Ning An's Wild Wish System

”Brother Sect Leader, why is the emergency call number 110?”

”Why is the fire emergency number 119? And the medical emergency number 120?”

At Changchun Temple, the science education mini-class is online once again.

Ning An sipped his tea with a smile and said, ”Does anyone have a Lu Ban Ruler at home? Send over a photo.”

Sure enough, the netizens were quite reliable.

Except for not being able to find a girlfriend, they could get hold of any kind of photo.

Soon, the live stream was flooded with dazzling images of Lu Ban Rulers.

Ning An casually clicked on a picture, pointed at the Lu Ban Ruler, and said softly, ”Look, on the Lu Ban Ruler, one hundred and ten centimeters corresponds to ’official,’ one hundred and nineteen centimeters corresponds to ’fire,’ and one hundred and twenty centimeters corresponds to ’illness.’

”Do you think this is a coincidence, or was it done on purpose?”

The live stream viewers were taken aback and instantly caused an uproar.

”Oh man! The government tells us not to be superstitious, but never said we couldn’t believe it. So that’s how it is!”

”Yang Ma said not to be superstitious, then turned around and sent an ID card to Mazu, hahaha.”

”I get it now, even though we haven’t released any Cultivation Secret Technique, Lu Yu has already published the Cultivation Realm, I’ve had an epiphany!”

”Actually, the launch time of Chang’e 6 was also significant. Its launch was on May 3rd, and the lunar calendar day was suitable for travel; the lunar sample collection was on June 2nd, again suitable for travel and groundbreaking.”

”...”

Seeing everyone engrossed in the lively discussion, Ning An became interested too and continued with a smile:

”Have you noticed that in many large hospitals, there are either Bagua diagrams or chess setups on the floor? Do you know why?”

The live stream viewers were puzzled. They had seen these things before but didn’t know what they were for.

”Take the chess setup, for example. Hospitals with such setups usually have black thirteen white twelve, with wuchang (impermanence) holding black and doctors holding white, with the next move being for white.”

”As long as the move is made to the upper right, it can revitalize the entire chess game, and in this life, in the chess piece’s love chart, it’s called ’wonderful hand rejuvenates the spring, winning half of heaven!’”

”It symbolizes defeating the Grim Reaper in a game!”

Ning An elongated his tone, intending to be a bit boastful, but the moment he saw the bullet comments in the chat, he was immediately caught off guard.

”I understand now! Brother Sect Leader’s meaning is obvious; black thirteen white twelve, doctors coming to the rescue playing white, so it proves that when going to the hospital, not a single move can be missed!”

”I don’t know about chess setups, I just think that Bagua diagram is more like hospitals fearing a haunting by patients turned into vengeful spirits, so they set it up as a precaution.”

”Hey, even though Brother Sect Leader’s explanation is reasonable, I think your theory makes more sense!”

”Where are you guys from? Do all hospitals have these things? In my local hospital, there’s a ’Fortune is Coming’ sign at the entrance.”

”...”

Ning An looked at these comments, feeling both humbled and philosophically reflective.

If most hospitals were now mainly driven by profit rather than healing, then people’s sarcastic takes wouldn’t be surprising at all.

Ning An thought so, but he didn’t voice his opinion and instead continued his educational discourse:

”You may think ancient Taoist metaphysics have no place today, but actually, many everyday things are influenced by it.”

”Take hospitals, for instance, why are operating rooms usually on the third floor? Because three gives birth to all things, the cycle of life is continuous.”

”Emergency doctors wear green because green belongs to wood, symbolizing growth and vitality, full of hope.”

”Consulting doctors wear white coats because white belongs to metal, signifying the repelling of disease, bringing about an end to illness.”

”In some hospitals, clocks are set a few minutes ahead, symbolizing those extra minutes to save lives hanging by a thread.”

”Most hospitals avoid having a fourth floor; instead, they have 3A or 3B, and beds numbered 4 are also skipped, all to remove bad omens.”

”And about that often-joked-about topic, nurses working night shifts hate dragon fruit the most, because red-heart dragon fruit symbolizes blazing prosperity, and who would want a busy hospital?”

Smacking his lips thoughtfully, Ning An paused, getting to the point.

Many things, common people only see the surface and follow others blindly, or don’t consider the underlying reasons at all.

Whether superstition or metaphysics, they are dismissed with a single stroke.

Perhaps they were born in the wrong era; if it were the era of harsh judgments against Confucius, they’d have room to shine.

Just as Ning An was contemplating this, a call came from outside the temple gate.

”Is anyone here?”

Hearing this voice, Ning An couldn’t help but be taken aback.

After all, it was already getting late, and generally, no one came to make a wish at this hour.

With the creaking of the gate, a middle-aged female office worker in professional attire appeared in Ning An’s line of sight.

”Is this Little Daoist Ning An? I’ve come to make a wish.”

Looking at Ning An, who was as handsome as he appeared on the phone screen, Hua Jiaojiao couldn’t help but be amazed inside.

So handsome!

”Very well, please this way, lay follower.”

Ning An stood up and nodded, leading her towards the Wishing Hall.

As always, before making a wish, Ning An offered a couple of words of caution.

”First, offer incense in front of the incense burner. After that, go inside the hall to make a wish to the Ancestor.”

”Though there’s no specific requirement, I suggest making wishes within your means; some things are meant to be, others not to be forced.”

Hua Jiaojiao nodded and smiled, ”Got it, my wish is simple, Little Daoist, don’t worry.”