booktalesy Chapter 2 An Invitation from an Old Comrade
Chapter 2 An Invitation from an Old Comrade
Unlike other people who work nine-to-five jobs, slaughterhouse workers operate at night and rest during the day. For professional slaughterers like Yuan Linghan, as long as they complete the slaughtering tasks assigned by the factory, they can enjoy the privilege of leaving get off work early.
As Yuan Linghan clocked out of get off work and rode her electric scooter down the street, the enticing aromas wafted from the breakfast shops on both sides. Having worked all night, Yuan Linghan found a decent breakfast shop to solve her breakfast problem.
Normally, people like him who work the night shift don't eat lunch; they combine lunch and dinner. Before starting work, they'll also have a late-night snack to make sure they don't go to work hungry.
Back in her cramped, less than 40-square-meter apartment, Yuan Linghan quickly washed up and decided to rest. Lying in bed, looking at the home she had lived in for almost two years, Yuan Linghan worried about whether she could continue living in this apartment after quitting her job.
"I should be able to stay until this year's Spring Festival without any major problems. But whether I can get my lease renewed next year is uncertain. With the little money I've saved, I could buy a small apartment if I'm willing to take on a mortgage for decades."
I've quit my job; I need to venture out and try my luck. But what to do next? I really need to think about it carefully. Without the guaranteed salary from the slaughterhouse, where am I going to gain experience and improve my basic attributes?
Yuan Linghan, lost in thought, was indeed feeling somewhat annoyed. In the eyes of those who knew him, he was a true loner. He had grown up in an orphanage, and after failing to get into university after high school, he chose to join the army.
He served three years in the border defense force on the snowy plateau. He was wounded during a secret mission and was eventually awarded a second-class merit before being discharged and returning to his hometown. It was thanks to this second-class merit medal that he was assigned to a slaughterhouse as a permanent employee.
Most people would be reluctant to give up this stable, worry-free job. But for Yuan Linghan at this moment, he wanted a different way of life. The slaughterhouse job was stable, but the salary was indeed low.
He felt there was little hope of starting a family or supporting one through this job. Although his county was a small, unknown, third-tier town, the dowry for getting married was not low.
Putting aside the bride price, to get married, one must first have a house, a car, and money, and only then can one possibly have a wife and children, ultimately achieving the so-called "five blessings." As for Yuan Linghan now, how many blessings does he have?
The vehicle is a small electric scooter costing less than 3,000 yuan. The house is a low-rent apartment with a total area of less than 40 square meters, which must be applied for every year. The money comes from three years' allowance plus demobilization pay, and less than two years' salary, with total savings of less than 300,000 yuan.
Although housing prices in the county town have dropped somewhat recently, they're still around 5,000 yuan per square meter. Even if he bought a house of about 100 square meters, his savings would only cover the down payment. If he had to take on a mortgage for decades, what family would be willing to marry a good girl to him?
Yuan Linghan didn't think becoming a live-in son-in-law was that difficult. Besides, wasn't being single and free more appealing?
Lost in confusion, Yuan Linghan finally shook his head and said, "There's always a way out. A living person won't die from holding their pee. But given the current situation in China, if my broken system wants to upgrade, I might just end up with a pair of silver bracelets at any moment!"
system?
In a real world that advocates "believing in science," how could a system that only exists in novels possibly exist?
Originally, Yuan Linghan believed in science, but after he was injured and fell into a coma, the so-called "Hunter God System" appeared in his mind. As the name suggests, it is a system that allows you to continuously advance by hunting.
Besides obtaining the system, he also awakened to the so-called mystery of his birth, gaining memories in his mind that might be from another parallel universe. Fortunately, he was injured and hospitalized at the time, otherwise he was afraid people would think he had a split personality!
The problem is that in this day and age, even the frogs we used to eat as children (tiger frogs) are now wearing level two protective armor. Unless he poachs, he has to be constantly on guard against losing his real "iron rice bowl" (guaranteed job).
"Why not try to immigrate and settle in a country where hunting isn't prohibited? With good skills, hunting can actually make you rich. But for someone like me with no job, no connections, and no skills, even leaving the country is difficult, let alone investing in immigration?"
Just as he was clearing his mind, his phone suddenly vibrated. Seeing the WeChat message that popped up, Yuan Linghan smiled slightly. Although he didn't have many friends, he had made a few good brothers during his three years in the army.
Hearing his good friend Shen Jian's cheerful voice on the phone, "Ah Yuan, are you asleep? Are you really going to quit your job?"
"I was just getting ready to sleep! Didn't I tell you before that I was planning to go and try something new? There are still two weeks before I pack my bags and run away."
Just after sending the voice message, a video call invitation came in shortly. Yuan Linghan answered and quickly saw a familiar face. Even though they hadn't seen each other for almost two years, they had previously shared a dormitory room and spent nearly three years together!
"Ah Yuan, you finally got this government-affiliated job, are you really willing to give it up?"
"What can I do if I don't give up? With that meager fixed salary from our factory each month, it's barely enough to support my family. Before, as a slaughterhouse worker, I even had performance bonuses. Now that the factory's equipment has been replaced with mechanized machinery, I have no use for my skills!"
"Alright! Since you've made up your mind, I'll definitely support you. By the way, I remember your hometown is quite close to the sea, right? If I gave you some gear but no food and dumped you on a desert island, could you survive for a month?"
"What? Are you planning to send me to a deserted island to fend for myself?"
"First, answer me if you can or can't you? I remember you used to watch those wilderness survival videos all the time in the dorm. Even though you don't have much experience, you should have plenty of theoretical knowledge. Want to give it a try?"
Listening to what Shen Jian said on the phone, Yuan Linghan pondered for a moment and then asked, "Stop keeping me in suspense, what's going on?"
Seeing Yuan Linghan's serious expression, Shen Jian then said, "Our company is planning to produce a survival show on a desert island. These kinds of shows are very popular overseas, and our company is also planning to give it a try to see if it's worthwhile."
The specific details of the plan are too complex to explain in a short time. The general idea is to select a group of ordinary people with outdoor experience, pair them with popular celebrities, send them to a deserted island, and see who can survive on the island for a month.
After Shen Jian finished explaining the situation, Yuan Linghan immediately asked, "A popular celebrity? Really? Are there any celebrities willing to go through this kind of hardship?"
"Celebrities are people too; they need exposure and buzz. As long as the money's right, everything's negotiable. If you're really interested in taking on the challenge, fill out a resume and submit it to the production team. I'll ask my uncle to pull some strings for you."
"You little rascal, you've started going astray after two years. Are you sure what you're doing isn't against the rules?"
"What rule are you breaking! You're an ordinary person, a former soldier with guaranteed character and integrity, plus some outdoor survival experience. It's perfectly reasonable to select you. The appearance fee for an ordinary person isn't much, but at least it will give you some online fame."
If I weren't so self-aware, I'd want to participate in this show too. If you can make it to the end, with your looks, you might even have a chance to become an internet celebrity. And if you really become an internet celebrity, wouldn't you have the chance to marry a rich and beautiful woman and reach the pinnacle of life?
"What are you dreaming about in broad daylight? It's barely even started, and you're already fantasizing. When exactly will filming for this show begin?"
"The project has been approved, but subsequent investment attraction and guest invitations will take some time. It will take at least a month, and no more than two months. If you really want to give it a try, you should start preparing in advance!"
"Okay! I'll remember this. I'll wait until I'm approved before making any decisions."
"Okay, let's talk again later!"
After ending the call, Yuan Linghan found the possibility of appearing on a show with celebrities in the future somewhat unbelievable. Fortunately, his experience with the system had indeed made him much more resilient than the average person!