Chapter 11: The Feng Shui Arrangement

Ignoring Lin Yulang’s sarcastic remarks, Director Feng and I boarded his private car and headed straight from the hotel to his villa.

This villa is located in the northern suburbs of Yan City, built halfway up a hillside. From a feng shui perspective, the site selection of this residential area is quite meticulous.

As the saying goes, “the escort resembles a coiled dragon, the welcome sits like a crouching tiger.”

The villa’s location is an undisputed feng shui treasure.

Since the overall location is sound, the misfortunes Director Feng experiences must stem from smaller-scale feng shui arrangements.

Director Feng had mentioned before that Lin Yulang personally handled the villa’s interior feng shui setup, so the problem likely lies there.

Sure enough.

As we arrived at his grand residence, a mere glance revealed the clue.

The entire villa leans against the hillside, and just past the main entrance lies a wide, smooth stairway ascending straight ahead.

Counting carefully, the stairway has ninety-one steps, each approximately seven centimeters high.

This design is flawless.

The number of steps has cosmic significance: heavenly numbers are 1, 3, 7, 9; earthly numbers are 2, 4, 6, 8.

Nine is the ultimate heavenly number; one is the beginning of heaven. Ninety-one steps is an auspicious figure, symbolizing ascending to the heavens. Together with the stairway’s design, this forms one of the most common feng shui patterns—

The “Step-by-Step Ascension” pattern.

Generally, this pattern ensures the homeowner’s career flourishes smoothly, and family life remains blissful. There should be no obstacles in work or domestic discord.

Yet, Director Feng’s situation clearly contradicts this.

That’s because his home’s feng shui doesn’t consist of just one pattern.

Besides the “Step-by-Step Ascension” pattern, my foolish younger brother Lin Yulang, in his arrogance, added a second feng shui pattern to Director Feng’s home.

Inside the villa, apart from the grand stairway representing “Step-by-Step Ascension,” the terrain slopes from west high to east low.

On the west side of the villa, a water system was introduced: water gushes from a fountain at the highest northwest point of the courtyard, flowing eastward along nine channels that converge into a central reservoir.

At the reservoir’s eastern edge, a magnificent artificial waterfall cascades, after which the water continues eastward, pouring into a pond filled with ornamental fish outside the villa.

This water-based arrangement forms another common feng shui pattern—

The “Hundreds of Streams Converging into the Sea.”

This pattern is characterized by accumulating fortune and wealth, gathering small gains into great abundance.

Homes arranged with the “Hundreds of Streams Converging” pattern usually see no immediate change but become increasingly prosperous and blessed over time.

Overall, this pattern is excellent.

However, when the “Hundreds of Streams Converging” pattern is combined with the “Step-by-Step Ascension” pattern, they conflict, producing adverse results.

This was the fatal error my foolish brother Lin Yulang committed!

Seven Deadly Sins—Greed!

Different feng shui patterns each have distinct attributes. Forcing two auspicious patterns together can cause them to clash, turning blessings into curses.

Seeing me study the villa’s structure thoughtfully, yet with a confident expression, Director Feng guessed I had reached a conclusion. Politely, he asked:

“Ma Zi, what do you see? Have you found the problem?”

I nodded gently.

“Yes, I have. Lin Yulang, being inexperienced and unskilled, was greedy and tried to achieve too much at once. He arranged two feng shui patterns at your villa in one go, only to create conflict and cause harm despite good intentions.”

Curious, Director Feng said:

“Oh? How so? Please explain, Ma Zi.”

Without delay, I pointed to the grand stairway in his courtyard and said:

“This stairway forms the ‘Step-by-Step Ascension’ pattern, which benefits your career, ensuring smooth progress at work.”

Then, indicating the fountain, waterfall, and pond, I continued:

“This water system forms the ‘Hundreds of Streams Converging’ pattern, which enhances your financial luck and family blessings, promising increasing wealth and harmony.”

After my explanation, Director Feng shook his head repeatedly.

“No, that’s not true! None of it fits!”

“Lately, I’ve been hitting roadblocks at work; the hospital is losing talent, and we’ve suffered several medical accidents costing millions in compensation. My career luck is gone, finances are in shambles, and my family relationships are a mess—my wife and daughter-in-law fight daily. It’s driving me crazy!”

I was not surprised and replied calmly:

“That’s exactly why. The two feng shui patterns have clashed, creating a negative configuration.”

Director Feng’s face grew pale with worry as he asked:

“Ma Zi, what exactly is going on?”

I patiently explained:

“There’s an old saying: people strive upwards, water flows downwards. This perfectly describes these two feng shui patterns.”

“The ‘Step-by-Step Ascension’ pattern aims to elevate the family’s fortune. As you and your family climb the stairway daily, your fortunes should rise step by step.”

“But at the same time, the ‘Hundreds of Streams Converging’ pattern causes all that ascended fortune to flow away along the water channels.”

“Even worse, the ‘Hundreds of Streams Converging’ pattern not only drains the fortune accumulated by the ‘Step-by-Step Ascension’ but also siphons off your family’s original luck. Over time, it’s no wonder your family has been so unlucky.”

Director Feng was shocked.

“Really? It’s like that?”

I nodded.

“Yes.”

Then I added:

“If I’m right, the ornamental fish in the pond on the east side of your villa must be plump and vibrant. Any aquatic plants there would be flourishing and thriving as well.”

Director Feng slapped his thigh.

“Ma Zi, you’re uncanny!”

“Our koi in the pond are huge—each weighs at least four or five pounds! The lotus flowers bloom vividly, and the lotus roots are large and beautiful. Everyone who sees them praises them!”

I sighed helplessly.

“That’s because all your family’s fortune is flowing into that pond with the water. The koi and lotus are nourished by your family’s luck, which is why they grow so lush and healthy.”

Hearing this, Director Feng’s already troubled face grew even more distressed. He asked gloomily:

“Ma Zi, what can I do? Is there any hope for my home’s feng shui?”