Chapter 1, the bad luck has come to an end, and the worst has turned to the best
That being said, Chu Yang currently does not even have a job. However, if he were to be a bit more brazen, he could still call his old classmates to borrow some money for rent!
In the eyes of God, we are merely small chess pieces, placed at will, and a single action of His determines the course of our lives. How many people in this world can truly change their fate? Chu Yang does not know, but he genuinely wishes to change his destiny
Sitting on the edge of the bed like a sealed gourd, Chu Yang felt as if coins were raining down from his eyes. As the ancients said, it is better to endure the wind and rain than to bow down for a mere five pecks of rice. At best, Chu Yang was just an ordinary citizen, and the mere few hundred yuan in rent nearly bent his back under the pressure
Young man, this year you are experiencing the Tai Sui conflict, which can be said to bring misfortune upon you. However, good things often come after hardships. You are naturally gifted as a master of fortune-telling, and this bout of misfortune is now over. What follows is the arrival of good fortune... This old Taoist's method of persuasion is commonly seen on the streets, yet he speaks with such flair.
Wu Qingsheng let out a cold laugh, this guy probably spends five days a week at home preparing his resume, and the remaining two days looking for a job, where does he get the money? With a stern face, he said: "I don't care whether you pay me or not, but the rent must be paid today, if you can't pay it by five o'clock this afternoon? Be careful, or I will throw you out!"
This self-deprecating thought did not bring Chu Yang any good fortune; he continued to be as unfortunate as Ah Q, a character from Lu Xun's writings, to the utmost degree. Even now, he has to face the landlord's spittle being hurled at him.
Chu Yang walked along the road in flip-flops, a sour feeling spreading in his heart, making even the city feel so unfamiliar. However, if one is truly down on their luck, sometimes fortune can turn around unexpectedly
Upon hearing this, Chu Yang could not help but glance at the old Taoist priest. Early in the morning, someone claimed that he would soon experience a turn of fortune; for this omen, he was willing to spend ten yuan. After all, ten yuan was insignificant compared to the rent, so he considered it a donation to support the Taoist faith in Huaxia.
Hehe... Chu Yang sat on the edge of the bed, letting out a bitter laugh that made one cringe. Having fallen into such misfortune, if he claimed to be second, no one would dare to say they were first
"Don't go, young man!" The old Taoist chased after him, forcefully stuffing the ancient book into Chu Yang's arms and smiling as he said, "I don't have any treasures on me, this is just something I used to make a living, so I am giving it to you..."
If he cannot gather the rent before 5 PM, he will have no choice but to return to the countryside to farm, and who knows, he might even make the headlines as a college student returning home to raise pigs and farm.
Why? Because one has a thick skin
This old Taoist, apart from appearing somewhat disheveled, actually looks quite pleasant; the key is that he carries an air of ethereal grace. However, pleasant as he may be, why did you suddenly thrust an ancient book into my hands? Chu Yang felt puzzled.
From the moment he graduated from university, Chu Yang felt like a joke. When looking for a job, despite his eyes shining brightly each time, all the rubbish brooms seemed to die in front of him, yet he ultimately couldn't even pass the written test. The only time he did pass a written test, he unexpectedly walked into the wrong restroom and caught a glimpse of the beautiful manager who was changing her intimate hygiene product.
Chu Yang really wanted to slap a pot sticker on this guy's face, but under the eaves, one must bow their head. He could only grit his teeth and say: "Brother Wu, I will get paid next week, and then I will add two hundred for you."
In this day and age, it is truly rare to find a young person willing to generously offer a bowl of braised meat noodles to an unfamiliar old Taoist priest. The old Taoist scrutinized Chu Yang from head to toe, growing more and more fond of him with each glance, to the point where he might as well have taken a magnifying glass to count the pores on his skin, utterly satisfied
"Mr. Chu, go outside and inquire about who dares to default on the rent of my property, Wu Qingsheng. If you cannot pay the rent again today, then this afternoon, you can pack your things and leave!" The landlord, Wu Qingsheng, immediately began listing various reasons to ask Chu Yang to vacate the premises, resembling a debt collector demanding payment.
After leaving that ruthless remark without any mercy, Wu Qingsheng turned around with a cold face and walked away. As someone who could afford to buy a house in the city, he looked down on these impoverished university graduates who faced unemployment right after graduation, and thus he was too lazy to waste words with Chu Yang
Chu Yang felt a chill run down his spine under that peculiar gaze, and he turned to leave. His act of giving money was purely driven by sympathy, without any expectation of reciprocation from the other party
Chu Yang's heart skipped a beat as he stared blankly at the old Taoist priest with a pair of bright eyes. He had a strong intuition that the aura of celestial grace and Taoist essence emanating from the old priest was becoming increasingly pronounced. If it weren't for the passersby around, he would have truly believed he had encountered a living immortal
"You want 10 yuan for each book, right?" Chu Yang said irritably as he shoved the ancient book back into the old Taoist's hands. He still had to shamelessly go out to borrow money, and he had no time to waste on his nonsense.
Chuyang suddenly felt that this was very likely to be his last encounter with the old Taoist priest. His heart tightened, and he almost stuttered while speaking, quietly asking: "Old Taoist, who... who exactly are you?"
"Good people are rewarded, young man..." The old Taoist, with a pair of murky old eyes, suddenly flashed two beams of brilliance and looked at Chu Yang with a smiling face.
The book has already been given to you; whether it is of any use is your own concern! The old Taoist's lifespan is nearing its end, and to encounter a genius like you is indeed fate... The old Taoist held a ten-yuan note in his hand, and his voice suddenly took on a somewhat ethereal quality
After the old Taoist finished speaking, a gentle and cool breeze began to blow. His robes fluttered as if he were about to ride the wind and depart. The old man and the young boy stood motionless in the street against the wind, evoking a sense of parting between master and disciple.
"No way, the rent must be paid today!" Wu Qingsheng replied coldly. In this land where every inch is precious in Jiangnan City, a week's rent is worth several hundred yuan. Chu Yang, a university graduate with no money and no power, who else would Wu Qingsheng bully if not him?
Watching the indifferent figure of the landlord leave, Chu Yang felt an inexplicable sting in his eyes, yet he held back his tears. People from the countryside are particularly strong-willed; even when faced with setbacks, they will grit their teeth and persevere
"Young man, I see that you are currently experiencing a streak of bad luck..." A fortune-telling old Taoist at the street corner suddenly thrust a worn ancient book into his hands, his expression revealing a sense of urgency. As soon as he spoke, it reminded Chu Yang of a martial arts film.
However, this middle-aged landlord, who is exceptionally clever, is clearly not the type to be easily spoken to. His face is as cold as old corn in autumn, with a rigid appearance comparable to that of a coffin lid
Some say that fate is a mischievous child, often playing tricks on you with misfortune. When it has tormented you to the point of a frozen face, you can no longer laugh.
He called a buddy from college to ask for a loan, and Chu Yang stepped out the door wearing a pair of flip-flops. Walking down the street, the vegetable vendor was shouting at the top of her lungs, making it seem like a concert was taking place. Occasionally, a few fortune tellers would set up shop, laying out some newspapers or an old cloth to create a fortune-telling booth.
With a troubled expression, Chu Yang wore a pair of flip-flops, a casual white T-shirt, and jeans, silently enduring the landlord's incessant lecture on rental philosophy. If the landlord had a fashionable outlook and looked as beautiful as a peach blossom, he would be more than willing to humbly plead for a few extra days on the rent.
Chu Yang could not help but ask, "Old Daoist, there are no words in this book?" A wordless ancient book would be of no use to him; bringing it home would only serve as a prop for the bed.
Taking out a crumpled ten-yuan bill from his pocket and handing it to the old Taoist priest, Chu Yang sighed and said: "Old Taoist, I won't take the book; consider this ten yuan as treating you to a bowl of braised pork noodles."
When a piercing scream echoed through the building, Chu Yang suddenly became the center of attention, turning into a lecherous figure that no major company would even glance at. If heaven were to grant Chu Yang another opportunity, he thought, since he could no longer find a job, why didn't he take a proper look at the beautiful manager at that time
"Brother Wu, could you possibly extend it for a few more days?" Chu Yang's voice was somewhat hoarse. In fact, the rent was not yet due, but the rental contract clearly stated that the rent must be paid one week in advance. This allowed the bald landlord to seize the opportunity and attempt to profit from this additional clause.
Chu Yang glanced casually and thought, isn't this ancient book just an ordinary pamphlet? It has the three characters "Shen Xiang Jue" written on it, and the cover design is somewhat reminiscent of a pirated publication. Upon opening it, he was surprised to find that there wasn't a single word inside.