Put Away Your Divine Techniques Now! Chapter 2 [Starting Strong?]

Chapter Two [Got Too Excited?]

Chen Yan finds himself drawing a tile.

Upon his arrival home, the old lady offered no greeting, compelling Chen Yan to perch on a small stool nearby.

Merely observing wasn't enough!

When the old lady excused herself to use the restroom, Chen Yan seized the opportunity to join the game.

Gazing at the arrangement of tiles before him...

One Bamboo, One Bamboo / Five, Six, Seven Ten Thousands / Two Ten Thousands, Two Ten Thousands, Two Ten Thousands / Four, Five, Seven Dots...

A sense of bewilderment washed over Chen Yan.

Wait, why did I come back here again?!

I spent several agonizing hours on this journey!

A two-and-a-half-hour high-speed train, followed by an hour on the bus, then walking three miles!

I was practically in tears before I even walked in, did you know that, old lady?!

Huh? This hand isn't too shabby.

Discard the Seven Dots, waiting for a Three or Six Dots...

No, what am I even contemplating!

My thoughts are in utter disarray!

Chen Yan felt his mind was completely tangled.

He turned his head to see the old lady on a stool beside him, gnawing on a peeled sweet potato.

She glanced at Chen Yan, snapped the sweet potato in half with a distinct crunch, and offered him a piece.

"Want a bite?"

"...Old lady, you certainly have an abundance of strength."

·

Around five in the evening, after completing the day's eight rounds, the usual tile-playing companions began to depart.

Mrs. Zhang and Xu the Lame were seen off. The last to leave was Uncle Niu, who managed a small shop.

As Uncle Niu prepared to depart, the old lady called out to him.

"Old Niu."

"What is it?" Uncle Niu, having lost ten yuan and eighty cents that day, was in no cheerful mood. "I counted correctly! I didn't shortchange anyone!"

The old lady offered a gentle smile, surveyed Uncle Niu, let out a soft sigh, and gestured dismissively. "It's of no consequence. I foresaw an event that will befall your family... but by the time it occurs, you will no longer be present. Therefore, there is no need to mention it or add to your present worries."

Uncle Niu paused, a flicker of confusion crossing his face. Wait, is that actually good news?

However, being accustomed to the old lady's pronouncements, which he often dismissed as ramblings, he chuckled and reprimanded playfully, "You're teasing me again, aren't you? I'm heading to the county tomorrow morning to visit my grandson. We'll have to play again next week."

The old lady narrowed her eyes, a smile playing on her lips, and bid Uncle Niu farewell without another word.

Finally, the grandparent and grandchild could have their one-on-one conversation.

After a prolonged moment of mutual staring, Chen Yan broke the silence.

"Old lady, did you win Uncle Niu's meat money again? Uncle Niu's family will have to go meatless for a few days."

"It makes no difference. Old Niu suffers from high blood fat; consuming less meat is beneficial for him. Perhaps it will extend his lifespan by a few years."

The old lady replied with a pleasant smile, turned, and entered the kitchen. She retrieved a bowl of cold powder from the cupboard.

"It's made from mung bean powder. Knowing you would return, I had someone deliver it this afternoon. The sesame oil is in the cupboard; you'll have to get it yourself."

No!! We haven't even finished our conversation, and now cold powder?

Chen Yan's gaze fell upon the bowl of cold powder, and despite his vexation, his mouth began to water.

Composing himself and taking a deep breath, Chen Yan fixed his stare upon the old lady.

"The old village chief contacted me."

"Hmm. And so? Is he sponsoring a stand-up comedy show?"

Chen Yan rolled his eyes.

The old lady was truly something else. It appears you’ve been enjoying that Penguin membership I got you, haven't you?

The old lady took a drag from her cigarette, walked over, and shut the main door of the living room. Chen Yan followed close behind.

"The old village chief mentioned that you fainted yesterday morning and were taken to the hospital?"

"Yes, I went and came back," the old lady replied nonchalantly.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Going to the hospital proved futile, so I returned," the old lady stated impassively.

Chen Yan was taken aback. "Then why did you faint? Heatstroke? That's unlikely; the weather is turning cool, almost hinting at snow."

The old lady offered no immediate response. She walked back to the table, examined the cold powder, took a bite with her chopsticks, smack her lips, and then cast a sideways glance at Chen Yan. "It's quite good. You truly don't want any?"

Chen Yan vigorously scratched his head, feeling increasingly agitated. "Grandma, my revered ancestor, what is actually wrong with you? Are you alright or not?"

"Ah, it's nothing major," the old lady said, continuing to eat the cold powder with an air of indifference. "But speaking of which, it was indeed the right decision to call you back."

Chen Yan forced a wry smile. "Go on."

The old lady set down her chopsticks and looked at Chen Yan, a smile gracing her lips.

"Well... if I were to tell you that I am on the verge of death, would you believe me?"

Chen Yan: o_o...

·

Two seconds later.

"What do you mean?"

Chen Yan leaped to his feet.

With a gentle and kind gesture, the old lady calmly stated, "Don't get worked up just yet. I've calculated it myself, and there's only one day left." Chen Yan's anxiety intensified. "Please, Ancestor, stop this foolishness!" He reached out to grip the old lady's arm. "Let's go! I'm taking you to the hospital immediately!" "I've already told you, the hospital won't help," the old lady replied, casually brushing aside Chen Yan's hand. She took a leisurely drag from her cigarette, displaying remarkable composure. She even performed a little trick, drawing the smoke into her mouth without inhaling it into her trachea, then exhaling it through her mouth before drawing it in through her nose. Such a maneuver would require at least a decade of dedicated smoking, likely accompanied by numerous bouts of tracheitis. · "There's truly no need to go to the hospital," the old lady said with a soft smile. "I've calculated it myself; it's the end of my life. It's destiny. Your grandma has..." She then glanced at the wall clock. "Hmm?" The clock had stopped long ago, its battery dead. The old lady casually picked up Chen Yan's phone from the table and checked the time. "... I have eighteen hours and forty-three minutes of life remaining."