Chapter 73: A Lover’s Bridge Can Turn Disaster
Chapter 73: A Lover’s Bridge Can Turn Disaster
Tang Qing took Li Xiaomei to class. Li Zian went out and headed next door.
For some reason, before leaving, he put on the Hai Huang bracelet Wen Sheng had given him. The bracelet had mottled patterns, each bead looked like a spider was resting on it, shiny and very beautiful.
The door was slightly open.
Was this a reminder not to knock?
Li Zian shook his head with a bitter smile, gently pushed the door open, and walked in.
A familiar scene greeted him: Mu Chuntao was lying on a yoga mat doing yoga. Her long legs were split and pressed on the mat, forming a straight split. Her whole body looked like a compass pressed on the ground.
Li Zian couldn’t help but worry that if she pushed too hard, she might split apart starting from a crack.
Last night, he overheard her conversation with Mu Long, and then he dreamed about her at night.
He didn’t know what that meant.
Mu Chuntao glanced at Li Zian, a warm smile appearing on her face. She pressed her long legs together, and without using her hands, she slowly rose from the split position.
Li Zian smiled and said, “I never knew you were this good. Do you really like yoga? You practice every day.”
“I’m practicing for my future husband,” Mu Chuntao said.
For some reason, a hint of jealousy rose in Li Zian’s heart, and he felt somewhat awkward. He just instinctively replied, “Oh.”
Mu Chuntao looked at Li Zian with a bright smile, her gaze like a girl who loves candy staring at a lollipop.
Li Zian suddenly understood something, and his face flushed slightly.
“You’re actually shy, how funny! Did you think something naughty?” Mu Chuntao giggled, full of mischief.
Li Zian felt even more awkward and changed the subject: “Where’s Uncle Mu?”
Mu Chuntao said, “He’s in his room, probably still sleeping. I’ll go get him.”
Li Zian nodded.
“Ahem!” A man’s cough came from the staircase.
Speak of Mu Long, and Mu Long arrived.
He had actually woken up much earlier, but hearing Mu Chuntao talking to Li Zian—and the kind of talk that made him, as a father, extremely embarrassed—he forced himself to wait, standing at the top of the stairs for two minutes before finally coughing.
Mu Chuntao quickly picked up a blanket from the yoga mat and wrapped it around herself.
In front of Li Zian, she didn’t cover up and was fine with him looking as much as he wanted. But Mu Long was different—he was her father, and she felt awkward too.
“Ahem.”
As he came downstairs and walked toward the living room, Mu Long coughed again.
This was a reminder to the two young people: I’m really here now, so any inappropriate talk or actions should be toned down.
Li Zian smiled and greeted him: “Uncle Mu, good morning.”
“Xiao Li, good morning.” Mu Long walked over, glanced at Mu Chuntao, and said with some annoyance, “What are you still standing there for? Go change your clothes and make some tea for Xiao Li and me.”
“I’ll make tea for you first, then go change,” Mu Chuntao said, walking toward the water dispenser.
“Xiao Li, sit, sit, sit.” Mu Long invited Li Zian to take a seat.
Li Zian sat down and noticed Mu Long staring straight at him. The look was somewhat unfriendly, and Li Zian no longer felt the usual ease and comfort he had in this house.
But he understood Mu Long’s slightly ‘hostile’ reaction. As a father himself, he naturally understood a father’s concern and worry for his daughter. Especially when the daughter started dating, this worry could even turn into anxiety. A father always worried about whether the boy was a liar, whether he had a good temper, and whether his daughter might get hurt.
“Well, let’s just get started,” Li Zian said, extending his right hand toward Mu Long. “Uncle Mu, same as before. Please close your eyes and draw randomly on my hand. I’ll tell you when to stop.”
Mu Long reached out his hand but then noticed the Hai Huang bracelet on Li Zian’s wrist. His eyes lit up. “A Hai Huang bracelet, and with spider patterns! This is a real treasure. Where did you buy it, Xiao Li?”
Li Zian said, “A friend gave it to me.”
Mu Long kept staring at the Hai Huang bracelet, unable to hide his envy.
Li Zian took off the Hai Huang bracelet and casually slipped it onto Mu Long’s wrist.
Mu Long looked surprised. “Xiao Li, what are you doing?”
Li Zian smiled and said, “I’m not really interested in this. I can see you really like cultured items, so I’m giving it to you as a gift.”
“This… this is too kind of you!” Mu Long spoke politely, but his face blossomed into a smile.
This bracelet was a top-grade Hai Huang piece, worth at least tens of thousands. But a Hai Huang bracelet of this quality wasn’t something you could just buy with money. For an enthusiast like Mu Long, it was like finding a treasure.
Mu Chuntao came over with two cups of tea and rolled her eyes at Mu Long. “Dad, I can see your eyes are shining. Since Brother Zian is giving it to you, just accept it.”
Mu Long chuckled. “Then I’ll take it. Thank you, Xiao Li.”
Li Zian said, “Uncle Mu, you’re welcome. Chuntao has helped me a lot. This is my way of thanking her.”
“You two can keep being polite. I’m going back to my room to change.” Mu Chuntao gave Li Zian a deep look, then winked before turning to leave.
Li Zian sighed inwardly. Your father is right here! Do you have to be so direct?
Mu Long carefully took off the Hai Huang bracelet and put it in his pocket. He said, “The beads haven’t developed a patina yet. You can’t wear them directly. I need to work on them properly and wait until the patina forms before wearing them.”
“So there’s a rule like that. I really am an outsider,” Li Zian said.
Mu Long politely replied, “You just don’t like this kind of thing. You became a Master at such a young age. I truly admire you.”
That Hai Huang bracelet clearly brought the two men closer.
Li Zian smiled and extended his right hand again. “Uncle Mu, let’s begin.”
Mu Long closed his eyes and used his finger to draw randomly on Li Zian’s palm.
Li Zian also closed his eyes and focused his mind.
Inside, the Great Sluggish Cauldron emitted faint green smoke. Mysterious Symbols and patterns glowed with a soft green light.
A pattern made entirely of lines gradually appeared and finally took shape.
“Okay,” Li Zian said to stop.
Mu Long withdrew his hand and asked anxiously, “Xiao Li, what’s the Divination Symbol?”
Li Zian didn’t answer. The pattern of lines looked like the flight path of a headless fly—a complete mess.
But the Divination Symbol was hidden within those chaotic lines. It was a pattern of a tree, with a large bird perched on a branch.
The Hexagram Interpretation appeared:
At home, there is a jade-branch Wutong tree, attracting a golden-winged Phoenix to rest.
If you ask where wealth comes from, a lover’s bridge can turn disaster.
Li Zian opened his eyes, a strange expression on his face.
He had interpreted the Hexagram Interpretation.
The Phoenix only perches on the Wutong tree. Wasn’t Mu Family’s jade-branch Wutong Mu Chuntao? And he was that golden-winged Phoenix. His relationship with Mu Chuntao was unclear to him, but in others’ eyes, wasn’t that the relationship between a lover and… well, that?
The last two lines: If you ask where wealth comes from, a lover’s bridge can turn disaster. This meant that Mu Long’s difficulties required help from him, the lover, and he could help Mu Long overcome the current crisis.
“Xiao Li, what is it?” Mu Long asked again.
Li Zian looked at Mu Long, wanting to speak but finding no words.
If it were a normal Hexagram Interpretation, he would have explained it long ago. But this Hexagram Interpretation…
Uncle Mu, it’s like this: your daughter is having an affair, and the lover can bring you wealth and help you through the current disaster.
You ask who the lover is?
It’s me! Hahaha!
How could he possibly say that?
Mu Long’s expression turned serious. “Xiao Li, is it very bad? Can it be resolved?”
Li Zian cleared his throat and finally spoke: “Uncle Mu, let me first tell you the Hexagram Interpretation.”
“Okay, okay, go ahead, tell me,” Mu Long nodded repeatedly.
Li Zian said, “At home, there is a jade-branch peach blossom tree, blooming with red flowers all over. To pass through this disaster, first speak of your difficulties.”
Anyway, he was the Master. Whatever he said was what it meant. The power of interpretation was in his hands.
“This… what does it mean?” Mu Long was confused.
Li Zian looked serious. “It’s easy to interpret. It means you should tell me about the difficulties you’re facing right now. I can help you solve the problem.”
Mu Long suddenly understood. “Oh my, how could I forget? You’re a Master! You can definitely help me. That’s great!”
In his heart, Li Zian was actually puzzled. He knew he was that lover, but he didn’t even know what trouble Mu Long was in. Yet the Hexagram Interpretation said he could solve the problem. Wasn’t that strange?
“It’s like this: I’m in the foreign trade business. I do whatever makes money. In the past two years, non-ferrous metal prices soared, so I invested in non-ferrous metals and made a good profit. Not long ago, I went to Australia and bought a batch of Copper Mine there. I put almost all my money into it, but the local government keeps finding excuses to hassle me and won’t let me ship the goods. I’ve taken deposits from some domestic clients but have no goods to deliver. The delivery deadline in the contract is coming up soon. If I can’t deliver by then, I’ll have to pay a huge penalty. Not to mention, I’ll lose my credibility. In business, if you lose credibility, who will do business with you in the future? Look, my hair is almost falling out from worry.” Mu Long touched his thinning hair, wearing a pained expression.
Li Zian couldn’t help but laugh.
He had just been wondering how he could help Mu Long solve his problem. After hearing this, he understood.
Yu Meilin’s Copper Mine desperately needed a well-connected buyer, and Mu Long showed up. And he, the lover, was the one to connect them.
Mu Long looked at Li Zian eagerly. “Xiao Li, you’re laughing. Did you think of something?”
Li Zian smiled and said, “What a coincidence. Just a few days ago, I went to my wife’s Copper Mine and helped her find the ore vein. The quality of that ore is excellent, and they’re mining it now. They’re currently in need of a buyer like you. She has the mine, you have the customers. Isn’t this a win-win?”
“Oh my, just saying it out loud really solved the problem!” Mu Long excitedly grabbed Li Zian’s hand. “Xiao Li, you’re a true Master, no doubt about it! I don’t even know how to thank you. You’re really a lifesaver, a Divine Immortal delivering charcoal in snowy weather!”
Li Zian hurriedly said, “Uncle Mu, I don’t deserve that. I’m just a Fangshi. How about I call my wife now and set up a time for you to talk?”
“Why wait? Let’s go to your wife’s company right now, okay?” Mu Long was too impatient to wait.
Li Zian said, “Alright, let’s go now.”
Just then, Mu Chuntao came down the stairs.
Mu Long immediately said, “Chuntao, drive me and Xiao Li to his wife’s company. I need to talk to his wife.”
“I’m not going,” Mu Chuntao said.
Mu Long glared at Mu Chuntao. “You…”
Mu Chuntao said, “My car only has two seats. Should I take you or Brother Zian?”
Li Zian knew Mu Chuntao didn’t dare to see Yu Meilin. He stood up to smooth things over: “Yes, yes, Chuntao’s car only fits two people. Let’s call a Ride-Hailing Car. It’s very convenient now.”
“Let’s go, let’s go right now.” Mu Long stood up and walked toward the door.
Li Zian glanced at Mu Chuntao.
Mu Chuntao smiled at him.
Li Zian smiled back at her.
Mu Chuntao suddenly stuck out her tongue.
Li Zian: “…”