A Prophet - Chapter 4 (Part 1)
Chapter 1 - Predicting Fortune and Misfortune Through the Eight Characters of Birth
After "Immortal Hand" died, the Third Boss saw his opportunity and strongly recommended his prized pupil, Wang Jiaxian, suggesting to Grandfather that he be appointed as the Seventh Boss. Following several discussions at the guild meeting, despite the Second Boss feeling uneasy about it, Grandfather nodded and approved. Wang Jiaxian finally secured the seventh-in-command seat. When Wang Jiaxian first came under Grandfather in 1946, he was thin, tall, and very meticulous about cleanliness. Every time he went out, he wore a neat long gown, his hair slicked back with pomade, presenting a cultured and refined appearance. He claimed his father had given him his name, meaning a family path of virtue and wisdom. I imagine when his old man gave him this name, he certainly never expected that everything he would do in the future involved swindling, deception, and fraud. His public identity was a teacher at a Kuomintang primary school. He was well-read, possessed top-tier eloquence, held progressive ideas, and wrote exceptionally skilled essays, earning the deep affection of women in the Republic era, while also serving as Grandfather's brilliant military strategist. Before every scam was orchestrated, his advice was always consulted.
Who would have thought that this schoolteacher residing on campus was actually part of a syndicate of swindlers? The first major scam he helped Grandfather orchestrate targeted the wife of a Kuomintang military officer. That year, the front lines of the Kuomintang were in a critical state, and the officer had sent back a letter filled with words of martyrdom and romantic devotion, reeking from start to finish of the agony of life and death separation. It left the wife weeping bitter tears daily, unable to even think about food or tea. Her mental state directly impacted her child, a son who happened to be studying at the school where Wang Jiaxian taught. Primary school language education back then placed great emphasis on humanistic cultivation, and the very first lesson consisted of five simple sentences: "Cats catch mice, dogs guard doors, each attends to their own duty; a person without an occupation is worse than a cat or a dog." It meant that the Creator made this world so that every living creature must fulfill its respective role. If a person lived listlessly and without a proper occupation, they were even worse than cats and dogs. I wonder what kind of feelings Wang Jiaxian harbored whenever he explained this lesson to the children.
The wife's child could not concentrate in class; out of the seventeen students in the class, he was the only one who could not memorize these five sentences. Wang Jiaxian asked him what was wrong, and the boy kept his head down without a word. Later, after Wang Jiaxian pressed him repeatedly, the boy finally revealed that his mother was unhappy every single day because of his father's situation. Wang Jiaxian sensitively seized upon this piece of information. That very night, he discussed with Grandfather whether they could pull off a scam. Grandfather said yes—not only should they do it, but they had to do it on a large scale, because matters concerning life and death invariably commanded a high price. Using the excuse of the child's lack of concentration in class, Wang Jiaxian sought out the wife for a talk. Being a handsome man makes everything run smoothly, and Wang Jiaxian was precisely that kind of person—very refined, scholarly, well-spoken with polished etiquette. As a result, upon meeting Wang Jiaxian for the first time, the wife poured out all her pent-up anxieties in one breath. Wang Jiaxian said, "Generals die in a hundred battles, and seasoned soldiers return after ten years. Your husband is fighting on the battlefield, and we feeble scholars who linger on in life are filled with shame by comparison!" The wife sighed and said, "You are too modest, sir. Since ancient times, scholars die by remonstrance, and warriors die in battle. Literature carries the mountains and rivers, and there is a blade beneath the brush. Your work in teaching and nurturing people will also leave a legacy for future generations."
Wang Jiaxian had not expected the wife to possess such high refinement. Usually, he was the one holding forth with a torrent of eloquence, but today he had run into someone even more articulate. Wang Jiaxian also sighed and said, "I only hope that madam can calm her mind and await good news from your husband. Otherwise, your current state has severely affected your young son; he drifts off in class every day, and if this continues for long, I fear it will harm his studies." The wife nodded and said, "That may be easy to say, but who can actually do it? My husband's life or death is unknown, how can you expect me to calm my mind!" Sensing that the opportunity had arrived, Wang Jiaxian spoke with absolute solemnity, "Madam, do you believe in fate?" The wife was startled. "Fate? Right now, I can only leave it to heaven." Wang Jiaxian began deploying his deceptive tactics. "Madam, I actually happen to know an elderly senior who is well-versed in the esoteric arts of the Eight Diagrams and proficient in divination. It is said he has calculated fortunes for many high-ranking government officials, and life, death, wealth, and status can be known instantly with uncanny accuracy. Shall I ask him to give you..." Before Wang Jiaxian could finish, the wife hurriedly asked, "Really? Can he be found?" Seeing this, Wang Jiaxian knew she had taken the bait. This wasn't even luring a roe deer; the roe deer was practically running straight into the hunter's courtyard. Wang Jiaxian said, "Don't worry, madam. That old gentleman is an intimate friend of mine, so I should be able to arrange a meeting. However, he is very busy, but I will do my utmost to schedule it for you."
The wife clung to this as if it were a life-saving straw, saying eagerly, "Please trouble yourself to arrange it for me right away, the sooner the better, no matter how much money it takes." These were precisely the words the con artists wanted to hear most. Wang Jiaxian said, "Certainly, certainly. I will go to his place tonight to see him, so set your mind at ease." The wife said excitedly, "Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir!" When people experience excessive sorrow or excessive joy, they inevitably become foolish, let alone a woman guarding an empty boudoir alone. When Wang Jiaxian returned and reported to Grandfather, Grandfather asked, "How much family property does she have?" Wang Jiaxian replied, "It's hard to say. She lives in a Western-style villa, and judging by the interior furnishings, it's likely the household of a battalion-level officer." Grandfather thought for a moment and said, "Let her stew for a few days." The next day, Wang Jiaxian went to the wife's house again and said, "I went to see the old gentleman last night. He has quite a lot on his plate right now and was originally supposed to go out of town, but after I told him about your situation, he decided to postpone his trip. Within the next two or three days, a meeting can be arranged."
The wife said, "Thank you so much! Thank you so much! The sooner the better!" Three days later, the three of them met at a teahouse. Grandfather possessed the ethereal air of a Daoist immortal, while Wang Jiaxian was dashing and elegant. In her wildest dreams, the wife would never have guessed that these two gentle and refined gentlemen before her were utter swindlers. Confronted by two men, the wife felt somewhat bashful and said timidly, "I have troubled you, sirs." Grandfather replied, "Those who study the Book of Changes act with compassion and mercy; madam need stand on no ceremony. Your situation has already been explained to me by Mr. Wang." The wife said, "Then I must trouble you, sir, to look into my husband's fortunes and tell me if he is facing good or ill." Grandfather said, "Judging from madam's physiognomy, the palace of the spouse has a dim, lusterless hue, and the indicators of official post and longevity are dormant. Forgive my bluntness, but your husband's situation is extremely perilous." Hearing this, the wife was stunned. "Then... then is there danger to his life?" Grandfather remained unhurried. "Madam, do not panic. Tell me your husband's birth characters."
After the wife recited them, Grandfather pondered for a moment and said, "I deduce that your husband has a large mole on his forehead. Am I correct?" "Spot on!" the wife said excitedly. "It's right on the left side of his forehead." Grandfather continued, "He has large eyes and a pointed chin." "Everything you say is completely right, sir!" the wife replied. Wang Jiaxian also hurriedly chimed in with a look of deep reverence, "The old gentleman's mastery of the Daoist arts is truly profound! This junior is in awe, deeply in awe!" Maintaining a calm and collected facade, Grandfather pinched his fingers to calculate. "Please also tell me your birth characters, madam." The wife hastily recited her own birthday. Grandfather once again pinched his fingers in calculation, then assumed a thoughtful expression. After a moment, he said, "Ah, there is salvation, there is salvation." Upon hearing "there is salvation," the wife could no longer sit still, her eyes brimming with yearning. "Does the master mean my husband can be saved?" Grandfather said, "Madam's birth characters happen to generate and assist your husband! It is fortunate he married you, otherwise he would not have escaped disaster this time." This was the classic tactic of first striking a blow and then elevating the target. The wife said, "In other words, I bring prosperity to my husband?" Grandfather said, "Indeed." The wife asked, "Then how can this disaster be resolved?" Grandfather pondered for a moment before saying, "It all depends on whether madam is willing." The wife was startled. "What kind of talk is that, sir? Of course I am willing! Even if you asked me to die, I would be willing!" Grandfather said, "Madam is truly a person of great benevolence! It is truly his blessing that your husband married you! The other day I encountered a similar situation, but when that wife heard that resolving the disaster would cost money, she began to hesitate. Alas, I don't even know what to say—ultimately, which is more important, money or a husband? Alas." The wife said, "Rest assured, sir! As long as my husband can be saved, I am willing to give you any amount of money. I am willing even if it ruins the family fortune."
Hearing this, Grandfather immediately pulled a long face. "What kind of talk is this from madam? Why give money to me? Though I have lived a life of poverty, I still know the meaning of benevolence and righteousness!" The wife was dumbfounded and asked timidly, "Sir... didn't you just say it would cost money to resolve the disaster?" Grandfather said indignantly, "Madam underestimates me! When I said resolving disaster costs money, I meant you should spend money on behalf of your husband, not give money to me. In your destiny chart, the star of official authority is firmly suppressed by the star of wealth. Only by spending wealth can the star of official authority be rescued, and only then can your husband return. That is why I suggested you spend money, but the money must not be spent recklessly; it must be used to accumulate merit. By spending the money outward, you simultaneously accumulate merit for your husband—it is killing two birds with one stone." The wife pursued the matter, asking, "How can one accumulate merit?" Grandfather said, "Look at that bridge leading to Nanzhen; it has fallen into disrepair for years. Common folk cross it back and forth every day, and sometimes merchants drive horse-drawn carriages across. It is so dangerous and should have been repaired long ago. If you donate some money to fix the bridge, you will both resolve the disaster for your husband and create blessings for the common people! The ancients often said that repairing bridges and paving roads brings boundless merit. How wonderful that is." Before the wife could speak, Wang Jiaxian stood up first and bowed deeply to Grandfather. "The master's heart is truly filled with compassion, and this junior is deeply moved." As he spoke, his eye rims even turned red, wearing an expression of profound enlightenment. The wife said, "You are truly kind-hearted men! Roughly how much money will it take?"
Grandfather said, "That I wouldn't know. You should go ask the local bailiff. When the time comes, give the money to him, and he will organize the people to carry out the repairs." The wife said with a sense of relief, "Will this have resolved my husband's disaster?" Grandfather stated firmly, "Resolved for certain! Your heart must be sincere, and you must not treat it as a perfunctory chore." The wife nodded and said, "Certainly, certainly! Sir, having delayed you for so long, I... how much money should I give you?" Grandfather shook his head. "Madam is going through hardship; I am merely using my modest skills to help madam dispel her worries. To ask you for money at a time like this—would madam not be scolding me?" The wife felt even more embarrassed and said, "Then how can I thank you? You have put so much thought and effort into my affairs, I..." Grandfather waved his sleeve and pointed at the teacup on the table. "My sleeves are clean of corruption, and a cup of plain tea is quite enough, quite enough!" With that, he drained his cup in one gulp and swept his sleeves as he departed. Gazing at Grandfather's receding figure, the wife let out a long sigh. "They always say the moral fiber of the world is declining and people are not as honest as they used to be, but seeing this old gentleman today, I realize human conscience has not yet died out." Wang Jiaxian chimed in, "The old gentleman has always treated wealth as mere dirt beneath his feet. Such people are rare indeed in this world."
Later, that wife spent a massive sum of money to repair that bridge. The local bailiff who collected the money was actually in cahoots with Grandfather, having long been bought off by him to act as his tool. The money actually spent on repairing the bridge was just a fraction, while the bulk of it was split evenly between Grandfather and the bailiff. As for how Grandfather knew what her husband looked like, all that information had been gathered by Wang Jiaxian who secretly observed the photographs on the walls when he visited her home. With the wife's mind entirely consumed by her husband's life and death, how could she possibly see through all these tricks? I deeply admire Grandfather's methods—combining the illusion of fortune with extortion, striking the exact right balance, and ultimately maintaining a persona of high moral integrity. Later, I once asked Grandfather, "What if her husband doesn't come back?"
Grandfather said I had a rigid mindset. He said, "I'm not afraid of her husband not coming back; what I'd fear is if her husband did return. If that fellow came back and caught on to what happened, things could get complicated. If he doesn't come back, there's nothing to fear. What can a widow who has lost her husband possibly do to you? You just don't know how to turn your mind around!" I had a sudden flash of enlightenment and immediately asked, "What if her husband does come back and comes looking for trouble with us?" Grandfather said, "When the boat reaches the pier-head, it will naturally align with the bridge; when the cart gets to the mountain, there will surely be a path. If a con artist acts timidly and full of hesitation, he might as well go home and feed pigs." Later on, Wang Jiaxian ran over to the wife's house time and time again. Sensing that something was amiss, Grandfather stated at a guild meeting, "We've already reeled in the money; don't set your sights on chasing romance. Greed for too much will stir up trouble." This frightened Wang Jiaxian so much that sweat poured down his forehead, and he repeatedly muttered, "Understood, understood." Later, during a drinking session, while chatting with Wang Jiaxian, he confessed that he had developed genuine feelings for that wife. Given her helpless, isolated state at the time, coupled with his understanding of a woman's heart, his own good looks, and his methods, he was certain he could win her over within a month. In truth, he hadn't planned on a long-term commitment; he simply wanted to spend a night with her and snatch an easy prize.
He remarked that the woman was an intellectual who understood poetry and possessed refined cultivation, and he just happened to favor that type. I asked him why he cared about this one when he frequented brothels all the time. He replied that it was different—no matter how pretty a prostitute was, she was merely flesh and blood, ridden by thousands and trampled by tens of thousands; how could she ever compare to a respectable woman? In the end, Wang Jiaxian got drunk, muttering to himself: "You dwell at the head of the Yangtze River, I dwell at the river's tail; day by day I yearn for you but see you not, yet we drink together from the same river water..." And with that, he drifted into a deep sleep. I knew Wang Jiaxian was a man of soaring ambitions who had long suffered from unrecognized talent, only finding an outlet for his abilities within the ranks of the con artists—which was precisely why his heart ached. In truth, which con artist wasn't living just like that? Living each day like a walking corpse, drowning their sorrows in alcohol, indulging in fleeting romantic pleasures, followed by endless sorrow and bewilderment. Who wouldn't want to live an upright life, marry, hold children, spend their days in peace, grow old with grey hair, and be surrounded by a flock of children and grandchildren? What a blissful thing that woulders! But con artists no longer possessed that kind of happiness. Drowning themselves in a drunken stupor amidst material desires, they hollowed out their bodies and, even more, hollowed out their souls. Their superficial glory could never conceal the filth and inferiority deep within their hearts. In the dead of night, every con artist would reminisce—thinking of their once untainted former selves, wondering if life might have taken a completely different path had they never chosen this road... Today, the suave and erudite Wang Jiaxian had finally climbed his way to the position of a boss, and from then on, everyone called him "Seventh Master."