Chapter 289: Met a colleague
"That's right. I didn't expect you to be so brave at such a young age. It's really admirable."
Hearing everyone's praise, Dai Qing smiled faintly and said, "We just happened to meet. No need to thank me."
"How can I not thank you? You have helped us a lot. If it weren't for you, I would have suffered a huge loss."
"That's right. I went out on a mission this time. The hopes of the whole village rested on me. It was almost ruined."
"Little girl, these are the salted eggs I brought from home. Please try them. They are a token of my appreciation to you."
"This is the ham sausage I bought at the department store. I'm giving it to you to thank you for helping us catch the thief and recover the wallet."
"This is white bread, it's delicious..."
Just as Dai Qing was stunned, he saw a pile of things on the small table in front of him. They were all expressions of gratitude to him from everyone.
"You guys... don't have to do this. Take them all back. I can't eat so much."
Dai Qing was a little surprised seeing the grateful looks on everyone's faces, but after thinking about it, she could understand it.
When the reform and opening up had just begun, people were still very simple and honest. They were grateful to her for her help. But now people's lives were not very affluent, and they could only carry limited things when they went out. She was too embarrassed to accept all the gifts.
But no matter how they tried to excuse themselves, they refused to take it back.
Seeing her tangled look, the two young men next to her burst out laughing.
"Young comrade, you don't have to be polite. This is a token of everyone's kindness. If you don't accept it, they will be embarrassed."
"That's right. If you keep refusing, it will be too polite." A middle-aged man in his forties on the opposite side laughed and looked at Dai Qing with praise in his eyes, "Women are as good as men. The girl is amazing."
Dai Qing was humble for a moment, but then accepted it.
The sudden incident woke everyone up and they sat in their seats discussing the pickpocket incident. Some people were curious and looked at Dai Qing from time to time, and then continued chatting.
The train arrived at the station when it was just getting light.
Dai Qing packed her backpack, got off the train carrying everyone's gifts, and followed the crowd out of the train station.
On the streets, apart from the janitors who were cleaning, the crowds of people going to work had not yet gotten up.
Dai Qing took a deep breath. The morning air was fresh and pleasant. Although this was her first time in Hangzhou, she was not nervous at all when looking at the unfamiliar city.
After looking at the address given by Zhen Youdao, Dai Qing took the first bus and set off.
An hour later, I got off the bus at my stop. It was only half past seven.
After finding a breakfast stall and ordering a bowl of millet porridge and a basket of steamed buns, Dai Qing went to a nearby hotel with her bag, booked a room, and checked in.
After entering the room, I took a hot shower to wash away my fatigue, blew dry my hair, and fell asleep.
Dai Qing didn't wake up until three o'clock in the afternoon.
After packing up, I went downstairs with my small bag on my back, ready to take a walk around the neighborhood.
There were still two days before the Taoist Cultural Festival, and she had just the right time to familiarize herself with the nearby roads.
This is the urban area of Hangzhou. The transportation is well developed and the surrounding businesses look prosperous. There are people coming and going on the streets and it is very lively.
Compared to them, Hangzhou is a southern city, and the way people here dress is somewhat different from the locals, and looks more fashionable.
Along the way, she saw a lot of trendy clothes and some new hairstyles.
When passing a bridge tunnel, Dai Qing saw a few people gathered in front of her. When she got closer, she saw their eyes recognized each other and found that they were actually people in the same industry.
Sitting under the bridge was an old Taoist priest in his sixties, with a ruddy complexion and bright eyes. His hair was tied up in a bun on his head, fixed with a wooden hairpin.
"You were born with a pair of crescent-shaped lines. Before you get married, you get love from your mother. After you get married, you get money from your wife. You will have a rich and leisurely life. This is a very good fate."
When the people watching the excitement heard this, they immediately laughed, "Is there such a good thing?"
"Others may not know, but this gentleman has this fate. Any woman who walks with him is willing to spend money on him."
When the man heard this, his eyes lit up, "Are you telling the truth?"
"Of course."
Dai Qing stood by, took a look at the man's palm lines, and shook her head silently. It was indeed a crescent-shaped pattern, and it came from the position of the redeemer.
The position is in the middle of the palm edge below the little finger, and its five elements belong to metal.
People born with the moon-corner pattern in the Departure position will get money from women in their lifetime. Although getting money is a good thing, you have to be cautious, otherwise you may get into lawsuits because of lust, and have grudges that you cannot repay for the rest of your life.
Unfortunately, the fortune teller did not tell the man about these hidden dangers. The man was very happy and gave him 20 yuan as a reward and left with satisfaction.
Watching them leave with a smile on their faces, Dai Qing looked at the old Taoist priest happily putting the money into his pocket, narrowed her eyes slightly, and continued to wait for the next customer.
"Hey, little girl, do you want to read your fortune? You must do it for free."
"Really? Then show me what I do?"
Dai Qing's eyes lit up, and she sat down directly opposite him, stretched out her hand, and looked at him with burning eyes.
The old Taoist looked at her palm with his eyes slightly narrowed, then frowned and looked at her face, smiling slightly.
"My friend is a kind and generous person. He has a good appearance and a lot of lucky lines on his face, which means he will be rich and happy."
"The lines of great fortune gather from the four sides to the center of the palm. People with these lines will have a peaceful life without disasters or troubles. They will be compassionate to the poor, generous, and accumulate good deeds. They will have more than enough money and live a long and healthy life."
Listening to the Taoist's praise, Dai Qing couldn't help but laugh.
"Is it really that good?"
"Of course, poor Taoists never tell lies." The old Taoist stroked his beard and looked at Dai Qing with a smile.
"But I think you are only half right. Moreover, you only say the good things and avoid the bad things."
Dai Qing looked at him and gently reminded him that she did have a pair of thick lines on her face, but they were not born there, but acquired.
"I think that anyone who comes to me for a fortune-teller is seeking help because they are in trouble. Isn't it unprofessional of you to be so perfunctory?"
Hearing Dai Qing's tone, the old Taoist's beard twitched.
"What are you talking about, little girl? You need evidence for everything. You are not allowed to accuse someone in broad daylight."
"I'm telling the truth. I see you're a man of some skill, but you're so vague and evasive when you're telling people about their fortunes."
She has always believed that anyone who comes to a fortune teller is seeking answers to their questions, and if they are perfunctory, they would be unworthy of the money they are paid.
Seeing the old Taoist's beard twitching, Dai Qing sneered.
"If it was like the comrade just now, it would be fine if he just wanted to have fun, but if he really encountered difficulties and came to seek help, would you be so perfunctory?"
Old Taoist: “…”
Where did this girl come from, and why is she so cunning?
"From what you said, I met someone in the same field as you?"