Chapter 22: Grant Me the Power of Immobilization

After returning from Shi Er's house, Master said to me:

"Shanhong, there is knowledge to be gained from paying attention. Your attentiveness has helped me a lot this time. Otherwise, my reputation would have been ruined by this trip to Shijiazhuang. Here's a little money for you to use."

After saying that, the master actually gave me ten thousand yuan.

I was stunned and waved my hands repeatedly, refusing to accept it.

The master said in a commanding tone, "Take it."

I shook my head and said, "Master, can I accept your kindness in another way?"

"What form?" Even my master, who is always so wise, couldn't guess my intention.

I refilled his tea, sat down opposite him, paused, and said:

"I've been studying with you for almost two years. I'm not sure about other things, but I have some experience in fortune-telling. Can I study with you during the day and go out for internship at night?"

The master pondered for a moment and said, "You can practice alone now. If you want to practice, it's best to find a teahouse. There are many people there."

I nodded and said, "If you agree, I'll go find a place."

During lunch, I told my sister and brother-in-law about this.

When my sister found out, she said, "If you want to sit in the hall, go to Fenghuaxueyue. There are a lot of people there, and the owner is also a female entrepreneur. I'll give you a call."

After that, she called the owner of "Fenghuaxueyue", who agreed readily and asked me to go over in the afternoon to check out the place.

"Fenghuaxueyue" is an upscale teahouse in this city. The proprietress, surnamed Yu, is in her thirties and extremely beautiful. People in the underworld call her "Yu Meiren."

I have seen Poppy a few times before, so I am considered an acquaintance.

At three o'clock in the afternoon, I drove over, parked the car, and called Poppy.

Yu Meiren stood at the gate, her face full of joy, and said, "Master's apprentice, warmly welcome. You are here to help me make money."

She took me to her office and sat me down, and personally made tea and cigarettes for me.

I told him my idea, and Poppy immediately turned it into a "business model".

She said, "How about this? Set up a separate 'divination room' on the second floor. Then put up a sign on the tea table in the lobby and private rooms that reads: Divination, one hundred per session. Please ring the bell if you need it. After ringing the bell, a waiter will lead the guest to your room for the divination."

Of course, if business is booming and customers can't wait that long, you can cancel the order. All the money spent on the fortune telling will be included in the customer's bill, and you can settle the bill at the bar. The teahouse will split the profits 40% and 60% with you. Do you think this plan is feasible?"

I smiled and said, "Boss lady, that's very thoughtful. So which floor will you put my fortune-telling room on?"

Poppy blurted out, "There are three suites on the second floor: a large reception room and two tea rooms. We have six suites like this, mainly designed for holiday gatherings, family get-togethers, and so on. They're very spacious, so don't worry."

I said, "Let's go check it out now."

Yu Meiren led me up to the second floor. The suite's design was quite interesting, standing like an isolated island outside the main hall. It was connected to the main hall by a winding corridor.

Yu Meiren introduced the hall as she walked. "The hall is crowded and noisy, so this design separates the private rooms from the hall. The six suites, like the wings of an airplane, are spread out on both sides of the main building."

I nodded. "It means flying."

Yu Meiren smiled and said, "Master, you have golden eyes and fiery vision."

The suite was quite luxuriously decorated. Carved wooden windows, mahogany furniture, and an antique, elegant feel. I looked around and pointed to the east windowsill and said,

"I need you to place three bottles of cactus here."

Poppy wanted to know if she understood, so she asked, "Should we put flowers, or must we put cacti?"

I said, "Put out the cactus."

She looked at me suspiciously: "Are there any rules?"

I pointed out the window at the tall building of the Hanting Hotel and said, "Look, isn't that corner facing the window? I want to stab that thorn in the opposite corner back."

Yu Meiren seemed to be hearing this for the first time. She nodded repeatedly and said, "Then when you have time, I'll show you all the private rooms."

I shook my head: "Just this one, no need to look at other houses, the feng shui is very good."

Poppy asked, "What else needs to be replaced?"

I observed for a moment to see where I should sit. After deciding where I should sit, he said, "Take down the calligraphy on the back wall."

Yu Meiren hesitated and said, "That... was written by the famous calligrapher Master Wang Yiming."

"No matter whose it is, retreat. That's my main seat, I can't go against the rules."

Poppy Yu took a deep breath and said, "So that's how it is."

I sat in my own seat and said to Poppy:

"Remove the sofas on both sides. Put a coffee table in front of my seat and two stools opposite, one high and one low. Remove all other tables and chairs in the room.

Poppy asked, "Why one tall and one short? Wouldn't that be unsightly?"

I said, “I can’t tell you this.”

Yu Meiren asked again, "What if three people came in at the same time? For example, they are a family."

I said, "Stand."

Yu Meiren understood my unwavering commitment and after a long pause she said, "Anything else you want?"

I shook my head.

Yu Meiren made a phone call, and soon two boys arrived, one to take the calligraphy and the other to move the tables and chairs. A little later, the cactus arrived, too. I instructed them to arrange it one by one.

After it's done, Yu Meiren will definitely treat me to a meal.

I said, "Don't bother treating me to a meal. Maybe later."

When it comes to putting on airs, once I left the Youranju restaurant, I was even better than my master. Through nearly two years of study, I've discovered a truth.

This truth is completely contrary to Deng Xiaoping's "pig theory." If you want to be a master, you must treat others like pigs. Only then will others treat you like a master.

The next morning.

I reported to my master that I had chosen to go to "Fenghuaxueyue" for internship every night and practice independently.

The master looked at me meaningfully, and there was something strange in his eyes.

I was so scared that I broke out in a cold sweat.

Could it be that he is saying one thing and thinking another, and doesn't agree with me practicing law alone?

I looked at him awkwardly.

The master pondered for a while before slowly saying:

"Shanhong, society is very complicated. Don't think that everyone who comes to ask for fortune-telling treats you as a mere dish. Some are here to provoke you, and some are here to pick a fight."

I didn't know what to say for a moment.

Because these things are bound to happen.

The master took a sip of tea and said to me word by word, "Since I have accepted you as my disciple, I must be responsible for you. Therefore, I must teach you some self-defense skills, so that if you get into an argument, you won't suffer any losses."

I stared at him in shock. I never thought Master had this trick up his sleeve.

He immediately bowed to the ground and said, "You truly treat me like your own son."

The master said, "This is also what Master Yanfeng taught me."

I didn't know who Master Yanfeng was and didn't ask much.

The master closed the door of the study and taught me in detail the self-defense technique - to put it simply, it is called "fixing the body skill".

This skill is like trying to make someone sit there and then not stand up. And they actually can't stand up. To put it more clearly, it's a kind of medicinal skill.

The master wrote down the three herbs on a piece of paper and told me to prepare them and always carry them with me so that I could use them when the time came.

I read it several times. Master asked, "Have you memorized it?"

I said, "I remember."

The master struck a match. The paper turned to ashes.