Chapter 0031 Class Reunion
I felt uneasy and said, "Xicai, I'm warning you, an urn that has contained ashes is an extremely Yin (negative energy) object. Do not touch it! You must pack up everything and send it away first thing tomorrow morning, do you hear me?"
Sun Xicai pouted and reluctantly nodded. Wang Jiao was terrified; her face turned pale. She quickly made Sun Xicai move the two cardboard boxes of urns into the front shop, planning to find a vehicle to send them away the next morning.
The next morning, worried that Sun Xicai might play tricks, I made a special trip to the amulet shop. Only Wang Jiao was there. She said Sun Xicai had already carried all the urns away early in the morning and had just left not long ago. I inspected the shop inside and out and confirmed they were gone, which relieved me. Wang Jiao then said, "Brother, those urns weren't left over from a friend who closed his funeral shop at all. I don't know where Xicai got the stock. He's just someone who loves petty gain and playing small tricks."
I smiled. "I knew he wasn't telling the truth. Never mind him; at least he had to move them away."
Wang Jiao pouted. "It's not that I'm willingly dating him; I just can't stand these flaws of his. Brother, I wish we weren't relatives. I would definitely be your girlfriend."
I said, "No one is forcing you to be with him. You can certainly find someone better."
Wang Jiao looked a little awkward. "I'm used to it. I'll change when I meet someone suitable later." I didn't give it much thought and left after chatting with her for a while.
The next afternoon, a classmate notified me that the junior high class reunion was being planned again and asked if I would go.
If Lyu Wen hadn't sought me out at that class reunion years ago to buy an amulet, I wouldn't have entered this industry. But recalling the incident with Brother Ming, I was hesitant and asked the classmate about Brother Ming's status. I found out that ever since his son died, Brother Ming had been completely demoralized. He later went to Guangdong to work and lost contact with all his classmates.
With that concern gone, I agreed to attend immediately. As the saying goes, "circumstances change over time." I had been in the amulet business in Thailand for nearly two years, earning a substantial income. I had already purchased an apartment in Shenyang outright, and my classmates were all envious of me. Since then, I no longer disliked class reunions; I even looked forward to them frequently.
Humans are strange creatures. Being ignored feels terrible, but being praised feels great. No wonder people in China aspire to success and like to stand out. Everyone has vanity, including me, so I went to the reunion.
The bank vice president named Qiao was always late for every class reunion. His excuse was traffic, but Shenyang isn't Beijing, so it wasn't true traffic; he was doing it deliberately for show. As soon as he entered the room, he "casually" tossed his car key next to the cutlery on the table, then sat down and chatted nonchalantly. Everything he did was a performance to let his classmates know he was successful, busy, and drove a good car.
About forty people showed up, a relatively full lineup. Old Qiao was no exception this time, still arriving the latest. However, when he walked into the private room, holding his car key in one hand and a Nokia N73 phone in the other, he realized no one was paying attention to him. Many people were gathered around me, asking various questions, including the few good-looking and relatively outgoing female classmates.
I saw Old Qiao whispering with a few male classmates nearby. He then stood up and walked toward me, a strained, insincere smile on his face. "Old Tian, I heard you've been doing well these past few years, buying an apartment outright. Are you drug trafficking or pimping?" Everyone laughed. I smiled and clasped my hands together. "Sawadee krap!"
Old Qiao asked doubtfully, "What, what krap?"
I said, "That's Thai for 'hello'! You know I'm in the amulet business in Thailand, and you still ask."
Old Qiao laughed again. "What kind of business are you doing in Thailand? Do you specialize in helping people with sex changes? Have you tried it yourself?"
Everyone burst into laughter again. I replied, "Not everyone can get a sex change. I'm too ugly; even if I changed, I wouldn't be a beauty, and there's no market. You're much better looking than me; you could try it. I'll contact the hospital for you and get you a discount. How about it?"
Old Qiao forced a chuckle along with the crowd, his smile clearly tinged with dissatisfaction.
A female classmate asked me, "Tian Qi, was Brother Ming's incident really related to amulets? I heard he bought an amulet from you, and then his son was killed in a car accident."
Lyu Wen also chimed in, "Yes, yes. He kept saying that the Thai amulet killed his son. Also, Sister Gao, my sister's friend, also bought an amulet from you, right? Why was she mysteriously strangled by her husband in the end?"
I felt a chill, but of course, I couldn't admit it. If I did, I would not only ruin my business but possibly face charges of indirect murder. I laughed coldly. "Accidents happen in life. Thai amulets are not poison; how could they kill their owners? If that were the case, with so many Chinese people wearing amulets, wouldn't they all be dead! Their deaths are related to their own circumstances, not one bit to Thai amulets. You also bought an amulet from me, and instead of having bad luck, you escaped a disaster, didn't you?"
Everyone nodded in agreement. Lyu Wen said, "I think so, too. It depends on the person themselves."
The first female classmate asked, "Tian Qi, do you have any amulets that can help couples have a harmonious relationship? My husband is always fickle, and it drives me crazy!"
Old Qiao scoffed, "That's because you're not pretty. If you were as beautiful as Lyu Wen, with a good figure, would your husband be fickle? Right?" Everyone laughed. The female classmate looked embarrassed, glared at Old Qiao, and stopped talking.
Of course, I couldn't pass up the business opportunity. I quickly pulled out my business card and handed it to her. "Thai amulets have various effects, but they're not magic pills. They can only provide auxiliary support; you also need to cooperate yourself."
Old Qiao snorted. "Then what's the point of buying amulets? Why not just wear a Guanyin pendant? Isn't this just tricking people out of their money?"
I smiled. "Of course not. Thai amulets are divided into Positive-energy (Zheng) and Negative-energy (Yin). Positive-energyamulets don't have such obvious effects, but they cause no harm. Negative-energyamulets have powerful effects because ghosts assist them, but they also have considerable side effects."
When everyone heard this, they all started asking what was going on. Old Qiao also became interested. "Ghosts helping out? Are you kidding me? Where in the world are there ghosts?"
I said seriously, "Don't joke about ghosts and spirits. This is not a laughing matter. I've seen too much in Thailand over the years that science simply cannot explain. I'll tell you about it when we have a chance." Students clamored for my business cards. Half a box of cards was quickly distributed, but Old Qiao didn't ask for one, and I didn't offer one to him.
During the conversation, everyone talked about their respective jobs. Some lamented high pressure and difficulty making money. Old Qiao said, "What's the big deal? Spend less if you earn less. Look at me; I earn a lot, but my expenses are huge, too. The property management fee alone for my duplex is several thousand a year. Is that easy? Whatever the profession, as long as it's a legitimate living, that's fine. Don't be like Tian Qi, not doing proper work, swindling people online all day long. He's a negative example. Don't ever follow him." Everyone laughed, and many female classmates looked at me as if I were a clown. Even the few male classmates who hadn't done well seemed to have finally found an outlet and laughed exaggeratedly. I gritted my teeth in anger but could only force a smile.
A few days later, Wang Jiao suddenly called me, crying. "Brother, please come to the shop quickly! Something has happened!"
"What is it this time?" I quickly asked. Wang Jiao didn't answer, just kept crying hysterically. I thought it was just another argument with Sun Xicai. Why call me for that? But since my cousin was asking, I had to go and check.
When I arrived at the amulet shop, the door was wide open. Wang Jiao was squatting outside the shop, her eyes red, looking haggard. Sun Xicai was sitting in a chair inside the shop, his hands clutching his head. I asked Wang Jiao, "What's wrong? Did you fight with Xicai?"
Wang Jiao shook her head and walked into the shop. I asked Sun Xicai. He slowly lifted his head and said, "Brother Tian, I'm sorry..." I was stunned. "What are you sorry about? Did you sell the shop?"
Sun Xicai pointed to the base of the shelves. I didn't understand. I walked over and lifted the yellow cloth curtain. Inside was an old urn. I was immediately furious. "Didn't I tell you to send all this stuff away? Why did you keep one?"
"I didn't keep it," Sun Xicai said with a tearful face. "It... it came back on its own!"