Chapter 109
Jongharng Chioujen
There were lots of unoccupied units in the apartment complex. On a night like that time, such a thing could be seen clearly. From the outside, they should have looked bathed in light, unlike now, where they looked like towering stone pillars. There were only a few points of light in some parts of the monuments.
So many units were still vacant. Apart from the fact that the buildings were still new, it was also because the price was very expensive. But the expensive price was commensurate with all the luxuries that were in that place.
The size of the apartment complex was extraordinary. There were nine towers in all. Chioujen sat in the lobby of one building in the apartment complex. He was waiting for the person who had previously found a scattered wallet. A wallet containing their home phone number. That person was on business in one of the apartment units in the building. According to his schedule, he would only go down to the lobby around eight o'clock.
Chioujen looked at the clock on the wall in the lobby. Five minutes past eight. He had been waiting there for about five minutes. He sighed. Drowsiness began to attack him. But he realized he could not let the sleepiness overtake him.
At ten past eight, one elevator that was there opened. Chioujen couldn't get to the elevators because they were in another room enclosed by glass. To be able to enter the room, he must have a special card that only residents of the apartment have. But he could see the elevators clearly. There were six elevators in total. According to the information written in the lobby, all of them were private elevators.
A man came out of the glass room. Upon seeing Chioujen, the person immediately rushed over to him. Chioujen stood up right away.
"Are you Mr. Jongharng Chioujen?" The person bowed deeply while still smiling. His face looked so friendly.
"That's right. I am Jongharng." Chioujen bowed back.
In their new world, there are lots of gestures as a way to greet people or say hello. Bowing was a common greeting for people who live in the area known as the Indigenous Territories, or some people called it as the Original Territories. The Original Territories referred to the areas which were the initial places where their ancestors established settlements when they had just arrived in the new world. The areas that surround the giant city where they live were included in the areas called the Original Territories.
In Tianjing itself, which was the capital of their new world, the common way was to clench the right hand in front of the chest, then wrap it with the left palm. Not that everyone must practice something like that, but most took it as the standard.
The ordinances in Tianjing were originally also the ordinances practiced by the people who lived in the giant city where they lived. However, after Tianjing became the capital, and most of the elite moved there, then, after that, there were several waves of changes in the customs prevailing in the people living in the gigantic city.
There were times in the city where they currently live, where the most common way was to bow. But in the last few decades, the way that was common in the capital took over. However, there were still a group of people who still practice the method that was previously popular.
The hometown of Chioujen and the friends who live with him, namely Yeuandong, was an extensive area. The vast Yeuandong was divided into thirty-six culturally diverse regions. Each region in Yeuandong had its own way. Therefore, there were various ways people greet. There was a way to bend the body. There were areas that were more familiar with the methods that apply in Tianjing.
Besides that, there were also several other ways. For example, by cupping the palms together and placing them in front of the chest when someone met other people. This method was also not uniform. There were areas where the palms should be clasped together, while there were areas where the palms were not.
If the palms were not clasping each other, then the two open palms should be touching each other. The fingers should also be tightly pressed against each other. And what's even more complicated was that the position of the fist or palm differs depending on who the person was meeting with. Both fists or palms were placed in front of the chest when meeting other people who are familiar. However, when dealing with strangers or people with high social status, the position of the palms or fists must be raised at the front of the mouth and nose.
Their home area in Yeuandong was a sub-region called Herbeenkedao. The custom that prevails in Herbeenkedao was even stranger. Every cultural community had its own way. Chioujen and his friends belong to a very expressive group of people. They were used to shaking hands or even hugging when they meet other people. In fact, it's not uncommon for them to kiss each other on the cheek if the two people who meet were family or know each other close enough.
Chioujen returned his attention to the person in front of him.
"My name is Mihgan Herfu," said the person. "Thank you for agreeing to meet me here."
"It is I who should be thanking you," said Chioujen.
The two of them then sat down on the sofa in the lobby of the apartment building.
"As I mentioned to Mr. Shimen that I found a wallet. There was no identification or anything in it, only a little money."
"Mr. Shimen has told me everything," Chioujen said.
The man opened his bag. He took out a wallet made of top quality leather.
"Hah?" Chioujen let out a muffled exclamation.
"What's wrong, Sir? Do you recognize this wallet?"
Chioujen looked at the wallet in disbelief. "When and where did you find this wallet?"
"This morning I found this wallet in a park near where I live."
"Which one, Sir?"
"Chingjoong Park."
Chioujen was surprised to hear the man's answer. He didn't know if this was a coincidence.
"Did you go to the park early in the morning?"
"Every morning I do exercise around the park."
"That place is a long way from here," Chioujen said. "May I take a closer look at the wallet, Sir?"
The man handed the leather wallet to Chioujen, who immediately examined it carefully.
"Here is my wallet, Sir! I lost this wallet about five months ago. But at that time, I was out of town. Since six months ago I was working in another city. How could this wallet fly back to this city on its own?" ?"
The person fell silent. He looked deep in thought. "Are you sure that your wallet was not lost in this town?"
"I'm absolutely sure, Sir!"
"Yes, then. I will return this wallet to you now. Is the amount of money currently in this wallet the same as the amount of money in your wallet when this wallet was lost?"
"I forgot how much money I kept in this wallet at the time." Chioujen shook his head. "The money is for you. As compensation for the hard work you have been willing to come all the way here."
The person shook his head. "No need Sir. I also came here because I happened to have a need. So I didn't incur any costs. I will return this wallet in its entirety to you."
Chioujen took the wallet back with mixed feelings.
"Then excuse me, Sir! I have to go home now. My house is quite far."
"Please, Sir. I'm waiting for my friend to come pick me up," said Chioujen. "Wait a minute, Sir. How can I contact you later?"
The man shook his head. "As I said, I'm not asking for anything in return."
"No, Sir. Maybe someday we can invite you if we have an event, or something like that.
The man thought for a moment before taking a wallet from his trouser pocket. "Here is my business card, Sir." He handed over a light blue business card.
Chioujen reached into his back pocket. He took the wallet that was there. After opening his wallet, he pulled out a light green business card and gave it to the man.
"Thank you, Sir! I will excuse myself."
"You are welcome, Sir!"
After that, the person named Mihgan left the lobby of the apartment building. He left Chioujen, who was still sitting stunned on the sofa. Chingjoong Park was the test site for the handover of the ransom. Inevitably, a suspicion arose in Chioujen's mind that what had happened to his wallet had something to do with the kidnapping case they were facing.
Chioujen waited there for a long time. It had occurred to him to leave the place for a while and then come back at nine o'clock. However, an instant later, Chioujen canceled that intention. He was uncertain that Tsaehorng will be back there exactly at nine in the evening. Chioujen couldn't contact Tsaehorng's pager because he didn't know what the young man's pager number was. He sighed apologetically. He should have asked for Tsaehorng's pager number.
Luckily then, Tsaehorng appeared in front of him not too late from the time he promised. His face beamed.
"Sorry, Uncle. Did you have to wait long? Mr. Juhrong's friend was still having dinner. So I waited for him until he arrived at work."
"It's okay. My business was finished long ago. So I did wait here long enough. Mr. Mihgan couldn't stay long. He had to hurry home because his house was far away. But all that is not your fault. You promised to come at nine in the evening. It's only ten minutes past nine. So it can't be said that you came late." Chioujen smiled.
They both then walked out of it. They immediately went home to tell the things and information they got.
There was a car parked in front of their house. The car was one of Tsaehorng's cars. The car that Tsaehorng was driving then parked in front of that car. After getting out of the car, Tsaehorng went straight to the front door to the right of the car parked behind them. Chioujen walked behind Tsaehorng.
The car door opened. The driver instantly got out and bowed to Tsaehorng.
"What time did you get here?"
"Exactly eight o'clock, Sir!"
"Have you had dinner yet?"
"Yes, Sir!"
"Why don't you come inside?"
"I'm reluctant, Sir. It's better to wait in the car."
"Okay then. I'll go in first. If you need anything, you just go inside," Tsaehorng said.
The person nodded.
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