The Self-Cultivation of a Reborn Massage Therapist

Chapter 312 The So-Called Bottom Level

(I discovered this while preparing to write; I wasn't notified.)
As an orphan, Zhao Xiaochui had long since come to understand a simple truth during his time navigating the complexities of society: in the end, everything in the world boils down to an equal exchange.

I put in the work, you pay me wages; I pay for the transportation, you take me to my destination—it's that simple.

I put in the effort, you pay me; I pay the fare, you take me to my destination—it's all clear-cut, and we're even.

So when he was in the South American jungle, facing the absolute overlord of these murky waters—the huge black caiman—Zhao Xiaochui's thoughts were simple: if he wanted to pass by, he had to pay the "toll" first.

However, he did not realize that it was precisely this simple concept of equal exchange, where no one owes anyone anything, that was seen by those 'ordinary customers' as the most professional and valuable attitude.

For example, the membership system coveted by Wei Lan and Leng Xiao is not what they imagined, possessing some kind of terrifying social resource network.

The membership information for the "Easy and Slow" membership program is very simple:
File Number: 00173
Name: Li Weimin; Gender: Male; Age: 42
Contact information: 138****1234
[Core Assessment]

Work intensity: Extremely high mental workload (long hours spent reviewing documents at a desk) + mild physical exertion (frequent meetings, business trips)
Main strain: cervical and shoulder syndrome, narrowing of the C5-C7 intervertebral space, persistent tension and hardening of the upper trapezius muscle, feeling like a stone when touched.

Accompanied by poor sleep quality, and easy to wake up between 1 and 3 a.m.

Daily habits can lead to deterioration: sitting for more than 10 hours a day results in poor hip joint flexibility; habitually lying on the right side exacerbates the imbalance of muscle tension on the right side.

[Treatment Plan]

Recommended treatment schedule: Once a week (deep relaxation), once a month (meridian rebalancing)

Core meridian/acupoints for treatment: Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian (governing the exterior of the body): Focus on massaging Tianzhu, Shenshu, and Weizhong acupoints to unblock the Qi in the back and relieve pain in the neck, shoulders, waist, and back.

That concludes the overview of the Relax and Slow Travel membership system!

It does not record the client's job title, wealth, or other social attributes, but rather creates an extremely professional and concise "human body maintenance record".

Moreover, this file will continue to "evolve" with the number of services provided.

The Easy Slow Walk technique continuously records the most effective techniques, pressure, and "key acupoints" for each client.

This will save guests a tremendous amount of time. For guests whose time is precious, this efficiency is invaluable in itself; not to mention the even more invaluable massage 'effect'!
Therefore, for those 'ordinary customers', the relaxed and slow pace is helping them maintain their peak physical condition and energy, which is the foundation of their power and career.

Now, because of the Ugly Donkey and the Ash Ridge, this foundation is crumbling...

Wei Lan wasn't stupid. Before targeting the Relaxing Walk, she had already communicated with most of the 'ordinary customers' on the second floor. Perhaps because of the strict reservation requirements, or perhaps for other reasons, these 'ordinary customers' tacitly accepted Wei Lan's actions.

Perhaps because she had been in that position for too long, Wei Lan completely overlooked one place—not far from the dilapidated Fatou Street where she was strolling leisurely, stood the largest affordable housing community in Beijing, and even the whole country—Cuicheng Xinyuan.

At the beginning of the century, ordinary people wanted to obtain a housing purchase quota here, and the black market price was 16.

Who were the people who could buy houses here without spending any money back then?
Their identities made it inappropriate for them to go to the second floor, while Zhao Xiaochui's studio was also located on the first floor.

Wei Lan is standing too high; she's gotten used to looking down. But the people who actually get things done are never those in this position!

…………

At 11:00 a.m., at the OCT Vigio Plaza, there is a small shop called Fatou Liji.

In the kitchen, the aroma of milk mingled with steam. The notification sounds of takeout orders rang incessantly, like a death knell.

Old Li was bent over, vigorously stirring the milk in the pot that was about to boil; this was the key to forming that thick layer of milk skin.

Suddenly, his movements froze, and a familiar, sharp pain shot up from his lumbar spine, instantly making him break out in a cold sweat. He had to quickly grab the stove to steady himself.

"Dad!" Xiao Li, who was learning to control the heat on the side, caught sight of him and hurriedly dropped what he was holding and rushed over.

Old Li waved his hand, gritting his teeth as he squeezed out a sentence: "Old problem... I'll be fine after a rest..."

But his pale face couldn't lie. Seeing his father's pained expression, Xiao Li was both anxious and angry. He instinctively pulled out his phone, muttering, "I'll make an appointment with Master Qiao right now! Have him take a look at you immediately!"

He skillfully unlocked the screen and tapped the familiar green icon.

However, what catches the eye is still not an available time slot, but that domineering and unreasonable closure notice:

Take it easy and slow: take a break

The shop is temporarily closed, and the reopening date is uncertain.

We do not have a prepaid card system.

Thanks for meeting.

He looked up at his agonizing father, then at the delivery riders in yellow vests waiting outside the window for their meals. A surge of anger welled up inside him.

“Dad,” Xiao Li’s voice was unusually calm, with an unprecedented determination, “we’re not going to do this job for them.”

Old Li was stunned for a moment, not quite understanding yet.

Xiao Li's fingers flew across the phone screen; instead of opening the reservation mini-program, he directly opened the merchant version app.

He avoided his father's outstretched hand, his eyes defiant.

"What are you doing? This is the time when we have a lot of orders..." Old Li said anxiously.

"What's the use of having a lot of orders? Is the money you earn enough to get your back checked?" Without looking up, Xiao Li pressed his finger heavily on the "Store Management" option and found the button he had noticed before—[Apply for Offline].

"Without Boss Zhao patting you, and without Master Qiao maintaining your back, your back would have collapsed long ago! His shop was shut down by these people! Why should we cooperate with them anymore!"

Old Li looked at his son, opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing.

He slowly straightened up a little, silently watching his son operate the phone. His eyes were complex, filled with heartache and helplessness, but in the end, all of it turned into a sense of relief and liberation.

In the backend, new orders kept popping up.

Without hesitation, Xiao Li clicked "Confirm Logout" on the screen.

"Hey! Boss, what's going on?" A delivery rider in a yellow vest squeezed to the window, looking at the order that had just been forcibly canceled on his phone, and shouted impatiently.

Xiao Li stuffed his phone into his pocket, looked up, a lighthearted smile mixed with mockery on his face, and said loudly, "I'm not selling anymore! There are so many platforms, it's not like I have to sell to yours."

Before he could finish speaking, a young man in a blue vest who had been waiting to pick up his food suddenly lit up and quickly stepped forward: "Boss! What about my three order forms...?"

"Fast Donkey Delivery?" Xiao Li glanced at him, his gaze falling on the logo on the chest of his vest, his brows furrowing as usual.

"Yes!" The guy in the blue vest nodded hurriedly.

"Is this backed by Yuanfang Investment?" Xiao Li asked with a half-smile. That's how it is in Beijing. As long as the news is circulating at some level, it will eventually spread throughout the streets and alleys. In the past, it was spread through the mouths of taxi drivers; now, it's spread through various group chats.

The guy in the blue vest was taken aback by the question and nodded instinctively, "Uh... yeah..."

"Heh," Xiao Li chuckled, straightened up, shook his head, and said in a polite but uncompromising tone, "I'm sorry, we can't serve you. Please cancel the order yourself. I'm sorry for taking up your time."

After saying that, he stopped looking at the riders' bewildered, angry, or curious expressions outside the window, turned around, lifted the curtain, and went back to the kitchen.

There was a brief commotion and a few complaints outside the window, which then gradually faded away.

At this moment, a small yogurt shop in Fatou fired a bullet from an ordinary person in the most silent yet resolute way.

(End of this chapter)