Chapter 8

It changed so quickly, didn't it? Just a moment ago, he was selling dogskin ointments, and now he's turned into a wandering fortune-teller?

The young man who had spoken couldn't help but burst out laughing:

"Old man, you're quite amusing. Tell me, what exactly are you selling?"

The old man with the bamboo hat seized the opportunity, and like a dogskin ointment salesman, he clung on, grabbing the young man's sleeve and said with a serious face:

"Young man, I see that you have a full forehead and a surprising bone structure, which is not that of an ordinary person. When I opened my third eye, I discovered that you are a once-in-a-century talent.

My little stall is short of a partner, and I can offer you a hundred yuan a day with food and lodging included. Come on, won't you?"

This left even Liu Shiba speechless.

The young man who was grabbed shook off the old man's hand and angrily shouted, "Old man, I think you want to trick me into selling my kidney, don't you?"

The old man with the bamboo hat shook his head and continued:

"I won't force you if you don't want to partner with me. If that's the case, I have this book, 'The Divine Physiognomy of Ma Yi.' It originally costs twenty yuan, but I'll give it to you for ten yuan. You'll get a great deal."

"Ha ha ha ha!"

"This old man is quite amusing. Isn't he just a street scammer?"

"Let's go, there's nothing to see here!"

The crowd laughed and gradually dispersed. Only Liu Shiba's eyes flickered, as if he had thought of something, and he remained standing there.

Seeing the crowd disperse, the old man with the bamboo hat didn't panic. Instead, he approached Liu Shiba and whispered with a smile:

"Young man, I see that you have a full forehead, a green aura on your head, and full cheeks..."

Liu Shiba smiled faintly and said:

"Want me to buy 'The Divine Physiognomy of Ma Yi'? Sure, but can you give me a reading first? If it's accurate, I'll buy one."

The old man with the bamboo hat paused, hesitated for a moment, then gradually raised his head and softly said two sentences:

"Three feet of green smoke rise from the grave, wealth and fortune boundless as the sea!

The ancestors planted the tree, the descendants enjoy the shade, but to defy fate, the path is long and arduous!"

Hearing these words, Liu Shiba's eyes flickered, and he was inwardly shocked. He said strangely:

"Old peddler, I recognized you just now. Why are you in Xuchang?"

Didn't Grandpa tell him that no one knew about the matter of defying fate, which was a secret of the Liu family?

But the two sentences from the old peddler revealed everything, including the bad luck that had plagued the Liu family for generations.

Could this old man really be a fortune-teller?

Could he be the seventh-ranked physiognomist among the Ten Great Cultivators of the World?

How could there be so many coincidences in the world?

He left the Liu family village, and this old peddler, who usually roamed around Ziyun Mountain, appeared at his doorstep in Xuchang?

If this were a coincidence with no connection, Liu Shiba wouldn't believe it.

The old peddler, however, remained calm and explained:

"Life is tough, and my close friend Liu Shiliu has also passed away. I have no choice but to come to the big city to make a living."

Hearing this, Liu Shiba believed him to some extent. The old peddler was named Cao Xiong, and he had known him since childhood. He and his grandfather were close friends, often eating meat and drinking together, and even climbing through the window of Second Dog's wife, Cuihua...

"Uncle, what are your plans in Xuchang? Are you going to live by street scams?"

Liu Shiba asked calmly.

"I didn't have any plans, but seeing my nephew, I have a plan now. Why don't you take me in first?

I don't have a place to stay. At least we were close friends, and the reading I gave you is worth it..."

Hearing this, Liu Shiba was inwardly shocked but remained calm, as if the two sentences of the reading were just a joke.

Although Liu Shiba was young, he was quite shrewd. After a moment's thought, he smiled and said:

"Since you are my grandfather's friend and my senior, I should help you.

I'm going to buy some lottery tickets now. Would you like to come with me? We can go to my place afterward."

Cao Xiong smiled slightly, straightened his back, and said in a refined manner:

"Thank you, Shiba. If you're buying lottery tickets, let's go together. I can help you calculate the best time to buy."

Liu Shiba was taken aback by this. He didn't believe in ghosts and gods, but now he believed it to some extent. He smiled and said:

"Let's go then, Uncle Cao."

Cao Xiong's steps paused slightly when he heard Liu Shiba call him "Uncle Cao." He bent down to tidy up and followed Liu Shiba.

The two walked leisurely and soon arrived at the lottery station at the street corner. Coincidentally, Liu Shiba's ex-girlfriend, Zhao Lizhu, was standing at the door of the coffee shop next to the lottery station, looking this way.

Standing beside Zhao Lizhu was a well-dressed middle-aged man with a square face. At first glance, he seemed impressive, but his eyes revealed a hint of cunning and deceit.

From the moment Liu Shiba approached, the man's eyes were fixed on him.

Zhao Lizhu was wearing a beige trench coat, with wavy long hair lazily draped over her shoulders, showing a hint of moisture, indicating that she had just taken a shower and hadn't dried her hair.

It had to be said that Zhao Lizhu was indeed a very attractive woman, and after a shower, she looked even more charming, whispering to the man beside her.

Liu Shiba walked into the lottery station with a calm expression, glanced at the man in the beige Burberry trench coat, and smiled and nodded.

Seeing Liu Shiba, Zhao Lizhu's face was full of disdain, and she sneered:

"Such a failure, always buying lottery tickets, you deserve to be poor for life."

The middle-aged man beside Zhao Lizhu also snorted lightly.

Liu Shiba was used to Zhao Lizhu's cold sarcasm and smiled calmly:

"Being poor is my business, not yours."

After saying this, Liu Shiba looked at the somewhat surprised Zhao Lizhu and smiled again:

"Waiting here so early, just to mock me? Why don't you introduce me to your new lover?"

At this, the middle-aged man's eyes, which had been filled with disdain, narrowed, showing a hint of anger and surprise.

"Are you Zhao Lizhu's ex-boyfriend? Watch your mouth, or you'll regret it."

Liu Shiba laughed and said:

"To be honest, I even helped you clean up the shoes I didn't wear anymore. I should thank you."

Hearing this, Zhao Lizhu's face changed drastically, and her harsh words came quickly:

"Liu Shiba, don't take my kindness for granted. We have no relationship anymore. So what if I left you?

You're too poor, with no money, no car, and no luxury house. Why should I waste my youth on you?"

Liu Shiba glanced at the middle-aged man with a sullen face and said softly:

"Wealth doesn't last more than three generations. Thirty years on this side, thirty years on the other. Be careful..."

...