To me, my second uncle's shop seemed luxurious, but when we arrived at the hillside villa and entered the Wang family residence, I realized that my second uncle's shop was nothing more than a shabby street stall.
Back in middle school, when I read about Liu Laolao entering the Grand View Garden, I couldn't quite understand her feelings. Now, I was experiencing it firsthand.
The villa's yard was spacious, with a small artificial river running through the entrance. It wasn't wide, but the water was clear and blue, encircling the entire villa. Just from this river, I could tell that the layout had been professionally designed. If I wasn't mistaken, there should be a swimming pool at the back of the villa. This was a typical "jade belt around the waist" layout, a sign of prosperity. With such a feng shui arrangement, even if the family wasn't thriving, they wouldn't fall into ruin either.
Of course, as my second uncle said, "It's all up to the person. Feng shui is only an aid." Since I intended to help my second uncle, I opened my spiritual eyes the moment I entered the villa. The upper air currents were normal, indicating that the layout was fine. Even if something were amiss, it wasn't likely to be a feng shui problem. The specifics could only be clarified once I met Mr. Wang and heard his side of the story.
The butler led us into the living room, which was much simpler than the outside. It was clear that Mr. Wang wasn't a nouveau riche type; he had a certain taste.
Mr. Wang sat on the couch in the living room, looking even more haggard than yesterday. He didn't stand up, just gave a brief greeting. Second uncle sat next to him, preparing to get down to business.
I sat awkwardly to the side, with Huang Jiu on my back. Yesterday, my second uncle had mentioned that Mr. Wang had a son and a daughter, but his son had died, which didn't align with what I saw. While my second uncle was talking business with Mr. Wang, I took another look.
This time, I looked more carefully and noticed that Mr. Wang's energy was quite mixed. A radiant aura signified that he was a successful person whose career was on the rise. However, his "children's palace" was dim, with ominous energy, subtly blocking the radiant aura. This explained why, after the incident with his child, his business had suffered, and his previously prosperous fortune had diminished.
However, I didn't dwell on this too much. What caught my attention was his children's aura. From my spiritual senses, both his children were still alive. How could my second uncle have said that his son had died?
Mr. Wang must have spoken to my second uncle about the situation yesterday, and they only had a brief exchange. Second uncle asked about his daughter, and Mr. Wang replied with a trace of resentment, "I followed Mr. Li's instructions last night, but the situation didn't improve. In fact, it's gotten worse."
This made me uneasy, as I feared that my second uncle, being a half-baked practitioner, might have messed things up. From the feng shui layout of the Wang family, it was clear they had a network of experts. Simple words wouldn't be enough to fool them.
When second uncle heard this, he panicked visibly. The butler interjected, "Mr. Li, if you don't have the ability, don't make things worse. Mr. Wang has already invited a master from Hong Kong, and he'll arrive tomorrow."
My second uncle, too eager to secure the deal, seemed to have messed up, and now was at a loss for words. Seeing his anxiety, I couldn't sit still either. I cleared my throat and shared everything I had observed.
But when I mentioned that Mr. Wang's son should still be alive, the butler suddenly scolded, "You young boy don't know anything—don't talk nonsense. Our young master passed away three years ago."
Mr. Wang's eyes had lit up when I began speaking, thinking that he had found hope. But when I mentioned that his son should still be alive, his expression darkened. He wasn't as agitated as the butler, but his disappointment was evident.
I felt awkward. It had been three years, after all—how could I make a mistake? It was his precious son we were talking about. But the more I thought about it, the more suspicious I became.
Second uncle hurriedly tried to smooth things over, introducing me, "Mr. Wang, this is my nephew. He inherited the true teachings of our family's old master. His skills surpass mine. How about letting him take a look at your daughter?"
Mr. Wang glanced at me, neither rejecting nor welcoming the idea. But the butler didn't share the same attitude. He impatiently looked at me and second uncle, "The young lady just managed to fall asleep after much difficulty. Don't disturb her."
Mr. Wang had already been hesitant, and hearing this made up his mind. However, people in business are particular about their words. He said, "I only found Mr. Li through an introduction, hoping for a stroke of luck. But since Mr. Li has many important matters to attend to, perhaps..."
The butler impatiently interrupted, "Mr. Li, please, do go!"
Second uncle's face immediately turned awkward, more than a little reluctant. Here we were, trying to help, but after failing to make any progress yesterday, we hadn't even met the client today before being sent away. This was a bit like how my grandfather would act.
Seeing that second uncle couldn't think of anything else to say, I stood up and said, "Mr. Wang, no matter how busy you are, you can spare a few minutes. If I can really find something, wouldn't you regret missing the opportunity and causing your daughter more suffering for another day?"
"Second uncle, let's go!" I called out, turning to leave.
Fortunately, second uncle didn't inherit my grandfather's persistence and followed me after briefly bidding Mr. Wang farewell.
Once outside, second uncle sighed helplessly, "Yangyang, have I embarrassed you in front of your grandfather? Did I make a fool of myself?"
"What are you talking about, second uncle?" I replied seriously. "You're my second uncle. Anyone can mock you, but not your own nephew. Besides, you're not shameless, which is already a step above grandfather."
Mentioning my grandfather made second uncle's expression change. His brows immediately relaxed, and he put his arm around my shoulder, saying, "Big business or small business, it's all about making a living. Let's go. I'll take you out for a nice meal and buy you some new clothes, so people don't look down on you."
I slowed my pace, "Second uncle, let's not rush. This deal may still work out."
Second uncle seemed deflated. "Forget it, if they don't appreciate us, even if they did, the master from Hong Kong is coming tomorrow. We'd still get kicked out. It's better to leave now than face embarrassment later."
With a sigh, second uncle added, "I was too carefree. Let's go!"
I knew that my second uncle had learned some of my grandfather's skills and wasn't doing very well in the city. In plain terms, it was like seeking medical advice—wealthy people hire expert doctors, while the less wealthy get basic treatment for minor ailments. What could we expect?
Moreover, in every field, there were plenty of capable people. As a half-baked practitioner, it wasn't hard for my second uncle to fool some people for small gains. But with something like Mr. Wang's situation, based on what I knew about him, my second uncle definitely didn't have the skill to handle it.
However, I was here now, and I had learned from the lower texts, which gave me some spiritual energy. As the saying goes, even sesame seeds are vegetables. Even if I wasn't after money, I had to clear my grandfather's name.
Just as second uncle urged me toward the car, we heard Mr. Wang's voice from behind, "Mr. Li, please wait."