Street Stories: A True Account of a Group of Blind Men in the Underworld

The next day, Qiao Yang spent the entire day pacing back and forth near the fortune teller's house, waiting.

The mountain wind swirled with fine white snow, stinging and biting his face. He waited from dawn till dusk, telling three fortunes and drawing lots along the way; business was alright.

But he always felt a heavy weight in his heart, as if a huge stone was pressing down on him—the man who had harbored evil intentions and planned to abandon his wife and children never appeared from beginning to end.

By noon the next day, the snow had gradually stopped.

Qiao Yang wrapped his cotton-padded coat tightly around himself, gripped the saddle pole he was using to probe the way, and carefully made his way step by step to the place where the eldest sister-in-law's husband worked.

He took out a copper flute from his pocket and began to play it gently. The flute music spread slowly with the cold wind, drifting into the distance like an invisible thread that unconsciously caught the footsteps of passersby.

Not long after, a series of slow, sluggish footsteps stopped in front of him.

"Sir, can you tell my fortune? Please tell me about my recent luck."

Based solely on that voice, Qiao Yang could tell that this person wasn't inherently bad.

He said gently, "It's possible to do a divination. However, it's crowded and windy here. It would be better to find a quiet place, such as your home or your dormitory at work, where it's peaceful and quiet, and the divination results will be more accurate."

"No, no, it's inconvenient at home or work!"

The man hurriedly waved his hand, his words full of evasion and guilt, "Let's go over there to the wall, it'll be warmer and sheltered from the wind, and you won't get cold, sir."

After saying that, he took the initiative to reach out and carefully supported Qiao Yang's arm, slowly moving to the base of the sheltered earthen wall.

The two squatted down, and the man rubbed his hands, which were red from the cold, vigorously before giving his birth date and time.

After listening, Qiao Yang understood most of it.

To be on the safe side, he didn't immediately point it out, and said in a calm tone:

"Husband and wife are one, their fates are closely intertwined, one prospers and the other suffers."

Tell me your wife's birth date as well. Only by comparing the birth charts of both of you can we see the fortunes and misfortunes ahead in the rest of your life.

The man hesitated for a moment, his eyes darting around, but he eventually revealed his wife's birthday.

After hearing this, Qiao Yang was even more certain of the person asking the question's identity.

He held the horse pole tightly in his arms, his right fingers rapidly calculating in his left palm, while he muttered divination incantations under his breath.

After about half a cup of tea's time, he slowly raised his head. His blind eyes seemed to see through people's hearts, and every word he spoke was steady, powerful, and full of weight.

"You and your wife are a perfect match, your destinies are compatible. Over the years, it is all thanks to the good fortune she has accumulated that your whole family has been protected."

She is filial to her elders, kind to her children, and devoted to you wholeheartedly. She is your greatest support and source of confidence in this life.

If you insist on separating from her, your family will never have peace, your own good fortune and luck will dissipate, and you will face countless obstacles and difficulties in everything you do.

The man's breath hitched, the feigned ease on his face vanished instantly, and he froze on the spot, unable to utter a single word for a long time.

Qiao Yang raised his hand again to calculate, his tone suddenly turning serious and authoritative:

"These past two years have been a period of fluctuating fortunes for you. You've been experiencing bad luck and setbacks in everything you've done. You should be content with your lot and stay true to yourself."

If one is blinded by temptations and heartlessly abandons one's wife and children, indulging only in one's own selfish desires and pleasures, one will at best suffer financial losses and misfortunes, and at worst face the destruction of one's family, betrayal by all, and never have a chance to turn one's life around.

Treat your wife well, shoulder the responsibilities of a husband and father, and live a stable life; that's your only way out.

After he finished speaking, the surrounding biting cold wind seemed to freeze in silence.

Qiao Yang couldn't see the man's expression, but he could clearly hear the man's rapid and panicked breathing.

In the freezing winter, the man felt hot all over and his heart was pounding; clearly, every word had struck a nerve. His previously resolute decision to divorce was now wavering violently.

For the next few days, Qiao Yang visited this place. It was nestled against a cliff, with a gentle mountain breeze, a wide view, and fairly expansive scenery.

He felt secretly relieved; this advice and persuasion had sown a seed of good karma, allowing the family to return to harmony.

But to his utter surprise, trouble was just beginning to find him.

That evening, Qiao Yang was on his way to the inn to meet Lin Hai when a charming yet arrogant voice suddenly rang out from behind him, blocking his path.

"Hey, you blind fool, come here and tell my fortune too."

Qiao Yang stopped immediately upon hearing the voice. Judging from the arrogant and domineering tone, he instantly guessed the identity of the person without much thought—it was the young woman who seduced a married man and deliberately destroyed someone else's family.

The man was dressed in a brightly colored cotton-padded jacket, looking very well-dressed, and his eyes and brows were full of contempt and disdain.

She didn't believe in fortune telling or divination at all. She came here deliberately to cause trouble and make things difficult for Qiao Yang, trying to force him to overturn what he had said during the day.

She crossed her arms and spoke with an arrogant expression:

"I just want to ask, can I and that man you consulted this morning have a long-term relationship?"

Qiao Yang didn't mince words; he deliberately calculated with his fingers for a moment, then his tone suddenly turned cold:

"You are born with a peach blossom curse, which makes you prone to clashing with other people's marriages. It is a typical sign of ruining your family and relationships."

If one insists on interfering in someone else's marriage, violating basic human ethics, within three months, one will inevitably encounter undeserved misfortune. At best, one will suffer injury, physical harm, and illness; at worst, one will face lawsuits and imprisonment, be subjected to lifelong criticism and gossip, and end up alone and lonely in old age.

Upon hearing this, the woman's face turned deathly pale. Shocked and furious, she immediately pointed at Qiao Yang and began to hurl insults.

"You blind liar! You're talking complete nonsense! You're deliberately fabricating lies to curse me!"

She remained defiant and refused to back down, uttering a few harsh words before storming off angrily. But Qiao Yang's words had already planted a seed of fear in her heart.

The next morning, Qiao Yang and Lin Hai had just finished breakfast when there was a knock on the door.

Upon opening the door, a middle-aged woman in her forties entered. She greeted everyone with a broad smile, her eyes scanning the room before she asked:

"Excuse me, which one of you is Mr. Qiao Yang?"

Qiao Yang stood up and gestured for the other person to sit down, then casually asked:

"Did you come all this way to have your fortune told?"

The woman immediately waved her hand, her smile vanishing instantly, replaced by a serious expression:

"I don't do fortune telling; I'm a local official. I'm here today specifically to explain the new regulations and policies to you two and have a few serious questions."

Qiao Yang and Lin Hai quickly stood up to greet their guest, with Qiao Yang bowing slightly in greeting.

"Understanding the new regulations and national policies is our duty, comrades, please speak."

The woman sat up straight, coughed forcefully, and got straight to the point:

"Are you aware of the newly implemented Marriage Law in our country?"

Qiao Yang nodded slowly: "I've heard a little about it."

After receiving a response, the woman immediately launched into a long explanation:

"The new law emphasizes free love and autonomy in marriage. Men and women should marry according to their own wishes, and no one else is allowed to interfere."

Freedom of marriage is a rule of the new society, and no one can obstruct it. You make a living by fortune-telling; how dare you interfere in other people's marital affairs?

A few words instantly made the atmosphere in the room tense and oppressive.

Qiao Yang's mind raced, and he instantly realized what was going on.

Yesterday, that young woman came to my door to cause trouble, trying to force me to change my mind and acknowledge her affair; today, a village official came to my door, deliberately making trouble under the guise of the Marriage Law. What a coincidence!

Having figured out the intricacies of the situation, Qiao Yang remained remarkably calm, neither annoyed nor angry. He picked up the teacup on the table, took a small sip, and spoke in a composed and even tone:

"Comrade, I naturally understand the purpose of the Marriage Law. I agree with the principles of opposing arranged marriages, abandoning outdated customs, and giving young people the right to make their own choices."

Changing the subject, his cloudy, lifeless eyes stared directly at the woman, his tone calm yet firm:

"But the new law doesn't teach people to abandon their wives and children, break up families, or interfere in other people's marriages. Free love is a premarital affair; once married, couples should support each other and live together in harmony. Only then can the word 'freedom' be truly lived up to. Don't you agree?"

The woman's lips twitched, and she let out two "ah, ah" sounds, unable to respond for a moment.