You find a flight attendant, and they come over and say a few words. They might give you their seat on the spot, but then they'd probably punch you the next time!
Looking for a train police officer?
Everyone knows that train police officers are basically useless in most cases.
Moreover, these thugs are mostly familiar faces. The train police also frequently travel on the same route, so they see each other all the time. In this kind of situation, they just turn a blind eye, and no one bothers to interfere.
I didn't say anything more. Anyway, there's no point in wasting breath on unreasonable people. I just reached out and grabbed his neck. The guy immediately swung his fist at my face. I grabbed his wrist and he froze for a moment, probably not expecting me to be so fast. He struggled a couple of times but couldn't break free. I tightened my grip little by little and quickly twisted his arm around.
He wasn't as strong as me. Finally, he slowly twisted his body around, but I caught his arm, and he groaned in pain. I shoved him in the back, and his groin slammed against the table. He cried out and went limp. I then dragged him to the aisle and threw him on the floor. Glancing around, I saw two other men looking at me with hostility, seemingly acquaintances of this guy.
These guys weren't really highway robbers, just petty thugs who hitched rides on the train. I didn't make a scene; I just threw him on the floor. Some people stuck their heads out to watch, but I glared at them and they all went back inside. I put the guy on the ground, then sat back down in my seat, stepped on the back of his hand, and as he regained some strength and was about to struggle, I felt a cool sensation on my face…
I held a serrated knife to his cheek and said coldly, "Do you want red or white?"
The guy completely went limp. Seeing the knife tip dangling in front of him, he didn't dare move again. I let go of him, and he immediately scrambled to his feet and slunk towards the end of the carriage, the other two people around him following him to squeeze into another carriage.
The train was cramped, and only the two people sitting next to me saw me brandishing the knife; no one else saw me. Seeing the hesitant looks from the people next to me, I smiled, put the knife away, and said casually, "I'm a chef; this is for chopping vegetables."
I don't care whether the people around me believe me or not; I don't care anyway. When you're out and about, not many people will meddle in other people's business. That's just how the world is.
The sleazy guy promoting the pyramid scheme tried to chat me up, but when he saw me brandishing a knife, he was intimidated, hesitated for a moment, and didn't say anything more to me.
Actually, I didn't want to be so outspoken, but I had no choice... When things like this happen, if you don't stand up for yourself, people will bully you. Besides, I have Ni Duoduo to take care of, so I can't just sit back and do nothing, can I? These kinds of thugs, if you give them an inch, they'll take a mile! If I back down, they'll dare to harass that young girl next!
Then I closed my eyes to rest, ignoring the stares around me. Ni Duoduo was a little scared after the commotion, so she hugged my arm with both hands, trying her best to press her little body against me, and tilted her head on my shoulder.
That sleazy guy involved in the pyramid scheme wasn't alone. I discovered there were seven or eight of their accomplices in the entire carriage, men and women, ranging from their early twenties to their forties. They were taking turns chatting with passengers, talking about getting rich and making a fortune. Some even went so far as to recount their arduous struggles, claiming how down on their luck they used to be, but now, since joining the pyramid scheme, they've become rich, earning tens of thousands a month, buying houses and cars, and their backs and legs no longer aches and pains, and they can climb six flights of stairs without getting out of breath...
What I find laughable is that there are actually people who believe this nonsense. At least I saw some seemingly honest people in several seats who were completely fooled.
By daytime, no one bothered me anymore. In the morning, the train arrived at Guangzhou Station. I looked at the weather outside; it was still cloudy, but the temperature in the south was much higher. I rummaged through my bag and found a light jacket for Ni Duoduo to change into, and then we disembarked with the surging crowd.
The sleazy man seemed to have made a good haul on this trip. I noticed three or four new faces had joined their pyramid scheme group, all migrant workers heading south with bags on their backs, eagerly following the sleazy man and his group off the train. The pyramid scheme scammers were incredibly gentle and friendly… the kind of friendliness a big bad wolf might show to Little Red Riding Hood, helping with bags and luggage, assisting the elderly and children, as the group slowly squeezed towards the exit of the carriage at the back of the flow of people.
As I stepped off the platform, I glanced at Ni Duoduo. The girl's eyes were still somewhat bewildered, but as she leaned against me, her gaze held a hint of security. My heart softened, and I reached out to take her small hand, leading her out with the flow of people.
I walked carefully through the crowd, maintaining a safe distance from those around me while trying not to stand out too much. I walked slowly, and as I approached the exit, I suddenly noticed something unusual!
Outside the exit of the inspection station, to the right, some thugs from the south with long hair and wearing floral shirts were wandering around. They would occasionally pull over pedestrians on the roadside, look them over with a fierce expression, and then forcefully push them away, signaling them to get lost.
I noticed that most of the people they checked were young men and women!
My heart skipped a beat!
I could even see from afar two or three people squatting under a few pillars on one side of the exit, holding what looked like photographs in their hands, their eyes constantly scanning the crowd...
What happened?
I was filled with doubt... Why are so many people questioning me when I just arrived in Guangzhou?
Time waits for no one! Although there were many people on this train just now, I stood there for a while, and the number of people in the aisle started to decrease. I will be discovered soon!
Just then, I suddenly saw the sleazy man and his group walking towards us from behind. A bunch of pyramid scheme scammers surrounded the newly lured victims in the center, and someone kept pouring out their get-rich-quick theories, trying to brainwash them as quickly as possible...
My heart skipped a beat, and I immediately pulled Duoduo over and slapped the sleazy man: "Hey, buddy!"
"Huh?" He saw me and seemed a little surprised. I immediately smiled and said, "I've been thinking about it for a while, and I think what you said makes sense. I'm new here and don't know anyone, so I'm also looking for a way to make money... so..."
I deliberately paused here for a moment, smiling as I looked at him.
The sleazy man hesitated. He had just witnessed me brandishing a knife in the car. Usually, scammers like this wouldn't dare to make a move if they didn't know the other person's strength.
But then I continued, "Look, I'm with a little girl. We just arrived here, we don't have jobs, and we have nowhere to stay. I'm also very interested in the job you mentioned. Do you think I could try it out first?"
The lewd man glanced at Ni Duoduo and felt relieved.
Part 1: In the Martial World, Unable to Control One's Own Fate, Chapter 110: I'll Deceive You Without Question
Indeed, I was dragging a little girl along, and I looked like I was heading south to work; I certainly couldn't be a policeman.
He immediately opened his arms to welcome me, laughing as he reached for the bag in my hand, but I calmly blocked him with my arm. I smiled slightly and said, "Thank you for taking good care of me."
"Once you join us, you're family! We're family!" the lewd man laughed. A woman immediately came over to help Ni Duoduo, deliberately using a high-pitched, childlike voice to say, "Oh my, what a clever girl!"
Ni Duoduo stared coldly at her, then shrank back behind me. The lewd man immediately gave her a wink, and the woman stepped aside.
I then joined the group of scammers and was immediately surrounded by them. There were also two "successful people" who were involved in pyramid schemes taking the opportunity to spit on me and teach me how to get rich. We went through the ticket check and got out of the station.
A few thugs tried to stop them, but two of their companions stopped them with a laugh. I vaguely heard them saying, "These are pyramid scheme scammers, a bunch of rats, no need to investigate."
After playing, he spat at us from afar and cursed, "Damn it, you son of a bitch!"
I heard those words very clearly. Looking at the two or three newly caught victims beside me, their excited expressions and gleaming eyes, dreaming of getting rich... I suddenly felt a little sorry for them.
Really. I feel sorry for them.
Those thugs and gangsters are generally considered by most people to be a class with poor manners and little education.
Even those people know that pyramid schemes are a dead end, yet some people still recklessly fall into this trap.
Outside the train station, a very dilapidated Changhe minivan was parked, its paint peeling off in many places. Several patches were welded on. It looked like a tattered metal frame. The license plate was covered in dust, obscuring about a third of the number—whether intentional or not, it was unclear. The sleazy-looking man led us to the minivan. The driver jumped out; he had triangular eyes and, looking at us, his face, which wasn't initially friendly, forced a warm smile. He shook hands with everyone, saying, "Thank you for your hard work! You've all worked so hard!" Then, looking at us new faces, he said, "These must be our new brothers and sisters? Welcome, welcome! Welcome!"
Then they enthusiastically helped carry the luggage onto the bus.
The van, which originally only had six seats, was crammed with ten people. With everyone's luggage, the people inside were packed tightly together, making it incredibly stuffy, like sardines in a can.
I didn't say anything; we were still near the train station. I dared not stray from them onto the street... I decided to wait until we reached our destination and it was safe before figuring out how to leave.
In a large city like Guangzhou, vehicle emissions are restricted in the city center, so this kind of minivan can't even get in. It was my first time in Guangzhou, and I couldn't tell which way was which. There was no sun in the sky, so I just sat in the car and felt it turning left and right, winding its way through the streets and alleys, but we were getting further and further away from the city center. I had no idea where we were.
All I could see were low-rise buildings, and it seemed like I had arrived in an old town area. Then I turned into a small alley and finally stopped in front of a small building that looked somewhat decent.
The van was turned off, but thick black smoke was still billowing from the exhaust pipe. I suspected that these swindlers had probably salvaged the vehicle from some junkyard. The engine sounded like a tractor the whole way.
After getting off the bus, I looked at the building in front of me. I was both amused and exasperated.
Clearly, this is a building steeped in history... I even accidentally spotted a large "Demolish" sign painted in white on a corner. However, most of it had been carefully erased, making it somewhat blurry.
Looking at the surrounding buildings and the people going in and out of those low houses, they all seemed somewhat suspicious.
While they were moving their luggage, I took a few steps to the side and saw an address posted on the lintel of a house: XX Street, XX Number.
However, someone had also brushed over that address. But as time went on, the paint peeled off, and I had to half-guess what the address actually said.
Then I followed the crowd into the lobby of the building.
This surprised me!
This place, which looks dilapidated and like a dangerous building from the outside, is actually quite tastefully decorated inside!
A copper coin sign hangs in a very conspicuous place, which reads "WC Company Southern China Branch".
The hall wasn't large, but the mirrored walls made the space appear much more spacious, and the floor was even marble! (Although it was the cheapest kind).
The people who had been lounging around the lobby suddenly sprang into action upon seeing us enter. Their listlessness vanished, and they began lining up, some shouting, others jostling for space around the two counters, as if in a frenzy of buying. Further inside, there was even a rather formal company reception desk!
A girl with a sallow complexion and a sickly appearance stood behind the counter. As soon as she saw us enter, she straightened up and tried her best to give us the most friendly smile: "Hello! Welcome!"
I noticed there was a cabinet air conditioner next to the front desk! But it was obviously not turned on.
I even suspect that the well-known Japanese brand air conditioner might just be a shell sitting there.
The receptionist was wearing a business suit, but judging from the fabric, it was obviously cheap and cheap. Her high heels were white, but they were so old that the color had faded, revealing a bit of black lining. However, it seemed that she had carefully covered it with white chalk, so that it didn't look so conspicuous.
Our group walked inside and turned into a lounge. The sleazy guy then told everyone to put their luggage down first.
I saw that there were still some people waiting here, some of whom were clearly newly arrived "easy targets." Their expressions were excited with a hint of anticipation. Their luggage bags were placed next to them.
The room was quite large, about the size of a school classroom. There was a small white, simple teaching board hanging in front, with paint pens below it. There were seven or eight rows of small chairs in the room, and at the back was a row of sofas. They looked very old, and the fabric on them was so worn that the original color was indistinguishable.
The receptionist bustled around, bringing out over a dozen paper cups and brewing over a dozen cups of tea. I glanced at them. I doubted what was inside; it looked more like the dregs of some kind of tree leaf.
The sleazy-looking man bravely picked up the glass, took a big gulp, then walked to the front, stretched out his arms, and shouted, "Dear new brothers and sisters! You are all new members of our big family! Here, everyone is equal, and we are all like family! New brothers and sisters may not understand... but that's okay! In a little while, a professional instructor from the company will give you a lecture! This will help you quickly familiarize yourself with the company's business! Then, as long as you are willing to work hard, a bright future is right before your eyes!! To be honest, I can't guarantee that everyone will become a millionaire! But, as long as you work hard, getting rich is not difficult!"
I glanced around the room. There were about seven or eight of us, including myself, who had been lured in. There were also seven or eight other people who were part of the scammers' gang, sitting in the back and on either side of the room. Every time the sleazy man spoke, they clapped and cheered loudly. Under this atmosphere, some of the victims quickly began to blindly follow him.
Since everyone is new here, it's hard to tell who's a newcomer and who's a veteran. Anyway, people have a tendency to blindly follow others, so if others cheer and applaud, they'll eventually get used to cheering and applauding too.
Then the sleazy man introduced several of his accomplices, saying they were some senior employees of the company who shared their successful experiences.
Then, several men and women took turns standing out from the back and sides of the room.
In short, it all boils down to one word: a lie!
Some claimed to be laid-off workers who made a lot of money in a year after joining a pyramid scheme.
Some were company employees. After quitting their jobs to join a pyramid scheme, they bought a house and a car within a year.
Some claimed to be migrant workers, but after joining a pyramid scheme, they went to their rural hometowns and immediately got married and built houses... and so on.
The most outrageous thing was that a guy dressed to the nines, in a suit and tie, came up and claimed to be the CEO of a company, earning hundreds of thousands a year. But after seeing that pyramid schemes could make money, he simply closed the company and invested all his assets, and ended up making a million in a year...
I looked at his entire outfit, from his leather shoes to his suit. Although I could tell they were all knock-offs of designer brands, at least they looked decent. It was just that his broken speech and stiff, reciting-line-like tone made me feel a little strange.
But there were many people around cheering, and the applause was enthusiastic. The numbers they deliberately threw out during their narration—tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions…
These numbers are visually stimulating, and while this "personal testimonial" tactic is old-fashioned, it still manages to deceive people. Moreover, these victims are carefully selected by the scammers.
There's a saying... "Rich people are stupid."
Just as the fat sheep were blushing with excitement at the prospect of a bright future, the lewd man dropped a bombshell!
"Now, please welcome Ms. Liu, our company's professional marketing mentor, to begin the pre-job training!"
The sound of high heels filled the air, and a sophisticated office lady walked in through the door. Petite in stature, she wore a light yellow business suit, looking very elegant. Her hair was casually draped behind her, giving her a neat appearance. She carried several books and a folder, walking in with her head held high and chest out.
To be honest, she was a pretty woman, and the room immediately fell silent as soon as she walked in.
The sleazy-looking man looked at everyone with a serious expression and solemnly said, "This is our company's marketing expert, a highly skilled professional who has studied abroad. You can just call him Teacher Liu!"
I suddenly froze...
I actually know this Teacher Liu!
This woman, dressed like a sophisticated white-collar worker, wore light makeup and had an aloof expression...
But I immediately remembered how she used to snuggle in the arms of those bosses, saying "Thank you, boss" in a coquettish manner.
This woman was none other than the madam I kicked out of the nightclub back then, the one who broke the rules with the gigolo Ah Qiang!
As soon as I saw this "marketing expert mentor" walk in, I immediately slipped behind someone and sat down.