Chapter 17: Interpreting Fate

Pan Yu’s laughter faded, returning to that sense of a "faint smile" as he said, "Hanwen, you must tell me that story of Zhu Yingtai tonight. I want to see which young lady has left you so hopelessly smitten."

Xu Xian lowered his head to sip his tea, responding with a noncommittal mumble.

He changed the subject, asking, "How do you know which day the First Snow Festival will be?" The First Snow Festival wasn't a fixed date like the Double Ninth or Qingming festivals; instead, it fell on the day of the first snowfall each year. But when it came to the weather, even the forecasts in his previous life weren't always accurate. This was what people meant when they said the will of Heaven was unpredictable.

Li Siming looked at the two of them and said, "I think this matter will have to rest on your shoulders!" Inwardly, however, he sighed. While being exceptionally handsome was usually a good thing—it made it easier to gain favor and make friends—reaching a level of beauty like Pan Yu's, which could even stir the hearts of men, became a kind of shackle. Moreover, Pan Yu always gave Li Siming a strange "illusion."

Li Siming remembered that whenever they gathered, Pan Yu was always the center of attention, like stars surrounding the moon. But even when he spoke and laughed with ease among the crowd, that ethereal sense of loneliness never diminished; instead, it only grew more intense. He was like a master actor on a stage, expressing every joy, anger, sorrow, and delight to the fullest, yet not a single movement, expression, or even a glance truly belonged to himself.

It had been a long time since even Li Siming had seen him show a "flaw" like he did today.

Xu Xian leaned lazily against his chair and said, "What, can we cast divinations now? Are we supposed to just know when it will snow?"

Li Siming took a sip of tea and said, "Naturally, you can't cast divinations, but you can go find someone who can!"

"Eh?"

"So it turns out there really is a weather forecast in this world!" Xu Xian sighed deeply as he stood before the gates of a Taoist temple. Carrying twenty taels of the academy's public funds, Xu Xian had come here on an incredible mission—to find a fortune teller to predict when it would snow.

Wasn't it said that the Master did not speak of the supernatural? However, in a world where thousand-year-old snake spirits existed, even if "the Master" himself showed up, he wouldn't be able to help it! After all, the Four Books and Five Classics couldn't forecast the weather.

A black plaque hung above the temple gates with three large characters: "Xuanji Temple." It looked quite imposing. He had heard that the most famous fortune teller in Hangzhou was located here, and the fees were not low. To predict the weather cost twenty taels of silver, a profession that made Xu Xian seriously consider a career change.

However, this ancient temple was not located in any famous mountains or great rivers, but right in the bustling western district of Hangzhou, where the clamor of the city was never-ending. Several people were lingering at the small temple's entrance—wealthy men in silk robes and poor men in plain cloth. Each of them stared at the gates with anxious, expectant eyes, yet they did not speak to one another.

Pan Yu remarked, "Cultivating in a place like this is either a sign of extreme refinement or extreme vulgarity. I wonder which category the master of this place falls into."

The arrival of Xu Xian and Pan Yu immediately drew hostile glares from the waiting crowd. While Xu Xian was still wondering why, Pan Yu explained softly, "This fortune teller only performs three divinations a day, never more. These people are likely afraid we are here to compete with them!"

"Then what should we do?"

Pan Yu smiled without answering and stepped forward. Xu Xian once again witnessed Pan Yu’s uncanny talent, which was no less formidable than magic. After all, even magic had a hard time swaying the human heart.

Pan Yu first approached a plump man who looked like a wealthy merchant. "Excuse me, sir, are you here to seek a divination?"

Seeing Pan Yu’s elegant bearing and refined speech, the merchant didn't dare look down on him. "I am."

"Calculating your financial luck?"

The merchant thought to himself: It's no great feat to guess that based on my clothes. "I might as well tell you. I have a business deal that is difficult to decide on, and it concerns my fortunes for the entire coming year. You look like scholars—surely Confucius taught you the principle of first come, first served?" His expression was somewhat arrogant. The Great Xia Dynasty had a developed commercial sector, unlike the Ming or Qing dynasties where agriculture was strictly prioritized over commerce. Thus, merchants held a decent status and felt free to put on airs in front of two poor scholars.

Pan Yu was not offended. Instead, he continued, "I know a bit about business myself. I just don't know what kind of deal it is."

The merchant wanted to show off, and since it didn't involve any trade secrets, he explained it in detail. He was a porcelain merchant planning to establish a new kiln, but the investment was massive. If he lost, he would be bankrupt.

Pan Yu said with certainty, "You will definitely profit."

The merchant glared with his small eyes. "Go on, go on. Don't talk nonsense if you don't understand!"

Pan Yu simply asked, "Do you know of Jin Wancheng?"

"Who doesn't know the name of Jin Wancheng, the tycoon of Jiangzhe? I have many dealings with him in business," the merchant said proudly.

"Then do you know he recently purchased two large ships?"

"Of course I know. I was even invited to the maiden voyage." The merchant's face was full of pride, but he lacked confidence in his heart. In truth, he had only received a low-level invitation and hadn't even spoken a word to Jin Wancheng; he had just gone to join the festivities.

"Do you know why he bought the ships?"

"This..." The merchant looked troubled but didn't want to lose face. "Merchant ships are for trade, of course!"

"Well said. But he already has enough ships, and canal transport doesn't require ships that large."

"Are you saying... maritime trade?" A thoughtful look appeared on the merchant's face.

"Precisely. Do you remember that group of envoys from the Bana Kingdom who passed through Hangzhou a year ago?"

"I remember, I remember. Every one of them was as black as a coal ball. If I didn't know better, I would have thought they were Rakshasa demons from hell."

"Our returning envoys arrived last month!" Pan Yu smiled slightly, concluding his point.

"Are you saying a new sea route... trade?" Guided by Pan Yu's hints, the merchant connected the various clues and reached a startling conclusion. That Jiangnan tycoon was going to take a huge risk. Although the risk was high, the profits from maritime trade with foreign nations were a hundred or thousand-fold. When that happened, not just porcelain, but the prices of silk and tea would all rise. He certainly wouldn't take that risk himself, nor did he have the qualifications, but there was no problem in following along to get a share of the spoils.

"I am no divine calculator. I haven't said anything, and I can't guarantee anything."

The merchant gave Pan Yu a deep bow, his previous arrogance completely gone. He shouted to the palanquin bearers waiting by the road, "Raise the sedan! Raise the sedan!" while saying to Pan Yu, "Sir, you truly possess great talent. I must invite you to be an honored guest at my home another day. This is my calling card; please, you must visit." Having said that, he jogged into the sedan, which then wobbled away.

No divine calculation could compare to having information in one's own hands. People only rely on Heaven when they are powerless; most of the time, they prefer to believe in judgments based on solid evidence.

Xu Xian marveled, "You knew this news all along?"

Pan Yu smiled. "I spend my days behind closed doors studying; why would I have the leisure to care about this? The Jin family's steward did send an invitation, but I turned it down." For a steward to deliver it personally meant it was for a seat among the VIPs near Jin Wancheng himself, yet even that couldn't make Pan Yu waste half a day of study to join the fun. He was pursuing an official career—the broadest, most far-reaching, and most treacherous path in the world.

"Why did he leave in such a hurry?"

"There are so many insightful people in this world, and news spreads quickly. Acting a moment earlier means countless sums of gold and silver. He has no choice but to hurry." Pan Yu calmly explained everything to Xu Xian.

Xu Xian muttered to himself: In the end, am I the transmigrator or are you? I completely fail to understand the thinking of high-IQ people!

In this manner, Pan Yu resolved the problems of the remaining people one by one, until only the last one remained, for whom he could do nothing. A gaunt countryman's entire family had recently contracted a strange illness. They had spent a fortune on doctors to no avail, and his elderly mother was already at death's door. Wise as Pan Yu was, he was not a doctor and could do nothing for him.

The countryman pleaded, "I beg you two masters to show some mercy. Look, my hair is almost all gone. Two divinations have already been given today, and I don't know if I can last until tomorrow. Even if I can wait, the children at home cannot!"

Pan Yu thought for a long time. Finally, he sighed and said to Xu Xian, "This is what is meant by human strength having its limits."

"It's just that when one is ill, one should seek a doctor. If it cannot be cured, it's because the physician you found was unskilled. Coming here is like climbing a tree to catch a fish."

Listening from the side, Xu Xian’s heart stirred as he thought of a possibility. He asked, "Is your illness characterized by hair loss and loose teeth?"

"Eh? How did you know?"

Xu Xian became even more certain of his judgment. "Did you recently pick up something and bring it home? Like a stone or something similar?"

The countryman’s face tightened, revealing a defensive look, but he said, "No, no, what would I have picked up?"

Xu Xian frowned. "Do you want to save your family's lives or not? If you do, tell the truth."

After a round of questioning, the countryman finally revealed the truth. A few days ago, he had fished something out of the field—a stone-carved cicada. It was crystal clear, looking like jade but not quite jade, and seemed to be of great value.

"Could it be a Gu Ice Cicada?" Pan Yu interjected.