The Marriage Fate Formation
“Two benefactors, this humble monk can interpret fortune slips and alter fate!” A sudden voice rang out behind the two of them.
Jiang Yi turned around to see a thin, elderly man standing behind them, with a sparse gray goatee and small eyes gleaming with an eerie light.
The old man wore gray Taoist robes, his grayish-white hair coiled atop his head. One hand rested behind his back while the other stroked his beard, presenting an appearance of ethereal immortality.
Seeing Xiao Wenya and Jiang Yi looking at him, the old Taoist stroked his beard a few times and introduced himself. “My humble surname is Cao. You two benefactors may address me as Taoist Cao.”
Xiao Wenya thought Taoist Cao’s attire looked quite authentic, so she handed over the bamboo fortune slip in her hand.
“Taoist Cao, could you tell us what this fortune slip means?”
“Madam, what was this slip drawn for?”
Xiao Wenya pulled Jiang Yi over. “This is my son who drew it, seeking marriage fortune!”
“This… I’m afraid!”
Taoist Cao stroked his beard, his face grave.
Xiao Wenya panicked and hurriedly asked, “Taoist Cao, what does this fortune slip mean?”
“‘Chiseling stone and dredging rivers, efforts spent in vain. Fine gold and beautiful jade, none to obtain. Ten thousand miles of mountains and rivers, paths rugged and steep. Through life and death experiences, wandering to foreign lands.’“
“Just from the literal meaning alone, it’s worrying! Just now, this old man calculated with his fingers—your son has no wife in his destiny!”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Wenya nearly fainted from shock. She was still waiting to hold her grandchild.
Jiang Yi, listening from the side, was so angry he couldn’t stop sneering coldly.
These charlatan Taoists, spouting nonsense and running their mouths, weren’t they ultimately just trying to scam money?
Jiang Yi scoffed dismissively, but Xiao Wenya had already believed it and anxiously asked, “Taoist Cao, my old Jiang family has only this one heir. If he has no wife in his destiny, won’t our Jiang family line end with him!”
Seeing his own mother successfully fooled by the old Taoist, Jiang Yi anxiously tugged at Xiao Wenya’s clothes.
However, Xiao Wenya had already been bewitched by the old Taoist’s phrase “no wife in his destiny” and completely ignored Jiang Yi.
The old Taoist then pulled out a paper package from his pocket. Opening it revealed several pieces of yellow paper with chaotic red lines drawn on them, along with some red threads and wooden posts.
“Madam, do not worry. This humble monk has several magical implements here that can alter your son’s marriage fortune.”
Upon hearing her son could be saved, Xiao Wenya’s eyes gleamed as they fixed on the paper package in the old Taoist’s hand. After seeing the items inside the package clearly, she became somewhat uncertain.
“Taoist Cao, don’t take offense at my bluntness, but can these things really help my son alter his marriage fortune? They look so…”
Taoist Cao wasn’t bothered by the questioning and explained kindly. “You don’t know—these magical implements may look unremarkable, but when combined with the formation array, the effects become mysterious and profound. This formation array of mine is based on…”
Taoist Cao opened his floodgates of talk, launching into an elaborate explanation.
Jiang Yi could no longer endure it. He pulled his mother over and said, “Mom, this doesn’t sound reliable at all. If this formation array really worked, why would there still be so many bachelors across the country?”
Xiao Wenya had by now awakened from her dazed state and also felt the old Taoist was exaggerating things to mythical proportions. But with the mindset of “better to believe it exists than to believe it doesn’t,” she still decided not to miss any opportunity to attract romantic prospects for her son.
“Taoist Cao, it’s not that we don’t trust you, it’s just that this matter sounds too miraculous!”
“Madam, we who have left home do not speak falsehoods. Today we are fated to meet, which is why I’m imparting this formation array to you. If you don’t believe me, there’s nothing I can do. This humble monk won’t waste your time!” With that, Taoist Cao flicked his sleeve and made to leave.
Xiao Wenya hurriedly stopped him. “Taoist Cao, don’t be angry! It’s not that I don’t believe you—can this formation array really help my son alter his marriage fortune?”
“This humble monk is the abbot of Fengshan Temple. How would I casually deceive people?” A trace of displeasure rose on Taoist Cao’s face.
Xiao Wenya quickly apologized with a smile. “Taoist Cao, I didn’t mean it that way…”
Jiang Yi looked at Taoist Cao with contempt. “Mom, don’t listen to his nonsense. This old Taoist is just trying to scam money.”
“Little brother, this old man, with a compassionate heart of saving people for good, will give you this formation array for free!” Taoist Cao stroked his sparse goatee with a magnanimous air of saving the world without seeking reward.
Upon hearing there was such a good deal, Xiao Wenya immediately snatched the paper package from the old Taoist’s hand, beaming with joy as she thanked him. “Taoist Cao, you’re truly like Guanyin who relieves suffering and difficulty. If the formation array really works, I’ll definitely come to your temple to fulfill my vow.”
(TL: 观世音 (Guānshìyīn) refers to Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion in Chinese Buddhism, often called the “Goddess of Mercy” in English.)
Seeing his mother actually take the old Taoist’s things, Jiang Yi anxiously pulled Xiao Wenya aside. “Mom, why do you still believe this stuff?”
“Better to believe it exists than to believe it doesn’t! If you’d just marry a wife and bring her home earlier, would your mom need to believe in these supernatural things?” Xiao Wenya couldn’t help but complain.
“Mom, this old Taoist’s origins are unclear. Who knows if he has ulterior motives? Quickly return the things to him!” As Jiang Yi spoke, he went to grab the paper package Xiao Wenya clutched to her chest.
Xiao Wenya gripped it tightly and wouldn’t let go. “Trying it once won’t kill anyone—what are you afraid of? Maybe it really can attract romantic prospects for you! Besides, we’re not paying money—why not?”
“Mom, we can’t casually accept things from strangers. Even three-year-old children know this—how can you be so confused?”
“How dare you talk like that, calling your own mother old and confused? I’ll beat you to death!”
Xiao Wenya clenched her back teeth and fiercely pinched Jiang Yi’s arm.
Jiang Yi covered his arm and dodged repeatedly, wailing. “Mom, Mom, go easy, go easy!”
Cough! Cough!
Taoist Cao coughed lightly twice, reminding the mother and son who were in the midst of their quarrel.
Xiao Wenya came back to her senses, only then remembering an old immortal was still standing beside them.
She kicked her son and apologized with a smile. “Taoist Cao, the child doesn’t know any better. Please be magnanimous and don’t hold it against him.”
Taoist Cao smiled benevolently. “Your son is young and hot-blooded after all. It’s fine if he doesn’t believe this old man. Once the formation array takes effect, he’ll know what this old man said wasn’t baseless talk.”
Jiang Yi was so angry his eyes nearly popped out. However, his mother had already been mesmerized dizzy by this charlatan Taoist. Though filled with resentment, he was ultimately helpless.
Xiao Wenya carefully noted down the matters related to the formation array and thanked Taoist Cao profusely. Jiang Yi really couldn’t stand watching anymore and dragged away Xiao Wenya, who was still reluctant to leave, departing in anger.
The departing pair didn’t notice the mocking glint in Taoist Cao’s eyes or the cold smile at the corners of his lips.