Lucky Mutual Aid Society (22)

"Cheers!"

In the noisy izakaya, the surrounding patrons were shouting without restraint, some even belting out songs at the top of their lungs while others applauded. In a corner of the bar, two drunks, caught up in the moment, were clinking glasses back and forth.

"Brother Harada, come on, fill 'er up, fill 'er up, another cup."

"No... I can't drink anymore, I really can't drink anymore, please spare me..."

Qian Xiaoyi patted President Oiwa on the shoulder, laughing drunkenly, "Brother, you're really something. You can't handle this much? I specifically asked the boss to bring out a good bottle today. It would be a waste not to finish it."

President Oiwa's face was as red as a monkey's backside. He squinted, covered his cup with his hand, and said hazily, "Qian-kun, I've had enough to drink today. If I drink any more, I won't be able to get home."

"Is that so? What a shame," Qian Xiaoyi said, putting down his wine bottle and sighing. "To be honest, brother, today is supposed to be the last day I drink with you."

"Huh?" President Oiwa quite liked this drinking buddy who had treated him to drinks for several days. Hearing this, he asked curiously, "What's wrong?"

Qian Xiaoyi drank the wine in his cup and said with some resentment, "I get angry just thinking about it. I got news yesterday that the guy I was working with actually kicked me out. He found someone else to cooperate with, so I have to drop everything and rush back to deal with this matter. I can't drink with you anymore. Damn it, what a piece of work..."

"Is that the partner you were talking about?" President Oiwa asked angrily. "How outrageous! What kind of disgusting guy is that! You were clearly the one handling the export business here! And he just kicked you out like that?"

Qian Xiaoyi swirled his wine glass and said, "Well, there's nothing I can do about it. After all, the source of the goods is in that guy's hands. Perhaps because I was the one contacting all the clients here and they only recognized me, that guy felt uneasy?"

"Hmph," President Oiwa snorted coldly. "That guy is a real coward." Hearing what Qian Xiaoyi said seemed to remind him of something, and for a moment, President Oiwa felt a sense of shared indignation, seething with anger.

Qian Xiaoyi then let out a cold laugh and said, "But it doesn't matter. I have my own capital too. This company was founded by both of us. When I get back, I'll have a good time with that guy. I won't let him kick me out so easily. Who wins and who loses is yet to be determined! Maybe I can kick him out instead!"

President Oiwa poured himself a drink and raised his cup, saying, "In that case, I wish you good luck in your endeavors."

Qian Xiaoyi smiled slightly, finished his drink, and then took out a long, narrow wooden board from his pocket. In the light of the izakaya, President Oiwa saw that the wooden board seemed to be carved with complex and profound patterns and characters. Qian Xiaoyi handed the ruler-like object to President Oiwa and said drunkenly, "Brother Harada, although we've only known each other for a few days, these past few days have been the only time I've felt a bit relaxed while drinking here. We're fated to meet. I'll give this to you."

President Oiwa took it and examined the wooden ruler carefully, asking, "What... what is this?" The carved characters and patterns seemed to vaguely suggest that this item was related to some kind of religion.

"This, ah~ this is called a Law Ruler," Qian Xiaoyi said mysteriously. "It's a ritual implement of Taoism. Didn't I tell you before? I'm in the coffin business, so I inevitably encounter things in that area. You know... that area... You don't? Let me explain more clearly... Ghosts, brother, you haven't seen one, have you?"

"Uh... no, I haven't seen one," President Oiwa said dryly.

"I have," Qian Xiaoyi said, his voice lowering slightly. "It was late one night, I was working overtime at my family's coffin factory..."

Qian Xiaoyi told a cliché ghost story, essentially saying that he had accidentally violated some taboos and was then haunted by something. Fortunately, he knew a master from a Taoist temple who gave him this item. The next time he saw a ghost, he took out this thing, and after that, he never encountered such things again. This treasure was his prized possession; he hadn't even given it to his father when he asked for it.

Although it was a cliché story, President Oiwa listened intently. He looked at the Law Ruler in his hand and asked, "Is this thing really that useful? Can it subdue ghosts?"

"Of course! That Taoist priest is a true recluse master!" Qian Xiaoyi boasted.

President Oiwa asked, "If that's the case, isn't it very precious? Are you really going to give it to me?"

Qian Xiaoyi waved his hand with drunken intent, feigning anger, "With our brotherhood, why say such things? Do you look down on me, brother? That master and I are good brothers. I can just ask him for another one!" meaning he would make another one.

President Oiwa's expression turned strange: So you're brothers with everyone, huh?

Seeing that Qian Xiaoyi was starting to talk nonsense, President Oiwa didn't take his words seriously, dismissing them as bragging. However, he still put the Law Ruler away.

"It's about time... I have to go," Qian Xiaoyi said after giving the gift, swaying as he stood up, mumbling, "...I have to catch a flight tomorrow. Boss, the bill!"

President Oiwa also stood up and said, "I've had enough to drink too. Let's go together then."

They walked to the door. Although summer was approaching, it was still a bit cold at night, and the wind blew, sobering President Oiwa up considerably. The two reached a fork in the road and were about to part ways when Qian Xiaoyi, swaying, grabbed President Oiwa's hand and said, "Bro... Brother! I have to go back now. I don't know if we'll meet again... I have to go back and deal with that bastard! You too, don't let your partner look down on you! Be like me, kick him out and become the BOSS yourself!"

President Oiwa thought to himself, You haven't even succeeded yet, why are you telling me to be like you?

However, these words caused the little spark of ambition in his heart to swell like a candle flame meeting oxygen, gradually occupying his mind.

"If I could kick that guy out, would I be able to become the true 'President Oiwa'?" This tempting thought kept circling in his mind. On his way back, he hesitated and pondered...

This almost caused him to bump into a figure by the roadside.

"Sorry..." He stopped and was about to apologize when he noticed the figure flickering and blurring.

President Oiwa inwardly cursed his bad luck. The figure in front of him was a residual soul. Once these residual souls realized he could see them, they would instinctively approach him, even if they had no ill intentions. For a psychic like him, his sensitivity in this regard was much higher than that of ordinary people. Even just touching these things made him feel his soul tremble. The sensation was as uncomfortable as a dentist drilling his gums after anesthesia – not causing significant harm, but extremely unpleasant.

However, he no longer had time to escape. The residual soul was too close and had already latched onto him. Just as he closed his eyes, bracing himself to endure the coming discomfort, he suddenly felt something in his inner pocket getting hot. Immediately after, the residual soul, which had lost its ability to think, showed a look of terror and vanished.

"What is this..." President Oiwa lifted his jacket and saw that in his inner pocket, the Law Ruler Qian Xiaoyi had given him was standing upright and still.