Chapter Summaries

Wang Xiaoliang and Wei Zijin celebrated their wedding, surrounded by family and friends, including guests who arrived with gifts and congratulations. As the ceremony approached, Chen Zhifei arrived after a delayed flight, and Wei Zijin reassured her that her presence was what mattered.

• Wang Xiaoliang overcame the bridesmaids’ wedding games, carried Wei Zijin from the suite, and brought her to their newlywed home for photos with family and friends.
• Wang Xiaoliang and Wei Zijin welcomed Hu Yang, Shangguan Rui, An Peiwen, Li Liting, Luo Qiqiang, and his wife at Everlasting Love Hall, where Hu Yang gave them gold bangles and An Peiwen gave them a black hotel card.
• Wei Zijin told Wang Xiaoliang that Shangguan Rui wanted Hu Yang to give a speech, and Wang Xiaoliang asked Zeng Haiyan to add it to the program.
• Xie Hui arrived with his wife and daughter to attend the wedding, surprising Wang Xiaoliang after saying he could not come.
• Chen Zhifei arrived with a suitcase after her flight was delayed and told Wei Zijin she had feared missing the ceremony; Wei Zijin said that all that mattered was that Chen Zhifei came.

At Wang Xiaoliang and Wei Zijin’s wedding reception, Hu Yang gave the newlyweds advice about accepting each other’s flaws and listening as partners. After the celebration, Wang Xiaoliang fell asleep before Wei Zijin emerged in red lingerie as his wedding-night gift.

• Xiao Mo officiated Wang Xiaoliang and Wei Zijin’s marriage at the reception.
• Hu Yang spoke about accepting imperfections, respecting each other, and finding freedom within marriage.
• Shangguan Rui asked Hu Yang what flaws of hers he could not stand, and he affectionately teased her.
• Wang Xiaoliang and Wei Zijin toasted the guests before the wedding reception ended.
• After returning home, Wang Xiaoliang fell asleep while Wei Zijin showered.
• Wei Zijin woke Wang Xiaoliang and revealed that she was wearing red lingerie as his wedding gift.

Wang Xiaoliang and Wei Zijin returned to Jiangcheng, where Luo Bisheng gave them a new minivan as a wedding present. Meanwhile, Li Lanxiang secretly revised her plans after deciding Wang Xiaoliang and his circle had become too powerful to target directly.

• Luo Bisheng picked up Wang Xiaoliang and Wei Zijin in a new minivan and gave it to them as a wedding present from his parents.
• Wang Xiaoliang accepted the vehicle and promised to give Luo Bisheng an even better one when he married.
• At dinner, Li Lanxiang stared at a photograph of Wang Xiaoliang and argued with Dong Hongmei about whether Guoguo should learn calligraphy from him.
• After putting Guoguo to bed, Li Lanxiang wrote in her secret notebook that Wang Xiaoliang had grown influential and that she needed to change her plan.
• Li Lanxiang decided to remain close to Wang Xiaoliang and his allies while waiting for safer targets and a suitable opportunity.

Before the Spring Festival ended, Nuomi gave birth to twin boys, and Xiao Mo, Wang Xiaoliang, and Wei Zijin helped establish Xiaosheng Media. After the company opened and signed its first livestreamers and brand partners, Li Jun arrived dressed as a Daoist and offered Wang Xiaoliang two hundred thousand yuan to repay old loans, but Wang refused.

• Nuomi gave birth to twin boys, and friends and family visited her and Xiao Mo.
• Xiao Mo, Huang Xueli, Zhou Qiang, Kong Xiuyun, Liu Xinyu, Yang Qingyu, Luo Bisheng, Wang Xiaoliang, and Wei Zijin finalized Xiaosheng Media’s ownership, leadership, and office plans.
• Huang Xueli and Wei Zijin resigned from their jobs, and Wang Xiaoliang and Wei Zijin traveled to her hometown to honor her parents, relatives, and late teacher.
• Wang Xiaoliang opened Jiangcheng Xiaosheng Culture Media Co., Ltd. on May Day, and the company signed Wang Xiaoliang, Wei Zijin, and Huang Xueli as its first livestreamers, along with cooperation letters of intent with Anyang Group and Chengyu Group.
• Li Jun visited Wang Xiaoliang in Daoist robes and offered him two hundred thousand yuan to repay his old loans, but Wang Xiaoliang refused the money.

Wang Xiaoliang repaid Li Jun’s old debt, but Huang Xueli suspected Li Jun had another motive. Later, Li Jun reappeared at Wang Xiaoliang’s workplace and introduced himself as Li Xiude, while Wang and Wei Zijin planned to attend their university reunion.

• Li Jun explained that repaying his debt to Wang Xiaoliang would let him leave religious life, and Wang repaid the two thousand yuan principal.
• Huang Xueli questioned Li Jun about Daoist practices, then told Wang he suspected Li Jun had an ulterior motive.
• Li Jun left to return to his Daoist temple and complete his ceremony to return to secular life.
• Wang Xiaoliang and Wei Zijin agreed to attend a Jiang University reunion, where she hoped to scout interview subjects.
• Wang and Wei encountered Li Jun in the parking garage, where he said he had changed his name to Li Xiude.

Li Xiude brought Wang Xiaoliang and Wei Zijin to Three-Wash Pavilion, the bathhouse he had named with Wang Xiaoliang in college, but Wei Zijin sensed danger and they left. Afterward, Li Xiude and Shengkai discussed luring Wang Xiaoliang back and planned to use the class reunion.

• Li Xiude drove Wang Xiaoliang and Wei Zijin to Three-Wash Pavilion, where he welcomed them as chairman and offered them free services.
• Wei Zijin felt uneasy around a female attendant and urged Wang Xiaoliang to leave, so Wang Xiaoliang declined Li Xiude's invitation and took her home.
• Wei Zijin explained that the Book of Fate had warned her to avoid strangers who immediately made her feel loathing and unease.
• In Three-Wash Pavilion's surveillance room, Li Xiude told Shengkai that Wei Zijin had caused Wang Xiaoliang to escape and said she would need to come with him next time.
• Li Xiude and Shengkai decided to lure Wang Xiaoliang with money, and Li Xiude planned to bring everyone to Three-Wash Pavilion for the class reunion that weekend.

Wang Xiaoliang and Wei Zijin attended a large alumni gathering, where they reunited with classmates and met Li Xiude, who had returned to secular life after studying Taoism. Li Xiude joked that he could not perform divination or rituals, then asked Wang Xiaoliang to introduce him to the women at their table.

• Wei Zijin hurried Wang Xiaoliang to get ready, and they arrived early at the alumni gathering, where Zeng Haiyan welcomed them.
• Li Lanxiang, Wang Fen, Li Xiaoman and his wife, Xiao Weijin and He Runya, and Fang Dongxu joined their table, with Xiao Weijin and Wang Xiaoliang exchanging an awkward glance.
• Li Xiude arrived in a Zhongshan suit, reunited with Li Xiaoman and Fang Dongxu, and revealed that he had entered Taoism before recently returning to secular life.
• At Fang Dongxu's request, Li Xiude admitted he could not read faces, perform geomancy, divine characters, or exorcise spirits, but said he knew a mental method for making money.
• Li Xiude asked Wang Xiaoliang to introduce him to Zeng Haiyan, Li Lanxiang, and Wang Fen, and Wang Xiaoliang did so.

At an alumni gathering, Li Xiude offered Wang Xiaoliang and Wei Zijin a hundred million to become ambassadors for his group, which combined several industries with traditional culture. Wang Xiaoliang turned him down because of existing contracts and revealed that Wei Zijin's deal was with Liu Xinyu's Chengyu Group.

• The alumni introduced themselves, and Wang Xiaoliang joked that he worked as his wife Wei Zijin's chef, chauffeur, and secretary.
• After the introductions, Li Xiude proposed that Wang Xiaoliang become the brand ambassador for his group, which operated in finance, entertainment, culture, and funeral services.
• Li Xiude explained that he wanted Wang Xiaoliang because his wife's recovery after seven days of prayer made him a compelling example of traditional culture's power.
• Wang Xiaoliang declined because he had three years left on an endorsement contract, and Wei Zijin also said she had already signed a deal.
• Li Xiude offered a hundred million, but Wang Xiaoliang said his contract was with Anyang and revealed that Wei Zijin's was with Liu Xinyu's Chengyu Group.

Li Xiude invited the group to his Three-Wash Pavilion after Wang Xiaoliang declined his hundred-million-yuan endorsement offer. As the group split up, Li Xiaoman saw Li Xiude leave in a Phantom and began to believe his wealth was real, while Fang Dongxu explained how sudden business opportunities could make fortunes.

• Li Xiude dropped his offer to discuss a hundred-million-yuan endorsement later and invited the group to the Three-Wash Pavilion.
• Wang Xiaoliang, Wei Zijin, and several others declined to go, while Wei Zijin politely refused Li Xiude's request to appear on her show.
• Fang Dongxu drove Li Xiaoman, Xiao Weijin, He Runya, Li Lanxiang, Zeng Haiyan, and Wang Fen away in his Range Rover.
• Li Xiaoman saw Li Xiude get into a Rolls-Royce Phantom with a chauffeur and concluded that Li Xiude's money was real.
• Fang Dongxu said Li Xiude likely made his fortune by seizing a particular business opportunity and pointed out Wang Xiaoliang's connections and success.

Fang Dongxu, Li Xiaoman, and Xiao Weijin discussed relationships and marriage at the Three-Wash Pavilion, where Xiao Weijin revealed he was engaged despite plans to live apart. Later, Xiao Weijin announced that his wedding was canceled, but Li Xiude revived the alumni group by inviting everyone to another gathering at the pavilion.

• Li Xiaoman and Fang Dongxu talked about Li Lanxiang’s divorce and Fang Dongxu’s interest in her, while Fang admitted he wanted a dependable partner and family.
• Xiao Weijin confirmed that he was getting married but would continue living apart from his partner because she wanted to stay in the big city and he would not leave his job.
• The alumni group grew lively with photos and praise for Li Xiude’s hospitality, then gradually fell quiet.
• Xiao Weijin announced that his wedding had been canceled, and the group stayed silent after one classmate mistakenly replied that they would attend.
• Two days later, Li Xiude invited the alumni and their families to a weekend gathering, and the group filled with confirmations.

Wang Xiaoliang and Wei Zijin traveled to Fucheng, where their friends discussed Li Xiude’s lavish alumni outing and the speed of his business expansion. After Wang Xiaoliang and Liu Xinyu independently suspected a pyramid scheme and a cash grab, Wang revealed Li Xiude had left college after the police station dealt with him, but did not explain what he had done.

• Wang Xiaoliang declined Li Xiude’s invitation because he and Wei Zijin already had tickets to Fucheng for Yang Qingyu’s interview and to repay wedding gifts.
• Wang Xiaoliang read alumni-group posts describing Li Xiude’s three-day trip, Sanmu Mountain developments, and cultural tourism projects.
• Liu Xinyu hosted Wang Xiaoliang and Wei Zijin for dinner with Luo Bisheng, Yi Jiahui, and Yang Qingyu, and they discussed Li Xiude’s rapid expansion.
• Wang Xiaoliang and Liu Xinyu secretly wrote down their suspicions about Li Xiude, naming a pyramid scheme and a cash grab.
• Liu Xinyu asked how Li Xiude had left college, and Wang Xiaoliang said he left after the police station dealt with him.
• Liu Xinyu arranged to shoot a Chengyu promotional video with Wei Zijin at the Starlight Archway.

Wang Xiaoliang watched Li Xiude publicly credit him for Three-Wash Pavilion and decided to move up his plan. Meanwhile, Li Lanxiang watched Wang Xiaoliang and Huang Xueli’s new podcast, where Wang explicitly denied any connection to Three-Wash Pavilion, leaving her suspicious of Li Xiude’s intentions.

• Wei Zijin showed Wang Xiaoliang a video of Li Xiude praising him and claiming they were lifelong friends who co-owned Three-Wash Pavilion.
• Wang Xiaoliang called Li Xiude a professional scammer and went to wake Bisheng so they could film a video; Wei Zijin joined him.
• Li Lanxiang found Wang Xiaoliang’s new Understanding through Courtesy podcast, featuring Huang Xueli and guest Xiao Mo.
• Wang Xiaoliang said he had no connection to Three-Wash Pavilion and described Li Xiude as merely a former classmate.
• Li Lanxiang reconsidered Li Xiude’s reunion speech and decided to watch the podcast again carefully at home.

Li Lanxiang watched Xiao Mo, Huang Xueli, and Wang Xiaoliang discuss earning money and investing, while she considered whether their warnings were aimed at Li Xiude’s Three-Wash Pavilion. The conversation left off as Xiao Mo began to explain how he approached investing as a wealthy person.

• Li Lanxiang watched Xiao Mo criticize investing in unfamiliar fields, and she wondered whether he was referring to Li Xiude’s Three-Wash Pavilion.
• Xiao Mo advised people struggling to make ends meet to keep a stable job while pursuing a side project they enjoyed and sticking with it.
• Huang Xueli recounted considering investing with borrowed money, then revealed that the project he had considered was later classified as illegal fundraising.
• Xiao Mo warned that investors should be prepared to lose their money, and Huang Xueli advised people with loans to keep their jobs and avoid seeking a quick escape from financial pressure.
• Xiao Mo began discussing his approach to investing and summed it up as protecting one’s principal before thinking about anything else.

Li Lanxiang analyzed Wang Xiaoliang’s podcast and concluded that Li Xiude was trying to use Wang’s credibility to advance his venture, making Li Xiude a potential target rather than a threat. She considered attending Li Xiude’s money-making class but decided not to rush, while Xiao Weijin recounted why his wedding had been canceled.

• Li Lanxiang reviewed Wang Xiaoliang’s podcast and added her assessment of Li Xiude to her notebook.
• Li Lanxiang realized Wang Xiaoliang was building two valuable accounts under separate names and decided to treat him as a friend, not an enemy.
• Li Lanxiang concluded that Li Xiude was trying to attach himself to Wang Xiaoliang and chose to regard Li Xiude as her prey.
• Li Xiude invited Li Lanxiang to his money-making class, but she decided to wait before replying.
• Xiao Weijin told Fang Dongxu and Li Xiaoman that he had canceled his wedding after learning He Runya had dated four men and lived with two.

Wang Xiaoliang and his partners’ podcast quickly gained an audience, while Li Xiaoman, Fang Dongxu, and Xiao Weijin discussed Li Jun’s investment class and Fang Dongxu’s plans for his Jiangcheng branch. The chapter ended with Wang Xiaoliang and Wei Zijin discovering that Li Xiude’s money-making lesson repeated teachings from the Book of Fate and fearing the harm he could cause.

• Li Xiaoman, Fang Dongxu, and Xiao Weijin doubted Li Jun’s reliability but agreed to attend his Money-Making Principles class, and Fang Dongxu planned to invite Wang Xiaoliang and their classmates to his branch opening.
• Wang Xiaoliang, Huang Xueli, and Xiao Mo created a two-host podcast, whose first episode gained two hundred thousand followers within days.
• Wang Xiaoliang read a Jiang University classmate’s account of Li Xiude’s lesson at the Three-Wash Pavilion and showed it to Wei Zijin.
• Wei Zijin recognized Li Xiude’s advice about cleaning one’s home and avoiding filthy places as the First Fate-Changing Art from the Book of Fate.
• Wang Xiaoliang and Wei Zijin recalled that Li Xiude had briefly read the book and worried that he might use its teachings to harm people.

Wang Xiaoliang and Wei Zijin recognized that Li Xiude had copied Wang’s book and repackaged its teachings as a money-making course, so Wang used the alumni group to promote his own podcast. Li Xiude, Zhao Shengkai, and Ouyang Hai discussed the setback, and Li decided to meet Wang alone, but Wang had silenced his phone and turned his attention to Wei Zijin.

• Wei Zijin and Wang Xiaoliang concluded that Li Xiude had photographed Wang’s book and used its teachings in his course.
• Wang Xiaoliang shared his podcast in the alumni group and sent three cash gifts, drawing attention away from Gao Hui’s praise of Li Xiude’s trial class.
• Gao Hui proposed organizing Jiang University alumni to take Li Xiude’s Advanced Course at a group discount, but Li did not respond.
• Zhao Shengkai complained that Wang Xiaoliang was undermining their recruitment, while Ouyang Hai and Li Xiude urged him not to panic.
• Li Xiude decided to ask Wang Xiaoliang to meet him alone and sent him a message.
• Wang Xiaoliang ignored his silent phone after Wei Zijin asked him to admire her new stockings.

Wang Xiaoliang confronted Li Xiude about stealing photographs of the Book of Fate and reporting his drink sales, then heard Li Xiude explain his expensive course and nationwide business plan. Li Xiude invited Wang Xiaoliang to join, but Wang remained skeptical and uncovered how the course’s instructor commissions were meant to attract students.

• Wang Xiaoliang met Li Xiude at a café and asked whether he had secretly photographed the Book of Fate.
• Li Xiude admitted taking the photographs and reporting Wang Xiaoliang’s drink sales, apologized, and explained that he had acted out of pride and jealousy.
• Li Xiude offered to repay Wang Xiaoliang double for rescuing him from trouble, while Wang Xiaoliang asked about the Book of Fate and Li Xiude’s course.
• Li Xiude invited Wang Xiaoliang to join his venture, described the course’s high fee, and laid out plans to build Three-Wash Pavilions and Sanmu Mountains across the country.
• Wang Xiaoliang questioned the course’s economics and learned that students who became instructors could earn commissions and gradually recover their tuition.

Wang Xiaoliang met Li Xiude, learned how Sanmu Group financed its expansion, and refused to endorse the company. After Li Xiude threatened him, Wang warned him to stop using the Book of Fate for evil and left the café, where Wei Zijin listened to their recorded conversation.

• Wang Xiaoliang asked Li Xiude about free classes and learned that Spirit Bone Pagodas generated money through expensive burial niches.
• Wang Xiaoliang questioned Li Xiude about his startup capital and whether he had truly become a monk, then declined an offer of shares and an endorsement fee.
• Li Xiude threatened Wang Xiaoliang for interfering with his plans, and Wang warned him that people who targeted him had ended badly.
• Wang Xiaoliang told Li Xiude that he could not use the Book of Fate for evil because it was tied to Wang's destiny, and Li Xiude left the café.
• Wang Xiaoliang met Wei Zijin in the car and gave her the voice recorder she had asked him to use as evidence.

Wei Zijin and Wang Xiaoliang traced Li Xiude’s business connections and discovered Zhao Shichang was a major Sanmu Group shareholder, while Li Xiude decided to pause his Jiang University plans because Wang Xiaoliang knew the source of his mind method. Li Xiude and Ouyang Hai agreed to keep expanding elsewhere and avoid provoking Wang Xiaoliang, though Ouyang remained attached to his ex, Wang Fen.

• Wei Zijin and Wang Xiaoliang suspected Li Xiude had learned about Brother Qiang’s donation through their former acquaintances and wondered whether Zhao Shengkai was Li Xiude’s business partner.
• Wei Zijin found that Zhao Shichang owned sixty percent of Sanmu Group, while Li Xiude and Situ Hui each owned twenty percent; Chen Zhifei confirmed Zhao Shengkai’s father was named Zhao Shichang, and Wang Fen said Ouyang Hai’s mother was not Situ Hui.
• Ouyang Hai watched a video of Wang Fen, and Li Xiude teased him about still liking his ex.
• Li Xiude told Ouyang Hai to put the Jiang University plan on hold because Wang Xiaoliang knew the mind method and could make it public.
• Li Xiude and Ouyang Hai agreed to avoid Wang Xiaoliang for now, continue expanding into other provinces, and keep Zhao Shengkai from acting recklessly.

Fang Dongxu celebrated the opening of his financial company, with classmates and business contacts attending and several absent friends sending gifts. The gathering ended at a hotel banquet, where Li Xiude spoke with Li Lanxiang and Wang Fen.

• Fang Dongxu invited his old classmates to his company's opening, while Wang Xiaoliang privately said he could not attend.
• Fang Dongxu prepared the new office for opening day and welcomed classmates, including Li Xiaoman and Li Xiude.
• Wang Xiaoliang and Wei Zijin, along with Liu Xinyu and Yang Qingyu, sent four Money Trees and opening wishes; Li Xiude arrived with a carved Guan Gong statue.
• Fang Dongxu held the opening ceremony, and Li Lanxiang and Wang Fen arrived with a jade-green Pixiu as a gift.
• Fang Dongxu hosted the guests at a hotel banquet, where Li Xiude greeted Li Lanxiang and told Wang Fen he admired her singing.