Chapter 87 - 86: Fengshui Array within an Array

Chapter 87: Chapter 86: Fengshui Array within an Array ... Dong Yuqing sat upright, gently raised her hand, and said solemnly to Yan Xiaobao, "Since Mr. Yan’s mastery of Fengshui Skill is so profound, why not first take a look at the Fengshui Array in my store and see if there’s any problem?" Tang Wenjun knew that Dong Yuqing was trying to test Yan Xiaobao’s expertise and started examining the layout of the store in detail. Most stores, regardless of their decoration style, try to maximize their space, usually featuring straightforward square designs. Yet, Heavenly Water Pavilion was markedly different—the entire space had been remodeled into a circular shape. From the outside, the store’s original construct was just like any other, rectangular and standard. Transforming it into a circular design meant that considerable space in the four corners had been wasted. Furthermore, most furniture pieces are typically rectangular, creating an awkward mismatch in a circular layout that inevitably leads to more wasted space. Although the space inside Heavenly Water Pavilion was spacious enough to accommodate the circular design without feeling cramped, its novelty certainly gave an impression of freshness. However, this novel feeling was clearly not the main purpose of such a design. Tang Wenjun carefully observed the centerpiece of the floor—a massive tile embedded in the center, distinct from the surrounding tiles. He stood up, walked over, and bent down to examine it closely. The enormous tile gleamed like jade, shone like a mirror, its texture so extraordinary that even a layperson would realize its exceptional quality. "This is..." Tang Wenjun suddenly thought of something and exclaimed in shock, "This is a gold brick from the previous dynasty!" Gold bricks, contrary to their name, are not made of gold but are ancient tiles from the Imperial Palace, traditionally referred to as gold bricks because their fine grain and dense texture produce a ringing metallic sound when tapped. It is said that the cost of manufacturing gold bricks was exorbitant due to the complexity of their craftsmanship. Only 5,000 were produced annually, with each brick rivalling the value of one tael of gold. Most importantly, the technique for crafting gold bricks has been lost. In perfect condition, a single gold brick today can fetch at least hundreds of thousands in the antique market. Tang Wenjun gazed at the gold brick and then lifted his head to look at the ceiling, murmuring as realization dawned on him, "Heavenly Circle and Earthly Square... the outer circle and inner square resemble an ancient round coin with a square hole..." Tang Wenjun started to understand why Heavenly Water Pavilion had transformed its space into a circular design. With the circular exterior complemented by the square gold brick at the center, it resembled ancient round copper coins with square holes. Ancient copper coins symbolize Heavenly Circle and Earthly Square and have become financial symbols over time. Many banks and financial institutions feature logos derived from the design of ancient copper coins. The Fengshui layout of Heavenly Water Pavilion, resembling wealth, is undoubtedly a good omen. Seeing that Tang Wenjun was hinting at something for Yan Xiaobao, Dong Yuqing remained calm and said evenly, "Young Master Tang indeed has a sharp eye—but I wonder if Mr. Yan has any unique insights to add?" Yan Xiaobao’s face took on a serious expression as he replied, "The Fengshui Array in this store incorporates layers upon layers—three interlinked circles. It is quite remarkable." "Layers upon layers? Three linked circles?" Tang Wenjun scanned the surroundings in surprise, but as someone unfamiliar with Fengshui Arrays, he couldn’t discern anything else. frёeweɓηovel_coɱ "Please elaborate," Dong Yuqing said, her mind astonished but managing to keep her composure outwardly. "Tang Wenjun is correct—the foundation of this layout is the Heavenly Circle and Earthly Square Money Formation," Yan Xiaobao continued as he pointed to the gold brick. "Beyond the gold brick in the center, all other tiles on the floor feature wave-like patterns, symbolizing: ’Money as water; wealth flows endlessly.’" Tang Wenjun looked down at the tiles and clapped his hands in admiration, "Indeed, what an ingenious idea—money as water, wealth flows endlessly—brilliant!" "’Money as water; wealth flows endlessly’ is merely the most superficial layer of this array," Yan Xiaobao continued, pointing to the gold brick. "This brick wasn’t laid flush with the floor; instead, it rises slightly above the other tiles." Tang Wenjun quickly crouched down and ran his fingers around the seam where the gold brick met the surrounding wave-patterned tiles. "It’s true—it’s uneven, slightly raised. Why is that?" When laying a floor, the surface is usually leveled for the sake of uniformity. However, while the rest of the Heaven and Water Bureau is meticulously level, the raised gold brick stands out deliberately and is clearly not the result of a mistake. "Raised by one degree means it transforms into a mountain; lowered by one degree means it becomes water. The elevated gold brick represents a golden mountain, while the surrounding wave-patterned tiles symbolize flowing water. Together, they invoke an image of water encircling the golden mountain—it’s not just ’money as water; wealth flows endlessly’ but an even more sophisticated design: ’Water surrounds gold mountain; abundance fills the hall!’" "Brilliant!" Dong Yuqing finally showed real emotion, clapping in praise. "Who could have imagined that Mr. Yan, despite his youth, has already reached such extraordinary heights in Fengshui Technique—truly impressive!" "What seemed like an ordinary store and a simple gold brick turns out to contain such sophisticated secrets. This Fengshui Array is indeed fascinating..." Tang Wenjun felt his perspective broadened and asked, "Brother Bao, you mentioned that the Heavenly Water Pavilion’s layout involves layers upon layers, with three linked circles. What is the final layer?" "Look up," Yan Xiaobao said, pointing toward the ceiling. Tang Wenjun immediately raised his head to examine the ceiling. He saw decorative arrays of auspicious ornaments elegantly hung—small lanterns, tiny bells, miniature lanterns, sachets, and lucky knots—all of which adorned the shop with a lively and festive ambiance. Yet the design was quite common, and Tang Wenjun couldn’t discern any particular genius therein. Dong Yuqing’s expression began to shift subtly, as if she had been hiding a secret she feared might be revealed. "Brother Bao, I really don’t see anything remarkable. Please explain it to me clearly," Tang Wenjun admitted, realizing his lack of expertise and deciding to directly seek guidance. "The lamps," Yan Xiaobao uttered without hesitation, "The other ornaments are mere camouflage—the true ingenuity lies in those seven lanterns connected above." "Ah... seven lanterns..." Following Yan Xiaobao’s hint, Tang Wenjun finally noticed something unusual. "Is this Seven Stars in a Row?" For amateurs, the superficial spectacle of Fengshui Arrays might catch their attention. Experts, however, delve directly into the hidden intricacies. Even though Yan Xiaobao had pointed out the focal point, without a deeper understanding of Fengshui Arrays, outsiders still couldn’t grasp its full significance. "This isn’t Seven Stars in a Row—it’s the Seven Stars Gathering Qi and Spirit Array," Yan Xiaobao remarked, fixing his gaze on Dong Yuqing. "I’m not wrong, am I?" ... [Please Bookmark, Recommend, Tip, and Support!] ...