Chapter 797 - The Choice of Ma Family (1/2)
Chapter 797: The Choice of Ma Family
Translator: Exodus Tales Editor: Exodus Tales
“What exactly is the price we need to pay, Dr. Tang?” asked Ma Chengye without hesitation.
“In the next five years, the Ma Family will have no single member born; 10 babies under 3-years-old will have a heart pattern on their glabella, and will share the good fortune of Ma Family, but only one of them will survive. Your Ma Family needs to collect magical tools with metal, wood, water, fire, and earth elements each in order to revitalize and accumulate the good fortune for 5 years, and lastly, one member of the family will have his or her lifespan reduced for 10 years to carry on the praying for the blessing,” said Tang Xiu lightly.
“Hiss…”
Ma Jianpeng and Ma Chenyu, as well as the other four elders of Ma Family, gasped at the same time, looking at Tang Xiu with a shocked expression.
Wasn’t this price… way too horrifying?
“It’s not like you’ll get no benefits at all if you choose this option,” said Tang Xiu flatly. “The surviving child will at least become the hope of Ma Family in the future. As long as there’s no wicked Feng Shui expert to destroy the Feng Shui structure of your family, he can lead the Ma Family to go further, become stronger, and be more prosperous.”
Ma Jianfeng was silent for a long time before he said with a wry, bitter expression, “This has great influence to the family, so I need to discuss it with the senior members of the family, Divine Doctor Tang.”
“He can only endure up to half a month.” Tang Xiu pointed to the old man on the bed and plainly said, “If you haven’t made a decision by then, then not only he will die, but your family will also be in decline until your generation passes on his authority. Also, I’m going back to Shanghai quickly and will leave Shanghai tomorrow to manage some important things for an unknown amount of time. So, please discuss it only until this afternoon.”
Only until this afternoon?
All the members of Ma Family’s expressions changed, and they quickly exchanged glances. Then, Ma Jianfeng solemnly said, “Could you diagnose my father too, Dr. Tang?”
Tang Xiu nodded and went to the bed. He took the old man’s wrist and checked his pulse to diagnose his physical condition, which was no different from his own pre-judgment. As he left the room and came to the first floor, he said, “Give me a quiet room; I need to draw something.”
“There’s my father’s study at the end of the corridor to the left,” said Ma Jianfeng immediately.
Tang Xiu nodded and followed him to the study. As he walked in, he observed the antique study before his eyes landed on the writing brush, ink stick, ink stone, and paper on the desk. In this era, only a few people still had these so-called “scholar’s four jewels”, while the wall around the room was practically full of calligraphy, and paintings from ancient and modern master calligraphers and master painters. Staying in this place would make one feel capable of appreciating the culture of Confucianism and Taoism.
“Is there anything else you need, Dr. Tang?” asked Ma Jianfeng.
“Cinnabar ink and yellow paper. If you’re determined to save your father, I’ll need 10 uncut jades as well,” said Tang Xiu.
“I’ll immediately order my people to find them,” said Ma Jianfeng in a deep voice. “Also, I have to discuss this issue with the other family members, so I can’t accompany you here.”
“Go ahead!” Tang Xiu waved and said, “Just in passing, send someone to deliver some food here.”
Ma Jianfeng was stunned, as he suddenly remembered that it was noon and Tang Xiu had not eaten yet! A smile then appeared on his solemn face as he acquiesced to the request and then left with the rest of the Ma Family members.
Mo Awu stood in front of the desk as he watched Ma Jianfeng closed the door from the outside. Afterward, he asked with a lowered voice, “Do you perhaps prepare a butcher knife to chop them down, Boss?”
“The Ma Family has so much wealth more than they needed, don’t you think so?” asked Tang Xiu back with a curled-up mouth; the faintest smile. “You also know that I’m kind-hearted and generous, so I’m going to help them spend some money or share some other treasures. Well, you know, those kinds of good deeds…”
“…”
Mo Awu felt his heart twitch and speechlessly looked at Tang Xiu.
He had been following Tang Xiu for not just one or two days. He saw his actions so many times that the means his Boss had in order to butcher others made him shudder a little.
Soon after that, fragrant meals were delivered as Tang Xiu and Mo Awu had a meal and drank their fill. The Ma Family then sent cinnabar ink and 10 fine pieces of jade. After sending them off outside, Tang Xiu immediately began to draw the symbols charm and manufactured some magical tools.
At dusk, Ma Jianfeng came to the study room where Tang Xiu was staying, a gloomy expression on his face. This time, he was only accompanied by his second uncle, Ma Chengye.
Looking at their expression, Tang Xiu instantly figured out what option they had taken. He sighed secretly inside, yet spoke with an indifferent expression, “Since you have made up your mind to give up the old patriarch Ma, then there’s no need for me to do anything anymore. I’ve just manufactured good charms and magical tools myself, but since you don’t need them, then I’ll just charge you a service fee according to the market price.”
Ma Jianfeng took a deep breath first before he replied with a serious expression, “It seems that you’ve already guessed the result, Divine Doctor Tang. I was very much wanting to save my father, in fact. But I really can’t do anything. The Ma Family has many members but for the entire family to have no descendant in the next 5 years as well as 10 children…”
“I understand your difficulties.” Tang Xiu raised his hand to interrupt him and calmly said, “Alright, I will take my leave then. Also, someone will send you the money for the cinnabar ink and the jade pieces tomorrow, naturally.”