Chapter 882: Chapter 755: Old Ma the Fortune Teller

On the station platform, Zhang Guoqing and his family waved goodbye to Mother Zhang and her group, watching the train start and gradually disappear in the distance, standing silently for a moment.

Unable to bear the heavy atmosphere after sending off the family, Lin Lishan took Ping’an’s hand and walked outside, saying as she went, "Jiao Jiao, are you tired?"

The words immediately snapped Zhang Guoqing to attention, reaching out to support his wife, but she agilely avoided him, sticking close by her side to shield her from approaching strangers.

"Did you tell mom?" Zhou Jiao hadn’t been paying attention to the conversations her family had in private as she was casually chatting with her sisters-in-law.

"Yes. She was so anxious she nearly took off her coat." Zhang Guoqing looked ahead at his mother-in-law walking quickly, "Mom, we’re not in a rush to go home, take care."

Zhou Jiao quickened her pace, gazing enviously at the train stopped in the night; she too wanted to travel and see places far and wide.

Zhang Guoqing, who was always attentive to his wife’s movements, laughed as he observed this. With the arrival of the second child, it seems unlikely they could travel before the kids grow up.

Softly he said, "I will accompany you across the rivers and south and north in the future."

"Alright." Zhou Jiao replied with a gentle smile.

"Last year’s tasks were all completed. The only regret is not being able to go to Hai City to pay respects to Grandma Jiang, and I wonder if Grandpa Jiang might come over?"

Zhou Jiao reflexively placed her hands on her belly, sighing silently. Who can predict everything accurately, nobody expected the unexpected pregnancy.

"Maybe he still won’t come; the clothes sent before the year aren’t known to fit, just wait for another two or three years when we ought to go pay respects to the Gu ancestors, we then pass by Hai City to visit him."

Zhang Guoqing, after seeing his mother leave and recalling any unfinished matters, suddenly had a notion and voiced it, smiling and nodding in agreement upon hearing these words.

The day before school started on January 21, Zhou Xiaozheng, back from his trip, accompanied by his family, went to the alley courtyard. As the car came to a stop, emerging from the courtyard door was none other than Doctor Hu.

Zhou Xiaozheng stopped Xiao Wang and others from performing the usual checks, instructing them to guard the entrance while he led the family inside with Doctor Hu.

Zhou Jiao noticed Doctor Hu hadn’t actually invited many old friends as he claimed, for in the central hall there were only two white-bearded old men and three middle-aged people sitting.

"Girl, come over here." Doctor Hu at this moment was all smiles, his facial creases blooming with mirth, nodding towards his seated friends, "Look here, my direct disciple."

Mr. Nong Mei, with his left hand rolling iron balls, turned away disdainfully, while beside him the old man with hair as white as crane feathers smiling like Maitreya Buddha nodded repeatedly, speaking out, "Such a pretty girl, pity to be his disciple."

Getting an opportunity, Mr. Nong Mei quickly agreed, "Who knows if he didn’t force it..." halfway through the words, he suddenly saw Zhou Xiaozheng slowly walking up behind, surprised glancing back at his two old friends.

Doctor Hu, seeing this, stepped back, reaching forth to pull Zhou Xiaozheng forward, "This is my nephew, related by blood. Come, come, bring out all your good stuff for me."

Mr. Nong Mei chuckled, shaking his head, pointing at Doctor Hu with his finger, "You, you..." Having said this, he looked towards Zhou Xiaozheng, fondling his snow-white beard, nodding repeatedly.

Doctor Hu nudged him, "Enough teasing, have you noticed anything? We’re all close here, just speak openly."

Zhou Xiaozheng’s eyes flashed, interest piqued as he looked towards the other party.

The old man with hair as white as crane feathers, about to speak, waved Zhou Xiaozheng to an empty seat, motioning for him to sit.

Zhou Xiaozheng saw this and ignored Mr. Nong Mei, smiling at him, "Are you taking a break today?"

The white-haired old man made a mysterious "shh" sound, beckoning him not to speak again before indicating a seat for him to sit down.

Mr. Nong Mei watched Zhou Xiaozheng apologize with clasped hands before taking a seat, then turned his gaze to the few standing individuals, finally settling his eyes on Zhou Jiao.

At this moment, Zhang Guoqing realized that this man was probably a Master of Xuanxue, in plain words, a fortune-teller. Watching Master Hu’s attitude, one could see this person was a celebrity.

Doctor Hu stepped in front to obstruct, "Enough now, my little disciple is timid."

Mr. Nong Mei shook his head smiling, "Didn’t expect you to turn lucky, couldn’t block even if you wanted." Having said this, he took off a string of beads from his wrist and handed it to Zhou Jiao.

"Hold onto it, it’ll keep you and the child safe."

Not waiting for Zhou Jiao to refuse, Doctor Hu quickly said, "Hurry up and thank your Master Ma."

Zhou Jiao recognized it as a valuable item, or else her master wouldn’t have been so excited.

She hesitated as she looked at the beads handed over, they were top-grade Buddha Beads. If not mistaken, it should be akin to the old man’s amulet.

"It’s too valuable!"

Mr. Nong Mei forced the beads into her hands, smiling, "More reliable than your master, learn more of his medical skills, but don’t pick up his thick skin."

"Thank you, Senior Ma."

Upon hearing this, Mr. Nong Mei laughed heartily, "More perceptive than your master, good little girl, truly good."

Doctor Hu didn’t mind at all, chuckling, "Of course, if I choose, it must be the best."

Mr. Nong Mei said no more, maintaining a "secrets cannot be shared" demeanor, lightly chuckling while continuing to observe Zhang Guoqing and his son, his gaze lingering on Ping’an for a moment.

Everyone present noticed this detail to varying degrees.

The most anxious was Zhang Guoqing, more than anyone he wanted to know if something was amiss with his son. Seeing this, he didn’t wait for Mr. Nong Mei to speak before first offering the old man a respectful bow.

Mr. Nong Mei frowned hesitantly. According to their sect’s rules, such individuals shouldn’t be offended, nor should Eight Character Fortune Telling be used— the fate with blessings from three generations of ancestors, who dares reveal such secrets?

He quietly regretted exposing a clue.

The anxious Doctor Hu, knowledgeable in some protocols, picked up Little Ping’an to put him in front of the other party. Are you not going to speak? Do you have the heart to remain silent seeing such a good child?

Mr. Ma sighed quietly. Oh well, since it’s unlikely he would ever again read fortunes or cast predictions for people, he’d give a few suitable reminders.

The old man placed down the iron balls, squatted to pick up Ping’an, motioning for everyone else to sit, "You first take a seat, I’ll take the child outside to look at the scenery, and you, Hu Crazy, prepare quickly, I’ll be right back."

Ping’an promptly looked at Zhou Xiaozheng, and upon his slight nod, the child immediately hugged Mr. Ma’s neck, snuggled into the old man, and gazed enviously at the snow-white beard, imagining how great it would be to touch and tug it!

Standing in the courtyard, Mr. Ma gazed at the child in his arms, staring at his big, dark, gleaming eyes, then laughed, playfully stroking his beard.

"Great-grandpa, please put me down, I’m heavy."

"Heavy? Hahaha, well said. Indeed, your little fellow carries a significant fate. Have you been educated yet?"

Ping’an glanced at him, nodding.

"Little fellow, we count as connected by fate. Today I’m giving a few words to you, little one; remember, you cannot tell anyone in the future, do you understand?"

Little Ping’an squinted and smiled, looking up as he nodded.

"No schooling before eight, no adult relations before eighteen." Saying this, the old man hesitated, "Do you understand what it means to remain a child?"

Ping’an giggled, nodding, "I’ve already started learning martial arts."

Mr. Ma chuckled warmly. It’s really unexpected for a child this young to say such an insightful thing, indeed a good horse needs a fine saddle, such a good fate indeed requires nurturing.

"Good little fellow, after twenty years, the world will be yours. Before then, focus on refining yourself and don’t compete with others for quick wins and losses."

"Thank you, great-grandpa."

"When you grow up, stand up for the ordinary folks." Mr. Ma patted him, "Remember these words cannot be shared with outsiders."

Ping’an tilted his head, "Not even with my grandfather and parents?"

"You sly little one." Mr. Ma chuckled upon hearing this. If he hadn’t gone senile, today the boy’s family had four elders present; how long has it been since he saw such a clever kid?