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"I doubt the guns were even taller than them, right?"

"Relatives mentioned that those child soldiers were fearless. At such young ages, they all rushed forward without regard for their lives. When they were hit, their bodies were scattered across the hills, mangled beyond recognition."

"They were the future of their country themselves, yet they protected it."

"If not for them, there wouldn't be the country we have today."

"Even in death, these heroes still thought of protecting others."

"Yes," Lin Gu held back his tears, forcing a smile. "Later on, I learned that where I encountered the Japanese soldier was actually the burial site of a traitor. If I hadn't entered the Martyrs' Cemetery that night, I wouldn't know what might have happened."

"I couldn't shake off the thought of those children, so I touched each tombstone, telling them that China no longer needs wars. People can have enough food, no one goes hungry, there are TVs and soy milk to drink. If anyone wants to see this new world, they could come into my belly, and I would welcome them."

Upon saying this, Lin Gu suddenly realized something and looked at Chu Yuening. "Master, could it be... a child soldier really followed me back?"

Chu Yuening smiled. "In your first month of pregnancy, the embryo wasn't fully formed yet. Entering the Martyrs' Cemetery was like an invitation for spirits to join. Thankfully, the souls there were well-behaved and didn't fight over it. If you had said such things outside, you would've surely attracted wandering spirits."

Lin Gu heaved a sigh of relief but then hesitated. "Then, what about the... incidents that happened later?"

"It was all him," Chu Yuening said. "You have a Yin-dominated fate, which attracts impurities easily. He would secretly protect you and chase away the malevolent spirits. That's why you could hear footsteps."

"You wake up frequently at night because every time you need to use the toilet, he turns on the light for you before you stumble around in the dark, worried about your safety."

"And that time when you fell, he was the one who cushioned your fall, preventing you from getting severely injured."

"As for the dreams," Chu Yuening glanced at Lin Gu and counted on her fingers, "it's his hometown. He was only twelve when he enlisted in the expeditionary force. After he fell in battle, he never had the chance to see it again. Even after death, he couldn't stop thinking about what his once-protected hometown might look like now. Since he's staying inside you, it's affecting your dreams."

The entire room fell silent.

Many neighbors wiped their reddened eyes. Many of their roots were in the mainland, and they remembered the Japanese invasion more vividly than anyone else.

Twelve years old, a twelve-year-old soldier.

Just how dire was the situation back then that even a twelve-year-old would choose to go to war?

They were the descendants protected by generations of heroes and young soldiers.

Lin Gu initially thought she had encountered something impure. Yet, he didn't expect that this so-called impurity had been guarding her all along.

Her eyes were rimmed with red as she touched her belly. "Do you want to see our hometown from before? Mommy will ask Grandma and Grandpa to take you there."

With that, Lin Gu stood up and paid the fortune teller. "Master, thank you. Initially, I wanted to buy an amulet, but after hearing what you said, I've decided against it. I don't want to hurt him."

Chu Yuening smiled slightly. "Alright."

She watched Lin Gu leave with his small bag in hand.

Sunlight filtered through the window of the fortune-telling stall, casting a warm glow on her fair and slender wrist.

A resilient figure stood in front of the stall. He wasn't very tall, and his small frame was clad in a tattered military coat. His chest was riddled with holes that allowed light to pass through. His face was dark, making it difficult to discern his features, leaving only a pair of eyes visible.

He raised his one remaining undamaged hand, and with a snap, dust swirled as he saluted Chu Yuening.

Chu Yuening stood up and returned the gesture, her left hand resting on her abdomen.

Wei Yanlin bowed as well.

The neighbors at the entrance, sensing the solemn atmosphere, also bowed in understanding.

Chapter 153

With the conclusion of the second divination, an atmosphere of solemnity enveloped the scene, so quiet that one could hear each other's breaths.

After the neighbors had bowed, their emotions remained unrested.

"Without the bravery and sacrifices of our forebears, we wouldn't have the prosperous world we enjoy today."

"We are all still one family."

"The Ghost Festival is approaching, and I happen to be going back to the countryside to pay respects to my ancestors. I'll make sure to order more offerings to visit the cemetery for the fallen heroes."

"I'm also planning to return home. Let's go together then."

"Alright, I'll join you too."

And so, through this divination, the neighbors made plans to visit the memorial park on the mainland together to pay their respects to the fallen heroes.

Touched by the warmth of her neighbors, Chu Yuening's eyes curved into a gentle smile. She glanced at the wall clock.

It was almost noon.

She softly chuckled. "Alright, let's quiet down for a moment. We can proceed with the next divination."

The previously noisy scene seemed to have been paused, falling silent once more.

The third customer stood by the doorstep, surrounded by curious onlookers. Hearing Chu Yuening, his expression turned awkward. "Master Chu, could you wait a bit?"

The plump man, slightly flustered, clung onto the shoulders of two neighbors as he tried to peer outside while looking back. "I... I'm just helping someone queue. He hasn't arrived yet."

Chu Yuening replied, "There's a rule in the Feng Shui Shop: we don't accept proxy queuing."

The man attempted to protest, but before he could, a sudden commotion disrupted the crowd. A look of delight appeared on the plump man's face as he eagerly pushed aside the crowded neighbors, creating a pathway. "Mr. Lei, you've finally made it. If you were any later, the third reading would have gone to someone else."

The man who approached was around fifty, with a mix of white and black hair. Dressed in a black suit, he wore a warm smile as he bowed to the surrounding neighbors. Upon raising his hand, one could see a hole worn out in the sleeve of his garment.