After a brief exchange with Lǎoshǔ Xiáng, I generally understood what sewer gold panning entailed.
And upon learning of my interest in sewer gold panning, Lǎoshǔ Xiáng directly stated.
If there was any need, I could contact him at any time to cooperate!
After the two finished discussing sewer matters, he began to hint about the diamond ring's cut.
I didn't hide anything and directly told him that I had lost all the money playing mahjong.
Lǎoshǔ Xiáng's face twitched several times after hearing my story: "You went all the way to find buyers to play mahjong and gave the money you earned, both principal and interest, back to them?"
Thinking of my huge loss, my heart bled.
I braced myself and said: "She paid two hundred thousand for it. To be precise, I gave back one hundred and sixty thousand, meaning she effectively paid forty thousand for the diamond ring..."
Lǎoshǔ Xiáng was speechless. Finally, he told me: "The diamond ring hasn't been returned. The female client's infant spirit will still haunt you. Think of a solution quickly. If you can't, then steal it!"
Stealing sounded easy, but it wasn't that simple... The diamond ring was on her finger; how could I get it off?
"When you go gold panning, just give me a call, and I promise to be there immediately," Lǎoshǔ Xiáng said, not wanting to chat anymore. He patted my shoulder, then downed his coffee in one gulp and got up to leave.
I sat there for a long time before finally paying the bill and leaving the coffee shop. I took a taxi to Longines Garden, in front of Villa District B13.
This is the home of the young lady, Chen Fang.
I don't know why I came here. In short, I harbored resentment, wishing I could ruthlessly... that woman.
Perhaps by chance, after standing at her villa for a while, a red Bentley drove up and stopped beside me.
The window rolled down, and a beautiful woman's face appeared, a smirk on her lips as she looked at me: "Heh, you actually know where I live. What, are you planning to rob me?"
Looking at this woman, I immediately recognized her. I'd remember her even if she turned to ash—this woman was Chen Fang!
On the mahjong table, she would often strike seductive poses, trying to distract me, causing me to lose everything. At this moment, I felt like spitting blood.
"A good dog doesn't block the way. Please move," Chen Fang honked twice, the piercing sound entering my ears and nearly making me jump.
I moved aside and watched as she drove into her villa complex and parked in the garage.
Walking towards me in high heels, click-clack, Chen Fang looked at me with disdain: "A bet is a bet. I've never seen someone as shameless as you. What, are you planning to come in and kill me?"
I didn't say anything, just stared at her intently with unfriendly eyes.
"Honey, there's a crazy person lingering outside our house. He's so scary; he looks like he wants to eat me..."
Chen Fang took out her phone and made a call, acting coquettishly into the receiver.
Seeing the situation was unfavorable, I dared not linger and immediately turned to leave.
Afterward, I called Fatty and apologized to him, admitting that I had spoken too harshly today and asked him not to take it to heart.
Fatty was extremely excited when he received my call. He immediately cursed: "Yu Xiang, you brat, I thought you were really done with me! Where are you now? Come over quickly! I'm at home!"
I frowned: "Why would I come to you? I need your help with something. I need to ask if you're willing first."
"Tell me what you need! I promise I'm willing!" Fatty readily agreed.
"I'm going to do something illicit. I need you to help me. It's not illegal, but I need someone trustworthy to welcome me..."
"Illicit business? Not illegal? Welcoming you?" Fatty was completely confused by my words.
I said: "Since we share hardships, don't ask. Just say if you're willing, one word!"
Fatty seemed a bit reluctant, gritting his teeth as he replied: "I'm willing..."
"Wait for my call. I'll contact you again."
I hung up the phone and immediately called Chen Feng.
When he learned that I had made up my mind and was ready to follow his method to pan for gold in the sewers, he laughed heartily: "Good. In three days, at Dashatian Road, the East Triangle area, we'll meet in front of an old-fashioned sour and spicy noodle shop. I'll teach you how to do it then!"
Seeing that he had given me a time and place, I shifted the topic, asking with concern: "What about the diamond ring? Will that female ghostly spirit come to take my life?"
Chen Feng sneered: "Don't worry, the female ghostly spirit won't come for you recently. She'll go after the current owner of the diamond ring..."
Hiss.
Hearing his words, my right eyelid immediately twitched, meaning the female ghostly spirit would go after Chen Fang?!
Then, suppressing my inner impulses, I continued to ask: "Then, will the current owner of the diamond ring be in trouble?"
"Whether trouble comes depends on fate, on her behavior. If one wears something from a dead person and uses it properly, it can enhance wealth, romantic luck, career advancement, etc. But if used improperly, disaster is inevitable, with a one-in-nine chance of survival!"
Chen Feng spoke these words with a deep tone and then added: "Your friend Zheng Tao died because he took the disaster for you. His infant spirit is definitely unwilling to leave. Be careful, he might come looking for you soon. To save your life, I'll teach you a method..."
Upon hearing Chen Feng's method, my scalp tingled.
He wanted me to sleep with a dead infant...
And he told me that there was an unorthodox private clinic run by an old woman who specialized in blood-extracted infants. For decades, she had performed abortions on countless women.
The fetuses were then buried under trees as fertilizer, or in the soil, or thrown into rivers, or fed to animals, or utilized to create evil infant spirits!
Because it was a renowned establishment in the industry, dead infants were priced clearly. Chen Feng told me to find that old woman, pay three thousand yuan for a dead infant from May, and then, according to his method, hold it while sleeping every day. This way, Zheng Tao's infant spirit wouldn't be able to harm me...
"Some things cannot be ignored. The way Zheng Tao died is how you might die. So, if you don't want to die, do as I say!"
Chen Feng's tone was extremely assertive, as if impertinence meant certain death.
"I... I'll listen to you..."
I mumbled a consent in a daze and hung up the phone.
Afterward.
After a long period of silence, I called Fatty and asked him to go somewhere with me tonight...
Fatty asked: "Where to?"
I didn't reveal the specific place's name, only telling him: "Get three thousand yuan ready. Consider it borrowed from you!"