Chapter 4
My daughter, Jeannette Romanov also told me her opinion, “Yeah, Mom. Your craftsmanship is so good. Why don't we open another store, like handmade flowers or something? These people have no manners at all, Mom. It's obvious that you're doing it for their own good! They still don't believe in you, Mom. So, it's their bad luck if their grandparents don't bless them!”
Benedict and Jeannette didn't think it was bad luck for me to do this work in the first place. They were proud of me.
I nodded. Then I felt a twinge of satisfaction in my heart.
I said in my heart, “No need to grind and cook by hand, boil paper pulp in the smoke, or be smoked to tears. Who doesn't want the years to be quiet?”
Unfortunately, I just didn't want my grandma's hard work to go to waste. However, I didn’t have any choice. When my daughter was older, I would teach her alone. I wanted our tradition to not be lost and forgotten.
After that, I began to focus on my family. But then a few days later, Xaviera did something that made my jaw drop.
Xaviera not only changed the specifications of the paper money, she also printed a lot of dollar plutonium notes and some kind of maids and male models. She even presided over the funeral in the village randomly. It made the whole funeral become a large-scale disco scene.
“This is all a new type of way. Who does not want their funeral to be lively? The times are progressing well!”
The elders looked at the inappropriate funeral and frowned. However, Xaviera's series of behaviors were well received by the young people.
Many people praised her for being able to come to terms with things and her whole person being truthful. Xaviera's eyes were filled with pride.
“That's not true, doing business is all about a conscience. Those who have survived should be even better, besides, those who have passed away want to see themselves remembered in a unique way!”
The young people have expressed their approval of this approach. They agreed because it was not only lively but also saved a large sum of money. Some of the older ones raised their hand to ask questions.
“Isn't this treating the ritual as nonsense? Can people walk in peace?”
But seeing the price, compared to the traditional funerals that invite funeral people and priests. They also blocked their mouths that wanted to express their opinions. They praised Xaviera for being conscientious and capable.
Xaviera explained, “Don't worry, I will charge whatever the cost is. I will help everyone, my fellow villagers. My uncles and aunts have watched me grow up. I won't do anything wrong. Unlike some old women, they make money from everyone in the name of worshipping their relatives. If their ancestors knew there was such an unfilial descendant, they would have to lift the coffin.”
She spoke with righteous indignation, inciting the emotions of many young people. A group of young people stood up and scolded me, even cursing my ancestors.
I ignored them. I just pointed at the paper money on the ground and the unknown stains on the side.
“Xaviera, are you ignorant of prices? Don't you understand the price of goods? Nowadays the worst sanitary toilet paper is eight dollars a pack. Where did you get these two dollars a pack of paper money? It can't be some kind of unclean paper, right?”
I was trying to control my emotions right now. “What you burn to the gods and old ancestors can't be unclean, Xaviera.”
Everyone was stunned. Nowadays the cost of paper has risen. Thinking of the recycling of sanitary products that was reported in the news not long ago. They had a nasty chill, especially those who were in the catering industry. About how the price of paper was, they knew very well.
A hint of sinister flashed under Xaviera's eyes. Soon she methodically smiled and explained to everyone, “We are directly connected to the paper mills and printing factories. Look, this is our business license! Uncles and aunts, don't worry. You've seen me since I was little. Surely you already know what my character is like. I'm doing all this just to help you be more practical.”
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. They then turned around and accused me of being of bad character.
Chapter 5
A flash of sarcasm crossed the bottom of my eyes. I naturally remembered these two factories from my previous life. One recycled used sanitary products from public toilets for reuse and the other used toxic lead ink for printing.
The Willbrook Family had always taken advantage of the village. There was bound to be something fishy when things went wrong with good intentions. But anyone who asked around a little would know that these two factories were already struggling to make ends meet.
I asked in my heart, “How could they possibly make conscientious goods?”
However, after being reborn I do not want to be a good person anymore. The experience of my last life made me choose not to say anything more. Now that I have reached this point. I had already done my best to be kind.
As for the first thing I did when I came back from rebirth, I burned the paper money at home to my ancestors and gods. If it wasn't for their blessings, I wouldn't have had the chance to start over again.
However, in this life, Xaviera's paper money and unique funeral manoeuvres were deeply loved by the young people. She even became an internet celebrity or we called an influencer.
Many people ordered her paper money. They also booked her to conduct funerals.
The Willbrook Family's old and dilapidated small tiled house instantly turned into a small house within a month. Many people even said that since they used Xaviera's paper money, the grandmother who hadn't seen them for many years came to their dream.
Of course, it was not possible. If the money was not in place every year and so many evil things were burned, isn't it annoying? Waiting for the future, not to mention the grandmother, the old ancestors would have to dream to scold them.
These days, Xavier's orders were in short supply, but on my side, there was no one around. My grandmother's craft has not been passed on after all. If it wasn't for the continuation of this non-heritage technique, I wouldn't be doing this kind of business at all.
Looking at the paper store, I wondered whether to sell a little something else and change into a DIY.
Just as I was thinking about it, a young guy approached me. He wanted to order a large quantity of handmade paper money.
I pointed in the direction of Willowbrook's house. “You can order it over there.”
“Auntie Carmen, I'm here specifically to see you.”
The young man asked me for my luggage. I realized that he was wearing a priest's robe under his coat.
“My master said that only your grandmother, Monica Celeste can properly make paper money that circulates in the underworld, Auntie Carmen. But unfortunately, Grandma Monica has passed away. Now only you can inherit this tradition.”
“Whether it's a Buddhist temple or another temple and hall, incense and offerings are needed. As the saying goes, money can make the devil work. No matter if it's in heaven or on earth, we all need money, especially when we perform rituals, we need a lot of paper money. The paper money made by Grandma Monica is recognized by this heaven and earth.”
The young man told me his name was Jonathan Gibson. He was the twenty-eighth generation of the priest Eugene Gibson from Sagrada Aparecida Hall.
When my grandmother taught me how to make paper money, it was all by hand. I even had to burn incense and make offerings for seventy-seven or forty-nine days before I could use it.
Once I suggested that we could now use advanced technology to manufacture in bulk, but I was rebuked by my grandmother and punished by kneeling in front of the god for a day and a night. It turned out to be so.
Whether it was in heaven, on earth, or on the ground, counterfeit money was very much rejected. However, I looked at Jonathan in front of me, it made me think that he was one of Xaviera's gang.
Nowadays, young people were not concerned about this. But Jonathan seemed to understand something. He winked at me.
“Auntie Carmen, if you don't trust me, we can make a contract. I will sign it right now. Don't worry, if we break the contract, we will compensate for your loss tenfold.”
I was silent for a while. I didn’t believe what I heard.
“Grandma Monica has passed away. I know you are the only one who knows how to make ancient paper money. So, please help me. It will be a good deed.”
Hearing this and thinking of my rebirth, I agreed to this. The orders from the Sagrada Aparecida temple and monasteries were large. My family's finances improved a lot at once. All of this was the result of the skills that my grandmother taught me and passed on to me.
I bought a lot of things for my home and even redecorated the paper-making shop. But when I came back from shopping, I saw Xaviera and her gang again.
They looked at Jonathan, who was picking up goods at my paper-making shop. Their jealousy was written all over the bottom of their eyes.
“Hey, bro! The paper used in this paper-making shop are all three-less products, unlike us, who are all connected with raw material factories and have proper business licenses.”
“How expensive can paper be? She sells a pack of paper for thirty. It's simply a book of profit. Let's talk about conscience. I never make black-hearted money. We are all of the same age, right? We all know that this thing is just to send the thoughts of the living.”
I can't help but laugh in anger. I suddenly stepped forward.
I coldly said, “Xaviera, do you know who these paper money are burned for?”
Xaviera answered, “Isn't it just burned to the dead people?”
She suddenly saw the priest's robe on Jonathan. He stood up in front of her. She couldn't help but her face turned pale.
“Xaviera, do you dare to use your paper money and take it to the gods to make offerings?”