Chapter 4: Mr. Blind

  Xu Yuansuo walked to the staircase, leaned over the railing and looked down, seeing a blind man wearing a uniform hat sitting opposite his mother, with a pair of eyes showing white eyeballs, the pupils inside rolling as if reciting incantations.

  "But what did your wife ask you?" Mr. Mang asked after casting a divination, and then asked: "What was the question?"

  Xu's mother obviously often asked about the divination, and quickly replied: "It is indeed asking when the traveler will return."

  Mr. Blind slightly tilted his head, his lips parted, and slowly said: "Qing Long governs the world, financial affairs are in motion. If it's a wife asking about her husband, the traveler is halfway there, with thousands of boxes of gold and silk, not a single wave of trouble. Qing Long belongs to wood, wood prospers in spring, matures in summer, before or after Xiaoshu, you must set out on your journey. At the end of the month and the beginning of the next, you will surely return home, and also have great wealth and good fortune."

  Xu's mother clearly let out a sigh of relief.

  In this era of inconvenient communication, fortune tellers are probably the most convenient way to know about the safety and whereabouts of a husband who is away on a trip.

  The only problem is that its authenticity is somewhat questionable.

  But what does it matter to those seeking psychological comfort?

  Mrs. Xu took out the silver and put it back on the table, Mr. Blind followed the sound and felt his way over, pinched it in his hand and weighed it, his old face expressionless, still using the same tone as before: "Madam, this is a bit short, isn't it?"

  "Is it still one cent for a local divination? Are you short of money?" Madam Xue spoke clearly and concisely, obviously unwilling to add more money.

  Mr. Blind wasn't just wandering the rivers and lakes for nothing, his tone unchanged, saying: "In the Jiajing era, I was already making a profit of one tael and three mace in silver when I was operating in Huguang. Zhu Li is also a major town in Jiangnan, it shouldn't be more struggling than a small inland city, right?"

  Xu Yuansuo was taken aback: this blind Mr. has some level of insight! Not rushed or flustered, this is a person's demeanor. Compared to the inland regions, it seems even more reasonable and well-founded. With just one opening remark, he stirred up regional comparisons, thinking that people who never leave their hometown are everywhere, and they have a strong sense of local pride. In order not to lose to a small town thousands of miles away, they would at least add two silver coins!

  Let's see how mother will respond.

  "Heh," Mrs. Xu smiled calmly, "Sir, you don't know this. Our Zhu Li was a prosperous place since the Song Dynasty and is still an important waterway now, with all kinds of goods gathering here. People say that things are precious because they're rare, but in the poor and remote areas of Huguang, how many people like you can be found? Giving three points is already too little. Unfortunately, in Zhu Li, there are at least three to five scholars passing by our door every day, so naturally, the price has been lowered."

  Xu Yuansuo was dazed and almost rolled down from the stairs.

  The Great Ming is indeed a treasure of heaven, with prosperity and splendor shining like the clear moon. Even ordinary housewives can naturally understand the relationship between supply and demand without any guidance. Is it not that this world is actually "full of clever calculations, with accountants as numerous as dogs"?

  And what's more, Mother's words were also reasonable, that is to say, she had flattered Mr. Wang and at the same time refused to add any money.

  This gentle yet powerful skill is worth learning.

  Xu Yuansuo couldn't help but take another step forward and listen to what the blind Mr. had to say.

  "Mrs. Tai has a good tongue." Mr. Xia also realized that today's chess encounter would meet a talented person, and he put away the two cents of silver first, saying: "Indeed, it is a merchant family, with a dignified family style." But another person sat still and said: "However... you saved two cents of silver, and in the future, you might lose your wealth and nobility."

  Madam Xu's face was somewhat unsteady, but she said: "Sir, why don't you speak more clearly?"

  "If you want to say more, it's another story." Mr. Mang's mouth slightly opened: "This time, I'd like to set the tone first."

  Just as Madam Xü was about to speak, Xü Yuanshuo had already rushed down, full of energy, saying: "Mother, please be patient, I know what Mr. Mang is going to say."

  "You also want to go and sell fortunes?" Xu's mother said with a bad tone.

  Xu Yuansuo didn't bother to respond, and instead walked forward and sat down sideways: "The business world also has its own hierarchy. Being meticulous and calculating, thinking through every detail, in the end it's just a small peddler's mindset. Among scholars, it's like those 50 or 60 year old white-haired old students who seem to have read books their whole lives but haven't gained anything."

  Mr. Blind wore a smile and didn't take it seriously.

  "Merchants value reputation, they only wish to be praised by others and not slandered, just like a good official. Xu Yuansuo said: 'If one can be open-minded, view gold and silver as nothing, and come and go with the flow of fate, then this is what it means to be a Chinese gentleman. To speak of great wealth and nobility, that's like wanting to sing in the Golden Hall, be an honored guest before the emperor, it's not possible without being extremely clever and resourceful.'"

  Xu's mother was still unaccustomed to her son suddenly being so talkative and looked a bit dazed.

  Mr. Blind said: "Laoxu doesn't understand brokerage, but Wanli ultimately returns to one way, it's like this."

  "Mr. Blind walks the streets, today saying a few words to this family, tomorrow saying a few words to that family. My merchant's reputation is all in your mouth." Xu Yuansuo smiled and said: "This is just to save two cents of silver, but it ruined a family's fortune."

  Xu's mother finally spat out the words and immediately got angry: "You blind man, how dare you threaten me!"

  "Madam, rest assured. Lao Tui Daitian Yan has some reputation in the Jianghu world and has never spoken ill of others in his life." Mr. Mang didn't refute Xu Yuansuo, still calm and composed, with a hint of elegance.

  "Boasting can also kill people." Xu Yuansu added.

  Mr. Dài Tiān Yán suddenly burst out laughing and stood up: "The young generation is indeed formidable, I'm just an old man trying to haggle for a few more cents of silver, but was seen as a crafty scoundrel, farewell!"

  Xu's mother saw this and felt a bit resentful, neither willing to give him more money nor daring to let him go.

  Xu Yuansuo also stood up and said, "Mr. Dai, Gu Jin is in charge of the household, I have nothing to say about it. However, I do have a business proposition here that comes with a substantial reward. I'd like to ask if you're interested."

  Dai Tian Yan's foot tapped slightly on the ground as he said, "You want to learn old man's Jianghu skills."

  Xu's mother was taken aback.

  "You can't be an official and you can't support me." Dai Tianyan said: "The fate between you and me is not enough for a master-disciple relationship to form."

  Xu Yuansuo's face twitched: "Who says I mustn't be an official? Besides, being an official doesn't necessarily mean you'll have money."

  "You are gifted, but you rely on your talent and look down on others, using brute force to achieve bravery. Although you treat people with utilitarianism, relying on your firm willpower, you should be able to achieve what you call the 'old master' status." Dai Tianyan lightly tapped his fingers, as if silently calculating Xu Yuansu's past and present life.

  Xu's mother burst out laughing after a brief pause: "What a big lie you're telling! My son is also notorious for being stupid and foolish on the streets, yet you say he's talented beyond ordinary people, arrogant and proud of his abilities. How ridiculous!"

  Dai Tianyan didn't say much either, took his own things and walked out.

  Xu Yuansuo was stunned by him.

  Only two people have said that he "is arrogant and materialistic".

  Another one is his father who has raised and taught him for decades.

  Under Xu Yuanshuo's perfect mask, people from all walks of life think he is humble and courteous, talented but introverted.

  It seems there really are superior people in this world.

  No one knows a son better than his father, Xu Yuanshuo felt that it was only natural for his father to see through his true nature, but being declared by a fortune teller from another time and space was somewhat mysterious.

  "Where are you going!" Xu's mother suddenly shouted loudly.

  Xu Yuansuo suddenly came to his senses and found himself inexplicably following Dai Tianyan out the door.

  This wasn't because someone had used some kind of sorcery, but rather Xu Yuanshuo really wanted to figure out how Daitian Yan had managed it.

  "I'll just go take a look, I definitely won't learn how to sell fortunes from him, don't worry mom" Xu Yuansu's feet didn't stop, he just comforted his mother with one sentence and followed after him again.

  Dai Tianyan didn't even notice that a small tail had appeared behind him, and he just rang out "reporting to you", walking on the street at a steady pace. Although he was blind, relying on his bamboo stick, he walked more smoothly than people with good eyesight.

  Xu Yuansuo was dazed and wondered if he had arrived at a place where gods really existed.

  Dai Tianyan walked out of Beidajie, crossed Fangsheng Bridge, and went straight out of Zhuli. Xu Yuansuo didn't say a word either, following three to five steps behind him, his body covered in oil sweat, his felt boots looking like they had just been fished out of the water, every step feeling like he was treading on mud.

  In late September, Jiangnan was sweltering and humid, which was the most distressing time for a little fatty like Xu Yuanshuo.

  In the past, he would always hide in the house and never take an extra step under the sun. Now, however, he is walking under the scorching sun without feeling any hardship at all.

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