Chapter 95

Fang Tianfeng didn't expect there to be so many tricks involved and continued to ask, "Then how did you know I have a peaches and plums fate?"

"The sight of a man shopping with five women, what else could it be but a peaches and plums fate?" the fortune-teller said matter-of-factly.

"You saw us from the start?" This response made Fang Tianfeng laugh and cry at the same time.

"You six were so conspicuous; I couldn't help but notice you." The fortune-teller became increasingly calm.

Fang Tianfeng said to Shen Xin, "See? He's just trying to deceive you."

Shen Xin, trying to suppress her embarrassment, asked the fortune-teller, "Is what you said about the eight characters and the incompatibility of metal and fire true?"

The fortune-teller immediately replied, "If you show your eight characters to anyone who understands them, they will come to the same conclusion. I have studied the eight characters for many years and I am absolutely certain!"

"Then, can it really be resolved?" Shen Xin glanced at Fang Tianfeng, recalling the word "intimacy," and blushed even more, looking even more alluring.

Just as the fortune-teller was about to answer, Fang Tianfeng coldly snorted and said, "Old man, think carefully. If Sister Xin leaves me in the future because of the incompatibility of our eight characters, I will report you first!"

The fortune-teller stroked his beard, expressionless, and re-examined the two birth dates, then calmly said, "The two of you indeed have the incompatibility of metal and fire, but just now, in my haste to 'strike,' I was blinded by money and overlooked the year pillar. One of your year pillars is Mulberry Wood, and the other is Great Forest Wood, which together form a forest. A couple is like birds of the same forest, and the two of you are a perfect match. I said earlier that the two of you have metal overcoming fire, but wood generates fire, and this forest of wood helps the fire to burn, complementing the strong metal, presenting the image of fire refining true gold. As long as you can overcome the initial hardships, the two of you will surely become pure gold, a pair in the same forest."

Shen Xin was pleasantly surprised and said, "Thank you, Master."

Fang Tianfeng knew that the year pillar of the eight characters would never be wrong, but the conclusion was definitely half true and half false. After all, fortune-tellers were most skilled at playing with words.

"What is 'striking'?"

The fortune-teller suddenly became nervous and said, "Since this gentleman is not a fellow practitioner, but can still figure out my background, you must be a police officer?"

Fang Tianfeng laughed and said, "Do you think I brought five women shopping just to deal with you? If you explain yourself clearly, I'll let you go."

The fortune-teller smiled bitterly, never expecting to be outsmarted by a young man after a lifetime of deception.

"We fortune-tellers have six true sayings: 'examine,' 'probe,' 'strike,' 'deceive,' 'flatter,' and 'sell.'"

"I sit here and observe every passerby. Once I see someone who needs their eight characters read, I immediately observe their clothing, appearance, demeanor, and various details to determine their identity and status. This process is called 'examine.'"

"After 'examine,' naturally comes 'probe.' 'Probe' means to start testing based on the results of 'examine.' For example, when I say she has a wealthy destiny but a flawed marriage, that's 'probe.'"

"'Strike' means to intimidate, saying that the two of you are incompatible or that you have a peaches and plums fate. Generally, one probes first and then strikes, but I saw that the two of you had issues in your relationship, so I used both 'probe' and 'strike.' However, I do have genuine skills. The two of you indeed have the incompatibility of metal and fire, and you, sir, indeed have three peaches and plums. If you don't believe me, you can check your eight characters against the peach and plum destiny book."

"Don't beat around the bush! What about 'deceive,' 'flatter,' and 'sell'?"

"'Deceive' means to trick. When I said to use soil from under a hundred-year-old peach tree mixed with soaked pomegranate wood, that's a trick. In fact, it's just ordinary soil and wood. I don't actually know how to resolve it."

"'Flatter' means to praise and compliment. For example, when I say that after using my method, the two of you will live in harmony and your family will be healthy, that's 'flatter,' to show the effect of the deception."

"'Sell' naturally means to make money. Unfortunately, this gentleman is too sharp, and I didn't even get to sell the peach tree soil and pomegranate wood before you saw through me. If you weren't here, I could have made at least ten thousand from this lady!" The fortune-teller became more and more pleased as he spoke.

"Do you still have the nerve? If it weren't for your age, I would definitely slap you for being so smug about your deception."

The fortune-teller's face turned dark, and he pleaded, "Please be magnanimous and spare me. I just make a living, usually only deceiving the wealthy, not the poor, and I don't do major evil. When I encounter pitiful people, I sometimes don't even charge. Actually, you can ask this lady if she's willing to spend a little money for peace of mind."

"The more you talk, the more reasonable you sound?" Fang Tianfeng really couldn't bring himself to hit such an old man. Mainly, the fortune-teller had some resentment, but it was sparse and scattered, indicating he didn't harm people deeply, and he even had a sense of righteousness, suggesting he inadvertently harmed evil people.

However, thinking of the pitiful people who had been severely deceived in the news, Fang Tianfeng had no good feelings for this old fraud, even if his crimes were not major.

Just as Fang Tianfeng was about to leave, Shen Xin took out five hundred yuan and placed it on the table, saying, "Thank you, Master, for reading my eight characters. I am now at peace." She glanced at Fang Tianfeng and involuntarily lowered her head, her face flushed.

Fang Tianfeng's heart skipped a beat, but it wasn't the right time to say anything, and the old fraud quickly collected the money.

"You still dare to take money?" Fang Tianfeng was surprised by the old fraud's boldness.

The old fraud was too experienced. Seeing that Shen Xin didn't mind, he knew he had a chance, so he stroked his beard mysteriously and said, "You should thank me, sir. I helped the two of you break through that barrier. I take this five hundred yuan with a clear conscience."

Shen Xin blushed, spat, and turned to sit back on the bench. She crossed her legs tightly, forming a forty-five-degree angle with the ground, and placed her bag on her thighs to cover any exposed areas.

Fang Tianfeng stared at the wrinkled old fraud and said, "You have some nerve. Aren't you afraid I'll report you to the police?"

"I'm nearly seventy, with few years left to live. It's the same wherever I am." The old fraud was calm and composed, with an air of detachment.

"Truly a seasoned fraud! Even when exposed, you still put on an act." Fang Tianfeng sneered and took out his phone to call Song Shijie.

"Officer Song, are you busy?"

"Not busy, what is it?"

"I found an old fraud on the pedestrian street who dared to cheat my sister's money. Can you help me deal with it?"

Before Fang Tianfeng could finish, the old fraud fell to his knees, crawled to Fang Tianfeng's feet, and hugged his legs.

"Sir, spare me! I was wrong, I shouldn't have taken the money, I shouldn't have been unrepentant. Please spare me, my body can't withstand the rigors of prison." The old fraud's tears and snot flowed instantly, and he sobbed uncontrollably.

At this moment, many passersby looked over, and some even stopped.

Fang Tianfeng suddenly smelled the scent of mustard oil and thought this old man was indeed experienced, having everything prepared.

"Truly a seasoned con man, putting on an act when needed and being soft when necessary. Considering your age and the fact that you carry mustard oil, if you give me the money, I'll pretend I never saw this." Fang Tianfeng said.

The old fraud continued to cry, but in his heart, he cursed the young people for being so shrewd.

"Officer Song, it's fine, I can handle this." Fang Tianfeng said as he lifted the old fraud.

"Are you sure you don't need me to come over?"

"Yes, you're busy."

The old fraud, with a bitter face, handed over five hundred yuan but suddenly pulled back one hundred.

"What do you mean!" Fang Tianfeng asked sternly.

"Please, sir, I only did one reading today. Can you let me off without all this talk? Even thieves don't leave empty-handed. We in this line of work need to leave something behind, or how can we continue? I see your destiny as noble and destined for greatness, with the potential to become a world-renowned figure, even recorded in history! Why should you quarrel with an old man like me?" The old fraud, who had just been acting like a sage, now became a cunning old trickster.

Fang Tianfeng, surprised by the old fraud's shamelessness, suddenly smiled and said, "I have one question for you. If you answer truthfully, I'll let you go."

"Go ahead!" The old fraud quickly put the one hundred yuan back in his pocket, his eyes as shifty as a rat's.

Fang Tianfeng, suppressing the urge to hit him, said, "You spoke so convincingly and recognized the eight characters. You must have inherited this knowledge from your ancestors or learned it from a predecessor, right?"

"Of course! I'm not boasting, but my master said that if I had been born in the old society, I would have taken over his position and become a 'Grand Master'! Unfortunately, I was born in this evil new society." The old fraud sighed.

"Enough nonsense! Since your line of work is all about deception, including palm reading and feng shui, are there any people who can perform magic, have supernatural abilities, or possess mysterious powers?"

"Magic? Supernatural abilities? Mysterious powers?" The old fraud laughed. "I've been in this business for forty or fifty years, and I've seen all kinds of fortune-tellers, palm readers, bone readers, and feng shui experts. Without exception, they are all frauds! My master, in the old society, was a 'Grand Master' who read the eight characters for the head of the secret police, Dai Li. After reading them, he ran away and almost got killed by Dai Li. He was well-informed, but he never saw any magic or supernatural abilities, all of it was just deception."

"So, there are no real immortals in the world?"

"Absolutely not! Take Dongfang Song, who is often hyped as a great master. Insiders know that if you check how he fled from Taiwan like a stray dog, you'll know what kind of person he is." The old fraud was very certain.

Fang Tianfeng was secretly pleased.

Even the old fraud and his master believed there were no real immortals, which meant that Fang Tianfeng was the only one in the world with mysterious powers.

"Alright, you can go. If I see you again, I won't be so lenient!" Fang Tianfeng said.

The old fraud wiped the sweat from his face, said thank you, and solemnly rolled up a piece of paper with a Bagua diagram, putting it in his chest pocket and leaving without a second glance.

Fang Tianfeng returned to the bench, and Shen Xin moved closer to sit beside him.

Recalling what Shen Xin had said earlier and the old fraud's words, Fang Tianfeng felt a sense of heat in his heart.

"Don't move, let me lean on you for a while. This way, I feel like you belong to me." Shen Xin closed her eyes and gently leaned on Fang Tianfeng.

Fang Tianfeng sighed inwardly and let Shen Xin lean on him.

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