Chapter One, The Gambling God Su Li (1)
As per the usual practice, ten taels for a single bet. If I lose, you can take this money without a word. If you lose, you must return all the money I, Lu Fan, lost a few days ago.
Today, however, the large man had bulging veins and a face flushed like wine, clearly gearing up for another round of gambling with Su Li. The onlookers, fearing trouble, chose not to provoke him further and fell silent, waiting only for Su Li's response
Oh, right.
The girl in the red dress flashed a glimmer in her eyes and said, "So you noticed my following... It's quite amusing that I couldn't detect even a hint of your internal energy in your speech. If you wish to know my purpose, it is not difficult; tomorrow at noon, on the top floor of the Golden Jade Inn, I will host a banquet and hope you will honor me with your presence"
Su Li chuckled and said, "Is it really interesting? So, beautiful sister, you have been following me these past few days; it can't just be for the sake of interest, can it"
In the corner, there sits a young girl dressed in red and adorned in green. Her face is as if dusted with powder, with delicate brows like a crescent moon, exuding an indescribable enchanting aura that captivates the soul. Although she wears a simple garment, it cannot conceal the extraordinary beauty beneath.
A dandy stroked his already short beard and said, "Indeed, no matter how much money he has, in terms of appearance, Brother Chen, you are charming and graceful, like a jade tree standing tall..."
The three gentlemen exchanged glances, each rendered speechless for a long while. What kind of poetry is this young man reciting, that even they cannot comprehend? In this day and age, how can a gambler possess such sophistication?
Calculating the time, it has been nearly half a month since he crossed over to this place. Every day, he has been immersed in the vibrant nightlife, yet this era called Da Qi is vastly different from the time-travel novels he has read. Everywhere he looks, there are skilled individuals capable of extraordinary feats, while he, a frail modern man with no strength to even tie a chicken, wonders how he can establish himself in this world. Earning a little money through opportunistic means is not a long-term solution. With this thought, he cannot help but sigh heavily in his heart.
"Brother Guo, Brother Chen, you are absolutely right. In my opinion, a person like him can only survive in a chaotic era like that of the Great Qi, let alone being called a gambling god"
The crowd that had originally surrounded the gambling house tightly parted to make way upon hearing that Su Li had arrived, as if it were a habit formed long ago
"One hundred taels!" The burly man widened his eyes, which were already as small as marbles, as if they were about to pop out at any moment. As soon as he uttered the words, he suddenly felt it was inappropriate and quickly added with a serious tone, "Even if it is one hundred taels, how can it compare to my daughter..."
The warm breeze intoxicates, and the fledgling swallows fly at an angle. The shadow of the morning sun sparsely filters through the clouds, illuminating the ancient lake stretching a thousand miles between the northern part of Yangzhou and the Gu Yi Tower, rendering it utterly transparent. The sky is filled with drifting red, flying towards the few painting boats by the shore, as if willingly draping them in a layer of bridal attire
Those talented individuals are also the type who bully the weak and fear the strong, busily turning their backs one by one, and pretentiously reciting poetry to the great river they have already lamented over a hundred or a thousand times.
On the bamboo raft, Su Li held a beautifully crafted, entirely black bamboo box, gazing at the facade of the gambling house, feeling a deep sense of emotion within.
What a unfortunate child he is, Su Li thought
"Stop pretending to be innocent." Among this group, the most clear-headed was Su Li, who coldly smiled and lowered her voice, saying, "Who are you? Why do you want to help the big guy win against me?" She grasped the slender wrist of the girl in red, and a silver needle gently slipped from her hand.
Su Li couldn't help but gasp in surprise. Although he had just arrived in this world, the name of the Golden Jade Inn was already well-known, echoing like thunder. Among all the taverns in Yangzhou, it stood at the forefront, and renting out an entire floor on the top level was indeed a rare opportunity, worth a fortune.
As soon as the boat docked, Su Li slightly lowered his hat and cupped his hands in a gesture of greeting towards the mirror-like river surface, acknowledging the onlookers. He then strode confidently into the riverside gambling house.
The little girl began to cry out: "Mother, can you see from the heavens? Father is going to sell me to a human trafficker! And he is just a fat, old man!" After saying this, she glared at Su Li with tears in her eyes.
Su Li faced the three talented scholars and laughed heartily, saying, "Esteemed brothers, your refined sentiments are admirable. I wish to assist in your elegant pursuits by reciting a poem: 'The high walls stand against the rugged cliffs, the roaring waves surge chaotically. In the wind, I turn back alone, grasping the reins, I sigh thrice once more.'
"Gamble!" The burly man was taken aback, but upon hearing that it was to be a maid, he immediately brightened up, no longer pondering further, and casually agreed.
"Will you continue to gamble or not?"
The long night is endless, why wait until tomorrow? Can't we do it in my room tonight?
Seeing that the father and daughter were about to engage in a verbal spar, even Su Li could no longer withstand it and had to speak quickly: "Let me finish, I only want your young daughter to be my maid."
Furthermore, I gamble and never cheat.
The young ladies sitting in the flower boat could not help but feel curious upon hearing the words. Blushing, they secretly pulled a corner of the curtain and peeked outside.
An ancient version of "white, rich, and beautiful"? A glimmer of brightness flashed in Su Li's eyes as she leaned closer to the woman in red, half-closing her eyes, and began to tease the young lady in red.
A middle-aged man with a face full of flesh glared with wide, angry eyes at Su Li, who was grinning, as if he had set his sights on a great treasure of gold and silver.
After finishing this sentence, Su Li stood up nonchalantly and walked deeper into the gambling house
You are indeed quite interesting. The girl in the red dress chuckled softly, her alluring red lips reflecting the dim light in the corner, exuding a mysterious charm that pressed heavily upon Su Li. At that moment, she slowly stood up.
Moreover, where do you see any bulkiness in this body of tightly toned muscles
This person is so thick-skinned that even he must address himself as "senior brother"; Su Li couldn't help but break into a cold sweat in his heart
"He has arrived, he has arrived, the God of Gamblers has come!" It is unknown who first called out from the shore, but this single exclamation drew the attention of nearly half the people on the lake.
In the gambling house, there were already envious individuals who did not understand the intricacies of the situation; instead, they felt displeased that Su Li, this "old man," could engage in conversation with such a beautiful woman, and they let out a cold snort from their noses.
The girl in the red dress did not even blush, her grip on the silver needle tightened a bit, and with a charming smile, she said: "Old man, if you are not afraid of dying in your own room, then it matters not to me."
The gamblers found it amusing; just a few days ago, this big fellow lost not just a hundred taels, and now he thinks he can stake a mere ten taels. How ridiculous this is.
The girl in the red dress was taken aback, yet she did not refute it, which could be considered an implicit acknowledgment
Su Li smiled, her gaze resting on the little girl beside the large man. She waved her hand and said, "It’s no problem. If I lose, I will offer one hundred taels of silver with both hands. If by chance I win, I will take your daughter—"
In the depths of the water lilies, gentle ripples arise, a small bamboo raft drifts with the current, slowly swaying towards the shore
"Not right," Su Li slightly lifted his hat, revealing a small section of white bandage near his right eye. He then slowly closed his eyes. The gamblers held their breath in anticipation, secretly hoping for another manifestation of the legendary gambler's prowess.
Nearby, a few gentlemen dressed as "talented scholars" stood at the bow of the boat, discussing Su Lidao: "What kind of gambling god is he, with nothing but lewd tricks? He has truly spoiled our refined interest in composing poetry and couplets. I really don't understand what those wealthy young ladies are thinking!"
Su Li had excellent hearing since childhood. Upon hearing the words, he let out a cold laugh and looked at the three individuals with a bold demeanor
Su Li let out a mischievous laugh. Although it was evident at first glance that this woman had an extraordinary background, he was not someone who could be easily manipulated like a soft persimmon.
Listen to me, what I mean is— I want your daughter
Having made the decision, Lu Fan placed his large hand on the bamboo tube and shook it violently as if in flight. After a long while, he struck the round wooden table with a heavy "clang," and the dice rolled several times with a "clatter" before finally coming to a stop
The girl in the red dress let out a soft "Eh?" feeling a sense of unease, yet she did not dwell on it, for her instincts were telling her that she must quickly escape from this gaze
Speaking of which, the poem "Baisha Crossing" that was just recited was something Su Li barely remembered after being punished by the teacher to copy it ten times in high school. As Su Li reflected on the past before the time travel, a sense of sentimentality inevitably arose in his heart
The issue is, can't you imagine him as a profound hero? Why must you portray him as an old man
For a profession as sacred as that of a talented scholar, Su Li only occasionally makes guest appearances; in daily life, he still relies on gambling to support himself
"May I ask what brings the esteemed God of Gamblers to seek out this humble lady?" Her voice was as sweet as honey, leaving no room for criticism. The woman in red took a delicate sip of tea, her expression serene, yet within her sparkling gaze lay a hint of barely perceptible coldness
She glanced at the gambling table, then at her father, knowing that it would be futile to persuade him. After a long while, she could only let out a sigh of resignation
Next to him stood a girl of about twelve or thirteen years old, with large eyes and a small cherry-like mouth, a budding beauty. However, leaning against the cold gambling table, her expression was desolate, and her gaze seemed empty and devoid of substance
After a moment of silence, he said: "Even if it can be compared, at least you should let me discuss it with my daughter, right? Why are you looking at me with such eyes? I mean, even if this is just a hypothesis, do you really understand what 'even if' means? Alas, in this day and age, even making a hypothesis has to face the ruthless skepticism of others"
The girl in the red dress gazed with enchanting eyes, radiating brilliance, captivating everyone in the hall, leaving them frozen in place. However, the moment her beautiful gaze swept over Su Li's right eye, which was wrapped in bandages.
"Look who has arrived! It is the God of Gamblers!" an observant young servant in the gambling house exclaimed excitedly
Are you the one playing tricks and cheating?
Su Li spat in her heart, thinking that your brother Su was merely wearing a bamboo hat and deliberately speaking in a voice that resembled that of an old man
"Someone is causing trouble." After Su Li said this, she ignored them and walked straight to a dark corner.
What is going on
However, with a daughter by his side, at least this middle-aged man would not be wandering about until midnight
However, Su Li did not respond. After a long while, Su Li suddenly composed himself, opened his eyes abruptly, and asked, "Who is there?"
That person paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "At most, it is just that the methods of cheating are more sophisticated..."
The maid and the father and daughter exchanged a glance, their expressions changing faster than the weather, and they smiled.
... ...
All the gamblers were taken aback upon seeing the young girl, and before they could even marvel at the existence of such a beauty in the world, they were puzzled by the fact that the girl seemed to have appeared out of thin air, completely unnoticed by them.
The eyes of the crowd of gamblers were fixed intently on the bamboo tube in the hands of the large man. The little girl had long since wiped away her tears and stole a glance at Su Li, waiting for Su Li to provide the answer that would determine her fate
"Hey, don't be unreasonable. What about this round? You have to give us an explanation, right?" Lu Fan also stood up, and at this moment, everyone was completely at a loss, so they all voiced their agreement.