Su Ziceng breathed shallowly for a few moments, watching the teacher leisurely cross his legs next to the long table, a familiar-looking bamboo stick resting by his side.
No wonder the teacher had arranged for the room to be dimly lit and filled with incense—it turned out the so-called master was the Yuhua Eye fortune teller from Diagonal Alley in the Sixth District.
The fortune teller’s right eye emitted a blind glare; it pained him whenever light struck it, hence the classroom could not have any light coming in. As for the smell of feet, that was entirely due to his personal hygiene issues.
"Ziceng, let’s move back a bit," Yan Wuxu managed to say, his face turning red and neck purple from holding his breath. They had arrived a bit late, and all the places near the windows had already been taken.
The crowd behind them took a few steps back, every girl becoming like a winter mouse, hugging warmth close, trying to keep as much distance from the long table as possible. Su Ziceng and Yan Wuxu were now at the very top of the human "convex" formation; any slight movement would be glaringly obvious.
"You two students, come over here, I’m talking to you," Yu Hua’s God Stick called out to them with the tone of a street performer handling monkeys.
"I’m quite busy, I don’t have time to babble nonsense with a bunch of mediocrities like you, but since we’ve met, it must be fate. Today, I will reluctantly explain the profound mysteries of Mysticism to you all," Yu Hua’s God Stick said. Seeing that Su Ziceng and the other student did not step forward, he picked up the bamboo stick and waved it forward, "Quick, just you two, men on the left, women on the right. If you’re a woman, stretch out your right hand, palm up."
His bamboo stick was thin and long, swinging it in the narrow classroom had an air of a Beggar Gang expert in a duel. Startled by this, Yan Wuxu hurriedly opened both hands as if in worship, palms facing up, placed on the long table in front of Yu Hua’s God Stick.
On the vermillion long table, Yan Wuxu’s hands, which were used to manual labor, attracted disdainful whispers from the girls behind them as soon as they touched the table.
Yan Wuxu’s spread fingers timidly retracted a little, but the bamboo stick promptly pointed at the center of her palms, turning them over and scrutinizing them. "Shallow palms, an elongated shape, fingers like winter bamboo shoots, white without the flush of red. Shallow palms cannot hold wealth, lack of red denotes a lack of luck—act virtuously in your youth and you shall have naught to worry about in your old age," Yu Hua’s God Stick said offhandedly, leaving Yan Wuxu speechless. She was smart enough to know that according to the fortune teller’s tone, her future prospects were more ominous than auspicious.
"My turn," Su Ziceng said after listening, patting Yan Wuxu, signaling her not to take it to heart, and placed her hand next to Yu Hua’s God Stick’s hand, right in his blind spot.
A pair of hands untouched by dust, as if carved from the purest jade, Su Ziceng rarely did any physical work, making those hands look exquisitely graceful next to Yan Wuxu.
Yu Hua’s God Stick glanced at them once before starting his prediction, "Born into a noble house, the lineage of gold and jade, a life of prosperity and longevity. If you keep a stable heart and mind, you will live without worries until old age." All were words indicating great fortune, for Su Ziceng’s hands were evenly thick, fingers nicely tapered, with fair skin that had a healthy rose tint, and neatly lined fingernails, a hand that appeared destined for a good life.
"Your prediction is not accurate," said Su Ziceng through the foggy incense, showing no gratitude after the flattery but instead responded with sarcasm.
"Who says it’s not accurate," the Yu Hua’s God Stick was somewhat indignant. The hands are the essence of a person, and the right hand’s bloodline connects directly to the heart. He had always been able to tell a person’s life story with just his hands. Today, being publicly challenged by a young girl about his accuracy, there was no face left to save.
Had it not been for the unlucky girl who smashed his door a while ago, tantamount to tearing down his sign, the fortune teller would not have closed his doors for months, offending his regular clients, nor would he have stooped to teaching mysticism classes in such a haughty place.
"Master Wang, please don’t mind the pointless defiance of some," said a figure rising from a corner, with footsteps approaching at an even pace. Su Ziceng wondered if Wen Maixue would maintain the same cadence and tone even in the face of a fire or avalanche.
Wen Maixue was speaking polite nothings. She would not allow in Kelly a teacher who just muddled through without qualifications. She was already displeased with this seemingly disoriented teacher, and seeing Ziceng leading the charge, she took the opportunity to shift the nitpicking onto herself.
"I’ve heard that the Master can foresee the past and the future, with a single word about fate, esteemed both at home and abroad," Wen Maixue lavished praise from start to end, flamboyantly complimenting both domestically and internationally.
Everyone loves to hear good things about themselves, and Yu Hua’s God Stick was no exception, excitedly nodding his head and feet, his Yuhua Eye also shining bright.
"Then please, Master, tell me about my fortune," said Wen Maixue, using her right hand to push aside Su Ziceng’s hand, presenting it to Yu Hua’s God Stick.
Su Ziceng felt frustrated; her words had only been halfway spoken when Wen Maixue interrupted, a blatant provocation. She had seen rivalries over suitors, food, and status, but never over fortune-telling.
"The hand lines of Eldest Lady Wen certainly indicate great fortune. Though there may be minor setbacks in youth, adulthood will bring wealth, prosperous business, and a happy marriage. This amounts to a life of numerous blessings and longevity," Wen Maixue sighed in relief upon hearing the reading. Recalling the phrase "minor setbacks in youth," her faith in him grew stronger.
The matters of the Wen family were rarely known to outsiders, let alone something that would be passed on to the Master. And as for a happy marriage, a smile curving on her lips, she nearly wished to label the fortune teller "exceptionally accurate" right away.
People tend to believe what is good over what is bad. Yu Hua’s God Stick smiled brightly outwardly, yet he took notice of Wen Maixue’s subtle shifts in tone. Palm reading is no more than an appearance; what is truly accurate is a person’s heart. A rich young lady like Wen Maixue, at her age, ought to be innocent and carefree, yet she was prudent and mature. If not for a family ordeal in her youth, how could she have developed such a sophisticated personality?
"Eldest Lady Wen, can’t you see that was just a few complimentary words? Even if you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth, it doesn’t necessarily guarantee a life without worries. One’s life is determined by oneself, not by the heavens," Su Ziceng’s words were like a bucket of cold water, dousing both Yu Hua’s God Stick and Wen Maixue’s joy completely. (To be continued. If you work, please vote for it with your recommendation tickets and monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation.)