81 Taking Sides
In the end, he felt that he had lost his composure and sat down again. He sighed, “As expected of a master. I didn’t even say what I wanted to ask, but you already know!”
Zhou Xiaoli couldn’t help but laugh. “Actually, it’s not that complicated. Most divination questions are about family, fortune, career, and disasters.”
“Shopkeeper Qian, your zodiac sign shows that you haven’t had any worries recently. There’s only one thing that’s different, and that’s the relocation palace. Your laugh lines are obvious, indicating that you’re inclined to leave your hometown recently.”
Zhou Xiaoli spoke in a relaxed manner, but it shocked everyone present.
The effect of hearing it from others and experiencing it personally was naturally different and the latter had a bigger effect.
Qian Zhantang unconsciously carried a more respectful attitude to her now in comparison to their earlier meeting. “Miss Zhou is indeed impressive at such a young age.”
Seeing his good friend praising Zhou Xiaoli as such, Wang Defu was extremely excited. It was as if his friend was not praising Zhou Xiaoli, but him instead. He looked like a fan leader.
“Look, just like what I have said. Miss Zhou is very impressive!”
Then, he realized what his friend was asking. He looked at Qian Zhantang in surprise. “Wait, you’re leaving? Why haven’t I heard you mention it before?”
Qian Zhantang sighed and explained, “It happened half a month ago. Didn’t my cousin Zhanpeng open a Qing Tao Workshop in Beijing? A nobleman in Beijing took a fancy to my Qing Tao Workshop and wanted to cooperate with me to expand it. Zhanpeng asked me to go to Beijing with him. I’m still thinking about it, so I didn’t tell you about it yet.”
It was a good thing to have the opportunity to go to the capital to develop his business with one of the noblemen. Wang Defu should be happy for his good brother.
However, Zhou Xiaoli had given them her suggestion, so he could not help but say, “Then you have to think carefully about the suggestion that Miss Zhou gave you.”
Qian Zhantang nodded. “Of course.”
He had his hesitations because he was worried about his mother.
There was also a letter from his cousin from the capital yesterday asking about the source of the cane sugar in his hands.
The letter even asked in detail about the person who provided the sugar. He said that the nobleman was very concerned and wanted him to tell him the details.
Qian Zhantang was a businessman and was naturally not a simple-minded person. He immediately smelled something unusual.
He recalled that in the capital, the first person to make cane sugar was Miss Sun. She was friends with the nobleman who worked with his cousin, so this nobleman naturally did not need the method to make cane sugar.
In that case, there was only one reason for him to inquire about the person who made the sugar cane.
After all, a unique item would be considered precious, right?
Thinking of this, he could not help but look at Zhou Xiaoli. She was so young, yet her metaphysical techniques were already so powerful. Her future was immeasurable!
As long as they weren’t stupid, they knew which sides to take.
Thinking of this, he held his wine glass and smiled. “Miss Zhou, let me toast you. It’s fate that we met. If you need me in the future, feel free to ask. There’s no need to stand on ceremony with me.”
Wang Defu chimed in, “Yes, yes, yes. Meeting is fate. Let’s toast to fate!”
Wang Defu and Qian Zhantang were both in their 20s this year.
For example, Wang Defu got married when he was 15, and his sons were all as old as Zhou Xiaoli.
However, after witnessing Zhou Xiaoli’s abilities, the two of them subconsciously ignored her age and did not treat her as a child at all.
Zhou Xiaoli was neither servile nor overbearing. She was also not swayed by favor or humiliation.
After three rounds of drinking, Zhou Xiaoli got up and left because she still had things to do.
Qian Zhantang told Zhou Xiaoli to wait. He was going to get the consultation fee for Zhou Xiaoli.
Zhou Xiaoli did not refuse and said with a smile, “There are three rules in the Taoist community whereby we have to accept and three rules whereby we do not accept divination consultation fee. Although I didn’t do a divination for you today, the suggestion I gave you could be considered as revealing the secrets of heaven, so I have to accept the consultation fee.”
Immediately after, Zhou Xiaoli counted on her fingers and said, “Shopkeeper Qian, give me 30 copper coins. Someone might need it on the way later, so I’ll take the opportunity to dispense the money then. It can also be considered as resolving the backlash of revealing the heavenly secrets.”
Qian Zhantang felt that 30 copper coins was too little, but Zhou Xiaoli insisted on 30 copper coins.
Since she was a koi in her previous life, she would not suffer the backlash of fate. However, the people around her may be affected.
Therefore, it was better to spend less of the money obtained from leaking heavenly secrets.
At Zhou Xiaoli’s behest, Qian Zhantang did not try to persuade her anymore. He asked the shop assistant to count out 30 copper coins for Zhou Xiaoli.
However, before Zhou Xiaoli left, he gave her another big bag of the candied plums.
It was said to be a meeting gift for Zhou Xiaoli’s siblings.
Zhou Xiaoli accepted it without hesitation since it was not considered as part of the divination consultation fee.
Then, the three of them drove the donkey cart all the way to the entrance of the Stone Gambling Den in the south of the city.
Zhou Xiaoli came to the county today for another important matter, which was to sell the pearls.
She had basically spent all the family’s savings buying the land on the southern slope of Qingyuan Mountain at the Mayor’s place.
Of the 23 acres of land at home, 13 acres were still wasteland. It would take a lot of effort to cultivate and plant the fruit trees.
Zhou Yu was the only laborer in their family. It was definitely impossible for him to do it alone, so Zhou Xiaoli thought of hiring workers to help.
Their family could earn more than four taels of silver from selling sugar this time, but this was far from enough.
So she wanted to sell the pearls.
Wei Chiyu often came to the county city, so he should be familiar with it.
Hence, she asked him where in the county city pearls would be sold at a high price.
Wei Chiyu thought about it and said that he knew a place that would probably accept it.
The place was the Stone Gambling Den.
The current Emperor favored all kinds of rare and exotic stones. Some officials hence gathered all kinds of rare and exotic stones from everywhere in the country in order to curry favor with the Emperor.
This in turn resulted in many people who wanted to take shortcuts in life and curry favor with the rich and powerful, to use rare flowers and stones to cozy up to the rich and powerful.
Hence, many stone gambling dens were formed.
Because of the Qingyuan Mountain Range, there were many large and small stone gambling dens in Qingzhou itself.
There was a small gambling den in Wenshui County itself, located in the south of the city.
The donkey cart walked on the street unhurriedly while the hawkers on both sides of the road shouted endlessly.
At this moment, Zhou Xiaoli suddenly turned to look at Zheng Yonghe and asked, “Kid, if you have something to say, just say it. Why are you looking at me?”
Ever since she came out of the First-grade Restaurant, Zheng Yongyan had been acting strangely. He kept looking at her in a strange manner which caused her to be uneasy.
Zhou Xiaoli was so direct with her words that Zheng Yongyan was stunned for a moment. Then, he exploded. “I’m not looking at you. Don’t flatter yourself. I’m looking at the road. I’m looking at the road!”
As soon as Zheng Yongyan said this, Wei Chiyu suddenly pulled the reins and hurriedly stopped the donkey cart.
Fortunately, since they were on the streets and there were many pedestrians, they were moving at a snail pace. Zheng Yongyan did not fall over this time.
He staggered before recovering though.
Zhou Xiaoli staggered as well.
Zheng Yongyan’s face darkened. “Wei Chiyu, you’re doing it again!”
Wei Chiyu pointed ahead and said calmly, “Didn’t you say you were looking at the road?”
Zheng Yongyan paused and looked over. Then, he realized that an old man was lying in front of their donkey cart.
At this moment, a teenage girl rushed over to help the old man up. As she helped him up, she apologized to them. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”
