pjbooks Chapter 173 New Skills and New Missions
Chapter 173 New Skills and New Missions
Chapter 173 New Skills and New Missions
When the case in Angel City came to a close, Ma Jie only rested for two days before returning to his previous lifestyle.
Unfortunately, I haven't earned any money since I completed Mike's job assignment.
Not only did I not make any money, but my savings also kept flowing away like tap water.
I paid nearly $10,000 in rent, which was only enough to last me six months.
Repairing the BMW motorcycle and the Waipei Moose van together cost over eight thousand dollars.
The biggest loss came from the scrap yard, which spent a whopping 60,000 dollars.
Of course, this only accounts for 50% of the purchase price; the other 50% is borne by the other members of the camp.
Jimmy contributed 30,000, almost his entire fortune; Max contributed 10,000; Fiona contributed 10,000; Sandy contributed 5,000; and the remaining 5,000 were all from small, scattered shareholders.
The advantages of doing it this way are obvious: once you invest money, you become a partner, not just an employee. Everyone will put in their utmost effort to manage the business because the profit and loss of the acquisition station directly affects everyone's interests.
In conclusion, after accounting for various miscellaneous expenses, Ma Jie found that he only had less than $3 left when he took stock of his personal funds.
If this were in the past, I would have been laughing in my sleep if I had $3 in my pocket.
But things are different now. $3 may seem like a lot, but it doesn't last long. After all, if you want to expand your business, you'll definitely need to invest more money later.
Of course, this was just the cash at his disposal. In addition, he also had a bag of jewelry and gold ornaments that he had "taken" from the FBI.
If I were to sell everything, I could easily cash out 50,000 to 60,000 yuan. But I haven't reached that point yet, so it's better to save it as a fixed asset for now.
In short, it's all about making money, making money, and fucking making money.
At 10:00 a.m. this morning, Ma Jie opened his sleepy eyes, leaned against the headboard to check his social media messages, and rubbed his slightly sore lower back.
The culprit was Sandy, who was fast asleep in his arms. This girl was quite wild last night. Not only did she wear a very sexy set of Qinqu lingerie, but she also took two mysterious little pills on her own initiative.
The situation spiraled out of control. From the bedroom to the stairs, from the toilet to the kitchen, their noise could be heard throughout the entire house, like a 3D surround sound effect.
Gently pushing aside the unconscious white girl, Ma Jie replied to a few messages from acquaintances and then habitually opened the task panel.
According to the system notification, the effect of the [Sleeping Forge] has been triggered, and a new five-star skill has been successfully unlocked.
[Reversal of Extremes]: When you encounter a negative event, there is a small chance that things will turn around (for example, the steering wheel of a car heading straight for you malfunctions, or an enemy slips and falls).
This kind of concept-level divine skill that doesn't require active triggering is a must-have, just like [Bullet Time]. If you see it, you have to grab it; there's nothing to hesitate about.
After adding [Bipolar Reversal] to the skill bar, daily tasks have also returned to normal refresh status.
[Main Mission: Freely explore the city on a motorcycle, covering a distance of at least 100 kilometers. Current progress: 0/100] Settlement Value: ★
[Side Quest: Go into the wild to photograph 8 different types of wild animals, current progress 0/8] Reward Value: ★★☆
[Challenge Mission: Infiltrate 3 private residences in any affluent neighborhoods and leave your unique mark. Current progress: 0/3] Reward Value: ★★★★★
As expected, the main quests are still the same as before, with almost no requirements, allowing you to get the guaranteed rewards to your heart's content.
Side quests look good; you can get close to nature while doing them, which sounds really interesting.
As for the challenge missions, they are as inhuman as ever. Private residences in wealthy areas are not so easy to infiltrate, and the respawn rate of wild monsters is extremely high.
Not only are there cops who empty magazines at the drop of a hat, but there are also security personnel hired at high salaries, and at the very least, there are watchdogs in the yard. In short, it's easy to be discovered.
However, judging from the task description, it does not emphasize that you cannot be discovered. It only adds the requirement to leave a unique mark. In addition, there is no time limit. If you want to complete it, it will just take a little more time and effort.
After a brief analysis, Ma Jie got up and went to the first-floor bathroom to wash up.
Just then, Jimmy was standing in front of the toilet urinating. When he saw Jimmy come in, he instinctively turned to the side, afraid that his private parts would be seen.
"Is it really necessary, buddy? Are you so afraid of me seeing this?" Ma Jie spat mouthwash into the sink, revealing a sly smile. "Technology is so advanced these days. Once you've saved up enough money, you can consider getting a live implant. Nine out of ten male actors in art films do that."
"Fuck you, Jack!"
After being mocked a couple of times, the kid retorted emotionally, "If you're a toothpick, then I'm a towering tree. But for the sake of your self-esteem, I have to hide my strength, understand? After all, from childhood to adulthood, I've always hurt others and made everyone feel deeply inferior. So from now on, I've decided to be a good person."
"OK, whatever makes you happy." Ma Jie looked at him indifferently and smiled, "Did you sleep well last night?"
'
"What do you think?" Jimmy was furious at his question. "Please, next time you do that kind of thing, can you turn the volume down a bit? I'm playing Valorant with my headphones on, and I can hear you two braying like donkeys in heat all over the place. This isn't just your house!"
"Yes, sir."
Ma Jie gave him a playful salute, and they continued to banter with each other on their way to the recycling station.
Under his arrangement, Sava completed most of the transfer procedures, and today can be considered the opening ceremony.
The name remains the same as before, Baoli Waste Recycling Station, which sounds auspicious.
When Chief Ma and Elder Jimmy arrived, the brothers from all the branches had already gathered together.
Surrounded by the crowd, we arrived at a room made of prefabricated blocks, which served as a temporary office.
A brand-new altar and incense table are placed in the most prominent position in the office. The next step is also the most important step in doing business - inviting the gods.
Regardless of whether the US has such customs or not, as a true-blue Chinese, Chief Ma must act according to the rules.
Surrounded by his followers, he put down the plastic bag he was carrying and took out a wooden box from it.
The box was opened, and inside lay a majestic bronze statue of Guan Yu. He held it in both hands and placed it respectfully on the table.
They also neatly arranged the Moutai and Hua Zi liquors they had bought together from Chinatown in front of the bronze statue as offerings.
Seeing their leader's serious and focused expression, the group of foreigners stared at each other in disbelief. Even those who knew Guan Yu couldn't understand why they were worshipping him. Ma Jieke, however, clasped his hands in a fist and said directly in Chinese, "Second Master, please take a look. Moutai and Hua Zi have all been arranged for you. Please bless me and my brothers so that we may turn bad luck into good and misfortune into good fortune. I'm offering incense to you."
After speaking, he picked up a few sticks of incense from the altar, lit them, and distributed them to the major shareholders. He then led the Beggars' Sect disciples in paying their respects to the Second Master.
Just when everyone thought the ceremony was over, Ma Jie took out a wooden box from the plastic bag.
This time, what was brought out from inside was a Buddha statue, namely the legendary World Honored One, Shakyamuni.
Since the Buddha only eats vegetarian food, Ma Jie simply placed a few apples and a bowl of water on the table; that was enough.
Then, repeat the actions of offering incense and bowing, just like before.
After the two people settled on the left and right sides of the offering table, there was a space left in the middle for a deity.
Needless to say, the one who occupies the center position is naturally the supreme deity of the beacon of the world—the old man God.
After placing the statue of Jesus on the altar, Ma Jieke took out a bottle of wine and several pies, and respectfully placed them at His feet.
Finally, he led all the followers to make the sign of the cross on their chests, clasp their hands together, and chant Amitabha Buddha, thus bringing the ceremony to a close.
In Ma Jieke's understanding, you should either not invite this person, or if you do invite them, you shouldn't show favoritism.
First of all, I am Chinese, so it is only natural for me to worship the God of War and Wealth.
But this is in the United States, within Jesus's jurisdiction, so why not invite Buddha as well? Wouldn't that create a three-way balance?
With the most crucial step sorted out, the next step is personnel appointments.
Ma Jieke, without hesitation, appointed himself as the station manager. After all, he had invested the most funds and should be the top leader to oversee the whole situation.
However, when it comes to specific business areas, he is self-aware, so he promoted Jimmy to deputy station manager, letting him take charge of substantive work.
The financial management of the recycling center was handled by Nancy Oliver, a graduate of Wharton Business School with a master's degree in accounting and a USCPA (US Certified Public Accountant) certification. She is currently unable to recover due to bankruptcy, making her a true professional.
As for the remaining basic positions, candidates will be selected from the camp based on merit. Currently, at least one full-time driver and two general laborers to sort waste are needed.
These three permanent positions were fought over so fiercely by the guys that they almost beat each other to a pulp. After all, no matter how bad it was, it was still a legitimate job.
It is extremely difficult for homeless people to find formal employment. As for the benefits of work, one aspect is receiving a salary, but more importantly, it can serve as an opportunity to reintegrate into society. As long as you can prove that you are working and paying taxes normally, the government or other companies will be more lenient when conducting background checks on you than before.
In this way, you can apply for housing subsidies, medical assistance, and various social support programs, and gradually transform from a homeless person into a normal person.
In fact, many people get stuck at the job hurdle. For example, Nancy was driven to suicide by jumping into a river. Basically, if you have no credit, no company will hire you, regardless of your ability to work.
Unable to find a job and unable to earn money, unable to afford rent, unable to afford rent means being forced to live on the streets.
Many capable and highly educated individuals gradually degenerate into addicts, alcoholics, and drug addicts within this closed loop, even being driven to mental illness or ending their hopeless lives prematurely.
Seeing this situation, Ma Jie didn't bother with any more effort and simply handed over the power to Jimmy.
This guy is a veteran among veterans, and he knows everyone in the camp like the back of his hand. After careful consideration, he selected three lucky individuals with the best overall abilities.
As for the others, they could only leave dejectedly and continue to be professional scavengers.
There's nothing I can do about it. It's your own fault for not performing well usually. Opportunities are only for those who are prepared.
After settling the complicated matters at the recycling station, Ma Jie arrived at the poor street on his motorcycle and soon found Valentina, who was in charge of distributing near-expiry snacks to the homeless, in front of a large supermarket.
"Tsk tsk, look who's here." Upon seeing Ma Gang Leader herself, her colleagues started making a fuss.
"Who else could it be but Miss Valentina's guardian angel?"
"Tell me honestly, how far has your relationship progressed?"
"Stop talking nonsense, there's nothing to it!" Valentina, who was being teased, was embarrassed, her beautiful wheat-colored face turning slightly red: "Jack, you... what are you doing here? Don't tell me you're here to collect the snack gift pack. You were too lazy to even collect the tents last time."
"Of course not, I don't like eating junk food either."
Ma Jie glanced at the snack gift pack on the table; puffed snacks made up more than half of it, with the rest being boxed sweet drinks and cheese beef sticks.
This beef jerky is awful. It tastes like eating wood chips. I tried it once when I was down on my luck, and I never want to eat it again.
As for why supermarkets would give away near-expiry snacks for free instead of offering discounts, it's definitely out of concern for the homeless.
The real reason is that if you sell it at a discount, the profit is not enough to pay taxes, but if you give it to the poor in the form of "donations", you can enjoy tax exemption.
The tax exemption can not only cover the loss of goods, but also generate profit, and can also enhance the brand influence of enterprises.
As for food safety and quality issues, that's not my concern. If you get an upset stomach, that's your problem; who knows how many germs are in your body?
What? You want after-sales service for free? You've gone too far, you bunch of troublemakers!
After exchanging a few casual words with Valentina, Ma Jie finally revealed his purpose: "By the way, Nana, do you still have that digital camera of yours? The one you were thinking of selling at the flea market."
"Yes, what's up?" Valentina explained, "Actually, I didn't want to sell it. It was a gift my family pooled their money to buy for me after I got into university, because I've loved photography since I was little."
"Great, do me a small favor." Ma Jie said seriously, "I need to go to the wilderness to film 8..."
There are different types of wild animals, but I'm not very good with a camera, and I don't think the results would be very good if I took pictures with my phone.
"Huh?" Valentina was curious upon hearing his bizarre request: "Why do you photograph so many wild animals? Does a magazine pay you for it?"
"Never mind that. If you can teach me how to use a camera, I can pay you a training fee."
"Forget about the training fee. We're practically family, when are we going?"
"Just leave after you finish your work." In Ma Jieke's view, such matters should be resolved as soon as possible, preferably within a day, so that he can receive a new task tomorrow.
"Well, in exchange, you have to help out here." Valentina gave him a sweet smile. "Just now, two black men got into a fight over cutting in line, which almost made it impossible for us to continue working. If something like that happens again, I hope you can step in and help maintain order."
"No problem." Ma Jie readily agreed, turning to the queue that stretched all the way to the end of the street corner: "Listen up, everyone. Anyone who dares to cause trouble here had better check if they're tough enough. If anyone goes against Miss Valentina, they're going against me. Going against me is going against the Blue Hair Squad. Understand?"
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