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墨書 Inktalez
Second Uncle stayed in the hospital for about a week before being discharged. During this time, I couldn't help but lose my temper with Grandpa. He didn't hold it against me and just listened with a smile. Later, Second Uncle told me that at first, Grandpa was angry, but then he thought about it and realized that when his eldest grandson gets upset, it shows he cares about family, which is a good thing.
What infuriated me even more was that Second Uncle didn't come back from Hong Kong for such a big event. Second Uncle is his biological brother, yet he was so indifferent. Neither Grandpa nor Second Uncle seemed to have any special reaction to this. Perhaps in their eyes, as long as a person is alive, everything is fine. If everything is fine, why come back?
I really couldn't understand their thinking. Do they have to wait until someone dies before they come back to burn paper offerings?
After Second Uncle was discharged, he didn't take a break and was busy running around every day. He had delayed doing business for twenty days, and I don't know how many people called to inquire about him, so he basically had no time to spend with me.
As mentioned earlier, most of what Second Uncle sells are small spirits and Yin talismans. There are also Authentic items, but only very wealthy individuals are interested in those. It's strange that the richer people are, the less they want to use Yin talismans and small spirits to make money. Instead, it's those who are neither here nor there who flock to Yin talismans.
According to Second Uncle, truly wealthy people no longer need extra means to achieve success. They have too much money and extensive connections; they can make money easily by doing anything. If that's the case, why take the risk of raising small spirits?
However, although these wealthy individuals are not interested in small spirits, they love to invite Ajan for rituals, mostly for blessings of family health and smooth growth of children. These people have little concept of money anymore; therefore, what Second Uncle earns from them often exceeds what he makes from selling Yin talismans.
Among these wealthy individuals, one person stands out in my memory.
His name cannot be disclosed, so let's call him Mr. Qian. Mr. Qian's ancestors were once part of the famous three major merchant groups and belonged to the Hui Merchant. After the establishment of the Republic of China, seeing the ongoing power struggles within the country and predicting potential turmoil in the future, his family moved abroad and now resides in Australia. They own many Farms there, and when we first met, he even brought a jar of homemade goat milk powder as a gift.
I was quite speechless; how could someone so wealthy give milk powder as a gift? Aren't they afraid of losing face?
Although he lives in Australia, in recent years, the economic development back home has been thriving. Part of Mr. Qian's family business has also moved back. In the business circle, as people interact more with each other, the wealthier they become, the easier it is for them to get acquainted.
Mr. Qian met a Real Estate Tycoon in the mainland and learned about Second Uncle and Thai Amulets through him. However, Mr. Qian's family practices Christianity and is not interested in other deities. That said, regardless of the faith, there are always distinctions between the devout and the indifferent.
Mr. Qian's belief can only be described as faith; he has traveled around the world since his youth and encountered many mysterious doctrines. Therefore, he believes that there are gods in this world, but only as remnants of their past existence. What exists now can only be described as a portion of the power left by these gods.
Mr. Qian's father, due to years of hard work, has fallen ill. According to medical diagnosis, his bodily functions have weakened, and he may not live for many more years. After delving into Amulet culture, Mr. Qian sought out Second Uncle, hoping to invite a highly skilled Ajan to assist in a coffin sitting ritual for rebirth.
Second Uncle was somewhat surprised because coffin sitting is a unique practice in Thailand that few people know about domestically. Thai people believe that coffins are meant for the dead; if one sleeps inside for a night, they can ward off misfortune and disasters. Moreover, the Grim Reaper would think that you have already died once and would not come looking for you again, thus extending your life.
This concept would certainly be difficult for people in China to understand. How could a coffin meant for the dead represent good fortune? This illustrates the differing interpretations across cultures.
However, this was not considered a major issue, so Second Uncle agreed. Mr. Qian mentioned that his father does not like crowds, so the ritual cannot be performed with ordinary believers and must be conducted privately. Upon hearing this, Second Uncle laughed; it was clear that this was an opportunity for significant profit. He replied, "It can be done privately, but it will be quite expensive..."
Before he could finish his sentence, Mr. Qian interrupted him: "Money is not an issue; the key is to ensure it is done well. I heard that the Shen Family has the largest Amulet business among Chinese in Thailand; I trust you."
Second Uncle chuckled a few times and did not say more. At this point, any additional words would be superfluous. As long as the outcome satisfies the Qian Family, the reward will undoubtedly satisfy Second Uncle as well.
Normally, coffin sitting is conducted at temples by Long Por and Long Po. Second Uncle contacted a temple in Bangkok and finalized arrangements before asking Mr. Qian to bring his father over. Unexpectedly, Mr. Qian and his family had already arrived in Thailand; within twenty minutes of hanging up the phone, they were at the door.
I saw Mr. Qian's father in their vehicle; at first glance, I was speechless. The man lay inside a large RV filled with doctors, nurses, and various medical equipment. Judging by his complexion, he seemed unlikely to survive for more than a few days; it looked as though he might pass away at any moment.
Is this what they call living for a few more years?
Second Uncle was also taken aback; he went over to take a look and then returned to ask Mr. Qian for specifics. Only then did Mr. Qian reveal the truth: his father's cancer cells had spread, and it could happen within one or two days—neither Western nor traditional medicine could save him anymore—which is why they chose to come to Thailand for one last chance.
Second Uncle liked making money, but he was very principled. He said to Mr. Qian, "In this situation, even if we hold a ceremony, it probably won't be of much use."
Mr. Qian's expression darkened as he replied, "We are all here now, and you tell me it's useless? Regardless of whether it works or not, the ceremony must be held! As long as it succeeds, money is not an issue. But if it fails, you will bear the consequences."
Everyone should understand what kind of temperament Second Uncle has. Mr. Qian's words carried a hint of threat. Upon hearing this, Second Uncle immediately sneered and said, "What do you mean by consequences? Are you asking me to pay with my life? I'm telling you this because I don't want you to waste your money. If you're going to play unreasonable games, then I won't take this business; find someone else if you want."
The Real Estate Tycoon who came with Mr. Qian noticed that Second Uncle was unhappy and quickly tried to mediate. After some persuasion, Mr. Qian agreed that as long as the person was alive after the ceremony, it would be considered a success, and the payment would not be short by a single cent. However, if anything went wrong during the ceremony, Second Uncle would have to take responsibility.
In reality, this was an unreasonable demand. Life and death are determined by fate; if we were to calculate it, it would be a muddled account. Second Uncle was not a fool; whether something goes wrong depends entirely on luck. Looking at the person in the car, one could never tell if they would suddenly pass away right after being helped out.
Second Uncle did not like engaging in uncertain matters, so even if the Real Estate Tycoon spoke sweetly, he refused to make the deal. The Real Estate Tycoon felt embarrassed and his expression turned sour. However, Second Uncle didn't care at all; did he not want face? If things went wrong, the reputation of the Shen Family would be ruined. This transaction did not involve ordinary people; if something happened, money could not resolve everything. Wealthy individuals like this had extensive networks. If something went awry and rumors spread, who would dare to do business with Second Uncle in the future?
This infuriated Mr. Qian, but he had no way out. They were in Thailand, not Australia. He was a businessman, not part of the underworld. If a dispute arose, it would only reaffirm the truth that a strong dragon cannot suppress a local snake.
Second Uncle stood firm: either hold the ceremony without responsibility or get lost—no second option.
In the end, Mr. Qian left. Watching the departing convoy, I curiously asked Second Uncle, why not go through with it? The ceremony wouldn't take long; how could luck be that bad to die in a coffin?
Second Uncle replied, "This isn't about luck; it's about whether something is possible or not. As long as there's a possibility of failure, I can't proceed. For the sake of earning money from just one person, throw away my entire reputation? That's foolish."
Shaking his head, Second Uncle returned inside. I stood at the door for a moment when suddenly an impulse surged within me. The earlier Real Estate Tycoon had subtly hinted that if longevity could truly be extended, for every additional month lived, the Qian Family would pay an extra five hundred thousand USD. Even if longevity couldn't be extended, as long as the person remained alive after the ceremony, there would still be at least that amount to gain.
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