Chapter 289 - Auspicious Ducks
The middle-aged woman suddenly straightened up in shock, she stared at Xiao Luo and said, “H-how, did you know that?”
“I’ve already told you. I’m a fortune teller, and I can read facial features,” Xiao Luo said, knowing he now had her within his grasp.
In fact, it was straightforward to tell what the middle-aged woman had worked as in the past because her right palm was rougher, and it could only be caused by repetitive use. She either worked at a desk job or had wiped blackboards for long periods. In addition to that, the middle-aged woman dressed neatly in a prudish sort of way. Naturally, she could only be a teacher.
“You must realize that as a teacher, you have developed your self-confidence over your long years of service. But central to your creed of teaching is your habitual practice of ‘I say, you listen; I do, you learn,’ and this habit makes it difficult for you to accept other’s advice. So, when I said that white-headed ducks symbolize good fortune, you immediately disagreed with me. But ma’am, as I’ve mentioned, I’m a fortune-teller. I suggest you buy white-headed ducks, it will be good luck for your family, and that’s all I have to say. The decision is yours.”
After he spoke, Xiao Luo turned around and left without saying another word. This only added to his aura of mysticism.
Something that triggered in the subconscious of the middle-aged woman made her feel like she had encountered a living deity, and that he was giving her divine directions. Her mind made up, she immediately went after him with an enthusiastic smile. “Young man, I’ll listen to you and buy white-headed ducks, could you tell me what else I have to do?” she asked.
Although she was formerly a teacher, an ideology of old cultural beliefs was still deeply rooted within her; otherwise, she would not have rejected the white-headed ducks. She just happened to be having issues at home with her son, who had suddenly become very disobedient and was continually causing her much trouble. She felt that this was a bad omen for the coming year. It came to pass that when Xiao Luo guessed her profession correctly, she was convinced that Xiao Luo was a minor god put in her path to provide her with the guidance she needed.
“It is best if you buy two. Good things come in pairs, just so you know.” Xiao Luo lifted his chin as he spoke and placed his hands behind his back, giving himself a sage-like demeanor.
“Okay, okay, I’ll go buy them right now. Thanks for your advice, young man.”
The middle-aged woman was thoroughly convinced and thankful to the gods for their divine arrangements. She immediately made her way to Xiao Zhiyuan and said, “Give me two of your fattest white-headed ducks!”
“Wah!”
Xiao Zhiyuan and Hua Heying gasped. They were absolutely awed that he had managed to sell two ducks within a minute, and that was simply unbelievable.
The middle-aged woman was now certain that Xiao Luo was a living deity. After buying the two ducks, she began yelling loudly, asking everybody to get their ducks from this place. A middle-aged man who had accompanied her to the market hastily came over. She excitedly recounted her experience to him, but upon hearing her account, an expression of disbelief washed over his face.
“How is that possible? That just a wild guess, nothing more.” The middle-aged man spoke as he pointed at Xiao Luo.
Xiao Luo approached him with a smile, “Do you doubt me, sir?”
“I’m not doubting. I totally do not believe it at all. You’re just trying to hoodwink the people into buying your ducks.”
The middle-aged man felt that the woman had been cheated. She actually bought two white-headed ducks, which, according to their custom, was highly inauspicious. Unhappy with that, he protested and created a scene: “Come and have a look here, my fellow townsfolk. There’s a con artist over here, and he’s using trickery to fool us into buying his ducks.”
The shout drew many people from the alley, and soon there was a crowd clamoring around Xiao Luo’s stall.
Xiao Luo smiled calmly and said, “Sir, you earn quite a lot of money, don’t you?
“That’s for certain!” The middle-aged man replied haughtily, lifting his chin up proudly.
“You don’t need to go to work at your unit, am I right?”
“Yes, correct.”
“Your daughter is married, am I right?”
“Yes...”
Xiao Luo kept the smile on his face and was observing him all the while, remaining silent.
The man’s expression immediately changed, and he thought to himself: “How did he know all that?”
From the crowd, someone randomly asked a question, “Friend, how do you know that?”
historical
“This young man is a fortune teller, and he can read facial features as well. Of course, he can tell everything.” The middle-aged woman was now a believer. She had become Xiao Luo’s loyal follower and had no more doubts about his ability to foretell the future.
Xiao Luo looked at the man who raised the question. He was in his thirties and had a friendly expression on his face. He was smiling and seemed keen to connect with Xiao Luo, like a long lost brother. Gazing at his face, Xiao Luo immediately guessed his profession.
“I can tell that you’re in sales, and I know what products you’re selling.”
Xiao Luo scrutinized the man’s face like he was consulting some mystical forces and said, “It seems like you’re selling something... useful, but people don’t recognize its use. Hmm, do you sell insurance?”
“Huh?!”
That man was stupefied. He hadn’t realized that Xiao Luo was actually asking and not stating his profession, but he immediately nodded animatedly and cried out, “Yes, my brother, you’re truly amazing. I do indeed sell insurance!”
The entire alley buzzed with excited murmurs of amazement. Getting one or two guesses right could still be considered as pure luck, but getting three correct, surely there had to be something special about this man’s ability.
After Xiao Luo correctly guessed the profession of two other men, everyone was convinced that Xiao Luo was capable of telling fortunes and reading faces. Dabbling in supernatural and spiritual matters were beliefs innate to the rural folk. At this moment, everyone was looking at Xiao Luo with newfound respect, especially the middle-aged woman. To her, she was in the presence of a living deity.
He was simply amazing!
He could actually divine everyone’s profession just by reading their faces.
Of course, no one knew that Xiao Luo was using psychology and the micro-expression observation skills that he purchased from the system. The answers laid within their eyes as the eye was the window to the soul. Through this window, those with knowledge could pierce into anyone’s soul.
When Xiao Luo was guessing their professions, he did not immediately arrive at the answer. He tested their responses gradually with subtle questions, and once he got the correct one, the corresponding changes in their micro-expressions would show on their faces.
“My fellow townsfolk, come and buy our ducks. They grow so big and plump because they are auspicious ducks that I have blessed myself. Yes, they are top quality ducks and sold at a higher price. Get yourself these auspicious ducks for the New Year, and your following year is bound to prosper. The flesh of auspicious ducks is delicious, eat them, and your health will improve, your wishes will come true, and everyone in your family will be safe!”
“Well said!”
“We trust you, young man.”
“Give me two, no, four!”
The buyers were almost in a trance, following every word uttered by Xiao Luo. The fully mature ducks fed with provender had now become “auspicious ducks,” fulfilling the auspicious symbolism of the New Year, just by the word of an “all-knowing living deity.” How could the sale of these ducks be called a scam when they gave the buyers a sense of belief and peace of mind that their own families would enjoy an abundant year ahead?
Everyone was trying to buy Xiao Zhiyuan’s ducks for themselves, and all fifty ducks were sold out in a blink of an eye. Many buyers who didn’t get the chance to buy an auspicious duck were reluctant to leave. But once they were assured that more would be available the next day, they went with their hearts at ease.
Xiao Zhiyuan and Hua Heying were startled with the sellout. Xiao Luo was given half an hour, but he sold all 50 ducks within 15 minutes. If they didn’t feel the thick wads of money in their pockets, they would never have believed that this was real. Today’s brisk sale was the best that they ever had.
“Son, you are so amazing!”
Hua Heying was so thrilled that she couldn’t contain herself, and ran towards Xiao Luo to hug him tightly.
Then, turning her head and looking pridefully at Xiao Zhiyuan, she said, “Zhiyuan, do you recognize that your son is better and more capable than you are now?”
“I have to, even if I don’t wish to. But...” Xiao Zhiyuan said, laughing at her remark, then sighed with a contented smile on his face, and said, “he’s my son. It is the laws of heaven for a son to be better than their father.”
Wisely quoting an old adage, he eluded her remark with his dignity intact.