Chapter 16: The Carpenter's Ruler

Luo Li was distracted throughout the morning. By noon, with no rain in sight, he decided to get to the bottom of things. He packed up his belongings, said goodbye to Wang Huzi, and went to the Huibin Building.

Upon arriving at the entrance, someone came over to greet him and escorted him to the "Immortal's Abode" private room on the third floor.

Luo Li was intrigued by this "Immortal's Abode."

Inside the Immortal's Abode, Tang Mizi was equally interested in him.

As soon as Luo Li knocked on the door, the fat boss immediately opened it, displaying a very friendly demeanor.

Tang Mizi stood up and said, "Master, thank you for coming as promised."

He then signaled the fat boss to leave, saying, "Since the master is here, we'll no longer trouble Mr. Yang." He gestured towards the door.

The fat boss quickly exited.

Luo Li placed the Carpenter's Ruler on the dining table and said, "Master Tang, you didn't call me here just to show me this ruler, did you? If there's something to discuss, let's get to it. I have other matters to attend to."

"No rush," Tang Mizi replied with confidence. "Since we're already having a meal, it's only right to chat while we eat. Let's discuss things over dinner. Don't worry, I will make sure you leave with something of interest."

Luo Li thought to himself: Yes, why am I in a hurry? He called me here, so I'll wait and see what he has planned.

When the dishes arrived, Luo Li didn't say a word and focused on eating, ignoring the wine glass Tang Mizi was holding. If it's a meal, then I'll just eat.

Tang Mizi, undeterred, poured himself a drink without any awkwardness.

After the meal, Luo Li leisurely sipped his tea.

Tang Mizi, unable to remain seated any longer, said, "Master, who is your teacher, and where are you from?"

Luo Li responded, "What does that have to do with you? You know very well that the boss is nearing his end. Since you couldn't cure him, why deceive him? It's people like you who tarnish the reputation of our profession."

Tang Mizi shook his head. "That's exactly what I wanted to discuss with you. In our line of work, people like you who stick to the straight path are rare. Those who enter this profession are often fated with misfortune. They either have a life of hardship, end up lonely, or suffer a tragic end. Some are even physically impaired, living with pride and poverty. What joy is there in such a life?"

Luo Li disagreed, "It's also a matter of personal choice. The world doesn't offer such easy paths. You can't expect to know the secrets of heaven and have all your desires fulfilled. These cannot be excuses for your deceit."

"Alright, do you know what euthanasia is?" Tang Mizi asked.

Luo Li shook his head.

"Euthanasia is a recent medical practice. As humanity advances, so must we. For patients suffering from terminal cancer, doctors may suggest euthanasia—a shot to induce a painless, permanent sleep."

Luo Li was hearing about this for the first time.

Tang Mizi smiled at Luo Li. "Even in foreign countries, those sentenced to death are sometimes given this method to end their lives. This is humanitarianism. You knew Mr. Yang was dying and still let him suffer through the night, unwilling to help. Isn't that cruel?"

Luo Li retorted, "That sounds very noble of you. Are you a bodhisattva saving the suffering? If you weren't doing something wrong, why would he need to be punished? You deceived him about his illness being cured just to get his money! Have you considered how much more despair and pain he felt in his final moments?"