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墨書 Inktalez
Another morning arrived, and a somewhat new Mercedes van drove towards the Huxian Government guesthouse. Behind the wheel were Gap-toothed and Big Head, who had set out early to carry out Boss's orders. They returned two cars, switched to another from a Car Rental Company, and drove off again. This was routine for them; as long as they called for a car, it was always ready.
As they entered the guesthouse Courtyard, Boss He was already waiting there, shouting for Big Head and Big Mouth to come over. He was likely preparing to gather some information.
Indeed, the new genius's level of madness exceeded his expectations. Huxian had been there for a day and a half, with four sessions of applications. The brilliance of this genius nearly overshadowed Lu the Madman and Instructor Yang Menglu, especially during last night's session. Lin Instructor spoke about the origins, evolution, and classic marketing cases in direct sales, using a mix of English and Chinese to captivate an audience of over four hundred people, leaving them more excited than ever.
What he said was beyond Boss He's understanding, but he knew better than anyone how valuable such a person could be.
Big Mouth and Big Head rushed over, with Old He grabbing one of them and asking cautiously, "Everything okay last night?"
"Nothing happened. We all slept at home; what could go wrong?" Gap-toothed replied curiously. Big Head added, "If anything, it's that this kid is too demanding—complaining about conditions while wanting late-night snacks, and insisting on our Northwest Authentic Lamb Offal. He really put us through it."
That seemed normal enough. He Yuguo didn't mind at all; he chuckled, "As long as he doesn't run away, don't worry about lamb offal—I'd even find him a wet nurse if he wanted... You two listen up: today's final session is in the afternoon back in the city. We have a big event the day after tomorrow—never let anything go wrong."
"Don't worry, Boss He. That kid is so delicate; dealing with him is easier than handling a woman," Gap-toothed scoffed. Big Head laughed as well, saying, "Didn't you say? Among everyone here, intellectuals are the easiest to deal with. Trust us; we’ll even follow him to the restroom."
This eased some of He Yuguo's worries. He called both of them to join him for breakfast. As they entered the hall, the stunningly beautiful Yang Menglu had just finished her meal and was coming out. The three greeted her warmly, and she smiled back cheerfully as she seemed ready to step outside for some fresh air. After sending his two lackeys away, He Yuguo called out to Yang Menglu, whispering something at the door.
It was undoubtedly about Lin Instructor. The attention given to this matter even made Gap-toothed feel a twinge of jealousy as he remarked sourly, "Looks like this kid is about to hit it big; maybe even this Yang Beauty will end up accompanying him."
"Not likely; don’t jump to conclusions... Boss He has a big boss behind him. Without going through that big boss, you can't even hire a lecturer like Yang Beauty... Let’s eat; just keep your mouth shut about your thoughts on that." Big Head warned seriously. Gap-toothed grinned widely but then turned back to glance at the graceful figure of Yang Beauty, reluctantly wiping his mouth before heading into the dining room.
Upstairs, Zhang Quan had finished getting ready and was waiting impatiently for Xiao Mu, who was still in the bathroom. Growing tired of waiting, he shouted, "Hey! Are you done yet? It’s more troublesome than when Aunt Flo comes around!"
After several calls, he finally heard the water stop running. Xiao Mu emerged from the bathroom with an expression that seemed overly cheerful yet calm—his striking eyes paired with charming peach blossom features made even Baldy feel uneasy. He took his time putting on his outerwear, fastening his watch and straightening his shirt. As Baldy picked up his things to leave, he glanced back at him with a strange feeling—as if he were merely carrying bags for someone else while maintaining a safe distance behind the relaxed and smiling figure of Xiao Mu.
"Keep smiling like that; you'll regret it when it's your turn to cry," threatened Zhang Quan.
"Everyone has their moments of crying. I guarantee you'll cry more than I do, and faster too," Xiao Mu said with a smile.
Baldy sensed something unusual and asked warily, "What do you mean?"
"Figure it out yourself. Being this dense, do you expect others to teach you?" Xiao Mu replied.
"I swear..." Baldy swung his bag at him, but Xiao Mu just smiled and remained still. At the critical moment, Baldy suddenly pulled back, not daring to actually hit him. Frustrated, he opened the door, but Xiao Mu chuckled, "That's the power of psychological judgment; you don't have the courage to strike me. Heh."
As the door opened, laughter echoed from outside. It was Lu the Madman waiting at the door. Baldy was very respectful, almost self-aware of being a sycophant, while Xiao Mu was different. He said, "Professor Lu, why are you sneaking around so early? Didn't the Scrolls of Parchment teach you that eavesdropping is a path to success?"
"Not really, but the Scrolls did teach me to praise my enemies. Thus, they become friends; I encourage my friends, and they become brothers. Did you sleep well?" Old Lu spoke with great leaps in logic that were not easy to follow.
However, for Xiao Mu, it posed no difficulty; Old Lu was continuously trying to bridge the gap between them with subtle hints of goodwill.
"One hundred sixty bucks for a cheap hotel with four beds—how good can it be?" Xiao Mu ignored him and was about to leave when he noticed Old Lu in a light-colored suit looking particularly sharp. Lowering his voice, he asked, "Hey, Old Lu, as a loyal follower of the Scrolls of Parchment, I must sternly criticize your bad behavior."
"Nonsense! Absolutely impossible! How could I have any bad behavior?" Old Lu exclaimed indignantly as he straightened himself up.
"What are you pretending for? You reek of alcohol and something else," Xiao Mu glared at Old Lu and then revealed, "This is definitely not from reading the Scrolls while bathing in incense; it's from... visiting a brothel last night. Don't try to fool me; I'm better at this than you."
Old Lu froze in shock, his expression akin to someone who had just been stripped of their dignity. He stared at Xiao Mu, unable to find words.
That expression was answer enough. Baldy burst into laughter while Xiao Mu laughed heartily as they headed downstairs one after the other. It took Old Lu a moment to regain his composure as he descended the stairs, sniffing his clothes and thinking:
Wait a minute... there’s no smell at all! How did this kid figure it out?
This question occupied Old Lu's mind from breakfast until they got into the car without him realizing what had gone wrong.
In this atmosphere, it was hard to tell who the real lunatic was. Xiao Mu often blurted out surprising remarks that left Lu the Madman scratching his head for hours on end. He kept pursuing Xiao Mu for answers while Xiao Mu only deepened the mystery without revealing anything. Just before getting into the car, when pressed for an answer, Xiao Mu chuckled and said, "Professor, you're getting more foolish by the day! I'm just teasing you to see if your mind can still handle reality." Little did he know that Old Lu would give him an expression that confirmed he had indeed passed the test.
"Hey, you little brat, trying to play mind games with me? Can you handle it?" Old Lu was furious.
"Hah, old bastard, if you don't invite us to your escapades, can you handle that?" Xiao Mu shot back.
Well, Old Lu still wanted to save face, so he quickly started flattering and sweet-talking, eagerly opening the car door. His intentions were clear; he was afraid that Xiao Mu would carelessly ruin Professor Lu's glorious image.
The two cars drove side by side, clearly well-prepared and vigilant. They chatted and laughed along the way, having grown quite familiar over the past few days. Thanks to the presence of Yang Beauty in the car, the conversation became more civilized. Most of it revolved around Yang Beauty discussing the details of their lectures with Xiao Mu, who always managed to provide her with satisfactory answers, often supported by psychological theories.
For instance, during your lectures, you heavily employed the principle of suggestion, constantly telling everyone that they could succeed, earn money, and achieve a monthly salary of a hundred thousand within six months. This is akin to cramming; if someone reacts negatively, you would be at a loss. In fact, it's quite simple. There’s a psychological concept known as Beib Law; the first stimulus can mitigate the impact of a second minor stimulus. The clash between these two stimuli leads people to subconsciously seek benefits and avoid harm.
"Another example is that night when I persuaded the Martial Arts Instructor. I first used suggestion to tell him that he was kind-hearted and had a conscience, then hinted that the organization valued him... After that came the Beib effect; resisting could lead to losing everything while staying as a con artist at least ensured his safety and potential for profit. The clash between these two stimuli would make him subconsciously choose what was beneficial for him," Xiao Mu explained, looking at the astonished Yang Beauty for confirmation.
Yang Menglu blinked her beautiful eyes at him with admiration. She seemed capable of grasping such concepts and asked, "So why did you later insult those people? Their reactions were unexpected... Oh right, I haven't told you yet; Manager Xiao Gao's feedback was that those problematic individuals returned surprisingly calm, unlike before when they were either noisy or silent and unyielding."
"This is called the Psychological Slant Effect. In specific environments, the higher the emotional intensity, the greater the potential psychological slope may become. Consequently, the likelihood of an opposite psychological state emerging increases," Xiao Mu replied.
"I didn't see you do much. You just spat a few times and cursed a bit," Gap-toothed interjected skeptically, questioning Xiao Mu's pretentious attitude.
Xiao Mu smiled and said, "These people are timid and weak-minded; they've never seen much of the world. I used belittlement and insults to create a psychological gap for them. Then they continued to be discriminated against while transitioning into con artists—the psychological gap directly leads them toward the latter... It's quite simple; sometimes honest people commit unbelievable bad deeds under pressure. They may have been very upright but when pushed to their limits, that psychological slope can turn them into villains—perhaps even more irrational than ordinary bad people." He glanced sideways at Yang Menglu sitting next to him; her mesh open-toe sandals revealed her striking red nails and delicate bare legs beneath her long skirt, evoking a sense of longing.
"Well, Instructor Lin..." Yang Menglu noted down what had just been discussed. When she caught Xiao Mu's gaze filled with desire, she smiled gently and reminded him, "Your psychology seems to be slanting."
"Oh, indeed it has," Xiao Mu replied with a long breath, straightening his back in a display of appreciation mixed with disappointment at being unable to possess her. Yang Menglu smiled lightly like an embroidered phoenix eye slightly furrowing as she cast him a flirtatious glance, seemingly pleased with her own charm.
At that moment, someone oblivious broke in—Big Mouth curiously asked Xiao Mu, "Hey, what's your psychological slope?"
"My psychological slope is on display here; for instance, I've always followed the law. But one day I see an extraordinarily beautiful woman whom I cannot have; this slope might lead me into the abyss of crime. Do you understand?" Xiao Mu chuckled as he posed this question to Big Mouth. However, Big Mouth remained confused and dazed.
With a quick slap of his hand on the table in urgency he asked: "So seeing Yang Beauty means you won't try anything with her?"
"Yes." Big Head blurted out, only to realize it was the wrong response when he noticed Lu Feng and Boss He turning around to glare at him. He nervously covered his mouth, while Boss He threatened him with a glare, promising to deal with him later.
Xiao Mu laughed heartily. Surprisingly, the Yang Beauty didn’t seem to mind at all. Instead, she reached out her delicate hand to shake Big Mouth's, thanking this rough man for his admiration. This made Big Head so excited that his mouth trembled, as if he were experiencing a climax.
The people in the Pyramid Scheme were no ordinary folks. Yang Menglu was an example of a self-reinforcing effect; once someone chooses a path in life, those with strong willpower tend to stick to it and continuously reinforce their beliefs. This woman, who probably embraced countless men and women involved in Pyramid Schemes daily, must have had her psyche fortified like iron.
Xiao Mu thought about this as he occasionally exchanged glances with her. She always smiled so charmingly, that kind of smile suggesting you could take whatever you wanted from her, ensuring your psychological slope would only grow steeper...
...
At the last stop, Xiao Mu didn’t expect to find himself in Jiazhuang Town on the outskirts of the city. Even more surprising was that in this well-regulated town with developed transportation, he encountered the largest Anti-Pyramid Scheme Team. The theater, with over a thousand seats, was packed to the brim. The meeting was scheduled right at noon, and outside there were signs for a chain of Ouliman cosmetics businesses boldly displayed without any oversight. Occasionally, a few men in business attire appeared in line, participating as well.
As usual, classes began. Xiao Mu was squeezed to the side to audit this session. He learned too quickly, making Professor Lu feel somewhat embarrassed; there were no tasks assigned to Xiao Mu for this final session.
In a crowd of a thousand already brainwashed individuals, there was little challenge left for the Chief Lecturer. Professor Lu started with a segment from The Greatest Salesman in the World, and the entire audience recited a chapter from The Scrolls of Success together. A district manager named Chang Yuchun presented bonuses to community managers on stage, and stacks of Renminbi instantly ignited the audience's climax.
Don’t mind the name "Chang Yuchun"; among the con artists in Pyramid Schemes, few use their real names—there are plenty named Zhang Bozhi, Wang Fei, and Xie Tingfeng.
At the peak of excitement, Yang Menglu’s skills came into play. She moved around the venue delivering speeches about the top ten benefits of their products and highlighting the company’s success overseas while thanking everyone for their support.
"Let’s hear a song," Xiao Mu silently wished from his corner.
Yang Menglu then led everyone in singing "Can I Hug You?"
"Give me a hug," Xiao Mu silently wished again.
The crowd erupted in cheers as they began embracing the Yang Beauty.
"Sing and hug, it's time to pay up," Xiao Mu whispered.
Nearby, someone chuckled softly; it was Baldy, squatting behind the stage curtain. The bald man stood there like a ghost, and for some reason, Xiao Mu began to feel annoyed. "Get lost, stop ruining my mood," he snapped.
"Oh, the repeat student isn't cursing Fack anymore?" Baldy teased.
"Better to say 'screw your mother,' it's too difficult for you to understand," Xiao Mu replied with a smile.
"Heh, you should East-West Fusion it and say: 'Fack your mother,'" Baldy mocked.
Xiao Mu's expression changed suddenly; he looked at the rugged bald man with a complex gaze, as if seeing him for the first time. In that moment, Baldy seemed to realize he had overstepped and quickly turned to run away. Xiao Mu's sharp gaze made him feel guilty.
At that moment, the audience erupted in applause. Xiao Mu looked around and saw that the purchasing frenzy had reached a peak. Some were paying cash, others were handing over Striped Uniforms or cards, and even a man in Business attire was pushing his way toward the manager. It was time for some on-site explanations. Yang Beauty stopped a few of the Business Personnel who had made purchases and conducted an interview. The middle-aged man shyly admitted to everyone that after Oliman Company registered with our Business, he realized it was a very promising venture—low investment and high profits—much more comfortable than relying on government rations... but don't tell anyone.
"Why can't you say it? Afraid your superiors will find out and feel embarrassed?" Yang Beauty asked.
The Business man laughed and replied, "No, I'm afraid if they knew how much I earn, they'd feel embarrassed."
At this point, laughter filled the room. This little skit not only entertained but also aimed to alleviate the concerns of those who still had reservations.
This was all orchestrated... The entire venue was buzzing with excitement. Those who stirred up this excitement were the true masterminds behind this scam.
Xiao Mu observed that there was nothing mysterious about it anymore. Chang Yuchun had invited Yang Menglu and Lu the Madman to assist him; his subordinates controlled the core managers as puppets. With just a bit of persuasion, they drew in those eager to get rich without hesitation. What surprised him most was their audacity to impersonate Business personnel.
The pace was incredibly fast; within an hour, things were nearing their conclusion. An hour and a half later, the hired personnel left the venue. As they departed, employees from Oliman began to trickle out—most were in their thirties or forties, with middle-aged women and men making up the bulk of them. Xiao Mu suddenly understood; this Pyramid Scheme had its clever aspects. Each manager targeted specific groups—some focused on workers while others on students; Chang Yuchun seemed particularly skilled at targeting middle-aged men and women.
After driving a few kilometers, another vehicle caught up. Chang Yuchun, sporting a big beard, approached with a smile and greeted everyone before handing Yang Menglu a thick stack of envelopes.
"Hard work pay," he beamed; he must have earned quite a bit. Soon both vehicles set off on their respective journeys. Yang Beauty smiled as she opened an envelope and counted its contents before tossing stacks to Big Head, Gap-toothed, and the driving Baldy. The three were grinning from ear to ear; they had just made hundreds today—all extra income beyond their salaries—how could they not be happy?
They wouldn't say how much they earned. Yang Beauty divided the remaining amount into two parts, tossing one to Professor Lu. He Yuguo quickly said, "Old Lu, I'll give you cash during dinner later."
"Of course, as long as it's cash. It saves you from getting caught by the police in the future and spilling the beans on me," Lu the Madman reminded.
"You... you crow's mouth! I would never betray you!" Boss He retorted angrily.
"Ah, this is my teaching fee. What you have is still ill-gotten gains. You clearly have no legal knowledge and think you can scare us cultured folks," Old Lu scolded, infuriating He Yuguo to no end. He automatically ceased his verbal attacks; how could he possibly outmatch a lecturer?
"What about mine?"
An unhappy voice chimed in; Xiao Mu had a complaint.
The two thugs were amused. They could give him anything but money, yet they still needed a reasonable explanation. Yang Menglu smiled and said that when he left, he would receive more than he expected.
With flirtatious glances exchanged, any normal man would likely find himself aroused, while Lu the Madman and He Yuguo exchanged glances. Old Lu remarked, "Looking at Linzi, you're someone who sees wealth as dirt. The sense of achievement this endeavor brings you far outweighs any monetary gain."
"Stop talking nonsense and just tell me if you're giving it or not," Xiao Mu asked directly.
"Heh heh." Old Lu chuckled, his expression shifting: "Not giving."
"Heh heh, I warn you, you'll pay for your shamelessness," Xiao Mu threatened with a smile.
"I'm a Mental Patient; I have cognitive barriers regarding the term 'shameless.' Ha ha..." Old Lu lightly brushed him off, seemingly intent on keeping Xiao Mu firmly in hand.
However, the treatment was quite good. The car drove straight into the city to Weiyang Grand Hotel, where this group of con artists planned to celebrate their gains. Old He invited Xiao Mu to the main seat while Yang Beauty poured drinks. Lu the Madman and Boss He prepared to drink heartily. As for Baldy and Gap-toothed, those lackeys were naturally unqualified to sit at the table; Baldy ate downstairs and waited in the car while those two unfortunate brothers dined next door, ready for any summons.
Xiao Mu's skills with words were impressive; besides talking, he could eat and savor food as well. Perhaps it was due to the beauty by his side that he chatted and ate simultaneously, laughing and joking with Old He and Professor Lu without realizing they had finished a bottle. In Yang Menglu's eyes, he truly was a talent—he could talk about various cuisines from south to north and east to west with ease, all while maintaining an elegant demeanor. His occasional gestures of serving food or pouring drinks showcased his refinement, leaving her with an indescribable fondness for him.
The dynamic between handsome men and beautiful women is mutual; both seemed half-drunk yet fully aware. Xiao Mu would help serve food at any moment, softly saying, "Sister Yang, try this." Yang Menglu would occasionally remind him to drink less: "If you can't handle it, I'll take over." Xiao Mu replied seriously, "How can a man say he can't?" Yang Jie shyly responded, "Oh dear, I've never tried; how do I know if you can?"
Amidst the ambiguity, the correct interpretation should be Love Day, Not Day, thus, when the day arrives, emotions run deep.
As the conversation flowed and the wine took effect, Boss He noticed the subtle interactions between Xiao Mu and Yang Beauty. He discreetly signaled to Old Lu, observing how the two were nearly forehead to forehead. Xiao Mu, tipsy, leaned in to whisper something that made Yang Beauty giggle uncontrollably. Little Pink Fist playfully slapped Xiao Mu in mock anger, while Old Lu felt a pang of jealousy; after all, handsome men had their advantages of age and looks. He stood up to intervene and poured half a glass for Xiao Mu.
Xiao Mu, holding the drink with hazy eyes, withdrew his hand and said seriously, "Old Lu, if you don't give me money, I won't hold it against you. But I have to be with Sister Yang... Wait a moment, I need to use the restroom. You think you can get me drunk? Dream on."
"Hey, hey... drinking like this, is that okay?" Boss He hurried over to support the swaying Xiao Mu.
"Get away! Why are you supporting me? Afraid I'll run? Even if you try to push me out, I won't leave," Xiao Mu declared as he held his drink and stumbled off towards the restroom. Boss He was cautious as always and waved for Big Head and Big Mouth to follow behind him to assist Lin Instructor.
The atmosphere among those left behind grew a bit strange. Yang Menglu ignored their questioning glances and casually sipped her drink while saying, "Don't look at me; he's too young for my taste... But I do enjoy the feeling of being with a cute guy."
The two stared at her in disbelief before exchanging glances. What was going on? Who was flirting with whom? It felt off somehow.
Regardless of the situation, they couldn't shake off their unease; that Lin Instructor was indeed quite peculiar. It wasn't impossible for Yang Beauty to be swept away.
Inside the restroom, holding his drink and stumbling in, Xiao Mu leaned over the toilet and began to vomit. Big Mouth shrank back at the sight and waited outside. Once the door closed, Xiao Mu's drunken demeanor vanished instantly. He opened the lid of the toilet tank and carefully pulled out two items from his body.
One was a bright red chili pepper he had stealthily wrapped in a napkin during dinner.
The other was a yellow paste—mustard—sneakily scooped into his pocket earlier.
He scooped half a cup of water from the tank, placed both items inside, stirred them into a paste, then carefully poured it onto his hands and spread it evenly. After adding more water, he looked at the murky red mixture of chili and mustard and muttered maliciously to himself, "Damn you all; I've grown from a delinquent into a problem youth, yet someone still wants to set me up... This must be psychological warfare."
Having successfully lowered their guard and made them believe there was no threat anymore, now was the perfect time to strike back. He just needed to deal with those two lackeys outside. With that thought in mind, he tilted his head back and downed half a cup of the chili and mustard mixture. The spiciness hit him hard as he stomped his feet in discomfort before quickly heading for the door.
As soon as he stepped out, he nearly collapsed. Big Mouth instinctively reached out to support him. Perfect timing! Xiao Mu swiftly wiped his hands on Big Mouth's face, causing him immediate pain as he cried out in shock while covering his eyes. Xiao Mu followed up with another swipe that made Big Mouth's nose and mouth burn intensely from the spice.
"Ah? What the hell... damn it..."
Big Head was furious, lunging forward to grab, while cleverly maintaining a safe distance. Xiao Mu reached out, but Thud blocked him. With another reach, Thud caught Xiao Mu's wrist, grinning wickedly, "Thinking of running away? Dream on..."
Suddenly, Xiao Mu spat out a liquid with a strange expression, causing Big Head to blink in surprise. Letting out a yelp, he instinctively covered his face and rubbed it frantically as he dashed toward the restroom. In the chaos, Xiao Mu tripped him up, and Thud fell right on top of him.
Xiao Mu took the opportunity to bolt, spitting as he ran. He grabbed a nearby waitress and threatened her, "Quick! There are two people fighting in the restroom! Call security!"
After saying that, he took off running. The waitress panicked and immediately called for security over her radio. It took a while for Boss He and his table to realize something was wrong; they hurried toward the restroom only to find the two still tangled up by the sink, barely awake.
Big Mouth and Big Head were thugs they had recruited, seasoned from street brawls, yet here they were in such disarray. At that moment, He Yuguo and Old Lu finally understood that Lin Instructor had not been swayed by beauty or career ambitions; rather, it was their own naïveté that had been charmed by his innocence.
Meanwhile, Xiao Mu had already exited the elevator into the lobby. As soon as he stepped outside, he spat again; his mouth still felt hot. He quickly oriented himself and took off running, snatching a drink from a girl’s hand as he passed by. He drank while coughing and ran toward a destination even he didn’t know…
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