Chapter 397: The Master and the Disciple Can't Even Find the Number "2". I'm So Depressed
The next morning, Xiaolin and I withdrew the money first, and then I took her home, and then Lao Xiao and I set off together. There was some traffic in the city, and we drove on and off for an hour before we got out of the city.
Getting on the highway felt much better. Lao Xiao said, "Mr. Luo is in Boten. He's finally completed all the paperwork in the past four months and is preparing to build a fruit logistics center. It's called 'Sunrise Logistics.'"
I just listened and didn't comment.
Lao Xiao said: "Logistics is a direction. In the era of e-commerce, transportation is indispensable."
I said, "Yeah."
Lao Xiao laughed and said, "Hey, did you develop a relationship over there? I see you're often in a daze."
I smiled and said, "I've opened one in Chenjia Town. I wonder if you'd like to go with me. You can also visit Cuihua while you're there."
The two chatted as they drove, and in two hours they arrived at Master's new residence, which was indeed called Youranju. Master's wife, Mr. Deng, and Xiao Liming were all waiting in the yard.
Lao Xiao and I went forward and shook hands with everyone. Mr. Deng pointed to a stone in front and said, "We are two senior brothers. I will give you the stone and you will give me the words. Once you have decided, I will ask someone to carve it.
The stone lay there, apparently waiting for words to be engraved.
I smiled and said, "I can write a draft, and you can revise it and sign it with your name."
"That won't do. Everyone in Wu Township knows that I'm only half-baked."
We chatted and laughed as we entered the house. Mr. Deng accompanied Lao Xiao and me to tour the house. He said, "First, let's see if you, who have lived in Youran for over four years, can get used to it."
I walked around the living room, study, side rooms, backyard, patio, attic... I said, "I've found the feeling. I'll move back and continue to learn from my master."
The master smiled and said, "Mr. Deng is very thoughtful in his work. The size of each room is designed according to the original size."
I said, "People who can make a lot of money don't have Mr. Deng's high emotional intelligence. And people with such high emotional intelligence don't make as much money as Mr. Deng."
Lao Xiao said: "If you add one point, it will be too much; if you subtract one point, it will lose its luster. It is just right."
President Deng laughed heartily and said, "The two provincial capitals are singing the same tune. They're using too much force against a country bumpkin like me. Please go easy on me next time."
We chatted and laughed all the way until we sat down in the study. Aunt Chen, the original nanny, was old, so the family hired a woman in her thirties. She seemed nimble and tidy. She served us tea, and Xiao Liming also helped serve fruit.
After we sat down, everyone started asking each other about their situation. I learned that Master, due to health reasons, no longer does feng shui readings. Mr. Deng's real estate business is shrinking, and he's also looking for a transformation.
The master said, "Shanhong, now that you have seen and learned a lot, what direction do you think Mr. Deng should take in his transformation?"
This question stumped me. I smiled and said, "Master, Mr. Deng is very knowledgeable. I'm not in business, so I don't know much about this."
Mr. Deng said, "Just for reference."
"Well, I really like to tell the truth on the ninth day of the lunar month. I used to learn fortune-telling from my master. People would write a character, and I would make predictions based on it, and even give advice. As for pure business, I really don't understand it.
However, in any industry, there are those who make money and those who lose money. With Mr. Deng's emotional intelligence and IQ, I think he can do anything and be invincible.
Mr. Deng pointed at me and laughed, "You've become slick."
The master said, "Fugen, do you have a direction?"
Mr. Deng nodded and said, "I only care about food, clothing, housing and transportation. These four words fit my identity as a rough man, and they are closely related to the lives of ordinary people."
Lao Xiao said: "If you stop doing housing, all you have left is clothing, food, and transportation."
President Deng said, "Yes, let's focus on these three words."
I had just returned from the Philippines, and after some thought, I said, "Mr. Deng, I suddenly remembered an industry you could be in."
"You have an idea."
"It wasn't an original idea, but it just came to me suddenly. You can run a hospital."
The master said, "That's a good idea."
I said, "Our short-term goal is to open a specialized hospital. Aren't there many private hospitals for ophthalmology, dentistry, obstetrics, pediatrics, and dermatology? Modern people's concern for health is much more important than housing. You don't have to buy a house, but you must take care of your body."
Lao Xiao slapped his thigh and said, "This is indeed a direction."
Xiao Liming also interjected: "Mr. Deng, this choice is much more meaningful than opening a hotel."
Mr. Deng said, "Well, let's ask Master to make the decision. Let's do a fortune telling."
I said, "Wait a minute, you've been with Master for so long, you might be able to think of an auspicious word. That one isn't accurate, so let's do a blind test."
The master said: "Yes, blind testing, which is completely based on random probability, is more accurate."
Mr. Deng said: "A blind test is a blind test."
I pulled a book out of the bookcase and said, "Page number, line number, word number, tell me quickly."
Mr. Deng looked at the thickness of the book and said, "Page 314, line 15, word 9."
I opened it and looked it up, and to my amazement, it was the number 2.
The master was very experienced and said, "In this case, follow the rules and push it back one character."
I was so surprised I couldn't close my mouth. I had never encountered such a situation before. I said, "Master, if I deduct one, it's still a number. It's 6."
I stood up and handed the book to the master. After checking it several times, the master also looked confused. This was probably the first time he had encountered such a situation in his fortune-telling career.
Lao Xiao also took the book and checked it carefully with Xiao Liming. Sure enough, the first one was 2 and the second one was 6.
Everyone was dumbfounded.
The master closed his eyes and thought for a long time, then shook his head and said with a smile: "Fugen, this is the first time we meet. It's really hard to make a decision for you."
Mr. Deng also felt unlucky and said with a smile, "Master, no problem, I just need to quit this business."
Xiao Liming said: "2+6=8, 8 shots, 8 shots, okay?"
The master shook his head and said with a smile: "You are a matchmaker..."
I was a bit embarrassed for a moment. After all, it was my idea to open the hospital. I laughed and said, "Boss Deng, what a bad idea... Haha, it wasn't a good one. Write a self-reflection."
Mr. Deng waved his hand and said, "Thank goodness you brought it up. Otherwise, if someone else had suggested it to me, I might have actually invested in it."
It was past midnight, and the nanny had prepared dinner. The master's wife invited us to the backyard dining room. Lao Xiao said he would be driving that afternoon, so he wouldn't drink.
The four of us, Master, Mr. Deng, Xiao Liming, and I, drank together.
Although we enjoyed the meal and drank to our heart's content, I still felt a bit sorry for Mr. Deng. Mr. Deng must have been a little worried, too. However, no one let it show.
At the table, everyone took turns toasting Master and his wife. Master only took a token sip, and his wife, as usual, clinked glasses with us with tea and ate only a few vegetarian dishes.
After dinner, everyone returned to the study to rest. I picked up my bag from the study and called my wife. She looked at me and I said, "This bag is for you. Take a look at it and put it away."
I unzipped my pants and let her take a look. She looked at me in surprise and asked, "Where did you make so much money?"
"Philippines, Master knows about this matter. Please take it away quickly."
"Take it." The master's wife handed the bag to me, walked to the study door and waved. The master walked to the backyard and looked at me.
I said a few simple words. This time, Master didn't even refuse and said to his wife, "It's Shanhong. Please accept it."
I asked Master again if he knew about Shi Yanfeng's situation. He shook his head and said he hadn't seen him for many years.
Master and I walked back to the study. We chatted for a while, and I said, "Tomorrow is New Year's Day, so I won't be sitting for long. I wish Master, his wife, Mr. Deng, and Brother Liming a happy New Year."
The master said, "Tomorrow is a festival, and everyone would like to rest for a few days, so I won't keep you here."
As we left the courtyard, Master seemed to want to keep me company. Mr. Deng, being clever, bowed and left with Xiao Liming. Old Xiao, also understanding, bowed and got into the car first.
Master and his wife each held one of my hands, as if they were reluctant to let me go.
The Master's wife said, "Your Master said that in his life, there were only two people he never misjudged."
I said, "Shanhong is where I am today because of the support you two gave me. My parents gave me life, and my master taught me. I can't express it in words."
The master said, "Today, I have encountered a difficult problem in my life in fortune-telling. Think about it carefully when you go back. I believe you are better than the master. This kind of thing happened only when you met Mr. Deng. If it happened to anyone else, it would be a joke. Neither the master nor the disciple could tell a single word."
I nodded seriously.
Waving goodbye, the two old men kept waving when they saw the car start.
Lao Xiao was driving and I was lost in thought all the way.
Lao Xiao didn't disturb me because he knew I was worried.
We returned to Shangzhou in silence.
(Homework question: Do you think it’s okay for Mr. Deng to open a hospital? If you were in this situation, how would you test it?)
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