Chapter 16: Every Word Worth a Thousand Gold

Chapter 16: Every Word Worth a Thousand Gold

Liao Haode’s father came from a scholarly family in Jiangnan. Before liberation, he worked in the Ministry of Education of the Nanjing government and had some interactions with these famous figures from the Republic of China era’s painting and calligraphy circles. As a result, Liao Haode heard many extraordinary stories and anecdotes about them from his father since childhood.

As for Zhang Daqian, Liao Haode was particularly familiar with him. In the 1970s, he had even visited him with his father and held great admiration for this old man, whom Westerners called the “Oriental Picasso.”

However, Zhang Daqian was already suffering from an eye disease at that time and could no longer paint. After the elder Daqian passed away in 1983, Liao Haode had sighed with regret.

In any era, the calligraphy and paintings of Qi Baishi and Zhang Daqian were invaluable and nearly impossible to obtain. Even those that had fallen into the hands of common folk were mostly treasured and carefully collected. Although Liao Haode’s family was well-off, he had never managed to collect any works by these two masters.

So Liao Haode never expected to see their calligraphy and paintings in this deep, remote mountain area. Moreover, they were inscribed and dedicated to the old Taoist priest before him. Liao Haode’s shock was immense.

It was not very difficult to request a painting or calligraphy from someone. Both Zhang Daqian and Qi Baishi had once sold their works to make a living. But to have them write dedications or inscriptions was not easy. Unless they were close friends, ordinary people could not obtain such things.

Leaving aside other matters, based solely on these two pieces of calligraphy and painting, Liao Haode could conclude that the old Taoist before him was definitely not an ordinary person. There were probably only a handful of people in the world who could be on brotherly terms with those two.

Seeing that Liao Haode recognized their value, the old Taoist couldn’t help but show off again. He glanced at Ye Tian and said, “This calligraphy was written by that fellow Zhang Daqian. He insisted on giving it to me even though I didn’t want it. These poor, pretentious scholars were always giving away calligraphy and paintings. In those days, it would have been more practical to give some silver dollars.”

When the old Taoist said this, he completely forgot that he himself had also been a scholar. As the saying goes, birds of a feather flock together. Otherwise, he could not have become such close friends with those two.

“Silver dollars? This old fellow really doesn’t know the value of things.”

Upon hearing the old Taoist’s words, Liao Haode’s hands, which were holding the cloth scroll with Zhang Daqian’s calligraphy, trembled slightly, almost dropping it to the ground.

After all, back in 1925, a single painting by Zhang Daqian could sell for twenty silver dollars. If this piece of calligraphy were placed overseas now, it would be worth at least tens of thousands of US dollars. Calling it “every word worth a thousand gold” was not an exaggeration.

“Alright, Little Yezi, pack these things up.”

Seeing Ye Tian still rummaging haphazardly through the box, the old Taoist couldn’t help but say, “When this old Taoist ascends to the west on a crane, all these items will be yours. What are you still messing around for?”

“Hehe, Master, so your things really can be exchanged for a house? Starting tomorrow, I’ll learn calligraphy and painting appreciation from you.”

Ye Tian was a clever kid. After seeing Liao Haode’s expression, he immediately realized that these seemingly old calligraphy and paintings were treasures. He asked Liao Haode for the calligraphy scroll and carefully closed the box.

Hearing Ye Tian’s words, the old Taoist glanced at Liao Haode, who looked reluctant to part with it, and laughed while scolding, “You rascal, you won’t have time tomorrow. You caused this trouble yourself, so you go solve it…”

“Ah, Master, I don’t have that much ability. This matter still requires your expertise…”

Ye Tian shook his little head like a rattle-drum. Before he understood the side effects of the tortoise shell in his mind that was like a Luopan, he did not plan to use it for fortune-telling and physiognomy again.

Hearing the conversation between Ye Tian and his master, Liao Haode, who had been thinking about that Zhang Daqian calligraphy, finally remembered his purpose for coming. Seeing the two of them shifting responsibility to each other, he couldn’t help but ask, “Master, do you know why I have come here?”

Apart from a few relatives at home, no one else knew about Liao Haode’s plan to have his parents buried together on this return to his homeland. Although he knew the old Taoist was Ye Tian’s master and naturally more skilled, he still couldn’t help but ask.

“Hehe, this old Taoist has some idea, but I’m not sure if I’m right.”

Although the old Taoist hadn’t spoken much with Liao Haode earlier, he had secretly observed his facial features. From Liao Haode’s words, he had also guessed some things. He continued, “Lay Practitioner Liao, I observe that your Sun and Moon angles are sunken and uneven. I presume your ties to your parents are thin, and your mother passed away before your father. This return to your hometown should be to have your parents buried together, right?”

Hearing the old Taoist’s words, an excited expression appeared on Liao Haode’s face. He nodded repeatedly, saying, “Yes, yes, Master, I beg you to help. As long as I can find my mother’s coffin, I… I will certainly repay you handsomely…”

Seeing Liao Haode nod his head like a chicken pecking at rice, Ye Tian couldn’t help but think to himself, “Yes, my foot!”

As the saying goes, outsiders watch the excitement, while insiders watch the skill. Ye Tian could see that Liao Haode had revealed many clues and much information when facing the old Taoist. If the old man couldn’t guess his purpose, he would have lived those hundred-plus years for nothing.

Moreover, the old Taoist’s statement, “mother passed away before father,” was a universal phrase. It could be understood as “mother is alive, father died first,” or “mother was before father, died.” Either way, it wouldn’t be wrong.

“This old Taoist is advanced in years and has long ceased to practice Fengshui Geomancy. Lay Practitioner Liao, please return.” Just when both Ye Tian and Liao Haode thought the old Taoist would agree, they didn’t expect him to refuse outright.

“Master is tricking people again.”

Hearing his master’s words, Ye Tian almost laughed out loud. He had just performed Feng Shui for Miao Laoda a few days ago, and now he claimed to have done his “Golden Basin Hand-Washing.” The words of fortune-tellers really couldn’t be fully believed.

Liao Haode, unaware of the truth, really thought the old Taoist no longer practiced Feng Shui for others. He quickly stepped forward, his face pale with anxiety, and pleaded, “Master, Old Immortal, please have mercy on Liao’s filial heart and help me fulfill my father’s last wish! Whatever request you have, as long as I can fulfill it, I will certainly agree…”

Divination, fortune-telling, and Fengshui Geomancy had a huge market in Taiwan and Hong Kong. From small matters like moving houses, marriage, and childbirth to large ones like choosing company locations and market openings, all were connected to Feng Shui.

Therefore, Feng Shui masters held quite high status in these two regions. Some master-level Fengshui Masters charged fees that could scare people to death for a single consultation.

The skill of the master before him seemed far to exceed that of any master Liao Haode had ever seen, which was why he said he would agree to any conditions.

Actually, Liao Haode could also hire someone from Hong Kong or Taiwan. But the Mainland wasn’t fully open yet, and even getting paperwork done could take a year or so. He couldn’t just keep his father’s ashes in the main hall, could he?

“This old Taoist is alone. What use do I have for money?”

The old Taoist shook his head. Seeing Liao Haode’s disappointed expression, he smiled and said, “Lay Practitioner Liao, this old Taoist is getting on in years and does not wish to involve himself in Jianghu anymore. If you trust our Hemp Robe Lineage, let my little disciple take a look.”

“Master, I’m still not well. What if I damage my Primordial Qi again?”

Before the old Taoist finished speaking, Ye Tian protested. He had brought Liao Haode here precisely to shift the trouble elsewhere. How… how did it circle back to him again?

“That’s right, Master, Ye Tian is still young and is ill. Please do us the favor and take a look.”

Liao Haode also tried to persuade from the side. As the saying goes, a beardless youth is unreliable. It was like people going to the Hospital to see a doctor. The clinics of old doctors were always crowded, while those of young doctors were deserted.

It was the same with fortune-telling, physiognomy, and Fengshui Geomancy. If Ye Tian and the old Taoist each held a sign and stood on the street, no one would pay any attention to Ye Tian for sure.

“It’s fine. Little Yezi violated a taboo the other day, but it’s no longer a problem now.”

The old Taoist waved his hand and turned to look at Ye Tian with a smile. “Little Yezi, I have already taught you all the skills of Fengshui Geomancy. To truly become a Fengshui Master, you need plenty of practice. Isn’t this a great opportunity now…”

“I… I never said I wanted to be a Fengshui Master.”

“You are this master’s final disciple. You are destined to walk this path in the future!”

The old Taoist paid no heed to Ye Tian’s words. This kid’s talent was astonishingly good. Even if he didn’t deliberately pursue it, he would shine brightly in this profession in the future.

Hearing his master’s words, Ye Tian felt like crying but had no tears. This unreliable old man probably wasn’t confident he could find the burial site of Liao Haode’s mother himself, so he pushed it all onto him, a child.

Actually, Ye Tian guessed right. The old Taoist’s unwillingness to go down the mountain was indeed due to a lack of confidence.

After all, the ancients said it took three years to find the dragon vein and ten years to pinpoint the acupoint. Fengshui Geomancy was far from simply holding a Luopan and reciting a few incantations. It was also not as easy as reading the Feng Shui of a yang dwelling like helping Miao Laoda. It required great mental exertion.

As for helping someone find a relative’s resting place among many unmarked graves, it required deducing the subject’s birth date, time, and death time. The process was extremely complicated and tedious. With the old Taoist’s ability, he only had a thirty to forty percent chance of success.

Since it was both physically draining and uncertain, the old Taoist naturally didn’t want to take action.

Sending Ye Tian was merely an excuse. Although Ye Tian had exceptional talent, the old Taoist estimated he also couldn’t deduce the burial site of Liao Haode’s mother, so there would be no risk of damaging his health.

Hearing the old Taoist’s words, Liao Haode no longer called him “little friend.” He looked at Ye Tian and said, “Ye Tian, please help your Grandpa Liao with this. Whatever you want, Grandpa Liao will buy it for you…”

Liao Haode’s visa for the Mainland was about to expire. If he couldn’t find his mother’s burial place, he would have to bury his father’s ashes alone. Even if he returned to search later, the hope would be slim.

“Alright then, I’ll give it a try. But Grandpa Liao, if I can’t find it, you mustn’t blame me.” Ye Tian tilted his little head and thought for a moment before finally agreeing.