366: 360th Chapter: Father and Son of the Ma Clan 366: 360th Chapter: Father and Son of the Ma Clan Chen Hai couldn’t tell if it was due to being too tense, or if Ma Chengshu’s kick had just been a little too powerful.
Four-eyed Ma Xiaoteng nearly face-planted, a dog eating dirt.
With one hand braced against the ground, he barely managed to steady himself.
Once he stood back up, his already shy demeanor had turned his face as red as a monkey’s butt.
“Master… Master Hou…” Stammering, Ma Xiaoteng greeted Hou Donggui.
That recent scene had maxed out his embarrassment.
At this moment, with his head hung low, he simply didn’t dare take another look at Hou Donggui.
“This kid is a bottle that doesn’t pour easily, not one tooting fart comes out when you kick him three times, a bit introverted by nature.”
“Last year, he just graduated from the Computer Engineering Department at Shen University and now he’s working at a pager company.”
“His job is pretty relaxed, and the salary is quite decent.”
“But this kid isn’t one to give parents peace of mind; can you believe he’s thinking about quitting his good job to start his own business?”
“Isn’t every entrepreneur adept at networking, smooth and savvy?
With his bashful nature, is he really cut out for this?”
…
Giving his son, Ma Xiaoteng, a sharp glare, Ma Chengshu’s expression softened into a smile as soon as he turned back to Hou Donggui.
Pouring his heart out, he chatted with Hou Donggui as they walked towards the living room.
As for Ma Xiaoteng, his cheeks burning with shame, he trudged along behind the two men without saying a word, head down.
“President Ma, bringing your son to visit me so suddenly, I’m not sure…”
After inviting the Mas to sit on the couch, Hou Donggui poured them each a steaming cup of tea.
Listening to Ma Chengshu go on and on about his son, Hou Donggui was utterly confused and somewhat unable to continue listening.
Seizing the opportunity while pouring tea for Ma Chengshu, he cut in to ask.
“It’s like this, Master Hou, our boy keeps badgering me to quit his job and to go into business for himself.”
“We’ve argued about this several times; in my opinion, he’s got his head clouded by eating too much lard.”
“Master Hou, I have not only heard of but also witnessed firsthand your metaphysical prowess.”
“I’ve come here hoping you could take a look at how my son’s fortune fares.
Can he achieve any notable success in business?”
Seeing Hou Donggui somewhat impatient, Ma Chengshu stopped beating around the bush and stated his purpose directly.
Compared to real power players, he was lacking in both status and position.
He had known Hou Donggui for many years but wasn’t close enough to pull rank in front of him.
The primary reason he had come to Hou Donggui was that he had a good understanding of Hou Donggui’s character and felt that Hou Donggui would likely not refuse him.
“President Ma, I’m really sorry, but I truly can’t help you with this matter.”
“To look at your son’s financial and career prospects?
That’s not my forte; my understanding is very limited.”
“You can go out on the street, find any fortune-telling blind man, and their skills in this regard are likely much better than mine.”
Hou Donggui shook his head with a wry smile, politely declining.
Forget now, with his Mana all gone; even when he had been in full possession of his powers, he was just as clueless about fortune-telling and divination.
“Master Hou, may I have a word in private?”
Casting a glance at his son Ma Xiaoteng, who seemed uncomfortably fidgeting on the couch without paying much attention this way,
Ma Chengshu deliberately moved closer to Hou Donggui and whispered with a lowered voice.
“Alright!” Hesitating for a while, Hou Donggui nodded in agreement.
If they were two strangers, he might suspect some ulterior motives behind being asked to step aside for a private word while the other stayed in the living room.
But this Ma Chengshu in front of him, although not quite a high official, had some stature to him!
Speaking privately to him while leaving his son Ma Xiaoteng inside surely meant they had no other intentions.
“Xiaoteng, you stay here in the living room for a bit.”
“I’ve got a private matter to discuss with Master Hou, just a few words.”
Seeing Hou Donggui nodding in agreement, Ma Chengshu signaled to his son and then he and Hou Donggui stepped out into the courtyard.
“Our boy has heard of your reputation, Master Hou, and he holds you in high regard!”
“When I decided to come here to seek your help, that boy and I had made a three-chapter agreement.”
“If you say his financial luck isn’t good, that he’s not cut out for entrepreneurship, then he’ll work contentedly at the pager company from now on.”
“Conversely, if you support him, I’ll have to back him with capital to start his own business.”
“Master, if divination isn’t your forte, that’s fine.
Just make up a few words off the top of your head to fool him into giving up the idea.”
…
While speaking with Hou Donggui, Ma Chengshu occasionally glanced at Ma Xiaoteng in the distant hall.
The private suggestion he made to Hou Donggui was clearly dishonorable.
Yet, out of parental concern, he truly believed that his proposal was for his son Ma Xiaoteng’s own good.
With his son’s dull personality, Ma Chengshu thought that giving money for him to start a business was no different from throwing money into the water!
“Sorry, President Ma, I really can’t accept your proposal.”
“Right now, who knows how many people are already cursing me as a swindler.”
“Fortune-telling and divination are areas I’m totally unfamiliar with.
To fabricate something in this domain to deceive your son?”
“Wouldn’t that make me a true fraudster?
I’m very sorry, but I really can’t bring myself to do such a thing against my conscience.”
Hou Donggui’s head shook like a rattle!
He spoke with absolute resolve.
Not to blather nonsense and deceive people—this was a line he refused to cross in his principles, offering no room for negotiation.
“Master, we’ve already come all this way, we can’t just go back empty-handed, can we?”
“Asking you to deceive my son isn’t lying, it’s a white lie.”
“We’ve known each other for more than a day or two, can’t you just be kind and help me out, so my son will be content with his job and give up on entrepreneurship?”
…
Looking straight into Hou Donggui’s eyes, Ma Chengshu pleaded with emotion and reason.
He spoke earnestly for a long time.
From the moment of their first meeting to the present.
Hou Donggui, who had been ready to send the two away, found himself slightly embarrassed by his words.
“President Ma, a good friend of mine called earlier, and he should be arriving here soon.”
“I am clueless about fortune-telling and divination, that’s true.”
“However, my friend is extremely skilled at it, with firm and resolute predictions, charging a hefty price for a single divination.”
“You and your son could stay here a little longer.”
“After my friend arrives, if you really want to know about your son’s financial prospects and career, you could directly seek his advice.”
“Of course, this is just a suggestion.
Whether you can convince him to help is up to your own abilities.”
“Also, I should warn you—if you’re serious about seeking his assistance, you should be prepared to pay a significant sum.”
After hesitating for a moment, Hou Donggui let out a long sigh and offered a suggestion.
“Master, if you have such a friend, that’s truly wonderful!”
“Why wait for another day?
Since we’ve come to Xiangjiang on business, bringing Xiaoteng to visit you, it seems we’ve really come to the right place!”
Hearing Hou Donggui say this, Ma Chengshu was overjoyed and quickly responded.
The constant thoughts of his son leaving his job to start a business were incredibly bothersome to him.
After all, if his son failed at entrepreneurship, it would be Ma Chengshu who would have to foot the bill.
His money didn’t grow on trees!
Even though as a deputy commander in the Shen City port construction, his income was decent, if his son were to squander their fortune, it wouldn’t last many of his antics!
Could Hou Donggui’s aforementioned expert really have such accurate divination skills?
If the divination was good, he’d be willing to pay.
But if not, hopefully, his son would take the expert’s word and let go of the idea.
After getting a satisfactory outcome from Hou Donggui, the two men exchanged a few words and prepared to go back into the living room.
“Brother Hou, are you home?” A calling voice arose from outside the villa.
Then, Chen Hai’s figure appeared at the doorway, walking slowly towards them.