Chapter 0022 My Cousin and Her Boyfriend
My customers were spread all over China, from Jiamusi in Heilongjiang in the north to Qionghai in Hainan Province in the south, and I also had many clients in Shenyang. Besides strangers, I also did business with relatives, classmates, and friends. I had a distant relative, the niece of my aunt's husband, from Xinmin County, Shenyang, named Wang Jiao. She was only twenty, had ordinary looks but a remarkably good figure. Her boyfriend was Sun Xicai, about twenty-three or twenty-four years old. True to his name (Xicai means "Fond of Money"), Sun Xicai was very eager to make big money. He always complained that his salary was too low, wanted to start a business, but lacked capital.
The young couple worked in Shenyang. I got to know them through my aunt's husband. Last year, they bought a cheap Success Buddha Amulet from me, a Positive-energy Amulet from a White Robe Arjan. They didn't strike it rich after getting it, so Sun Xicai always suspected I sold him a fake. Wang Jiao was technically my cousin. She was kind and innocent, and she especially admired my profession and income in Thailand, often calling me to invite me out for a meal. Considering our distant family tie, I had to explain to her the difference between Positive-energy Amulets and Negative-energy Amulets. Once, when Sun Xicai found out, he misinterpreted the situation, claiming I was seducing his girlfriend. The misunderstanding was later resolved, but I never dared to accept Wang Jiao's invitation alone again.
Seeing Wang Jiao calling again this time, I guessed it must be related to amulets. Sure enough, Wang Jiao said, "Brother, Xicai and I are walking around Zhongjie Street. Are you free? Come out and have dinner with us."
I said I couldn't, that the remote control for my TV at home was broken, and I had to go to the mall to exchange it for a new one soon. But she insisted on meeting. Left with no choice, I agreed to meet them at Zhongjie Street two hours later.
At Zhongjie Street, as soon as Wang Jiao saw me, she ran over from a distance and happily grabbed my arm. "Brother, you've been back in Shenyang for so long, why didn't you tell me?"
Although Wang Jiao was young, she was well-developed. She had fair skin and a large bust. Perhaps because of her youth, she often liked to dress revealingly. Today, she was wearing a low-cut black camisole with spaghetti straps. It was extremely elastic, and her chest seemed barely contained. I like looking at beautiful women, but since she was my cousin, I didn't dare to stare, so every time I met her, it felt awkward. When she ran over just now, her chest was practically bouncing out. I really didn't know whether I should look or not.
Sun Xicai was very thin and had the Success Buddha Amulet hanging around his neck, looking indifferent—still his usual self. As soon as he saw me, he said, "Brother Tian, not only have I not made any money recently, but I was also fired by my boss last week. Are you sure this amulet isn't fake?"
I asked, "Why were you fired?"
Wang Jiao glared at Sun Xicai. "It's because he took kickbacks while doing sales and a customer reported him!"
Sun Xicai snorted. "I've been working in sales for over a year. Why was I reported exactly at this time? I'm worse off with the amulet than without it!"
I said, "I told you, Positive-energy Amulets are not omnipotent and not as sinister as Negative-energy Amulets. First, you have to cultivate yourself. If you wear an amulet and take kickbacks at the same time, even a high monk can't help you."
Wang Jiao held my arm. "Brother, don't mind him. He's always like this. He can't live without trying some shady methods. Come on, let's go eat. Brother, what do you want to eat? My treat."
I smiled. "I'll treat. How can I let my cousin pay?" Because Wang Jiao's chest was so full, my arm, pressed against her side, clearly felt something soft, causing a slight flutter in my heart. Sun Xicai saw this and immediately pulled Wang Jiao away. "It's so hot. You keep clinging to Brother Tian. Aren't you afraid he'll feel too warm!"
While eating at the restaurant, Sun Xicai continuously complained that society was difficult to navigate, with too much pressure, and so on. Wang Jiao said, "Brother, don't laugh at him, but he has no other ambition than to start his own business and open a shop. A mahjong parlor or a clothing store—anything will do, but he lacks funds. Your business is doing so well in Thailand. Please find a way to help your cousin. Besides getting a Negative-energy Amulet, is there any other business opportunity?"
I could only smile. "I'm not a born businessman. How about this: you two can help me with the amulet procurement business, limited to Positive-energy Amulets. You'll get a 30% commission from the profit."
Sun Xicai's eyes sparkled. "Really? That's not bad! I'll call my classmates right away!"
I quickly stopped him. "Don't be too eager. Business must be done slowly. You can't just go around asking everyone, 'Do you want an amulet?' That won't work."
Wang Jiao poured me some wine and said, "He wishes he could earn a few million RMB in one night."
Sun Xicai snorted. "You don't want to make money? Seriously. By the way, Brother Tian, about the mahjong parlor I told you about last time, can you reconsider? Mahjong parlors are very popular where I'm from. Earning a few hundred a day is not a problem! 50,000 RMB is enough to open a large one. What do you say?"
Every time I ate with them, Sun Xicai would bring up opening a mahjong parlor, but he lacked the funds. This time, his intention was even clearer. He was subtly hinting that I should invest in his "gambling business." I disliked gambling and thought that opening a mahjong parlor was a lazy way for young people to make money, so I had always refused.
Wang Jiao said, "You keep bringing this up. You know my brother doesn't like playing mahjong."
Sun Xicai said, "I'm not asking Brother Tian to play mahjong, but to invest in the mahjong parlor. It's such a great project, Brother Tian, what do you think?"
I smiled and shook my head, saying we'd discuss it another time. Sun Xicai kept talking animatedly, spraying spit, and would have gone on forever if Wang Jiao hadn't stopped him. Just then, Wang Jiao dropped her chopsticks. She bent down to pick them up. This was trouble. Her camisole was already a bit loose, and as she bent over, her full chest strained to escape the neckline. I couldn't help but glance at it twice, and Sun Xicai's eyes caught mine. His face instantly became very stern, and he asked, "Brother Tian, what are you looking at?"
"I'm not looking at anything," I replied.
Sun Xicai: "If you weren't looking at anything, then what were you looking at?"
Wang Jiao asked, "What's wrong?"
Sun Xicai said angrily, "Brother Tian, you always say it's a misunderstanding, but you were staring just now. Is that also a misunderstanding? She's your cousin! Even if there was no blood relation, it's impossible, and I'm right here. What is your intention?"
I said, "I didn't do it on purpose. I just glanced at it casually."
Sun Xicai: "What do you mean 'glanced at it casually'? Your eyes almost drilled into her clothes!"
Wang Jiao: "Xicai, what's gotten into you again?"
Sun Xicai: "He was looking at you!"
Wang Jiao asked confusedly, "So what if my brother looked at me?"
Sun Xicai pointed at Wang Jiao's chest. "He, he was looking at your—" His words were cut off by Wang Jiao, who said angrily, "I knew you were overreacting again. You always say you like me to dress sexily. There are so many people on the street. They all look. Why can't others look?"
Sun Xicai was immediately speechless. After a moment, he said, "Others can look, but Brother Tian can't! He's your cousin!"
Wang Jiao snorted. "So what if he's my cousin? Fine, fine, go pay the bill." I quickly rushed to pay the bill and swiftly left that trouble spot.
After returning to Thailand, life at my cousin's house was very relaxed. Walking the streets of Rayong, I would check out any store that interested me. One day, while browsing, I had a new idea: why not open an amulet shop in Shenyang? I happened to own a street-front property there. If I converted it into an amulet shop, it would be convenient for my customers in Liaoning to buy offline, and it would also be a business for me when I eventually settled back in Shenyang. Even if I didn't earn much, at least I wouldn't have to pay rent, and the operating costs would be low. Moreover, I could ask Sun Xicai and Wang Jiao to manage the store. Since she was my relative, she would be more reliable than a stranger.
For the first time, I proactively called Wang Jiao and told them they would be responsible for managing the store, and we would split the sales profits equally. Both she and Sun Xicai were delighted. They wouldn't have to put up capital, they would make money, and they wouldn't have to pay rent in Shenyang. Why wouldn't they be happy? So, I began collecting Positive-energy Amulets consecrated by genuine Thai temples, Guman Thong, and some unique Thai accessories—the more, the better.
This was a great idea that killed three birds with one stone. But I never expected that the first source of trouble I would sow in my career as an amulet dealer would start right here.
I took a trip to Pattaya that day to discuss opening an amulet shop in Shenyang with Frank Fang. He was quite supportive but asked, "Are you planning to move back to China?" I said, "Moving back is still years away. Business is good right now, and besides, I haven't had enough fun in Thailand yet!"
Frank Fang patted my shoulder. "You should enjoy life to the fullest when you're successful, but don't you have any plans to get married?"
I shook my head. "Dating is meaningless. Being single is more comfortable."
Frank Fang asked, "Have you done any business with Uncle Xie recently?"