Who in the world does not know you?

Chapter 30 Divination

In Ye Zi's eyes, Yun Luobai had been wandering for a long time, and upon returning to Ningzhou Prefecture, he should have been able to enjoy a comfortable and carefree life.

Little did she know that Yun Luobai had been setting up a fortune-telling stall next to the steamed bun shop for some time.

The steamed bun vendor was a clever man. Before the two had even finished their breakfast, he had already moved the set of tables and chairs out for Yun Luobai and placed them on the open ground next to him. After Yun Luobai closed his stall, the set of tables and chairs used for fortune telling would be temporarily stored there by him, which was quite convenient.

It was described as a set of tables and chairs, but it was actually two chairs and a square table. The square wooden box on the table contained the items Yun Luobai used for fortune telling. A white banner with the four characters "fortune telling" written on it was placed to the side, and that was considered setting up the stall.

"Young Master Yun, you didn't come yesterday, but several people came here hoping to find you missing. It seems you've only been here for a few days telling fortunes. As time goes on, my steamed bun shop's business will probably flourish as well."

"Even though I said last time that you had to buy steamed buns for fortune telling, I didn't sell many more for you. You're looking after my things, so this is just reciprocity."

"Oh, what are you saying? Slow and steady wins the race, slow and steady wins the race..."

After eating and drinking his fill, Yun Luobai chatted with the vendors next to him as he sat back down in the chair at his fortune-telling stall. When he looked up, he saw Ye Zi sitting across the square table in front of him.

Yun Luobai pursed her lips and then frowned.

Ye Zi blinked, not understanding what she meant.

"Is it possible that the place you're sitting in is where the customers who are going to have their fortunes told later will be sitting?"

"Do people really go out of their way to be scammed? I don't believe it."

"Think carefully about your role. You're on my side now."

"Having just escaped the wolf's den, I've fallen into the tiger's lair; how tragic is this young woman's fate..."

"I'll take it back to the Rouge Pavilion for you in a bit."

"Hey, hey, it was just a joke, don't be so petty..."

Ye Zi pouted and looked down at the square wooden box that Yun Luobai was opening. Inside were some odds and ends, most of which were the same as those used at fortune-telling stalls in the market.

She found it intriguing and took a second look. Out of curiosity, she couldn't resist reaching out to touch it, but Yun Luobai lightly patted the back of her hand, so she had no choice but to reluctantly withdraw her hand.

"You're so stingy! What's so great about it that you won't even let me take a look?"

Yun Luobai's expression was calm, and he was just muttering softly, as if he were talking to Ye Zi sitting opposite him, or as if he were talking to himself.

"To glimpse the secrets of heaven is to be bound by fate; an ominous sign."

"Tch, what a charade... What, you think you can fool those innocent people who come to you for fortune telling with this kind of nonsense?"

"Um."

"..."

"Someone's coming."

Yun Luobai turned her head to look at the east side of the long street, where a middle-aged woman, about fifty years old, carrying a vegetable basket, hurriedly walked towards Yun Luobai's fortune-telling stall.

Ye Zi looked around and noticed that the woman's gaze was fixed on Yun Luobai's fortune-telling stall. She couldn't help but feel sorry for her.

With her kind heart, she naturally couldn't bear to see him being deceived, but now that she was under someone else's roof, she had no choice but to submit...

"Should I get up and give up my spot?"

Hearing the helplessness in Ye Zi's voice, Yun Luobai smiled, as if the words "immortal and dignified" had been imprinted on his body in an instant.

When you set up a fortune-telling stall, you should at least have a certain demeanor and style.

"It's a wonder you have this kind of awareness."

Ye Zi pouted and reluctantly got up from the chair. The vendor at the steamed bun stall next to her deftly handed her a long bench, and she sat down next to Yun Luobai.

"You're already lucky enough. Logically speaking, given our different statuses, you should be standing behind me."

"Then this humble woman must thank Young Master Yun for his compassionate heart."

Why don't you call me young master?

"Because you don't want to hear it."

"I think."

"shallow."

As the two were talking, the woman had already walked up to them. Because she had run all the way, there was a little sweat on her forehead.

She took out a rough cloth from her bosom and wiped herself casually. She looked up at Yun Luobai, who was sitting in front of her, and her breathing was rapid. She couldn't speak for a moment.

Yun Luobai wasn't in a hurry; he simply smiled and nodded at the woman in front of him.

"Young Master Yun, my home is in Heqing Lane. I used to run a tailor shop, but it closed down due to poor management. I make a living by doing odd jobs like needlework. Years ago, I caught a cloth thief red-handed trying to escape, and Lancet Yun happened to be passing by and helped me catch him. Later, when my wife and I went to your house to deliver gifts and express our gratitude, we saw you there. By seniority, you should call me Aunt Yang."

"Aunt Yang."

Yun Luobai called out gently, and the woman sitting opposite him, who called herself Aunt Yang, smiled and nodded.

Since Yun Luobai returned to Ningzhou Prefecture, he has met many people. As the son of a jailer, he would never have been called Young Master Yun before. However, now that the news of his wealth and the purchase of a mansion for his adoptive father on Chang Le Street has spread throughout the streets and alleys, people who should have considered themselves elders are now very polite to him.

"Back then, you kids were running around the streets and alleys, led by the son of Constable Ning from the yamen and the young master from the General's mansion. It's amazing how much you've all grown up... Oh dear, I've forgotten my business, Young Master Yun. I've come to ask for your help. I've lost the wavy gold bracelet I always wear on my wrist, and I've searched everywhere for it. I heard you're good at divination, so I came to ask you to help me calculate it. It was my favorite piece of jewelry from my dowry, sigh..."

Aunt Yang sighed deeply, slumped into her chair, her eyes vacant and her face filled with sorrow.

Upon hearing this, Ye Zi, who was sitting next to Yun Luobai, couldn't help but smile.

It seems that when someone loses something and seeks divination from Yun Luobai, his tricks of swindling and deception will be rendered useless. If he tries to fool her with a simple trick, and Aunt Yang goes back and does as he's told to search everywhere without success, she'll come back to cause him trouble. Let's see how he handles that then.

Yun Luobai noticed the smile on Ye Zi's lips, and he couldn't help but frown slightly, wondering whose side this guy was on...

When you set up a stall to do business, everyone who comes is a customer.

Yun Luobai naturally understood this principle. He took out a string of copper coins tied together with red thread from the wooden box in front of him. It looked different from the copper coins circulating in the market in this dynasty. The patterns and characters engraved on it looked mysterious and obscure. Although the copper coins were round, the square hole in the middle was diamond-shaped, which looked like a cat's eye at first glance.

"This is divination money, used for fortune telling."

As Yun Luobai spoke, he took out a piece of red cloth from the wooden box, spread it out on the table, and untied the red string that tied the divination coins. He arranged the ten divination coins in a nine-square grid on the red cloth, leaving one divination coin standing out, which looked out of place.

Yun Luobai pushed the seemingly lonely divination coin in front of Aunt Yang and spoke softly under her questioning gaze.

"Divination."