Chapter 32: Can They Get Married?

Fu Jingyao stared at the strange paper figures, speechless for a full five seconds.

He cleared his throat. “Are all of Xiao Jin and the others spirits?”

Lin Xi smiled. “Yes, when I was little, Master wasn’t at the Taoist temple, so Xiao Jin and the others kept me company. They went down the mountain to catch ghosts with me. The five little spirits are all my family.”

“What else do you think they are?”

Fu Jingyao’s face froze.

Remembering what he had just said, he wanted to find a crack in the ground to hide in.

He had experienced all the most embarrassing things in his life today.

Fu Jingyao tried to maintain his composure. “I didn’t expect Xiao Jin to be a spirit.”

Lin Xi expressed understanding. “You’ll get used to it. The five little spirits are very easy to distinguish.”

She looked at the paper figures. “Go say hello to Fu Jingyao.”

“Yes, Master.”

Xiao Jin led the four other paper figures to Fu Jingyao’s side, curiously observing him.

Xiao Jin had a question. “Master, how should we address him?”

This question stumped Lin Xi as well.

She said, “You can call him whatever you want.”

Xiao Jin used his clever brain. “He married Master, so we’ll call him Master’s husband.”

The four paper figures offered their suggestions.

Xiao Mu: “Master’s husband.”

Xiao Shui: “Master’s lover.”

Xiao Huo: “Master’s man.”

Xiao Tu: “Master’s treasure!”

The five paper figures quickly made a decision. “Master’s treasure, that sounds good.”

Lin Xi burst into laughter upon hearing this address. “Haha, I remembered something funny. You guys continue, don’t mind me.”

Fu Jingyao smiled helplessly and accepted this strange address.

The paper figures introduced themselves one after another.

Xiao Jin was first. He extended his little hand.

“Hello, Master’s treasure. I’m the God of Mines, Xiao Jin.”

Fu Jingyao looked at the pot-lid head in front of him, pretending to be calm and collected, and shook hands with Xiao Jin.

Xiao Mu was second. “Hello, Master’s treasure. I’m the Wood Spirit, Xiao Mu.”

Xiao Shui: “Hello, Master’s treasure. I’m the Water Fairy, Xiao Shui.”

Xiao Huo: “Hello, Master’s treasure. I’m the Fire God, Xiao Huo.”

Xiao Tu: “Hello, Master’s treasure. I’m the Mountain God, Xiao Tu.”

Fu Jingyao carefully observed each paper figure, making sure he wouldn’t mistake them in the future.

He remembered.

Xiao Jin had a pot-lid head, Xiao Mu had wavy curls, Xiao Shui had a single ponytail, Xiao Huo had an exploding head, and Xiao Tu had two buns.

Fu Jingyao closed his eyes. “Lin Xi, Xiao Jin, Xiao Mu, Xiao Shui, Xiao Huo, and Xiao Tu, from now on, we are a family.”

The five paper figures clapped their hands excitedly. “Welcome, Master’s treasure, to join our family.”

A good night’s sleep.

The next day, Lin Xi went to the antique street to set up her stall as usual.

She hadn’t gone yesterday, so the grandpas and grandmas must have been missing her.

As she went downstairs, Fu Jingyao waved to her. “You’re up. Come eat breakfast.”

“Coming.” Lin Xi walked over and took a look.

Congee, soup dumplings, pumpkin buns, ham and cheese sandwiches, fish maw milk soup, strawberry and cheese toast, fruit platter, and a bowl of spicy noodles!

Lin Xi’s eyes widened instantly.

“Did you make all this?”

Fu Jingyao answered truthfully, “Wu Ma came over early to make it.”

Lin Xi asked, “Where’s Wu Ma?”

“She left.” Fu Jingyao pushed the spicy noodles towards her. “Eat.”

Lin Xi picked up her chopsticks. “Wu Ma runs back and forth every day, it’s too tiring. Let’s set up a guest room for her to stay in.”

Fu Jingyao paused for two seconds. “Wu Ma has her own ideas.”

This morning at 7:30, Wu Ma saw him and was extremely flustered. “Young Master, you’re back.”

“Wu Ma, what’s the deal with Lin Xi being sick?”

“Young Master, listen to my analysis.” Wu Ma launched into a long explanation.

In summary, he shouldn’t have left Lin Xi alone to go abroad right after getting married, and he shouldn’t have slept in separate rooms right after getting married; this was not conducive to their relationship.

Wu Ma was exasperated. “I, a Level 1 Master of Online Literature Appreciation, have plenty of experience.”

“Young Master, I know you haven’t been in a relationship before, so I stayed up all night researching and made a love guidebook for you. You’ll be satisfied.”

Wu Ma pulled out a thick guidebook and handed it to him without hesitation, then turned and ran off.

Fu Jingyao flipped through the guidebook and was completely dumbfounded.

What was this all about? Where did Wu Ma learn this stuff? This guidebook must never be seen by Lin Xi.

Thinking about the contents of the guidebook, Fu Jingyao’s ears turned red involuntarily. He drank three glasses of ice water before calming down.

Lin Xi glanced at him. “Are you very thirsty?”

Fu Jingyao said solemnly, “A doctor friend said that drinking more water in the morning is good for your health.”

Lin Xi reminded him, “You should drink warm water.”

Fu Jingyao nodded. “I’ll pay attention next time.”

Wu Ma had a point. Since they were married, he should be responsible. He had shown too little concern for Lin Xi.

Fu Jingyao looked up.

Lin Xi was wearing a white T-shirt and casual pants, very simple attire.

He lifted his lips. “Don’t you like the dresses in the closet? I haven’t seen you wear them.”

Lin Xi’s cheeks puffed out. “It’s not convenient to fight in a dress.”

Fu Jingyao frowned slightly. “Fortune-telling requires fighting? Is it dangerous?”

Lin Xi replied in between bites, “I occasionally catch a ghost. Don’t worry, no ghost has appeared that can beat me.”

Catching ghosts was beyond Fu Jingyao’s comprehension. He couldn’t help, so he could only tell Lin Xi, “Be careful.”

Lin Xi nodded.

After finishing the meal, she shouldered her small backpack and went out. Fu Jingyao walked beside her. “I’ll take you there.”

Lin Xi waved her hand. “No need. You go about your business. I’ll take the subway; it’s very convenient.”

Fu Jingyao raised an eyebrow. “Am I not presentable?”

“No, no.” Lin Xi turned her head. “It’s almost eight o’clock. Can you make it to the company?”

Fu Jingyao chuckled. “I’m the boss; I don’t need to punch a clock.”

Lin Xi had no reason to refuse; having someone drive her was better.

Besides, the grandpas and grandmas probably already guessed she was married.

Fu Jingyao opened the car door and placed his hand on the roof to protect her head. “Get in.”

The two of them were silent on the way.

Lin Xi spoke up, “Stop at the intersection ahead; the road inside is too narrow.”

“Okay.” Fu Jingyao stopped the car.

Lin Xi unbuckled her seatbelt. “I’m leaving, bye-bye.”

Fu Jingyao was about to offer to walk her in, but his phone rang.

He pressed the answer button, and Chen Zhao’s voice came through, “Boss Fu, everything is ready. Should we start now?”

Fu Jingyao gave a calm instruction, “Have Manager Wang speak first; I’ll be there soon.”

After hanging up, Chen Zhao was taken aback. Boss Fu seemed angry. Was this a bad time for the call?

Ugh! Boss Fu has been very unusual lately. What secret is he hiding?

…

More and more people were gathering in the antique street. Many young people were following the grandpas and grandmas, bringing their own sunflower seeds, peanuts, drinks, and bottled water, making the area lively.

Lin Xi sat on her dedicated small stool. “Seven readings today.”

Madam He was overjoyed. “I guessed right! The sunflower seeds are all mine.”

She pulled out several bags of sunflower seeds and gave them to Lin Xi. “Here, Master, don’t be polite. I just earned this.”

Lin Xi thanked her. “Let’s begin the fortune-telling.”

Yang Dingxiang pulled out a red paper from her pocket. “Master, my son is getting married soon. Can you see if their eight characters are compatible?”

A person’s eight characters can reveal many things, including whether they will have children, the number of relationships, and their parents’ situations…

Matching eight characters before marriage is an ancient custom, analyzing whether the man and woman’s destinies are a good match and whether their marriage will be happy.

First, look at the compatibility of the zodiac signs, then the five elements, then the celestial stems and earthly branches, and finally the auspicious and inauspicious stars.

Lin Xi took the paper and looked at it. “The man is a Dragon, and the woman is a Rabbit. Dragon and Rabbit clash; this needs attention.”

Yang Dingxiang’s heart tightened. “Master, what does that mean?”

Lin Xi explained, “The man is more assertive and somewhat patriarchal; the woman is gentle on the outside but strong on the inside and has a stubborn temper. Once they quarrel, neither will yield, and they often argue over trivial matters.”

Yang Dingxiang slapped her thigh. “Master, you’re right! My son and his girlfriend argue, and I don’t dare to intervene. They argue and then reconcile.”

“Master, how serious is this clash?”

“Can they get married?”