Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
Jiang Zong's face remained expressionless. "Young man, it's better to keep a low profile."
I initially thought he was eager to save his son and wanted me to give it a try. To my surprise, after throwing out that remark, he walked straight upstairs.
I couldn't just watch this opportunity slip away, so I turned back and said, "Jiang Zong, you are a person of great stature in H City, someone who commands respect. True, at this moment, I, Ling Feng, am just a poor man. But as the ancient saying goes, 'Do not underestimate the youth in their poverty.' I'm not boasting; there aren't many young people like me who are willing to stay in the mountains for nine years of training."
I watched as Jiang Zong paused for a moment before continuing. "Whether it's the two large water tanks in front of your door nurturing lotus flowers or the furnishings inside your house, everything is arranged according to the principles of the five elements and eight trigrams, creating a prosperous atmosphere. While luck may seem intangible, it can still be influenced by human efforts. Surely you hired a master at great expense to design your home; why can't this master help you with your urgent problem?"
I fixed my gaze on Jiang Zong. Sure enough, after my mix of truth and flattery, he turned around and smiled. "Indeed, heroes emerge from youth. Ling Feng, right? I'll give you a chance—serve me."
"I believe Jiang Zong will send someone to invite me again," I waved my hand dismissively and turned away with an air of nonchalance.
As for feng shui techniques, I only knew the basics. I could fool ordinary people, but someone like Jiang Zong was another matter entirely. The reason I declined his offer was that if such a powerful figure in H City couldn't find anyone to solve his son's problem, it must be quite complicated. Without meeting the actual person involved, I couldn't guarantee success; it was better not to take risks.
However, if Jiang Zong truly found himself at his wit's end and sought me out again, I would give it a shot. After all, what could he do? Kill me?
On another note, I had no good feelings toward this arrogant Jiang Zong. Just because he had some money didn't mean he was special. As I walked away, I felt an immediate sense of superiority wash over me; I even started to admire myself. I felt like a modern-day Tao Yuanming who wouldn't bow down for mere grains of rice.
In truth, once outside, I was utterly confused about my surroundings and had no sense of direction. I could only stroll along slowly while wondering when Shen Tao would come out.
Sure enough, after walking for a while, Shen Tao called out to me. "Ling Feng! Why didn't you seize such a great opportunity?"
"Did Jiang Zong scold you?" I asked curiously.
Shen Tao shook his head. "Not at all. Recently, he's been so desperate about his son's situation that he's practically summoned every fortune teller on the street."
I felt a surge of hope; it seemed this business deal still had potential. "Tao Ge, I'm just playing the long game here. Although we aren't as wealthy as Jiang Zong, we still need to maintain our dignity. Don't worry; if Jiang Zong's issues aren't resolved in a few days, just casually mention me."
Shen Tao was clever enough to grasp the underlying strategy and laughed while patting my shoulder vigorously. "You're quite sharp!"
I chuckled and added, "Tao Ge, for the next few days, don't mention me at all. Wait until he's truly at his wits' end before bringing me up casually; whether he comes looking for me will depend on that Jiang fellow."
“What's wrong? Don't you want this first pot of gold?” Shen Tao asked, puzzled.
I shrugged and replied, “Of course I want the money. But first, I need the ability to earn it. I didn't dare to be too bold before I met Jiang Zong's son. Anyway, I'll leave the outcome to fate.”
Shen Tao looked at me as if he barely recognized me, studying me for a long moment before saying, “Ling Feng, I didn't expect you to be so young yet have such depth in your understanding.”
I smiled and gestured with my hands as if calming an audience before a speech, saying, “Keep it low-key, keep it low-key…”
I had Shen Tao stop directly by the roadside. At this point, turning into the alley would be a gamble; getting in was one thing, but getting out would be another story altogether. In the evening, the entrance to the alley was bustling with life, filled with vendors setting up their stalls.
“Ling Feng, I still have to go back and work overtime for a bit; otherwise, I’d definitely join you for a drink,” Shen Tao said apologetically.
I waved my hand dismissively. “Tao Ge, you go ahead and take care of your business. We’ll catch up when you have some free time.”
As we passed by a wonton stall at the alley entrance, I saw the Boss lifting the lid of a pot, steam instantly enveloping him. The Boss skillfully scooped up wontons, sprinkling them with bits of chopped garlic and cilantro before adding various condiments.
The sight of such street food made my mouth water instantly, so I found an empty spot and ordered a large bowl of wontons.
“Hey there, looking a bit lost? Is this your first time here?” The Boss greeted me enthusiastically in slightly awkward Mandarin.
Actually, my Mandarin was decent enough; thanks to attending classes in Immortal Cave. Otherwise, if I spoke with a heavy local dialect, Jiang Zong would probably look more forlorn than a donkey.
“Yes, I just moved here not long ago. You have quite a good memory, Boss,” I replied with a smile.
The Boss added some cold water to the pot and worked his hands like a magician—one hand deftly mixing the filling while the other pinched the wontons together with perfect coordination; if you didn’t look closely, you wouldn’t even notice how he did it.
“I’ve been doing business here for over ten years now. Most of my customers are regulars; people come and go around here. But I still manage to remember them.”
As he spoke, a sprinkle of oil glistened in the air as he placed a large bowl of wontons adorned with flecks of green right in front of me.
“Do you know that vendor selling Shaobing, Zhou Shu?” I continued to chat while eating, hoping to gather some information from the wonton vendor.
The vendor looked at me with suspicion and caution. I explained nervously, “I just arrived in the city, and it was Zhou Shu who helped me find a place. I’m currently living with him.”
The vendor sighed deeply and shook his head. “Old Zhou, he’s a pitiful man. That incident back in the day…”
I sensed there was a hidden story behind his words and leaned in closer, forgetting to put down the spoon in my hand, eager to hear more. However, the continuation I hoped for never came.
Zhou Shu, pushing his Shaobing cart, was staring intently at the wonton vendor, a cold glint flickering in his murky eyes. The vendor awkwardly wiped his hands on his apron and said, “Old Zhou, would you like a bowl of wontons?”
Zhou Shu ignored him, glanced at me, and then pushed his cart down the alley. I quickly finished my wontons, wiped my mouth, tossed some money on the table, thanked the vendor, and hurried after him.
From the few words of the wonton vendor, I was certain that the Yuan Hun in the house must be related to Zhou Shu.
Comment 0 Comment Count