"My pockets are empty!"
"If you want money, just tell me."
"Since you're an old man down on your luck, I can give you some."
"Just think of it as handing alms to a beggar."
The man spoke harshly.
The old man's cryptic words had left him on edge.
A trace of unease crept through his entire body.
Every nerve in him was taut.
"I don't want money."
Old Meng held out his hand.
"I'll help you get rid of it..."
"Slap!"
The man struck the old man's hand hard.
"Old Meng!"
The Pang Pang old man cried out in alarm.
Old Meng's hand was visibly red across the back.
The man had clearly hit him hard.
Of course.
The sharp crack had made that obvious, too.
"Nutcase!"
The man spat out the words and strode away.
He didn't want to keep arguing with the old geezer.
The more he listened, the worse he felt.
This was downright spooky!
The man cursed inwardly.
He should've checked the almanac before leaving home.
How had he run into such a nutty old geezer?
Everyone understood the man.
They even felt a little sorry for him.
"That guy's so unlucky."
"How did he get hounded by a crazy old geezer?"
"And what's with that old geezer?"
"At this point, why keep up the act?"
"If he wants money, he should just say so."
"What do you know?"
"People who claim to be experts never ask for money themselves."
"They make you offer it to them."
"Then they reluctantly accept because they can't refuse your generosity."
"Wow."
"Is that how it works?"
"You sure know a lot."
"Have you run into one before?"
"Ugh."
"These fake experts want to take your money and make you thank them for it."