CHAPTER 158: CHAPTER 31: PALMISTRY OF MISFORTUNE AND FATE (PART 2)

No wonder the teacher wanted the room so dimly lit, no wonder the burning of incense. It turns out the so-called master is none other than the fortune teller with the Yuhua Eye from Diagonal Alley in the Sixth District.

The Yuhua Eye fortune teller was blind in his right eye which would ache in bright light, hence why the classroom must be kept dark. As for that foot odor, it was entirely due to his personal issues.

"Ziceng, we better move a bit further back," Yan Wuxu had been holding his breath until his face turned red and his neck purple. They had arrived late and all the seats by the windows were taken.

The crowd behind them took a few steps back; each female student huddled up like a winter mouse trying to keep as much distance from the long table as possible. Su Ziceng and Yan Wuxu at this point were like the top of a human-shaped "convex," any slight movement was conspicuously noticeable.

"You two students over there, yes you, come here," the Yuhua fortune teller called out to them in a tone reminiscent of a street performer, gesturing wildly.

"I’m very busy and have no time for idle chatter with a bunch of mediocre youths, but since we’ve met, it must be fate. Today, I’ll reluctantly explain to you all the profound mysteries of Mysticism." Seeing that Su Ziceng and the other student didn’t approach, he grabbed a bamboo stick and waved it forward, "Hurry up, just the two of you, men on the left, women on the right, if you’re a woman, extend your right hand flat.

His bamboo stick was thin and long, gesturing around the cramped classroom carried the airs of a Beggar Gang master’s duel. Startled by this, Yan Wuxu hurriedly spread his hands, as if in worship, palms up, on the Yuhua fortune teller’s long table.

Atop the persimmon-red table, when Yan Wuxu’s hands, accustomed to hard labor, were placed upon it, disdainful snickers arose from the girls behind him.

Yan Wuxu’s outstretched fingers timidly retracted a bit but were promptly fixed by the bamboo stick, critically turning over his palms. "With shallow palms and an elongated shape, fingers like winter shoots, and a whiteness lacking rosy hues. Shallow palms cannot hold wealth; lacking red foretells a life short of blessings; perform good deeds in youth so you’ll be worry-free in old age." The Yuhua fortune teller spoke offhand, yet his words choked Yan Wuxu’s breath. She was smart and could tell from the mystic master’s tone that her future would be more fraught than fortunate.

"My turn," Su Ziceng said after listening, patting Yan Wuxu, motioning for her not to take it too seriously. He placed his hand beside the Yuhua fortune teller’s hand, right in his blind spot.

Hands immaculate as if carved from translucent jade, Su Ziceng’s palms showed little sign of labor, making Yan Wuxu beside him even more embarrassed.

After only a glance, the Yuhua fortune teller began to prophesy, "Born under the protection of a noble house, veins of gold and jade, blessed with long life and happiness. If the heart and mind are stable, one will have no worries in old age." His words were full of auspicious omens; Su Ziceng’s hands were evenly thick, fingers nicely rounded, and the skin was fair with a roseate hue, the nail beds well-formed – all signs of a good and fortunate life.

"Your predictions are inaccurate," Su Ziceng countered sarcastically, not a bit grateful after hearing the pleasant compliments, dispersed through the misty incense smoke.

"Who says my predictions are not accurate," retorted the Yuhua fortune teller, taking offense. Hands are the essence of a person, and the right hand’s veins lead straight to the heart. He had always been able to unveil a person’s life just from their hands. Today, his accuracy was questioned in public by a young girl, undermining his dignity.

If it weren’t for that jinxed girl who wrecked his door a while ago, tearing down his signboard and causing him to close for months, losing old clients, he wouldn’t have had to stoop so low as to come to this bustling place to teach a Mysticism class.

"Master Wang, please don’t take some people’s confrontations to heart," a shadow stood up from the corner, with footsteps neither hurried nor slow, Su Ziceng always wondered if Wen Maixue would maintain the same stride and tone even in the face of a fire or avalanche.

Wen Maixue was merely being polite; she wouldn’t allow an unqualified, mooching teacher into Kelly’s. She too harbored dissatisfaction towards this seemingly incoherent teacher, and seeing Su Ziceng leading, conveniently pushed the job of finding fault onto her.

"I’ve heard that the master can foresee past and future, one word of fate can reveal everything, renowned both domestically and internationally," Wen Maixue flattered him from top to bottom, even including unspoken global compliments.

People always enjoy hearing favorable words, and the Yuhua fortune teller was no different, nodding his head and tapping his foot in agreement, his Yuhua Eye shining brightly.

"Then please, Master, predict my fortune," Wen Maixue said, using her right hand to push away Su Ziceng’s hand and presenting it before the Yuhua fortune teller.

Feeling frustrated, Su Ziceng thought to herself that she had been interrupted by Wen Maixue just halfway through speaking. It was blatant provocation. There’s snatching over marriage, food, and even quarrels, but never before snatching over fortune-telling.

"Eldest Lady Wen’s palmistry will, of course, be extremely auspicious. Small setbacks in youth will lead to a prosperous wealth and a harmonious marriage in adulthood; truly a life of fortune and longevity," Wen Maixue sighed with relief after listening, then reconsidering the Yuhua fortune teller’s words "slight setbacks in youth," her belief in him deepened a little more.

The matters of the Wen family were rarely known to outsiders, much less recounted to the master. Furthermore, with a harmonious upcoming marriage, her lips curled into a gratified smile, as if she wished to crown the fortune teller with the phrase "unbelievably accurate."

People tend to believe the good rather than the bad. The Yuhua fortune teller’s mouth beamed with joy, but he didn’t miss the subtle nuances in Wen Maixue’s tone before and after. Palmistry is but a facade; the truth lies in the heart. At her age, Wen Maixue should have been carefree and unrestrained, but her mature and cautious demeanor suggested otherwise. Without family turmoil in her youth, how could she have grown into such sophistication?

"Eldest Lady Wen, can’t you tell those are just some flattering words? Just because you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth doesn’t guarantee a life without worries. One’s life is determined by themselves, not by fate," Su Ziceng’s words were like a splash of cold water, drenching the euphoria of both the Yuhua fortune teller and Wen Maixue. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it with a recommendation ticket or monthly ticket at Qidian. Your support is my greatest motivation.)