Changyang City, north.
Maguan Post.
Chen Wanjia stared blankly at the road surface, without thought or desire, motionless and uncommitted, as if he were not in the garb of a construction worker, with a posture of a mighty warrior, and a sign in front of him that read "Expert Bricklayer," people might mistake him for an enlightened monk.
His face was covered with a beard, almost hiding half of his visage, his eyes were tired yet vacant, and his body was lean and thin, not appearing to have much strength at all.
A foreman looking for workers took a liking to his silence and approached, saying, "The pay is 240 for a day's work, you in or not?"
"Not doing it," Chen Wanjia rejected without a second thought.
The foreman paused in surprise. In his experience, the more savvy workers would often respond with something like, "240 doesn't sound good, 260 will do." Those who weren't good with words would usually accept the price, only to be shortchanged by him.
