Episode 23, Pressure (Down) First Watch, Let's Vote

  I understand that these dark troops are like a combat army, they don't accept anyone's command except for battle. Like a double-edged sword, it can definitely hurt people, but also has a chance of hurting oneself. Moreover, the terror level is top-notch, once out of control, not only will Ye Yifeng and others who summoned them be attacked, even ordinary people around D city will suffer terrible harm.

  "I asked: 'Yi Ye, isn't there a way to defend against this?'"

  "There is, but the timing isn't right. At this point, we can only leave it up to fate."

  "I don't quite understand," I asked, "How can the timing be off? There must be a way to fix it. Otherwise, wouldn't Mr. Yi, Old Gao and Daozhang Chunliang also dare not confirm that this is not it?"

  Yi Ye smiled wryly and glanced at Lao Gao Tou, saying: "Lao Gao Tou, do you have any defensive measures?"

  Lao Gao shook his head and said with a bitter smile: "The timing is off, everything is in vain."

  "What's wrong with the time?"

  Yeh pointed at the electronic calendar in Lao Gao's shop and said: "Take a look, what date is it today on the lunar calendar?"

  I stared blankly at it, and on the calendar above was written: July 14th...

  "What's Ghost Festival?" I replied dazedly, with the impression of Ghost Festival still stuck in the concept of burning paper at the tomb.

  "The ghost gate opens, and big ghosts and small ghosts all come out. This is a common saying, but what ordinary people don't know is that how can the underworld below allow big ghosts and small ghosts to run out on their own? Wouldn't that be chaotic? So, there will be a large number of yin soldiers appearing along with them. The task of these yin soldiers is to ensure that every ghost soul must return after coming out. And when we summon yin soldiers, we will inevitably disturb the ones nearby who are derelict in their duty, which is not their assigned task, so everything becomes uncontrollable." said Ye Yidao.

  "Can't you just scram for one day?"

  "Are you trying to get three more people killed?"

  I am speechless, and in my heart there seems to be a huge mouth that keeps eating bitter melon.

  On the one hand, they were three complete strangers we had never met before. Yet, so many of us were willing to risk our lives for these three people whom we had never seen before and would likely never meet again, nor even know that we had saved their lives. Was it really worth it? Were all these people truly selfless? I looked at Ye Yi, then at Old Gao's head, and thought about Mr. Taiyi and Daozhang Chunliang. What if... they were all going to die anyway.

  To be honest, they are also ordinary people. The three strangers who have never met before are not stronger than them in any way, and I don't need to say more about myself. I am just an ordinary person who can't be more ordinary. I have a family, my own pursuits, my own life dreams, and many unfulfilled wishes! However, I couldn't do what they did with such calmness.

  Suddenly! I suddenly thought of something and asked Ye Yi in a hurry: "Aren't you good at fortune-telling? Take a look at how everyone is doing today?"

  He lit a cigarette for himself and didn't care that Goni was staring at him from the other side, saying with a thick bitter smile: "Four words, dark clouds are gathering!"

  This is the answer Ye Yibai gave me.

  "Everyone?"

  He nodded slightly, using his two fingers to point at me, Goni and even Old High Head: "You, her, and him are all ominous signs of dark clouds. How long can we persist in what we're doing now? Can we persist? I dare not say, nor do I have a way to say it. So, we're all making an effort to prepare, minimizing the risk to the lowest level."

  I still want to say something, Ye Yi's phone suddenly rang: "Who is it?"

  That face seemed to have said something, and Ye Yizhen's eyebrows suddenly furrowed together, twisted into a川character, and spoke in an extremely unpleasant tone: "So you're going to let another group of people die? You can't cover this up!"

  He's the deputy captain! Looks like his plan to persuade the leader has failed.

  "What? Lockdown? SWAT team? Do you want to make things bigger? This is ridiculous! Don't trust us? I'm telling you, Wang Zhengping, with your current performance, you don't even deserve the image of a JC! Desecration knows what? Letting it go like this is murder! Not only will it kill three people tomorrow, but also a group of JCs. At that time, you'll be the murderer! The main culprit! What's the use of your death? You're in charge, if it doesn't work out by 8 pm tonight, we can only take action regardless of the safety of others in the community. If that thing comes out, the entire city of D will be dragged down. I'm not exaggerating!"

  Bang!

  Ye slammed his phone onto the table.

  "Bureaucrats! All of you are bureaucrats! At a time like this, you're still thinking about getting promoted and making money, without considering taking responsibility." Ye cursed angrily after hanging up the phone.

  Lao Gao said: "Ye Xiaozi, don't get angry first. If that guy can't handle it, we'll settle it ourselves."

  I also said: "Yes, no big deal, we'll just fight it out. We have to be true to our own conscience."

  Gao Ni'er then said, "Ye Yige, don't be angry. After we're done today, we'll make dozens of little people and tie them up every day." It seemed that only Gao Ni'er's words were somewhat comforting.

  "Wang Zhengping said that their leaders did not want to take responsibility for this matter. They let Wang Zhengping take full charge, but did not allow him to cause panic. Originally, Wang Zhengping tried to seal off the surrounding neighborhoods using the method from the SARS outbreak, dispatching medical teams and special police units to investigate, and driving out all civilians while sealing off the surrounding streets. Then, he would use a notice about terrorists planting bombs to evacuate the entire Longteng neighborhood. He said he was prepared to take the blame and go to prison, but his leaders vetoed the plan entirely. Haha... these two are useless."

  "What's to be done?"

  "What else can we do? Wait! Let's not let Wang Zhengping get away with just taking off that one set of clothes, we need to thoroughly settle this matter. Since he was the one who started this whole thing, we've already taken on the biggest share of responsibility. If he's still worried about that one set of clothes...” He paused for a moment, and Ye raised his next sentence to a higher level: “Then he would be betraying the righteous and fearless image he presented in front of us before.”

  It wasn't until now that I realized, Ye Yi had never really accepted the deputy captain as a friend. Even after the phone call just now, Ye Yi had thoughts of giving up. But I could truly feel the pressure on the deputy captain and Ye Yi's body, it was this abnormal pressure that made them both lose their normal thinking! No! The deputy captain lost his rational thinking, while Ye Yi became too cold-blooded and rational. Two different extremes put them both in an abnormal range.

  Thinking of this, I hastily reminded Ye Yi: "Ye Yi, don't put too much pressure on yourself. The deputy captain has his own difficulties too!"

  Ye closed his eyes and remained silent.

  Lao Gao's head started again with Gao Ni'er, recording and nagging a long list, on which many things were densely written.

  【Kitchen Utensil Placement Feng Shui Taboos】From a feng shui perspective, kitchen utensils should be cleaned regularly, with several key points to note:1. Wok and ladle, these two utensils are already noisy enough when stir-frying, it's unlucky if they're not washed after use or placed together after washing.2. Knife and chopping board, after use, they should be stored separately, don't clang them together and insert the knife into the chopping board, it's very fierce and inauspicious.3. Stove and sink, one belongs to fire and the other to water, they shouldn't be too close.

  I'm so sleepy, it's like I haven't woken up every day. Thanks to the brothers for voting and praising! I really like the chat in the comment section of the book review! Unfortunately, this book is not yet mature, and building a group is a bit early. When there are more friends in the future, Xiao He will contribute a super group for everyone to chat and talk nonsense. How about that? In order to have a good place to chat in the future, let's vote and collect! Amen!