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by 陈年奶泡Mazi stared at the money that was nearly in his grasp, only to see it swerve away and be taken by someone else. His eyes revealed urgency as he hastily pulled Long Zai to his feet.
His mind raced, searching for a countermeasure.
Indeed, Long Zai wasn't his biological son. He had purchased the boy from mainland human traffickers five years ago, all for the purpose of feigning illness to scam money.
This time, Mazi had come to Temple Street after seeing Chu Yuening's fame on television, hoping to play the sympathy card and make another profit.
He had always believed that the predictions on television were merely for entertainment value.
But it seemed...
The other party might possess some genuine abilities?
No need to panic.
Calm down!
"Yes!" Mazi, with determination, admitted frankly, "Long Zai is a child I picked up. But can we really not save him just because he's not my biological son?"
As he spoke, he tugged at his sleeve again, exposing the rotten flesh on his arm.
He endured the pain and tore off a piece of rotten flesh, pitifully displaying it to everyone. "My severe illness is real, isn't it? No one would wish for themselves to be sick. Long Zai and I truly have reached a dead end."
"I'm tormented by this illness day and night, not knowing how much longer I have to live. I beg everyone to help me."
Chu Yuening had no desire to witness his act any further. She picked up the teapot and added a bit of water to the teacup. "Severe illness? Aren't you deserving of your own ailment?"
The neighbors, who had initially been softened by Mazi's plea, regained their composure.
Mazi's anger could no longer be concealed, "Master, is it not too much for you to push people into a desperate situation time and again?"
"Too much?" Chu Yuening calculated with her fingers, "I am not as excessive as you."
"You were born into a wealthy family, but your parents favored boys over girls. When they had connections to secure a job at the hospital, your sister, who had slightly higher education than you, was more suitable for the position. Yet, without a second thought, you snatched that job from her."
"Upon entering the hospital, instead of improving yourself, you set your sights on critically ill patients. Over time, an idea took root in your mind."
"So, you returned to the mainland, bought Long Zai from human traffickers, quit your job at the hospital, and traveled with him from one medical facility to another, targeting couples with severely ill children in similar situations."
As these words were spoken, Mazi's forehead glistened with sweat, and his legs trembled uncontrollably. He never imagined that Chu Yuening wasn't just a fortune teller but an exceptionally accurate one!
He forced a smile, saying, "Master, you really have a sense of humor. I... How could I possibly deceive people?"
Chu Yuening ignored his response and continued her calculations, "In the first year, you deceived a couple whose child had died from leukemia. You knelt before them with Long Zai, claiming that he too suffered from leukemia, and that you were penniless and battling a severe illness. You begged them, as fellow parents, to donate some money."
Upon hearing this, the onlookers froze, exchanging bewildered glances.
This... was identical to what she had just described. It seemed that he was indeed a repeat offender.
"Pity that couple was so kind-hearted they didn't even verify with you and donated two thousand yuan."
In this era, two thousand yuan was already a considerable amount.
Especially for families burdened with severe illnesses, most of them wouldn't have substantial savings. However, since Mazi had chosen families who had already lost their children, these couples, overwhelmed with sorrow, would instinctively reach out to help when they saw a child with a glimmer of hope in front of them.
"Using this method, you deceived quite a number of couples. Some had children with leukemia, congenital heart diseases, or brain tumors. Until three years ago, when you tricked a single mother."
As Chu Yuening calculated this, she suppressed her anger slightly.
She picked up her teacup and sipped the water.
Upon hearing "single mother," Mazi's expression had turned utterly distraught. "What single mother? I have no idea what you're talking about! I'm not doing this anymore!"
In a rush, he lunged forward to snatch back the one thousand yuan from the display cabinet.
But a quick neighbor at the door managed to grab hold of him.
Mazi pleaded, "Brother, this Master of Temple Street is crazy. Please don't hold me down, I just want my money back."
The elder brother growled fiercely, "What are you afraid of? The truth will eventually come to light. Let's settle this!"
Mazi was pinned down this time, unable to escape.
Chu Yuening continued her divination, "That single mother's daughter also died from leukemia. You sought her help. That single mother had some savings and, seeing how pitiful Long Zai was, she withdrew 10,000 yuan from the bank to donate to you."
"She genuinely wanted to see Long Zai survive after her daughter's death from leukemia."
"Yet, how did you spend that 10,000 yuan? You went to a bar for fun, and the single mother, who happened to be visiting a friend, saw you. She chased after you for an explanation, asking why you didn't use the money for the child's treatment but wasted it instead."
"Feeling guilty, you left the bar. But the single mother followed, and then she fell into a ditch. You ignored her cries for help."
Chu Yuening stood up, pushing away the stunned Mazi's arm, revealing the bloody flesh. She took a glance, then looked at Mazi.
"That night, there happened to be a rabid stray dog by the ditch. The single mother was mauled and ultimately perished from her injuries."
Upon hearing this, everyone's attention immediately turned to the wound.
The festering flesh on Mazi's arm, oozing yellow pus and blood down to the bone, bore an uncanny resemblance to the wounds inflicted by a beast's savage bite.
Mazi, trembling with fear, attempted to push his way through the crowd. "You're lying! I never did anything like that!"
A couple, originally on their way to purchase sweet soup, noticed a crowd gathering in front of the feng shui shop. Intrigued, they approached to see what was happening.
Until Chu Yuening finished her calculations.
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