Tales of Folk Feng Shui Mysteries

The Patriarch mainly didn't want me to get entangled with the Buddhist sect. Jiang Shiyu herself is a devout believer, and as long as my fate with her continues, even if that causes karmic entanglement, it's also why I don't dare to meet her now.

Seeing her repeatedly looking for me, I felt a bit reluctant, so I came up with a little plan — that is to 'pass on the message.' As long as everything is initiated by Zhou Han, then I think it shouldn't count as creating karmic ties.

I said, "I might be leaving Shenyang in a while. If there's a chance, we should all gather again."

"You're leaving? Why?" Zhou Han asked.

"It's complicated. Last time I told you I lost some of my yang life," I sighed deeply, "The penalty leaves me only two years of lifespan. If I don't hurry and find a way to regain my life, in two years I might be heading to the underworld."

"That serious? I thought you were just joking to pick up girls." Zhou Han patted me, comforting, "Brother, I respect you. No more words. Whatever happens, just say the word, the alumni association is mine. But what about you and Jiang Shiyu? It's obvious you two have feelings."

Hearing him say what I wanted to say, I just sighed, shook my head, and pretended to be solemn: "We'll see in two years. I'm currently researching ways. After I help you finish the ancestral tomb business, I still have to be busy."

"Thank you for your hard work," Zhou Han said gratefully.

While we talked, we arrived at the hotel. I felt Zhou Han might be afraid I'd run, so he stayed with me. After refusing his kind offer for a big health massage at midnight, we both slept till dawn.

The next morning, we drove to Tieling. On the way, I sent a package to Zuo Heqi. From our chat, I learned his old man's health isn't good, but "fallen leaves return to the roots," so eventually he will go back home to wait for the end of life.

The old man had a good mindset — three years ago, he had already traveled extensively across the country. He didn't go abroad because he feared flying. He had been a revolutionary, an old cadre, so his life was fulfilled. Before dying, he wanted to seek blessings for his descendants, and the ancestral grave is a tradition passed down thousands of years in China. There is an old saying: "One grave, two houses, three Feng Shui," showing how important Feng Shui is.

Ordinary people see others' children enter prestigious universities or become successful businessmen, or win the lottery, and they envy, saying "Your ancestral grave is smoking blue smoke," referring to 'earth energy' or 'dragon energy.'

The old man was once a lucky man and trusted Feng Shui. But distrustful of today's craftsmanship, he knew to compare several masters. Feng Shui is always debated — one person's truth is another's contradiction. Even good burial spots can be debated, and few Feng Shui masters can say exactly which is best.

Sitting in a Benz is definitely not tiring. We left before six in the morning and arrived at his old village around eleven, a mountain village I'll call "Chen Family Gully."

Zhou Han said his grandfather was an orphan who went to the Northeast, settled in Chen Family Gully, married, and started a family. Later he served in the army, even fought in the Korean War. Now his health is poor; the city air is bad, so he returned to Chen Family Gully to recuperate. Recently, he heard about Feng Shui for choosing graves, so his uncles and aunts have all come back recently.

At the village, Zhou Han led me to a large tile-roofed house. Upon entering, a group of men and women came out. Seeing Zhou Han, they asked, "Dawei (Zhou Han's nickname), did you find the master? Your grandpa's health is getting worse."

Zhou Han grabbed my hand and said, "This is my classmate. He really knows some real skills. I told grandpa that the master I found is him."

His old aunt wasn't happy and muttered, "Can he do it? He's so young. Even if he learned since birth, it's only been a few years."

Zhou Han was about to argue, but I stopped him with a smile, "Don't mind them. We're just here to look. Whether you believe it and how to bury still depends on you."

Facing relatives' doubts, Zhou Han's father spoke: "Dawei is useless except for not studying, but his character is good. I know my own kids well; he hasn't lied. You all stop interfering. Honestly, I think a public cemetery is fine. Dad doesn't agree, insists on burying here."

I looked at his father's face — straight nose, wide mouth, sharp edges as if carved with a knife, a square forehead with a prominent 'official career palace' that shines, clearly at his career peak. Thick eyebrows, 'brothers palace' in front — the eldest son's face.

"Big brother, you better keep quiet, mom will get angry," the two brothers and sister-in-law warned.

Zhou Han's second uncle said to me, "Young man, you've driven for several hours. Rest at home now; in the afternoon we'll go up the mountain. Three sites. If you don't rest well, I'm afraid you can't climb."

I said no problem. I was indeed tight on time. I came to return a favor; the sooner we finish looking, the better. Zhou Han's uncle and aunt agreed.

But Zhou Han's father was skeptical and didn't come with us. On the way, talking with Zhou Han, I learned their family was a classic example of 'weasels give birth to rats' — each generation worse than the last. None of their generation went to prestigious universities; they were all idle rich, wasting time partying and showing off online. No one knew where they were nowadays.

Led by Zhou Han's old aunt, we walked about 500 meters to a corner where their cars were parked. Honestly, their family was well off — luxury cars like Toyota, Lexus, and Ford SUVs.

We got into the car and drove about half an hour to the mountain. Zhou Han's uncle parked and said, "Here's the first site."

Getting off the car, Zhou Han nudged me, "I believe you. Damn, those other masters I saw were just talking nonsense. Saying our family could produce officials? Bullshit. I know my brothers best."

I smiled. It's said wealth doesn't last three generations. Usually by the third, things either improve or decline. That's the law of nature.

His second uncle pointed at the mountain, "The first master said this place is 'Golden Rooster Hugging the Egg.' Burying here will produce officials. What do you think?"

When selecting a Yin dwelling (grave), first to look at is the water mouth. I told them to wait and went to find the water mouth myself. Zhou Han wanted to follow, and I didn't mind, but the path was rough.

Water mouth refers to where the water enters and leaves. Ancient people knew water affects Qi: "Yang Qi follows wind, Yin Qi follows water." They believed water governs wealth, so water mouth is critical — regarded as guardian and lifeline. A good water mouth means "Heaven's gate opens wide, earth's door closes." Water coming in (heaven's gate) should be wide; water going out (earth's door) should be narrow and sheltered.

After over an hour searching, I had a clear judgment about 'Golden Rooster Hugging the Egg.' Then I visited two more Feng Shui treasures, all not too far from each other.

We returned home near noon. Why three masters give three different opinions? I had the answer.

Before eating, we went to the old man's room. He lay on the kang bed, eyes half-closed, breathing shallow like a thread of life.

I said, "Old man, I know you can hear. Your children are nearby. I will tell you about these Feng Shui treasures."

"Say quickly, I'm anxious. Do you know anything? You've been like a mute all the way, not answering any questions." His second uncle was impatient.

"Stop it, second brother. Dad is sick and needs quiet." Zhou Han's father said.

The second uncle grumbled that I was a fraud and fell silent. I didn't care; their family were used to command, not patience.

I said, "The first, Golden Rooster Hugging the Egg, at sunrise looks like three mountains supporting the sun. This spot is good and will produce officials."

"You should've said earlier! I'll prepare to bury here," the second uncle said eagerly.

I stopped him: "Wait, this place isn't particularly good. There's a ditch straight in front facing the sun, like a butcher's knife. As the saying goes, a grave spot controls the first generation. This spot helps descendants prosper, but among your brothers, one will die prematurely if buried here."

Everyone objected, "No way, the subject is here. No one wants to gamble."

"What about the second spot? Tell us." Zhou Han asked urgently.

"The second is better, called White Crane Playing with Water. Burying here brings many descendants," I paused as they seemed to expect me to continue. "The water flows from south to north, looks good, but it's stagnant water — a dead river. The cranes won't play here but fly away. So it will take at least seven generations before your family produces a prime minister."

The second uncle shook his head, "No way. Hundreds of years? We'll be dust by then. Is there a better place?"

After thinking, I said, "You chose three spots. Actually, I also found one more. Of the remaining two treasures, one promotes many descendants; the other brings great officials and wealthy descendants. You decide which to pick."

They agreed to discuss. The old man, though unable to speak, could blink. They let him decide by blinking once for many descendants, twice for great officials.

Probably dissatisfied with current descendants, he blinked twice.

I took them to my chosen fourth site — a barren mountain. The mountain was bare; below was a protruding mound. The soil there was strangely soft compared to the solid ground around.

I pointed and said, "This isn't a rare spirit spot, but a good place. Within a hundred miles, all blessings gather here. It's called the Dragon Eye. Though a treasure, it also attracts death energy, so the surroundings are barren. If your grandfather is buried here, no one else should be buried nearby, not even a hundred years later."

"That sounds like nonsense. Who knows if it's true?" the second uncle muttered.

I had been doubted all the way and felt annoyed. I said, "If you don't believe, go check yourself. From this center, walk 100 steps east, south, west, north. You'll find termites below."