Chapter 841: 422: Scent of a Woman (First Update)

Lawrence Winters had come up with a plan so exciting that he barely slept a wink all night. The next morning, he got up early, had some cereal with milk, and headed out with his backpack.

The small hotel was quiet; most of the residents returned late at night and got up late in the day.

With a routine like Lawrence’s, it was no wonder everyone called her "Little Sis."

She went downstairs and greeted Sister Tian, who had just started her shift, saying, "Morning, Sister Tian! You look really beautiful today! Did you put on makeup?"

Sister Tian was amused and replied with a laugh, "At my age, what makeup? Little Sis, you need to get your eyes checked!"

"Oh? Looking this good without makeup? Sister Tian, you’ve got natural beauty!" Lawrence gushed compliments like they were free.

Although Sister Tian knew Lawrence was a sweet-talker, who doesn’t like being praised?

Especially for a woman, being told she’s naturally beautiful and looks as good without makeup is an irresistible compliment.

"You’re exaggerating! How could I be that good-looking? Though my skin is indeed pretty good," Sister Tian said, narcissistically touching her face.

Lawrence nodded enthusiastically, "Yeah, yeah, yeah! Sister Tian, you’ll have to share your skincare tips later! I’m off to earn some money first!"

She waved goodbye to Sister Tian and skipped out of the hotel’s front door.

She strolled through Chinatown several times, figuring out what each place was dedicated to.

This Chinatown is a broad concept, but what people usually refer to as Chinatown denotes the old neighborhood predominantly inhabited by Chinese people since a couple of centuries ago— the old Chinatown.

This was the real foothold of Chinatown, carrying its historical legacy and even having its own management system.

The police and government agencies in this area generally paid little attention to old Chinatown, preferring to liaise with the local Chinese tycoons, resolving issues faster than anywhere else.

Lawrence scoped out a few blocks and picked a spot to set up her fortune-telling booth.

The entrance to this spot was a massive ancient structure with carved red wood, colloquially known as a "paifang," which had a history of over a hundred years.

Inside was a commercial area, two-thirds of which were restaurants, and the rest sold various small goods with ancient cultural characteristics, like calligraphy brushes, rice paper, ink sticks, and inkstones.

There were also various silk embroideries, folding fans in traditional Chinese attire, a large opera stage for local performances, and, finally, various fortune-telling stalls.

It was quite a sight.

Some used birds to pick fate rings, others dismantled characters, some measured fortunes using hoops, and there were those who, more seriously, directed clients upstairs to specific rooms for appointments with renowned masters, reminiscent of appointments with specialists in domestic hospitals.

The fortune-tellers on the streets were all relatively old, with the youngest looking at least in their forties.

Lawrence thought that if she set up her stall, being a young "Little Sis," she would stand out starkly, immediately becoming "eye-catching."

And that was just right.

She was here, after all, to give people a "pleasant surprise."

When she and Nick Zeller roamed around offering feng shui consultations, the uncle-nephew duo performed countless comedic routines.

Now alone, she could still do a "stand-up comedy" act.

Lawrence chuckled inwardly, picked a spot, and then went to nearby shops to buy some gear.

Fortune-telling was practically a cost-free business.

All it took was a table and two chairs, and she could open shop.

After purchasing a folding table and folding chairs, she found a restaurant to borrow their restroom.

Ten minutes later, out came a young girl with a somewhat dark complexion.

She wore shabby-looking shirt and pants, green rubber shoes, and carried a green cross-body bag that resembled an old military messenger bag.

She then took out a pre-prepared "sign" from her backpack: a piece of hard cardboard.

On the cardboard, it read: Feng Shui and Face Reading, No Luck, No Charge.

A very straightforward advertisement, but one that spoke directly to the heart.

Underneath, in smaller letters, it said: Recognize Fate Through Scent, When the Fragrance Fades, So Does Fate.

Other fortune-teller stalls advertised "descendants of mystical figures from some sacred mountains or temples."

Lawrence’s sign had nothing of the sort, but the phrase "No Luck, No Charge" was more eye-catching than any grand claim.

She eyed a spot right between two bustling fortune-telling booths.

Most other stalls were set so close together that there was only space for a single seat between them.

But it seemed the two busy stall owners didn’t get along, hence a large gap between them.