We Weren’t Fated, I Just Played My Cards Right - Chapter 47
On the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth lunar month, a cold front swept through, bringing snow to most of northern China.
A remote town, surrounded by mountains on all sides, saw the same green train arrive punctually every day.
The town’s train station rarely had passengers. Times had changed—people had other means of travel, and trains had gradually faded from their lives.
That day, when the train stopped, only two people disembarked at the station. One was a local, bundled in a thick black down jacket. The other was clearly an outsider—carrying a suitcase, dressed in a sleek gray overcoat, exuding an air of elegance that made others shiver just looking at him.
The local uncle couldn’t help but glance back as he passed by the young man. The fellow was quite handsome, though dressed rather lightly for their northern climate – this kind of attire would guarantee a cold by nightfall.
Yan Xiu received an enthusiastic welcome from the northern cold air the moment he stepped off the train. He stood still for a moment to adjust before heading toward the station exit.
Outside the exit, a middle-aged man with thinning hair but a robust build was waiting for him.
Seeing Yan Xiu emerge, the man extended his hand and introduced himself: “Mr. Yan, hello. I’m Zhou Xing, captain of Ningcheng’s Special Cases Division.”
Ningcheng was close to this small town, just a few hours’ drive away, and ranked second in the province’s economic standings.
Zhou Xing’s position was similar to Fang Chuan’s. Currently overwhelmed with a pressing case, he’d nonetheless been compelled to come here. Two days prior, headquarters had ordered him to assist Yan Xiu in visiting someone.
“Hello, Captain Zhou.” Yan Xiu shook his hand briefly, dispensing with pleasantries. “Have you located the address?”
“We have.” Walking side by side, Zhou Xing continued, “My team surveyed residents across five nearby villages. The most likely match is an old man named Xu Jiumian – no children, just turned eighty-four this year. Lives alone in Xiashan Village, reportedly hasn’t left for decades. Villagers look after him, and he’s still in good health.”
“Has your team made contact?” Yan Xiu asked.
Zhou Xing shook his head: “Following your advice, my investigators never entered the village or approached him directly. We only consulted village officials.”
After a pause, he finally voiced his curiosity: “May I ask what this person actually does?”
“He’s a renowned gu master, a senior practitioner of many years.”
“Well I’ll be! Didn’t expect our backwater to harbor such eminent company.” Zhou Xing marveled. From what Xiashan Village officials described, this Xu Jiumian seemed utterly ordinary – without Yan Xiu’s confirmation, he’d have doubted they’d found the right man.
A chill ran down Zhou Xing’s spine. Thank goodness he’d restrained his curiosity. Barging in unannounced might have left him hosting unwanted… passengers. These venerable masters were notoriously eccentric – safety lay in keeping distance.
“Indeed. Who would have thought?”
“Shall we visit Xiashan Village to pay respects to this senior today then?”
Yan Xiu shook his head: “No. Today’s inauspicious for visits. We’ll go tomorrow.”
Zhou Xing nodded. In their line of work, certain observances mattered. If the expert said so, there were surely reasons he wouldn’t question.
“Very well. Let’s get settled at the inn first. The accommodations here are rather basic – hope you won’t mind.”
“No, thank you, Captain Zhou.”
That night, in Xiashan Village.
Snowy nights always seem exceptionally quiet. In this small village, after nine in the evening, only the sound of barking dogs could be heard.
At the end of Xiashan Village, where the mountains began, there was only one household nearby—the Xu family. The Xu household consisted of just one person. The elderly in the village called him Old Xu the Ninth, while the younger ones referred to him as Ninth Master.
Ninth Master’s house was built ten years ago, its walls lined with white tiles, giving it a neat appearance. The yard was empty, save for a pile of firewood stacked in the corner near the gate, gathered with the help of neighbors.
While other households raised chickens, ducks, or geese, Ninth Master never kept any livestock. Strangely, the village’s animals rarely ventured to this end of the village. Even the free-roaming dogs would tuck their tails when passing by Ninth Master’s house.
The old man always went to bed early. By nine o’clock, the lights in the Xu household were already out.
Inside, on the warm kang bed, soft and clean bedding was spread out. A bald old man with a short white beard lay fast asleep. The rear window of the house had no curtains, offering a clear view of the mountain behind.
Around midnight, four figures descended from the mountain and headed straight for the Xu household.
Their arrival caused no disturbance. They crept up to the rear window and peered inside at the sleeping old man.
The leader gestured silently, and the others moved soundlessly to the front door. The door was easily pried open without a sound.
The four filed in one by one. But as the first one pulled open the inner door, he suddenly froze.
The others, puzzled, heard the leader speak hoarsely, “Old Master Xu, we apologize for disturbing you at this late hour.”
The room wasn’t particularly dark—at least, it was bright enough for them to see each other clearly.
Xu Jiumian sat on the kang, draped in a cotton-padded jacket. The sudden intrusion hadn’t startled him, even though he’d been awakened from sleep.
He rubbed his bald head and asked in a booming voice, “What brings you here?”
The leader hesitated before replying cautiously, “We’re here on behalf of our employer to purchase something from you.”
“What thing?”
“The Longevity Gu.”
“What’s that? Never heard of it,” the old man answered bluntly.
The leader gave a dry chuckle. “You jest, Old Master. If there’s a finished Longevity Gu left in this world, it can only be in your possession.”
Had the Xu family not been wiped out, this old man before them would now be the head of the Xu family—a revered elder in the metaphysical circles. Unfortunately, he was now nothing.
Though the man spoke politely, inwardly, he held little respect for Xu Jiumian.
Just a dying old man. No matter how illustrious his past, it was all gone now.
Xu Jiumian fell silent for a moment before chuckling. “What’s your employer’s surname?”
“That’s confidential.”
“Tsk tsk, I can’t just sell to anyone without a name. Let me guess—is it Yan, Qi, or Wang?”
Unfazed by the old man’s probing, the man maintained his smile. “Our employer said the Longevity Gu is precious. He’s willing to pay with the lives of your old enemies. What do you think?”
“Oh? Did your employer really say that, or did you just make it up? You’re quite skilled at picking locks—must’ve done a lot of shady business cheating old folks, haven’t you?”
The man’s smile faded as he finally understood Xu Jiumian’s stance—clearly, the other party had no intention of negotiating.
“It seems Old Master Xu isn’t interested in discussing this deal.”
“Ah.” Xu Jiumian sighed. “If I had the Longevity Gu, I would’ve used it myself long ago. Why would I wait for you to come knocking?”
“But it was your family who refined the Gu. There might be more than one.”
“Sorry to disappoint you. There was only one, and it’s gone now.”
“I’m afraid your words won’t convince my boss.” The man lowered his eyes. “Why don’t you come with us and speak to him in person?”
With that, he tilted his head slightly, and the three men standing behind him stepped into the room.
Xu Jiumian didn’t seem inclined to resist, letting the three men lift him up while muttering, “Hey, hey, hey—no need to get rough! Be gentle, ah! My poor old back…”
The man holding his waist actually adjusted his grip, making him more comfortable.
“You’re squeezing my shoulders too tight.”
The man supporting his shoulders immediately loosened his hold.
“My feet are freezing. At least let me put on some socks—what’s the rush, are you in a hurry to be reborn?”
The man holding his legs set him down and went to fetch socks.
The only one who hadn’t moved seemed to sense something was wrong and turned to leave, but the old man called out, “Leaving so soon? The New Year’s almost here, and this old man’s place is too quiet. Stay and chat with me for a while.”
The man froze for a moment before turning back, his smile still in place—natural, but his eyes betrayed unmistakable terror.
Xu Jiumian was placed back on the heated brick bed, with one man tucking the quilt around him and two others standing guard at the door. The one who had done all the talking earlier was left inside—to keep the old man company.
Feeling a chill, the old man coughed and asked, “Which family are you from?”
“The Qi family,” the man answered, struggling to control himself but unable to stop the words from spilling out.
“Which branch?”
“The second branch.”
“Ah, age is catching up to me—my memory’s not what it used to be. All I remember is how messy your Qi family was. The eldest branch stole the second branch’s wife, and the two brothers ended up brawling at the wedding. That did happen, didn’t it?” Xu Jiumian asked with keen interest.
“Your memory is as sharp as ever.” Sweat beaded on the man’s forehead.
“Who does your boss want the Longevity Gu for?”
“For the family’s patriarch.”
“Oh, no wonder. Qi Changsheng must be ninety now—nearing his end.” The man fell silent.
Xu Jiumian turned to look out the window. “These past thirty years must’ve been miserable for him. Watching his body rot from the inside out—how despairing. His name was ill-fated from the start. ‘Longevity’? What a joke. Always chasing the delusion of immortality.”
“If his sons knew that I was the one who gave their father thirty more years of life, they might have come to thank me in person today.”
His voice gradually faded as he drifted off to sleep.
In his dreams, he could vaguely see his old acquaintance, not yet aged back then, who had visited him under false pretenses and brought ruin upon his entire family.
Meanwhile, the four tall men who had been standing on the ground collapsed soundlessly.
Early the next morning, Zhou Xing drove Yan Xiu to Xiashan Village.
Standing in front of the Xu family’s gate, Yan Xiu spoke, “Senior Xu, this junior Yan Xiu has come to pay a visit.”
After waiting about five minutes, the door opened. Xu Jiumian, wrapped in a cotton-padded jacket and yawning, stepped out. He squinted at Yan Xiu and said, “Oh, not bad-looking, young man. Got a girlfriend yet?”
Yan Xiu smiled slightly. “Still searching.”
“Tsk tsk, better find one soon. Come on in.”
Yan Xiu and Zhou Xing stepped through the gate. Yan Xiu’s gaze swept past the corner of the house, where a few indistinct footprints of varying sizes were visible on the snow-free ground.
Zhou Xing placed the purchased fruits and seafood in the outer room before stepping out, while Yan Xiu followed Xu Jiumian into the inner quarters.
After sitting down, Xu Jiumian handed him a cup of tea and took a sip from his own. “What brings you here? It’s not New Year’s yet.”
“This junior is here on behalf of the Special Cases Investigation Department. The incomplete Longevity Gu passed down in your family is currently in the department’s possession.”
“Oh.” The old man didn’t seem particularly interested.
“The main purpose of this visit is to invite you to the capital. The research on the Longevity Gu cannot proceed without—”
Before Yan Xiu could finish, Xu Jiumian waved his hand. “No need for formalities. With the surname Yan, you must be from the Yan family. Your family has many capable people, so you must already know this old man’s time is nearly up. Just say it—what do you really want to ask?”
Yan Xiu smiled and took a sip of tea. “The elders in my family were curious, so they specifically sent me to ask—has your family’s Longevity Gu already been used by someone?”
“Hahaha, isn’t that obvious? After putting in so much effort to develop it, of course it’s meant to be used. Should we have kept it at home to breed? There are always fools who think they can get lucky, all dreaming away.”
“Over thirty years ago, I heard you auctioned off a batch of antiques?” Yan Xiu suddenly said.
Xu Jiumian’s smile faded, his eyes glinting with a hint of menace. “You’re quite a clever boy.”
“You flatter me. I’m sure many share the same thought.”
Back when news of the Xu family developing the Longevity Gu spread, everyone had been watching them closely.
After the Xu family was wiped out, everyone assumed the Longevity Gu was with Xu Jiumian—but he was about to die.
For a Gu master, living a little longer wasn’t difficult; reaching eighty or ninety was common. If the Xu family’s Longevity Gu only allowed Xu Jiumian to live to eighty-four, it would have been a joke.
The Longevity Gu probably wasn’t with him. That meant the Gu had been secretly sent away back then, most likely through that auctioned batch of antiques.
Xu Jiumian withdrew his gaze and chuckled. “No matter. Let them search. Once I close my eyes, I won’t have to worry about others’ lives anymore.”
His words seemed to carry hidden meaning, but Yan Xiu didn’t press further.
Today’s objective had been achieved. As for the whereabouts of the Longevity Gu, if headquarters wanted it, they would search for it themselves. It was none of his concern.
Xu Jiumian and Yan Xiu chatted all morning, and Xu even treated him to lunch.
Yan Xiu drank a couple of cups with him, and the old man got a little tipsy. Seizing the opportunity, Yan Xiu took his leave.
Xu Jiumian lay on the kang, waving at him. “Kid, let’s meet again if we get the chance.”
Yan Xiu paused mid-step, a faint smile on his lips. “Best not to meet so casually.”
Xu Jiumian burst into laughter. The next time they met would be after death—who knew if the dead could even see those who had gone before them?
Zhou Xing had been waiting outside the whole time, having eaten instant noodles from the village convenience store for lunch. When Yan Xiu finally emerged, he couldn’t help but sigh in relief.
“Mr. Yan, did everything go smoothly?”
“Smoothly. Captain Zhou, it’d be best to have people stationed nearby these next few days—but keep their distance.”
“Understood.”
On the morning of the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, Yan Xiu had just arrived in the capital by plane when he received a call from Zhou Xing.
The usually sharp and capable captain sounded somewhat dazed. “Mr. Yan, that senior passed away last night. We found four people in the cellar behind his house—one dead, the other three still breathing…”
Yan Xiu paused. “Just report it through the normal procedures.”
“Alright.”
Captain Zhou watched as the four men were carried out. Whether the remaining three could be saved was still uncertain.
Four strong men against a dying old man, yet all of them had ended up in the cellar—truly ruthless.
The old man had likely prepared his own funeral arrangements long ago. When they entered, they found no trace of any gu insects. He was dressed in burial clothes, lying on the kang, even his black-and-white memorial portrait had been taken in advance.
The villagers handled the old man’s funeral, and the burial plot had been chosen long ago. He was laid to rest before the New Year. Since it was considered a “happy funeral,” even without relatives, the neighbors were enthusiastic, making it a lively affair.
Zhou Xing only informed Yan Xiu after everything was over.
On the day Xu Jiumian died, the head of the Qi family, who had been bedridden for thirty years, also finally breathed his last.
The Qi family patriarch had supposedly been in poor health since his youth, which was why he changed his name to “Changsheng” (Long Life). Everyone expected him to die young, yet he dragged on until ninety, outliving most.
But those who had seen him felt that living like that was worse than death.
Rumor had it that when the Qi family came to collect the body, it was said to be unrecognizable, the stench carrying far.
In the capital, strange things happened every day. The Qi family patriarch had been out of the public eye for thirty years, so no one cared much about his death—just an offhand remark at gatherings.
The only real pity was that the Qi family would be in mourning this year, meaning they likely wouldn’t be able to host their New Year’s banquet.
In previous years, the banquets hosted by the Qi family’s eldest branch were always something to look forward to.
On New Year’s Eve, the Yan family’s ancestral home was bustling with activity. The previous generation of the Yan family had five siblings, and with the younger generation adding more than ten members, everyone gathered at the old residence for the celebrations.
Yan Xiu played cards with his father and two uncles for a while as fireworks began lighting up the sky outside.
Glancing at the time, it was 11:50 PM.
“Xiao Xiu keeps checking his phone. Who are you waiting to call?” Yan Xiu’s third uncle asked with a teasing smile.
Yan Xiu paused, then chuckled. “Not waiting for a call.”
“Your younger brother is already married. When are you going to bring a girlfriend home for us to meet?” Second Uncle Yan patted his nephew on the shoulder.
“Him? He’s picky. I recently thought of introducing him to a girl from the Gu family, but he outright refused,” Yan Xiu’s mother chimed in from behind him, her tone slightly displeased.
No matter the family, the perennial topic during the New Year was always marriage pressure.
As the elders gathered to nag him about marriage, Yan Xiu simply listened with a faint smile, giving no extra reaction. No one could guess what he was thinking.
At midnight, chaotic notification sounds erupted from phones everywhere—except for Yan Xiu’s, which rang with a video call.
Instantly, the entire family’s attention turned toward him.
Under the curious gazes of his parents, elders, and younger siblings, Yan Xiu stepped outside with his phone.
The moment the door closed, the whole family pressed against it, eager to eavesdrop on who he was talking to and what was being said. Only Yan Ling remained calmly seated on the sofa, her composure unshaken.
“Happy New Year~” Liu Mumu’s rosy cheeks appeared on the screen. Bundled in a thick down jacket, she stood outdoors with fireworks occasionally bursting behind her.
“Happy New Year.”
“Was I the first to wish you a happy New Year?” Liu Mumu suddenly leaned closer to the screen and whispered, “Do I get a big red envelope as a reward?”
“You do. I’ll give it to you when I’m back,” Yan Xiu replied with a soft laugh.
Ah, his smile was so charming. Liu Mumu couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret—how nice it would be to keep him by her side during the New Year. Then she could collect so many red envelopes and instantly strike it rich!
She was grinning foolishly at her phone when Dong Yue’s voice suddenly called out from behind her, demanding justice: “Sis! Dong Qi stole my sparklers!”
Liu Mumu’s expression instantly darkened. She turned and yelled toward the courtyard, “Dong Qi! Let go of those sparklers! Are you a fairy? Why are you playing with them?”
After enduring the harsh lessons of socialism, Dong Qi had finally learned to say things that pleased people. He retorted, “I’m the fairy’s little brother! What’s wrong with playing with a few sparklers?”
He sounded utterly justified.
Liu Mumu was instantly convinced.
Just as she turned back to say something else, the door behind Yan Xiu suddenly swung open—revealing a pile of people who had failed to stop in time, some even sprawled on the ground.
The scene was extremely awkward.
“Haha… haha, Bro, we were just passing by, passing by. Sorry to interrupt, carry on!”
Yan Xiu’s cousin awkwardly waved, flashing his wedding ring. Even as a married man, he hadn’t matured much.
Yan Xiu exhaled softly and said to Liu Mumu, “See you after the New Year,” before ending the call.
What would happen on the other side of that call was too painful to imagine.
The next morning, the cousin was unceremoniously carried out of the ancestral home by his own father—like a slab of pork—amidst looks of utter disdain.
All in all, the first New Year spent with the Dong family was quite lively.
Old Dong raised his wine glass and passionately delivered his New Year’s speech, while the kids had already finished all the juice in their cups.
By the time he finally finished and was about to raise his glass, only three empty cups remained, not yet refilled. Dong Yue, clutching the juice bottle, stared blankly at her father.
It was a time to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new—no room for anger.
Old Dong consoled himself for a while, but he still felt wronged. Last year had been terrible for him! He didn’t even want to look forward to the new year.
In the end, Jiang Li clinked her glass with his, successfully saving face for the head of the household.
After the lively family feast, the Dongs didn’t have a tradition of staying up late, so everyone washed up and went to bed.
Around three in the morning, Liu Mumu suddenly heard the sound of an ambulance.
At first, she thought she was dreaming, but the noise grew louder, as if it was right outside her door.
She got out of bed and stepped outside.
She wasn’t the only one awakened. Dong Zhenghao glanced at his two groggy daughters, threw on his coat, and went out.
Soon, he returned, bringing a chill with him.
“What happened?” Jiang Li asked.
“The neighbors called an ambulance. Seems like the Zhang family’s daughter-in-law had a close call—almost had a miscarriage. She was rushed to the hospital to stabilize the pregnancy.”
Dong Zhenghao shook his head. What a mess—couldn’t they keep things quiet during the New Year?
“Alright, nothing to worry about. Everyone, back to bed.” He shooed Liu Mumu and Dong Yue back to their rooms, turned off the lights, and went back to sleep.
Tsk. He’d been having a wonderful dream, interrupted before it could conclude. He needed to go back and finish the sequel.
The Zhang family’s mishap didn’t dampen the festive mood, though occasionally, from her yard, Liu Mumu could see Zhang Shijing returning home from the hospital, exhausted, only to grab something and head back.
As for Old Mrs. Zhang and Zhang Yang, they stayed home, but the old woman seemed much calmer, no longer shouting all day. Liu Mumu figured it was because the gu poison was gone—maybe that was why she wasn’t as irritable.
On the fifth day of the New Year, Liu Mumu went to the supermarket for ice cream and ran into Zhang Shijing on his way out. She greeted him and casually asked, “Uncle Zhang, how’s Aunt Lü doing?”
Zhang Shijing forced a smile. “She’ll be discharged soon.”
After the ambulance incident on New Year’s Eve, the whole neighborhood knew about their troubles. Zhang Shijing didn’t bother hiding it, and since Liu Mumu was just making small talk, he answered.
Liu Mumu thought Lü Yao’s imminent discharge meant things were fine—until the shocking aftermath unfolded.
Lü Yao left the hospital on the seventh day of the Lunar New Year. The first thing she did upon returning to the Zhang household was to call the police, claiming that her stepson had pushed her deliberately, trying to cause her to miscarry.
Of course, Old Mrs. Zhang stood up for her grandson, and Zhang Shijing also sided with his mother. No matter how good he was to his wife, Zhang Yang was, after all, his biological son. He tried to persuade Lü Yao to retract her statement, but this time, the usually docile Lü Yao seemed like a completely different person—she refused to listen to him.
Lü Yao filed a report and even presented the hospital’s examination results. The police had no choice but to take Zhang Yang in for questioning. However, the Zhangs didn’t have surveillance cameras installed at home, and the other two family members insisted that Lü Yao had fallen on her own, with no involvement from Zhang Yang.
After a day of investigation with no evidence, and with Zhang Yang adamantly maintaining his innocence, he was released the next day.
The whole family had been thoroughly exhausted by the ordeal. With the police coming and going twice, the Zhangs had become the talk of the neighborhood, with everyone watching the drama unfold.
The Dong family next door certainly didn’t miss out on the excitement. Thanks to Jiang Li’s relationship with Zhang Xueqi, they even got firsthand information.
In any case, according to Zhang Xueqi, her sister-in-law had simply lost her mind.
But things didn’t end as the Zhangs had hoped. On the very day Zhang Yang was released, Lü Yao filed another report—this time, it wasn’t as easily dismissed. She claimed that Zhang Yang had tampered with her medication, replacing the folic acid pills in her bottle with something else.
The police took the alleged folic acid bottle for testing and brought Zhang Yang back in for questioning.
This time, Zhang Yang wasn’t released.
After examination, the police discovered that the bottle did not contain folic acid. Though the pills looked nearly identical, their composition was entirely different.
The final result was shocking—the bottle contained “fertility pills.”
These fertility pills had once been extremely popular, with many people taking them either willingly or unknowingly. Even after it was proven that these pills only caused fetal deformities, some still refused to believe it.
Lü Yao had been taking folic acid supplements during the first three months of her pregnancy—she had been consuming these pills for three whole months.
The situation spiraled out of control. Later, the police found Zhang Yang’s fingerprints on the bottle, proving that he had indeed tampered with Lü Yao’s folic acid.
According to Lü Yao’s testimony, her relationship with her stepson was terrible—he never entered her room under normal circumstances. She kept the pill bottle in her bedside drawer, making accidental contact virtually impossible.
At the Zhang household, Zhang Shijing, who had hoped to spend a peaceful New Year at home, now looked utterly exhausted. He had spent the holiday at the hospital with his wife, and just as she had finally returned home, he now had to run back and forth to the police station every day for his son.
He couldn’t understand—everything had been fine before. How had things suddenly turned out like this?
Looking at his wife sitting across from him, Zhang Shijing spoke carefully, “Yao Yao, maybe there’s been some misunderstanding. You’ve lived with Yang Yang for years now. He might not accept you, but he would never deliberately harm you.”
Lü Yao raised her head, her eyes slightly red. “When you say he wouldn’t deliberately harm me, do you mean that during New Year’s, he only pushed me once, and not when I was going downstairs?”
Zhang Shijing fell silent. He had seen his son push his wife with his own eyes—otherwise, he wouldn’t have felt so guilty.
Old Mrs. Zhang’s face was taut with anger. After hearing their words, she shot Lü Yao a fierce glare before turning to Zhang Shijing. “Look at the jinx you brought home! Not only is she ruining the New Year, but she’s also harming my grandson. What’s the use of talking to her? Tomorrow, the two of you are getting a divorce!”
“Mom!” Zhang Shijing looked utterly helpless.
“Fine, let’s get a divorce then.” Lü Yao suddenly seemed to have an epiphany and took up Old Mrs. Zhang’s words.
Her expression was calm as she looked at Zhang Shijing. “I thought my compromises would make this marriage work, but I was just deceiving myself. We probably can’t go on living together anymore, so let’s divorce.”
Zhang Shijing opened his mouth but said nothing. He was quite satisfied with his wife and didn’t want a divorce.
But Lü Yao was right—they couldn’t continue living together.
Ever since she insisted on calling the police and had his son sent to the station, there was no way forward for them.