Journey to the World

Ella   200110603  申思男

“What's your name?”

“Li Cheng.”

“Do you know why you're here?”

“I stole something.”

“What did you steal?”

“Money.”

“According to the regulations, those who have not harmed others can be reborn directly. And you ruined someone's life by stealing their college money, so you have three months in which you can help someone as an adult. If you can gain the approval of those you help, you can be reborn. If not, you will become a ghost, and later you can only float alone in this world, unable to communicate with other people or ghosts, and can only observe the happiness and pain of others. Do you understand?”

“Really? Sir, do I have a chance to live again? I'll do my best. I won't let you down. Please understand, I had no choice but to steal from other people. I really had no choice, my two children had to go to school, and I had to buy medicine for my father...” As he spoke, Li Cheng burst into tears, as if he had suffered a great grievance.

Wang Jie became a little impatient and then interrupted Li Cheng's words, “Well, you can go and help others now. Hurry up.” After Li Cheng thanked him and went to the world, Wang Jie turned to the people around him and said, “These people always only find excuses for themselves. Only when they have to bear the consequences of their actions will they say something nice to show their determination. Several months later, they just are going to be what they are and not change at all.”

Li Cheng walked in the street for more than ten days. He still failed to find anyone who needed his help and began to worry. He squatted on the side of the road, his arms crossed on his chest, “Oh yo, it's cold, I have nothing now; who can I help? The conditions are outrageous.” He breathed on his hands and rubbed them quickly. Suddenly, he saw a man struggling to ride a tricycle past him, so he stepped up to help push the tricycle. The cyclist turned his head and Li Cheng thanked him, “Thank you, why are you wandering around in the street on such a cold day?”

Li Cheng casually said “There is nothing to do at home, and I was kicked out.” The cyclist said, “Look at you young and strong, why don't you go to work with me? I just need someone to help me.”

Li Cheng thought that this is also counted as helping people, so he agreed, “OK, I will go with you.”

For the next two months, Li Cheng followed his buddy every day. Li Cheng also felt tired, but when he thought that he would soon be reborn if there were more complaints, he did not talk to others. Finally, on the day of completion, the buddy got his salary and took Li Cheng to drink. They drank, got drunk, and slept through the night.

Li Cheng was shaken awake by the buddy, and before he opened his eyes, he heard the buddy scold him, “You bastard, where is my necklace, now you dare to steal from me, ah?” Li Cheng was kicked out before he could figure out what was going on. In fact, Li Cheng had stolen many things before, but he really hadn’t stolen anything this time.

With only a few days left before the three-month deadline, Li Cheng was no longer in the mood to find another person who needed his help, so he went back to Wang Jie.

He cried to Wang Jie, “Sir, I really helped that guy. We were very close before that drink. He mistook me for stealing something from him. But you must know that I have been wronged.”

Wang Jie's voice sounded very indifferent, “Well, the conditions have been said before; you do not get recognition, do not want to be born again.”

From then on, Li Cheng became a ghost, spying on other people's lives all day long. At the beginning, Li Cheng cried every day; after a few months, Li Cheng became numb.（申思男）