city ​​of angels

When they arrived on the island, everyone else changed into their swimsuits and went out to sea to play their own projects, and Ah Chong stayed in the dining area to help everyone watch their bags.Apart from him, there is only one girl left in the whole team, who is unable to go into the water because of her aunt, and Ning Yu, who doesn't want to play because of seasickness.

The girl's name is Yueyue, she is still in college, and she signed up for a group with her roommate to play.She is very lively, curious about everything she sees, with a youthful face that has not been deeply involved in the world, she looks like a good girl.They were sitting and chatting, when a Thai man with a brochure in his hand saw her looking around, so he approached her and asked, "Do you want to draw? Henna tattoos are not permanent, 1000 baht."

Ning Yu found that the local hawkers who do business in Thailand can speak Chinese well, especially the words related to making money.

Yueyue communicated with the peddler in Chinese for a while, and then turned to ask Chong: "Team leader, how long can I stay after this? He said he can stay for a month, really?"

Ah Chong and the peddler looked at each other, and then said: "As long as you don't rub it hard when you take a bath, you may be able to keep it for a month. The henna tattoo is quite unique, and girls like it. Look at your hands so white. It will definitely look good if you draw it, but you have to make sure that you are not allergic..."

"Ah, 1000 baht converts to more than 200 yuan, which is so expensive, and he still won't let me bargain!" Yueyue complained with a smile, "But this dream catcher is really good-looking, I really want to make it, but it's too expensive No, I won't do it."

"Oh, you go out to play, spend some money to buy yourself happy, 200 yuan to bring back to friends to see, or take a photo and send it to Moments, it doesn't matter if you buy it to be happy." Ah Chong said in a serious way, quite good at coaxing Girl, "Otherwise, I'll tell him 800 baht for you, okay?"

It can save two hundred baht, and Yueyue was overjoyed after hearing that: "Okay, thank you, leader!"

And Ning Yu, who was beside Ah Chong, saw this scene, and felt that the money of Chinese people was really easy to cheat, and this little girl was too prone to impulsive consumption... It's hard to say whether Ah Chong recognizes the Thai man with hand-painted tattoos.

After Ah Chong had a few conversations with that person in Thai, the price really reached 800 baht.Yueyue happily spent money to paint tattoos, and looked like she picked up a bargain.However, 800 baht to buy this crap, no matter how you calculate it, Ning Yu thinks it is very unreasonable.

He took a sip of water before saying to the people around him, "Just draw something like that on your hand, 800 baht?"

Ah Chong next to him raised his head.

Ning Yu played with the bottle cap in his hand: "It's really expensive."

"It's not bad." Ah Chong said, "The prices in Thailand are already very friendly compared to Japan, South Korea, Europe and the United States."

Ning Yu nodded: "Indeed. Well, let me say, do your tour guides know everyone who does business here?"

Ning Yu didn't say it directly, but what he said was meant to be teasing, how could Ah Chong not hear it.

Ah Chong seemed to smile, he changed his posture and sat up straight: "Have you never signed up for a group before?"

Ning Yu shrugged: "No, it's the first time."

Ah Chong shook his head: "Have you never worked? Have you ever had a part-time job or a part-time job?"

Ning Yu smiled: "I have contracted a few small projects with my classmates to make programs. Does it count as the kind that doesn't need to deal with people too much? I see your work and think that although our technology is a bit boring, it is still worth it. fine."

He has always been strict in doing things since he was a child, and he is very serious and meticulous. In his bones, he doesn't like people who steal, rape and play tricks. He feels a little funny about this kind of little trick that is not on the table.

But everyone's life circumstances are different.This kind of trick that Ning Yu couldn't understand was precisely the way others relied on to make a living.If you see a different world from a different angle, if your interests are not harmed, then don’t look down on anyone.This truth is actually very simple, but Ning Yu didn't understand it at the time.He seemed a little regretful and puzzled, feeling that Ah Chong should not be such a person.

What kind of person should Ah Chong be?Ning Yu couldn't explain clearly, how could a person sum it up clearly in a few words.But he felt that Ah Chong would not be a good person in the traditional sense.

He also seems to be standing on a black and white tipping point.

Achong seemed to sigh: "You are so young, I really envy you, you must have never experienced any hardships. But how can you cultural people think so black and white in this world, there are so many gray areas, so many It's a business you don't like. You can't just look at things from your own point of view."

Ning Yu was taken aback by what he said, and just about to say something, Ah Chong raised his head and called out to the man who did the hand-painted tattoo in Thai.They said a few words across two tables, but Ning Yu couldn't understand.

After finishing speaking, Ah Chong bowed his head again, and asked Ning Yu with a smile: "Anyway, I have nothing to do, do you want to get a henna tattoo for fun?"

Ning Yu felt that he was very rational: "I won't pay 800 baht to make this thing, and I won't do it for 100 baht."

"I don't want to do it for you?" Ah Chong propped his elbows on the back, "You don't need to give me 100 baht, I will charge you 50 baht for handwork, just buy an iced coconut to drink."

Ning Yu was surprised again: "...you know this skill?"

"Yes, when I was a child, I helped people paint hand-painted on the island, and my skills are not bad." Achong said lightly, "It's not difficult."

"What else do you want?" Ning Yu found that he did not doubt the authenticity of these words, "Massage, tour guide, hand-painted tattoo..."

"Do you want to do it or not." Ah Chong interrupted him, "If you don't do it, I'll go swimming."

Ning Yu and Ah Chong looked at each other before saying, "...do it."

Ah Chong stood up, walked up to the Thai man who painted Yueyue's tattoo, said a few words, and took back the tools and paints with a smile.While wiping his hands with a wet tissue, he said to Ning Yu, "Take off your shirt."

Ning Yu: "...why take off your clothes?"

"I'll draw it on both shoulders for you, here on the neck—" Ah Chong touched the back of his neck, "here is another pattern, it's very nice."

"No, I'll draw it on..." Thinking of the embarrassing scene of being touched for the first time for no reason, Ning Yu blurted out, "It's good to draw on the arm."

"I can only paint flowers and plants for you. It's so cute." Achong said, "Are you going to do it or not? I rarely do it for others now, so don't worry about it."

After listening to Ning Yu, he took off his clothes without saying a word.

Ah Chong draws henna tattoos, which is different from others.Ning Yu saw that the person who made it for Yueyue used a model pattern to press the skin and follow the outline, and after the pattern was drawn, it was filled and colored without technical content.But Ah Chong didn't use the model to follow the painting, he held Ning Yu's shoulder with his left hand, and started to move with his bare hands.

When painting, he was very close to Ning Yu's skin.The contact surface between the paintbrush and the skin is very small, and it feels itchy when it falls on the body, mixed with some of Ah Chong's breath when he breathes.He wrote and drew along Ning Yu's shoulder line, and asked Ning Yu to change his posture from time to time to facilitate his movements.Ning Yu froze, and after a while, half of Ning Yu's body became numb, and he dared not move.

After finishing drawing his shoulder lines on both sides, Ah Chong said: "The five sutra diamond charms are painted on your shoulders. Thailand is a country where all people believe in Buddhism, and tattoos often contain religious meanings. Early Thai tattoo designs basically only have Buddha statues and Buddhist scriptures, traditional tattoos are very particular, not everyone can get tattoos and tattoos. Generally, to tattoo permanent scriptures and Buddha statues on the body, you must first go to the temple to invite the Buddha and worship the ancestors. I am on your shoulders The talisman made above has a total of five intersecting scriptures, which are connected in series rather than parallel, and complement each other, representing family, career, relationship, wealth, and health, which are complementary, stable and safe, and will not be easily affected by external forces."

Ning Yu was stunned when he heard it, but he found something wrong with Ah Chong's words: "...No, you said that you are very particular, and you have to ask the Buddha first, so you can just do it casually." Do it for me...?"

But Ah Chong did not answer Ning Yu's question.He straightened Ning Yu's frantic head, and his tone was a bit commanding: "Put your hands together, don't think about things, and meditate."

Ning Yu was a little confused by his serious tone.Unknowingly, there were some people watching around them—there were tourists watching the excitement, there were stall owners selling coconuts and durians, and the restaurant owner with a gold watch on his wrist.

Ning Yu saw a middle-aged Thai man talking to Ah Chong carefully.Ah Chong didn't raise his head, he was still drawing Ning Yu's neck with his head down, and when he answered, his tone was light, and he couldn't hear his emotions.But Ning Yu saw that the man's expression changed, and he folded his hands together and bowed his head to Ah Chong.

Ning Yu, who was forced to be worshiped by others, felt inexplicably embarrassed.Being watched by so many people, he felt very uncomfortable, so he could only ask Ah Chong: "...why are they looking at us?"

"Look at me drawing henna tattoos for you." Ah Chong's tone was very casual, "These two on your shoulders are rarely done."

"...Then how can you do it?" Ning Yu's tone was very cautious this time, "Could it be that you are... the royal family of Thailand came to experience life, or something..."

Ah Chong smiled, interrupted him: "I really dare to guess, you, handsome boy."

"...Then...why does that person still beg you?"

"He believes in Buddhism very much and is a follower of Master XX." Achong said, "I can be regarded as his lay disciple. When I was with Master, I often helped people tattoo amulets. I am a tattoo tattoo artist. If the tattoo is permanent Then I am not qualified to do it for you, you have to ask the Buddha first, but I can still make it for you if it falls in half a month. I think you are a kind-hearted and blessed person, so I will give you two talismans."

Ning Yu heard this from Ah Chong when he was on the tour bus.Because all the people in Thailand believe in Buddhism, more than 95% of people believe in Buddhism. Buddhism is the state religion, monks are highly respected, temples are the main charity institutions, and all aspects of society are regulated by Buddhism, and it is stipulated that men must become monks before marriage .

But... the tattoo artist... the masseuse... the tour guide... how do you feel...

Ning Yu felt himself in a fog: "How old are you...? Your life is too colorful. Where did you find the time to learn so many things and do so many things?"

Achong seems to have been asked this question many times, and he answered quickly: "If you are tired of doing this, go to the next one. As long as you are alive, you have to try everything. As a person, I don't want to do one thing all my life. .”

Before Ning Yu could answer, Ah Chong suddenly started speaking Thai behind him.

This time the Thai language was blurred, sometimes fast and sometimes slow, Ning Yu felt that Ah Chong should be reciting scriptures.

Looking at the envious eyes of those people staring at them, Ning Yu felt...

Ning Yu found that his voice began to become cautious: "What is the painting on my neck?"

Ah Chong just finished the last stroke, and the voice of chanting scriptures also stopped.

It may be an illusion, or it may be too close, Ning Yu felt that Ah Chong's voice actually echoed in his ears, like the echo of a bell.

Ah Chong said, "King Butterfly."