Chapter 801: Testing Xiao Yan's Skill

"Jianqiang, don't say that. Between us it's just idle chat."

"Idle talk need not be taken seriously."

"Xiao Yan, besides reading professional books, you should also read more history, philosophy, and psychology books. In all three hundred and sixty trades, each has its top scholar."

"In the fortune-telling and divination line, we often spend time pondering people's mental activities."

"My master, Wu Tiezu, his skill is superb; as soon as someone stands before him,"

"he can tell what the person seeking him wants."

"even whether that person has money or not can be seen,"

"if they have money, we do a bit of fishy work to earn more; if they have no money, we speak plainly and help them solve their problems."

"Observing appearance and complexion is our main skill; we also need to be familiar with history. The events of all dynasties and the people of each era are known to us like the back of our hand."

"Xiao Yan, today we have nothing to do."

"The two of us will together cast a hexagram,"

"'As master, I want to see how much your professional knowledge has increased these days.'"

"Xiao Yan immediately said, 'Master, I've been memorizing the I Ching these days; I'll recite it for you now.'"

"'Haha, what's the use of just memorizing? The key to divination is interpreting the hexagram.'"

"'As long as you can read characters, you can read the I Ching, the Maji Divine Physiognomy, and similar books,'"

"'but understanding how to use them is the key.'"

"'What is the Iron Mouth Divine Calculation? It means giving a judgment on something as soon as you open your mouth.'"

"'Without hesitation.'"

"'Today, Jianqiang, come help out. Come test Xiao Yan; otherwise we're just idle.' He Zuming said."

"'Mr. He, how can I help? I also don't understand your line of work.' I said."

"'Jianqiang, casually say three groups of numbers; these three groups are three-digit numbers, under a thousand is fine'"

"'Just speak casually, speak from the heart.'"

"'Let's calculate what will happen to you next.' He Zuming said."

"'Mr. He, can divination be done this way?' I asked, not understanding."

"'It works the same; this is called numeric divination, for small matters. Just for fun.' He Zuming laughed."

"'Okay, I casually reported three groups of numbers; you master and disciple listen well,'"

"'727, 124, 960—these three groups of numbers.' I then said them out."

"These three groups of numbers are license plates we've used before; I remembered them, so I just blurted them out."

"I watched to see how He Zuming and Xiao Yan would figure it out."

"He Zuming smiled, stroking his beard as he looked at Xiao Yan."

"At this moment Xiao Yan raised his head, eyes on the ceiling, his fingers constantly pinching,"

"After a while,"

"Xiao Yan finished the calculation,"

"'Master, may I speak first?'"

"He Zuming smiled and nodded,"

"'Go ahead, let's hear it.'"

"'Master, I've calculated that Zhao Ge reported these three groups of numbers, namely 727, 124, 960,'"

"'these three numbers exactly form the Yi hexagram,'"

"'the changing line is the ninth at the top; the hexagram text reads: 'From the nourishment, perilous yet auspicious; advantageous to cross the great river.'"

"Xiao Yan paused a moment, then looked at He Zuming,"

"He Zuming gestured for Xiao Yan to continue."

"Xiao Yan then said, 'Master, from the hexagram image we can interpret it as: thereby obtaining nourishment, dangerous yet auspicious, suitable for crossing the great river.'"

"After Xiao Yan finished speaking, he said nothing more,"

"He Zuming then asked,"

"'Anything else?'"

"Xiao Yan shook his head and said,"

"'Master, that's all. I only know this much.'"

"I asked He Zuming,"

"'Mr. He, what does Xiao Yan mean? I don't understand.'"

"'How do these three groups of numbers form a hexagram?'"

"'Advantageous to cross the great river—does that mean I might cross a great river?'"

"He Zuming laughed: 'Jianqiang, don't rush; I'll slowly explain to you.'"

"'First, I want to praise Xiao Yan,'"

"'Xiao Yan is really smart; the numeric divination I only taught yesterday, and he already worked it out.'"

"'Not only did he work it out, but he got it right.'"

"'Jianqiang, the three groups of numbers you said,'"

"'are respectively 727, 124, 960, right?'"

"I nodded,"

"'Yes, Mr. He.'"

"'Dividing 727 by 8 gives a remainder of 7,'"

7 is the Gen hexagram. Gen is mountain.

124 divided by 8 leaves a remainder of 4,

4 is the Zhen hexagram. Zhen is thunder.

960 divided by 6 divides evenly, so the remainder is 6.

So the changing line is the top ninth.

Jianqiang, the hexagram obtained from these three sets of numbers is Mountain Thunder Yi.

I'll draw the Yi hexagram for you. You'll know just by looking.

He Zuming finished speaking and took out a piece of paper,

He drew a Yi hexagram on the paper.

He handed it to me to look at,

"Jianqiang, what does the Yi hexagram look like?"

I examined the Yi hexagram carefully: two long horizontal lines on top and bottom, with four broken horizontal lines in the middle.

It feels like a mouth.

I then said, "Mr. He, this hexagram looks like a mouth, right?"

He Zuming smiled and nodded,

"Jianqiang, you're right; the Yi hexagram is a mouth, with upper and lower rows of teeth, empty in the middle, indicating the need to take in food."

"It's also called the Eating and Drinking hexagram."

"That means we have food and drink, right? Are you going to treat us to dinner tonight?" I laughed.

He Zuming shook his head and said, "Jianqiang, the Mountain Thunder Yi hexagram has all three lower lines inauspicious, and it's also rarely seen in the Book of Changes."

Upon hearing He Zuming say that, my expression changed immediately.

He Zuming continued, "This indicates that in your process of seeking food, competition is fierce and very perilous."

"If you lack strength, you won't be able to escape this perilous place."

"Yi originally means nourishment."

"For example, nurturing the body, nurturing virtue, nurturing others, etc."

"Therefore, in the Commentary on the Decision, it says that nourishment in accordance with the proper way brings good fortune."

"Heaven and earth nourish all things; sages nourish the worthy and the myriad peoples. The time of Yi is indeed great."

"Here, when it is mentioned, it means nourishment should accord with the timing, following the circumstances."

"The Great Symbolism says: a noble person is careful with speech and moderate in diet."

"This means that what a person says with this mouth must be cautious to avoid misfortune from speech, and must also moderate diet to avoid illness from intake."

"For example, the line statement of the initial nine says: 'Abandon your divine turtle, gaze at my mouth's nourishment—misfortune.' One already has a divine turtle yet looks at others' food in their mouths; that brings misfortune."

"Anyone who has greed will meet misfortune."

"Leaving the divine turtle unattended and instead pondering others' food—how could that not bring misfortune?"

"Jianqiang, this is only the initial line."

"What's not important; what matters is the upper nine line, because the changing line is the upper nine."

"The line statement of the upper nine says: 'Protruding, perilous yet auspicious; favorable to cross great rivers.'"

"What does that mean? Xiao Yan's earlier comment is also correct: superficially, you have already received nourishment; although there is danger, it is very auspicious, and you can cross great rivers."

"From this hexagram image, it indicates you have emerged from past difficulties; you no longer need to worry about food and drink."

"Moreover, you can get past great rivers."

"This is the big picture; earlier I said the numeric hexagram divination concerns small matters, only immediate small matters."

"Then Xiao Yan, you speak: through the Yi hexagram,"

"what can you deduce? This is the most crucial part."

"Divining the hexagram. One must be able to foresee what will happen." He Zuming smiled at Xiao Yan.

"Master, I just feel that the Yi hexagram is the eating and drinking hexagram."

"It indicates there will be food to eat tonight." Xiao Yan scratched his head.

"Haha, you—who doesn't eat dinner at night? That's equivalent to not divining. In the evening, Jianqiang, treating us to drinks also counts as eating." He Zuming laughed.

"Mr. He, that evening, what would you like to eat? I'll treat you; that would correspond to the hexagram." I said from the side.

"If it's that simple, then I wouldn't bother divining."

"Jianqiang, you will have food and drink in the evening; moreover, someone will invite you to eat, not together with us."

"It will be with a person who is the third son in his household; Gen represents a young male, the third birth order."

"Moreover, this concerns a major matter."

"Thunder is Zhen; Zhen signifies movement. Zhen also represents the eldest son. Jianqiang, are you the eldest? Right or not."

"I nodded."

"This indicates that some things have seen movement. Jianqiang, remember this evening's banquet: the Yi hexagram says to be careful with speech and moderate in diet." He Zuming continued.

"Jianqiang, this evening's banquet, you must remember, what the divination said, be careful with speech, moderate diet." He Zuming then said.