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墨書 Inktalez
I let out a sound of surprise and then asked with some excitement if I could play with a few. In response, Second Uncle dropped his playful demeanor and said to me very seriously, "Child, you are the apple of the old man's eye, which is why you haven't been allowed to touch these over the years. Today, I brought you here because the old man's attitude has changed, allowing you to gain some experience. However, you must never touch that little ghost. If you dare to raise it, I won't even need the old man to take action; I'll spank you until you're bruised!"
I was taken aback by Second Uncle's expression; he had never been so stern with me over all those years. Of course, it wasn't until I gradually learned about this industry that I understood how correct Second Uncle was that day. Unfortunately, I didn't listen to him and secretly raised one on my own one day, causing a huge mess that nearly cost me my life.
In the car, Second Uncle explained in detail why he had such an attitude towards me by elaborating on the origins of Kuman and little ghosts. Previously, I had already shared some information about Kuman through Ms. Chu's example, but little ghosts were entirely different from Kuman.
They are typically spirits of those who died violently and will never be purified from Resentment. These powerful spirits are sent into clay figures or corpses through special means and then sealed with an Invocation Spell, forcing them to serve humans. The backlash can be terrifying; results like Ms. Chu's are quite common.
The offerings for little ghosts are stricter than for Amulets, Human Children, or Celestial Children and are not much different from Earth Child Kumant. This is because both have a significant amount of Resentment in their spirits, but the difference is that little ghosts can use various animal spirits without many restrictions. The Cat Spirit Talismans that Mr. Liu requested are one such example. Earth Child Kumant, like other Kuman, must come from a human fetus and must die in the womb; if it passes through the birth canal, it is considered an abortion and can only be used as a little ghost.
Little ghosts are the "patent" of Achan, while Earth Child Kumant is produced by Long Por and Long Po in temples and generally does not mix too much Yin Liao into them. Some Achans also make Earth Child Kumant, but they are reckless; to enhance effectiveness, they add large amounts of Yin Liao, resulting in what should be similar spirits being classified as little ghosts.
Therefore, if anyone wants to buy Earth Child Kumant, do not seek out strangers or trust Dealers and second-hand sellers easily; spend a bit more money to request them from Thai temples instead. Otherwise, if you end up with counterfeit goods or worse yet, something made by a Black-Clad Achan, it won't be something that can be resolved with just round-trip airfare.
From 1990 to around the turn of the millennium, most of what Second Uncle sold were little ghosts and Earth Child Kumant made by Black-Clad Achans. During that time, reform and opening up were flourishing everywhere; too many people wanted to make money. They were crazy enough to pay any price—even their lives.
Thus, it was the best era for selling little ghosts and also the period when Dealers grew at the fastest rate!
After receiving our ordered goods from Ajan Dong, we initially planned to head home. However, a local Thai client called asking Second Uncle for assistance. Since it was conveniently on our way, Second Uncle agreed to stop by immediately.
We parked near Salar Ring Station. Second Uncle said he would be back in about half an hour and told me to wait in the car without wandering off on my own. I wanted to accompany him to see what was going on, but Second Uncle hadn't yet gauged Grandpa's attitude clearly at that time and firmly refused my request. Feeling dejected, I waited in the car for about twenty minutes before noticing how lively the street was outside and decided to go take a look.
Because Second Uncle took the car keys, I didn't dare to leave the bag containing the little ghost in the car, fearing it might get stolen, so I held it tightly in my arms.
Salar Ring Station is near Mango Central Business Street, which is filled with many places to have fun, and it's easy to spot several nightclubs that are not yet open. Holding the bag, I wandered around the area, still not having enough of the exotic atmosphere when suddenly a gust of wind blew by, and I felt my hand lighten as I was pulled down.
When I got up, covering my arm, I could only see the back of a motorcycle speeding away. Was this a robbery? By the time I realized what had happened, the motorcycle was already out of sight. I was both angry and anxious but had no way to respond.
About ten minutes later, Second Uncle returned and was startled to see a scratch on my arm. He hurried over to ask what had happened.
I felt a bit wronged and more than a little angry as I said, "How can someone dare to rob in broad daylight!"
To Second Uncle, robbery wasn't really a big deal; countless tourists get robbed every year. However, when he learned that the bag contained the little ghost, his expression turned serious.
I suggested calling the police, but Second Uncle thought otherwise. He first took me to a hospital to disinfect my wound. Seeing him move so slowly made me puzzled, and I asked, "Is that bag of stuff cheap? Why are you not in a hurry at all?"
Second Uncle chuckled and said, "Cheap? You could buy two houses with that money back home without any problem. But since it was stolen, we can just get it back later; there's no need to rush."
Two houses... I was somewhat shocked and couldn't tell if Second Uncle was bragging.
After leaving the hospital, Second Uncle drove me back to Salar Ring Station. Having learned from the previous experience, I decided to stick close to him no matter what he did. Second Uncle didn't mind; he walked with me as if we were just taking a stroll until we reached a nearby street filled with bars. Strictly speaking, this area could be considered a professional red-light district. At night, many locals with limited funds or tourists looking for new experiences would come here.
We entered a bar called Surapatpong. Although it wasn't open for business yet, there were still a few people inside drinking. Second Uncle went in and tapped on the bar counter while speaking in Thai. Among those drinking, two people immediately walked over.
They didn't seem to be Thai; they looked more like Westerners. The two were very polite to Second Uncle, and they exchanged friendly words in Thai. Second Uncle pulled out a bundle of Thai baht from his pocket and placed it on the bar counter while casually taking two bottles of alcohol.
As I stepped out, Second Uncle handed me a drink and said, "Try this fruit wine made from Durian; its export sales have been quite good recently."
Durian can be used to brew wine? I always thought this fruit was meant to challenge one's sense of smell. I took the drink but didn't open it to taste; instead, I asked Second Uncle what he had discussed with those people earlier.
Second Uncle told me that the bar was a front, and the people inside were actually some idle gang members. Most of them were not even Thai nationals, many having entered the country illegally. The gang situation in Thailand is complex, and if trouble arises, seeking help from these individuals is not a bad option. They only care about money; as long as you pay, they will do anything, even more ruthlessly than Black-Clad Achan.
Second Uncle came here hoping they would find the two people who had taken the little ghost. Life or death didn’t matter; what was important was to get the items back.
As for why they didn’t seek help from the local gangs, it was simply because Grandpa's business had caused discontent among many locals. There was a certain gap between both sides; if they were asked for help, it would be a blessing if they didn’t intentionally cause trouble.
I was astonished to learn that Grandpa and the others faced such "difficulties" in Bangkok.
Second Uncle said, "Every family has its own difficulties; doing business is much harder than being in charge at home."
After returning from Khao San Road, Second Uncle took me around the commercial street. We bought many items, mostly local clothing and accessories, along with some tobacco and alcohol—these were all specialties for me to bring back home. I must say, when it comes to my family, Second Uncle truly has no complaints.
Speaking of which, if any friends with a smoking habit plan to travel to Thailand, remember this piece of advice: as long as there’s space in your bag, make sure to bring a pack of cigarettes from your homeland! Thai cigarettes are extremely hard to smoke, and their packaging is quite shocking—often depicting rotten hands, feet, or mouths, or showing cut-open chests revealing dark lungs. Just looking at the bloody packaging can make you lose your appetite.
Moreover, Thailand's smoking regulations are much stricter than those at home; smoking in all public places has been banned since the early 2000s. Therefore, traveling to Thailand is an excellent natural detox option.
Carrying a bunch of items back home, I found Grandpa had been waiting for quite some time. He naturally knew why Second Uncle had taken me out but didn’t ask further. It seemed this was what Second Uncle referred to as a change in attitude. Of course, when it came to raising little ghosts, he and Second Uncle stood on the same side.
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