed, and she angrily said, "What nonsense are you talking about!"

Daoist Master Lu was taken aback but quickly smiled and said calmly, "Young lady, don't be angry. This poor Taoist is just reading the fortune, not talking nonsense. If you don't believe me, you can leave!"

Suniang, seeing the old Taoist priest talking nonsense, was somewhat angry, but for some reason, she didn't want to leave. She said softly, "He... he is not my... that...!" Her face turned red, and she felt a wave of heat. She silently cursed, "This old Taoist, if he is truly a divine fortune-teller, why is he talking nonsense? Er Lang is clearly my younger brother-in-law. How can he say he is my... lover? It's really annoying!"

Daoist Master Lu, seeing Suniang's face turn red and her speech become hesitant, though she was somewhat angry, her eyes showed more embarrassment. He became even more convinced that Suniang and Chuhuan had a special relationship. He smiled, raised his hand, and moved his fingers as if calculating something. Soon, he said, "Young lady, let me be frank. Don't be angry, but you and that young man were husband and wife in your past life, and you will surely become a couple in this life. This is predestined by heaven and cannot be changed!"

Suniang's face was strange, a mix of anger and embarrassment. She frowned and said, "Daoist Master Lu, you... you stop talking nonsense...!" Her heart was racing, feeling extremely strange. Her heartbeat accelerated, and she felt that the old Taoist priest's predictions were absurd, but she couldn't completely disbelieve them. Her emotions were very complex.

Daoist Master Lu, however, remained calm and composed, with an air of a sage. After a moment of thought, he suddenly said, "This poor Taoist understands!"

Suniang was taken aback and asked curiously, "What do you understand, Daoist Master?"

...

...

Chuhuan was taken to the back yard of the cloth shop by the shop owner. Someone had already brought tea. The shop owner was still somewhat excited and said, "By the way, I haven't asked your name yet, sir!"

He continued, "I am Chen Dong, the owner of the cloth shop. Besides this one, I have two others. I went to Taiyuan recently to discuss some business...!"

Chuhuan smiled and said, "Mr. Chen, don't keep calling me 'sir.' I feel quite embarrassed. My name is Chuhuan. Meeting again after the incident is a matter of fate!"

Chen Dong nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, it's fate." He personally served Chuhuan a cup of tea and said, "If it weren't for you, Mr. Chuhuan, I might not be alive today. It was truly dangerous, and fortunately, I know how to ride a horse, so I escaped... But at the time, I was only thinking about getting out of danger and didn't know what happened afterward. I've been thinking about you... I mean, Mr. Chuhuan!"

"Thank you for your concern!" Chuhuan smiled. Although Chen Dong might not have been truly worried about him, his gratitude was genuine. This man had some sentiment.

"I've been trying to find out where Mr. Chuhuan is, but I didn't know your name or where you live, so I couldn't find you. I just hoped you would be safe. It's a blessing from heaven that we meet again today!" Chen Dong sighed and then thought of something, asking, "Where are you working now, Mr. Chuhuan?"

Chuhuan thought for a moment and realized that his work at the Su family would eventually be known by Chen Dong, so he didn't hide it and smiled, "I used to work at the Qingliu County Shengquan Wine Shop. Now I'm in the city, working at the Su family!"

"Su Linlang?" Chen Dong asked curiously, "So Mr. Chuhuan works for the Su family." He then said regretfully, "Mr. Chuhuan, with your skills, it's a bit of a waste!"

Chuhuan smiled, "Not at all, just making a living!"

"Mr. Chuhuan, with your talents, you can find a job anywhere," Chen Dong chuckled. "I remember, the head of the Su family was also on the boat that day."

"Exactly!" Chuhuan nodded, not saying more.

Chen Dong smiled and then became serious, lowering his voice, "Mr. Chuhuan, it's not that I like to gossip, but... the Su family is facing difficulties. It's likely that the Shengquan name will disappear from Yunshan City soon... Working for the Su family, you might be affected!"

Chuhuan frowned and asked curiously, "Why do you say that, Mr. Chen?"

Chen Dong shook his head and sighed, "Mr. Chuhuan, I'm not cursing the Su family." He paused and lowered his voice, "When the head of the Su family went to Taiyuan last time, I had a feeling they were seeking grain!"

Chuhuan became interested. The matter of seeking grain had been mentioned by Linlang and Old Su, but they only touched on it briefly and didn't go into detail. Moreover, they seemed somewhat gloomy when talking about it. It seemed the Su family was facing hidden troubles. Now that Chen Dong mentioned it, Chuhuan wanted to know more.

"Mr. Chen, what trouble is the Su family facing?" Chuhuan asked softly, "From what I know, the grain in Yunshan City doesn't seem to be sold to the Su family. What's going on?"

Chen Dong smiled bitterly, "If someone else asked, I wouldn't say much. But since you, Mr. Chuhuan, are asking, even if I shouldn't, I will still tell you!"

Chuhuan nodded, "Please enlighten me!"

Chen Dong looked around to make sure no one was around and then lowered his voice, "In the end, it's because the head of the Su family offended a powerful person. The current situation of the Su family is simply due to someone's revenge!"

---

ps: Third update of the day.

As long as I have the energy, I'll try to write more while ensuring quality. I hope everyone will support me. The story is still in its infancy and needs everyone's care to grow healthily!

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