Chapter 5

"Since ancient times, it's always the son who deceives the father, not the other way around. It's settled then!" Jia Zhengdao said solemnly, then took a key from his waist and got up to unlock the copper lock on the wooden chest behind him.

Wang Baoyu, seeing his godfather's action, immediately understood what he was about to do. The chest contained all of his godfather's treasures, a large box full of ancient books, which were usually kept locked. He guessed that his godfather was about to impart something to him.

As Wang Baoyu had expected, Jia Zhengdao, with his buttocks sticking out, rummaged through the chest and pulled out three yellow-paper books bound in thread, handing them to Wang Baoyu. They were titled *Kanyu Zhenquan* (The True Interpretation of Geomancy), *Mayi Shenxiang* (The Divine Physiognomy of Master Ma), and *Duanyi Tianji* (The Heavenly Opportunities of Divination).

Wang Baoyu took the three yellow-paper books. Due to their long storage, the books still emitted a faint wood aroma. He held them in his hands, feeling their weight, as if he were holding his own future destiny.

"Baoyu, I can only teach you geomancy. I don't understand the rest, so you'll have to study them on your own!" Jia Zhengdao said after sitting back down.

"I will definitely study hard and learn all these books. Please rest assured, Father and Mother." Wang Baoyu's tone was very firm, as if he were determined to never turn back until he achieved his goal.

"Quick, have your meal! It's getting cold. We can talk about it tomorrow." Lin Zhaodi had already finished a bowl of porridge and, seeing the two of them busy, couldn't help but urge them from the side.

Wang Baoyu obediently put down the books and picked up the bowl, drinking the porridge in large gulps. The sound of "slurping" filled the air. Jia Zhengdao also took a piece of cornbread, broke it, and put it in his mouth, starting to eat.

Just then, a voice called out from outside the door: "Is Master Jia at home?"

It was a very familiar male voice, known to everyone in the village, as it was the most common voice on the village loudspeaker. Jia Zhengdao quickly got up, got off the kang (a traditional heated bed), put on his shoes, and said urgently, "Village Chief Ma is here; there must be something important."

Jia Zhengdao and Lin Zhaodi went out to greet him, but Wang Baoyu didn't move, continuing to drink his porridge and chew on a pickled radish. He cursed in his heart, "What kind of village chief is this? His family has the most farmland, all in the best locations. The villagers live in mud houses, but his family already lives in a brick house. He must be a corrupt official!"

To speak of Ma Shunxi, he was not originally from this place; his mother was. When he was a child, Ma Shunxi's family was very poor. His father died when he was a teenager, and the next year, a heavy snowfall collapsed their two dilapidated mud houses. With no relatives to rely on, his mother could no longer bear the hardship and took him to her hometown.

Ma Shunxi's luck changed when he was in his twenties. No one knew what means he used, but he married Zheng Fenglan, the daughter of the old village chief, and later took over his father-in-law's position in the village committee. Now, he was the chief of Dongfeng Village.

With a somewhat noisy sound of footsteps, Village Chief Ma Shunxi followed Jia Zhengdao and his wife into the house. He didn't even look at Wang Baoyu, who didn't care because he also looked down on Ma Shunxi. This man, who clearly had little education, always carried a fountain pen in his shirt pocket and wore a cadre cap even in the hottest weather, putting on airs that were extremely annoying.

Ma Shunxi put two bottles of Erguotou and a box of pastries on the table and sat down on the edge of the kang. Jia Zhengdao sat opposite him, while Lin Zhaodi went to the side to pour a cup of hot water from the thermos and handed it to Ma Shunxi.

"Village Chief Ma, what brings you here so late?" Jia Zhengdao sat up straight and asked respectfully.

Ma Shunxi put down his cup of water, took out a box of Lao Dao brand cigarettes from his pocket, and offered one to Jia Zhengdao. Jia Zhengdao quickly took it with both hands, and Lin Zhaodi found matches in the ashtray, lit one, and gave it to Ma Shunxi, then lit one for Jia Zhengdao.

Ma Shunxi took a puff of the cigarette and then slowly said, "Master Jia, my father chose his grave site himself before he died. It's dozens of miles away, making it very inconvenient to visit. I want to move his grave to our village and ask you to select a good feng shui site for him."

When Wang Baoyu heard this, he almost laughed. Ma Shunxi, who grew up at his grandmother's house and benefited from his father-in-law, now wanted to move his father, who had been dead for decades, to the village. He wondered what Ma Shunxi was thinking.

Ma Shunxi pointed to the alcohol and pastries on the table and said, "This is a small token of my appreciation. I hope Master Jia doesn't think it's too little."

Jia Zhengdao's eyes lit up when he heard this. It had been two months since anyone had asked him to look at feng shui, and he was really itching to do it. He quickly said, "It's a small matter, Village Chief Ma is too polite. I will definitely select the best feng shui site for your father. When the time comes, it might bring you a promotion!"

Ma Shunxi clearly enjoyed the talk of a promotion, his face beaming, but he said, "Being an official is to serve the people! I will put more effort into moving the grave, the key is to ensure that my father rests in peace and sleeps soundly."

Wang Baoyu heard this and sneered. What kind of official was this? With such a low level of education, he managed to become the village chief. "Resting in peace" and "sleeping soundly" were used together, and "resting in peace" was usually reserved for important figures. Given his poor father, if he knew his son was corrupt, he would probably not "sleep soundly."

Jia Zhengdao patted his chest and said, "Village Chief Ma, rest assured. Every family whose grave site I have selected has seen a dramatic change. Zhang Sanfeng from Lijia Village, his son got into university this year; Li Shimin, the accountant from Taiping Village, is now the deputy village chief..."

Jia Zhengdao spoke enthusiastically, but Wang Baoyu was almost falling asleep. He had heard these great deeds of his godfather so many times, at least a hundred and ninety-nine times if not two hundred. Out of respect for Ma Shunxi, Wang Baoyu forced himself to stay awake and listened for nearly half an hour.

Ma Shunxi didn't interrupt Jia Zhengdao, listening with great interest. He kept offering cigarettes, and when Jia Zhengdao finished, he got up and said, "Master Jia's skills are well-known in this area. I will have a reward for you after the grave is moved."

After a few more pleasantries, Ma Shunxi left without further delay. Jia Zhengdao and his wife saw him off. When they returned, Jia Zhengdao suddenly said, "Oh! I forgot to ask when the grave will be moved."

On the heated kang, Wang Baoyu was already snoring, holding the three yellow-paper thread-bound books and leaning against the heated wall.

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