chsdbacks Chapter 11 Rat Statue
Chapter 11 Rat Statue
"Xiao Feng, it's been years! You've gotten taller and more handsome!"
The person who picked me up at the airport was named Ma Dong, Ma Shuai's brother-in-law. He greeted me with a smile when he saw me.
"Uncle Dong, you're getting more and more stylish!"
I said with a smile.
This guy is a wolf in sheep's clothing; he's Ma Shuai's brother-in-law, and the most cunning person in Ma Shuai's Ma family group.
Offending Ma Shuai might not cause any serious consequences, but offending Ma Dong is a sure way to get back at him!
After a round of mutual flattery, I got into Ma Dong's car.
After starting the car, instead of heading into the city, it went to the rural area on the outskirts of the city, where Ma Shuai had a farmhouse.
My grandfather and I have been to this farmhouse before, and we have seen the things that General Ma offered.
The statue that Ma Shuai worships is a rat statue, also known as the Gray Immortal.
In Northeast China, there are many spirit mediums, but those who worship the Gray Immortal alone can be counted on one hand.
"Xiao Feng, what made you suddenly decide to go to Beijing? Haven't you heard people say it's incredibly difficult to live in Beijing? It's much better to stay in Shenyang. With us protecting you, and given your skills, I can't guarantee you'll earn more than a few million a year!"
After getting on the bus, Ma Dong started talking non-stop.
What he said is true, but I went to the capital to get away from you!
The Ma family's money is too hot to handle!
Two years before my grandfather passed away, around the time I went to university, Ma Shuai probably realized that my grandfather dared not refuse his request to treat his health because of me, so he went even further and started bringing some friends from the political and business circles to my family's clinic.
My grandfather was afraid that I would get involved and cause trouble in the future, so he sent me to develop my career in the capital.
The main reason is that my grandfather discovered that his secret-recipe Three-Whip Wine had been sold for a sky-high price of 1.5 million.
Even now, 1.5 million is an astronomical price.
The key point is that the liquor isn't worth that much money at all. If something goes wrong in the future, my grandfather said that even if he had a thousand mouths, he wouldn't be able to explain himself.
Tobacco, alcohol, calligraphy, paintings, and antiques have historically been major areas of corruption and bribery.
Despite my best efforts to hide, I was still found by Ma Shuai.
He spotted me as soon as I peeked out.
About an hour later, the car drove into a farmhouse courtyard.
In the center of the courtyard stood a large pot steaming with water, and a middle-aged man sat on a small stool watching the fire.
"Wow, it smells delicious!"
After getting out of the car, Ma Dong sniffed, went over to lift the pot lid, and said, "Stewed goose!"
"Yes, a goose!"
The middle-aged man squatting in front of the pot, watching the fire, nodded and said with a smile, "Mr. Ma cooked it himself!"
After saying that, he looked at me and said, "This must be Master Feng. Mr. Ma is waiting for you inside!"
I didn't say anything, just nodded slightly, and walked inside.
I've been here twice, so I don't need directions.
Ma Dong didn't follow me. He moved a small stool to sit in front of the iron pot and started chatting with the middle-aged man.
After entering the room, turn left and push open the door to see Ma Shuai sitting cross-legged on a futon with his eyes closed, resting.
In front of him was an altar, on which was placed a white porcelain rat statue wearing a red robe.
I don't know if it was just my imagination, but the moment I looked at the rat statue, it seemed like it looked at me too.
Hearing the door open, Ma Shuai opened his eyes and turned around, saying, "Xiao Feng, it's been years since we last saw each other?"
"It's been almost four years!" I replied casually.
"Moved again?"
After replying, I asked directly.
Ma Shuai didn't turn around, but turned to the rat statue, sighed, and said, "When you're in the world of martial arts, you're not always in control of your own destiny!"
I didn't reply, and there was another silence.
After about ten seconds, Ma Shuai stood up and said, "Xiao Feng, I haven't been feeling well lately. Otherwise, I wouldn't have contacted you!"
"not good?"
I scoffed, glanced outside, and said, "It's because Ma Dong is keeping such a close eye on you that you haven't had a chance to make a move on your son, has it?"
Unlike Ma Shuai's first wife, his second wife was no pushover.
She had been following Ma Shuai around since she was eighteen or nineteen, and she knew almost everything about him.
"Let's go to the west room to have your pulse taken!"
Ma Shuai didn't reply, but walked past me and headed straight for the west room.
I glanced at the rat-man statue, and that feeling of being watched resurfaced. I quickly turned around and followed Ma Shuai to the west room.
After arriving at the west room, neither of us spoke.
After he sat down, he extended his wrist, and I took his pulse.
"Your qi and blood are both deficient, causing spasms and blockages, allowing pathogenic factors to invade your body. Uncle Ma, you've gone too far this time; you're really courting death!"
After a long pause, I raised my hand and said calmly.
"Once you're in the game, you're not in control of your own destiny!"
Marshal Ma used the same old rhetoric, but this time he said it with a furrowed brow.
I know a little about the personality of the big shot behind him.
That person only cares about killing and not burying, only cares about the result and not the process.
He has never had any concept of consideration for his subordinates.
As for the refined demeanor they project to the outside world, it's really no different from the persona celebrities cultivate.
"You'll have to take it slow this time. It's best if you don't work during this period and just focus on resting!" I said.
"Xiao Feng, whatever you say goes. As for the expenses, let's stick to the usual rules!" Ma Shuai said.
"Uncle Ma, before I came here, I took on a job. In half a month, I earned 100,000 yuan, including red envelopes and consultation fees!" I said.
Ma Shuai stared at me for two seconds, then smiled and said, "Alright, I'll give you 100,000 too!"
"Shall we start with acupuncture?" I asked.
"Okay, we can eat right after the acupuncture!" Ma Shuai said.
For the next few days, I stayed in this small courtyard to prepare medicine and perform acupuncture for Ma Shuai. Ma Dong also stayed with us.
After a few days, Ma Shuai's condition improved significantly.
After finishing his acupuncture treatment that morning, Ma Shuai suddenly asked, "Xiao Feng, our group is short of a consultant. Would you be interested in working for us?"
"Not interested!" I replied bluntly.
"Xiao Feng, you're still young and don't understand what it means to be caught in the web of life. You haven't experienced enough!" Ma Shuai shook his head and said.
"Uncle Ma, what do you mean?" I asked.
"My point is simple: you gave Li Laohu's daughter acupuncture, what will his nephew think? Do you think his nephew will let you off the hook if he finds out?"
Ma Shuai sneered.
"Uncle Ma, you've investigated very thoroughly!" I said casually.
"Shouldn't I investigate?" Ma Shuai retorted.
"Should I?" I asked.
"Xiao Feng, our two families have been friends for decades. I'm investigating this for your own good!" Ma Shuai said meaningfully.
"For my own good?" I laughed.
"I always say that when you're in the martial world, you're not in control of your own destiny. You don't believe me? Today I'll show you what it really means to be in the martial world and not be in control of your own destiny!" Ma Shuai said.
"Fine, I'll see what you mean by 'being unable to control one's own destiny'!" I stubbornly persisted and clashed with Ma Shuai.
Ma Shuai smiled, ignoring my attitude, took out his phone and dialed a number. Once connected, he said directly, "Yingzi, I miss your Xiaobao. Why don't you bring him over?"