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Recalling those days, Gu Xianchang closed his eyes, suppressing tears with sorrow, "It was unbearable. I could never forget those years."

1. After laying my parents to rest.

Chu Yuening witnessed the youthful Gu Xianchang leading a naive young man and four young sisters on their journey of famine escape.

Observing the simple-minded young lad, standing up to protect his four younger sisters as others bullied them, brandishing a wooden stick wildly and fiercely, baring his teeth and claws in their defense, it was a heartwarming sight.

She spoke in a soft, soothing tone.

"Your eldest brother truly has a heart of gold, especially towards you. Since childhood, he knew how to shield you. Whenever you got into trouble, he would take the blame for you. If you stared a little too long at the neighbor's sugared haws, he'd steal them and end up beaten severely."

"The journey during the famine was arduous and challenging. To have enough to eat, you sought work at a landlord's estate. In years of famine, landlords with surplus grain were scarce, and their need for laborers even more so. Eventually, you found one such household, but they only needed one worker."

"Therefore, you entrusted your sisters to your eldest brother while you went to work for the landlord."

At this point in the story, some people might view Gu Xianchang as selfish and criticize his actions.

Thus, some would say,

"Your eldest brother is simple-minded, and your four younger sisters are still young. In times of famine, all sorts of villains emerge. Isn't it too selfish to abandon them like that?"

Her words were like a lit match, igniting a powder keg.

"I didn't abandon them!" Gu Xianchang exclaimed, grabbing his crutch and pointing at the neighbors outside. "You have no idea what it was like back then. Six people, six mouths to feed. If I didn't find a way out, we would all have starved!"

"At that time, I swore I'd earn money and take my elder brother further south. I didn't abandon them!" Gu Xianchang insisted, not believing he had done anything wrong.

"Calm down, you did indeed fulfill your promise," Chu Yuening said.

"You worked for a month, got paid, and went to find your sisters, but you never expected your brother to go missing the day before you returned home."

"There was nothing you could do. You searched with your sisters, only to be met with disappointment. Then, by chance, you ended up in Hong Kong to pursue your opportunities."

"Today, you've achieved success and your sisters are all living well. Yet, your eldest brother remains your greatest regret."

To such an extent.

The purpose of Gu Xianchang's visit for divination also became apparent.

For decades, Gu Xianchang had never given up on searching for his older brother.

"You're still determined to find your brother's whereabouts despite your advanced age," observed Chu Yuening.

Upon hearing that his thoughts were accurately guessed, Gu Xianchang put down his raised cane. "That's right. Losing my elder brother has been an obsession of mine all my life. I have to find him."

At this point, Gu Xianchang's temper softened, and he let out a deep sigh, tears welling in his aged eyes.

Losing the brother who had been kind to him haunted him with nightmares every night, and he could never forgive himself.

"If only you had been a little more yielding back then, your elder brother wouldn't have been missing for so many years," Chu Yuening sighed.

"I want to ask you, on the day your brother went missing, did you and your sisters come across a child begging on his knees for food? He asked for half a steamed bun to save his mother?"

Gu Xianchang stood frozen, his memories of decades past not as vivid. After some more thought, he recalled the incident.

"That incident did indeed happen."

Chu Yuening didn't comment on whether his actions were right or wrong; it was indeed regrettable that the person had vanished.

"Your older brother was indeed kidnapped. He wanted to trade food for your sister, but ended up being bound by ropes and taken away. That child witnessed everything. He asked you for half a steamed bun, but you refused, and he held a grudge without telling you."

"In reality, if he had told you, you would have found him within twenty minutes by following the trail. But you missed your chance."

"No... It can't be." Gu Xianchang couldn't accept this revelation.

"Then, in Guang Province, you were already settled with a family. On a business trip, you saw someone beating up beggars on the street. Someone nearby begged you to intervene, but you knew that beggar gangs were controlled by others, and you didn't want to get involved, so you walked away."

"Could it be..." Gu Xianchang's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Indeed," Chu Yuening confirmed his speculation with a single sentence.

"The beggar who was beaten and scolded is your elder brother."

Gu Xianchang clutched his chest, almost unable to catch his breath. His hand loosened, and the cane he was leaning on fell to the ground as he trembled all over.

After a long while.

Gu Xianchang seemed like a deflated balloon, his once straight spine from old age now bent. "Master, I beg of you, help me find my elder brother."

Both he and his brother were already seventy years old; if they didn't find him soon, there might never be another chance.

Chu Yuening didn't make things difficult for him. After revealing the location, she said softly, "His time is almost up. I hope you can make it in time."

"Thank you very much."

Gu Xianchang didn't dwell on her last remark. He couldn't sit still any longer and hurriedly stood up. The bodyguards helped pick up his cane, but the immense emotional impact made him wobble even while holding it. Nevertheless, he persevered and walked towards the car.

The neighbors whispered among themselves, some unable to comprehend the old man's actions, while others supported him.

"I hope it's not too late for the old man," they said.

"Actually, if he were to show some kindness, a half of a steamed bun would have been enough to find your elder brother."

"Or later on, if he had helped the beggars, he could have found him too."

"I disagree. In times of famine, how could the old man have supported five people without being firm?"

"That's right. None of us have experienced famine. Let's not make insensitive remarks."

The second fortune-teller was a young girl.

Dressed in a trendy manner, she had her hair tied into low ponytails on both sides and wore headphones. She donned a light green fitted sweater, jeans cut into two sections connected only by a thin rope, and shoes with large, thick soles.

With curiosity, she looked around before sitting down and asking, "Master, I've heard that you're very skilled at fortune-telling. Is it true?"

Chu Yuening interlaced her fingers and smiled gently. "Perhaps."