Chapter 5 Part 1 Mother's Fate And Temptation
After his mother left, Qi felt the urge to spit directly onto Pingshan's face.
But Pingshan was skilled in reading people, so he immediately distanced himself from Qi, smiling apologetically:
"Even a Taoist must find a way to make a living."
Qi sneered coldly:
"My mother usually calculates even when buying vegetables she'll nickel-and-dime over a few yuan. And you, just with a few words, fooled her into buying incense worth a hundred, nearly two hundred yuan... You're really something." He couldn't spit on Pingshan's face, so he spat on the ground instead.
Pingshan chuckled with self-mockery. "Hehe, well... that's a skill too, isn't it?"
The two gazed as Qi's mother entered the Sanqing Hall, perfumed incense smoke trailing behind her. Then Pingshan lowered his voice, speaking seriously:
"Little brother Qi... though you're still young, your learning already surpasses most your age. There are words I should never say to a child. But perhaps it's better I tell you."
Qi blinked. "Daoist, don't hold back. Speak plainly."
Pingshan hesitated, troubled. But after studying Qi's calm face, he finally whispered:
"I know a bit of physiognomy... forgive me for being blunt, but your mother's countenance is unusual dangerous even."
Qi frowned. "My mother's physiognomy is bad?"
Pingshan shook his head softly. "Not bad. Merely... extreme. Your mother's face is exceptionally beautiful ordinary fortune-tellers would see it as a face that brings prosperity to her husband and glory to the household. If I guess right, your father must have prospered right after marrying her?"
Qi recalled indeed how his grandfather once said: ever since Father wed Mother, his career had soared. The family had risen collectively over the past decade.
"That matches your words, 'prosperous husband, flourishing home.'"
"But," said Pingshan gravely, "it's too good. In ancient terms, such a visage belongs to an empress. A woman meant to mother the world."
Qi jumped. "What? 'Mother of the world'? Old brother Pingshan, don't make jokes like that! If people hear, that's enough to get you executed!"
"It's just my humble words. Listen or not, it matters little. Her face is truly unmatched paired with a man of weak fate, it will lead to tragedy, blood, calamity. Unless..."
He paused. He had intended to tell Qi the full salacious truth her brows were like new moons, her eyes like flowing water, lips with traces of peach blossom tint a physiognomy of lust. But he couldn't bring himself to.
Instead, Qi finished for him, casually:
"And she bears the peach-blossom flush, doesn't she?"
Pingshan's eyes widened. "You already know?"
"I read fortune-telling texts two years ago. Didn't fully understand back then, but now I get it better. I already noticed her aspect myself. Just... I never thought of it as 'empress-like.'"
"Well then... that makes it easier. Lustful or not isn't key the danger is her beauty exceeds all balance. Without the right mate, she may bring early death."
Qi frowned. "Physiognomy. True if you believe, nonsense if not. My family are firm Marxists. Old brother Pingshan, surely it can't be that serious."
But he still thought of how strangely accurate Pingshan had been before.
Pingshan sighed lightly. "Perhaps. But in my decades of cultivation, I've never once seen such a face until today. If not for your mother, I'd have doubted my master's teachings, that such a visage even existed."
"So what are you saying then?" Qi probed.
"My master once described methods to avert the ill-fortune of such a face. If followed, her kin could be safe."
Qi leaned in, curious. "Then tell me. If something really happens in my family, I'll know what to do."
"The method is simple but strange. For common people, one accumulates virtue by doing good, to invite fortune. But for one with such a face, it must be the reverse. She must commit acts against ethics, against nature acts of taboo so that part of her destiny gets vented. Only then can fate balance and protect her family."
Qi laughed. "Against morals? You're telling me my mother must murder, rebel, commit evil? Don't joke. Nowadays, anyone who tries rebellion gets crushed by the Party before you can blink."
He grinned at the absurdity. For religions to preach doing good was normal yet here was this Taoist claiming she must deliberately do wrong.
Pingshan reddened. "Don't laugh so loud! I only repeat my master's sayings. Still, your posture... enough! Stop laughing, I'll have to crawl into a hole at this rate!"
But Qi laughed harder, nearly bent over, face flushed red.
Meanwhile his mother, oblivious, finished burning incense and making vows. She stepped out refreshed, cheerful, buoyed by a sense of accomplishment.
Leaving Xiangyun Monastery, she was all smiles, striding briskly. Qi had to trot to keep up, struggling against his weak frame.
But it proved the power of faith her lightened mood showed it plainly.
Qi also learned something from Pingshan not that "taboo method," but the breathing and exercise techniques of Taoist cultivation.
Qi had read of them, but until witnessing Pingshan demonstrate, he hadn't known the specifics.
Truth be told, it wasn't much different from school calisthenics, except with more emphasis on breath and rhythm.
His mother, intrigued, tried briefly herself, but soon dismissed it, finding it just like yoga or aerobics.
On their way home, at a crosswalk, she relaxed too much. Seeing the light turn green she stepped out, not noticing a car turning fast on an amber light.
Qi reacted instantly, yanking her back but his weak body fell, dragging her with him. She landed sprawled on top of him.
The pain of the fall was sharp. But the press of her soft, full chest against his made his heart race in a strange, forbidden pleasure.
For a fleeting instant, he wished she wouldn't rise again. But she did, flustered, pulling herself up and fussing over him. "Qi! Are you alright?!"
He answered yes but inside, he felt hollow disappointment.
In his mind sprang the image of her sprawling in the park with a lover, unwilling to rise then.
The hit-and-run car never stopped, disappearing away. She cursed angrily. They had no plate number; they could only accept their bad luck.