Photo credit: 李政德
Note from Kuang:
这个算命先生的地方很小，隐藏在官书院胡同一个四合院的小屋子里，墙上贴着他年轻时候穿军装的照片。他虽然已经上了年纪，胡须花白，但是思维灵敏，说话语速很快。
文章都是整理自老人原话，由于他方言口音很重，可能有解读偏差，出于尽量忠于谈话者原意的考虑，仍然保持了这些部分，如有相悖之处，望读者谅解。
Mr. Mao owns a very small place in Guangshuyuan Hutong for his fortune telling business, whose walls are decorated with youthful pictures of him in military attire. Over 70 years old, he is quick-witted and articulate.
This article is based on Mao’s words. However, due to his heavy accent, it’s very possible that I’ve made some misinterpretations. Trying to be loyal to his words as much as possible, I’ve still kept some of the uncertain parts. I apologize here for any potential mistakes.
Male, 76 years old, from Bengbu, Anhui province, a fortune teller
My family name is Mao. I’ve been a member of the Communist Party of China for over 50 years. People in the community know me by my family name—I’m our only Mao.
When I was young, I served in a performing arts troupe. It was quite something! I later joined the artillery in the 227th Unit, one of Lin Biao’s forces. We were transferred to Hebei as commissioned.
After the army was dismissed, all of us were desperate to find a living. I, luckily, had someone in Beijing and got to move here thanks to guanxi.
Since then I’ve never left the city. It’s been decades, and I’ve still kept my military uniform, as well as my Anhui accent.
I worked as a security guard at some company all the way until I retired at 50. The retirement pension of course was far from enough to support my family. I couldn’t find anything better so I started as a fortune teller.
I cover a bit of everything, like providing ideas for baby names based on the Five Elements, checking fengshui for people’s houses, telling young couples’ marriage prospects, etc. Marriage and career are the topics I get the most.
Though many fortune tellers take advantage of people, I never do that. I just charge 100 to 200 kuai each time. But sometimes I’ll let people pay what they feel like. If people are pleased by what they heard they might voluntarily pay more. The universal rule for us fortune tellers is that we never do this for free, because it’s said that foreseeing stuff goes against nature, so we’re trading our own life span, as exchange or punishment from the god of nature.
After decades in the business, I’ve seen all sorts. Many young people also come to me for relationship advice. They sometimes lose control and cry in front of me. What’s the big deal? It’s life! I always tell them to take it easy. But it’s easier said than done, especially when you’re young and not experienced. I myself didn’t see what life is all about until I was 50.
In fortune telling, sometimes I predict things right, but of course sometimes I get it wrong too. I’m a man, not a god. Fortune telling is actually more about psychology, which I’ve spent a long time learning, and I’m still learning. You get to continue learning and update your knowledge as a fortune teller. It’s a kind of job that requires a lot of mental work. My mind works faster and sharper as the years pass, unlike for most people.
I also stayed for some time in a Buddhist temple. I still worship on a daily basis. But if you ask me whether I really believe, I can’t give a definite yes. No matter how devoutly you worship or how hard you pray, the Buddha can’t really make your life any better. Only you can.
Many of my comrades-in-arms didn’t have any prospects after we disbanded, and so they returned to the countryside and spent their whole life there. Compared to them, my life’s not so bad. My wife is a Beijinger. We have two daughters and a son. Both of my daughters are in the clothing business in the south, and my son lives in Beijing. They all live well and don’t treat me poorly.
I’m this old and life is finally going well. I have nothing to complain about. But I can’t say I’m totally satisfied.
Why? Because I haven’t done as much for my country as I think I’m able to. I’d say I’m pretty smart, and I’m quite a talker. I should have been able to contribute more to the nation’s progress, but I never found my way. Instead, I’m in a business that’s as humble as begging.
China is a massive country. Nothing is too strange to be found here. That’s why the government needs to draw a red line, and anyone crossing that line gets punished. The good thing is that most people nowadays are living a much better life than before, because if they weren’t, there’s no way they’d be this civilized. During my early days in Beijing, there were so many fights, even women fighting. People tend to be more aggressive when they aren’t living well.
Life was tough when I was young, such a shortage of food. I’ve been a beggar. I’d eat tree bark. But forget tree bark—I even ate the meat of people. We harvested wild plants for stew, and that was our main food for a long time. You young people nowadays will never understand how that life feels.
My biggest hope now is to live longer. I just don’t feel my life is complete. I only get to enjoy a good life for a few years. Now that all the good stuff I’ve wanted is finally here, it’s already too late, and I’m old. It’s so unfair.
My life is filled with stories, enough for a whole big book. But who would read it?
Edited by David Huntington
男，76岁，原籍安徽蚌埠人，算命先生
我姓毛，是五十几年的老党员了。我可是有名气的，这一带姓毛的没两个。
我年轻时候的在文工团待过，风光着呢。后来加入部队，当了炮兵，跟着林彪的二二七军南军北调，到了河北。部队溃散之后，大家被迫退伍，各寻出路。我在北京有人，通过关系来了北京。
来了北京这一待就是几十年，当年的军大衣还留着，一口安徽老家乡音也没改。
我在一个单位的保卫科，一直做到五十岁退休，退休了之后还得谋生计啊，没别的路子，就做起算命先生，替人取名字，算五行，算风水等，总之什么都可以算，就看来的人问什么了，问婚姻和事业的人是最多的。
虽然做这一行，但是我不幌人，每次算命就收个一百两百的，有时候也让人看着心情给，给人算高兴了，有人愿意多给点。不过都说做算命这行会折阳寿，所以我们从来不免费给人算命。
做这行这么些年，我可以说见过了众生相，来我这算命的什么人都有。有很多年轻人来我这里问感情的问题，说着说着哭的也有。人生有多大个事，多大个坎过不去呢你说？心态要放平，我是经常这样跟年轻人说的。不过人年轻的时候是很拧的，很多事看不开。我也是到了50岁之后，才大概明白人生是怎么一回事。
我给人算命，有算得对的，当然也有算得不对的。我是人，不是神。算命嘛，其实更多的是心理学，我花了很长时间研究。干我这行的，得活到老学到老，动脑动得多，我越老脑子越灵活，想事情越透彻。
我在寺庙里待过，所以到现在还一直供着佛，要说信不信呢，我不能说全信。你怎么跪怎么拜，佛也不会真的给你什么金银财宝一官半职什么的，没用，生活还是得靠自己。
很多当年一起退伍的战友，没有门路，都回了农村。跟他们比，我的生活算是不错的了。我老伴是北京本地人。我们有俩闺女，一个儿子，女儿都在南方做服装生意，儿子就在北京，现在都有车有房，待我也不赖。
老了对生活满意了，可是满意了心里也难受。为什么呢？我的人生有个很大的遗憾，我对国家的贡献太少了。我有头脑，有口才，本来是可以为国家的发展出更多力的，可我没找到路子，在这干着近乎讨饭的行当。我想对国家多出力，可是没有人用我了。
中国国大人多，无奇不有，什么样的人都有，所以国家才要设一条红线，红线以下的就得打压。好在这些年老百姓生活越来越好了，要不能这么安分？刚来北京那会儿，社会多乱呐，每天都能看见人打架，男的打女的也打。那时候生活苦，人心也苦，所以动不动就打架。
我年轻的时候要过饭，吃过树皮，别说树皮了，人肉都吃过。忆苦思甜饭你听过吧？我们那时候没有吃的，把野草，毛根，剁碎了煮成汤，就靠这些充饥。现在的年轻人是不知道那种挨饿的滋味的。
我现在最大的希望，就是能再多活个几十年，享福没享够，就这几年才算享点福，以前谈什么享福啊，日子过得结结巴巴的。这个福来得太晚了，我已经老了。
我的人生经历啊，够写成一本书了。可是谁愿意读呢？
Kuang is the founder of Beijing Lights. She would love to hear your thoughts about the column and is open to new collaborations. She can be reached at kuang@spittooncollective.com.