A windfall

July 7, 2010: Received a call from the client. Call recording: 201007071109.mp3.

"Hello, Mr. Zhang."

"Hello, hello, I, I think I found something."

"Oh? Are you home now? We'll come over to see you right away."

"Okay."

July 7, 2010: Went to the client's residence. Audio file: 06620100707.wav.

"Mr. Zhang, what did you find?"

"This."

"This is a photo of Lin Yifan?"

"Yes! Look at this! This jade pendant!"

"A Guanyin jade pendant? What's wrong with it?"

"I've seen this jade pendant before! On Binjiang Avenue! I only remembered when I saw this photo! Look at the jade pendant, here, on the corner of Guanyin's mouth, isn't it chipped? There's a notch, it looks like a sinister grin?"

"Yes, it is."

"I've seen a jade pendant like this before!"

"What was the situation? Where is the jade pendant now?"

"It was before I won the lottery. I was drinking with that client, the one I told you about. I was drunk. He deliberately messed with me, forced me to drink. After I left the shop, I stumbled onto Binjiang Avenue, down to the riverside embankment where you can get into the water. I sat there, probably cursing that client or something, I sat for a long time. I took off my shoes and socks, and put my feet in the water. Then something got stuck on my toe. I lifted my foot and saw a red string and a jade pendant, this Guanyin jade pendant! There can't be another one like it, right? And Lin Yifan jumped into the river and committed suicide in Luoqu River..."

"What did you do after you got the jade pendant?"

"I don't remember clearly. I was really drunk. I think... I think I said something to the jade pendant."

"What happened to the jade pendant later?"

"..."

"Mr. Zhang, what did you do with the jade pendant afterward?"

"It fell into the river... I let go, maybe I threw it on purpose, anyway, it fell into Luoqu River... This, this should... be lost, right?"

"We will look for it."

"Are you sure it's this jade pendant, and that it happened before you won the lottery, right?"

"I'm sure, I'm sure of this! It must be this jade pendant... it must be..."

Attachment: Enlarged photo of the jade pendant.

July 8, 2010: Contacted Sun Xiangbao and Wu Ze. Audio file: 06620100708.wav.

"Hello, Mr. Sun, sorry to bother you again. This time, I hope you can take a look at this photo. Do you recognize this jade pendant that Mr. Lin Yifan was wearing on his chest?"

"Oh, this..."

"This is the clearest one we found. It's a Guanyin jade pendant with a chipped corner. Did you ever hear Mr. Lin mention it?"

"No. I saw Lin Yifan had a red string around his neck. The jade pendant was probably inside his clothes, so I didn't see it, nor did I hear him mention it."

"Okay, thank you."

"Mr. Wu, did you ever hear Mr. Lin mention this jade pendant?"

"No. I haven't seen it, nor have I heard him talk about it."

"Thank you."

July 8, 2010: Received a call from the client. Call recording: 201007080823.mp3.

"Have you found out anything about that jade pendant?"

"Not yet, Mr. Zhang. Our investigation takes time."

"But I... I'm so scared... What if something happens again..."

"The people close to Lin Yifan have all passed away that year. We can only gather information from others, so progress is slow."

"Then what should I do? Am I going to be confined to my house forever like this?"

Jingle jingle--

"Wait a moment, I have a call... What? Are you kidding me? Didn't I tell you not to... Forget it... Hello, are you still there?"

"I'm here, Mr. Zhang."

"I just received a call. My company got a big order."

"Huh? Mr. Zhang, we discussed this before..."

"I know, I know! I told my subordinates too! But that employee of mine... Sigh! What do I do now? Is someone going to die again? I..."

"Please wait a moment, Mr. Zhang."

"Mr. Zhang, are you free to come to the office now?"

"Ah, okay, I'll be right over."

July 8, 2010: The client did not arrive at the office. The phone could not be reached.

July 9, 2010: The client arrived at the office. Audio file 06620100709.wav.

"Mr. Zhang, yesterday..."

"My vice president died yesterday."

"I see..."

"A home invasion. He was stabbed to death by the robber."

"My condolences."

"I... What should I do? Wuwu..."

"We've thought of a plan."

"Ah? What plan?"

"Given the current situation, it's impossible for us to find a jade pendant in the Luo Qu River, nor can we temporarily investigate where Lin Yifan obtained that jade pendant. Therefore, we can only take a risky approach."

"W-what do you mean?"

"Have you heard of the God of Poverty?"

"You mean, the God of Poverty from welcoming the God of Wealth and sending off the God of Poverty?"

"Yes."

"What are you going to do?"

"We want you to welcome the God of Poverty."

"This... What is this for?"

"Since that jade pendant is meant to make you rich, we'll do the opposite. If you're plagued by the God of Poverty, you won't be able to get rich. That jade pendant is full of aggression. I suspect it won't just sit there and do nothing. Once it appears, whether it's driven away by the God of Poverty or defeats the God of Poverty, we'll have a chance to seize it."

"Will this work? What if it doesn't show up..."

"We'll think of other ways. As I said, this is a risky move. Rest assured, we will protect you nearby."

"Mr. Zhang, judging from what happened to your vice president, that jade pendant has already slipped out of your control. Just like Lin Yifan's last two years, even if you do nothing and try your best to avoid it, your business will expand, wealth will pour in, and people around you will continuously die. If you don't act soon, you might end up with the same fate as Lin Yifan."

"I... Alright. How do I welcome the God of Poverty?"

"We will arrange a new place for you to live. Have you heard of Old Street in South Town?"

"That shantytown?"

"Yes. We will rent a place for you there and make arrangements. You will live there from now on. Life will be a bit difficult, so please bear with it. Also, this time, we hope you will completely cut off contact with the outside world. You can say you're going on a trip, but in any case, don't answer the phone or interact with anyone."

"Oh... Okay."

July 12, 2010: Rented two properties on Old Street in South Town, redecorated, and prepared daily necessities.

July 13, 2010: The client moved into Old Street in South Town. Audio file 06620100713.wav.

"This is it. Don't touch the talismans above the door. The daily necessities are all here. It's best to use these for now and don't go out. We'll be living right next door. If you need anything, just shout loudly, and we'll be there immediately."

"Okay."

"Mr. Zhang, please bear with it for a while."

"I know, I can do it."

"If someone appears to be poor and down on their luck and knocks on your door, you can invite them in first, and then call us."

"That person is..."