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Chapter 3 - Luck and Fate

Chapter 3: Luck and Fate

Ming, the panicked apprentice, held tightly to the life-saving advice as he hurried back to Auntie Li's stall, hoping to stay safe for the next ten minutes.

Nie Lianfeng leaned against the crumbling wall, a warm copper coin resting in his hand. He felt a moment of relief at having something but it was quickly drowned out by the toll on his body.

The Eyes of Providence were supposed to be a gift, but they felt more like a curse, leaving him with a pounding headache and a deep, draining weakness.

Nie Lianfeng kept his eyes on Ming, who was nervously pacing behind a stack of ceramic jars. Time seemed to stretch endlessly until the clock tower in the distant Inner City finally chimed the quarter-hour.

At once, Ming straightened up, took a deep breath, and dashed across the main road toward the supplier district.

Nie Lianfeng watched until the boy's slender figure disappeared into the growing crowd. The Silver Strands of Ming's fate stayed soft and flexible no sign of sudden danger.

The prediction had come true. He was safe.

Nie Lianfeng suddenly felt very hungry, and it made him nauseous. He realized his tiredness was also because he hadn't eaten. He needed food immediately.

He forced himself to stand and walked the short distance to Auntie Li's stall. The small copper coin in his hand felt like a lucky charm.

"Auntie," he said, holding it out. "Can I get a cup of hot water? And if you have a meat bun or something like it, I'd like to buy one."

Auntie Li was scrubbing a burnt pot when she paused. She looked at the copper coin, then at Nie Lianfeng's pale, shaking face.

Her Golden Rope of fortune was steady and strong, showing no danger but a hint of concern flickered in her eyes, softening her otherwise stern expression.

"That thief didn't make it," she said quietly, still cleaning but gentler now. "But that Ming boy, he's usually clumsy. Today, he got across without dropping a single coin. He said you told him to wait for the wind."

"There was something bad coming for him, but it only had a short time to strike," Nie Lianfeng said quietly, his voice calm and steady. "Now, about those buns?"

Auntie Li sighed, a tired sound that seemed to carry all the dust and hardship of the neighborhood.

She wiped her hands on her apron, took the copper coin, and opened a wooden steamer. She picked up a big, soft bun and put it on a small, cracked plate, then added a chipped cup of steaming water.

"That bun and water usually cost four coppers," she said gently. "But today, I'll take just one coin. Just try not to come back tomorrow unless you can pay the full price. This neighborhood can be tough."

Nie Lianfeng gave a small, sincere smile, the warmth of the bun and her quiet generosity settling deep in his chest. "Thank you, Auntie," he said softly. "Not many would show kindness for so little."

He paused, eyes briefly flicking to the golden thread of her fate strong and steady.

"You've helped me today," he continued, his voice low but honest. "If you'd like… I can tell you something about your future."

Auntie Li raised an eyebrow. "You're telling fortunes now?" she said with a small smirk. "Alright then—but don't go saying I'm about to drop dead."

Nie Lianfeng smiled. "No, nothing like that."

He glanced at the golden thread of her fate. It was bright and safe.

"You'll be okay," he said gently. "Life won't get easier overnight, but things will hold steady. And soon, someone close to you will bring you a small but special kind of happiness."

Auntie Li was quiet for a moment. Then she let out a soft laugh. "Well, I'll take that."

She turned back to her cooking, but her movements were calmer now. And as she closed the steamer, she quietly added another bun inside without saying a word.

Nie Lianfeng took the bun and water with both hands and gave a small nod. The warmth of the food helped ease the cold and tiredness in his body. He sat on a low stool nearby and ate slowly, not wasting a single bite.

For the first time that day, he felt a little better.

Auntie Li didn't say anything, but stayed close, quietly working on her next batch of buns. The air was warm and filled with the smell of steam and fresh dough.

When he finished eating, Nie Lianfeng looked over at her.

"Thanks," he said softly.

She didn't look up. "Don't make it a habit, paying with favors."

"I won't," he said, smiling just a little.

With his strength slowly returning, Nie Lianfeng gave Auntie Li one last nod of thanks and walked back toward the quiet corner where he had set up his sign.

He sat down beside it, cross-legged on the cold stone ground, and finally took a proper bite of the bun.

The bun was plain. The filling was mostly fat and cheap vegetables, and the dough was thick. It was nothing special. But the heat, the salt, and the soft bite filled his empty body like a gift. For a moment, it felt better than any fancy meal he'd ever had.

He closed his eyes and chewed slowly. It wasn't the best food he'd ever eaten, but it was the most satisfying.

He slowly finished the bun and the water, feeling a small but real boost of energy in his tired body.

Then he leaned back against the wall and watched the last rays of sun disappear behind the tall walls of the Inner City.

A few minutes later, Auntie Li came over not to take back the saucer, but to quietly sweep the dust near his mat.

"You look like you're about to pass out," she said, her voice rough but kinder now, with a curious tone. "Don't try to fool me. Just tell me what you see."

Nie Lianfeng blinked, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips despite his weariness. "I'm not trying to fool anyone, Auntie. If I had tricks, I'd probably be somewhere warm and rich right now."

Auntie Li snorted softly. "Good point. So, what's really going on? What do those eyes of yours show?"

He glanced around and lowered his voice. "Sometimes, I see things people don't want to see. Or maybe it's just my imagination playing tricks."

Auntie Li raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "Sounds like you're making stories to pass the time."

"Maybe I am," he said with a faint, tired smile. "But real or not, it's kept me from walking straight into trouble."

She chuckled softly. "So, it might just be a lucky guess after all?"

Nie Lianfeng's eyes darkened slightly. "Maybe it's luck. Or maybe it's something else, something that doesn't want to be understood."

Auntie Li studied him quietly for a moment, the corner of her mouth twitching like she wanted to say more but held back.

Finally, she shook her head. "Well, if whatever it is has kept you alive this long, maybe there's more to you than I thought."

Nie Lianfeng gave a small nod, eyes still distant. "Sometimes the hardest part isn't seeing the future, it's knowing when to step in... and when to stay silent."

Auntie Li gave a small grunt and went back to her stall. Nie Lianfeng stayed where he was, feeling the weight of his thoughts but also a little lighter.

The city buzzed around him, unaware of the quiet moment.

But deep down, the threads of fate kept moving, waiting for what would happen next.

He didn't know what tomorrow would bring.

For now, he just needed this calm.

Taking a deep breath, Nie Lianfeng closed his eyes, ready for whatever was coming.

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