Chapter 316: Sports Meet Events (Part 7) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
Shen Tang entered the gambling den with the mindset of "getting rich and living a comfortable life," her pretty face beaming with a joyful smile.
If the background of this world could be visualized...
Pink flowers are probably floating in her background right now.
You can tell she's happy without even looking at her.
When Kang learned the inside story: "..."
How could he subtly convey to his lord that this trip would not only fail to bring him riches, but would instead worsen his already impoverished private savings?
Kang Shi wanted to say something several times.
But several times, due to some kind of expectation, he swallowed his words back.
ε=(ο｀*))) Sigh
On second thought, if this trip could help the lord completely quit gambling and truly understand the principle that "gambling is not a good thing," it wouldn't be a bad thing. Kang Shi lowered his eyelids, looking at the lord's ponytail swinging back and forth behind his head, and thought to himself.
It's more accurate to call it a small gambling den than a gambling stall.
The gambling den was located in a simple residential house in a deep alley.
Kang Shi looked at his lord with a meaningful gaze.
Tsk tsk.
This gambling den is in a really well-hidden location.
I have no idea how my lord managed to get to this position.
"My lord, wait a moment."
Kang Shi raised his hand to stop Shen Tang from entering.
"Let's explore this first."
Having said that, he raised his hand and lifted the filthy, unrecognizable coarse cloth curtain, then pushed open the wooden door. The dwelling, though simple, was not small. Hot, pungent air filled the air with various smells, and the house was noisy.
Shen Tang poked her head in, looking around.
He said, "There are so many people."
He touched the tip of his nose with his finger.
A few wrinkles appeared between his brows: "The smell is strong too."
The house wasn't small, but with three or four low gambling tables crammed in, each with six or seven people around, it felt quite crowded. In the corner, there were also a few groups of people playing cockfighting, slingshot, and pitch-pot.
At first glance, it appears that all sorts of people are inside.
She still recognized a few of the faces.
They were all "workers" on the construction site.
There were many people inside, and the air didn't circulate very well.
In the heat of the moment, some people even took off half of their sleeves, exposing their arms, and stared intently at the gambling equipment on the table. Among them, the most people played dice, since this type of game relies more on luck than intelligence.
It is more friendly to ordinary people with low levels of education.
"Big! Big! Big! Big!"
"Ugh! Why is it small again?"
"This is the third time it's been low, time for a big one!" one gambler cursed as he pulled out a "pancake strip" and placed it on the board.
"Again! Again!"
"Exactly, aren't you still winning?"
"I'll definitely turn things around next time!" The gambler counted the "strips" in his pocket, gritted his teeth, and threw out a card. "I'm betting on big again! I don't believe I can get four smalls in a row! Wait! This time I'll shake the wheel. Your luck is as bad as your feet!"
One gambler chuckled and teased, "What? You've smelled it?"
"Pah! That's just what you said!"
The appearance of Shen Tang and his companion went unnoticed.
There are plenty of gamblers coming and going every day, and there are even well-dressed people like Shen Tang and Kang Shi.
"Yuri, what do you want to play?"
Once inside, he no longer addressed Shen Tang as "Lord".
If his identity is exposed, rumors will likely spread throughout the streets and alleys that Shen Jun is "lingering" at gambling stalls before the next day. Not to mention how furious his cousin will be upon hearing this, it will also have a negative influence on the common people.
It's best to do this secretly.
Shen Tang wanted to play dice.
However, each table was crowded with too many people.
She weighed her own physique and the smells on everyone else, and chose a less popular activity.
What are they playing at?
Kang Shi glanced at it: "Playing chess."
The so-called "flicking chess" is a game where two players each hold a number of black and white chess pieces, placed in a corner of the board. They then flick their fingers at each other's pieces until one player has all their pieces taken, at which point they lose. Gamblers can bet on the outcome of the game.
The winner can share the spoils of the loser.
Small gambling dens can't afford to have high-end gambling equipment.
The so-called chess pieces were also quite simple and crude.
After watching for a while, Kang Shi knew which side was going to lose, but he couldn't bet or interfere. Once he interfered or placed a bet—well, let's not even talk about the outcome. His scholarly ways had caused gamblers who were sure of winning to be turned around by unfavorable odds.
The experience is hard to describe in words.
After watching for a while, Shen Tang figured out the rules of the game.
"Isn't this similar to Gong Xichou playing marbles?" The difference is that Gong Xichou played pearls the size of longan, while these gamblers played pebbles that were polished in black and white and were different shapes and sizes. It's not as fun as dice.
As for cockfighting, pitch-pot...
It doesn't mean anything.
The latter is easy for someone who practices martial arts, while the former only makes Shen Tang think of a hundred ways to cook chicken.
After considering all the options, let's play dice.
"Do you two have anything you'd like to play?" Shen Tang and his companion stood out among the rough-looking gamblers. The gambling stall worker, revealing a set of badly worn yellow teeth, greeted them with a smile, "We have everything here. Want to join us for a couple of rounds?"
Whether it's a gambling den or a gambling stall, they're all after the gamblers' money; the gamblers are their bread and butter. The difference lies in whether they bet big or small. Of course, if the gamblers can't control themselves and get carried away, the end result is always the same.
He squandered his fortune, sold his children, and even became a brothel owner, forcing his wife into prostitution to pay off his debts...
Shen Tang asked Kang Shi, "What do you think?"
Kang Shi: "A little gambling is harmless, but excessive gambling is harmful. Play a few times and then leave. Going back too late will make my cousins worry."
Shen Tang nodded and rolled up his sleeves.
Led by the servant, the two went to a less crowded gambling table, where they were also playing dice. Each dice cup contained three dice; the dealer would shake them, open the cup, and tally the results. Gamblers simply placed their bets on whether the dice would go up or down; it was purely a matter of luck.
The odds are even, whether you win or lose; getting rich depends on fate.
Of course, that's what everyone says.
As for what kind of trickery was involved, the gamblers didn't know, or rather, they weren't capable enough to discover it.
Shen Tang crossed her arms and leaned slightly forward, looking at the dice cup whose lid had been opened. Inside lay three dice, polished to a glossy sheen. With the results in, the gamblers at the table naturally experienced a mix of joy and sorrow—a true reflection of human nature.
She turned around and invited Kang Shi to come down from the table and play too.
hey-hey--
This guy always loses when he gambles.
You can win every bet simply by doing the opposite!
The two of them working together will surely sweep through the casino and become invincible!
Shen Tang seemed to have already seen all the coins in the gamblers' pockets fly into hers, and she waved enthusiastically at Kang Shi.
Kang Shi smiled helplessly and took out two coins.
Shen Tang said, "You're too stingy."
What can you do with two coins?
The servant was also somewhat disappointed.
His wages are tied to the revenue from each table.
The young man, dressed in a scholar's robe, looked refined and noble. He should have given at least a few pieces of silver, if not a tael or two. However, after rummaging around for a while, he only managed to pull out two copper coins, which truly disappointed him. So, he turned his gaze to Shen Tang.
Judging from Shen Tang's words, this person must be quite wealthy.
And what was the result?
Shen Tang also took out two copper coins.
They bet on the opposite side.
servant: "..."
These two are dressed to the nines, but they're actually penniless! They've missed out on today's prize money.
The dice roll game is very simple to play.
The period from 4 to 10 o'clock is considered small.
The period from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM is considered the most important.
If the numbers are 3 or 18, the dealer wins all the points.
Many people believe that betting on big or small is a 50/50 chance. They keep betting on big or small, and even if they lose the first few times, as long as the amount bet is small, the loss will not be serious. If they don't lose a few times, they can increase the bet and turn the tables in one go.
Even if you don't make a big profit, you won't lose a big loss either.
Just like that gambler who was betting on "big" earlier, he lost five or six "pancakes" before, and just when he got "big" in one hand, he happened to bet three more "pancakes", and immediately got half of his losses back. In the next hand, he bet four "pancakes".
Amidst the shouts of the gamblers, the dice cup was opened.
Three points, the house wins all.
Shen Tang: "???"
Kang Shi: "???"
Watching helplessly as the dealer pocketed their coins, Shen Tang had a vague feeling that something was wrong, but she didn't say anything.
After all, this is a classic case of "always losing when gambling." Kang Shi did lose, but the copper coins she bet on were also taken away.
Kang Shi resisted the urge to facepalm.
"Want to play again?"
Shen Tang countered, "Why don't you play?"
She took Kang Shi to the gambling stalls to "get rich and live a comfortable life," not to give the gambling stall owners a share of the revenue.
"Let me place my bet first, then you can place yours."
A new round of betting is about to begin.
Shen Tang quickly placed her bet on "small".
After making the arrest, Chong Kangshi gestured angrily towards "big".
Kang Shi: "..."
He also had a vague sense of foreboding.
But I did as instructed, only this time I was even stingier.
He only took out a small copper coin.
Shen Tang clenched her fist with anticipation.
The other gamblers were shouting out their chosen numbers, and she was muttering to herself. When the dealer lifted the lid of the dice cup, three neat "sixes" left everyone speechless. Shen Tang was so shocked that her mouth gaped open, and she remained silent for a long time.
"Last time it was three ones, this time it's three sixes???"
Is that a beaver?
Very unbeaver-like!!!
According to the usual gambling den tactics, shouldn't they wait until the fat sheep gets carried away and throws away a fortune before ruthlessly ripping them off? Shen Tang looked around and saw no matching "fat sheep" except for the two of them, his face turning pale and then red.
Other gamblers also joined in the jeering at the bookmaker.
"What's going on?"
"Are you kidding me? What a coincidence!"
Little did they know that the bookmaker was also completely baffled.
It's not that he can't roll three or eighteen, but the success rate is low; he often has to try several times before he gets lucky and wins once. He didn't even use his honed gambling skills the last two times; he just randomly rolled the dice. How did he win both times?
He could only manage an awkward laugh: "An accident! It really was an accident!"
Shen Tang said, "One more round!"
The other gamblers chimed in, "One more round!"
"Yes, don't delay, open it again!" It's not uncommon for them to win twice in a row before. In addition, these veteran gamblers are knowledgeable and experienced, and there are also people planted by the gambling stalls to create an atmosphere in the crowd. After a few whispers, everyone let the matter drop.
Shen Tang rolled up her sleeves even further.
He slapped down three copper coins with a bold gesture.
Kang Shi shook his head helplessly.
He could already foresee the outcome.
But I still played this game.
He had expected this round to be another dramatic three or eighteen points, but it turned out to be "big," while his lord had bet on "small," and Kang Shi won. He collected the money he had lost from the dealer and turned to look at his lord, whose expression was almost splitting with rage.
He whispered, "Why don't you leave?"
Shen Tang looked down and counted the remaining half of the copper coins.
He said angrily, "Don't make a move this round, I'll do it!"
Kang Shi nodded, somewhat guiltily.
"Okay, as you wish."
Shen Tang still bet on "small" in this round.
As a result, the dealer hit 18 points again.
Shen Tang's face was ashen. Unconvinced, she played several more rounds, each time betting on "small" for a single copper coin. The dealer always came up with either "three points" or "big." Listening to the chatter of the other gamblers, her frustration was almost overflowing.
The purse was empty.
Kang Shi coughed softly and whispered in her ear, "It's time to go. If we go back late, it will be difficult to answer questions from others."
Especially Qi Shan and Chu Yao, who like to get to the bottom of things when it comes to matters concerning their lord, are not easy to fool. Kang Shi doesn't want to be targeted by Qi Shan for sabotage.
Shen Tang crumpled her money pouch into a ball.
Take a deep breath and suppress those emotions.
He said, "Let's go, let's go, nothing's going right today."
He started muttering to himself.
Is my luck really that bad?
Even the amazing skill of exploiting a bug in the Kangshi Casino—"always losing"—couldn't save her? Instead of getting rich and living a comfortable life, she even lost the copper coins she borrowed from Lili.
Enraged, Shen Tang lifted the curtain of the gambling stall without looking back.
Kang Shi watched her retreating figure and started to catch up with her.
After leaving the residential house where the hidden gambling den was located, Shen Tang initially frowned, but then her brows relaxed, replaced by a resolute expression. She calmly gave instructions to Kang Shi.
"Ji Shou, take some men and smash this gambling den!"
Kang Shi: "???"
Shen Tang, as if trying to cover up the truth, then followed up with patching things up.
“It’s not that I’m being petty or vengeful, but Ji Shou and Yuan Liang are absolutely right about one thing: gambling is no good business. Many of these gamblers are ordinary people who work hard in the southwest corner during the day. They earn enough to eat for a day or two through heavy physical labor, and if they have any spare money, why do they have to lose it all here! This kind of evil trend must not be encouraged! We must crack down on it and eliminate it! Ji Shou, don’t you agree?”
She pondered her words over and over in her mind.
Um--
He made a reasonable and well-founded argument.
She did all this to save these gamblers who were seduced by gambling! It's never too late to mend the fence after the sheep are lost!
It wasn't because I was discouraged by my bad luck.
"Yes, what you say makes sense, my lord."
Kang Shi nodded repeatedly.
"Absolutely right!"
Although the street wasn't as warm as the gambling dens, the air was fresh, and the coolness cooled down Chen Tang's throbbing head considerably. She frowned as she looked at her empty purse.
I'm worried about how to repay the raccoon.
It wasn't that she didn't have money; she could still get some pocket money from the government office if she asked. But Chen Tang was unhappy. Money that wasn't earned with her own hands didn't feel like it was hers. The reconstruction of Fugu City required money everywhere, and even a dozen or so copper coins were something she was reluctant to spend.
As for covering the strip and the fox's strength?
That's even worse.
The common people thought the note was valuable.
But she knew exactly how much value this thing was.
"Oh, Ji Shou."
"What has happened, my lord?"
"I want to find some side hustles."
For example, returning to one's old profession?
Qi Shan: Don't come any closer!!!
(End of this chapter)
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