Pushing open the door, the room was filled with smoke, and several tables were surrounded by people, with shouts, laughter, and curses rising and falling.
Su Mingqiang stood at the door, looking somewhat awkward.
He had never been to a place like this before.
"Don't just stand there, come in!"
Da Liu pulled him to squeeze into a card table.
There was a pile of loose change and cigarettes on the table, and several people were playing cards enthusiastically.
Su Mingqiang looked at it for a while, but couldn't understand the rules at all.
"How about giving it a try?"
Xiao Li encouraged him.
"It's very simple, just bet money and guess high or low."
Su Mingqiang quickly shook his head.
"I won't..."
"Oh, what's so difficult about that!"
Da Liu had already taken out five yuan and slapped it on the table.
"Follow my bets, and you're guaranteed to win!"
In the first round, Da Liu won eight yuan.
In the second round, Xiao Li also made a small profit.
Su Mingqiang stood by and watched, his heart pounding faster than usual.
"Mingqiang, why don't you play a round too?"
Xiao Li handed him a few cards.
"I'll bet five dollars, if I lose, it's on me!"
Encouraged by the two, Su Mingqiang cautiously placed his first bet.
I never expected to win; five dollars became ten.
"See? I told you so!"
Da Liu patted him on the shoulder.
"You've got good luck, kid!"
In the following rounds, Su Mingqiang seemed to be blessed by Lady Luck, winning every bet he placed.
The money on the table piled higher and higher, and his tension was gradually replaced by excitement.
"We won again!"
Xiao Li exclaimed in surprise.
"Mingqiang, your luck is incredible!"
Su Mingqiang looked at the pile of banknotes in front of him, and after a rough count, he found there were more than eighty yuan.
It's more than his monthly salary!
"One more round?"
The dealer squinted and asked him.
Su Mingqiang suddenly came to his senses and quickly shook his head.
"No...I'm not coming."
He carefully put the money away, his heart pounding like a drum.
When leaving.
Both Da Liu and Xiao Li were dejected.
One lost fifteen, and the other lost twelve.
"Mingqiang, you have to treat us today!"
Da Liu put his arm around his shoulder.
"You've won so much, aren't you going to do something?"
"Exactly, you have to treat us to a good meal!"
Xiao Li joined in the commotion.
Su Mingqiang nodded with a smile.
"Okay, I'll treat you to a meal at a restaurant tomorrow at noon!"
Walking home, Su Mingqiang touched his bulging pockets, feeling both excited and apprehensive.
He was making plans.
Tomorrow I'll treat everyone to ten yuan, and the remaining seventy-odd yuan will all go to Jinhua...
No, leave twenty yuan, I'll try again next time...
The moment the thought popped into his head, he was startled.
But soon, the thrill of winning money took over. Perhaps he really had found a good way to make money?
When Su Mingqiang returned home and opened the door...
It had gotten completely dark.
"Jinhua, I'm back."
Su Mingqiang called out softly.
A series of hurried footsteps came from the kitchen, and Li Jinhua, with her slightly protruding belly, quickly walked out.
With a rare smile on her face, she reached out to take the cotton-padded coat that Su Mingqiang had taken off.
"Why are you so late? The food's all cold. Let me heat it up for you."
Li Jinhua's voice was so gentle that it made Su Mingqiang feel a little uncomfortable.
"No need, no need, I can do it myself."
Su Mingqiang quickly waved his hand, but saw that Li Jinhua had already turned and walked towards the kitchen.
His heart warmed, and he suddenly stepped forward and hugged his wife from behind.
Li Jinhua's body stiffened visibly for a moment, but she quickly relaxed again.
"What's wrong?"
Li Jinhua asked softly, her tone tinged with doubt.
Su Mingqiang buried his face in the crook of her neck, took a deep breath, and smelled the faint scent of face cream on her body.
He tightened his grip on his arms, his voice trembling with excitement.
"Jin Hua, I have a surprise for you."
As he spoke, he released his wife, took out a bulging envelope from his inner pocket, and handed it to Li Jinhua like a treasure.
"This is?"
Li Jinhua took the envelope, and her eyes lit up noticeably when her fingers touched its thickness.
"Open it and take a look."
Su Mingqiang had an undisguised smile on his lips.
Li Jinhua eagerly opened the envelope, and when she saw the thick wad of banknotes inside, her breathing became noticeably more rapid.
She walked quickly to the table and began counting the money under the lamplight.
"One yuan, two yuan... five yuan... ten yuan..."
Li Jinhua's fingers flew across the banknotes as she muttered to herself.
Su Mingqiang stood aside, watching his wife intently counting the money, and a sense of satisfaction welled up inside him.
He hadn't seen Li Jinhua this happy in a long time.
"Sixty-three yuan and fifty cents!"
Li Jinhua finally finished counting, and her eyes shone as she looked up.
"Mingqiang, this...this isn't right. Isn't your salary only a little over fifty?"
Su Mingqiang's smile froze for a moment. He scratched his head, his eyes starting to wander.
"This...I..."
Li Jinhua keenly sensed her husband's unease. She narrowed her eyes, and her voice suddenly turned cold.
"Su Mingqiang, where did this money come from?"
"I..."
Su Mingqiang swallowed hard, and under Li Jinhua's sharp gaze, he finally gave in.
"I...I played a few rounds of cards with Da Liu and the others today..."
"What?"
Li Jinhua's voice suddenly rose.
"You went gambling?"
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