Boss Zhang shivered, quickly waving his hands: "Hall Master Gu, I, I just run a small business... Steward Huang came by a few days ago, and we even signed a document then... I..."
"I asked you to break a contract, not to lose a limb." Gu Labei's gaze darkened slightly, his voice so low it was almost inaudible, "You know, if I wanted to do something in this shop, I wouldn't even leave a witness."
Boss Zhang's throat made a 'gulp' sound, and large beads of cold sweat slid down his cheeks. He forced down the trembling in his knees and explained in a small voice:
"But I, I really cannot violate this agreement... Everyone is watching... If I break the rules, how can I continue to run this shop in the future... Besides, this Profound Ice Vine was ordered by Steward Huang; if someone else interferes, I can't bear the responsibility..."
"Can't bear it?" Gu Labei snorted coldly, the anger in his eyes chilling.
Huang Zidong, however, raised an eyebrow and sneered from the side: "The shopkeeper is right. Even if your Thousand Herbs Hall is powerful, you can't just trample on someone's dignity, can you? If we can't settle this reasonably, believe it or not, I'll report this matter to the Kefeng City Medicinal Materials Association and make your Thousand Herbs Hall look bad?"
"You think I'm afraid?" Gu Labei could no longer hide his anger, his voice rising.
"Why aren't you afraid?" Huang Zidong also raised his voice in response, "If you dare pressure him again, I will immediately go out and call the city guards over, letting the guards of the entire Marketplace see how the Thousand Herbs Hall bullies honest merchants!"
As this confrontation unfolded, more and more onlookers gathered outside the door. Some even began to whisper, occasionally glancing towards the Inner Hall, while others quietly muttered: "What, looks like a fight is about to break out?"
"Hurry up and fight, a fight means good entertainment."
"Gloating, just shut up..."
"Someone should go mediate..."
"Who is that young man over there? So handsome!"
The crowd murmured, and the Medicinal Materials Boss Zhang could barely stand, collapsing onto a small stool behind the counter, his face pleading:
"Two esteemed sirs, I beg you, can you stop causing a scene here? This tiny shop truly cannot withstand your arguing and fighting... Whoever offended whom, it is all my fault... Please give me a way to live, and be accommodating..."
Gu Labei listened, his expression as dark as iron. He stopped speaking, merely clenching his fists, the fierce light in his eyes surging.
Huang Zidong glanced at him, firmly tucked the Profound Ice Vine into his embrace, sneered, and shouted loudly: "Thousand Herbs Hall is trying to forcibly buy the Profound Ice Vine! Everyone look, come see how the Chief Hall Master bullies an honest merchant!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, the entire Medicinal Materials Street instantly became lively, and the Shopkeepers from several neighboring Apothecary Shops poked their heads out to look.
Some discussed, some pointed fingers, and even more squeezed into the shop, hoping to catch the excitement.
Li Jun, who had been engrossed in reading in a corner nearby, snapped his head up upon hearing the commotion, a flicker of vigilance crossing his eyes.
While packing his scrolls, he quickly moved next to Huang Zidong and asked in a low voice, "Brother Huang, what's going on?"
Huang Zidong's lips curved into a smile, and he replied lightly, "Someone is just disregarding the rules, but the bigger this gets, the better."
Gu Labei watched Huang Zidong turn and swagger away holding the Profound Ice Vine, his gaze like a sharp blade piercing the air.
In the end, he did not dare to make a move, only coldly watching the two figures disappear around the street corner.
The burly man behind him gritted his teeth: "Brother Gu, you're just letting them go like that?"
Gu Labei slowly exhaled, suppressing the anger on his face, and gave a cold laugh: "What's the rush? The Medicinal Materials haven't even reached the Medicinal Cuisine Workshop yet. As long as they are still wandering outside, there will be a chance."
He turned, his figure darting into the shadows of the alley like a leopard: "Let them be arrogant for a while longer."
Half a day later, Huang Zidong and Li Jun visited three Apothecary Shops and purchased all the remaining Medicinal Materials one by one. Huang Zidong checked them against the list for the Medicinal Cuisine Workshop and confirmed they were correct. He seemed much more relaxed, casually re-packaging and tightening the Profound Ice Vine, then patted Li Jun's shoulder and laughed:
"Finally done. You bought so many books, are you planning to open a private school back home?"
Li Jun scratched his head and replied with a smile, "Brother Huang, don't tease me. I just flip through them casually when I feel like it."
"Your mind is sharper than mine. I hate flipping through books," Huang Zidong laughed heartily.
Huang Zidong walked casually near the City Gate, his peripheral vision catching sight of an inconspicuous small stall ahead.
Beneath the stall hung a somewhat yellowed cloth banner, on which were written four hastily scrawled characters: "Fortune Telling, Knowing Heaven and Earth." The wind made the banner sway slightly; it looked quite old.
He raised his eyebrows, suddenly interested, veered his steps, and led Li Jun over.
The stall owner was an old man whose age was impossible to determine, with white hair and a white beard. He sat on a small wooden stool, his eyes slightly closed, looking as if he had just woken from a dream, his expression serene yet carrying a hint of the mysterious.
"Sir, I wish to have my fortune told," Huang Zidong said with a smile, his tone carrying a hint of teasing, mixed with curiosity.
The old man did not speak, merely raised a finger and pointed to the worn money box in front of the stall.
Huang Zidong smiled, took out a few coins from his embrace, and dropped them in. A few 'clinking' sounds later, he finally managed to attract the other's attention.
The fortune teller opened his eyes. His gaze was not sharp, yet it possessed an inexplicable, unnerving depth.
He pinched his fingers together, studied Huang Zidong's face for a few moments, frowned slightly, and after a moment of contemplation, spoke:
"If calculating for today, misfortune hangs over you; if discussing your destiny... misfortune carries a trace of fortune, and you will have the aid of a Benefactor."
"A Benefactor?" Huang Zidong raised an eyebrow, a half-smile on his face. "All I've encountered on this journey are sour faces from accountants or curses from Menial Laborers. Where is this Benefactor? Sir, perhaps you could be clearer."
The fortune teller did not answer directly, but instead turned his head and pointed to the divination stick container beside the stall.
Huang Zidong casually picked it up, shaking the container while muttering, "A Benefactor... Could it possibly be myself?"
Just as Huang Zidong was muttering, in the distance, a strong young woman accompanied by a servant was observing from afar.
"Miss, let's return to the Zhang Residence. Master is waiting for you to start the banquet." the servant advised.
That strong young woman was none other than the young lady of the Zhang Residence in West City, Zhang Huanyu. She was currently gazing at Huang Zidong in the distance with a lovesick expression. "I know, I know. You go find out for me—who is that young man who clashed with Gu Labei? What is his background, and what is his name? Go find out!"
The servant looked at Huang Zidong, nodded, thinking that he was just the young man arguing at the Apothecary Shop earlier. He could ask the Shopkeeper when they returned.
Afterward, the two departed.
How could Huang Zidong know someone was spying on him from afar? With a 'swish' sound, a bamboo stick fell out. He looked down; it was marked with the number "Thirteen."
The fortune teller picked up the stick, looked down at it, his lips moved slightly, and he murmured in a low voice: "Traversing the Xia Kingdom seeking a broken dream, unaware the Mortal World has already filled your heart."
"What does that mean?" Huang Zidong frowned. "Does it mean my dreams have been intermittent? Or has the Mortal World caused trouble?"
The old man closed his eyes again, as if savoring the hidden meaning of the stick. Then he looked at Huang Zidong's face and spoke after a long pause: "Your physiognomy—a wide forehead, dense eyebrows, a prominent nose bridge, and a pointed chin—forms a square shape. This is the appearance of nobility... but your temperament is too pure, your actions too straightforward, making it difficult to tolerate the vulgar world."
Huang Zidong listened, his face full of suspicion, scratching his head as he muttered to himself, "I'm just a Menial Laborer at an Apothecary Shop. Saying I have the appearance of nobility, haven't you mixed things up?"
The fortune teller shook his head faintly. "Nobility has nothing to do with status. You have noble energy in your fate, but it may not lead to a smooth path. Instead of being aloof and avoiding the mundane, keeping a third part greed and foolishness will make it easier to follow your destiny."
Upon hearing this, Huang Zidong found the words profound yet true. He quickly took out paper and a pen. "Sir, please speak slowly, I'll write it down... 'A third part greed and foolishness,' 'follow destiny'... Ah, my handwriting isn't good, please don't laugh at me."
The old man glanced at him, his eyes holding a half-smile, and shook his head. "Writing it down is fine, but whether you remember it or not, what is meant to happen will happen."
He repeated his previous words once more without further explanation.
After speaking, he closed his eyes again to rest, waving his hand to signal that the two could leave.
As they were leaving, the fortune teller warned Huang Zidong, who was turning away. Seeing his forehead bright and clear, in an instant, a Black Light flashed across his brow, and disaster suddenly appeared. He needed to handle matters carefully in the coming days.
Li Jun, watching from the side, was completely bewildered. "Brother Huang, what exactly did that gentleman say to you? Why does it sound like both a Benefactor and Black Light?"
Huang Zidong put away his notes and sighed, completely confused. "He said I need to keep a lower profile and stop pretending to be so pure... He also said my fate is good and I will have a Benefactor. But this Benefactor has no address, that's it?"
Li Jun nodded thoughtfully. "Then if you really meet them in the future, you must let me see what the Benefactor looks like, so I can benefit too."
Huang Zidong laughed heartily and clapped him on the shoulder.
As the two walked away, the fortune-telling stall behind them remained quietly standing, the banner swaying gently in the wind.
Although Huang Zidong appeared unconcerned on the surface, the fortune teller's words seemed to have planted a seed in his heart, subtly causing him a degree of confusion and doubt.
The fortune teller saying he had the appearance of nobility truly made him happy.
As for those obscure comments, Huang Zidong copied them down to ponder later.
In the Marketplace, Huang Zidong walked with his head down, contemplating the comment written on the slip of paper containing the poem, his expression thoughtful.
Li Jun beside him was excited the whole way, looking everywhere, occasionally stopping to exclaim "Wow" at some strange little trinket, like a lively monkey.
"Traversing the Xia Kingdom seeking a broken dream, unaware the Mortal World has already filled your heart," Huang Zidong muttered as he walked, frowning in thought. No matter how he looked at it, it seemed like a riddle.
As evening approached, the two finally lost interest and prepared to head back home.