Chapter 0020 Amulet Disappears
My mother also asked, "Old Qian is usually so listless. What's going on with him now? Is he on drugs?"
I smiled. "Can you stop guessing wildly? The power of the Positive-energy Amulet is significant. It can make people feel confident, plus I told Uncle Qian to do good deeds to change his luck. That's why he's like this."
My father nodded. "Anyway, doing good deeds is always right."
The next day at noon, as I left the apartment building, I saw Uncle Qian sitting at a round table outside his convenience store, chatting and bragging with a few middle-aged neighbor men. Pig's head meat, beer, and peanuts were on the table. Seeing me walk over, Uncle Qian immediately waved me over to sit down. Someone nearby asked, "Little Brother, I heard that the amulet Old Qian is wearing was brought back from Thailand by you? It really is miraculous! Old Qian is a know-it-all now. He's interested in everything, constantly studying finance and economics. I'm so jealous of him!"
Another person said, "Tell me about it! Yesterday, he even went to listen to some industrial and commercial lecture about the social situation. That's truly the sun rising in the west!"
Uncle Qian said proudly, "Everyone says Thai amulets are powerful. I've experienced it now."
I also smiled. "It's a matter of personal effort. An amulet isn't a remote control; it can't have such a powerful effect. The main reason is that you were willing to change your life state."
Uncle Qian was unconvinced. "Impossible! I lived over fifty years without changing. How come I changed only after wearing the amulet?"
It was difficult for me to explain. Someone said, "Old Qian, take out your amulet and let us see it! Looking won't hurt it!"
Uncle Qian shook his head repeatedly. "No, no. It's a treasure; I can't just let people look." I smiled and said it was fine; looking wouldn't hurt it, let alone touching it. Everyone joined in the commotion. Uncle Qian, playing hard to get, finally pulled the amulet out from his collar. Several people eagerly jumped up, craning their necks to look. Someone said, "It's amazing! Just this small, transparent plastic tag, and it has the power consecrated by a high monk."
I was stunned. Looking closely, I realized the plastic casing of the Somdej Amulet had cracked at some point, and the Buddha image embedded inside was missing. Only half of the plastic shell remained. Judging by the wear and tear on the crack, it had been broken for at least a few days. I quickly asked, "Where is the Buddha image from the center of the amulet? Did you put it away?" Uncle Qian was also confused. He looked at the amulet for a long time, then suddenly shouted, "My amulet! What happened to my amulet?"
Everyone was stunned. Uncle Qian felt all over his body, then took off his undershirt and searched everywhere. Unable to find it, he actually started pulling down his pants to search until Aunt Qian quickly stopped him. Uncle Qian was furious. "Did you hide my amulet?"
Aunt Qian was flustered. "Who would hide your stuff?" She pulled him into the inner room. We could hear Uncle Qian yelling inside: "Where's my amulet? Where did the amulet go? You wasteful old woman, find it for me..." The middle-aged men sitting at the table looked at each other, not knowing what to say.
For two consecutive days, Uncle Qian stayed in his bedroom and didn't come out. At first, Aunt Qian was frantically worried and asked me if he was ill. Uncle Qian finally emerged on the third day, looking mentally drained, as if recovering from a severe illness. The Buddha image from the amulet was never found, and Uncle Qian reverted to his previous state: listless all day, losing his enthusiasm for studying stocks. The investors at the securities company constantly urged him to change stocks. Reluctantly, Uncle Qian switched two stocks, both of which plummeted further. The investors lost money as well and cursed him mercilessly.
That evening, Aunt Qian specifically came to my house. Tears streaming down her face, she begged me to get Uncle Qian another amulet, or else he would be ruined. My mother laughed and said, "Wasn't Old Qian always like that before?"
Aunt Qian said, "Sister-in-law, you don't know! I've been with Old Qian for most of my life, and he's always been that way, but after he changed, I realized men should be like that. I feel like I've wasted my life before. But now he's reverted, showing no enthusiasm for anything all day. I'm really not used to it."
My parents burst into laughter. I said, "Actually, you should realize that Uncle Qian's change in mental state during that period was conscious and had nothing to do with the amulet."
Aunt Qian and my parents looked at me doubtfully. I explained, "When we discovered Uncle Qian's amulet was broken, the Buddha image had actually been missing for at least two or three days, and Uncle Qian hadn't noticed it. During those two or three days, Uncle Qian maintained his positive, changed state, completely unaware that the amulet was gone. Therefore, his change was something he could control. The amulet only gave him hope and a powerful self-suggestion."
"Are you saying that even without the amulet, your Uncle Qian could have changed like that?" Aunt Qian asked.
I smiled and nodded. "Exactly right! If you don't believe me, let's make a bet. Let's mold a Buddha image ourselves using plasticine, embed it in the casing, and lie to Uncle Qian that it was sent back to a Thai temple, personally repaired and consecrated by a high monk. Do you think it will work?"
Aunt Qian was skeptical but agreed. That night, she gave me Uncle Qian's broken amulet necklace and empty casing, telling Uncle Qian that I would be responsible for sending the amulet to Thailand for repair free of charge, but it would take about twenty days round trip.
The next day, I asked the neighbor's elementary school-age daughter upstairs for a piece of gray plasticine, carefully molded a square Somdej Buddha image, embedded it in the plastic casing, put the back casing on, and carefully sealed it with 502 glue. Then, I found an international express delivery slip, filled it out in fake Chinese and Thai, and packaged it tightly in a small cardboard box. About twenty days later, I cheerfully handed the package to Uncle Qian at the convenience store. "Your amulet just came back from Thailand! It's been repaired!"
Uncle Qian tore open the package, took out the amulet, and his hands trembled with excitement. He immediately put it around his neck.
What happened next was interesting. Since putting on the amulet again, Uncle Qian returned to his previous positive state, becoming energetic again, constantly researching stocks and national trends. His store also started selling green-boxed Marlboro and Sprite. He often told others, "You must believe in the Buddha. The power of the Buddha is truly great. I feel the Buddha inside me every day. My spirit is fantastic!"
Aunt Qian was naturally happier, but she also started to doubt if the Thai amulet I had sold before was genuine. I told her, "Positive-energy Amulets have some power, but they also require cooperation from the wearer. If you want a strong effect, there are Negative-energy Amulets containing spirits. Their effects are very aggressive. Would you like Uncle Qian to try one?" Aunt Qian's face turned pale, and she repeatedly shook her head, terrified.
A few days later, my cousin called me to return. He was going to Chiang Mai for a two-week business trip and wasn't comfortable leaving the factory unattended without a trusted person. So, I set off back to Thailand.
After landing in Bangkok, I first went to Pattaya to visit Frank Fang and ate at the seafood restaurant downstairs from his place. Frank Fang looked very glum, as if I had seduced his wife. I knew why, but I didn't say much, concentrating on eating my favorite Malaysian seafood fried noodles.
Frank Fang couldn't help but ask, "Did you end up doing that business deal with Uncle Xie?"
I was curious how he knew. Frank Fang seemed to sense my confusion and sneered, "You quoted a price for that popularity-improving deal and then there was no movement. The Thai amulet business circle is small; I found out with a simple inquiry."
I had no choice but to explain the situation with Ms. Ma to Frank Fang, finally spreading my hands helplessly. "You were sick at the time, and I couldn't resolve the business. Although Uncle Xie is an old fox, he has extensive connections. You also said he accepts any job. By the way, did you two have some past conflict?"
Frank Fang's expression was complex. Just then, his phone rang. It was Uncle Xie, asking if I had any business lately. I told him I was eating at the XXX Seafood Restaurant in Pattaya. Uncle Xie said, "What a coincidence! I'm in Pattaya handling business right now, and I know that restaurant. It's not far. I haven't had lunch yet, so I'll be right there! Let's chat properly. Wait for me, wait for me!" I was about to tell him not to come, but Uncle Xie had already hung up.
"It's Uncle Xie? He's coming to find you?" Frank Fang's eye twitched. "That shameless guy! He knows I'm here and still dares to show up!" I quickly explained that Uncle Xie didn't know he was here, and I would tell him right away. It felt a bit awkward to call Uncle Xie back, so I sent him a text message, saying I was discussing matters with a friend right now and would contact him later.