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1041words
When I woke up,the sun was already shining on my buttocks.
My head was groggy,and I didn't know if it was because of yesterday's tiredness or the mental tension.
I didn't have any nightmares last night.
"Hmph,I thought you had the guts to come find me."
Thinking of the young man who played the prank of giving me a hell banknote last night,I cursed at the mirror.Everything seemed to have vanished into thin air.
After casually washing up on my own,I stuck a cigarette in my mouth and slowly went downstairs wearing flip-flops.
Walking in the alley,I somehow just noticed that there was actually a short statue of the Earth God beside the alley entrance.
When I looked at the kind expression of the Earth God,my hand holding the lighter trembled a bit.
Thinking of my always superstitious grandma in my hometown,I couldn't help but feel a tightening in my heart.
I touched the jade pendant of Guanyin Bodhisattva around my neck.I couldn't help but step forward and insert three cigarettes into the incense ashes in front of the Earth God.
"Men wear Guanyin and women wear Buddha.Grandson,this Guanyin can protect you boys throughout your lives..."
Smelling the strange incense ashes,for some reason,although I was looking at the Earth God,I thought of the way my grandma knelt in front of the Bodhisattva to worship.
I was about to light the cigarettes with the lighter in my hand when a voice suddenly pulled me back to reality.
"Is the Earth God keeping up with the new era too?There are actually people offering cigarettes?"
When I turned around,it was a middle-aged man carrying a bundle of incense and candles.He even had an apron hanging on him.He was covered in oil stains and at first glance,he was the owner of the fried noodles shop downstairs.
"Boss,you believe in this stuff too...It's noon,and you're not doing business.Why are you here to burn incense?"
"You silly boy,you're only coming here to seek help at the last minute.The Earth God protects the safety of this area.Is it strange to come and burn a few sticks of incense every month?"
The boss scolded and took out the incense and candles.He also threw away the cigarettes I had just inserted and handed me three sticks of incense unhappily.
"Even if you're seeking help at the last minute,you should at least buy the right things.Only then will the Earth God bless you,you fool."
I took the three sticks of incense awkwardly and smiled sheepishly.Thinking of the$4.44 in my WeChat balance,not to mention incense,if I hadn't made a few orders yesterday,I might not even have money for a meal.
"Then thank you,Boss,for your guidance.I'll quickly pay my respects to the Earth God,seek the help of the deity,and pray for some wealth."
I quickly lit the incense,imitated the boss's gesture,bowed three times,and carefully inserted the three sticks of incense into the incense ashes.
Looking at the incense that was gradually lit and emitting smoke,I nodded in satisfaction.
"Boss,after you're done praying,go back and make me a plate of fried noodles.Otherwise,I'll be starving."
The boss gave me a look,piously bowed to the Earth God statue,and then returned to the fried noodles shop downstairs with me.
As the sun in the midsummer became more and more scorching,there was no air conditioning in the shop,so naturally,there were few customers at noon.
I sat under the old-fashioned electric fan,listening to the fan creaking as it turned,just like the sound of the wind that night.
A plate of fried noodles was placed in front of me,and the aroma wafted up.Being hungry for a long time,I didn't hesitate to pick up the chopsticks.
Gods and ghosts are not important.The most important thing is to fill my stomach.It's not bad to be a well-fed ghost either.
While I was enjoying my meal,the boss plopped down opposite me.Looking at the boss's melancholy expression and the empty state of the shop,I seemed to understand why the boss worshiped the Earth God.
"Boss,you worship the Earth God because you hope your business will be better,right?"
"Sigh,since the old urban area was demolished,there have been fewer and fewer customers here.There's no harm in praying.It's better to believe it than not.Tsk tsk tsk..."
The boss looked at the way I was eating and seemed to nod in satisfaction.Sure enough,every chef is satisfied with their own dishes.Seeing the way I was eating,he was even more content.
"I see that you usually don't believe in these things.What's up?Have you encountered something recently?You usually have to save money on food,but now you actually have money to worship the Earth God."
"Ah,it's nothing.I'm just praying for wealth.The current economic situation is tough,and I don't have any money.I can only work the night shift as a food delivery rider to earn some money."
Except for that weasel holding a mouse,it was obvious that that young man was just playing a prank.
But,for this kind of strange thing,if I told the boss,he might start rambling on about it again.So,I kept the events of last night a secret.
"Oh,working as a night-shift food delivery rider.It's hard-earned money.But if you work in the new urban area,you might be able to make more money.Which district do you deliver in?Are there many orders and good earnings?"
Seeing that there was no business,the boss simply started chatting with me.
"How can a newbie go to an area with many orders and good earnings?It's quite close to here,just in District C.But there aren't many orders there either..."
"What did you say?District C?I think you're joking.District C has been sealed off for a long time because of the demolition.A few years ago,there were dangerous buildings,and then there was a fire,and problems with the developers were found.It's been sealed off for a long time.How is that possible..."
Before I could finish speaking,the boss smiled and waved his hand,then started chattering again.
And those words were like thunderclaps,hitting my heart heavily.
A fire?The dangerous buildings were demolished?How could that be?I clearly drove in and made a few deliveries there yesterday.
Although the houses were old,there were clearly still many people living there.How could this be?
My hand holding the chopsticks unconsciously dropped the chopsticks,and I looked at the boss in disbelief.
What kind of place is District C exactly?
