Chapter 166: Subdue Demons and Quell Evil? Subdue Your Grandpa

From the first meeting, Zheng Tan and Er Mao had given each other poor reviews, and this kind of poor review couldn't be reversed by just a couple of words from Wei Leng.

Er Mao chatted with Wei Leng about his experiences over the past two years, while occasionally glancing at Zheng Tan.

Wei Leng, meanwhile, kept talking with Er Mao while shelling peanuts nonstop, giving some to Zheng Tan and keeping some for himself.

Like a servant! Seeing Wei Leng's behavior, Er Mao felt deep contempt. But after all, they were senior brothers, having known each other for many years; Er Mao understood Wei Leng, and if this cat truly lacked ability, Wei Leng would never treat him this way.

Lucky cat?

Maybe.

He had never come into contact with it nor seen it himself, yet Er Mao remained skeptical, refusing to accept anything he hadn't personally witnessed or heard, and even discounting what Wei Leng said as so-called 'facts'.

Zheng Tan lay on the sofa, waiting until the peanuts were shelled before jumping onto the coffee table to gnaw them.

"Have you decided what you plan to do next?" Wei Leng asked Er Mao.

"Over the past two years I've been out and about, doing a bit of small business; for now I don't plan to do anything, just rest and enjoy myself, then sleep each day until I wake naturally."

As Er Mao spoke, his eyes drifted toward Zheng Tan; seeing Zheng Tan intently gnawing peanuts, he sprang from his chair and struck with lightning speed.

Smack!

"Subdue demons and quell evil!"

Landing the hit, Er Mao swiftly withdrew, retreating to about five meters away.

Wei Leng, Zheng Tan: "……"

Zheng Tan truly hadn't expected Er Mao to strike at all, even though their mutual opinions weren't great. Perhaps because of Wei Leng's influence, Zheng Tan sensed no malice from Er Mao, and thus lowered his guard considerably, not bracing at all—yet he still got hit.

Er Mao didn't punch or beat him; his quick strike merely stuck a piece of 'paper' onto Zheng Tan's forehead.

Zheng Tan didn't know what was drawn on that paper stuck to his forehead, but from the situation he could guess: it was the legendary talisman for summoning deities and repelling ghosts—a 'Subdue Demons and Quell Evil' charm for curing illness and dispelling calamity!

Subdue demons and quell evil?

Fuck the demon-subduing magic, damn it!

Damn it!

Zheng Tan shook his head, flinging off the loosely stuck 'paper strip' from his forehead, stopped gnawing peanuts, popped out his claws, leapt off the coffee table, and charged at Er Mao.

If I don't lose my temper, you really think I'm weak and bullyable!

Thus, one person and one cat began fighting in the private room. At first Er Mao grabbed a feather-filled cushion from the chair to block, but seeing it shredded quickly and realizing he had severely underestimated the opponent's attack power, he covered his head with his jacket and dodged toward Wei Leng.

After that feather cushion was torn apart, feathers flew everywhere in the private room, instantly turning the neat space into a mess.

Wei Leng just watched all this, really wanting to drag that guy over and give him a good beating; despite being in his twenties, he still seemed unreliable, often making people want to hit him first.

After the scuffle lasted about ten minutes, Zheng Tan squatted on the coffee table continuing to gnaw peanuts; however, the amplitude of his tail flick revealed his mood was far from pleasant—no one would feel happy after being slapped with a 'Subdue Demons and Quell Evil' charm, especially since Zheng Tan already harbored a secret.

Er Mao slowly moved back toward the chair, his jacket nearly shredded into strips, but for him, as long as his face was uninjured, nothing else mattered.

"Er Mao, why are you quarreling with a cat?" Wei Leng said.

Er Mao balled up his torn jacket and set it aside, saying, "Didn't you tell me to get along well with this cat? Feelings between guys are forged through fighting, just like us brothers—who hasn't built their bond by beating each other up?"

Wei Leng rubbed his forehead, no longer dwelling on the fight, but pointed to the talisman on the floor that had been stepped on several times and asked, "Where did you get that thing?"

Zheng Tan slowed his peanut-chewing, turned his ears that way, also wanting to know where Er Mao had obtained that so-called talisman, wondering if he truly intended to subdue demons and quell evil.

Er Mao recalled and replied, "When I came to Chu Hua Shi, I saw an old man at the train station carrying a bag and holding a notebook, following me and asking me to donate, recording names in that book. I gave him ten yuan, and he gave me this thing, saying it's for subduing demons and quell evil."

At some stations or platforms, there are always people begging or asking for donations. With crowds, it's hard to tell genuine from fake; gradually, one wonders whether society is too cold or people have become shrewd. Perhaps those scams have fostered people's coldness, making their first reaction to charity appeals 'scammer' rather than sympathy.

Zheng Tan didn't know whether Er Mao was aware of the cat grease in this, but judging by his attitude, even if he knew, it was just spending money on a whim for fun; he didn't care at all.

So, this so-called talisman is merely a souvenir bought for ten yuan?

Zheng Tan inexplicably felt a bit more at ease.

Wei Leng's focus wasn't on that souvenir talisman, but he said, "You actually wrote your name in that book?"

"I did—why not? I spent ten yuan, wrote it with my over-ten-years of hard‑pen calligraphy, blowing away those names on the page by n+1 streets!"

"Is that so? Then, following that logic, everyone who later writes their name in the book for donations will know there's a Wang Ming who donated ten yuan." Wei Leng said in a teasing tone.

"I'm not that stupid to write my own name and tell people I got scammed too—that would be embarrassing."

Sometimes those who give money aren't doing so voluntarily but are 'made' to donate; newspapers have reported passersby being beaten for refusing to give. Thus some people feel that unwilling 'charity' is deeply embarrassing, especially for men with strong self‑esteem.

Since Er Mao said he wrote a name in the book but it wasn't his own, whose name did he write then? Was it just made up?

"Whose name did you write?" Wei Leng wondered.

"Wang Bin." Er Mao said proudly.

Zheng Tan, Wei Leng: "……"

I don't know how Er Mao's older brother would react upon learning this. And this is probably just one inconspicuous part of the things Er Mao has done. Zheng Tan wondered whether he'd later see Wang Bin's name on wall ads for document processing, gas delivery, drilling, floor polishing, drain clearing, or on antenna poles plastered with ads for treating stubborn ailments—who knows?

Zheng Tan thought, if he were Wang Bin, he'd surely beat Er Mao so badly that even his own father wouldn't recognize him.

Wei Leng continued rubbing his forehead, "You really are stirring up hatred for yourself—you're basically courting death."

Er Mao, however, didn't care at all, turned his face sideways, leaned in, and said to Wei Leng, "look!"

Wei Leng looked doubtfully and asked, "Did you break out? Has your skin gotten thicker? Or should I give you a slap?"

"What's that," Er Mao waved his hand, pointing at his own ear, and proudly said, "See? Super‑unbeatable big earlobes—what old folks often say, big earlobes mean longevity and fortune."

Zheng Tan glanced. The so‑called 'super‑unbeatable big' is a bit of an exaggeration, but compared to people with tiny earlobes, Er Mao's definitely count as large earlobes.

Originally Er Mao was smugly waiting for Wei Leng's envy and jealousy, but Wei Leng calmly replied, "Don't go on about it—although I haven't studied much, I also know that earlobes are hereditary, that … uh … dominant inheritance, so you should thank your parents; we ought to respect science."

Er Mao leaned back, stared seriously at Wei Leng for two seconds, and said, "Senior brother, when did you start 'respecting science'? And now you're tackling such profound questions."

Wei Leng's remark surprised not only Er Mao but also Zheng Tan—had Wei Leng been influenced by Jiao Ba and the others?

Wei Leng didn't think he was wrong, and continued: "Double eyelids, high nose bridge, large earlobes, long eyelashes, etc., all belong to that … uh … dominant inheritance, oh, and the chin is hereditary too—look at those celebrities: their parents' chins aren't that pointy, yet on TV they look completely different, obvious—most have had work done."

Er Mao remained skeptical, not doubting the content of Wei Leng's words but puzzled that Wei Leng would say such a thing. Given his understanding of Wei Leng, this senior brother usually spends his free time reading current‑affairs, military, and sports newspapers; when did he start reading scientific material? Inheritance? He used to despise those so‑called experts and professors—how could he have changed like this? There must be some reason!

However, Wei Leng didn't let Er Mao ask further, shifting the topic to other matters.

Zheng Tan kept listening with his ear propped up, having expected to hear some news from Ye Hao's side when he came today, but so far Wei Leng had no intention of speaking, apparently not planning to let Er Mao know. Moreover, although Er Mao and Wei Leng are senior brothers, Er Mao doesn't know Ye Hao and the others at all, so mutual trust is limited; from this Zheng Tan could infer that whatever Ye Hao's side has regarding that thing is indeed important and highly secret. It seems today he won't hear any useful news.

After listening to the evening performance, the two of them and the cat left Ye Lou.

Wei Leng first sent Zheng Tan back to Chu Hua University, then took Er Mao to his residence.

In the car, without Zheng Tan glaring, Er Mao felt much more relaxed.

"Senior Brother Wei, I'll just stay at your place for a bit, I'll move out within two weeks; two weeks should be enough for me to find a satisfactory place." Er Mao said.

"What's the trouble? Just stay at my place; I'm usually at the office anyway, so with you here we two brothers can keep each other company."

"Alright, Senior Brother Wei, we've known each other for years, I still don't know you," Er Mao gave an ambiguous wink, "You've got a goal now? Hurry up, look, people your age already have grown kids. Before it was duties that kept you busy, now you really need to get moving; don't think I can't tell. Leave your house for you and your sister-in-law; I'm not going to be a third wheel."

Although he seems unreliable, his observation is not weak; once Er Mao decides something, even if Wei Leng says more, it won't change.

Wei Leng wasn't pretentious either, saying: "Fine, but have you decided whether to rent or buy?"

"Depending on the situation, if I see something I like I'll buy it; anyway these past two years I've been buying and selling stuff, made some money, I have savings in the card. Renting is fine too, after all I haven't decided how long I'll stay in Chu Hua City." Er Mao leaned back in the rear seat, his fingers tap-tap on the seat, "Senior Brother, do you have any good suggestions?"

Wei Leng fell silent for a moment, then said: "Chu Hua University isn't bad, for example those staff residences." (To be continued..)

ps: (2.18)