Folk customs begin with the entire funeral procession

Chapter 203 Scabbard
Arriving at Lin'an University Town once again, Chen Miao thought he didn't have much of a sentimental attachment to his alma mater.

But when he arrived, seeing the couples coming and going, and the young man excitedly telling his best friend about his pentakill, Chen Miao couldn't help but sigh that youth is truly wonderful.

The tension was thus relieved.

Before long, Chen Miao arrived at the area where Lin'an University was located.

Chen Miao attended a university that was not Lin'an University, the best university in Lin'an.

Chen Miao attended Lin'an Civil Affairs Vocational and Technical College, majoring in Modern Funeral Technology and Management, a three-year program.

If Chen Miao wants to pursue further education, he can consider upgrading his bachelor's degree or taking the postgraduate entrance examination.

You can choose from majors such as Public Administration, Sociology, and Cultural Heritage and Museology at Lin'an University.

But Chen Miao did not.

One reason is that Chen Miao's abilities are limited, and he needs to devote too much energy to upgrading his undergraduate degree and taking the postgraduate entrance examination, but this is not the main reason.

The main reason is that it's unnecessary.

What Chen Miao learned at Lin'an Civil Affairs Vocational and Technical College was enough for him to use at Tianmen Funeral Home.

Continuing to study here would be less effective than learning more by spending two years at a funeral home.

Will people look down on someone with a vocational college diploma?

Ha, which is more impressive and eye-catching: being a funeral industry worker or having a professional degree?

Moreover, undergraduates are even rarer in this field.

Soon, Chen Miao spotted the cosplay shop.

Nearly three years have passed, and the shop not only hasn't closed, it even seems to have gotten bigger?
Chen Miao went inside out of curiosity and found that it was indeed the case.

Originally, this was just a single storefront, with some items sold on the first floor and a studio on the second floor.

The first-floor store has now doubled in size, and the sign pointing to the second floor even says "photography area".

It seems the owner of this shop has made quite a bit of money.

"Chen Miao?"

Just as Chen Miao was observing, a voice rang out beside him.

Turning his head, Chen Miao saw the bespectacled, refined young man.

"Uh, Young Master Zhao? What are you doing here?"

Zhao Gongzi smiled.

"I'm taking over this shop."

Chen Miao was taken aback, then gave a thumbs up.

"Brilliant!"

Zhao Gongzi and Chen Miao are classmates from the same school but different classes, and are not in the "Funeral Services" group.

"Young Master Zhao" is a nickname.

Zhao Gongzi's father's surname was Zhao and his mother's surname was Gong. They had a son named Zhao Gongzi, a name that is easy to understand.

As for how Chen Miao met Zhao Gongzi, it was naturally because their dormitories were close by, and Zhao Gongzi was an interesting person, so they often hung out together.

Don't be fooled by his refined appearance; this is just his normal state.

When he changes his 'skin', his personality changes according to the attributes of that 'skin'.

He can conjure up characters with ease, whether they are domineering, wild, or arrogant.

He cosplayed characters who had nothing to do with women, and they all looked incredibly similar to him.

A female student from Lin'an University once took a liking to Zhao Gongzi at a comic convention and wanted to date him, with only one requirement.

As long as I'm with her, I have to wear 'skin'.

There were quite a few people like that, but Zhao Gongzi refused them all.

This made all the male students at Lin'an Civil Affairs Vocational and Technical College who knew him give him a thumbs up and say, "Some are dying of thirst while others are drowning in floods!"

Chen Miao never expected to see him here, nor did he expect that the other party would take over this place.

Judging from this, this kid must have made a lot of money as a cosplayer!

"And you, what are you doing right now?"

Zhao Gongzi led Chen Miao up to his studio on the second floor and made him tea.

"What else can I do?"

Chen Miao took a sip of tea, shook his head with a wry smile.

Seeing Chen Miao's travel-worn appearance, Zhao Gongzi understood what was going on. Just as he was thinking about how to change the subject, he heard Chen Miao's next words.

"I've been a master of ceremonies for two and a half years, and I just became the director of our county funeral home two months ago. I'm so busy every day. Your place is so much better."

"..."

Zhao Gongzi used drinking tea to cover up the twitching at the corner of his mouth.

"By the way, I came here because I need something. Could you take a look at this for me?"

After showing off for a bit, Chen Miao got straight to the point and handed the black umbrella to Zhao Gongzi.

"Could you help me see if you can make me an umbrella frame that I can carry on my back, similar to a sword sheath, but not a sword sheath?"

"I need one that allows me to quickly and easily take the umbrella off my back. It doesn't matter if it's a little troublesome to insert, the main thing is that I can take it off quickly."

Zhao Gongzi curiously took the umbrella; its shape and material didn't seem like anything special.

Zhao Gongzi gave Chen Miao a strange look, but didn't ask any further questions. "When do you need it?"

"Two hours? Or three hours?"

"..."

Chen Miao looked at the silent Zhao Gongzi and was about to increase the time to four hours when he saw Zhao Gongzi move.

Soon, Zhao Gongzi came over with a large sword prop and slung it over his back in front of Chen Miao.

Then, Chen Miao noticed that Zhao Gongzi's eyes and expression had changed.

He looked at Chen Miao with disdain, reached his right hand to his left shoulder to grab the sword hilt, and used his shoulder as a fulcrum to pull the sword out from behind him.

The process went smoothly.

Chen Miao's eyes lit up. Ignoring Zhao Gongzi, who was still posing, he went directly behind him.

On the scabbard strap behind Zhao Gongzi, there were two C-shaped buckles, which Chen Miao moved with his hand.

The C-shaped latch is flexible; Zhao Gongzi just squeezed the sword out through the opening of the C-shaped latch.

"Is this how it is? Can it be done?"

Zhao Gongzi turned around, sheathed his sword, and then nodded gently.

“It’s not difficult. Your umbrella is light, so it’s easier to make. It’ll take about an hour.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Miao immediately told Zhao Gongzi to wait.

He went downstairs, pretending to go to his car, and took out his peach wood sword before going back upstairs.

"Let's make one of these too!"

Zhao Gongzi took the roughly made but high-quality peach wood sword, his eye twitching.

"If you want to make props in the future, you can contact me."

After saying that, he took the umbrella and sword and went into the workshop inside.

Chen Miao was bored, so he said hello and went downstairs.

After reminiscing for an hour in the streets of the university town, Chen Miao returned.

What appeared before him was a buckle-style shoulder strap that could be worn on his back.

Moreover, the umbrella and the peach wood sword are both on it!
Chen Miao carried it on his back, and could see the umbrella handle and sword hilt when he turned his head.

Reach out and grab the umbrella handle, using a little force from your shoulder, and the umbrella comes off the buckle.

Chen Miao's eyes lit up, and he tried the peach wood sword again.

It works just as well.

It takes a little effort to put it back, but it's not a big deal. You'll be able to put it in accurately once you get used to it.

Chen Miao then performed some running and jumping movements. Although the sword and umbrella swayed behind him, there was no risk of them falling.

Even when Chen Miao bent down, the sword and umbrella were not spilled out, but were blocked by a small design on the buckle.

Chen Miao gave him a thumbs up again.

"Brilliant!"

"How much!"

Zhao Gongzi smiled and pushed up his glasses.

"Forget about the money. I earn forty or fifty thousand a month, I don't care about that little bit. You can have it."

Chen Miao's lips twitched as he took out one of the peach charms he always carried from his pocket.

"Here you go. I made this myself. It's for your safety. Remember to carry it with you at all times. If it cracks, you're as good as dead."

Chen Miao didn't bring any ordinary spirit-suppressing talismans, so he didn't give them to him.

"I have to go now. You haven't changed your WeChat account, have you?"

"It wasn't changed."

Chen Miao was puzzled.

"Then why can't I see your posts on WeChat Moments?"

Zhao Gongzi remained silent.

“Back when you were in school, you said I posted on WeChat Moments too often, so you set your phone to ‘not view his WeChat Moments’.”

Chen Miao opened his phone and saw that it was true.

"Haha... I'm leaving now. I'll come see you again when I'm done with my work."

Watching Chen Miao's departing figure, Zhao Gongzi examined the rough peach charm in his hand.

A smile appeared on his face as he recalled his school days.

……

After Chen Miao left the university town, the smile on his face gradually disappeared.

It seems that once he left the university town, he was no longer the young man who could joke around with his friends.

Back at the hotel, Chen Miao packed everything he needed and set off.

……

(End of this chapter)