Arriving at the factory where I had worked for nearly a year, my mood was neither good nor bad.
Instead, I felt a growing aversion to the mechanical work here.
Although I was struggling to stay alive, my life could only last for another month at this rate.
But at least now, I had met a good master.
I believed that with my master's help, I would eventually replenish the lamp oil that the "dirty things" had consumed…
Holding my resignation application, I first went to find the team leader on the assembly line.
If I wanted to leave, he had to sign it first.
My colleagues on the line were busy. Although they saw me, they ignored me as if I were invisible.
I also couldn't be bothered to pay them any mind. I found the team leader, Wang Kai, who was telling lewd jokes to a female colleague.
This guy claimed to be teaching the female colleague how to operate the line, but in reality, he kept leaning into her, taking liberties.
Shameless, with a lustful look on his face.
But after only a few days, I noticed that this guy had lost a lot of weight.
His complexion was also a bit sallow, and he had dark circles under his eyes.
His state was somewhat similar to mine a few days ago.
I felt that this guy had either fallen ill and lost weight drastically, or he was entangled by some "dirty thing."
I didn't want to deal with him, so I spoke directly:
"Team Leader Wang, please sign this!"
He already knew about my resignation.
Seeing me arrive, he glanced at me.
A hint of disdain appeared on his face:
"Qin Ze! It's not that I, Brother Wang, am saying this to you.
You're just a kid from the countryside who doesn't know what's good for him.
You're leaving a good job for no reason.
You have no education, no skills.
Once you leave, it will be difficult to find another good job with such good benefits like our factory offers."
I rolled my eyes. Twelve-hour shifts, working overtime was the norm.
Asking for leave felt like begging a deity. I barely took home three thousand five hundred yuan each month.
And you've been targeting me for a long time.
You're telling me this is a good job now?
I wasn't going to humor him. I retorted directly:
"What good job? It's exhausting.
I've already found another place to work.
Nine to five, with a starting salary of three thousand five hundred yuan!"
The idiot looked unconvinced, with a fake smile:
"Oh, oh, oh! Nine to five? With your capabilities, you're dreaming!"
After saying that, he took out his pen and signed.
I let out a "hehe" and didn't want to say another word to this guy.
With the signed resignation form, I went to the director's office.
As it turned out, the director was in a meeting, so I had to wait for another hour or so.
And it wasn't over yet. After the director signed, I still had to go to the finance department for a signature.
The salary wasn't much, but the procedures were endless.
By the time I completed all the formalities, it was already noon.
I called Brother Chen and learned that he had returned to work after being discharged from the hospital that morning.
He was still at the factory, so I invited him out for a meal.
My survival until now was all thanks to Brother Chen's help and guidance.
When I saw Brother Chen, I noticed his complexion wasn't good either.
It was quite similar to Team Leader Wang Kai's.
But Brother Chen's condition was understandable; he had just returned from the hospital and had been possessed by a ghost a few days ago.
It would take some time for him to recover.
Brother Chen was very happy to see me.
He even wanted to return the more than one thousand yuan that was prepaid for his hospital stay.
Brother Chen helped me, which resulted in his current state and hospitalization.
Ever since I was young, I knew the principle of repaying even a drop of kindness.
I already felt guilty, so how could I possibly accept it?
We found a decent restaurant near the factory. I ordered six or seven dishes to treat him, showing my gratitude.
Brother Chen was also happy and insisted on having a bottle of Snow beer.
During our conversation, I recounted my strange experiences of the past few days and how I dealt with the mother-child ghost last night.
Brother Chen listened with excitement and emotion, even a touch of longing.
He said he envied me and that he had once wanted to learn from my master and become a "master" who could exorcise spirits and discern events.
But my master refused him, saying he had no "spiritual root," and merely taught him a few defensive techniques.
He hadn't really used them much over the years.
It wasn't until he saw me being entangled by "dirty things" on the bus that he acted righteously.
Now, he also hoped that I would study diligently under my master.
Not only could it save my life, but after mastering the skills, I could also help more people in need in the future.
Brother Chen was truly a good and righteous person.
Brother Chen had to go back to work in the afternoon, so I didn't linger.
After the meal, I quickly said goodbye and left.
Upon returning to Wanshengtang, I noticed a Mercedes-Benz sedan parked at the entrance.
As soon as I entered the house, I saw my master looking like an immortal.
He was currently speaking to a man with a slicked-back hairstyle:
"Mr. Ma, as the saying goes: The sky has unexpected storms, and people have misfortunes that come without warning.
A centipede with a hundred legs cannot crawl as fast as a snake; a rooster with two wings cannot fly as high as a crow.
A horse may travel a thousand miles, but without a rider, it cannot go; a person may have aspirations to reach the heavens, but without luck, they cannot succeed.
I have told you all that needs to be said. I will now create a charm for your fortune, hoping to turn your luck around.
Carry it with you and focus on your business.
When the time is right, success will surely follow!"
The man with the slicked-back hair was stunned, clasping his hands together and thanking profusely.
Although I had only been working for a few days, I was observant.
Seeing that my master was about to draw a charm, I quickly prepared cinnabar, ink, yellow paper, and other necessary items for him.
My master waved his hand and quickly drew a charm, handing it to the man.
He also performed a "skill" of crushing the charm in his hand, causing the paper to instantly ignite.
The man watched with shining eyes, repeatedly thanking my master with excitement.
He directly took out ten thousand yuan from his briefcase and handed it to my master, looking completely willing.
I watched this, quite shocked.
So, this line of work was this lucrative.
Just drawing a charm cost ten thousand yuan.
My master did not accept it directly, maintaining his calm demeanor, and merely gestured for me to take it.
He then escorted the man out of the shop.
After my master returned, I handed him the money.
My master sat on a chair, licked his finger, and began counting.
I was very curious, so I asked:
"Master, are these fortune charms really this valuable? Can they truly change one's luck?"
My master smiled:
"Change luck, my ass. It's just an ordinary peace charm. I was fooling him!
That rich bumpkin has earned a lot of ill-gotten gains. He's been investigated recently and is overly suspicious. If I don't scam him, who else should I scam!"
I looked at my master with astonishment.
Good heavens, I didn't expect my master to be so much to my liking.
For the impoverished Ms. Zhang's family, he only charged a symbolic few hundred yuan.
But for this kind of unscrupulous rich bumpkin, he charged ten thousand yuan for a charm that cost less than fifty cents to produce.
He doesn't cheat good people, but he shows no mercy to bad ones!