Chapter Fifteen: On the Old Master’s Mind

Far away, vacationing in a primitive tribal village, Old Master Pei hung up the phone, a serene smile spreading across his face. This was his signature expression—whenever it appeared, those around him knew that someone was about to become the target of his machinations.

Seeing Old Master Pei’s enigmatic smile, Fat Dahai couldn’t help but mutter to himself: I wonder which hapless fellow has crossed Old Master Pei this time. Though, to be fair, what the old man considers a bottom line isn’t one for most people at all.

Fat Dahai was a good-natured young man and had served at Old Master Pei’s side for nearly five years now. In that time, he’d witnessed many a hero and bold character stumble at the hands of the old master.

It wasn’t that Old Master Pei wielded vast power; rather, he rarely acted, but when he did, his methods were anything but ordinary.

Take, for example, the young heir who, after starting to date Pei Xi, began suffering from relentless bouts of diarrhea from their very first day together. Eventually, the poor fellow could endure no longer and broke things off with Pei Xi.

Or consider another who, after offending Pei Xi, suddenly began to babble nonsense and became so frightened he dared not leave his house even in broad daylight.

Fat Dahai wondered who the unfortunate soul would be this time—he hoped it would be someone with a bit of perseverance, not like those before who gave up in just a few days.

As Old Master Pei’s assistant, Fat Dahai found these little episodes an amusing diversion. Otherwise, what would a young man like him do for entertainment, following the old master to this godforsaken place—well, to a place where birds were everywhere and the ground was covered in their droppings—if not for this?

“Master, is there anything you wish to instruct me this time?” Fat Dahai asked preemptively, not waiting for the old master to speak. After all, they’d been here almost half a month, and even thick-skinned as he was, Fat Dahai could sense the local chieftain’s growing impatience with their presence. They’d been there so long without any sign of leaving that their hosts had stopped providing them with food.

“This time, I want to try something different. I’ve been cooped up here too long; it’s getting dull. This young man—he’s come at just the right moment.” If the old master himself was bored, why didn’t he suggest leaving? Did all rich men enjoy playing these self-deprecating games?

Old Master Pei leaned over and whispered in Fat Dahai’s ear. Soon, an amused smile crept onto Fat Dahai’s face as well. Forgive his damned sense of shame—he truly didn’t mean to smile so slyly.

This old master must have been quite a handful in his younger years.

After leaving Pei Xi, Fang Yuan wandered into some less bustling streets and even slipped into a few narrow alleys. As he walked, he perused the notices posted on telephone poles and bulletin boards, though it was unclear what he was searching for.

Eventually, something caught his eye. But when he reached into his pocket, he realized something was missing. He tore down the white slip of paper and, glancing around, headed toward a nearby storefront.

“Hello, sir, what style are you looking for? I’d be happy to make a recommendation,” greeted a female clerk who looked to be about thirty as soon as Fang Yuan entered.

“I’d like to buy a phone and get a SIM card as well,” Fang Yuan replied.

“Of course, sir. To register a SIM card, I’ll need your ID. May I see it?” The clerk’s enthusiasm was unwavering, her smile fixed from the moment Fang Yuan stepped inside. He couldn’t help but wonder if her face was fake; how else could someone smile for so long without getting a cramp?

“I didn’t bring my ID. Is there any way to do it without one?” In truth, he hadn’t just forgotten it—he simply didn’t have one.

“In that case, you only need to provide your ID number. That’s sufficient,” she explained.

“But I can’t remember it. My memory isn’t that good,” Fang Yuan said, feigning frustration. In reality, his memory was excellent—he could even recall wetting his pants as a child.

The clerk hesitated for a moment, then seemed to understand. She glanced around to ensure they were alone, then whispered, “Come with me. I can help you.”

Without quite knowing why, Fang Yuan followed her out the back of the shop, through a rear door into a small room. Inside sat a bald man, who put down what he was holding and came forward as they entered.

“Need a SIM card? What kind of plan are you after? We’ve got all sorts here, but the price is a bit higher than in the standard shops,” the bald man said, surprisingly affable.

Fang Yuan knew all SIM cards now required real-name registration. If they charged a bit more for convenience, so be it.

He chose a moderately priced plan—after all, he had no friends or family here, so he could save on calls—and then picked a phone he liked, a Pear brand model that looked rather impressive.

With the phone and SIM card sorted, Fang Yuan pulled out the slip of paper and, using the contact information scribbled there, made his first call in this city.

He had realized that to survive here, he needed certain essentials—like a versatile ID card. Without one, he couldn’t do anything.

Armed with this new ID, Fang Yuan could finally deposit his cash in a bank. Though the ID was fake, it had been crafted using his previous identity as a template. In a sense, it was real: all the numbers and details matched, flawless in every respect.

To test this, Fang Yuan went straight to the bank—he was tired of carrying so much cash. Even the bald man at the phone shop had looked at him as if he were a fool.

But it turned out to be genuine; that is, his ID was accepted as real. Opening a bank account went off without a hitch. Heart racing, Fang Yuan deposited all his cash, using his birthday as the PIN.

He realized that such a password wasn’t very secure. In the past, he’d always used his birthday because he had trouble remembering complex ones. But now, he was no longer the same person—so he set a more advanced password.

He made it up on the spot; if he forgot, he could always report the card lost. At the very least, it would give his future self something to do when boredom struck.