The Great Worm Lich

Zhang Lisheng’s words were merciless, getting straight to the core of the dispute. The people in the wooden house gazed at each other, it was apparent that it had never crossed their minds that this young man who was said to have suffered from brain damage would make such sharp statements.

After a moment of silence, Howard replied frankly, “Sure enough, it’s indeed as the Bible says. Greed is the root of all evil. You’re right, Lisheng, we do indeed plan to do so. Now that things have developed to become like this, what we can do now is to listen to your conditions.”

“My conditions? Mayor Howard, don’t tell me that you didn’t know that I’ve suffered from a horrible shipwreck a month ago and that my mind is in a mess right now? I thought my lawyer, Mr. Wills, and my business representative, Mr. Charlie, have been negotiating with all of you all the while. The conditions that they proposed are my conditions.”

“C’mon, young man. Stop mentioning those two damn Jews who can even squeeze oil out of stones. Since you’ve accepted my invitation, you must also have the intention to reconcile with us, don’t you? We’ll just go in accordance with your pricing, 50 dollars for an automatically slaughtered pig, 150 dollars for a cow and 40 dollars for a sheep. The people here in the room represent the 47 villages and towns outside of New York in the National Farmers Union. We’re willing to unite and meet your slaughtering quota with just one condition, all businesses under your name must not sign a commercial contract with the Californian farm.”

Upon hearing Wills’ words, Zhang Lisheng walked towards the only empty chair in the cramped wooden house and sat down before saying in a serious tone, “Mayor Howard, I understand that the National Farmers Union is significant within the American society, but there’s an old proverb in China that says ‘less desire comes stoutness’. I wonder whether you have heard of this before or not?”

“Lisheng, China is on the other side of the world, it’s just too far away from Kaiserland Town. Can you please simplify your words?” Howard asked with a wry smile.

“Of course! This old proverb states that one can be austere if he has no selfish desires. Just like me, my ambition is to become a biologist so everything I’m doing now is for the sake of preparing for my future. Due to the reason that I don’t want to become a politician or a super rich person or something else in the future, there’s no need for me to please anyone right now. No matter how great your potential is or how many people you’re representing, I don’t give a damn at all…”

“Well, you’ve already received the support from the Californian farmers so like what I’ve said before, tell us your conditions, young man. We can always negotiate it if it’s not too much.”

“My condition is simple. The new LS Slaughterhouse can continue following the previous pricing as before — 50 dollars for a pig, 150 dollars for a cow and 40 dollars for a sheep. I’ll give the priority of the automatic slaughtering service to the National Farmers Union that is close to New York City but there’s one condition! The condition is that you, Mayor Howard, must be excluded from the contract.”

Howard’s body obviously froze for a moment. “Mr. Zhang Lisheng, are you trying to expel me from the board of directors of the Kaiserland Town’s National Farmers Union in a disguised form?”

As if not hearing Howard’s question, Zhang Lisheng silently stood up from the wooden chair and walked out of the door. Before he left, he turned around and chuckled as he said in a low voice, “Mayor Howard, everyone has to bear the consequences of their actions, don’t they? You’re out!”

Two days later, in a huge office that had its four walls made from transparent reinforced glass walls, on the top floor of the only two-story building that had an entire top floor without any partition in the new LS Slaughterhouse’s address, Zhang Lisheng signed a slaughter share distribution contract with the New York City Circle’s Dairy Cattle Town, Stump Town, Bayduke Town and more — a total of 47 villages and towns from the National Farmers Union — under the witness of lawyers of both sides.

After the contract was signed, Willy and Tiffany — the only husband and wife employees of the LS Slaughterhouse last time, who had now been promoted to become the department of internal affairs’ vice managers in the newly expanded slaughterhouse — carefully pushed a big and shiny dining cart that was decorated with a ‘glass pyramid’ built from champagne glasses into the office.

Zhang Lisheng personally took out two large bottles of high-grade blueberry champagne from a refrigerator and stood on the chair Willy moved for him. After filling the glass pyramid, he took the champagne glass standing on the highest point of the pyramid and lifted it up high. “To all respected gentlemen, even though many twists and unpleasantness had taken place in between, in the end, we still managed to sign this heavy contract with the understanding and goodwill of each other. From now on, we’re partners, collaborators, and friends who can trust each other! Let us drink this champagne and commemorate this wonderful moment! Cheers!”

Naturally, such a sincere heartfelt toast was not thought on the spot by Zhang Lisheng. Instead, it was written by the slick business representative Charlie whom his lawyer Wills found for him.

Charlie, the real author of the toast, was also present on the scene. When Zhang Lisheng finished his toast, he stood up and gave a warm round of applause. He became the second person to pick up the champagne and incited the atmosphere by saying out loud, “What a sincere and touching statement! How incredibly touching! Let us cheer to each other!”

Charlie’s artificial manner made Zhang Lisheng shudder. However, it had never crossed his mind that those representatives and lawyers from the National Farmers Union, who had been in terrible heated verbal arguments with the new LS Slaughterhouse’s business representative, would actually give enthusiastic applause to him. One by one, they went up to the glass pyramid and raised the champagne before cheering, “May our friendship last forever. Cheers!”

Zhang Lisheng was stunned for a moment before climbing down from the office chair. After clinking his glass one by one with everybody who was eager to clink with him, he finished the champagne in one gulp.

The crowds cheered. At this time, a white-haired old man donning a black suit awkwardly took hold of Lisheng’s hand with his own coarse palm. “Young man, since you said that you’ve become our partner, collaborator, and friend who can trust one another, I hope you can join our Viridian Town’s National Farmers Union and become our director.”

“If you don’t plan to secretly trip me like how Mayor Howard planned to, then I’d say that it would be my honor,” Zhang Lisheng was stunned for a moment before replying with a chuckle.

“The person who wanted to trip you was tripped in the end! I think everybody in this room will remember this lesson well! We can clearly see how you treat your enemy,” The old man laughed and pointed to Willy and Tiffany. “We can also see how you treat your loyal subordinates.”

“Mr. Grades is correct. We hope to be friends with you, Mr. Zhang. On behalf of Emmelite Town’s National Farmers Union, I’d like to invite you to become our director.”

“On behalf of the Brobdingnag Lake Town, I’d like to invite you to become…”

“I represent the Stump Town…”

Like raging influenza, one infected two, two infected four, four infected eight… Very soon, Zhang Lisheng was invited by every village and town’s National Farmers Union to become their director.

Because of this episode, the signing ceremony was dragged on for a long time before it finally ended. After sending every representative and lawyer of the National Farmers Union away, the first batch of animals, who were waiting for a long time outside of the factory, were transported into the new LS Slaughterhouse in accordance to the contract.

Soon, the main screen of the surveillance monitor on the office wall began to flash with numbers. In just a while, the number representing money entering Zhang Lisheng’s account exceeded 10,000.

“It’s fortunate that my money making speed is slightly faster than yours, otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to afford your expensive legal fees.” Zhang Lisheng looked at the wealth accumulating on the screen before walking to his desk with a smile and issued a cheque to Wills. “20,000 dollars per hour. Such a high charge but you only need to do a few things. How enviable!”

“Mr. Lisheng, it may seem like it’s easy for me to make money but the hard work I’ve poured in before getting this amount of pay is unimaginable to ordinary people. On top of that, after the company that I registered for you in another country overseas has started to operate, the annual tax that could be evaded would be several times more than the pay that you hire me.”

“I’m merely joking, Lawyer Wills. Of course, I understand how much your professionalism helps me. I’m grateful for your help, just like how I feel grateful over Mr. Charlie’s help as well,” Zhang Lisheng remarked before issuing another cheque to Charlie.

“Oh, thank you for your gorgeous reward, Mr. Lisheng. It’s completely worthy of my professional dedication. I hope that I’ll be able to serve you again in the future.” After Zhang Lisheng’s lawyer and the temporary business representative obtained satisfactory compensation, they cracked a couple of jokes before showing their intention of leaving.

“Lawyer Wills, can you answer a question of mine for free? I really don’t understand how the representatives from the National Farmers Union change their attitudes so fast. I thought their union has a deep historical foundation of hundreds of years?”

“Mr. Lisheng, the strength of the National Farmers Union is just like a trade union. It’s based on an overwhelming amount of people. These people are essentially countrymen. You’ve grasped the common interest of all their members but they could do nothing to you. In this case, just how tough do you expect them to be? However, at that moment when you were gaining the upper hand, you made a decisive decision to take a step back and chose to sign a contract that both parties were satisfied with. This is actually quite admirable. You’re destined to not be an ordinary person in the future. Not only that, to a powerful person who wants to have a wide influence in all aspects of society, it’s important to have a geographical concept. You’re born and live in New York. Now that you’ve chosen to stand on the same side with the New York City’s National Farmers Union, it’d be very good for your future. This question is free. I still have an appointment in the evening so I’ll take my leave first. Goodbye, Mr. Lisheng.” Wills made some intriguing comments and bid his farewell with a smile.

“I’ll take my leave too. Goodbye, Mr. Lisheng.” Charlie also waved at Zhang Lisheng before walking out of the office together with Wills.

Only Zhang Lisheng was left alone in a daze inside the spacious office as he recalled Wills’ words in his mind. Standing up, he walked towards a glass wall to look at the trucks queuing in a long line to enter the factory before muttering, “Looks like in the end, this world is revolved around the word ‘interest’. I seem to have grasped the trick of doing business already. Unfortunately, power and wealth are not the most desired interests of mine…”

As he muttered, he took off his coat and unbuttoned his shirt to expose a skinny chest. Spitting out a mouthful of dark blood, he growled “simplify” before writing an ancient Chinese character “simplify” on his chest using the blood floating midair.