Chapter 13: Difficult Things in This World Can Become Easy in the Blink of an Eye

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Chapter 13: Difficult Things in This World Can Become Easy in the Blink of an Eye

An awkward scene had just unfolded, and quite a few people chose to steer clear of Yu Shenliu at this point to avoid getting caught up in the trouble. Qin Zui, however, stepped forward and stopped in front of Yu Shenliu.

“Mayor Yu.” He wore a warm, friendly smile, as if he had run into an old acquaintance, and greeted him enthusiastically.

Looking at the man in front of him, Yu Shenliu wore an equally cordial expression and politely asked, “And you are?”

“Qin Zui, from Yulei City.” Qin Zui introduced himself readily. The fact that he had stepped forward without waiting to be introduced was actually a way of lowering himself a little. After all, Yu Shenliu had risen to a high position at such a young age, had his family backing him, and was capable in his own right. His future prospects were limitless.

As someone in government himself, Yu Shenliu was naturally well-informed. The moment Qin Zui gave his name, he understood. “Mayor Qin? A pleasure to meet you!”

Qin Zui then introduced Xu Jiaohua. “This is my wife.”

“So you’re Madam Qin.” Yu Shenliu nodded politely. He knew who Xu Jiaohua was. She was a young lady from a prominent family who had married beneath her station, and she had always been known for being highly adept at dealing with people. As an official’s wife, she was exceptionally capable. Without her, Qin Zui would never have been able to climb from rock bottom to where he was today.

Xu Jiaohua smiled politely, her eyes intentionally or otherwise sweeping over Huo Jian and Chen Yuan behind Yu Shenliu. Then she said, “Mayor Yu, this isn’t really the place to talk. Why don’t you get your food first, and then we can sit down and have a proper chat?”

Xu Jiaohua’s glance made everyone present understand. Strictly speaking, Yu Shenliu and Qin Zui had little overlap in government affairs. Even if they wanted to establish a relationship, a mere acquaintance would have been enough. There was no need for several people to sit down together and slowly cultivate a connection. As it turned out, the person she was interested in wasn’t Yu Shenliu at all, but in Chen Yuan, the fortune-teller standing behind him.

Once they had gotten their food, the group sat together, chatting amiably over their meal. There was some risk of saliva flying, but given the culture of dining and socializing, the dinner table was still the best place to exchange information.

Xu Jiaohua’s glance had already hinted at who the real focus of the gathering was. So as soon as they sat down, she turned to Chen Yuan. “Master Chen, thank you so much for today. If it weren’t for your help, my husband and I wouldn’t have reconciled so quickly. I really don’t know how to thank you enough.” Her words sounded somewhat insincere, clearly meant to establish a connection with Chen Yuan.

Everyone likes hearing nice things, and Chen Yuan was no exception. But while he was happy to hear the praise, he wasn’t about to lose his head over a few flattering words that cost nothing.

In response to Xu Jiaohua’s words, Chen Yuan simply smiled politely and said, “No matter what line of work you’re in, you have to take responsibility, don’t you? Just as an official in a position of power should naturally stand up for the people, I should fulfill my responsibility after accepting your payment.”

Xu Jiaohua spoke of a favor, while Chen Yuan spoke of responsibility. Although they were talking about the same thing, the distinction immediately put some distance between them.

Yu Shenliu listened from the side and couldn’t help admiring how clear-sighted Chen Yuan was. Given Chen Yuan’s age and background, he should have little to do with the political world, but now it seemed that he saw through all these subtle twists and turns quite clearly.

Xu Jiaohua wasn’t offended by Chen Yuan’s tactful refusal. Instead, she asked, “Come to think of it, Master Chen, besides physiognomy and fortune-telling with characters, what else can you do? Are they all as amazing as these?”

“Palmistry and physiognomy, character divination and fortune-stick interpretation, Bazi fortune-telling, feng shui and geomancy. My master taught me all of these, so I know a thing or two about each.”

Chen Yuan answered modestly. What did “know a thing or two” mean? He was actually an expert in all of them.

But how could anyone present take him at his word that he only knew “a thing or two”? What Chen Yuan had already demonstrated in front of them was astonishing enough. Anyone could tell that he was simply being modest.

Huo Jian was blunt enough to say it outright. “Master, if you only know a thing or two, then what does that make the rest of us? Completely useless ordinary people!”

Then he noticed something else. “Oh, right, Master. I actually wanted to ask you this before. Aren’t people like you, great masters who live beyond the ordinary world, supposed to be self-taught? Why do you have a master?”

That question actually reflected what everyone present was thinking. Someone as mysterious as Chen Yuan surely should have grown up in the mountains, one day experienced some auspicious sign from Heaven, suddenly attained enlightenment, and from then on ceased to be an ordinary person…?

“You’ve been reading too many novels.” Chen Yuan paused before giving that answer.

Only in novels were there geniuses who could suddenly attain enlightenment about anything and everything. In five thousand years of Chinese history, how many people like King Wen of Zhou or Fuxi, those legendary sages associated with the origins of the I Ching , had there really been? In metaphysics, without a master to guide you, going astray was almost inevitable. Besides, even those who were self-taught still had to rely on classics such as the I Ching , the ancient Chinese classic on divination, philosophy, and the principles of change, and Yuanhai Ziping , a foundational text on Bazi and Chinese fate-analysis, didn’t they? Fiction was fiction, and reality was reality.

“Uh, haha.” Huo Jian scratched the back of his head awkwardly after Chen Yuan put it that way, but he was still curious enough to continue. “Then, Master, did you and your master cultivate in some remote mountain wilderness, and only come down the mountain to gain experience after your cultivation was complete?”

Chen Yuan didn’t deny it. He nodded. “Something like that.” He had originally lived with the old Daoist in a secluded Daoist temple, but after the old Daoist passed away, he moved out. After all, he wasn’t a Daoist priest himself. He had merely learned some of the old Daoist’s methods, and the Daoist temple still belonged to the Daoist clergy.

The question suddenly reminded Chen Yuan of something else. He looked up at Yu Shenliu. “Speaking of that, I just remembered something I wanted to ask you for help with.”

Chen Yuan was asking Yu Shenliu for help? The moment he said this, everyone present was surprised. What could someone like Chen Yuan possibly need help with? For a moment, everyone’s eyes turned to him.

To Qin Zui, if helping with something could help him build a good relationship with Chen Yuan, it was a deal with nothing to lose. So he immediately said, “Master Chen, what is it you need? If there’s anything I can help with, just say the word.”

Chen Yuan said, “It’s actually nothing special. I still don’t have a registered household or an ID, so I need to get those sorted out. Since I’m in Jincheng now, it would be more convenient if Mr. Yu could help me with that.”

“Master… don’t tell me you really lived in some remote mountain wilderness for all those years without anyone knowing before finally coming down the mountain? You don’t even have a household registration or an ID.” Huo Jian couldn’t help commenting. In his eyes, Chen Yuan didn’t really seem like someone who was completely out of touch with the modern world. The way he had handled Huo Jian’s phone so skillfully earlier was proof enough.

Chen Yuan glanced at him and answered in a tone that was both completely serious and seemingly joking, “No. Actually, after cultivating to a certain level in another world, I accidentally crossed over into this world when I came down the mountain.”

After saying that, Huo Jian stuffed another bite of food into his mouth. When he heard the answer, he immediately bent over and started coughing violently. The answer had made him choke.

Was that supposed to be a joke? Chen Yuan actually told jokes like that!

Huo Jian’s reaction was immediate, while the other three also found themselves in an awkward spot. What kind of answer was that? It seemed that, for all his abilities, this young master was still young enough to make jokes like that.

Ignoring their strange expressions, Chen Yuan looked at Yu Shenliu. “So? Can you help me with this?”

Although Chen Yuan’s joke had been painfully dry, Yu Shenliu didn’t have much time to dwell on it. Since Chen Yuan had asked for his help, he immediately agreed. “Of course. It’s a small matter.”

He couldn’t be bothered to wonder why Chen Yuan didn’t have a household registration. Chen Yuan wanted to register his household in Jincheng, and he had already said he would be staying at Yu Shenliu’s house. Wasn’t that basically tying the two of them together? That was a good thing, and he was naturally happy to help.

“As an exchange, I won’t charge you for the earlier question.”

Having successfully solved his identity problem, Chen Yuan was in a good mood. He simply counted the five hundred yuan Yu Shenliu owed him for the earlier question as payment. It was always Chen Yuan’s way to keep things even. It was best not to owe anyone anything.

“No fee?” Yu Shenliu could only sigh inwardly. So Chen Yuan had asked him to handle something, and the payment was five hundred yuan? The more he thought about it, the more he felt he was selling himself short. Although Yu Shenliu almost never helped people with personal matters, even when his subordinates were asked to help with something, they wouldn’t dare accept bribes, but a meal in return would still cost more than five hundred yuan, wouldn’t it? Only someone like Chen Yuan could somehow make the two equivalent. And when he thought about how the five hundred yuan had only bought him a one-word answer, Yu Shenliu suddenly felt that he had gotten the short end of the stick.

“Mayor Yu, you asked Master Chen to help you with something too?” Xu Jiaohua said, “Master Chen did a character divination for my husband this morning. It was quite remarkable.”

“It certainly was.” Yu Shenliu gave a noncommittal answer, saying nothing about what he had asked Chen Yuan.

“Come to think of it, since Master Chen will be staying in Jincheng, where should we go if we need to find you?” Seeing that they had nearly finished eating, Xu Jiaohua knew this was about as far as she could get today, so she asked.

“As for me, I’ll probably be setting up my stall at that pavilion for the time being. I don’t plan on moving anywhere else yet.” It was quiet and comfortable, and the pavilion really was a nice place. Chen Yuan naturally had no reason to move elsewhere. “If you need me, just come by.”

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