Chapter 234 Asking for a Name
Outside the city of Tamsui, in a protected area, on a street that is not very wide, a dozen or so fortune-telling stalls are set up in a row. The stall owners sitting behind are all dressed in Bagua Taoist robes, with an air of otherworldly wisdom.
Originally, there weren't many fortune tellers in Daguan; just a few families with ancestral skills could manage to assess houses and predict marriage. But unfortunately, in recent years, there have been too many nouveau riche in Daguan, attracting all sorts of people to come and make a living. As for why they're all crowding into the protected area to tell fortunes, it's because they're terrified of being beaten in Tamsui City.
Fortune telling follows the principle of first suppressing and then elevating; you have to scare people from the start, otherwise how can you avert financial loss? But nouveau riche officials are unreasonable. If the fortune telling doesn't suit their tastes, they'll start beating you up, leaving you bruised and battered, but they'll still give you your money back, leaving you with no way to escape your misery.
Fortune telling has its own set of professional routines; if you don't follow those routines, you can't make any money! So fortune tellers have collectively moved to protected areas, where there are special security offices that prohibit violence.
As noon approached, the old fortune tellers who hadn't made a sale were getting restless. There were unusually few courtesans coming to tell their fortunes today, and they didn't even have a chance to "touch" each other's hands, so they really couldn't muster any enthusiasm.
A group of people walked over from a distance, seemingly heading this way. Several old immortals quickly assumed their positions, some reading books, others stroking their beards, clearly displaying the demeanor of highly enlightened beings.
As Gao Laodao squinted to rest, he suddenly felt a darkness before his eyes. Several more people had appeared in front of his stall, led by a middle-aged Japanese man. Just by looking at the jade pendant on his waist, it was clear that he was not someone an ordinary person could afford; he was a typical successful person.
"Does this distinguished guest wish to have their fortune told or consult a divination master?"
"Calculating marriage prospects."
Rao Daxia from Fusang spoke exceptionally well, which made Gao Laodao look at him with new respect. His original intention of ruthlessly fleecing him turned into actually fleecing him.
"Please be seated, sir. Do you have your birth date and time?"
The Japanese man handed over a large red birth chart, on which were written the birth dates and times of the man and woman.
As he looked around, Old Gao carefully calculated in his mind. It must be said that Old Gao was indeed quite skilled; otherwise, he wouldn't have disdained competing with those fake immortals who were posing for business. He had many repeat customers and never worried about food and drink.
"Oh my! The two people on this horoscope are destined for greatness, with the bearing of dragons and phoenixes!"
After Gao Lao uttered those words, he saw the Japanese man's face light up with joy, and he chuckled to himself, thinking that this was another fat sheep.
"However... these two have somewhat... fates..."
Old Master Gao was about to say that the two were somewhat incompatible and that he should spend some money to resolve the issue, but he suddenly stopped himself from saying it.
He saw something—a handkerchief, in a woman's hand. The maid stood behind the middle-aged man from Japan, looking at the old Taoist priest with anxious eyes.
That handkerchief was neither cloth nor silk, nor satin; its unique subtle pattern was almost invisible unless you looked closely.
But Gao Laodao had seen it before. It was said that only the elves could weave this kind of material. The prince wore this kind of material, which ordinary people could not obtain at all. Gao Laodao had only seen it by chance on an elf guard in the Hengwang Mansion.
But this woman is clearly dressed as a Japanese person, so how could she have a handkerchief made of this kind of material?
Old Gao's mind raced. He quickly calculated the ages of the two people on the birth chart, then thought of the Japanese person's identity. Instantly, he broke out in a cold sweat.
"What's wrong with these two people's fates?" The middle-aged man from Japan asked with a gloomy expression as he looked at the old Taoist priest who remained silent.
"Is there anything wrong with it? It's just that these two people's destinies are a bit too auspicious. Ordinary families can't handle them! Only extremely wealthy and noble families can turn the earth's fortune into their own blessings."
The old Taoist priest was halfway through his cryptic explanation when the Japanese woman behind him finally couldn't hold back any longer and shouted sharply, "I asked you to tell my fortune, why are you acting so recklessly? Will it work or not? If it doesn't work, we'll go to another one."
"Of course it's possible! How could it not be? These two are a perfect match, like dragons and phoenixes!"
"Thump!"
A large piece of gold was thrown onto Gao Laodao's table, its dazzling light blinding him. By the time he realized what was happening, the group of Japanese had already walked away.
"Goodness, I've heard that Japanese people are all poor, how come they're so generous?"
The old Taoist priest at the next stall was incredibly envious when he saw that Old Taoist Gao had made a big deal.
Old Gao took a sip of water to calm his nerves, shook his head and remained silent, thinking to himself, "You all only saw that I took the gold, but didn't you see that my life was just in their hands? No, I have to hide for a while, who knows if there will be any trouble."
Narita Ujō's plan to marry off Kaihime as soon as possible failed, because not only Xu Liyan objected, but even Qin Mo, who always disliked trouble, felt it was too hasty.
Even without being his adoptive father, Xu Liyan, just considering Kaihime's current cultivation level at the Yellow Realm, is enough for her to serve as a battalion commander in the Great Xia Army. How could such an important matter as marriage be handled so casually?
Left with no other choice, Kaihime's marriage had to proceed step by step according to the customs of the Great Xia Dynasty, involving the three matchmakers and six betrothal gifts.
The three matchmakers and six betrothal gifts, also known as the three letters and six rites.
The "Three Letters" refer to the documents exchanged during the betrothal process: the "Betrothal Letter"—exchanged during the engagement; the "Betrothal Gift Letter"—given during the betrothal ceremony (equivalent to the engagement); and the "Wedding Letter"—given by the groom to the bride during the wedding procession.
The "Six Rites" refer to the process from courtship and matchmaking to marriage and the wedding ceremony. They are divided into six stages: presenting betrothal gifts, asking the bride's name, presenting auspicious gifts, presenting betrothal gifts, setting the wedding date, and welcoming the bride. In the case of Kaihime and Qin Mo, where both parties are willing, only the "asking the bride's name" stage might encounter difficulties.
The process of asking the name involves the groom's family writing down the man's name and birth date on a large red marriage certificate, which is then sent to the bride's family by the matchmaker. If the bride's family intends to arrange the marriage, they will write down the girl's name and birth date and ask someone to calculate her fate.
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