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墨書 Inktalez
A few days later, Banrada called me and said he had finished his tasks and had contacted a very skilled Ajan Master. This Ajan Master is famous for his special Amulets, and the items he creates are quite powerful. He had already selected one for me, and the Ajan originally asked for sixty thousand Thai Baht, but he managed to negotiate it down to thirty thousand. I was deeply touched; with such a partner, how could I not make a fortune?
Banrada mentioned that although the price had been reduced, the Ajan had one requirement: full payment upfront before he would deliver the Amulet. Before I could respond, he continued, "We both have Chinese blood in us. I don't trust others, but I absolutely trust you, brother. The moment I saw you, I knew you were reliable. So, I've already covered the entire thirty thousand Baht for you. Once you receive the Amulet, just pay me back whenever it's convenient for you. Although I've been helping many people with my master lately and am a bit short on cash, it's fine! What do we monks have to fear from hunger? It's just missing a meal or two. You don't need to rush to pay me back; really, just give it to me whenever you're able!"
I was almost moved to tears—not only did he help me negotiate the price down, but he also covered the cost upfront without pressuring me afterward. Where could I find such a good person? How could I let such a kind-hearted monk go hungry?
So I immediately stated that there was no need to wait for the Amulet to arrive; I would transfer the money right away. Banrada said, "I knew you were a trustworthy person. The account number is XXXXX..."
I noted it down and rushed to the bank to make the transfer. After Banrada confirmed that he had received the money and sent out the Amulet, I went to find Zheng Xuejie. Considering her previous experience with Voodoo persecution, I didn't raise the price too high; I simply mentioned that I found an Amulet worth eight thousand yuan and could have it sent from Thailand immediately if she was interested.
Zheng Xuejie's family was relatively well-off; otherwise, she wouldn't have easily given several thousand yuan to Punk Senior for game equipment before. However, since she wasn't very familiar with Amulets and her friends usually bought small items worth only a few dozen or hundred yuan, she hesitated a bit. I had anticipated this situation and was mentally prepared. If Zheng Xuejie didn't buy it, I would wait for another opportunity to sell the Amulet to someone else; what mattered most was building a good relationship with Banrada. Whether or not I could make money was secondary.
At that moment, I thought I was handling everything perfectly—visionary, thoughtful, and dignified.
Seeing Zheng Xuejie hesitate further, I said, "Since you're unwilling to buy it, that's fine; however, there's currently a shortage of stock and you might not have other options. Otherwise, you can wait a few months until I find something cheaper and let you know."
As soon as she heard about waiting a few months, Zheng Xuejie became anxious. She pleaded with me, saying she had already paid a deposit; wouldn't waiting mean losing out? I almost spat blood—did that even count as a deposit? If Second Uncle were doing this deal, not only would he slap her face but rolling around on the bed wouldn't even help.
In the end, I lowered the price by five hundred and reached an agreement with Zheng Xuejie at seven thousand five hundred yuan. She was quite straightforward; not understanding market prices or rules, she simply took my word that payment needed to be made upfront and quickly got the money together. Of course, this was also because I had some reputation in school; she knew I wouldn't tarnish my name over seven thousand five hundred yuan.
About a week later, the security guard notified me of a package arrival. When I went to check it out, it was forwarded from Thailand. My heart raced with excitement—this was my first transaction with an outsider, and my sense of accomplishment soared.
However, when I opened the package, I was taken aback because nestled among a pile of foam was a flower pot. Inside it was a patch of green grass of an unknown variety, which looked quite nice, but what on earth was this? It was sent from Thailand; shouldn't it be an Amulet? Did I guess wrong? Was this actually a potted plant sent by Second Uncle or Grandpa?
After thinking for a moment, I decided to call Second Uncle to ask. When the call connected and he heard my question, he said, "Are you sick or am I sick? Sending plants across countries to you? By the way, about that ten thousand..."
I quickly hung up and called Banrada. Feeling anxious, I waited for the call to connect. Banrada answered cheerfully, saying, "Have you received the Amulet? Isn't it great? This is really something..."
"Amulet?" I replied. "I didn't see any Amulet; there’s just this bonsai. Did someone swap your package?"
"Swap?" Banrada paused for a moment before understanding and explained, "That's right; that's the Amulet I sent you! You just lack experience. Who said an Amulet has to be in the form of a talisman? Human-shaped, wooden plaques, skulls—aren't they all Amulets? This kind of Potted Amulet is very popular lately. It looks harmless, but its effects are no different from other Amulets and is best suited for women."
I was quite intrigued; there was such a peculiar type of Amulet? I thought Banrada wouldn't lie to me since he knew my family also sold Amulets. To find out if it was real or not would be easy. Banrada also told me that this Potted Amulet should not be exposed to sunlight or watered; it's best to treat it like a Kuman. The plant inside would normally grow more robustly over time, but if one day it withered, it meant it had lost its effectiveness and could be brought back for recharging.
I listened carefully and noted down all the taboos and precautions before hanging up. After that, I called Second Uncle again to ask if there were such strange types of Amulets. He said there were many; timid people or women liked to buy these because they looked nice, and the plants could be adjusted according to personal preference. At the same time, he angrily said, "It's just ten thousand; how dare you hang up on me..."
Before he could finish his sentence, I quickly hung up again. I could easily imagine Second Uncle being furious on the other end of the line. I snorted and thought to myself that if he wouldn’t supply me with goods, then I wouldn’t bother with him!
Holding the Potted Amulet, I found Zheng Xuejie. When she saw that she had spent over seven thousand on a pot of grass, her expression turned sour. Although she didn’t explode right away, the look she gave me was already one of suspicion. I knew that such things were hard for most people to believe, but both Banrada and Second Uncle confirmed that this type of Amulet existed.
I felt confident and wasn’t afraid of her doubts. Zheng Xuejie took the potted plant and examined it closely several times before asking how to use it.
I explained the taboos first and then told her that it was fine to place some small items that children liked next to it as if treating it like a baby. If she had any wishes or needs, she could make a wish to it; as long as her heart was sincere, it would work effectively. Zheng Xuejie seemed skeptical and asked how a pot of grass could be treated like a child. I had no idea about the details inside; I only mentioned what Ajan Master from Thailand had instructed.
Zheng Xuejie looked unhappy as she took the Potted Amulet and turned to leave without even saying goodbye. I pouted but didn’t blame her because when I first saw it, I also found it hard to believe.
A day later, Qin Senior Sister came to find me, complaining about how I sold flower pots at a high price to others. I knew this must have been mentioned by Zheng Xuejie after she returned, so I explained the situation. Qin Senior Sister still trusted me; after hearing my explanation, she accepted it and said she would have a good talk with Zheng Xuejie when she got back. I shook my head and said that an Amulet only works if you believe in it; if it really had an effect, she would believe without needing any explanation, so why waste my breath?
Qin Senior Sister said, "With your attitude, even I can't convince you. You look like a total con artist."
I laughed and replied, "That's because you haven't met my family; they are the real con artists."
Qin Senior Sister spat playfully and blushed a little, saying, "What do I need to meet your family for!"
I suddenly realized that there was a double meaning in her words. Feeling a bit embarrassed and wanting to explain, I was interrupted when Zheng Xuejie rushed over excitedly. I thought she was coming to cause trouble and was pondering whether to refund her or play dumb when I saw Zheng Xuejie approach with a joyful expression, saying, "It really worked! That's amazing!"
I asked her in surprise what had worked.
Zheng Xuejie told me that she had been trying to snag flash sales on a certain shopping website but had never succeeded before. This time, she made a wish with the Potted Amulet and unexpectedly managed to grab one. A brand smartphone worth three or four thousand was hers for just one dollar, and she was over the moon!
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