Chapter 854: This is Manipulation
The shop assistant maintained a practiced, professional smile. "Being literate isn't a special skill here. Young people my age, almost everyone is literate. We want to earn some extra money, but we're in school during the day, so we don't have time for regular jobs. We just do odd jobs after school. It's called 'work-study,' and the Heavenly Lord strongly supports it."
Gu Yanwu was utterly astonished. "Young people your age, *everyone* is literate?"
The shop assistant chuckled. "Oh, well, that's a bit of an exaggeration. In truth, most of the new arrivals are still illiterate. It's the young people who've lived in this village for a few years who are all literate."
At this, the shop assistant grinned. "So, newcomers have a harder time finding jobs in the village. They can only do purely manual labor now. Then they send their children to school, hoping that once the children are educated, it will change their family's destiny."
Gu Yanwu: "..."
The shop assistant cheerfully went off to prepare Gu Yanwu's order.
Gu Yanwu sat there, utterly bewildered.
Before long, two older children walked into the restaurant. The shop assistant from earlier greeted one of them: "Young Master, you're back!"
The older child, addressed as Young Master, immediately returned the greeting with a smile. "Oh, I've told you not to call me Young Master! At school, you're my senior. Calling me Young Master here, are you trying to embarrass me? Just call me Little Bubble!"
"Hahaha! You're right, I am incredibly handsome!" The older child burst out laughing.
Gu Yanwu noticed that although the shop assistant called the older boy 'Young Master,' there was no hierarchical distance between them. They seemed very close, their conversation full of playful banter, clearly two old friends joking around.
The older boy, who called himself 'Handsome enough to Bubble,' brought the other child into the shop, sat down, and pounded on the table, calling out: "Dad, Mom, I'm starving! Get me something to eat. Oh, and Zhebu's here too; get him a portion as well."
From behind the counter, the owner's voice rang out. "Zhebu's here too? Alright, today I'll make you some Mongolian delicacies. How about roast lamb leg?"
Zhebu was overjoyed. "Thank you, Uncle Liu."
Gu Yanwu heard this and was greatly alarmed: A Mongolian child?
He immediately strained his ears, heightened his vigilance, every nerve on full alert... and listened intently.
Zhebu: "Brother Bubble, the lessons these past few days have been so difficult; I can't understand them at all."
Liu Maopao chuckled. "Oh, well... you Mongolians grew up in a harsh, cold land and haven't seen much of the world, so it's perfectly normal that you can't understand today's lessons. Don't worry, I'll tutor you."
Zhebu: "Thank you so much! If Brother Bubble didn't help me, I don't know how many beatings I'd get from the teacher."
Liu Maopao: "No problem, no problem. Don't be afraid, no matter how slow you are; I've got your back. Stick with your big brother, and nothing will be too difficult for you."
Gu Yanwu listened, sensing something was off. This Han Chinese child was talking about helping the Mongolian child, yet his very first comments were about the other boy's 'limited experience' and 'slowness.'
This was clearly a tactic, a manipulation.
First, he belittled the other, reinforcing the perception of the other's 'weakness.' Then he offered, 'I've got your back' – it was a classic rhetorical ploy to make someone completely devoted to him, no doubt about it!
It was a pity the term 'PUA' hadn't been invented yet, otherwise Gu Yanwu would surely have jumped up and shouted, "PUA!"
PUA was a sinister art. Used long enough, it would make the victim utterly compliant, so much so that even if you sold them out, they'd still help you count the money.
Such a tactic wouldn't be surprising if used by one adult against another, but to see one child using it on another was truly... unsettling.
A chill ran down Gu Yanwu's spine.
He truly wanted to slam his palm on the table, leap up, and scold that older child.
Just then, Zhebu said: "Brother Bubble, you're so amazing, yet you're so good to me. I'm truly grateful. When I grow up and return to the Wushen Tribe to become its leader, I'll send you a hundred of our tribe's cattle and sheep—no, make that two hundred! And I'll send you the most beautiful girl too."
Gu Yanwu heard this and his heart skipped a beat once more. His impulse to jump up and flip the table froze, and he slowly sat back down.
This Mongolian child was the heir of a tribal leader?
A sudden realization dawned on him: This Han Chinese boy was PUA-ing him to control the Mongolian tribe.
In such a situation, Gu Yanwu naturally wouldn't jump up and say anything.
Liu Maopao chuckled. "You're talking nonsense. Does your Brother Bubble care about your few cattle, sheep, or pretty girls? Look at our excellent restaurant here—isn't it worth more than your hundred or two hundred sheep? And look at my handsome face—what kind of beauty can I not marry?"
Zhebu: "Ah, well... you do have a point there..."
Liu Maopao clapped Zhebu on the shoulder. "I just want to be good brothers with you; I don't covet your things. In the future, when you become a tribal leader and I join Gao Family Village's village committee, we two brothers will form an alliance, march out together, and strike down those Manchu dogs. Not just the Manchus – whoever bothers us two brothers, we'll strike them down together."
Zhebu was ecstatic. "Good, good! Following Brother Bubble out to fight, I won't be afraid of anyone! Brother Bubble is the most amazing person I've ever met!"
Gu Yanwu let out a sharp gasp, as if he'd just inhaled a mouthful of cold noodles.
He finally understood this whole PUA tactic completely!
Once he understood, the unsettling feeling in his heart intensified.
The Mongolians were currently subservient to the Manchus, constantly aiding them in their assaults on the Great Ming.
But if this 'Handsome enough to Bubble' child's PUA truly succeeded, perhaps one day, the Mongolians would become subordinates of the Great Ming, constantly following them to attack others. Just thinking about such a possibility made him tremble with excitement.
This child, so young, was already working for the Great Ming?
Gu Yanwu couldn't help but sigh deeply. "When I was his age, I was still playing in the mud."
"Honored guest, your Jinling Roast Duck and Pengcheng Fish Balls have arrived."
The shop assistant placed the two dishes he had ordered before him. "That will be three taels of silver."
"What? That expensive?" Gu Yanwu jumped in alarm. "Is this some kind of crooked establishment?"
The shop assistant replied, "Honored guest, you are eating Jiangsu cuisine in Shaanxi! Just for that, shouldn't it be a bit expensive? Look at our restaurant's decor and ambiance. Consider the atmosphere and setting. And look, the shop assistants serving you here are all literate! Can the shabby eateries you usually frequent boast such a caliber? Don't you think three taels of silver is actually quite cheap?"
Gu Yanwu: "Uh, I don't quite understand, but it does seem to make a lot of sense."
Three taels of silver were inexplicably extracted from his purse!
It wasn't until the next day that Gu Yanwu fully realized this establishment was specifically designed to 'harvest' the rich, to make the wealthy spend their money and put it into the pockets of the poor.
Ugh!
He had even written a short essay in Sanyuan County, arguing that such a practice benefited the nation and enriched the people. Fine, fine, he'd just accept it.
Free reading.
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