Folk Strange Stories Part 1: The Witch Ancestor of Miao Township Chapter 13 Section 2: Two Fat Men

I've seen this person before! Over a month ago, it was him who took a piece of paper from the hands of the squad leader and took control of the Dead Man's Pool. Yes, that same smile—it was with just a few words that he made the squad leader relinquish the territory.

Wait a second! It suddenly dawned on me. I saw him just over a month ago, and a month later, I was "discharged." Then, in the discharge office, there was that uncanny offer of a job as a Chief Clerk in a government office in the capital. On the first day of reporting, I saw the two chubby guys who were at the Dead Man's Pool. Isn't this too coincidental? Would anyone believe that all of this isn't deliberately arranged?

Unlike my reaction, the plump guy beside me was tilting his head, looking at the desk behind which another plump guy was seated. He wore a skeptical expression, wanting to speak but hesitating. It's no wonder—when the middle-aged plump guy showed up at the Dead Man's Pool, my companion was sprawled on the ground, vomiting water in huge gulps. Naturally, he wouldn't remember the incident as vividly as I did.

The slim, tall guy in front of us spoke, "Director Gao, they've come to report. If I may say so, this time they should be assigned to our division, right?"

The middle-aged plump guy glanced at him and said, "Is it your business to worry about this? You brought them here, can't you introduce them?"

The slim, tall guy chuckled and extended his palm toward the middle-aged plump guy, saying, "This is Director Gao Liang, Director of the Bureau of Folklore Affairs Research. Our Bureau doesn't have deputy directors or secretaries. Within this small territory, what Director Gao says goes."

He then waved at my companion and me, "It's up to you two to introduce yourselves."

"Heh heh, no need," Director Gao Liang smiled and continued, "We're acquainted, right? We met over a month ago?"

"Oh," my companion finally recalled, "I remember now, you were at the Dead Man's Pool."

Director Gao Liang looked at the two of us with a smile and said, "Let's not dwell on the past. From now on, we're all part of the same family. Shall we sit and talk? Would you like a cigarette?" He reached into a drawer and pulled out an unopened box of cigarettes, handing it to me.

What kind of cigarette was this? Red packaging with no text or icon, just a triangular mark on the box lid. I tore open the packaging and took out a cigarette. Huh? Why was the filter of this cigarette so long, almost as long as the cigarette itself? Finally, I saw the brand—two characters: "Panda." The legendary national treasure.

"Share half," my companion's chubby face leaned in. I handed him the cigarette in my hand and said, "Take it, smoke it sparingly." I then casually slipped the cigarette box into my pocket.

Director Gao Liang chuckled, took out another cigarette box and threw it to my companion, then got to the point, "Enough of the chitchat. I've reviewed your files. Your performance in your previous units was outstanding. I believe you'll have better development in the Bureau of Folklore Affairs Research. The decision has been made. Shen La and Sun Desheng, you two are assigned to the Investigation Division. This gentleman here is the head of your division, Director Hao Wenming. Alright, sign the work contract, and let Director Hao introduce the rest."

What does he mean? Is that it? I squinted at my companion. His gaze seemed to be inching toward mine, intentionally or not. Well, I can't count on him, I have to rely on myself.

I cleared my throat with a cough, then smiled at Director Gao Liang, "Director Gao, as you've said, we're now family. So, would it be a problem to share the situation in the Water Curtain Cave of the Dead Man's Pool with the 'family'? And pardon me for asking, what's the standard for 'family'?" My companion chimed in, "That's right, both leaders, we're all family now. We shouldn't keep secrets from each other, right?"

"Of course, it's not a problem," Director Gao Liang's smiling eyes made me feel a bit uneasy. He continued, "However, I'm not sure how you two determine the criteria for being 'family.'"

Hao Wenming pulled two crumpled sheets of paper from his pocket, spread them out in front of us, and said, "It's not my words, it's Director Gao's intention that once you sign your names on these work contracts, we become family." The synchronization between these two men was impeccable, as if they had practiced it countless times before. I looked at the two stiff sheets of paper, wondering if these two guys had ever been involved in pyramid schemes. How many people did they swindle?

My companion picked up the contract, scanned it briefly, and immediately spotted the issue, "Are you kidding me? Is this a joke? The contract's duration is ninety-nine years?" He finished and widened his eyes, staring at me.