Inside the casino, Cheng Qingyan and Wang Tiezhu were on a winning streak.
Wang Tiezhu was extremely pleased with himself. His voice became much louder as he called out "big" and "small," and he didn't hold back on his bets at all. He wanted to take advantage of his good luck and win a few more rounds to pay back the money he had borrowed from the gambling den in the past two days.
If you're lucky, you might even make a profit.
An old gambler, at this moment, did not realize that what he was about to receive was not a sum of money.
He was filled with joyful anticipation, hoping to win a fortune from the gambling table and live a life of wealth and extravagance.
However, reality and ideals often tend to go in opposite directions.
His initial expectations were dashed as he repeatedly made the wrong bets due to his poor judgment.
Watching the money he won disappear from his sight one game after another, Wang Tiezhu was so angry he almost vomited blood.
At first, I won a lot of money, but I couldn't stop losing it, even faster than I won it.
In the end, despite winning so much, not only did he not pocket a single penny, but he also ended up owing the gambling house one hundred taels of silver.
He wanted to borrow some money from Cheng Qingyan, but Cheng Qingyan also lost everything.
The moment of truth had arrived. Cheng Qingyan called over the person in charge of lending: "Give me some paper, I need to borrow one hundred taels for gambling!"
How could you turn to Wang Tiezhu and ask, "Brother Wang, will you lend it to me? Together?"
Wang Tiezhu has already borrowed one hundred taels, plus two hundred taels for the next two days. It will be very difficult for him to borrow again this time.
His eyes darted around somewhat: "Brother Cheng, you can borrow it, but I'm afraid I can't borrow it even if I wanted to."
Cheng Qingyan summoned the casino manager, took two IOUs, and handed one to Wang Tiezhu: "Brother Wang, rest assured, I have some influence. It's only a hundred taels, they won't make things difficult for you. Sign it with confidence, the money will be delivered to you immediately."
Casinos not only offer casino services, but also provide lending services.
I'll borrow it first, and whether I can pay it back in the end is another matter.
Wang Tiezhu was a long-time customer of theirs, and the people at the casino probably knew more about his family's wealth than Wang Tiezhu himself did.
A short while later, the casino staff brought over a tray with the gambling money that Cheng Qingyan had borrowed.
However, along with it came a loan agreement that Wang Tiezhu had previously signed.
Cheng Qingyan asked the casino manager with a cold face, "What's going on? My brother and I each borrowed one hundred taels, why isn't my brother Wang Tiezhu's share included?"
"Are you looking down on him or on me? Do you think my brother Wang would cheat you out of a mere hundred taels?"
The steward, still smiling, spoke kindly to Cheng Qingyan: "Young Master Cheng, you don't know. Wang Tiezhu already owes several hundred taels of silver. We can't lend him any more; he can't pay it back."
Cheng Qingyan pretended to be angry and slammed his hand on the table: "Stop talking nonsense and just tell me how I can borrow some more money from my brother Wang. He's having a really good run of luck today, so don't let him miss out on his winnings!"
The steward very shrewdly took out a piece of paper, and Cheng Qingyan knew what was written on it without even looking at it.
That was a debt settlement agreement where Wang Tiezhu couldn't pay back his money and wanted to use his wife, Hongyu, to settle the debt.
The debt settlement agreement was laid out in front of Wang Tiezhu, and the casino manager rubbed his hands together with a grin: "Wang Tiezhu, if you want to borrow money again, you'll have to sign this. You've borrowed quite a bit already, you should leave something behind so we can come looking for you in the future, right?"
Cheng Qingyan, in a dramatic mood, jumped to his feet and angrily said to the casino manager, "Don't go too far! It's just borrowing another hundred taels of silver, and you're making my brother Wang sign this and that. Are you trying to make us play?"
Wang Tiezhu is on a winning streak today; in such a short time, he has already won nearly a thousand taels!
Unfortunately, in the next few rounds, he lost all the money he had won back!
This was the first time he had won so much money gambling in all this time. He felt that he was so lucky today, and if he had a few more chances, he would definitely be able to pay off all the money he owed.
However, he dared not easily take out Hongyu's indenture.
If the Ye family finds out that he pawned Hongyu at the gambling den, he might win money but not live to spend it.
Wang Tiezhu was somewhat timid and hesitant, unwilling to sign, but also somewhat resentful.
If he can win a few more rounds, he must know when to quit while he's ahead and never again gamble blindly like before.
The casino manager, still all smiles, noticed Wang Tiezhu's hesitation.
With a wave of his hand, his men took the contract and money back with them.
Wang Tiezhu panicked. He had no money and needed to pay off his gambling debts the next day.
If he can't borrow money, he'll have no chance to turn his life around!
In a moment of panic, he blurted out, "Wait a minute!"
The manager asked him, "So? Have you thought it through?"
Wang Tiezhu nodded: "I'll sign, I'll sign."
"If you had been this decisive earlier, you would have won money sooner. All this dawdling is delaying your own chance to win."
Cheng Qingyan stepped forward: "Brother Wang, please sign with confidence. I will definitely help you get this contract back."
Wang Tiezhu finally made up his mind and stepped forward to press his fingerprint on the contract.
The deal is done, and regardless of the circumstances, the contract is now in her possession.
One hundred taels is neither a lot nor a little.
At the gambling table, he lost everything before even ten rounds were over.
Cheng Qingyan slammed his fist on the table in feigned anger and cursed, "Damn it, what kind of lousy luck is this today!"
Wang Tiezhu was drenched in cold sweat; he had lost everything again.
Unlike before, he didn't win a single game this time!
If he can't pay his debts, he'll be beaten to death by the gambling den!
However, he also wanted to include Cheng Qingyan in the conversation, since the two of them were practically brothers in misfortune.
He didn't win any money, and Cheng Qingyan kept losing.
"Brother Cheng, how much gambling money have you borrowed from the casino?"
"To be honest, Brother Wang, I've already borrowed three hundred taels. I'm done playing. I don't know how much they'll nag me when I get home. I'm off."
Cheng Qingyan turned to leave, but Wang Tiezhu obsequiously stopped him: "Brother, slow down, slow down. I have something I'd like to ask you, I wonder if it's convenient?"
Whether it's convenient or not, it's not convenient right now: "It's not very convenient. I have to go back for dinner. If I don't go back soon, my wife will worry."
Wang Tiezhu wanted to keep the guy, but the guy in front of him kept talking about how stupid and rich he was.
He might be able to squeeze some money out of her, but he can't just let her go so easily.
But why does this person seem much colder towards me today?
For the past two days, they've been eagerly treating me to food and drinks, acting very close to me.
Why didn't he invite me to dinner or exchange pleasantries with me after we left the gambling den today?
And why does he seem so eager to distance himself from me?
They were still arguing at the entrance of the gambling den when people from inside came out carrying sticks.
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