“There are a few things I need to make clear to you beforehand.”
“I've personally followed up on this remote site three times now.”
“To be honest, we originally didn't plan on assigning female colleagues to such a remote project with such a unique environment. The risks are unknown, and there are too many variables.”
“But with so many company projects piling up lately, we're severely shorthanded. I can only ask the female comrades in our group to bear with the hardship and make this trip with us.”
His gaze swept over everyone at the table. Seeing no regret or fear on the faces of his subordinates—especially the female employees—a sense of relief and gratification welled up in his heart.
His tone became a bit more solemn.
“For the rest of the trip, we men need to be more attentive and take good care of our female colleagues.”
“The clients we're dealing with have decent character, so that shouldn't be an issue. But that area is deeply forested and mountainous, and since we're outsiders, it's hard to know their true background.”
“No one knows what kind of situation we might run into. It's always a good idea to look out for one another.”
Taking another gulp of his drink, the group leader pursed his lips. He paused noticeably before continuing.
“I'll explain the local rules beforehand. Keep them firmly in mind, and do not casually violate any local taboos. If trouble breaks out, we're outsiders, and it won't end well for us.”
“First, the local villagers believe that all mountains, rivers, plants, and trees have spirits.”
“Walking, running, or jumping on the grass is normally fine, but you must never break branches or pick flowers and plants at will.”
“If you absolutely must pick something, you have to explain your reason to the plant beforehand.”
“Huh? Group Leader, how are we supposed to say that?” Xie Lai was gradually getting used to her persona as a workplace newbie, boldly asking questions whenever she had doubts.
As a newcomer, it was perfectly normal not to understand everything.
At least her attitude was correct. Bringing up her doubts immediately could be seen as being eager to learn.
“Is it better if we make it as long as possible? I'll search for some apology templates online later, and we can all memorize a bit.”
Wang Dong chimed in, doing his best to portray the image of an anxious, honest man.
“For this kind of thing, the most important part is probably sincerity, right?” Qu Ling chimed in.
Through this exchange, the three players had confirmed each other's identities.
As for their future actions—whether they would fend for themselves or cooperate for mutual benefit—that would depend on the difficulty of this instance and how it operated.
Hearing this, the group leader's serious expression cracked, revealing a faint smile. “How do you young people's brains work? It's not that complicated.”
“If you really don't know what to say, just say something like, ‘I like your flower and want to pick one,’ and that'll do.”
“It's just about showing a bit of respect. Once you go through the motions, it won't count as offending the spirits.”
The group leader took a sip of his drink, putting a period on the first rule.
“Second, the locals worship a deity named Namito, who is their generational guardian god.”
“I know you've all been educated in science and don't believe in ghosts or gods—neither do I—but this is their faith, after all.”
“It's just like those elderly Buddhist grandpas and grandmas, or foreigners who believe in Jesus. They don't reject science, they just choose to believe.”
“It's a matter of their freedom of belief.”
“So, when it comes to this Namito, everyone must maintain a respectful attitude. Don't say anything about it being 'feudal superstition' or things like that.”
“Group Leader, what does Namito look like? I'm afraid that if I don't recognize it and say the wrong thing, I might accidentally offend them.”
During the Q&A time intentionally set aside by the group leader, Xie Lai spoke up again.
To make her question sound reasonable, she added a hypothetical example.
“For example, what if it just looks like a rock, but I don't know? If I walk past and blurt out, ‘This rock is so ugly,’ wouldn't that offend people?”
“Hmm...” The group leader seriously pondered Xie Lai's words for a moment. They did make some sense.
He tried hard to recall his previous experiences, and his head throbbed slightly. “I don't know what kind of plant Namito actually is.”
“Just keep an eye out for statues that look a bit like ivy, and make sure to avoid them.”
With Xie Lai asking questions, and each one hitting the nail on the head, the others remained quiet and listened.
“Where were we?” The group leader took a large gulp of his drink, stopping to give his brain some buffer time.
“We finished the second rule, Group Leader. Is there a third?” Sang Lan chimed in.
“Yes, there is a third.”
“Third, and this is the most important point: you must keep an eye on each other.”
“The vegetation in that mountainous area is very dense, and the oxygen content in the air is far higher than in other places. It's easy for the body to experience oxygen drunkenness. You must pay close attention to the state of your colleagues.”
“If you notice anyone behaving abnormally, having personality changes, experiencing memory fuzziness, failing to recognize companions, or speaking and acting strangely—for example, someone who usually doesn't like sweets suddenly becoming obsessed with them—tell me immediately.”
“This is a severe case of oxygen drunkenness, and it has a huge impact on the body. If it gets serious, it can even cause lung damage. Everyone must take this seriously. The earlier we detect it, the better.”
“Once you spot any abnormality, no matter how small, tell me right away. I will immediately arrange for them to leave early. Personal safety is our top priority.”
Hearing this, Bai Ci felt like laughing.
What a ridiculous explanation for 'oxygen drunkenness.' He was clearly preying on normal people's limited knowledge, assuming they wouldn't know what oxygen drunkenness actually was.
And as it happened, Bai Ci knew exactly what it was.
Oxygen drunkenness, as the name implied, meant being drunk on oxygen.
What state was a drunk person in? Fatigue, sleepiness, chest tightness, dizziness, and possibly diarrhea.
Oxygen drunkenness was very similar.
It was nothing like memory confusion, personality changes, or abnormal behavior.
The first two rules still had some cover. Anyone who didn't think too deeply and didn't believe in the supernatural might actually be fooled by his words.
The third rule, however, didn't bother hiding it at all.
It was also highly likely that what the group leader said was already the best disguise he could manage. No matter how this rule was phrased, it would make anyone who heard it feel their skin crawl.
“Alright, just those three. That's all.” The group leader waved his hand. “Let's eat quickly. It won't taste good once it gets cold.”
Under the group leader's urging, everyone picked up their chopsticks.
With a subtle, unspoken understanding, all six of them reached for different vegetarian dishes, even Sang Lan, who had ordered the meat.
It wasn't for any other reason, like being cautious while away from home. It was because the only two meat dishes on the table were absolutely dreadful—some parts raw, some parts overcooked.
The slices of meat seemed to adopt a philosophy of 'mind your own business,' each cooking to its own degree of doneness.
Rate on N.U.
