"Old John, how many people did you call? If you continue to squeeze in, your shabby house will be squeezed out of a hole."
"Dad John, what's the important thing you suddenly summoned us here? You have to tell us everything, right? It's really uncomfortable to be kept in the dark like this."
"What else can we corpse collectors do when we get together? Of course we are discussing how to collect corpses!"
"What is there to discuss about collecting corpses? There is no veteran who has been doing this for more than three years. He can collect them with his eyes closed."
"Who said that? There are rules when collecting corpses. Not all corpses can be collected, but there must be a certain territory, right? If you collect them casually, wouldn't you be breaking the rules for many years?"
"Don't you just want to talk about the homeless man I took in a month ago? Yes, I made a small profit from him, but it was a complete coincidence. I just passed by there and took him in.
I don't mean to steal your job! Besides, if I don't accept it, those homeless people and beggars will strip off their belongings before you come to the door. Because of this matter, you have targeted me not once or twice. Today
Now that we're here with Old John, let's make things clear."
"Okay, since you admit it, it's easy to talk about it. That wandering beggar died on the streets I'm responsible for. I should have a share of the burial money. I'm not greedy. You can give half of it."
Come, let's finish this matter."
"Why? I do the work, and you just want to share half of it with me? When did those streets become your private property? Is it possible that if I pick up a money bag on those streets, it will also be yours?
?As I said just now, even without me, the burial money will not fall into your hands."
"The quibbling, it's just quibbling, but you are here to comment, how do you calculate this matter? If we all collect randomly in the future, wouldn't it mean that there are no rules at all, and the entire industry will be in chaos!"
"We are just a group of corpse collectors. When did we start dividing our territory like those hooligans, and when did we become an industry again? I really have the nerve to say that even if it is an industry, it is the lowest kind."
"If you two just say a few words, it's just a matter of dozens of coppers. Is it worth it to cause such a quarrel and ruin our friendship for so many years?"
"Dozens of coppers, you are talking lightly. The emotional coppers are not taken from your pocket. This is enough for me to work for most of the week. Besides, I am not wrong at all. He is making unreasonable troubles here. I used to help him collect those worthless things.
When he was a beggar with only a penny and was suffering from diseases, why did he never say anything about the territory? If everyone was jealous of money, wouldn't it be even more chaotic?"
"Nonsense, I told you this problem before, when did you see me crossing the line?"
"How come you don't understand good people's hearts? Forget it, forget it, you two keep fighting, I want to see what tricks you can come up with?"
"Shut up, everyone." Old John paused his cane heavily, his long face covered with age spots so gloomy that he could drip with water, "Aren't you embarrassed that you are arguing in front of the guests just for a small profit? We are all embarrassed.
If we are not united, no wonder outsiders call us ghouls. If this continues, each of you will really become a ghoul."
"But, we..."
"If you keep talking nonsense, get out of my house. Whatever happens in the future has nothing to do with me...cough cough..." Old John covered his mouth and coughed for a while. He coughed so hard that he seemed to be coughing out his heart and lungs, and his whole body became arched.
Shrimp-like.
At this time, the corpse collectors discovered that there was another person behind Old John's tall figure. However, this person was wearing a traveler's hooded cloak. He was thin and huddled in a dark corner, silently. Most people did not notice it.
his existence.
The sudden appearance of an outsider made these body collectors stunned. Most of them looked at each other with wary faces. The relatively isolated environment and depressive life made most of the body collectors become withdrawn and eccentric, just like the relationship between similar species.
Not even friendly, let alone a stranger.
Xenophobia has almost become part of their nature. If Old John's cough had not been so painful, many corpse collectors would have jumped out to question him, even if he was highly respected.
"Long time no see, gentlemen. How are you?"
The stranger obviously knew a lot about the habits of corpse collectors. He took the initiative to lift his hood, revealing his young face, and patted Old John on the back.
"Dad, calm down, dad, calm down. Your current situation is not suitable for anger. I'm really sorry. Before you came, I didn't consider dad's physical condition and caused trouble to dad. Otherwise, another doctor should come here.
"
"I thought it was some big shot who came to our corpse alley and made Old John make such a big fuss. It turned out to be Elle Hyman. I heard that you recently hired a new boss who spent a lot of money. He is very appreciated.
You can smell the aroma of meat every day in your house. There are dozens of children crowding in front of your house every day, just asking for bones to eat and oily soup to drink. What? This is to prepare some bones for brothers to chew on.
bite?"
"Be content! We ghouls are only worthy of gnawing bones. Don't you still want to eat meat? Even if you are rich, if you dare to set foot in other people's shops, you will be beaten out with sticks. We are not cannibals.
Qualifications for rice.”
The skinny young man was none other than Elle Hyman, the young lobby manager of a busy restaurant. Although he was not very old, he had been working at the bottom for so many years.
Unchanged, he maintained his most perfect smile and said: "This gentleman is really right. When Elle comes to visit this time, he really wants to give you a piece of meat to eat. Not only will you be full, but you will also eat well."
"There is such a good thing in the world? Who knew you... Oops..."
The most sarcastic and powerful corpse collector hugged his feet and started to cry.
The person who beat him was none other than Old John, who had stopped coughing. He was leaning on a cane and breathing heavily: "You are getting more and more stupid and go back... You blame others for looking down on you every day, but you take photos of the river.
Zhao, do you think highly of yourselves? It’s true that we deal with corpses every day, but there is no need to turn ourselves into walking corpses. There are only dirty thoughts in our hearts. It seems that everyone has ulterior motives. But tell me, you have nothing but this damn life.
, is there anything else worth worrying about?"
This long speech made Old John breathe heavily again. Under his eagle-like gaze, no one dared to speak.
Only the body collector from before was moaning in a low voice. Not only did Old John strike just now, but the location of the strike was also very tricky. It was exactly the part of the calf with the least flesh. Even if there were no fractures or fractures, the pain would be enough for him to endure for three or two days.
of.
It was the first time that many body collectors saw the good-tempered old John getting so angry, and they couldn't help but correct their attitude.
"If you can trust me, old John, let's continue talking. If you can't, then let's go back to our own homes. If there is any loss in the future, don't blame me, old John, for being unjust."
Old John then said another harsh word, making all the corpse collectors look at each other. What happened to Old John today?
In the past, it was common for people to quarrel and argue over a few coins when they met like this.
Poverty fights, poverty fights. The poorer you are, the more likely it is that all kinds of conflicts will arise.
A few coppers may not seem like much, but when it comes to a full meal, it is a big deal. Most of the time when people fight for Old John, they want the other party to help judge and provide justice.
Old John usually plays the role of a peacemaker, making peace in the middle, with both sides playing fifty-fifty to settle the matter. Although it may not be very fair, it is still a way to solve the problem. It is unprecedented to get angry like today.
As for the body collectors who walked out of the room, there was no one, including the two who had the argument and the one who was on crutches, because they knew that once they left the room, it meant that they were isolated from the body collectors group.
For a group that is not accepted by the public, if it is further isolated by this small group, it will really become a loner and not far away from death.
All the corpse collectors in turn tried to calm Old John's mood.
"Father John, what are you talking about? If we can't even trust Father John, who can we trust? Don't you think so?"
"Anyone can trick us, but dad won't. I absolutely believe what dad said."
"If anyone dares to say anything wrong about dad, first ask my fist if he agrees."
"Dad, calm down. You've been in poor health lately. If you were so angry and left us alone, we would be like a piece of sand, forever trapped under you."
"Can you speak? Can you speak? What do you mean, dad left us and left first? Dad has a strong body and will definitely live longer than you, a tuberculosis ghost."
"That's natural, that's natural, I said the wrong thing, I said the wrong thing."
"Dad, it's our fault. We shouldn't care about these petty profits. The two of us will go back and resolve it privately. We will resolve it privately and nothing like this will ever happen again."
"Dad, we know we were wrong, please forgive us for a moment."
Old John let out a long sigh, waved his hand and said: "Don't worry, I won't die for a while. I'm the one who said it harshly. It's all for the sake of living. In order to survive, I have done many shameful things over the years, but
We can’t stay like this forever.”
"If you don't want to be like this for the rest of your life? What else can you do? We need to be skilled but not skilled, and we need to be strong but weak. When I heard that we are corpse collectors, I wish I was two blocks away from us. Is there any other way out?"
"If Zifan has a way out, who would want to be a corpse collector?"
"Don't be anxious, wait until I finish what I said." Old John waved his hand and said, "I didn't say that I wanted to change careers. We will still be our body collectors, but someone is willing to make a deal with us, a big deal, if it is done well.
"It's impossible to get rich, but it's okay to have enough to eat."
"Deal? Big deal? We are collecting corpses, not rags. We can also pick up some old things and resell them. What kind of deal can we have?"
"Yes? Are we required to sell corpses? This is not possible. This means that we will be condemned by the gods and our souls will fall into hell forever after death. I will not do this kind of thing."
"What nonsense are you talking about? If people from the Holy See hear it, I will be careful to send you to the stake."
"Who is our trading partner? Could it be little Elle? I admit that he has been doing well recently, but it is far from enough to bring all of us together, right?"
"Stop guessing, just listen to dad and say no! Dad, don't be too pretentious. What is the deal that makes you mobilize so much?"
"That's right, Dad, hurry up and say it, it's going to scare us to death."
The corpse collectors whispered among themselves, and after guessing for a long time they couldn't figure out the reason. Finally, their eyes fell on Old John and Eller. Not surprisingly, this so-called deal was brought about by the young man in front of them.
Old John deliberately paused for a while to let everyone digest the news and whet their appetites before speaking.
"This matter cannot be explained clearly in one or two sentences. This is the first time in my life that I, old John, have encountered such a transaction. I dare not make up my mind alone, so I called everyone over to listen to it personally, and then
Make up your own mind, my health is a little weak today, let little Elle tell everyone in person, Elle, you do it."
"Father John, please rest first. I would be very grateful if you could help me summon all the gentlemen. I will take care of the rest."
Elle dragged a stool over with great skill, helped Old John sit down, and then cleared his throat.
"There are people here who know me and some who don't. It doesn't matter. I'm just a small person, an errand boy. The one who really wants to do business with you is my current boss."
"The Andis guy who runs the restaurant and medical clinic?"
"That's right."
"What big deal can he make with us? Is it to transport the corpses of patients in the medical center? But those who can go to the medical center have family members, so they don't need us, right?"
"If there is such a need, our boss is kind and will not only treat wealthy patients, but also some homeless patients. There are always some bodies without family members, and it is really troublesome to deal with them.
But this is not the main content of what we are going to discuss today. My boss wants to ask you to do something, which can be regarded as a simple task for you."
Elle paused for a moment, looked around, and saw that all the body collectors were listening, and then continued.
"When you are collecting the corpses, turn around and exit the city from the city gate where the medical clinic is located. Especially those who are still alive, including those seriously injured gladiators, use your fastest speed to send them to the medical clinic.
, Of course, your work will not be in vain. Every time a corpse is transported through the medical center, you will be rewarded with a meal. You can choose to eat or exchange it for coppers according to the market price. You are innocent and can be settled on the spot.
now."
After Eller finished speaking, the scene fell silent, and all the body collectors looked at each other in confusion. No one answered for a long time, because this transaction was so weird that it was unheard of.
It's not difficult for them. At most, they just run a few more errands, but they can exchange for a full meal, which is absolutely pie in the sky. They are not afraid of hardship or tiredness. What they are really afraid of is that no one dares to use them.
But the question is, what does the other party want?
There is no profit at all. Can such a business last long?
What will you do if your body is pulled over and the other party refuses to admit it?