Chapter 9: Master Qian’s Skill

Wang Li gasped, “Master, do you mean…my son is…”

Lin Xi nodded, “Exactly what you think.”

Wang Li’s son had fair skin, little beard, and sparse eyebrows; his eyes were watery, clearly not liking girls.

Lin Xi said, “You already know this in your heart; otherwise, you wouldn’t be asking everywhere.”

“That’s right. I wanted to confirm my guess. Now it seems…”

Wang Li rubbed her temples vigorously and was silent for a long time.

A long time ago, she had noticed her son’s difference, so she frantically sought out fortune-tellers, but all the masters on this street were useless.

Some said her son’s destined love would come late, others said he would get married three times, then tricked her into buying peach blossom talismans and early childbearing talismans.

Only the young girl in front of her had seen the problem.

Wang Li took a few deep breaths, “Master, should I prepare a dowry or a bride price?”

Lin Xi: …

Her mental fortitude is incredible; she accepted reality so quickly.

Lin Xi quickly made a judgment and whispered in Wang Li’s ear, “Dowry.”

Wang Li was indignant, “This child is so disappointing, actually… My family’s fortune will be passed on to whom then?”

Her voice was loud, and the elderly people all heard.

Lin Xi covered her face.

Considering Wang Li’s face, she whispered.

Unexpectedly, Wang Li didn’t care at all; people in big cities are indeed open-minded.

The elderly people chuckled, “Wang Li, you’re still young. Actively respond to the country’s call and quickly have another child.”

“Right, right, right, this year’s baby is a dragon child.”

Wang Li put her hands on her hips, “Go, go, go. I’m forty this year; I’m not giving birth to anything. If you want to give birth, you go give birth!”

But then she thought about it, and this was a good idea.

Wang Li asked again, “Master, do you think I can still get pregnant?”

Lin Xi smiled mysteriously, “You’re already two months pregnant.”

“What?”

Wang Li was shocked and subconsciously touched her belly, “No wonder, I’ve felt like I’ve been gaining weight recently.”

Now, the onlookers were even more excited.

“Wang Li, congratulations! Wishing you a smooth delivery and a safe mother and child.”

Thinking of her son, Wang Li couldn’t help but shiver, “This time, I want to have a daughter!”

She quickly asked Lin Xi, “Master, can you tell if I’m carrying a boy or a girl? I don’t have any other thoughts, I just want to know the gender so I can prepare.”

Lin Xi shook her head, “My sect’s rules prohibit me from calculating the gender of a fetus.”

Another elderly woman added, “The law also prohibits disclosing the gender of a fetus, Wang Li. Don’t get the master into trouble.”

Wang Li quickly waved her hands, “Master, I was just asking. Thank you, Master. I’ll invite you to the full moon banquet later.”

She touched her belly and walked away happily.

The other elderly people immediately crowded in.

These elderly people all had retirement benefits, so one thousand yuan was nothing to them; they could just buy fewer health supplements.

Lin Xi calculated one after another, all trivial matters: their children’s marriages, their grandchildren’s studies, and so on.

After ten readings, it was getting dark, so she quickly packed up her stall to avoid being struck by lightning.

Lin Xi waved goodbye, “Elderly people, come again tomorrow. First come, first served.”

Today’s earnings were ten thousand yuan; after donating five thousand, she had five thousand left.

Earning five thousand yuan a day meant fifteen thousand yuan a month; becoming a rich woman was just around the corner.

Big cities definitely offered more opportunities to make money.

Lin Xi treated herself to a luxurious meal and ordered eighteen dishes from a restaurant.

As soon as she got home, she released her five little paper figures.

Xiao Huo exclaimed, “Wow! So fragrant! Much tastier than the food Xiao Mu makes.”

Xiao Mu tapped his head, “It’s not tasty; don’t eat it next time.”

Xiao Huo covered his head, “Xiao Mu, I was wrong.”

He and Xiao Shui skillfully picked up their chopsticks and began eating.

Xiao Jin put his hands on his hips, “You two wait a moment; Master hasn’t eaten yet.”

Lin Xi smiled, “It’s okay, okay. Let’s eat together.”

Xiao Tu had just arrived and wasn’t used to chopsticks, so he couldn’t compete with Xiao Huo and Xiao Shui for food.

Xiao Jin noticed this and picked three pieces of braised pork from Xiao Huo’s bowl and gave them to Xiao Tu.

Xiao Tu was stunned and smiled sweetly, “Thank you, Brother Jin.”

Xiao Jin coldly hummed, “Eat quickly.”

Xiao Huo rolled his eyes, “You fickle fellow.”

Xiao Jin gave him a look, and Xiao Huo obediently continued eating.

The next afternoon, Lin Xi returned to her usual spot to set up her stall.

As soon as she arrived, the elderly people immediately surrounded her, some even bringing their own folding stools and tea.

An elderly woman handed Lin Xi a handful of sunflower seeds, “Master, here, don’t be polite.”

Lin Xi said, “Thank you.”

“No need to thank me, it’s nothing.”

The elderly woman waved her hand, “Master, you’re so accurate. Wang Li went to the hospital last night and confirmed her pregnancy.”

“Did Old Man Li find his daughter?”

“My old Zhang saw them at the vegetable market this morning. Old Man Li was hugging a woman and crying; he must have found her.”

“It’s truly miraculous!”

As soon as these words were spoken, Old Man Li and his wife walked over, pulling a middle-aged woman with them.

Everyone consciously made way for them, their eyes shining with gossip.

Old Man Li’s eyes were filled with tears, “Master, thanks to your reminder, I realized that my daughter was so close to me.”

He had searched far and wide, but he never thought his daughter was in the same city as him.

Yesterday, after listening to Lin Xi’s advice, Old Man Li couldn’t sleep all night. The next morning, he dragged his wife to the vegetable market.

He walked slowly, and his wife saw someone selling tofu pudding by the roadside and couldn’t help but stop, “Old man, Yueyue loved to eat tofu pudding when she was little.”

Old Man Li sighed, “Give us three servings.”

Zhang Yue didn’t look up, “Sweet or salty?”

Old Man Li subconsciously replied, “Two sweet, one salty.”

His wife was from the north and liked salty tofu pudding.

Old Man Li was from the south and liked to eat sweet tofu pudding.

His daughter, Yueyue, was like him and also liked sweet tofu pudding.

Zhang Yue quickly packed it up, “Here are your three servings.”

Old Man Li took it, “The tofu pudding here is usually salty; there’s rarely any sweet tofu pudding.”

Zhang Yue smiled, “I grew up in the south. Southern sweet tofu pudding is delicious. You should try it, Old Man.”

Old Man Li was startled; looking closely at her features, he saw a resemblance to his wife.

His voice trembled, “Child, how old are you this year?”

Zhang Yue felt inexplicably confused, “Thirty-five, what’s wrong?”

Old Man Li asked again, “Where are your parents?”

Zhang Yue chuckled bitterly, “Those two aren’t my parents; they always quarreled and beat me. I remember there were two big trees in front of my house, my name has a ‘yue’ (moon) character, my parents were good to me, and I have three older brothers…”

As she spoke, Old Man Li and his wife had already tears streaming down their faces, “My daughter…”

Old Man Li quickly explained and took Zhang Yue to do a paternity test.

Although the results hadn’t come out yet, he felt that Zhang Yue was his biological daughter.

Old Man Li looked at Lin Xi, “Master, if you hadn’t given me this advice, I don’t know if I would have seen Yueyue in this lifetime. Thank you so much, Master.”

Lin Xi said, “Old Man, you are a blessed person; I’m just doing my job for money.”

Old Man Li and his wife thanked her again and took Zhang Yue home.

Now, the onlookers were even more enthusiastic, and Lin Xi’s stall was surrounded, making it impossible to get through.

On the other side of the street, Qian Fugui of Dedao Hall narrowed his eyes and looked over, “What’s going on over there? Where did everyone go?”

A young man with blond hair said, “Master Qian, I heard a young girl came over there, and all the grandpas and grandmas are going to her for fortune-telling.”

“A competitor stealing business!”

Qian Fugui snorted coldly, “Before coming, didn’t they check out my Qian Banxian’s reputation?!”

The blond young man suggested, “Master Qian, let’s test her skills.”

Qian Fugui kicked him, “You go to hell!  Which grandpa or grandma on this street doesn’t know your face? You’d be more likely to disgrace our Dedao Hall!”

Qian Fugui’s eyes darted around, “Find someone unfamiliar, let’s test that little girl’s background!”

The blond young man nodded repeatedly, “Master Qian is indeed brilliant.”