289 Auspicious Ducks (1/2)

The middle-aged woman suddenly straightened up in shock, she stared at Xiao Luo and said, ”H-how, did you know that?”

”I've already told you. I'm a fortune teller, and I can read facial features,” Xiao Luo said, knowing he now had her within his grasp.

In fact, it was straightforward to tell what the middle-aged woman had worked as in the past because her right palm was rougher, and it could only be caused by repetitive use. She either worked at a desk job or had wiped blackboards for long periods. In addition to that, the middle-aged woman dressed neatly in a prudish sort of way. Naturally, she could only be a teacher.

”You must realize that as a teacher, you have developed your self-confidence over your long years of service. But central to your creed of teaching is your habitual practice of 'I say, you listen; I do, you learn,' and this habit makes it difficult for you to accept other's advice. So, when I said that white-headed ducks symbolize good fortune, you immediately disagreed with me. But ma'am, as I've mentioned, I'm a fortune-teller. I suggest you buy white-headed ducks, it will be good luck for your family, and that's all I have to say. The decision is yours.”

After he spoke, Xiao Luo turned around and left without saying another word. This only added to his aura of mysticism.

Something that triggered in the subconscious of the middle-aged woman made her feel like she had encountered a living deity, and that he was giving her divine directions. Her mind made up, she immediately went after him with an enthusiastic smile. ”Young man, I'll listen to you and buy white-headed ducks, could you tell me what else I have to do?” she asked.

Although she was formerly a teacher, an ideology of old cultural beliefs was still deeply rooted within her; otherwise, she would not have rejected the white-headed ducks. She just happened to be having issues at home with her son, who had suddenly become very disobedient and was continually causing her much trouble. She felt that this was a bad omen for the coming year. It came to pass that when Xiao Luo guessed her profession correctly, she was convinced that Xiao Luo was a minor god put in her path to provide her with the guidance she needed.

”It is best if you buy two. Good things come in pairs, just so you know.” Xiao Luo lifted his chin as he spoke and placed his hands behind his back, giving himself a sage-like demeanor.

”Okay, okay, I'll go buy them right now. Thanks for your advice, young man.”

The middle-aged woman was thoroughly convinced and thankful to the gods for their divine arrangements. She immediately made her way to Xiao Zhiyuan and said, ”Give me two of your fattest white-headed ducks!”

”Wah!”

Xiao Zhiyuan and Hua Heying gasped. They were absolutely awed that he had managed to sell two ducks within a minute, and that was simply unbelievable.

”How is that possible? That just a wild guess, nothing more.” The middle-aged man spoke as he pointed at Xiao Luo.

Xiao Luo approached him with a smile, ”Do you doubt me, sir?”

”I'm not doubting. I totally do not believe it at all. You're just trying to hoodwink the people into buying your ducks.”

The middle-aged man felt that the woman had been cheated. She actually bought two white-headed ducks, which, according to their custom, was highly inauspicious. Unhappy with that, he protested and created a scene: ”Come and have a look here, my fellow townsfolk. There's a con artist over here, and he's using trickery to fool us into buying his ducks.”

The shout drew many people from the alley, and soon there was a crowd clamoring around Xiao Luo's stall.

Xiao Luo smiled calmly and said, ”Sir, you earn quite a lot of money, don't you?

”That's for certain!” The middle-aged man replied haughtily, lifting his chin up proudly.

”You don't need to go to work at your unit, am I right?”

”Yes, correct.”

”Your daughter is married, am I right?”

”Yes…”

Xiao Luo kept the smile on his face and was observing him all the while, remaining silent.

The man's expression immediately changed, and he thought to himself: ”How did he know all that?”

From the crowd, someone randomly asked a question, ”Friend, how do you know that?”