Header Background Image
    The world's first crowdsourcing-driven asian bl novel translation community
    Chapter Index

    Chu Yuening was convinced she had found the right spot. After expressing her gratitude to Sister Liang once more, she wheeled the stall out of the alley and found a spot on the street corner, where she could easily glance back at the entrance.

    Anyone passing by would notice her stall if they paid attention.

    She carefully avoided blocking the dry goods store behind her. Just as she was about to unload her items, the owner of the dry goods store came out and waved her over.

    "Miss, set up right here. If you go any further, your stall will be hidden by that big sign," he said.

    Chu Yuening felt a bit awkward. "My stall might block your shop's sign."

    "Nah, it doesn't matter," the owner said generously, even stepping down from his stoop to help Chu Yuening with her stall. "I've been running this shop for twenty years. The regulars know where to find me even with their eyes closed, I'm not boasting."

    "Along this entire street, my shop has the most foot traffic. Your items will sell faster if you stand in front of my door. Come on, let's get your stall set up properly."

    The dry goods store owner wasn't exaggerating.

    Early in the morning, a steady stream of customers began entering his shop.

    He was very hospitable, so Chu Yuening no longer hesitated to put up her fortune-telling sign. Soon, a crowd gathered around her.

    "Ah? Fortune-telling and selling sweet soup? The boss has two jobs in one?"

    "More work, more rewards – hard work leads to prosperity. As a good citizen of Hong Kong, I naturally embody the 'Spirit of Lion Rock'," Chu Yuening said, causing the onlookers to burst into laughter.

    An elderly woman commented, "In today's society, everyone is looking for shortcuts. It's been a while since I've heard a young person talk about the Spirit of Lion Rock. Miss, I support you. I happen to need a fortune reading for my daughter. How much do you charge?"

    "Two hundred dollars per reading," Chu Yuening replied, glancing at the lady and noticing she was alone. She then advised, "I only read fortunes for the person themselves. If your daughter wants a reading, she can come find me."

    "Two hundred?" The grandmother hesitated, then waved it off after a moment's thought. "Forget it, my daughter is in Singapore."

    Actually, the grandmother just found the fortune-telling fee too high, but Chu Yuening didn't expose her thoughts. Instead, she nodded politely. "Then forget it."

    The grandmother smiled awkwardly. Among the crowd that had stopped to watch, two individuals, upon hearing the price, seemed provoked and started criticizing the sweet soup stall one after another.

    "You little rascal, I thought you were a decent person. Asking two hundred dollars for a single fortune!"

    "Fortune-telling is supposed to be a comfort, and you want two hundred dollars just for some nice words?"

    "Ai... if fortune-telling is such an easy way to earn money, I should have learned it long ago!"

    "No wonder they sell sweet soup and offer fortune-telling services. They must be supplementing their income from the sweet soup with earnings from fortune-telling, as it doesn't come in as quickly."

    "Do you think every fortune-teller can be as renowned as Master Guangda? He's been on television and in newspapers countless times, famous all around the world, even people in Malaysia have heard of him! You, on the other hand, have no reputation. Your youth clearly suggests a lack of experience. Yet you dare to ask for two hundred just like that? Quite some nerve you've got!"

    Faced with the vulgar remarks, Chu Yuening didn't show anger nor did she retort; she simply chose to ignore them in silence.

    Seeing their rebukes being ignored, the critics grew even more irate and began to criticize even more fervently, each voicing their opinions in a cacophony of voices.

    The owner of the dry goods store, noticing the situation escalating, hurried inside his shop for a moment. Upon returning, he seated himself directly across from Chu Yuening and placed two hundred yuan on the table, wearing a broad smile.

    "I haven't had my fortune told before anyway. Why don't you give it a try for me?"

    Chu Yuening understood that the boss wanted to assist her. This was actually the first time she received payment before providing a divination service.

    She didn't take the money and looked away. "Alright, I'll start with your reading first."

    Chu Yuening began by observing the boss's physiognomy. Following tradition, she asked for his birthdate and time, then interlaced her fingers.

    Yuan Tianbo also wore a smile on his face.

    In truth, he didn't put much stock in fortune-telling.

    He valued the belief that one's destiny could be shaped by their own determination more than relying on predictions. He held dear the spirit of Lion Mountain, which emphasized hard work and perseverance for success.

    Thus, whether Chu Yuening's predictions were accurate or not, he could accept them.

    Seeing a young girl running her own stall reminded him of his early entrepreneurial days. Offering her two hundred dollars was simply his way of helping her avoid potential troubles.

    "Miss, don't hold back, just go ahead with the reading," he encouraged.

    Chu Yuening smiled slightly. "Firstly, have we ever crossed paths before, or do we have any mutual acquaintances?"

    Yuan Tianbo thought seriously for a moment before shaking his head. "My social circle isn't extensive. If any of my friends knew you, I would've surely heard your name by now. After all, you're the only one in Hong Kong selling sweet soup and doing fortune-telling."

    Someone from the crowd stepped forward.

    "Don't say Tianbo doesn't know her, this is my first time seeing the sweet soup girl too."

    Another person chimed in curiously, "Does it really matter if they know each other or not?"

    "A waste of talent, you can only tell if it's accurate when you recognize what you've computed!" another person commented.

    "So that's how it is."

    Chu Yuening seemed to ignore the outside chatter entirely. "Alright, let me start with your family first."

    "The Sun and Moon Comers represent your connection with your parents. Your full Sun and Moon Comers indicate that you were blessed with strong parental love, which nurtured your fearless nature as you grew up. In other words, you possess more courage than most people. However, the Father Palace is dim and sunken, suggesting that your father has passed away."

    Chu Yuening muttered the eight characters of his birthdate. "He died in the previous year's third spring month, wasn't it due to a landslide?"

    Yuan Tianbo's heart skipped a beat, astonished. How could this be? While close friends and family knew about this, it was Chu Yuening's first encounter with him. In fact... she didn't even know his surname.

    And yet, she had managed to pinpoint the exact month of his father's death?

    There are four seasons in a year, each consisting of three months. The third month is referred to as the seasonal month.

    0 Comments

    Enter your details or log in with:
    Heads up! Your comment will be invisible to other guests and subscribers (except for replies), including you after a grace period. But if you submit an email address and toggle the bell icon, you will be sent replies until you cancel.
    Note