I am a full-level celestial master, you let me enter the strange talk of rules?

The crew-cut laborer turned around, took out some water from his person, carefully presented it to Zhang Yangqing with both hands, and said with a fawning smile:

"Brothers, you've worked hard. Please have some water. I'm new here and don't know any better. I hope you can take care of me and give me some pointers in the future."

The reason he was able to "naturally" speak up and ask for favors was because Zhang Yangqing's seemingly rude order gave him an opportunity to express his obedience and seek protection.

This is a subtle interaction: when a senior "orders" you around, it means they think highly of you and are giving you a chance to shine; and when you take the opportunity to curry favor, show loyalty, and ask for guidance, it's a sign of being pragmatic.

The crew-cut laborer was new; he couldn't possibly know all the "veterans" here.

He could only judge Zhang Yangqing and the chairman's "qualifications" by the most direct clues, such as the degree of wear and tear on their clothes and the natural composure and attitude they exuded.

He never dreamed that these two unfamiliar men had actually arrived at the dock later than him and knew perhaps less about the "insider information" than he did.

Zhang Yangqing took the water, but didn't drink it immediately. Instead, he brought it to his nose and smelled it. His brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, then relaxed, as if it were just a routine matter.

He took a small, symbolic sip, then spat most of the water onto the ground with a "pfft," a look of disgust on his face, and casually put the bowl aside.

This action may seem rude and impolite, but in the eyes of the crew-cut laborer, it further confirms Zhang Yangqing's "pickiness" and "worldliness." If he can't even get used to drinking this kind of water, he must have done better "jobs" or be an experienced worker with higher requirements.

You should know that this water is no ordinary water; it is what is known outside as 'nectar,' and it is not easy to obtain here.

Zhang Yangqing wiped his mouth with his sleeve before raising his eyelids and truly "looking" at the crew-cut laborer for the first time. His gaze was calm but scrutinizing as he said, "You look unfamiliar, kid. Did you do this kind of work before?"

That tone, that expression—it's exactly the standard procedure for a seasoned veteran to scout a newcomer. The sense of "I've been in this business for so long, how come I've never seen you before?" is perfectly captured.

The chairman standing next to him couldn't help but think to himself: "You're such a good actor! If I hadn't come with you, I would have almost believed you were a veteran at this dock! And you called others unfamiliar faces, you're really something!"
Upon hearing this, the crew-cut laborer quickly shook his head and waved his hands, becoming even more respectful: "No, no, brother has a good eye! I used to be a woodcutter in the mountains, just trying to make a living."

At this point, a hint of lingering fear and helplessness appeared on his face. "However, things have become increasingly unsafe in the mountains lately. The patrolmen are appearing more frequently and are becoming more and more aggressive. It's really not easy to live up there, so I was thinking of coming down and finding a more stable job."
I heard that although the rules at the docks are a bit strange, as long as you follow them, you can at least make a living, and if you're lucky, you might even get some 'benefits,' so I came here.

As he spoke, he cautiously glanced at the silent chairman beside him out of the corner of his eye.

The chairman maintained his aloof demeanor, not even lifting his eyelids, as if he had no interest in the conversation whatsoever.

Seeing his appearance, the crew-cut laborer didn't dare to strike up a conversation and could only continue to focus his attention on Zhang Yangqing, who seemed "easier to talk to".

He leaned closer, lowered his voice, and said in a low voice, his face showing confusion and a hint of fear that he could not hide, "Brother, don't worry, I have plenty of strength and I'm not afraid of hardship. But there's something I've never understood, and I'm a little nervous about it. I'd like to ask you for your advice."

He paused, lowering his voice even further, almost whispering, "Are there some things in our line of work that we can't move? Or are there any special rules when we do move them?"

As he spoke, his eyes flickered, and he glanced nervously at the sunglasses-wearing manager and the two menacing guards sitting behind the table in the distance, making sure they hadn't noticed their hushed conversation before daring to continue.

His expression, a mixture of wanting to know the answer and fearing to break taboos, perfectly resembled that of a chosen one who has just entered the world of supernatural tales, trembling in the face of unknown rules, desperately trying to find a way to survive but not knowing where to begin.

Zhang Yangqing had already guessed that he was also locked into this line of work by the rules. He had to complete a certain number of tasks before he could leave or switch industries; otherwise, he would face certain death.

So even knowing there's danger, we have to keep going.

Zhang Yangqing showed no expression, neither answering immediately nor showing surprise. He simply looked at the crew-cut laborer with his excessively calm eyes and slowly said, "Oh? You're not stupid, kid. You actually managed to notice this, and you're still alive."

These words sounded like a compliment, yet carried a chill. Upon hearing this, the crew-cut laborer subconsciously straightened his back, a hint of joy at being recognized by his "senior" appearing on his face, but this was quickly replaced by a greater unease.

Zhang Yangqing continued in that calm and unremarkable tone, "Tell me first, what trouble you've encountered, or what you've seen that's not right. Tell me everything you know and everything that makes you suspicious, and explain it clearly."

He leaned back slightly, towards the wooden crate, adopting a listening posture, but the second half of his words made the crew-cut laborer's heart leap into his throat.

"I might tell you the answer, or point you in the right direction. But you should know that nothing in this world comes for free, and sometimes, knowing the answer comes at a price."

Zhang Yangqing always kept this rule in mind: if you don't pay the price, people will be afraid that what you say isn't true.

The crew-cut laborer took a deep breath, as if making a firm decision, and began to recount his experience, his voice extremely low and trembling with lingering fear:
"Brother, to be honest, I've been here for about seven or eight days. There were originally eight new recruits who came in with me. They were all recruited from various places. Some of them, like me, came down from the mountains, while others couldn't survive elsewhere."

He held up three fingers, his facial muscles twitching slightly, and said, "Now, there are only three left, including me."

The crew-cut laborer then recounted what he had seen: there was a hot-headed young laborer who was strong but not very bright.

That day, we moved a long, heavy box from the warehouse, which was wrapped tightly in black tarpaulin.

He found it troublesome to move the box, so he dragged it a short distance on the ground.

The crew-cut laborer heard the noise, but he was carrying his own box and ignored it.

But as he walked, he realized there was no sound behind him.

The box remained where it was, but the hothead had vanished.

He examined the box closely and noticed some strange images on it. He was absolutely certain that they weren't there when it was moved in, which had given him quite a fright. He went back and reported the matter to the steward, who then arranged for someone else to handle it.

This was the first 'dead body' the crew-cut laborer discovered, or perhaps the first rule of the laborer.

The second one is a timid guy, but he's always suspicious, clumsy, and curious.

Once, while moving a batch of "soft goods" wrapped in gray burlap, he kept feeling movement inside the burlap and hearing faint voices. Whether out of fear or curiosity, he couldn't resist and secretly lifted a corner of the burlap to peek inside.

The crew-cut laborer only heard him let out a short "Ah!" before falling silent again.

When the others found him, he lay down next to the package, his eyes wide open, his face expressionless, as if he had been scared out of his wits.

The body seems to be alive, but the consciousness seems to be no different from being dead.

The crew-cut laborer recalled that the package was eventually carried away by an older laborer.

Hearing this, Zhang Yangqing had roughly guessed some of the rules for laborers, and then said to the crew-cut laborer, "Were the other guys fine at the time, but their problems only arose after they got back?"

Upon hearing this, the crew-cut laborer was dumbfounded and asked in surprise, "How did you know?" (End of Chapter)