Chapter 14

Chen Tianming had returned home early on this particular Friday. His parents were going to visit relatives in the countryside over the weekend, and his mom had called earlier in the week to ask him to come home on Friday night to look after their family-run convenience store.

This small store had been opened by his parents over ten years ago after their factory job had been terminated. It was the lifeline that had funded Chen Tianming's university education. He always thought about making big money one day to give his parents a comfortable life. He silently vowed to himself, "I will succeed."

By 8 p.m., Chen Tianming had reluctantly gone downstairs, applied some medicine, and opened the store. With many large retailers in the city now, business wasn't as good as it used to be. He decided to pass the time by reading a Jin Yong novel.

Despite the tough competition, he was lucky; within an hour of opening, he had already sold several dozen yuan worth of goods. He felt reassured that his father wouldn't scold him for being unproductive when he returned.

"Excuse me, do you have any instant noodles for fifty cents?" a voice interrupted Chen Tianming's reading.

Who could it be, disturbing him during such an exciting part of the story? He was engrossed in a scene where Wei Xiaobao was playfully bantering with Princess Jianning and Fang Yi. The thought of Wei Xiaobao with seven wives amused him; how lucky he would be if he could have even one like that.

"Excuse me, do you have any instant noodles for fifty cents?" the voice repeated, louder this time.

Chen Tianming reluctantly looked up. Who still called people "comrade" these days? He was taken aback by the sight of an elderly man, possibly in his sixties or seventies, with a youthful and healthy appearance. The man wore a string of prayer beads around his neck, an unusual sight since most people wore them on their wrists.

"Sir, I'll call you sir. We don't have fifty-cent noodles anymore. They're all one yuan now," Chen Tianming replied, feeling a bit sorry as he spoke. The wholesale price was fifty cents, but selling at one yuan was necessary to make a profit.

"I see. But I only have fifty cents left. It looks like I'll have to go hungry tonight," the elderly man sighed.

Feeling sorry for the man, Chen Tianming decided to be charitable. "Sir, I'll sell you the noodles for fifty cents."

"Thank you, comrade. You are a good person," the old man said, handing over the money and taking the noodles.

"Comrade, do you have hot water?" the man asked.

Chen Tianming, amused and slightly exasperated, decided to help further. "Sir, do you need a bowl too?"

"That would be even better!" the old man said happily.

"Sometimes you should just keep quiet," Chen Tianming muttered to himself, but he provided the hot water and a bowl.

A short while later, the old man finished his meager meal and wiped his mouth. "Who would have thought that instant noodles could be so delicious?"

"Really?" Chen Tianming almost fell off his chair. It seemed like the old man had never eaten instant noodles before, making Chen Tianming feel even more sorry for him.

"As long as you enjoyed it," Chen Tianming smiled. He thought about offering another pack for free but felt awkward bringing it up.

"Comrade, you are a good person. I am a fortune teller. Let me read your fortune to repay your kindness," the old man said, extending his hand.

"A fortune teller?" Chen Tianming was surprised. He had mistaken the man for a destitute scavenger, but now he thought the man might be a con artist. "Do you need my birthdate and time?" he asked skeptically.

"No, just show me your hand," the old man replied, shaking his head.

"Does it cost anything?" Chen Tianming didn't want to be tricked.

"No, it's my way of thanking you for the noodles," the old man reassured him.

"Okay, then," Chen Tianming thought, extending his hand.

The old man studied Chen Tianming's palm for a while, then looked at him closely, and finally smiled.

The smile confused Chen Tianming. He stood up and asked, "Sir, why are you smiling?"

"You have a very good bone structure. You are no ordinary person," the old man said happily.

Chen Tianming found this typical of street fortune tellers. "Sir, don't try to fool me. If I were extraordinary, would I be selling instant noodles?"

The old man smiled again. "You don't believe me? Didn't you have a serious illness ten years ago, and your health hasn't been great since?"

Chen Tianming was taken aback. "How do you know that? Are you guessing?" Indeed, he had been gravely ill ten years ago, and although he had survived, his health had never fully recovered, especially after being bitten by an insect, which had made him feel even more peculiar.

"Why don't you believe me?" the old man seemed a bit frustrated.

"Can you prove it somehow?" Chen Tianming was still skeptical.

The old man thought for a moment and then said, "Give me another pack of noodles and a bottle of water."