Chapter 3, Good Luck

There are two more floors above, partitioned into countless rooms. It seems to be a gathering place for those affluent patrons. Mu Lan glanced up; only those with at least 1,000 taels are qualified to go upstairs. A single coin can thwart even the most heroic of men. If it weren't for the fact that Hu Tao had brought some private funds, she would have to think of another way to raise the capital, and a sense of melancholy suddenly arose in her heart

Before Mu Lan placed her bet, the dealer had already rolled out seven small outcomes, making the probability of a large outcome higher. However, around the gambling table stood seven or eight gamblers, excitedly staring with bloodshot eyes, still pushing all their money onto that blood-red small character

"Wait a moment." Mu Lan interrupted the dealer's words, nervously picking up the two taels of silver just placed down and carefully moving them to the other side. A bit embarrassed, she said, "Although eight small hands have been opened, nine is the extreme number. I believe it is possible that small hands will continue to be opened."

The dealer's weak voice was instantly drowned out by the cheers of the gamblers. Mu Lan, with a face full of surprise, retrieved four taels of silver. He cherished the two taels of private stash, carefully placing them into his pouch. Holding the two taels of silver he had just won, he awaited the next round to begin.

Small

The dealer raised his eyebrows slightly. He was somewhat impressed with himself. Just like that, with a casual shake, the ninth round was still small. However, there were no longer any players like the young man before him who continued to steadfastly bet on small. The gamblers around the table all believed that the odds of hitting big were far greater than hitting small for nine consecutive rounds. All the bets had shifted to the big side.

The taut nerves seemed unable to relax. In Mu Lan's mind, another voice echoed repeatedly: "For gambling, seek Lin Shiba. For pleasure, seek the lady in blue."

Once again, the bet was won! The dealer was somewhat surprised by Mu Lan's good fortune and couldn't help but laugh, saying: "What if the outcome is still small? Wouldn't you lose everything, young master?"

Removing the dealer's commission. Mu Lan placed a bet on small, with the odds doubled. He was pleasantly surprised to hold the sixteen taels of silver he had won, feeling somewhat at a loss for words.

Oh dear, this is strange! I've already opened eight small ones, why not shake a big one?! A gambler pounded his chest in frustration, lamenting his regret.

In the backyard, beside a lake of green lotus, there is a roll-up canopy that separates several elegant rooms with partitions. Inside, there are lounge chairs and tables arranged. A delicate young lady with a charming appearance gently massages the legs and shoulders of the guests, while the sounds of storytelling and silk and bamboo instruments create a lively yet not noisy atmosphere

Mu Lan seemed to be sleeping on the Mu family boat, with various sounds rising and falling like waves

The white porcelain dice cup was gently lifted. A few deep red dots were embedded on the ivory-white dice, as charming as a sprinkle of brown sugar on a snow-white steamed bun, enticing and mouthwatering

Mu Lan glanced at the second floor. He needed to rest. He readily followed his companion.

He had slept for a full two hours before he finally stretched and woke up. He picked up the bell on the table and gave it a shake. As the bamboo curtain was lifted, the young lady brought hot water to assist him in washing his face.

Mu Lan comfortably chose a quiet elegant room in the corner to sit and instructed the waiter to prepare a table with famous dishes from Yangzhou

Lin Shiba is the manager of the Liuxiang Casino, and he rarely takes action lightly. He needs more capital for gambling and better luck. Until he piques Lin Shiba's interest in himself

They are so stingy that they won't even pay for services! Don't they know that my wallet is cleaner than my face...

However, Mu Lan left without looking back, holding the forty taels of silver he had won with the third hand. He did not spare a single copper coin to tip him. The dealer, watching Mu Lan walk towards another gambling table, thought with some reluctance, "The stingy young master, you will surely leave empty-handed."

The sudden loud voices of the gamblers made Mu Lan tilt her head slightly, her gaze darting towards the dice cup

A kind person beside him advised, "Little brother, your luck is running high, why not gamble one more time? If you win, you'll have 8 taels! I believe this round must be a big win!"

The gambler who lost all his money has vanished without a trace. The new gambler, relying on his own experience, bets on the high and low. After the dealer's hand leaves the dice cup, Mu Lan mutters to himself: "Nine is the extreme number; it should be a high this time, right?" Having seemingly made up his mind, he pushes all sixteen taels of silver onto the blood-red big character.

A single sentence piqued Mu Lan's appetite, sparking a bit of curiosity: "What kind of food is there?"

The sunlight in May gently streams in through the awning, neither strong nor harsh, while the lake breeze softly stirs the gauzy curtains, neither cold nor cool

Among broke gamblers, a popular saying goes: when money is scarce, bet on high or low. The odds of winning or losing are evenly split. What is gambled on is the potential for that half to double.

The lobby on the first floor is quite spacious, with around twenty gaming tables arranged sporadically around the gamblers.

At this moment, it is merely the early hours of the day. Most of the gamblers who have spent the night in excitement have long since departed. Those who remain have eyes that are already bloodshot, yet their pockets are not empty, and they still wish to recoup their losses

The fellow laughed, his eyes disappearing behind his smile: "As long as you can afford the money, you can eat whatever you want"

The young lady gently leaned on his shoulder and quietly told him: "The most formidable one is the Eighteenth Master; you must not gamble with him. The Eighteenth Master has not always been victorious. A few days ago, a wealthy merchant from Ryukyu came and won a game against the Eighteenth Master... In the end, he lost everything and was carried out by his attendants."

The soft and charming Wu Nong language was irresistible. Mu Lan playfully pinched her tender face, slipped a banknote into her hand, and obtained the information he desired.

Human nature is always greedy. Once stepping into this place, it is likely that before long, this young man will become just like the other gamblers. Having seen too much, the dealer's face returned to a look of indifference as he shook the dice cup

Winning is not allowed to lose. Mu Lan smiled as she handed another banknote to the young lady, and under her reluctant gaze, she entered the casino once more

Is the young master well rested

Mu Lan is no exception, with two taels of silver lying right on the small characters

The bamboo curtain hangs down, as if separating one world from another. The crowded and lively atmosphere of the casino is completely dispelled by the lotus flowers in front of a lake.

233, small! The dealer compensates.

A man approached. His discerning eyes, having scrutinized countless people coming and going, swept over Mu Lan's plain blue attire. Without needing to inquire further, he understood that Mu Lan did not possess much money. He courteously led him to a gambling table that had few people.

With a low murmur of complaint, Mu Lan closed her eyes and fell asleep

Mu Lan expressed her gratitude, listening intently to the crisp sound of the dice rolling in the bowl, and under the dealer's urging, she cautiously placed the two taels of broken silver down.

When it becomes quiet here, the sounds from outside become more pronounced. The nearby voices are those of conversations from the elegant room next door, while the distant sounds are the delicate laughter of beauties from the Linghua Building carried by the wind

Mu Lan only revealed a face full of embarrassment, feeling nervous for the first time entering the casino, yet still placed a bet with the two taels of silver he had just won. The old man often said that details determine success or failure. His current behavior will eventually catch the attention of those who are observant.

The dealer was at a loss for words. If everyone were like this young man, only betting with the money they had won, there would be no losers in this world. He thought somewhat irritably that even if he won three rounds in a row, there would always come a time when he would lose everything and have to put up his own capital. He did not believe that the young man's luck could continue indefinitely.

"Young master, what would you like to have?" In the face of the winning gambler, the attendant's eagerness was tinged with a sense of respect, and there was a greater desire to keep him there.

Upon entering the main gate, the pleasant sound of dice rolling tantalized Mu Lan's ears, making them itch, while the two taels of silver ingots he held in his palm gradually became warm

Time quietly slips away in the midst of gambling. Around noon, Mu Lan played at all the gambling tables on the first floor, silently winning three thousand taels. He rubbed his temples; winning without losing, yet still not attracting attention, was somewhat exhausting

Crab roe lion's head dumplings | Tender and not greasy. The stewed catfish head is rich and aromatic. The eight delicacies of the water are fresh, crisp, and sweet. Mu Lan, after finishing his meal, reclines in a lounge chair, savoring a cup of the famous Yangzhou tea, Kuilong Pearl, while admiring the blooming white lotus swaying with the green lotus. His eyes are half-open and half-closed, feeling so comfortable that he seems about to fall asleep

He sighed, today is destined to be an extremely exhausting day, both mentally and physically demanding

"Young master, you have good luck, winning two rounds in a row. Good things do not come in threes; it is better to take your winnings and leave while you are ahead," the dealer kindly advised, perhaps due to Mu Lan's overly refined demeanor. Fifty taels of silver is enough for a middle-class family to live on for a year. Sixteen taels is not a small sum for a modest household that wears ordinary blue cloth garments.

Buy and leave... ...

The young man, dressed in clean cloth garments, had strikingly handsome features, with a shy and nervous expression on his face, resembling a child. His action of tucking the principal into his pouch indicated that he was not a reckless gambler. The dealer developed a good impression of Mu Lansheng. Having won two rounds in a row upon his arrival, his luck seemed quite favorable. The dealer thought to himself and called out loudly again: "Bet placed, no turning back! Here we go! Two, two, four, small!"

The Liuxiang Casino covers a considerable area. The main building is a three-story structure, adorned with intricate carvings and painted beams. The patterns carved on the corner braces are all embellished with gold powder, reflecting the sunlight and nearly dazzling Mu Lan's eyes. He squinted and took a look, contemplating that if all this gold powder were scraped off, it would weigh about half a pound, gaining some understanding of the Lin family's extravagance.

Mu Lan was taken aback and replied apologetically, "How could I lose everything? What I lost is just the money I won."

The dealer muttered, "This is strange, could it be that we are going to have eight consecutive small rolls today?" As he spoke, he went to lift the dice cup.

Mu Lan's face was filled with joy as she murmured, "Good things come in threes; perhaps with this third chance, my luck will still be good"