So, who has Qin Huai been working to gain favor with these past two days?

Qin Huai thinks he might be working on gaining favor with Mr. Xu.

The afternoon chat with Mr. Xu in the kitchen opened up Mr. Xu, and he shared many stories from his past in the retirement home that he was previously reluctant to talk about.

If tasks could be gleaned from Mr. Xu, Qin Huai should have already seen three memories by now.

Recently, Chen Huihong and the others have been wandering around the village. Cheng Gong even left to visit another village for an afternoon, and An Youyou took a stroll around town. Only Mr. Xu stayed at the Qin Family residence every day, not leaving much at all.

He didn't even play chess.

Whenever Qin Huai was in the kitchen, Mr. Xu would be there too, sitting on a small stool in the corner and chatting with him. Mr. Xu is very articulate, with a wealth of life experience. Being Xu Nuo's father, he knows many things that Shi Dadan and Wang Gen Sheng don't, and as one of An Youyou's trusted aides, he also knows things An Youyou hasn't mentioned to Qin Huai.

In truth, when it comes to chatting, Mr. Xu and Qin Huai have a lot to talk about.

While kneading dough, Qin Huai harshly reprimanded himself internally.

Qin Huai, oh Qin Huai, you really lose sight of the main goal when gossiping. Chatting with Mr. Xu is indeed fun, but how could you forget the task for this year's New Year is to talk to Zhou Hu and gain his favor?

Have you talked to Zhou Hu? Have you earned his favor? At your age, how can you let yourself get so caught up in gossip that you forget the main task?

With these thoughts, Qin Huai glanced again at Zhou Hu.

Zhou Hu was still engrossed in his phone.

Qin Huai vaguely remembered that before coming to Qin Family Village, Zhou Hu wanted him to transfer 15 yuan for another fortune reading, but Qin Huai never transferred the money because he hoped to tease out a side task from Zhou Hu.

Since arriving at the village, Zhou Hu never brought up the 15 yuan again.

Master Zhou had already immersed himself in his new venture, completely forgetting his last client's situation.

Qin Huai glanced at the dough and felt it was ready.

Giving it one last knead.

Zhao Cheng'an quickly leaned in to observe and had just opened his mouth to speak when Qin Huai headed straight for Zhou Hu.

"Planner Zhou, do you have time now to do a reading for me?" Qin Huai asked.

"Huh? Right now?" Zhou Hu, a bit confused, looked up. The screen showed a short video explaining a TV show, indicating that Master Zhou was so busy he only had time for explanations, not watching shows.

"Yes, right now. I'm really eager to have a reading from you now!" Qin Huai nodded solemnly.

Zhou Hu instinctively glanced at the people around him, feeling uneasy about practicing what seemed like a superstitious act in front of so many people. Despite having confidence in his skills, he harbored contempt for the industry.

"Little... Master Qin, what do you want to know? Didn't you say a few days ago that there's nothing you need a reading for? I've already done many readings for you, and none of them turned out accurate." Zhou Hu's voice grew smaller and smaller. It's one thing to admit private failures; it's another to acknowledge inaccuracies in front of a crowd.

"I'm not sure what method to use. I'll just state my wish, and Planner Zhou, you can figure it out."

Qin Huai knew that at a time like this, there was no room for implication. Directness was necessary since 90% of his tasks were discovered by being straightforward.

"Alright, Master Qin, tell me what aspect you want to cover." Zhou Hu nodded.

"I want to know if I can complete what I'm planning right now." Qin Huai said.

Zhou Hu: ?

Seeing that Zhou Hu didn't understand, Qin Huai explained again: "Let me put it another way. I really desire to accomplish something, but it requires a bit of luck and opportunity. I want to know if, during the New Year, I will encounter such an opportunity to achieve my wish."

Though Zhou Hu understood, he felt Qin Huai's phrasing was dangerous.

Having been a part-time fortune teller for many years, Zhou Hu met countless clients with all sorts of readings—everything from scandalous gossip that one doesn't usually hear to hopeful news from clients on whether their affair can succeed, can one leave their spouse without splitting assets, can they successfully report a boss and get them imprisoned, can they find a sugar mommy, can they marry into wealth, can they win the lottery, will stocks soar tomorrow...

Many clients who seek fortune tellers treat them like a wishing pond. Zhou Hu often felt that his clients weren't there for the reading, but to make wishes.

Wishes as futile as spending 50 yuan on a charm, hoping to win a million-dollar lottery tomorrow.

These clients, some voice their desires directly, while others speak in circles.

The ones that go in circles often have wishes that are immoral, if not illegal.

Qin Huai's roundabout way, though seemingly clear, did not mention a specific thing. Zhou Hu was very familiar with this style.

The last guest who spoke this way was scheming a scam deal—he's now doing time for a year and seven months.

With this realization, Zhou Hu's expression changed as he looked at Qin Huai.

Zhou Hu took a deep breath, his voice becoming serious: "Master Qin, can you make what you want to know more specific, down to the exact thing?"

"I really can't be more specific."

Once again, Zhou Hu took a deep breath, thoughts racing in his mind, and Luo Jun's inheritance came to mind.

"Master Qin... Over the years, the most profound lesson I've learned from my dad is that ill-gotten gains, temporarily acquired through unjust means, eventually have to be returned, with consequences."

Qin Huai understood: "It's not illegal, just rather complicated, so I prefer not to elaborate."

Zhou Hu nodded, temporarily accepting Qin Huai's statement, then pondered for a moment: "If you want to know this... Master Qin, wait here; I'll get something from my room."

With that, Zhou Hu left.

Chen Huihong, who had somehow squeezed to the front of the crowd, impatiently asked after Zhou Hu left the kitchen: "Qin Huai, what did you mean just now? I didn't quite get it. Will you get your wish? What are you hoping for, that Old Wang gives you two more houses?"

Wang Gen Sheng: ...?

Suddenly mentioned, Wang Gen Sheng appeared puzzled, then lost in thought, seemingly considering whether he could give Qin Huai two more houses.

"Of course not, Sister Hong, what are you talking about? It's no easy feat for Uncle Wang to get a few houses from demolition. I'm not that desperate for money," Qin Huai quickly replied, "I actually want Zhou Hu to see if I can discover a side task from him, but I can't directly say that to Zhou Hu, so I described it this way."

"Can fortune tellers accurately read themselves?" An Youyou curiously questioned, "Back in Shanghai when I was begging, I saw many fortune-telling street vendors saying they can reading for others but not for themselves."

"Whenever Zhou Hu reads me, it's always inaccurate. Maybe this time he'll give an absurd outcome that might spur him and lead to discovering a side task," Qin Huai said.

An Youyou, enlightened, then turned her head to ask Mr. Xu whether he had any fortune readings done over the years. Chen Huihong chit-chatted and joined the discussion, with Cheng Gong and Wang Gen Sheng also chiming in a few words.

Zhao Cheng'an was still there at the counter, gazing intently at the dough Qin Huai just kneaded.

Observing very seriously, if Qin Huai wasn't certain the dough was the same as before, without any epiphany or improvement, nor did his base values dramatically increase, he almost suspected he had made a breakthrough.

Faced with Zhao Cheng'an's unusual behavior, Qin Huai could only attribute it to being disoriented due to car sickness.

Ah, Mayfly's physical condition isn't great.

Tan Wei'an's nausea improved hugely after many roller coaster rides last time. Zhao Cheng'an, too, experienced extreme sickness and ended up hospitalized for gastroenteritis, although he hadn't been that car sick before.

Other spirits tend to wake up physically more robust, but Zhao Cheng'an's case is quite the reverse.

In the kitchen, Qin Huai and the others waited a little over three minutes for Zhou Hu to return, carrying a deck of tarot cards and a small blanket to lay on the table.

Everyone stared at Zhou Hu, puzzled, at the tarot cards in his hands.

The tarot deck looked new, like it had just been purchased, without much wear or use.

Zhou Hu sheepishly explained: "Had some free time at home recently and took up studying tarot, discovered I've got quite the knack for it."

"Master Qin, what you're asking about is too vague and needs a specific answer. Using Chinese methods recently, the readings haven't been accurate, so I'd like to try Western style this time."

"Come on, give me 9 numbers, let's draw a card!"

Qin Huai: ...