Chapter 21: Going Abroad?
Chapter 21: Going Abroad?
“Ye Tian, can you tell what kind of development Teacher Yu might have on this trip out?”
Yu Haoran blurted those words out in a moment of urgency, but once they were spoken, he immediately felt his face burning hot. He hadn’t quite believed in Feng Shui and fortune-telling before, yet now he was seeking guidance.
Moreover, the person he was asking was his own student, which made Yu Haoran feel even more embarrassed. His face turned from pale to red, and he almost wished for an eight-scale earthquake to crack open the ground so he could bury himself in it.
“Uncle, I’m back.”
Just as Yu Haoran was feeling extremely awkward, Feng Kuang walked in from outside the courtyard, carrying a plastic bag. He placed the cooked food he was holding onto the table and said, “Uncle, teachers, I bought some braised dishes. Let’s have them with drinks.”
There was one pound of boiled peanuts and two pounds of pork head meat. The dishes weren’t many, but being able to buy them at this time was already quite difficult. Feng Kuang had run to two villages and knocked on several doors before he managed to get them.
Ye Dongping could see his old friend was feeling somewhat uncomfortable. With Feng Kuang’s interruption, he quickly filled everyone’s cups with wine and said, “Old Yu, drink up, drink up. Mr. Liao, when you come to our home, how could we let you spend money?”
“Haha, it’s nothing. I’m still drinking the rice wine you brewed, after all.”
Liao Haode waved his hand with a smile, then looked at Yu Haoran, his expression turning serious. He said, “Teacher Yu, let me say something perhaps inappropriate. This child Ye Tian has an exceptional talent. He possesses an unusual knack for Feng Shui and Physiognomy that most people don’t have. Seeking advice from him is not a shameful thing…”
Though Liao Haode hadn’t lived as long as Li Shanyuan, his life had been full of twists and turns, and he had traveled far and wide. His experience surpassed that of ordinary people. From the old Taoist’s expression earlier, he could tell that the old Taoist was also quite astonished by Ye Tian’s abilities.
Based on this, Liao Haode made a bold inference in his heart: even this old Taoist priest who had lived over a hundred years might not necessarily be able to surpass his disciple in Feng Shui and Physiognomy. That was why he said these words.
“Haha, it seems I was the one being too fixated on appearances. Never mind other things, even Ye Tian’s calligraphy is better than mine…”
Hearing Liao Haode speak so highly of Ye Tian, Yu Haoran’s complexion returned to normal. He gave a self-deprecating smile and looked at Ye Tian, saying, “Ye Tian, can you help this teacher predict his future?”
“Teacher Yu, I was just talking nonsense earlier. Please… please don’t take it seriously.”
Ye Tian had just reached out to grab some pork head meat when he heard Yu Haoran’s words. He was about to casually mention what he had seen from the Divinatory Symbol earlier, but then he looked up and saw his father glaring at him. The words on the tip of his tongue changed.
Yu Haoran followed Ye Tian’s gaze and couldn’t help but laugh. “Hey, Old Ye, why are you scaring the child?”
“Old Yu, don’t listen to his mystical nonsense. Drink, drink…” Ye Dongping was afraid Ye Tian might talk recklessly and give Yu Haoran something to fret over after he left.
“Old Ye, what the child says makes sense. It wouldn’t hurt to listen…”
Yu Haoran had been a teacher in this small town for nearly ten years. The thought of suddenly returning home to take over a business left him feeling extremely unsettled. Seeing how remarkable Ye Tian’s Physiognomy was, he naturally wanted to hear his opinion.
“Brat, if he wants you to speak, then speak. But from now on, you are not allowed to do fortune-telling or Physiognomy for others again.”
After hearing Yu Haoran’s words, Ye Dongping felt a bit helpless. How did his son become a little fortune-teller? And yet his fortune-telling was so accurate.
Ye Tian glanced at his father, organized his thoughts, and then spoke, “Teacher Yu, as the saying goes, Physiognomy focuses primarily on the spirit. Your eyes are concealed yet sharp, their shape elegant and long with clear whites and pupils. This indicates you have a kind heart, strong judgment, and decision-making abilities. You can grasp opportunities well. In the future, great wealth and high status are assured.”
Half of what Ye Tian said came from calculations of the Tortoise Shell in his mind, and the other half he added based on Yu Haoran’s facial features, making his words measured and proper.
Through his recent use of the Tortoise Shell in his mind, Ye Tian increasingly felt that the knowledge of Feng Shui and Physiognomy he had learned before was meant to be used in conjunction with this Tortoise Shell.
If Ye Tian didn’t understand the knowledge of reading faces and just blurted out that information, word might spread, and within a few days, he could be sent to certain institutions for analysis and study.
“Alright, Old Yu, come on, let’s toast. Consider it a farewell drink for you, wishing you great success in the future…”
As soon as Ye Tian finished speaking, Ye Dongping raised his glass and toasted Yu Haoran. After putting down the cup, he turned to look at Liao Haode and asked, “Mr. Liao, I wonder if there’s anything else you came here for today?”
If Liao Haode claimed he came just to bring Ye Tian home, Ye Dongping absolutely wouldn’t believe it. He asked this question partly out of curiosity and partly to steer the conversation away from the previous topic.
Liao Haode could tell that Ye Dongping didn’t want to discuss Ye Tian’s Feng Shui and fortune-telling, so he smiled and said, “It’s like this. I see the young friend Ye Tian is naturally intelligent, so I wanted to discuss something with you, Mr. Ye…”
“Discuss? Discuss what?” Ye Dongping asked, somewhat puzzled.
Liao Haode glanced at Ye Tian and smiled. “I’d like to take Ye Tian to study in the United States. I will cover all his expenses from middle school through university. I wonder if Brother Ye would be willing to part with him?”
“What? Go to the United States?!” Although Ye Dongping wasn’t very old, he had experienced many things in his life. Yet what Liao Haode said now struck him as the most absurd thing he had ever heard.
“Uncle, why… why haven’t I heard you mention this before?”
“Mr. Liao, you… you’re not joking, are you?”
“Go to the United States? That’s so far away. Can a child manage alone?”
It wasn’t just Ye Dongping who was shocked. Several people in the courtyard exclaimed at the same time, all finding Liao Haode’s suggestion unbelievable.
You must know, although people in the country kept talking about how capitalist countries were, and how corrupt life in the United States was, everyone present understood that whether in terms of education or standard of living, the United States far surpassed China at that time. If Ye Tian could live and study in the United States, it might completely change the course of his life.
Seeing everyone’s eyes on him, Liao Haode’s expression also became serious. He said, “Mr. Ye, do I look like I’m joking at my age? I am telling the truth.”
Actually, this idea came to him earlier when he gave Ye Tian the money. After seeing the attitudes of Yu Haoran and others toward Feng Shui, Physiognomy, and traditional Chinese culture, Liao Haode became convinced that perhaps letting Ye Tian go abroad would allow for even greater development.
“This… this is too sudden, Mr. Liao. I need to think about it carefully…”
Ye Dongping had no mental preparation at all for Liao Haode’s suggestion. He knew letting Ye Tian go abroad would bring immense benefits, but father and son had relied on each other for over a decade. He simply couldn’t bear to part with him.
“Dad, I don’t want to go abroad. I don’t want to go to the United States. I want to stay right here. I’m not going anywhere.”
Before Ye Dongping could calm down and think it over carefully, Ye Tian objected first. Here he had his good friends, his Master, his dad. Although life was a bit poor, Ye Tian felt he was very happy.
“That’s right. What’s the point of going abroad? To become a second-class citizen? Little Yezi, don’t go anywhere. Stay here and keep your Master company…”
As soon as Ye Tian’s voice fell, the Old Taoist’s voice rang out. His first two disciples had already run off abroad; he didn’t want his most talented final disciple to be lured to a foreign country as well.