Chapter 03: In Dreams, I Know Not Where I Am

More than a year ago, the Jinxiuge City opened and was recruiting security personnel. Yang Weifeng was guided by his acquaintance, a thug named Wang Huzi, to apply for the job. To assist with the application, Wang Huzi even made a fake ID for Yang Wei. As a result, the person in charge of recruitment, who looked like a security guard, saw that Yang Wei was tall and strong, had a scar on his face, and a tattoo that looked quite authentic on his half-sleeve. Standing there with an imposing presence, the recruiter didn't even glance at the fake ID that Yang Wei was most worried about revealing, and simply said, "Kid, you're the one. Go to the back to get your uniform, and report for duty tomorrow!" As for Wang Huzi, with his naturally fierce appearance, it goes without saying that he became a team leader on the very first day of recruitment.

Yang Wei has been in Fengcheng for over a year. The reason he chose to stay here is that no one knows or cares about his identity. He touches his head, where six round scars have been covered by his moderately long hair. Perhaps no one knows that this person who rolls around among the ladies every day is indeed a genuine disciple of Buddhism

When Yang Wei returned to Yangjiawan once again, he discovered that in just a few years, the villagers had all migrated out of the mountains. This place had already become a forest protection area. He had lost his home, lost his relatives, and even the dream he once had of returning home to raise sheep had been shattered.

Yang Wei lives in a unique courtyard. More than a year ago, he happened to see this place while in a taxi and instantly fell in love with it. Although it is also part of a development zone, it still retains the style of a rural area. What is particularly precious is that there is indeed a river by the village that has not been polluted, which is said to be the origin of the name "Bai Shui". Although it is a bit farther from the Jin Xiu District, the simple architecture, quiet environment, and low prices ultimately led him to decide to live in this area. Thus, he spent a few days searching throughout the Bai Shui District and rented an entire courtyard, enjoying the tranquility it offered.

"Get lost!" Liu Bao laughed and scolded. Yang Wei's behavior had long been a common sight, but he truly did not dare to provoke this person. Who knows, one day he might really send a group of young ladies to your home. For instance, just now, he had clearly already left, but this guy checked his pockets and found he had neither money nor his phone, so he returned to the police station, insisting that Liu Bao give him a ride. He claimed that if he wasn't given a ride, he would demand food and lodging, and if not, he would complain about the police station randomly arresting people. This left the officers in the station both amused and exasperated. In the end, Liu Bao had no choice but to drive him part of the way, first to the karaoke city to pick up something, then to eat. Looking at Yang Wei, it seemed he really thought of himself as the head of the police station.

He feels that his happy life is beginning to be rich and flavorful! Now, his ideals have undergone a significant transformation; he is diligently saving money, looking to find a wife at any moment, and thinking about having children. As for why to have children, he hasn't figured that out yet. He could raise sheep, but there is no place for that now. Becoming a monk is also a concern, as he fears being driven out of the temple. However, that is a matter for the future; he must first find a wife before anything else.

However, Yang Wei never considered himself to be particularly noble. His salary increased from 800 yuan to over 1,000 yuan, and he occasionally received tips from ladies and his boss. Damn, it amounted to several thousand yuan each month, which could be considered a white-collar income. In his memory, he had never seen so much money! When he was a monk, he had no concept of money at all; the largest denomination he recognized was a one-yuan banknote from the merit box in the temple. During his time in the military, he received a maximum monthly allowance of 45 yuan, but for him, it was of little use since everything was provided for him there. It was only when he entered society that he realized what he truly needed.

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In fact, Yang Wei himself said that he found a place to work at Huayan Temple. When he arrived, the master was already nearly ninety years old. His daily tasks included fetching water, chopping firewood, washing clothes, and cooking. When he had free time, he would chant scriptures, meditate, practice Qi, and do martial arts. He did not learn much culture, limited to being able to recite the Diamond Sutra fluently. He did not learn many martial arts forms; the most basic Luohan Fist took him ten years to master. During those ten years, Yang Wei, who was originally worried about not being able to support himself, grew strong and robust. He officially became a disciple of Master Kongxing, receiving the Dharma name Wuming. However, the trouble began with becoming a disciple. After Master Kongxing passed away at the age of 102, through the condolences from various places, Yang Wei discovered that his master was actually a renowned figure in Buddhist studies from Shaolin. As a named disciple, he held a much higher status than the other monks in the temple. Subsequently, Huayan Temple was designated as a national-level cultural relic protection unit. The once quiet temple, with its ancient lamps and Buddha statues, became a lucrative place due to the flourishing tourism and incense offerings. The original monks had their own duties, and the abbot was selected by the Buddhist Association. As a black household, Yang Wei not only could not establish his household registration, but the old master also did not clarify the monk registration before his death. After a conflict with the later abbot, Yang Wei was deliberately expelled from the mountain gate by the monks who had long plotted against him.

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As soon as he entered, Yang Wei rushed straight into the bathroom, stripped off his clothes, and felt an urgent need to take a shower. Upon seeing the multicolored urban management uniform, his anger flared up, and he forcefully threw the uniform on the ground and stomped on it a couple of times to vent his frustration. Then he turned on the shower; cold water gushed down, splashing onto his skin, bringing a chilling, piercing yet exhilarating sensation that swept over his entire body, causing goosebumps to rise all over.

After Yang Wei became a security guard, he quickly rose to fame, with a speed and duration of popularity that could rival the top courtesans in the entertainment district. The reason for this is his fighting ability. In less than a year at the entertainment district, he has engaged in numerous battles with local thugs and even gangs with connections to organized crime, never having lost a single fight. Remarkably, he has neither been seriously injured nor has he seriously injured anyone else. It is well known that for the small-time players in the entertainment district, it is quite difficult to last a year; they either become bosses, get attacked, or end up committing crimes due to excessive violence and have to flee. However, Yang Wei is clearly an exception, which can be attributed to the solid foundation he built during his time as a monk and a soldier. Nevertheless, Yang Wei often thinks that if the old monk knew that the skills of self-cultivation in Buddhism were being used to protect courtesans, it might just infuriate the old man.

To be honest, Yang Wei never thought about working in this field, but apart from this job, he really couldn't find a better one. In fact, working as a security guard or being a subordinate in the singing city is considered a relatively promising type of job

A police car slowly came to a stop in a place called Baishui in the Fengcheng City Development Zone. This area was originally a suburban rural area, but in the past two years, the expansion of the development zone has connected it with the city. The house rented by Yang Wei is located here. Yang Wei got out of the police car, waved goodbye to the driver, Xiao Liu, and said: "Buddy, that day I will treat you. You can choose any girl from Jinxiu. If one is not enough, I will give you a pair of Fengxi Long..."

One career development path is to be a subordinate for a period of time, during which it is inevitable to be surrounded by a group of women. If these women recognize you, they may willingly accept you as their leader. Perhaps one day, as the leader, you could jump ship with several women and become your own boss. At that point, the remaining task would simply be counting the money. Another career path is to serve as an assistant to a boss, commonly referred to as a subordinate. The boss could be the owner of a karaoke establishment, or perhaps a businessman who frequently visits such venues, or even the boss could be a popular woman herself. It is possible that one day, as the leader, you could jump ship with several women and become your own boss. At that point, the remaining task would simply be counting the money. Another career path is to serve as an assistant to a boss, commonly referred to as a subordinate. The boss could be the owner of a karaoke establishment, or perhaps a businessman who frequently visits such venues, or even the boss could be a popular woman herself. These individuals often hire a few bold and ruthless subordinates to handle some irregular events. Although the risks are high, the income is indeed quite considerable.

Is this a recruitment for workers or for the underworld? Why are they only picking second-rate individuals? The security guards being hired, in name only, are all bald, squinting, with faces full of excess flesh, protruding teeth, and ruddy noses. They seem to hire anyone who looks as rough as possible, while not a single person who appears refined or decent is included. Although Yang Wei is very reluctant to equate himself with these individuals, standing among such a group of clumsy security guards, his appearance and demeanor are starkly highlighted. Over time, he has become accustomed to it.

More than a year ago, in a state of desperation, Yang Wei arrived in Fengcheng, where he sought to find a job, or more precisely, a means of livelihood. However, Yang Wei, who would have no survival issues in the wilderness, mountains, or even the desert, was taken aback upon entering the city. In his current words, at that time, there were more university graduates than prostitutes, and jobs were harder to find than virgins. For someone like Yang Wei, although his educational level and physical fitness were comparable to that of migrant workers, he was unable to even secure a household registration, ultimately being deprived of the qualification to become a migrant worker.

The subsequent developments revealed just how creative this recruitment was. The security personnel, who usually handle parking for guests and maintain order, do not seem particularly remarkable. However, when faced with drunken troublemakers, rowdy patrons, or those who refuse to pay for services, the irreplaceable role of these exceptional security guards becomes evident. Imagine a group of over ten individuals, each with a robust build, prominent features, and scars, standing together; they are even more intimidating than armed police officers. Their imposing presence is extraordinary. Guests, after all, come to enjoy themselves, and no one wants to ruin their experience over a few hundred yuan. They are essentially unstoppable. Even when confronted with real gangsters, the presence of these exceptional security guards is undeniably formidable. Picture again a group of over ten individuals, each with a robust build, prominent features, and scars, standing together; they are even more intimidating than armed police officers. Their imposing presence is extraordinary. Guests, after all, come to enjoy themselves, and no one wants to ruin their experience over a few hundred yuan. They are essentially unstoppable. Even when faced with real gangsters, this group of security guards standing together possesses a certain level of deterrence, of course, this deterrence is effective only before any physical confrontation occurs.

In utter helplessness, he had no choice but to go out and take on odd jobs, such as repairing houses, cleaning windows, and pushing carts—those kinds of jobs that do not require identification or educational qualifications, which are commonly seen in cities today. Occasionally, when life became particularly difficult, he would even dabble in petty theft. When things got really desperate, he would go to a modest restaurant and enjoy a meal without paying. After all, Yang Wei had been both a monk and a soldier; he was tough and resilient, and the restaurant staff could hardly do anything to him. Of course, he inevitably found himself in the police station, but once inside, he often received a beating with a police baton and was released. This was because there were many like him, drifters from impoverished counties. The police station could neither impose fines on such individuals nor find them a place to eat and stay. Even sending them back to their hometowns would incur transportation costs! It simply wasn't worth it, so it was better to let such people go. Yang Wei, therefore, found himself going in and out of the police station, often thinking that the socialist legal system was not so bad after all.

Twelve years later, when the layman Yang Wei returned home wearing straw sandals and a cassock, his hometown had long since changed beyond recognition. His father, who had spent his entire life herding sheep on the mountain, had died there; his mother had remarried and disappeared with a carpenter. His two elder sisters had already married off to distant places. The two dilapidated earthen houses that once belonged to his family had become the village's cattle pen. With no other options, Yang Wei shamelessly stayed at the village chief's house, forcing the chief to send him to the township to serve as a militia member. Soon after, there was a recruitment drive; it was rumored that they were sending people to the far northwest. There were very few applicants in the county, so the village chief fabricated a household registration for Yang Wei, coaxing him to falsify his age to enlist, promising him a stable job. In this way, within less than three months of descending the mountain, Yang Wei transformed from a young monk into a soldier of the People's Liberation Army.

Yang Wei's hometown is not in Fengcheng, but in a place called Yangjiawan in Qinxian County of Yun City, which is over 200 kilometers away from Fengcheng. This place, with only more than thirty households, cannot even be found on the map. At the age of five, due to his family's poverty and the fear that they could not support him, his parents sent him to Huayan Temple, 200 kilometers away, to become an external disciple of an old monk.

In less than a year, Yang Wei has already been promoted to the security team leader of the singing city. If there were a selection mechanism here, it is likely that Yang Wei would have been recognized as an advanced worker or some outstanding youth without any issues. In the eyes of the ladies, he is not ill-natured and has decent character; at the very least, he knows how to protect the rights of the ladies, which gives them a strong sense of security. In the eyes of the boss, his expectations are not high, and he is practical and reliable; at the very least, he would not elope with the ladies or poach from the singing city. Such a subordinate is indeed hard to find in today's society, even with a lantern.