I Become The Richest Man With A monthly Salary of Twenty Thousand Yuan-Chapter 572 - 421 Making a Fool of Oneself (Part 2)

Chapter 572: Chapter 421 Making a Fool of Oneself (Part 2)

"Master Qiu truly is a master."

At the same time, Chu Guoying glanced at Xia Liang, his tone suddenly changing. "Master Qiu has already made his prediction. What about you?" he asked.

Xia Liang replied indifferently, "Physiognomy is enough for me. Elder Chu Guoying, just ask whatever you want to know."

Master Qiu let out a cold laugh. "Physiognomy? What a fraud."

"Very well, then I shall ask." Chu Guoying formally began his inquiry, turning his full attention to Master Qiu as if Xia Liang wasn’t even there. "Master Qiu, I’m already ninety years old. My greatest concern is naturally how many more years I have to live and how the Chu Family will develop after I’m gone. Please, enlighten me."

"Alright." Master Qiu nodded, silently studying the character ’Lin’ written on the paper. He occasionally stroked his chin in a show of deep, troubled contemplation. After a long moment, he slowly began to speak. "Congratulations, Elder! This is a most auspicious sign!"

"The character ’Lin’ is composed of two trees, and many trees together form a great forest. Likewise, the members of the Chu Family have rosy, radiant complexions. This is a sign of the family’s magnificent fortune! The Chu Family’s prosperity will at least double in the future."

This was a common trick among charlatans: simply affirm the client’s hopes, and you could never go wrong.

"Wonderful! I knew the Chu Family was destined for more than this!" Old Master Chu said, his expression growing anxious. "But Master Qiu, my lifespan... how many years do I have left?"

Master Qiu let out a long sigh. "Elder, I’m afraid you only have two years left."

At this, the old master’s expression dimmed. "Two years... that’s enough." But as he looked at Master Qiu, a different light flickered in his eyes. After a pause, he asked carefully, "Master Qiu, you mentioned earlier that you can extend a person’s life. Is that true?" 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

"What? You think two years isn’t enough, Elder?" Master Qiu’s lips curled into a smirk. The big fish has taken the bait.

"Well, I do hope to live past a hundred," Chu Guoying admitted with an awkward smile.

At this, Master Qiu feigned deep contemplation, finally speaking as if he’d made a momentous decision. "I can, indeed, extend a person’s life... but the toll it takes on me is immense!"

"That is a small matter!" Chu Guoying’s spirits lifted instantly at Master Qiu’s nod. "We will absolutely compensate you for your troubles, Master Qiu."

"Very well," Master Qiu said. "But now is not the time to discuss this."

With that, Master Qiu turned to Xia Liang, whom they had completely ignored throughout their conversation. Feeling confident that a huge payday was secured, Master Qiu relaxed and said condescendingly, "Boy, it’s your turn. Let’s see what you can come up with."

Xia Liang let out a soft chuckle and didn’t hold back.

"I’ll tell you this, Old Master Chu. You won’t live for more than three months," he said calmly. "And after you die, the Chu Family will completely disintegrate within a year."

The moment he finished speaking, everyone at the main table froze in stunned silence. Has this boy gone mad? Saying such things at Elder Chu Guoying’s birthday celebration!

"You—" Chu Guoying glared at Xia Liang, about to unleash a string of curses. But when he met Xia Liang’s gaze, he faltered. For some reason, a chilling feeling crept over him. Everything he’s saying... it feels true!

Master Qiu scoffed. "Don’t talk nonsense, boy. The Elder has two years of life, and the Chu Family has a great future ahead."

The other family members were already muttering about having the guests thrown out.

Chu Yiyi sneered, "Chu Lingmu, you really picked a winner. How dare you let him say the Old Master won’t live past three months on his birthday? After today, you can forget about being a member of the Chu Family!" She clearly wanted to use this as an excuse to expel Chu Lingmu. Yet, for some reason, when Chu Guoying looked into Xia Liang’s eyes, he felt the young man wasn’t lying.

"Everyone, wait!" Chu Guoying’s voice cut through the noise. After a moment of contemplation, the room fell silent. He fixed his gaze on Xia Liang. "If you’re going to say I won’t live past three months, you had better have a good reason."

Xia Liang gave a faint smile. "Terminal cancer. Three months is being generous."

"T-Terminal cancer?" The words struck the room like lightning. Everyone was stunned, and an icy chill washed over Chu Guoying.

Xia Liang continued, unperturbed. "Old Master Chu, your headaches started about two months ago, didn’t they?"

"H-how did you know that?" Chu Guoying’s eyes filled with disbelief. The other family members were also baffled. How could Xia Liang possibly know that?

Xia Liang went on, "Now, use your hand and press the back of your head, at a spot about four finger-widths up from your left ear. Tell me if you feel anything."

"Alright!" Elder Chu Guoying’s hand trembled as he reached for the back of his head. Everyone else watched, stunned into silence.

"Four finger-widths..." he muttered to himself, locating the spot Xia Liang had described. He then applied gentle pressure.

"It hurts! Why does it hurt so much?!"

Xia Liang calmly explained, "Ordinarily, a brain tumor wouldn’t cause pain from external pressure. However, you suffered a head injury when you were younger, Old Master. The combination of these factors allows the pain to be felt from the outside."

Elder Chu Guoying could no longer sit still. I didn’t even know pressing that spot would hurt, but he knew exactly. And how could he possibly know about what happened when I was young? That injury happened when I was far from home. No one in the Chu Family ever knew about it!

"As for why the Chu Family will fall apart," Xia Liang continued, his voice steady, "you’ll have to ask your sons."

At this, Chu Guoying’s suspicious gaze swept over the other men at the main table. For a moment, not a single one of them dared to meet his eyes.

Chu Guoying realized there was something fishy going on and asked urgently, "Why is it related to them?"

Xia Liang was in no hurry. He swept his gaze around the table before answering slowly. "Old Master, a few years ago, you had a habit of getting regular check-ups at the hospital. If you had maintained that habit, this tumor would have been found in its early, treatable stages. Unfortunately..."

He paused for effect. "Your sons have been coveting your fortune for a long time. They’ve likely hidden this from you while they’ve already carved up your assets for after you’re dead. Why would they have time to take you to the hospital? Furthermore, they are secretly at each other’s throats, constantly scheming against one another. Do you truly believe a family like this can hold together after you’re gone?"

As his words fell, the main table descended into a chilling silence. Chu Guoying’s sons stared at Xia Liang with expressions of pure dread. The secret division of father’s assets... only we knew about that. How does Chu Lingmu’s boyfriend know?

"Is this true?" Chu Guoying muttered, his gaze falling upon his sons.

Though they scrambled to offer explanations, their panicked expressions betrayed them.

"No wonder... no wonder you told me not to bother writing a will," the Old Master said, his voice trembling with disillusionment. "It was because you’d already divided everything amongst yourselves. Have you forgotten? I told you all that our Chu Family must never be split!" He sagged back into his chair, letting out a long, weary sigh.

I can’t let this kid ruin my payday! Master Qiu thought, and he abruptly shot to his feet. "Nonsense! The Old Master is in perfect health! I’ve already resolved his headache problem. Once I grant him another five years of life, none of this will be an issue!"

Seeing Master Qiu interject, Chu Guoying’s sons quickly chimed in with their support.

Master Qiu pointed a finger at Xia Liang. "Young man, what are your intentions? Sowing discord in the Chu Family on the Old Master’s birthday!"

Xia Liang calmly poured himself a cup of tea, his expression unchanged. "Whether I’m telling the truth or not, the Old Master knows it in his heart. He just needed someone to point it out for him." His gaze then shifted to Master Qiu.

"As for you..." Xia Liang’s expression turned icy. He slammed his hand on the table, the sharp sound cutting through the tension. His voice was now laced with steel.

Master Qiu flinched. "M-Me? What about me?"