The next morning, I had already considered this approach, so I chose the safest option: a diversionary tactic.
According to the information provided by Qin Sisi, this matter was related to Wang Ren. If I could persuade Wang Ren to back down, Gao Ziyan's legal team would be able to get her out.
Therefore, my current focus should be on the wager with Wang Ren.
...
Just as I was about to rest, Wang Ren sent me the name of the first person in our wager.
Li Feng, thirty-two years old, unmarried, working as a slicer at a restaurant called "Huan Xilai." I checked online; "Huan Xilai" is a restaurant primarily catering to wedding banquets. Furthermore, the restaurant was currently hiring food runners.
According to Wang Ren, Li Feng would commit a crime in the future, specifically murder.
To understand Li Feng better, I forged a resume and applied for a food runner position at "Huan Xilai." Perhaps they were short-staffed, as someone notified me for an interview the following afternoon, and I was scheduled to start work the day after.
...
This restaurant was incredibly busy, with several wedding banquets on the weekends. The management provided us with a brief training session and then put us to work. With a shortage of staff, what was called a food runner was essentially a server. All the wedding banquet meals were pre-ordered, so we just needed to carry the dishes from the kitchen to the tables.
In the kitchen, I met Li Feng. He was not tall, a bit chubby, with a round face and a flat haircut. His hair wasn't thick, a bit sparse, but not to the point of balding. From the moment I started observing him, he worked silently.
In his slicing duties, he had the most work. The heavy tasks were almost all his. As far as I could see, he barely rested the entire day and was even reprimanded harshly by the head chef several times.
Li Feng didn't argue when the head chef scolded him; he just lowered his head and endured the reprimand.
When it was time to leave, I stood in a corner and watched Li Feng. Li Feng changed into his regular clothes, went to the bicycle parking area, and quietly took out a knife. He looked around to ensure no one was watching, then approached an electric bicycle. His hands were strong; he pierced the tire with a single stroke.
I frowned as I watched. If I wasn't mistaken, this was likely the head chef's electric bicycle.
Li Feng's retaliatory action was likely a result of the head chef's scolding.
No wonder Mr. Wang Ren said Li Feng would commit a crime in the future. Someone with such a vengeful nature could potentially retaliate against society with even more extreme methods if treated even worse.
...
As a stranger and an ordinary person, Mr. Wang Ren included him in our wager. He must be no ordinary person, or rather, he is a typical example of irreversible psychological criminal behavior.
To help him, I must focus on psychology.
Why do some people commit crimes frequently, while others never do? In psychology, it is confirmed that for most people, the influence of classical conditioning is far greater than that of operant conditioning. In other words, most people abide by the law because they have developed conditioned reflexes to social norms during their childhood.
The manager sighed, "These people from the countryside are just not good. No manners."
"I heard he has no parents."
"Yes, he's an orphan, raised by the village."
"Manager, I don't mean to be rude, but why did you even hire someone like him? The stolen bicycle from a few days ago might have been him too."
"It really might have been. When he interviewed, I saw he was okay at slicing. We can overlook the lack of education, but the main thing is he asked for little money. We can't keep someone like this."
"Then what about the money for my tire repair yesterday? I worked so hard and didn't get home until late at night. I deserve some compensation for the mental distress."
The manager chuckled, "What are you afraid of? We'll deduct his salary for this month and give it all to you as compensation."
"Thank you, Manager. But will he agree to that?"
"If he doesn't agree, we'll call the police."
After saying this, the manager finally noticed I was still there. He frowned, "Why are you still here?"
"You didn't tell me to leave!"
"Go back to work. Work hard, and don't say a word about this. You'll be officially hired at the end of the month. If you blab, you'll still be on probation for another month."
"I understand!"
I said with a smile, but inwardly, I felt some regret.
Mr. Wang Ren was too sharp. The moment I mentioned having studied psychology for a few months, he immediately set up a "knowledge trap" for me. Theoretically, my judgment was not wrong.
But now, it was obvious that these people were bullying him. The city folk were bullying the country folk. They treated Li Feng as a punching bag every day, and now, using my "report" as an excuse, they were kicking Li Feng out and dividing his salary. If Li Feng dared to object, they would accuse him of theft.
As a migrant worker from the countryside, Li Feng would definitely not want a stain on his record. He would swallow his anger. It was already the end of March, and after a month of hard work slicing, he would get nothing.
I was too naive, my understanding too limited. I was rigidly applying theories and, in doing so, poured salt into Li Feng's wounds.
But it is said that one should do good deeds without asking for rewards.
This time, I did not do a good deed, so the karma must be bad.
...
That day, Li Feng was kicked out of "Huan Xilai," his wages were withheld, and he left with a heavy heart and a look of dejection.
After seeing Li Feng leave, I followed him out. It's never too late to mend the fold after the sheep are gone. Since I had realized my mistake, I shouldn't continue making it. I wanted to talk to Li Feng...