C14 The Fortune Teller at the Bottom of the Bridge

Lin Fan heard this and frowned. He looked down, rummaging through his bag of money. From a mix of small bills, he pulled out two crisp hundred-dollar bills and handed them to Gu Yuan with a slightly embarrassed smile. "I'm just a small business owner myself. Take these two hundred dollars, and try not to get involved in any more shady dealings. If you really need money, you could sell small items like I do. It might not be fast cash, but it's still an income."

Gu Yuan, now quite wealthy, didn't care much for two hundred dollars, let alone two million. However, she knew how to decline politely, with a smile, because she was a well-mannered person. "No need, actually, I earn more than you do."

Just as she finished speaking, a customer approached her stall. Standing before her was a young boy in a school uniform, looking about thirteen or fourteen. He was chubby and fair-skinned, but there was a red mark on his face, as if someone had hit him.

He seemed nervous, his clean little hands clutching his backpack straps tightly. Hesitantly, he asked, "Excuse me... can you really tell fortunes here?"

Gu Yuan didn't reply immediately. Instead, she winked at Lin Fan next door, as if to signal that business had arrived.

Lin Fan's mouth twitched slightly. He glanced at the boy, silently wishing him luck and hoping he wouldn't lose too much money.

"Of course, what would you like to know?" Gu Yuan raised an eyebrow and spoke softly. After all, this was her first customer, and she needed to be gentle.

The little boy bit his lip, his eyes darting nervously, as if he was a bit timid. "I want to know how long my brother will live."

Gu Yuan's eyes narrowed for a moment, worried she might scare the boy. But then she smiled. "Kids shouldn't lie. You only have one brother and one sister at home. When did you get another brother?"

The boy's small fists clenched tighter, his face showing shock, as if he couldn't believe it. He bit his lip, a blush of shame spreading across his cheeks. "How did you know?"

"I figured it out, naturally." Gu Yuan tapped the boy's forehead, flicking away a hint of gloom. With a snap of her fingers, the gloom returned to his forehead. "Do you believe me now?"

Even Lin Fan, standing nearby, couldn't help but be surprised. Wasn't she supposed to be a fraud? Could this just be a lucky guess?

The boy couldn't help but believe. He grabbed Gu Yuan's hand, his expression intense, eyes welling up. "Can you help my sister? I'll pay whatever it takes."

Gu Yuan felt a headache coming on. She frowned slightly, raising her other hand to cover the boy's eyes. In an instant, he calmed down, though his eyes were still red, and he let out a sad sniffle.

"This trouble is something your sister brought upon herself. The one who tied the knot should untie it. Here's what we'll do: I have a talisman here. Take it and place it on your sister. After seven days, have her personally bury the cat's body. Make sure she does it with sincerity. If you're seeking peace, consider donating some money to the temple," Gu Yuan said, pulling out a talisman from a stack and handing it to the young boy.

Hearing that his sister could be saved, the boy eagerly took it. Afterward, he asked, "How much is the fortune-telling fee today?"

Lin Fan, curious about how much Gu Yuan would charge, listened intently.

With a slight smile under his mask, Gu Yuan replied, "One million, no bargaining."