Love letters are not allowed in the exorcism notebook!-Chapter 111: Some Things Can’t Be Measured by Money

"You’ve never been back to the country, so you don’t understand the situation there."

"There are too many rules and regulations back home. They even want to manage when people shit and piss as if they wish to lock everyone up in prison. You can go back and experience it for yourself, there’s practically no difference from being in jail," the man sitting opposite him said confidently.

He talked on animatedly.

"In their bones, they’re still all about that primitive tribal stuff; not much has changed in thousands of years. Everyone wants to be the elder, pretending to be concerned for you on the surface when in fact they just want to use their position to their own benefit. Do you know they have a term for it... ’kanmo’, understand what it means? It’s like grinding an iron rod into a needle, no matter your original edges, they’ll grind them all away, turning you into a plaything in their hands..."

Mu Yuming put down his soup spoon, glanced at the man opposite him, and said with a smile, "Isn’t it the same here?"

"Of course not. Look at me, I started from scratch after graduating from college, without having to please anyone, and fought my way up all on my own merit, to achieve the wealth and status I have today. Anyone who is willing to work hard can make something of themselves—that’s the spirit of Saifu..."

"So, it has nothing to do with your father being a company director, right?"

The man opposite him fell silent, his expression darkening.

"You know I hate it when people bring that up."

"I wasn’t quite aware of that, just heard it from others, after all, we’ve hardly seen each other since graduation." 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Mu Yuming shrugged and said, "Young Master Zhang, you didn’t invite me here today to chat about these things, did you? Whatever it is you want to say, just come out with it directly, no need to beat around the bush."

The man opposite him grew even more grim-faced, but soon regained his composure.

"We’re old classmates after all. I heard you’re being sent back and specially came to see you off—is that a reason to give me such a disdainful look?"

He scoffed, "I was even going to kindly remind you that, with a family to support, you’ll have lots of expenses going back. With your modest savings, I’m not sure if it will be enough. It’s still the same old traditional rules over there. When your daughter grows up to marry, how much dowry can you provide for her? If the money isn’t ample, she’ll be laughed at in her husband’s house for the rest of her life..."

"My daughter is still young; I don’t need to worry about these things yet."

"Young? You’re unaware that over there girls as young as twelve or thirteen get married off, and if they’re older, they’ll be unwanted. How old is your daughter now?"

"What are you trying to say?"

Noticing a change finally appear on Mu Yuming’s composed face, the man opposite him chuckled, "The logic of this world is simple; without money, you can’t make a move. The mere salary the company pays you definitely won’t be enough. We are classmates, after all, and I’m a kind-hearted person. I can’t stand to see your wife and daughter suffer alongside you. There’s an opportunity now, I’m just not sure if you’re willing to earn an extra bit of salary."

Mu Yuming responded with an unaffected smile, "Thank you for the high regard, Young Master Zhang. What kind of job would that be?"

The man opposite him coughed, lowered his voice, and said, "You know, they’ve just finished a war over there and established a new government. I heard the president is issuing decrees one after another, with policy changes almost daily. Now, many people are waiting to see what’s going on; whether they will continue with their hard-line foreign expansion policies or decide to stop and focus on economic development. This time when you go back, you might want to pay special attention to this kind of information."

"You want me to be a spy?"

"What spy? That sounds so unpleasant."

The man across hastily waved his hands, "It’s just normal business activity, I’m not asking you to commit crimes. Now that the domestic situation has stabilized, many of the older generation want to return to their roots. But you know the situation there well; in the past, they were very hostile toward Overseas Chinese, even considering us barbarians... Now, no one really knows, and people are afraid to believe what’s said by others."

"You were born here and grew up under the eyes of your uncles. You’ve been to university and have a clear head, so you won’t be easily fooled. The investigative reports you produce will be taken more seriously by the uncles."

Mu Yuming nodded, accepting this explanation.

"What specifically do you want me to investigate?"

The man smiled, "You used to handle product procurement, so I estimate you’ll be given a similar position at the branch there. You don’t have to overthink it, just the matter at hand. The troops stationed in Tianmen City are called something like the Qilin Army, the current President’s main force from the direct line. Just casually pay attention to whether they are expanding the army and preparing for war, replacing military equipment, that sort of thing. After all, we are in the military goods business."

"Isn’t that espionage? If they find out, I could be shot, right?"

Hearing this from Mu Yuming, the man immediately grew stern.

"Mu Yuming, I’ve drawn the line for you. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth. If you don’t want to make this money, there are plenty of others who do. It doesn’t really matter to me, but if you don’t respect the uncles and hinder their important business, forget about this money, you won’t even be able to keep your current job!"

Mu Yuming sighed, spreading his hands.

"I didn’t say I wouldn’t do it. How much will you pay me?"

The man’s expression softened a bit, he took out a check from the inside pocket of his suit and handed it to Mu Yuming, "This is two thousand US Dollars from Pacific Bank, you can also cash it at Xingguo Bank over there, take it as a moving allowance. Once you’re there, someone will contact you and tell you what to do. As long as you work diligently, the uncles will certainly make sure you don’t come out at a loss."

"Oh, right, and your daughter, she needs to go to school, right? Instead of suffering with you over there, how about leaving her in Saifu? I can transfer her to the best school, and you won’t need to worry about her living conditions, how about that?"

"You needn’t worry about my family."

Mu Yuming decisively refused, "Forced fruit is never sweet. If you don’t trust me, find someone else, there’s no need to use my family as hostages."

"It’s not up to you to decide."

Seeing that he kept backing away, the man across grew even more audacious, his face revealing a smug smile, "You’ve always been too soft. If I don’t kick your ass, I’m afraid you won’t move forward."

Mu Yuming was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly picked up the earthenware pot filled with porridge on the table and splashed its contents across the man’s face.

"Ah— you motherfu—"

Caught off guard, the man was splashed with scalding porridge all over his head and face, and he screamed in pain.

After throwing the porridge, Mu Yuming grabbed the pot and smashed it hard against the man’s head. The pot cracked in two on impact, and the man collapsed to the ground.

"Don’t threaten me with my family."

He shook off the porridge and blood from his hand, stood up to straighten his tie and cuffs, and casually handed the check to the shop assistant who rushed over, "Sorry about the dishware. Compensate for that, and please call an ambulance for this gentleman."