Five, big and small deceivers

Human efforts are essential for planning, while the outcome is determined by fate; one should not be overly reliant on deities and spirits, and at no time should one act in a manner that leaves no room for maneuver. It is important to avoid excessive greed, as leaving others with a way out is akin to leaving oneself a path forward

At 10:58, the taxi stopped on the street beside Huadu Community. Zhu Tong complimented, "Thank you for your hard work, driver." Just as he was about to get out of the car, the driver handed him a business card: "This is a new car of mine; other cars take at least 40 minutes for this route. Boss, I come from a military background and value integrity above all; if you have similar needs in the future, call this number, and I will arrive as quickly as possible. There are hardly any drivers in all of Shanghai who can match my speed."

After Zhu Tong finished speaking, the old conman widened his eyes in surprise, as if he had just realized that the young trickster had grown up. However, his next move was to quickly put on his clothes and drag the young trickster Zhu Tong to the bus station, haphazardly getting onto a bus and leaving. Along the way, the old conman dismantled the young trickster's phone and casually threw it out of the bus window

Zhu Tong was glad to hear this news, and he also cried for a few minutes; however, after some reflection, he became angry again. Over those years, he had managed to earn several million, yet most of it was squandered by his master. Having such a master, one cannot tell whether it is a blessing or a curse.

The town was abuzz, with television stations from both the city and county coming to conduct interviews, and officials at various levels extending their congratulations. The local officials promptly took measures to provide special protection for the Zhu family.

For the sake of tradition, the old conman finally compromised, handing over the only five hundred yuan he had to his closing disciple, four hundred and fifty yuan. He then bought two bottles of white liquor and a bag of peanuts, sitting by the seaside to drink and weep

The little trickster has grown up; he has wandered on the Zhanqiao Pier in Qingdao for half a day and has finally determined the direction of his life: there is no turning back, and the only option is to re-enter the world.

The old swindlers certainly do not believe it; the harsh reality lies in appearances. The money they possess is mostly used for turning over and backtracking.

It was late, outdated, and old-fashioned. Although Tong was listening at the time, he did not pay much attention in his heart

This little trickster is quite admirable; his "business" has grown from small to large, accumulating experience step by step, leading to his current state

Within three days, Zhu Tong first found someone who could produce fake identification documents. Such phone numbers were everywhere; for fifty yuan, one could purchase an ID card without using their own photo, specifically requiring one from Qingdao, with an age around twenty.

Looking at the master with a face full of happiness, the little trickster often maliciously thinks: a fraudster is always a fraudster; even if disguised as a sheep, there will come a day when the tail is revealed

As disciples of the Zhu sect, the old trickster at least upholds one tradition: not to steal or rob, as that is the act of a foolish brute lacking wisdom. As a sect with a long-standing heritage, the disciples of Zhu can only rely on their skills to make a living and navigate the world.

The name "Zhu Tong" was thus fixed on a household registration book at that time

Due to historical reasons, the practice of Zhu You healing has been passed down secretly in the folk community and is mastered and applied by only a very small number of individuals. Zhu You encompasses numerous branches, each with its own sects, generally involving herbal medicine, miraculous remedies, incantations, ancient symbols, and mantras used in conjunction.

The taxi departed, and Zhu Tong glanced at the surrounding environment. There were few pedestrians on the street at midnight, and the branches and leaves of the maple and privet trees cast dappled shadows over the streetlights. Not far away, the lights at the entrance of the community were the brightest, but Zhu Tong knew that it was unlikely for him to enter this upscale community from there

More than a decade ago, an old swindler deceived a beautiful widow in Shandong, and surprisingly, he developed the idea of starting a family, allowing Zhu Tong to live a stable life and study for several years

Wrought iron fences are excellent, both aesthetically pleasing and practical; this is undoubtedly true. However, they are also the easiest to climb over

After escaping to Qingdao, the two swindlers finally caught their breath

It is now 10:27. Does arriving before 11:00 count? The shrewdness of the Shanghai people prompted the driver to be cautious and confirm once more

The final piece of advice from the old conman was that a con artist should strive to be low-key, avoiding drawing attention and not being too conspicuous; a simple and unremarkable demeanor is the true essence. This lesson was imparted to the young conman, Tong, after he managed to swindle five hundred thousand from a certain celebrity, and it was at this moment that the old conman also shared all his most valuable insights with the young conman.

With this ID card, Zhu Tong went to the bank to open an account; then he squatted for half a day next to several people who were collecting old mobile phones. As dusk approached, he bought a phone for two hundred yuan and a phone card for one hundred yuan, fully equipped as a brand new con artist, officially stepping into the world.

Due to the hurried escape, the considerable fortune amassed by the conman over the years was left to the charming widow and her young daughter, yet they found themselves with surprisingly little money.

Perhaps it was the favor of heaven that blessed Zhu Tong with considerable talent. Although he had never studied seriously since childhood, the few characters he knew were taught to him occasionally by his master and senior brothers, and he recognized some words from newspapers and discarded books. At the age of six, the little trickster obtained a worn-out old dictionary, which then became his only toy for the next few years. In the course of his wanderings, Zhu Tong memorized the entire dictionary, making him the most knowledgeable among his peers.

To engage in any business requires capital, yet I have not a single cent to my name. Are you suggesting that I resort to theft?

Good at studies, adept at handling situations, favored by teachers, wishing Tong to quickly become the leader among children. To him, classmates are merely a group of fools that can be easily entertained with a simple gesture. Even the local delinquents, upon seeing him, display a demeanor of familiarity.

At 11:20, the elevator stopped on the fifteenth floor, and the crisp sound of high-heeled shoes could be heard; Zhu Tong leaned out to take a look, as Qingmei walked to Building C while talking on the phone and entered the door.

Zhu Tong and his master are two frauds, both holding fake identification cards. When marrying that beautiful widow, the master also claimed that his family had suffered a flood and he could not return. Fortunately, he possesses some medical skills and has honed his ability to boast over many years of wandering the world, making it quite easy to make a living in that small town near the sea

At 11:10, Zhu Tong left the room, carefully locked the door, and ascended the stairs to the space between the 15th and 16th floors, lighting a cigarette and quietly waiting.

Plan carefully before taking action, strike decisively and then withdraw, without inquiring about victory or defeat. This is another piece of wisdom from the old trickster; he said: "In our line of work, the greatest fear is being overly attached. One must learn to act in accordance with the situation, prepare thoroughly in advance, and know when to advance and retreat. After making a move, regardless of success or failure, one must leave immediately; one must never take risks simply because too much has been invested. Remember, there is bound to be a flaw in every secret, and that is a path to destruction"

The old swindler also speaks of many principles from the underworld, such as abstaining from lust, yet he himself cannot live without women; the little swindler, of course, pays no heed to this.

Six months ago, when Zhu Tong set his sights on Wang Juefei at the Ocean Hospital, he put considerable thought into selecting a suitable bait; the candidate needed to have some experience but should not be too slick, should possess charm yet not exude an overly worldly demeanor, and it was at that time that Qingmei came into his view

However, the next day when Zhu Tong went to withdraw money, the account had already been locked; the little swindler then realized that the old swindler's half a lifetime in the underworld had not been in vain

I remember that because of that small pharmacy and your wife's small inn, you had given money to the town mayor and the police station chief; the mayor received 5,000, and although I do not know how much the other one received, based on your habits, it is likely to be similar. This 20,000 is what the mayor provided, and the 20,000 from the police station chief should arrive tomorrow

A child worth only seven yuan and fifty cents, how much credibility can there be

Since then, the little trickster has never mentioned any of his "business" to his master again, which greatly pleased the old trickster

The old swindler never conducts "business" in the Xiangxi region. Firstly, he fears angering the ancestral spirits; secondly, he has little interest in the tricks of deception and ghostly antics, as they are both slow to yield profit and fraught with danger

Theoretically, the girl who made him suffer a setback is one year older than Zhu Tong; in reality, perhaps only the ghosts know who is older or younger. Zhu Tong's theoretical father is also unaware of his exact age. The little trickster has always believed that he should be one or two years younger than his classmates, and his height only stopped at 1.77 meters during his senior year of high school.

The room was not lacking in vitality, nor in the scent of women, but this encounter with Qingmei left Zhu Tong feeling quite uncomfortable. As he did not dare to turn on the light, he could only use a small flashlight to take a brief look.

With this scam, Zhu Tong and his master pretended to be father and son, deceiving many widows and elderly unmarried women into shedding tears. After obtaining the money, this seemingly honest father and son naturally disappeared. China is so vast that there are always places to commit fraud

Apart from the brothers in this school, one cannot trust anyone else

Many girls aspiring to make a name for themselves in the entertainment industry often gather in Beijing, where there are numerous directors and entertainment companies. Shanghai, known as the fashion capital, is filled with modeling agencies, attracting girls who believe they possess good qualities and are seeking opportunities to become top fashion models. Qingmei is one of them.

Zhu Tong smiled and read the name on the business card: "Qin Keqiang, a good name, I remember it."

The small town is located by the seaside of the peninsula, with mountains at the back and the sea in front, where the local customs are simple and honest. Two swindlers quickly became well-known and enjoyed themselves there.

The growth of the child is also thanks to encountering a master of the careless art of healing, known in the martial world as the old trickster

Zhu Tong is rolling on the beach with a girl, their lips touching, their arms entwined, the thin swimsuits no longer a barrier. The little trickster is lost in ecstasy, when the old trickster arrives, ignoring the girl's screams, and pulls the naked Zhu Tong away. After this escapade, the two tricksters never returned to the small town.

The charming widow opened a small restaurant in the town, also operating as an inn. The master of Zhu Tong opened a small pharmacy the following year, also providing medical services; before long, he gained a reputation as a miraculous doctor in the vicinity, walking with his head held high. The medical skills that Zhu Tong possesses today were learned during that time.

However, when the scam encountered the beautiful and kind widow, Zhu Tong's master suddenly became infatuated, turning the falsehood into reality and creating something akin to a family. To perform this act, Zhu Tong enrolled in the local high school in the town.

Extortion and blackmail can yield quick profits, but they carry significant risks. Engaging in such illicit businesses should ideally be done independently; if collaboration is necessary, it is advisable to hire strangers with financial compensation.

If it were not for Zhu Tong unexpectedly being admitted to university, such a life could have continued for a while longer

A day later, the two individuals changed three vehicles and arrived in another city from Shandong. In a dirty little inn, the old conman formally began to impart the ways of the underworld to his closed-door disciple

In the summer of his third year of junior high, Zhu Tong came to appreciate the wonders of femininity. By the time he started his first year of high school, the little trickster had transformed from a novice into a seasoned player, simultaneously dating four girlfriends. The consequence was that Zhu Tong, who had just been appointed as a student council member for two months, was dismissed and received a disciplinary action; he had wooed the mayor's daughter, a beautiful girl in her second year of high school, mature like the pears on September Mountain, juicy and tender. The consequence was that Zhu Tong, who had just been appointed as a student council member for two months, was dismissed and received a disciplinary action; he had wooed the mayor's daughter, a beautiful girl in her second year of high school, mature like the pears on September Mountain, juicy and tender.

The old swindler can only blame the young swindler for ruining his life and the happiness of his later years, while a comfortable life has diminished the old swindler's ambition in the world. His longing for the charming widow and his young daughter has completely turned the old swindler into a useless figure in the underworld

On the road, the master scolded Zhu Tong harshly until dawn, at which point Zhu Tong realized that the one showing the dog tail was not the master, but himself.

The old swindler finally realized the danger, and without much thought, he grabbed Zhu Tong and fled in a hurry; the old swindler's face was not fit for television, as at least ten widows across China were searching for him, and there were at least three wanted notices related to him

At 11:05, he had already taken out the key in front of Block C, successfully opened the door, and walked in. Half a minute later, Zhu Tong took out a digital camera from the wooden ceiling, removed the storage card, and finally had time to survey the suite.

It was also at that school where Zhu Tong began his first love, but the little trickster's first love soon turned into a polyamorous relationship

The marriage between the old swindler and the charming widow was originally a scam, a scheme designed by Zhu Tong. It originated from a matrimonial advertisement in a shabby magazine, along with several legal stories from similar publications.

The driver paused for a moment, but without any hesitation, pressed the accelerator, and the taxi began to glide along the road like a fish.

Although the tricks of an old con artist may have little practical use, the fundamentals are still valuable, as they represent the essence of deception

Under normal circumstances, it takes at least forty-five minutes to travel from the bar on Guangyuan Road to Huadu Community. What Zhu Tong aims to achieve is to save those fifteen minutes.

Zhu Tong is truly remarkable; with his ability to memorize dictionaries developed from a young age, he finds little difficulty in his studies. The middle school in his small town is not a key institution, yet when the college entrance examination results were released, Zhu Tong surprisingly ranked second in the entire province, a score that allows him to choose any higher education institution in China at will

The practice of "Zhu" is a form of incantation, and it serves as the origin of certain ailments. The methods of Zhu, which include herbal medicine, differ from traditional Chinese medicine. Zhu practitioners utilize talismans and incantations to treat illnesses, employing various techniques such as prohibitive methods, incantation methods, blessing methods, talisman methods, as well as suggestive therapy and psychological therapy.

For instance, acting within one's capabilities, an old con artist claims that the effectiveness of deceit is proportional to one's own cultivation. It is akin to a swordsman; the higher the swordsmanship, the more everything in your hands can be transformed from decay to the miraculous. A mouse has no chance to deceive a tiger

Zhu Tong has also been influenced by the old tricksters, mastering only a few secret techniques from the underworld, yet he still chooses to pursue practical studies. Having undergone the baptism of modern education, he remains more skeptical of those supernatural arts.

After Zhu Tong crossed over, he immediately walked across the lawn towards Building 7. The apartment in Block C on the fifteenth floor is where Qingmei resides. He had placed the DV camera there, and now all he needed to do was retrieve the storage card from the DV before Qingmei returned

The origin of the Zhu Men dates back to ancient times, and it cannot be separated from the Zhu You Men.

He never expected that the old conman was truly convincing this time. He had quit drinking and gambling, and even had a beautiful daughter with the charming widow. There were some complications when registering the child, but fortunately, small towns have their own advantages, and in the end, the old conman spent some money to settle the matter

As for the belief in ghosts and deities, few who navigate the rivers and lakes are not superstitious; the Zhu You school, originating from the western Hunan region, is renowned for its ghost and deity practices, and the Seventh-Rank Zhu Men has inherited this tradition

Regarding this point, the first action of the little trickster has already confirmed it, so one can only humbly accept it

It was an August night, and the youth who had just taken the college entrance examination were all wild with excitement

Happy times are always fleeting, and the storms of fate often reveal their sinister hands at unexpected moments, gently destroying the warm nests.

However, after hearing the grandiose words, the old swindler's premonition turned into reality as the young swindler reached out for money, demanding all the money from the old swindler.

This is the most frequently spoken phrase by old con artists, and it is also the one that benefits young apprentices the most. After several years of navigating the underworld, the young con artist finally understands that his master, despite being fond of women, wine, and gambling throughout his life, has never set foot in prison. What he relies on, apart from experience, is this very phrase

In half an hour, you will arrive at Haidu Community, and this money will be yours

On the third day, the little trickster brought the old trickster to a luxurious bathing center, opened a large private room, and after cleaning up, presented a set of clean clothes.

Two years have passed, yet Zhu Tong often thinks of that old swindler. He didn't even leave behind a name, only a daughter in a small coastal town in Shandong, departing from this world with a body full of secrets. Zhu Tong has had no relatives since childhood, and after his master passed away, there was one less person to talk to.

An hour later, Zhu Tong appeared in another bar on Guangyuan Road. This time, he only ordered a cup of black tea, sipping it while lost in thought.

When the little liar said these words, he was wearing only a pair of shorts and a promotional shirt, both cheap goods bought from a street stall; the shorts cost 3.5 yuan, while the shirt was a bit more expensive at 4 yuan. The front was printed with: "There is https://m.hetushu.com.com, what's the matter, don't be sick"; the back read: "Nothing, just no money"

The old swindler also agreed with this point. Over the past few years, he has specialized in deception, tailoring his approach to the individual. After assessing the target's capacity to endure, he formulates a reasonable price; his success rate exceeds 90 percent.

The Zhu Men is one such sect, primarily focused on medicinal stones and acupuncture, using the treatment of illness as a pretext while also engaging in activities such as exorcism and ghost expulsion. By the time of the master of the master of the master of Zhu Tong, due to the turmoil of war, Zhu Men completely severed its ties with the main lineage of Zhu You Men, degenerating into a folk sect. As many of its members resorted to using their esoteric skills for supernatural tricks or fraud, it was ranked as a seventh-tier sect, just one tier above the eighth-tier orchid of the prostitution industry.

"Arithmetic, arithmetic! I want time, you want money, what we all need is security". At this moment, Zhu Tong felt a bit worried; the driver was driving a bit too fast.

The rivers and lakes change, time flows by, yet the rivers and lakes are always the realm of humanity

As he watched the taxi that Qingmei was in disappear into the sea of cars, Zhu Tong also hailed a taxi. Once he got in, Zhu Tong handed over two hundred-yuan bills.

The access code to the building had not changed, which relieved Zhu Tong. He opened the building door and entered Building 7. Zhu Tong hesitated for a moment but ultimately decided to take the elevator up. Although this was somewhat risky, he knew there were surveillance cameras in the elevator. However, time was of the essence, and he could not afford to think too much about it.

This may be the reason why the master drove away the two senior brothers, yet continued to keep him by his side

The bedding on the bed is old, the refrigerator is full, and the furniture is clean; yet, the more it is like this, the more uneasy Zhu Tong feels in his heart, as he suspects that there has been some change in Qingmei's life

The old swindler was still half-drunk, astonished and scolding the young swindler for wasting money. However, the young swindler quickly stuffed his mouth with two thick stacks of cash before revealing the source of the money

In the following years, the old swindler returned to a life of drunkenness and gambling, engaging in no "business" and relying entirely on the support of the petty con artists. He roamed freely along the coast and was ultimately thrown into the sea to feed the fish from a gambling boat two years ago

As a disciple of the Seventh-Rank Zhu Sect, one of the Eight Sects of the Jianghu, Zhu Tong's understanding and integration into modern society surpasses that of any predecessor in the sect

That night, the little trickster solemnly swore to the old trickster: from now on, our lives will only get better, and we will never be short of money again. Even if you want to find a beautiful widow, it won't be a difficult task.

This phone card made only three calls, and Zhu Tong's bank card had twenty thousand yuan; the old swindler certainly did not believe it, as the young swindler Zhu Tong had grown up under his watch. Although clever, he had never conducted any business on his own.

The six years spent in the small town of Zhefu are the most cherished memories of Zhu Tong (his master had always said he would leave in a few days, yet who would have thought that it would turn into six years). After a year of adaptation and self-study, starting from the second year of junior high, Zhu Tong displayed an extraordinary maturity and intelligence, becoming a prominent figure in that secondary school.

Zhu Tong chose Qingmei because she has clearly lost her chance to become popular. Time is cruel, especially in the fashion industry, where one is considered old after the age of twenty. As for Qingmei, she herself claims to be already twenty-five years old

Upon leaving the bar, Zhu Tong and Qingmei agreed on a time to contact each other before parting ways