Chapter 21: Farewell, Changping

Luo Li seemed to have eyes on the back of his head, thinking to himself: This Lady Kang Thirteen, her body is that of a child, and her temper is just as childish.

When Luo Li returned home, he encountered someone else seeking his help.

Liao Xingfa, who runs a clothing business on the main street, had come to ask Luo Li for a wealth-attracting charm.

Luo Li found it both amusing and exasperating. He asked Liao Xingfa, "Your business isn't doing too badly, so why do you need this?"

Liao Xingfa explained, frustrated, that his business had been doing fairly well in Changping until Boss Cai opened his "Sihai Woolen Sweaters" store. At first, Sihai only sold woolen sweaters, which didn't impact his clothing business much.

However, one time, Liao Xingfa's wife made some snide remarks about Boss Cai's wife while on a buying trip in the provincial city. In retaliation, the Cai family started selling clothing, too, focusing on the same styles that Liao Xingfa's store carried. Their quality was inferior, but their prices were much lower.

As a result, Liao Xingfa's business suffered greatly. After what happened with Sister Lin, Luo Li had gained some notoriety in Changping, and Liao Xingfa figured he might as well try his luck with a wealth-attracting charm.

Luo Li shook his head. "Boss Liao, I don't deal in that kind of thing. Normally, I only read people's fortunes and predict good or bad luck. I don't do things like attracting wealth or altering fate."

Liao Xingfa assumed Luo Li wanted a higher price. "Master Luo, that's in normal circumstances. What about in special cases? How would you handle those?"

"In special cases, if someone's life isn't supposed to end but is about to, or if their luck is unjustly ruined, only then will I step in," Luo Li replied.

Hearing this, Liao Xingfa thought for a moment and said, "But isn't my situation exactly that? My business was doing fine until Sihai ruined it. How can you just ignore that?"

"But your situation is normal. The Sihai Woolen Sweaters didn't put a 'block-wealth charm' in front of your store," Luo Li joked.

Liao Xingfa didn't understand, but he wasn't discouraged. He explained his situation in detail. "Master Luo, I didn't know about your abilities before. If I had, I would have come to you sooner. I just built a house and still owe 50,000 yuan. With no business, it's not just about paying off the debt; my whole family is barely getting by. That Cai family is deliberately targeting me, trying to ruin my business over a casual remark. How petty can they be?"

Knowing Liao Xingfa's good heart, Luo Li felt sympathetic.

Hearing this, Luo Li's compassion was stirred. He also thought of Boss Cai—how during the incident with Sister Lin, he was too cowardly to take responsibility. Now, he was retaliating over a few words. It was despicable. An outsider doing such thriving business should remember that harmony brings wealth.

With that in mind, Luo Li said to Liao Xingfa, "I don't know much about business, but you can't always stay on the defensive. You need to think about adapting too. Go home; I'll help you. I won't draw you a charm, but your luck isn't bad. Just endure these few months, and things will improve."

Liao Xingfa, hearing that Luo Li would help him, felt reassured, even without the charm, knowing that Luo Li's word was trustworthy.

Relieved, he took out some money to give to Luo Li, but Luo Li declined and sent him on his way.

After a simple dinner, Luo Li took a stroll down the main street. Indeed, everything was as Liao Xingfa had said, and Luo Li couldn't help but admire the man's tenacity.

In business, it's one thing to lack courage, but being too vengeful is not good. Let's see you go without business for three months, stuck with all your unsold stock. Maybe then you'll learn a lesson.

When he reached the entrance of Sihai, Luo Li recited a few incantations. Everything went smoothly. After helping Liu Tianming's family, though his body had been weakened, he clearly felt an improvement in his magical abilities. Especially after breaking Tang Mizhu's withered leaf curse, Luo Li noticed his meridians ran more powerfully. Could it be that he was destined to follow this path?

Returning home, Luo Li sat down to meditate and practice his skills, but that's another story.