"Uncle, why are you here? How did you come?" I was stunned for a moment, realizing it was My Uncle.
"Xiaolong, Uncle has been a bit tight on money lately.
I know your grandpa dotes on you the most and gives you more pocket money than I earn in a month.
Could you lend me some? My Mom is sick these days, and your younger siblings need a lot of money for school!"
My Uncle was asking a junior for help in such a humble way, and I didn't look down on him; I understood his difficulties and handed him the big red envelope.
"Uncle, I'm going into school now; if you have any difficulties in the future, you can always come to me!" After saying that, I stepped through the school gate.
After walking a distance, I looked back and saw My Uncle still standing there, one hand holding the red envelope, the other wiping his eyes.
Did My Uncle cry?
My Mom marrying My Uncle was definitely big news in our village.
My Uncle went all out for My Mom.
Although I didn't hate them, my feelings for them were very distant.
But my feelings for my grandpa and grandma were as deep as the sea.
My grandpa and grandma loved me and doted on me, and I was very obedient to them.
This story has to start from the day I was born.
The year I was born was the Year of the Dragon.
My grandpa said that on the day I was born, around seven in the morning, the sky was clear, and the sun was shining with scorching light.
In an instant, with a rumble, after a flash of lightning, there was a clap of thunder in the sky, and the weather suddenly darkened.
My grandpa said that when the sky darkened, someone saw a dragon's tail on the roof of our house, which then disappeared quickly.
At this moment, with a cry, My Mom gave birth to me.
My dad named me — Xiaolong.
My grandpa immediately cast a divination for me: born in the Year of the Dragon, Month of the Dragon, Day of the Dragon, Hour of the Dragon.
After finishing the divination, My grandpa's face was grim.
My dad and My Uncle asked My grandpa: "Dad, what's wrong!"
"Get out, don't ask so many questions!"
My dad and My Uncle knew that I might not be an auspicious person.
Sure enough, when I was three years old, I still only made 'ah ah ah' sounds and couldn't speak.
My dad and My Uncle took me to various hospitals for examination; the doctors said my vocal cords and other aspects were fine, but they didn't know the reason.
My dad and My Uncle had no choice but to return home dejectedly with me.
On the way back, there was a car accident; the car plunged off a cliff, and My dad, holding me, was thrown out of the car window.
To protect me, My dad's head hit a large rock, and he died on the spot, while I was still in My dad's arms, safe and sound.
The survivors of this car accident were My Uncle and I.
My Uncle, safe and sound, carried me home and delivered the tragic news to My grandpa, grandma, and My Mother.
My Mother immediately fainted.
My grandpa and My grandma, however, were unusually calm, as if all of this was already within their expectations.
My grandpa sighed and said to Wang Erlong: "Xiaolong's birth chart doesn't match his dad's; either Xiaolong harms his dad, or his dad harms Xiaolong.
I calculated it long ago; within three years, one of them is bound to die!
I only told your mother this!"
My grandma snatched me up and yelled at My Uncle: "I told you, my grandson is fine, but you just wouldn't believe it, why investigate?
Although I gained a grandson, I lost a son!"
My Uncle felt very wronged.
It's strange to say, but it's said that as soon as My dad entered the grave, I cried out, "Papa, Papa."
My grandpa told me that I started speaking on the day My dad's funeral procession took place.
Seven days after My dad passed away, My grandpa and grandma wanted to kick My Mom out, telling her to remarry, saying My Mom was inauspicious and had caused My dad's death.
My Mom swore she wouldn't: "I have a son, why should I remarry?"
My Uncle knelt before My grandpa and grandma: "Dad, Mom, please don't drive my sister-in-law away; if you don't mind, I'll marry my sister-in-law!"
My grandpa and grandma looked at each other and yelled at My Uncle: "No wonder you're thirty and still haven't married; so you've been eyeing your sister-in-law all along!"
My Uncle cried out that he was wronged.
Because of me, My Mom swore she wouldn't remarry; and My Uncle knelt and begged My grandpa and grandma, saying he wanted to marry My Mom.
My grandpa coldly said to My Mom: "You can not remarry, but then you'll marry your younger brother-in-law, do you agree?"
"As long as I can stay by Xiaolong's side, I have no objection to marrying my younger brother-in-law!"
My grandpa then asked My Uncle: "Er Long, do you really want to marry your sister-in-law?"
My Uncle said: "I sincerely want to marry her!"
"Good, very good!
You can get married, but I won't let you take Xiaolong.
You can live anywhere you want; as long as I'm alive, you can't stay in my house.
Only after I die can you come back here."
My Uncle and My Mother agreed.
My grandpa's name was Wang Tianlong, My dad's name was Wang Dalong, My Uncle's name was Wang Erlong, and my name was Wang Xiaolong.
My dad and My Uncle had also studied this skill with My grandpa, but they were not skilled enough, and My grandpa didn't have the patience to teach them.
My grandpa also knew that My dad and My Uncle didn't have much skill.
My Uncle took My Mom to the city with nothing.
At that time, both of them worked on construction sites; life was barely manageable, and they also saved a little money.
Soon after, My Mom became pregnant, and My Uncle rented a house in the city.
To take care of My Mom, My Uncle resigned from his job at the construction site and started working as a Feng Shui Master in their rented place.
From then on, My Uncle would often secretly come back, and My grandma would hide it from My grandpa and give My Uncle some money; My grandpa, of course, turned a blind eye.
My Uncle's skill was only half-baked; how could My grandpa not know?
I attended elementary school in town and junior high school in the county seat.
When I was in first grade of junior high, my younger brother was five, and My Mom was pregnant again.
My grandpa gave me three thousand yuan in pocket money every month, but I only spent a few hundred yuan each month; I gave the rest to My Uncle.
Actually, at that time, My grandpa already knew my personality; to put it plainly, it was a disguised way of helping My Uncle and My Mom's family.
The year I started high school, my younger sister was also born, that year I was sixteen.
It was Saturday again, and I was going back to see My grandpa and grandma.
As soon as I stepped out of school, My Uncle grabbed my hand: "Xiaolong, come on, let's go to my house!"
"What for? Are you out of money again?" I shook off his hand and asked coldly.
"No!
Xiaolong, the last red envelope you gave me was thirty thousand yuan, which is enough for us to live for a while.
Because of that money, everything I do seems to go smoothly.
Now, more and more people are coming to me for fortune-telling and Feng Shui, and I can basically support this family now!"
"Then why are you still looking for me?" After I grew up, I heard the villagers talk about My Mom and My Uncle, so I was very cold towards them.
"Xiaolong, that last red envelope must have been earned by you, your skill is almost catching up to your grandpa's." My Uncle gave me a thumbs up.
"Spit it out!" I said impatiently.
"It's like this, I recently took on a big client, but I'm afraid I can't handle it; please help me!" My Uncle pleaded with me.