Chapter 343: The gambler is inhumane and even sells his own sister

Songwang Township.

Zhoubei Village.

Li Guangchang's home.

Li Guangchang and his wife Zhu Jinfeng were having lunch, which was the same old mixed grains, and they had gotten used to it over the years.

For many Bobai people in later generations, everyone rushed to eat grains such as sweet potatoes, taro, cassava, sweet potatoes, and yams. They felt that they tasted so good that porridge and rice were nothing compared to these grains.

However, for the Bobai people who grew up eating whole grains in this era, these whole grains are really just for filling the stomach. No matter if you love eating, if you eat them from childhood to adulthood, and only eat them for one or two meals a day, no one will like it.

Therefore, in later generations, few of the older generation in Bobai County like to eat coarse grains, as they were afraid of eating them when they were young.

Li Guangchang had been eating grains for decades, so he naturally didn't like these things. He just stuffed a few sweet potatoes into his stomach to fill it, then rubbed his hands, wiped them on his clothes, then took out some tobacco matches and took the hookah next to him to light a cigarette.

Zhu Jinfeng ate more slowly. As she ate, she said with a sad face, "I don't know where Ah Hai went. He went out last night and hasn't come back yet."

While stuffing tobacco into the mouthpiece, Li Guangchang said angrily, "This boy is really not good. He is already 23 years old this year, but he is still lazy all day long, hanging out with those questionable people, and doesn't help with housework. With this kind of personality, which girl would be willing to marry him?"

Zhu Jinfeng sighed: "If only he was more sensible and could study as well as Xiaoqin!"

Li Guangchang took out a match and also let out a long sigh. His youngest daughter had good academic performance and was ranked first in the grade. She had a good chance of going to university, but it was a pity that his daughter would always belong to someone else's family. How great it would be if he could have a son instead!

After lighting a match and taking a few puffs of his cigarette, Li Guangchang complained, "You've spoiled him."

Zhu Jinfeng glanced at him and said, "I'm the only one in the family who spoils him? Don't you spoil him too?"

Li Guangchang was speechless. After all, it was because he had too few sons. Although he and his wife had worked hard and had given birth to quite a few children, it was a pity that he was the only son, and the rest were all girls. Who could he go to for justice?

"Forget it, find him a wife and see if you can make him change his mind. If he continues like this, he will really become a widower."

"You think I don't want to find him, but this brat is not very good and has a very bad reputation in the village. The girl sent someone to find out who he is, but she didn't even give me a chance to get to know him. What can I do?"

Li Guangchang's mouth twitched when he heard that. When he was about to say something, he saw his bastard son staggering into the house. His face was very pale, his eyes were bloodshot, and he looked lifeless.

Li Guangchang wanted to scold him, but seeing his expression, he swallowed the words back and asked, "What happened? You look like you've lost your soul."

Zhu Jinfeng also noticed that something was wrong with her son. Although she disliked him just now, she still had to say that this was their only child. No matter how useless he was, the couple loved this son in their hearts. She also asked with concern: "Ah Hai, why do you look so bad? Are you feeling unwell?"

Li Minghai sat on the bench in a daze, as if he didn't hear his parents' questions.

Li Guangchang and Zhu Jinfeng looked at each other and saw the worry in each other's eyes.

Zhu Jinfeng asked worriedly, "Ah Hai, what happened? Speak up!"

Li Guangchang frowned and asked, "Did you get into trouble outside?"

Li Minghai stared at his parents with lifeless eyes for a long time before he trembled all over and said with trembling lips: "Dad, Mom, I... I got into big trouble, I... I lost Xiaoqin... I'm a bastard, I... I'm sorry for Xiaoqin!"

Li Guangchang's veins instantly became erect when he heard this. He stared at his son and asked, "What did you say?"

Zhu Jinfeng also asked anxiously, "You lost Xiaoqin? What happened? Explain it to me quickly."

Li Minghai was regretting deeply at this moment. He still didn't understand why things had developed to this point.

Last night, he went out to play with a few friends as usual. None of his friends had proper jobs and none of them had much money in their pockets, but there were ways to have fun even if they had no money, so they got together and went to the Supply and Marketing Department to buy a few kilograms of liquor.

Then you go home and pick a handful of soybeans, I go home and get a handful of peanuts, and he goes home and gets a few eggs.

As for vegetables, there was no shortage of them, so a table full of dishes was served. Several people ate these simple dishes while drinking and talking about the country, and they were very happy.

When they had almost finished drinking, everyone was a little tipsy. I don't know who started the idea, but they asked everyone to take out all the little money they had and go to the casino in the next village to gamble big. If they won, they would have a big dinner the next day. If they lost, the worst that could happen was that they would just skip a meal.

Li Minghai was drunk at the time, and he followed his friends to the casino in the next village in a daze.

After arriving at the casino, his friends stuffed money into his hands and let him manage the money.

The money wasn’t actually much, just less than three dollars from a few people.

At the beginning, Li Minghai had good luck. The two yuan in his hand quickly turned into more than ten yuan. The speed at which money came was really too fast and exciting.

At that time, some friends actually suggested that they could withdraw, but Li Minghai was in great luck at the time and he was willing to leave at that time, so he insisted on continuing to gamble to see if he could turn ten dollars into a hundred.

As a result, when he won nearly 20 yuan, his luck was no longer on his side. No matter where he bet, he lost. In less than ten minutes, he lost all the money he had won and his capital.

At that moment, Li Minghai regretted so much that he should have listened to his friend and stopped earlier.

When his friends saw that they had lost all their money, they didn't blame him, but they were definitely disappointed. There was no point in staying there after losing all the money. Plus, it was already late, and everyone was drunk and wanted to go back to bed.

But at that time, Li Minghai had already been fascinated by the atmosphere in the casino. The transactions of tens or hundreds of dollars in minutes were really exciting, so he was not in a hurry to go back. He just asked his friends to go first. Even if he had no money to gamble, he would stay and watch others gamble.

Seeing this, his friends stopped paying attention to him and left together.

At this moment, someone suddenly asked him if he wanted to borrow some money to make up for his losses. The person who asked this question was a well-known gang leader from the next village.

If it were any other time, Li Minghai would definitely not dare to lend him money, but now he has been drinking, and he has just ridden a roller coaster of winning and losing. If someone is willing to lend him money at this time, it would be like meeting a pillow. Not to mention a wealthy man, he would even dare to lend him money from the most powerful person.

So he borrowed ten dollars from this idiot named Ah Dian San.

A few minutes later, he borrowed another ten dollars.

Half an hour later, Li Minghai owed a debt of one hundred yuan.

He had already lost all his money and wanted to borrow more money to make up for his losses, but people refused to lend him money.

No matter how much he begged, it was useless. At that time, Ah Dian San said very bluntly: "Li Minghai, you can still get this hundred yuan by going home and asking your parents for money. If I continue to lend it to you, you will not be able to pay it back.

unless……"

Li Minghai had already lost his mind at that time, and quickly asked: "Unless what?"

Ah Dian San looked at him and chuckled, "I know you have a pretty sister who is also very good at studying. I like girls like this. If you are willing to let me be your brother-in-law, then I can continue to lend you money."

Hearing this, Li Minghai hesitated slightly.

I have to say, this kind of gambler who has no self-control really deserves to die.

In fact, deep down in Li Minghai's heart, he knew that doing so would most likely lead to very serious consequences, but he deliberately ignored the consequences and did not think deeply about them. Instead, he held on to the hope that he would be able to make a comeback.

So, Li Minghai agreed to A Dian San's request in a fit of excitement, and continued gambling with the money A Dian San lent him.

Before he knew it, it was daybreak. By the second half of the night, Li Minghai had sobered up long ago, but he was already in the trap and there was no way back. He could only continue to fight, getting deeper and deeper into the trap, and eventually owing a huge debt of 1,000 yuan.

When he wanted to continue borrowing, Ah Dian San patted him on the shoulder and said, "Brother-in-law, your luck is not good today, so don't force it. I will marry your sister in a few days, and we will become real relatives. Then I will help you win back the money you lost."

At this point, Li Minghai was scared and knew that he had caused a big disaster, so he wanted to regret it.

Ah Dian San was not angry, but smiled and said to him: "Li Minghai, don't say that I didn't give you a chance. I'll give you three days. If you can return the 1,000 yuan you lent me with interest, then forget about marrying your sister.

But if you can't pay the money back within three days, your sister must marry me, and this money will be considered as the price of your sister's life.

Otherwise, you should know that in this area, the person who dares to owe me money and not pay it back is probably not even born yet!"

Hearing these words that implied a threat, Li Minghai's face turned pale. He finally felt scared and regretted it, but it was too late.

When Li Minghai stammered out what had happened, Li Guangchang was so angry that his blood vessels were about to burst. He was so angry that he gasped for breath and kept beating his chest hard. He wished he could smash the bastard to death with a cigarette holder.

Zhu Jinfeng was not much better. She cried and cursed: "Li Minghai, you are really a scoundrel. You even sold your own sister. If someone wants her, do you want to sell me and your mother as well?"

The couple does have the idea of ​​favoring boys over girls, but that doesn't mean they don't love their daughter at all. If they didn't love her, they wouldn't have continued to support their younger daughter's education and let her go to high school and take the college entrance examination. It's just that they love their son more.

But now, their son actually lost his little daughter to someone else at the gambling table. This was a bolt from the blue for Li Guangchang and Zhu Jinfeng, and they found it difficult to accept such a result.

Li Minghai grabbed his messy hair and said in pain, "Mom, I didn't mean to do that. I drank a lot of wine at the time and did such a thing in a confused state. After I sobered up, I knew I was wrong, but it was too late to turn back!"

Hearing this, Li Guangchang could no longer bear it, and picked up the broom next to him and beat his son hard, cursing as he beat him: "I'll let you be confused for a moment, and you even dare to sell your own sister. I'll beat you to death, you bastard."

Li Minghai dodged and shouted, "Dad, please stop hitting me. I know I was wrong!"

Zhu Jinfeng was angry, but as a mother, she was easily soft-hearted. Seeing her son really being beaten, she couldn't help but protect him. While stopping him, she said, "Okay, even if you beat him to death now, what's the use? You should find a way to solve this problem quickly!"

Li Guangchang was so angry that he threw the broom to the ground and cursed bitterly: "Why did I give birth to such a bastard like you?"

Li Minghai was so frightened that he dared not speak. This was the first time his father had hit him since he was a child. It was also the first time he saw his father so angry. Being hit with a broom didn't actually hurt, but he could clearly feel the suppression from his blood.

Zhu Jinfeng looked at her daring son and asked, "You borrowed 1,000 yuan from someone. How much do you have to pay back, including the principal and interest?"

Li Minghai lowered his head and said shamefully, "I have to pay back 1,200."

Zhu Jinfeng pointed at her son and was so angry that she couldn't speak.

Li Guangchang sneered, "The loan sharks pay nine out of ten and return one out of ten. Yours is good enough. I'll only charge you 1,200."

Zhu Jinfeng said with a look of despair: "How can we get so much money in three days?"

It is now 1987, and it is indeed very common to have an annual income of 10,000 yuan in rural areas. However, the economic conditions of most rural people are still not very good. These 1,200 yuan are indeed a huge sum of money for a family like Li Guangchang's.

Let alone 1,200 yuan, they can't even afford the 200 yuan.

Li Guangchang took the hookah and continued to smoke it. He silently calculated his family's assets. His family currently had only a few dozen yuan in cash, a cow, two pigs, and several chickens and ducks.

In those days, the purchase price of live pigs was only a few cents. A big pig weighing more than 200 pounds could be sold for more than 100 yuan at most. However, of the two pigs in Li Guangchang's family, only one was a big pig, and the other was still a piglet.

The purchase price of live cattle is also not high, but the weight of a cow is not comparable to that of a pig, so it is no problem to sell a cow for around four hundred yuan.

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Chickens and ducks cost a few dollars each, and even if you sell them all, you still can’t get more than a hundred dollars.

With this calculation, their family could only collect about 700 yuan at most, and there was still a gap of 500 yuan! They had to borrow this 500 yuan from relatives.

Li Guangchang had six daughters, but he didn't want three of them. He only kept three of them. Except for the youngest daughter who was still in school, the other two daughters had already been married. But the conditions of those two daughters were also not good. To keep the two daughters, the family might be able to get a few dozen dollars, but there probably wouldn't be enough for more.

In addition, his brothers and sisters, as well as his wife's family, should be able to contribute some money.

If there is still a gap, then we can ask the neighbors in the village to pool together and that should be enough.

Thinking of this, Li Guangchang expressed his thoughts.

Zhu Jinfeng said in a trembling voice: "In this way, our family will really be left with nothing, and we will also owe a huge debt."

Li Guangchang gritted his teeth and said, "What can we do? This bastard is responsible for all this. Are you really going to push Xiaoqin into the fire pit?"

Zhu Jinfeng had nothing to say. She felt sorry for her little daughter who had been sensible and had good academic performance since childhood. Of course, she was reluctant to let her marry a scoundrel like Ah Dian San, as that would really ruin her life.

"Okay, stop talking nonsense. Time is running out. Go back to your parents' home and then go to Afen and Afang's home. I'll go find someone to sell pigs and cows."

"Yes, I'll be there right away."

Seeing his parents hurriedly going out to borrow money and sell pigs and cows, Li Minghai, filled with remorse, raised his hand and slapped himself hard several times. The price the whole family had to pay for his momentary confusion was really too high.

…

Three days later.

Ah Dian San and a few others staggered towards Li Guangchang's house.

One of them said, "Third brother, I heard that Li Minghai's parents sold all the chickens, ducks, pigs and cows in the family these days, and borrowed money from many people. It seems that they are planning to pay off their son's debts."

Another person said, "It seems that Li Minghai's parents think highly of their little daughter!"

Another person spoke up, "It's normal to value her. I heard that Li Minghai's sister has good grades and has a chance to be admitted to university."

The remaining person asked, "Third brother, if Li Minghai's parents help him pay off his debts, what are you going to do? Do you still want to marry his sister?"

As he walked, Ah Dian San said, "We have to keep our word when we are out there. I've already said before that if Li Minghai can return the 1,000 yuan I lent him with interest within three days, then forget about marrying his sister.

I will definitely keep my word, and as long as the money is in hand, I will naturally not make things difficult for him."

"Third brother is third brother, generous."

"Other people who lend money usually pay out 90% and return 130%. My third brother only charged him 1,200 yuan including the principal and interest, which is very fair to him."

"Li Minghai is really stupid. It was only because Third Brother stopped lending him money that night that he would have lost all the 10,000 yuan."

"I've seen many people lose a lot of money at the gambling table, but Li Minghai is definitely the first one who gets so carried away with gambling for the first time."

“…”

They chatted and laughed, and soon arrived at Li Guangchang's house.

At this time, there were quite a few people in Li Guangchang's house, all of whom were neighbors in the village.

Ah Dian San greeted with a smile: "Uncle Li, Aunt Li, Ah Hai."

Li Minghai forced a very far-fetched smile and greeted him, "Third Brother."

Zhu Jinfeng took out a stack of money from her inner pocket, handed it over reluctantly, and said, "Here is 1,200 yuan, please count it to see if it is correct."

Ah Dian San did not take the money right away, but smiled and asked: "Uncle Li, Aunt Li, are you really not going to consider it? I know it is not easy for your family to get this money together. After you pay it back to me, your family will have a hard time in the future. Besides, Ah Hai is not young anymore. How can he marry a wife without money? But if you agree to let Xiao Qin marry me, then I don't want this money, and I can even add a little more. Do you want to consider it?"

Although Zhu Jinfeng was tempted, she still declined politely: "I'm sorry, my Xiaoqin is still studying and is not considering getting married for the time being."

Ah Dian San took the money with some regret: "Okay, then let's stop here. If Uncle Li and Aunt Li change your mind at any time, you can come to me at any time. I will definitely pay for Xiao Qin's worth."

After saying this, he turned around and left without any hesitation.

After the people walked away, all the neighbors of the Li family started talking about it.

"This Ah Dian San is quite easy to talk to!"

"That's because he received the money, so he's so easy to talk to. If we can't get enough money he wants, do you think he will be easy to talk to?"

"Borrow 1,000 yuan and pay back 1,200 yuan in three days. This money is too easy to make. No wonder he does nothing but can drink and eat meat every day. It seems that he really does this kind of thing a lot!"

“…”

At this time, Li Guangchang and Zhu Jinfeng both breathed a sigh of relief.

I finally resolved the issue and my little daughter didn't get hurt. It was a blessing in disguise.

However, after this incident, the family became truly penniless.

Moreover, I owe a lot of money to relatives and neighbors, and my life in the future will be really difficult.

…

Li Shuqin only learned about this matter when she returned to the village on Saturday afternoon.

When she heard that her brother had lost her at the gambling table, Li Shuqin's face turned pale. She was completely disappointed with her brother who was idle all day and did not do any work. Fortunately, her parents still loved her and would rather sell all the things in the house and borrow money from relatives and neighbors to help her brother pay off his debts than agree to others' request to marry her off.

Because she didn't want to go home to see her brother, after hearing what the villagers said about this matter, Li Shuqin simply didn't go home. She asked the villagers to help convey a message to her parents, and then turned around and went back to school.

Deng Yunzhu, who had just finished playing table tennis with other female classmates who had not returned home, ran into her deskmate and asked in surprise, "Shuqin, why are you back so soon?"

Li Shuqin sighed with a depressed look on her face: "Don't mention it. I almost got sold out by my bastard brother and I didn't even know it."

Deng Yunzhu asked, "What happened? Did your brother do something against the law?"

Li Shuqin repeated what the villagers had told her, and finally said angrily, "Sister Zhu, other people's brothers love their sisters the most. How could I have such a brother?"

Deng Yunzhu became furious after hearing this and cursed, "What a bastard! He even sold out his own sister."

Li Shuqin said: "Anyway, I don't want to see him anymore, so after hearing about this, I didn't even go home but went straight back to school."

Deng Yunzhu comforted her, "Fortunately, your parents are still good to you and did not use you as their daughter to pay off their son's debt. What you need to do now is to study hard and try to get into a key university. Don't let this matter affect you.

As for your living expenses, including your travel expenses to college, you don't have to worry about them, and you don't have to ask your parents for them. I will lend them to you."

She also listened to and kept in mind some of the words her father taught her second and third brothers. Her deskmate was a promising student at a key university and his future development would definitely be better than most people. Now that she had the opportunity to show some favor to him, she naturally would not let it go.

Li Shuqin was moved when she heard this and said, "Thank you, Sister Zhu!"

(End of this chapter)