The Way of Restraint

Chapter 104: Holding All the Cards

Su Jie had only scratched the surface of feng shui and physiognomy, but thankfully, he had developed the habit of keen observation. Every blade of grass, every tree, every person, and every event left an imprint deep in his mind. A bit of analysis and calculation led him to conclusions—and he moved on without leaving a trace.

The foundational knowledge he learned from Master Luo and Master Ma was like formulas in mathematics, physics, or chemistry. Observing a residential complex, a street, or a person became a problem-solving exercise.

Through continuous practice and comparison, he slowly became more proficient and began to grasp some essence of it all.

But he had no intention of showing off this knowledge.

To him, feng shui and physiognomy were simply ways to broaden his horizons, enhance his appreciation of traditional culture, and find methods to cultivate a calmer mind and a deeper personal realm.

They were tools for spiritual cultivation.

“Up ahead is where Zhang Jinchuan’s company is located.” Zhang Manman and Su Jie had entered a start-up park. The area was neat, full of energy, and brimming with entrepreneurial spirit. The employees were all young people, their faces full of hope for the future. Even an outsider would feel that this park held great promise.

“Li Kun Network Technology Co., Ltd.?” Su Jie read the sign in front of one of the buildings. The name sounded strange—but being well-read in the Book of Changes, he immediately recognized it. “Li” represents fire, “Kun” the earth.

Fire above, earth below—together, they form the hexagram Jin (progress).

A perfect match for Zhang Jinchuan’s name.

The “Jin” hexagram is also an auspicious one. Fire symbolizes brightness, and with brightness rising above the earth, it implies the rising sun—”Jin” carries the meaning of advancement and promotion.

Clearly, Zhang Jinchuan had learned a lot from Master Luo.

The layout in front of his company was refreshing. First, it was spotlessly clean, with bright floor tiles. Fresh flowers had been carefully placed at key positions near the entrance. A light breeze carried their fragrance into the noses of passersby, refreshing and uplifting.

The breeze was soft, natural, and gentle—meandering from between the tall buildings above, then calming as it reached this spot. It nourished people without dispersing wealth.

In feng shui, the wind matters greatly.

As the saying goes, “a strong wind is like an arrow.” If wind isn’t handled properly, it brings illness and loss.

There’s science behind this too. Wind carries away body heat. Over time, this leads to chill seeping into the body, which causes illness, fatigue, and irritability. And when people get sick or agitated, nothing goes well—naturally, wealth suffers too.

Some houses are plagued with constant crosswinds. Even in summer, they feel cold—far from ideal living spaces.

But having no wind is just as bad. Without air circulation, people feel stifled. Dampness and mold thrive, and bacteria multiply.

Even in architecture, airflow is a serious field of study.

When Master Luo gave lectures to Su Jie, he even cited the example of the Twin Towers in New York. During their construction, engineers didn’t yet understand wind tunnel testing. As a result, once completed, the towers created enormous wind tunnel effects when city breezes blew past—making the area around them nearly impassable.

This is what’s called “evil wind” in feng shui—a sign of misfortune.

But in front of this building, everything had been designed with care. Color, sound, scent, and tactile sensation, the signage, the reception area, even the guards—all projected an image of vibrant positivity. It felt like a company with fresh, modern vitality.

Anyone arriving to do business here would instinctively think: “This place is solid. It has a future.”

At the door, a young woman in casual wear came out to greet them.

Her outfit wasn’t overly formal, nor did it look sloppy. It seemed purposefully designed—brimming with energy, clean, crisp, and professional—unlike the often tacky corporate wear at other companies.

‘Whoever designed this company’s clothing has real talent,’ Su Jie thought, and couldn’t help but ask, “Who designed your uniforms?”

“Our boss did,” the young woman said with a touch of pride. She looked like a college student intern, but carried herself with surprising experience. “You must be Ms. Zhang Manman. Our boss is waiting in the office. Please follow me.”

As she led them through the company, they passed rows of workstations filled with energetic young programmers typing away or teams brainstorming in meeting rooms. The company had around a hundred employees, all looking hardworking, talented, and focused—no slackers or management headaches in sight.

“Zhang Jinchuan really knows how to lead a team. He must be excellent at interviews,” Su Jie thought, impressed.

The company may not have been large, but like a sparrow with all its vital organs, it was perfectly structured—and filled with top-tier talent.

It also became clear why Zhang Jinchuan had sought out Master Luo to learn physiognomy.

Once mastered, such skills were incredibly useful for an employer. Building a great team was the foundation for a company to take off.

Upstairs, they were greeted by a massive painting.

It depicted a towering mountain shrouded in mist, reaching into the heavens. Within the swirling clouds, faint hints of dragon scales and claws peeked through—making it feel as if a divine dragon was hidden among the peaks, about to burst forth.

In the distance lay rivers, lakes, cities, and people—an entire landscape of the nation.

The painting radiated tremendous energy. Though only a few fragments of the dragon were visible, they made viewers feel watched—small, humbled, and awed.

“This piece is called “Cloud Dragon over Buzhou”. Our boss painted it himself. It combines classical ink techniques with modern oil painting,” the assistant explained briefly, but with impact.

Anyone who saw it would stop and admire it. And through that admiration, they’d naturally feel a sense of reverence toward the artist—and that changed the psychology of any negotiation.

This too was part of feng shui layout—just as much modern psychology and interior design as traditional mysticism.

Su Jie wasn’t swayed by the painting—but couldn’t help but wonder: was Zhang Jinchuan really a high school senior, just like him?

Running a company this big, hiring top people, designing uniforms, painting masterpieces… he seemed good at everything.

From the moment Su Jie entered, an image of a respected, seasoned elder kept forming in his mind—someone with the aura of Master Ma or Master Luo.

This was Zhang Jinchuan?

But yes, he really was just a twelfth-grade student.

It felt like he was playing life on cheat mode.

Behind the giant painting was Zhang Jinchuan’s office.

At the entrance was a large screen. When someone stood in front of it, their image appeared—facial recognition scanning.

“Access granted.”

The assistant scanned her face, and the door slid open automatically.

Sure enough, inside was a young man, about Su Jie’s height, wearing similar casual clothes and running shoes—a sporty, relaxed style that fit the image of a young tech CEO. Nothing old-fashioned about it.

The office was bright and clean—bookshelves, a desk, a fabric couch, and a solid wood meeting table. Tastefully minimalist. Nothing fancy or expensive, but very comfortable.

Notably, there was no traditional tea set.

Most executives kept a tea table for meetings. To Su Jie, though, that had become cliché.

“Manman, you’re here! And this is your friend?” Zhang Jinchuan greeted them warmly and handed over two bottles of mineral water.

“This is Su Jie. Technically, he’s your junior—just finished training under Master Luo,” Zhang Manman introduced.

“Impressive.” Zhang Jinchuan nodded and shook Su Jie’s hand. His expression showed respect—but Su Jie picked up on the subtle signals. Jinchuan wasn’t truly impressed. To him, Su Jie was just another person.

“Let’s get to the point,” Zhang Manman sat down and cut straight to business. “Jinchuan, I laid everything out clearly in the email. I wanted to talk in person to finalize it. You already know your company has gone head-to-head with the Feng family. And knowing their temperament, they won’t let it go. They’ll use every tactic they’ve got. This is the perfect chance to strike back. It’ll be a challenge for your kung fu, too. Are you in?”

“I understand,” Zhang Jinchuan said calmly, seated on the sofa. Every move was composed and elegant—mature far beyond his years. He looked at both Manman and Su Jie. “The Feng family’s actions have indeed gone too far. If they swallow the Xu family, their power will snowball. If they target my company next, I’ll be in deep trouble. But let’s be frank—this is dangerous, and the benefits are limited. Manman, I’ll level with you. I know what the Xu family offered you. If I get involved, success is guaranteed. Without me, your odds are under 50%. So I want 60%. Fair, right?”

“That’s too much,” Zhang Manman frowned. She hadn’t expected Jinchuan to be so bold—or greedy.

“Not at all,” Jinchuan replied. “Let me explain why I’m asking for 60%. The moment I heard the Feng family was moving to acquire the Xu family, I knew something big was happening. I immediately started gathering intel and found the critical weak point—those seized shipments overseas. I now have access to some of the Feng family’s confidential data. I also know about their dealings with the armed groups. If I come with you, I can use their weak spots to convince those militants to release the cargo. Without me, not only will you fail to recover the goods, you might not make it back in one piece.”

“You have intel on Haoyu?” Zhang Manman was visibly shocked. “How did you get it?”

Su Jie frowned. 

The flow of the negotiation had been completely taken over by Zhang Jinchuan.