Page 384

"Not possible," Chu Yuening shook her head again.

Upon hearing this, Mazi's expression worsened.

He had thought that the Temple Street Soothsayer was a noble figure, but wasn't he just another money-hungry individual?

With a bit of fame, he was already thinking of hiking up his prices.

But it was precisely because of his reputation that Mazi had decided to seek a fortune-telling session. He glanced again at the entrance, which was now filling up with people.

Clenching his teeth and stamping his foot, he put on an appearance of being willing to spend anything for his child's sake. "Fine, we'll have the reading. As long as the child can be cured, I'm willing to pay any amount."

Chu Yuening gave him a cryptic glance before turning to enter the house.

Without hesitation, Mazi followed suit.

The two of them took their seats in turn.

Mazi kept glancing back at the neighbors, relieved to see them all standing by their doors. He took out a thousand yuan and counted it several times before placing it on the table.

Chu Yuening put the divination fee on the display shelf and exchanged glances with both Mazi and the little boy.

"You first, tell me what illness he has."

The neighbors leaned in to listen, curious about what kind of ailment could deplete one's entire savings.

Mazi sighed. "Leukemia."

At the mention of leukemia, the neighbors collectively gasped in shock.

In this era, leukemia was considered a type of cancer.

Feeling the pity in their gazes, Mazi forced a bitter smile. "As you all know, there are several types of leukemia, and Long Zai has the most severe one."

Saying this, he pulled Long Zai over for everyone to see.

Lifeless, Long Zai leaned in Mazi's arms without even blinking his eyes, his frail condition tugging at everyone's heartstrings with sympathy.

Pitiful.

It was truly pitiful.

Adults couldn't endure leukemia, let alone such a young child.

Mazi sighed. "To treat him, I really spent every penny I had; I sold my house and land. To seek medical treatment in Hong Kong, we slept on the footbridge. I worked three jobs a day, and since there was no one to look after the child during regular work hours, I had to bring him along."

A neighbor asked,

"You're taking care of the child? What about your wife?"

"Right, you're working to earn the medical fees—couldn't your wife take care of him?"

"In a pair, one must stay to take care of the child."

"It's well-known that working conditions aren't suitable for kids; it's not a solution to bring them along."

Mazi seemed to be pained in his heart, and his pockmarked face was tinged with suffering.

He stroked Long Zai's head, and his eyes suddenly reddened.

"She's run away."

A collective gasp echoed.

The neighbors were all stunned.

What kind of mother abandons her child when they're severely ill?

Mazi's voice cracked as he wiped away his tears, "The medical bills are heavy. If she wanted to leave, I wouldn't blame her. But sometimes, Long Zai wakes up in the middle of the night searching for his mom. His own mother doesn't even want to spare a glance at him."

The neighbors fell silent, looking at Long Zai with even more sympathy.

Their hearts ached even more.

Mazi kept wiping his tears, "Everyone, please rest assured. No matter how bitter or difficult it is, I'll stay by Long Zai's side and persevere. It's just that... I don't know how long I can hold on."

Someone of similar age to Mazi asked, "You don't know how long you can hold on? Come on, your wife left the child behind, but you're not thinking of doing the same, are you?"

"No," Mazi's eyes were reddened as he shook his head in pain. "It's just that... I... I'm also seriously ill. Now, it's uncertain who between me and Long Zai will pass away first. All I can do is try my best to hold on."

Silence fell upon the crowd upon hearing this.

Everyone was left speechless.

This... was just too tragic.

First, the son fell seriously ill, then followed by the father.

Truly, misfortune never comes alone.

Mazi slowly rolled up his sleeve, revealing a section of rotten flesh on his arm. The onlookers gasped as they witnessed it.

"Three years ago, I contracted an inexplicable disease that causes my body to continuously rot. Even the doctors couldn't determine the exact cause. They also said that there are multiple tumors within me. When they burst and my flesh decays entirely, I'll be gone."

Speaking thus, Mazi painfully pulled the child to his feet and knelt at the door.

"Everyone, I've exhausted all options. I just spent the last thousand dollars I had on seeking fortune-telling. Both my son and I are suffering from bizarre illnesses. Initially, I wanted to consult a master to see if we were cursed."

"Long Zai still needs medicine; leukemia is excruciating when the pain strikes. He can't endure such torment any longer. Please, I beg of you, lend us a helping hand, no matter how big or small the contribution."

With that, Mazi pressed Long Zai's head down, forcing a bitter smile. "Come, bow to the uncles and aunts, and let them assist us."

The little boy, confused, was about to kneel when he suddenly vomited a pool of blood, shocking the neighbors who hurriedly stepped back.

The leading auntie, unable to bear seeing such a young child suffer, promptly took out a hundred-yuan bill.

"Quickly, take this and buy medicine for the child."

"Yes, I have some money too."

"Sigh, he's so young and already vomiting blood. It's truly pitiful to watch."

Just as everyone's money was gathered together, ready to give it to Mazi, a cold voice rang out from the fortune-telling stall.

"You have the face of a solitary widower, destined to have no spouse or offspring in this life. So... where did you get your child and wife?"

Chu Yuening gave the little boy another glance, reaffirming her observation.

"This child is perfectly healthy; he merely suffers from malnutrition and anemia. How could he possibly have leukemia?"

These successive interrogatives left the neighbors dumbfounded.

The very woman who had been in charge of collecting the money was about to hand it over to Mazi when she heard Master Chu's words. She promptly withdrew her hand and cast a wary gaze at Mazi.