Chapter 53: The Slaughter in Progress
Fuyuan Gambling House…
Liu Shen and Qian Yousheng sat in a private room on the upper floor, sipping tea. Not far off, a semi-transparent screen stood between them and the rest of the hall. Through the screen, faint silhouettes of gamblers below could be glimpsed, and the shouts of “Big, big, big!”, “Small, small, small!”, “Heaven card!” and other calls rose and fell in constant waves.
Some laughed with delight at their winnings; others slapped their thighs in frustration at their losses.
Pei Hongyu was not among them, for at this moment, he had lost so much that his eyes were bloodshot and he had no time to slap his thigh in anger.
Just today, not only had he lost all the money he’d won in previous days—principal and interest alike—but he had gone further and lost over five thousand taels!
He had never wagered such large sums before, nor had he possessed the courage, but his luck had been so strong in recent days, and his winnings so plentiful…
Those who make quick money gradually neglect the true ‘weight’ of it, and money won on the gambling table is like sand slipping through the fingers—impossible to grasp.
And for the likes of Pei Hongyu, born and raised in luxury, accustomed to everything being at hand and money always available, the concept of its true value was even more blurred…
Moreover, the gambling house was lavish; as long as he signed an IOU and pressed his handprint, stacks of silver notes were brought before him in trays, one after another.
The owner of the gambling house, with a cheerful smile, assured him it was only a trifling sum and that Young Master Pei need not worry, nor rush to settle—just play as he pleased…
Beside him, ‘friends’ continually stoked his enthusiasm, at first saying, “Young Master Pei’s luck was excellent these last few days—this is just a momentary setback…”
Gradually, their words shifted to, “Children don’t cry every day, and nobody loses every round, right?”, “I believe in Young Master Pei’s luck!”, “One big bet and he’ll win it all back…”
Later still, it became, “Don’t worry, Young Master Pei—this trifling sum is nothing compared to the Song family’s fortune; it’s not even a hair on a cow…”
The money lost, the friends’ regret, the onlookers’ ridicule, even the opponent’s taunts—all these responses were like starving beasts just released from their cage, clawing at his heart, scratching at his lungs, making his eyes fill with blood, so furious he could hardly recognize himself…
At the gambling table.
Pei Hongyu sat across from another gambler, one who wagered generously. His folding fan had long since disappeared, whereabouts unknown…
He threw his remaining silver notes onto the table, hands trembling as he reached for his two cards.
He rubbed the corner of a card, and when he saw it was indeed the ‘supreme’ card he’d hoped for, his brows shot up and he slammed it on the table, provoking a chorus of astonished cries from those nearby…
“Young Master Pei, what luck!”
“I said he couldn’t lose forever—look, one round and he’s already won it back!”
“Nonsense, Young Master Pei wagered heavily this round; not only has he recovered his losses, he’ll surely make a profit!”
When his opponent groaned in regret for losing, the crowd erupted in praise and flattery, and Pei Hongyu laughed heartily…
After losing for most of the day, one supreme card had won it all back!
What could be more exhilarating than this?
Thinking he had recouped his losses, he was tempted to call it quits, but those ‘friends’ around him wouldn’t let him leave.
“Young Master Pei, this is the supreme card…”
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“Exactly! You’ve been losing all day without much pain, but with this round you’ve won it all back. Why not take advantage of your hot streak and win another eight or ten thousand taels?”
Pei Hongyu, always possessing the gambler’s temperament, was fired up by his ‘friends’ and convinced his luck was still strong. Laughing heartily, he plunged in again!
Meanwhile…
In the upstairs private room…
Qian Yousheng glanced through the screen at the scene below and chuckled, “See? I told you, even if he wins, that boy won’t walk away.”
He snorted, adding, “Just watch—by the end of this, he’ll lose so much today it’ll take ten thousand pounds to hold him upright…”
“Only the old hands know how…”
Liu Shen skimmed the froth from his tea and took a sip, sighing, “Master Qian’s method of fattening pigs for slaughter is nearly a perfected art. Anyone caught in it, ten lives wouldn’t be enough to pay their debts…”
Qian Yousheng laughed with self-satisfaction and said, “I’ve been hanging around gambling houses since I was young, and when I grew up, I finally earned the post of hall master in the Qingsha Gang. Now, I specialize in overseeing the gambling dens.”
He sneered, “To boast a little, to me, the little schemes of those ‘gamblers’ are clearer than a naked maiden.”
“Hahaha…”
“I know you’re clever, but take my advice: never touch this stuff. The best win is not to gamble at all.”
Liu Shen put down his teacup and bowed his hands in earnest, “Thank you for the lesson.”
Given his own wisdom, he considered himself quite knowledgeable, merely unfortunate in timing…
Even among these rough men of the Qingsha Gang, he often felt a sense of superiority.
But today, after witnessing Qian Yousheng’s ‘pig slaughter’ setup firsthand, that feeling had utterly vanished…
All of Pei Hongyu’s ‘friendly’ companions were arranged by Qian Yousheng; the money he’d won in previous days was orchestrated by Qian Yousheng; even most of the spectators in the gambling house—eight out of ten—were placed by Qian Yousheng!
In this gambling house, whether losing or winning, everything was predetermined by Qian Yousheng!
Even more unsettling was Qian Yousheng’s mastery of the gambler’s psychology!
Pei Hongyu’s every action, the moment he increased his bet, the instant he considered quitting—it all played out as if scripted by Qian Yousheng!
Such a setup—let alone someone like Pei Hongyu, born to privilege—even Liu Shen admitted, were he in their place, he might not notice anything amiss…
The wins and losses, the feints and realities, were all too convincing.
Only one word sufficed: ‘professional’.
Qian Yousheng noticed Liu Shen’s changed attitude and, smiling, asked, “Do you know why I’m helping you so diligently?”
“Why?”
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Liu Shen raised his brows and asked, “Is there some hidden reason why Hall Master Qian is helping me?”
“No hidden reason…”
Qian Yousheng shook his head and said teasingly, “I can see you have great ambition and, truth be told, you somewhat look down on us rough folk.”
Seeing Liu Shen’s face stiffen, he smiled indifferently, “Today, I just wanted to show you: you may be clever, but others are not fools. Or rather, there are no fools in this world—only those who cannot see the game when they’re in it.”
Liu Shen was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled and asked, “Have you exhausted all the ink in your belly?”
“Are you impossible to reason with?”
Qian Yousheng became annoyed and slapped his thigh…
“Hahaha…”
Liu Shen laughed delightedly and, after, raised his teacup with serious intent, “Let me offer a toast to Hall Master Qian, with tea in place of wine. Please!”
“This drink… must be taken!”
Qian Yousheng, seeing his manner, narrowed his eyes slightly and cheerfully clinked cups with him. The two exchanged smiles, as if their cups held wine instead of tea…
At that moment, a young attendant from the gambling house knocked and hurried in, wanting to whisper something to Qian Yousheng, but was waved off with a reprimand, “Hall Master Liu is one of us—speak openly.”
“Forgive me for my lack of sense…”
The attendant bowed with a smile and said, “Hall Master Qian, the pig you wanted slaughtered has lost so much his eyes are bloodshot. He already owes us fifteen thousand taels and still wants to borrow more to win it back. What should we do…”
Qian Yousheng understood immediately, and, glancing at Liu Shen, asked with a meaningful smile, “Hall Master Liu, should we cut another slice?”
Liu Shen raised his brows, “Is it appropriate?”
“What’s inappropriate about it?” Qian Yousheng grinned, “Gambling debts may not stand up in court, but we don’t need to abide by the laws of Great Qian. As long as we use the debts to pressure the Pei family, the more we do, the better.”
Liu Shen bowed with a smile, “I’ll leave it to you then.”
“No need for such formality…”
Qian Yousheng waved his hand dismissively, his expression full of satisfaction, “Help to the end, as they say—escort the Buddha all the way west. With gambling debts in hand, a few tricks from me will have the Pei family fleeing home in disgrace within three or five days.”
“This favor, I will remember…”