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If he allowed others to win, and a couple more people with luck similar to this young man’s came along, it would truly be unbearable! Wei Wanshun felt that he had been unlucky today and didn’t dare to gamble on what might happen next. He only wanted to cut his losses and close the stall.
He couldn’t just stop people from playing, but surely closing the stall would suffice.
However, the onlookers weren’t having it.
“Why won’t you let us play?”
“Just a moment ago, when others didn’t win for several rounds, you didn’t think to close the stall. Now that this young man has had some good luck, you want to close?”
“Could it be that because someone else is having good luck, your business can’t handle it? So, it’s up to you to decide whether to make money or lose it?!”
“Poking is all about luck. Whether you win or lose, it’s all up to fate. People play it for fun. By doing this, aren’t you breaking the rules of the game?”
“That’s right…”
A group of people, having tried their luck at “poking” earlier without success, were now keenly watching Song Jingyun win multiple times. They had hoped to share in his luck and win something, but Wei Wanshun’s actions were infuriating. His apparent inability to conduct business also raised suspicions, making people believe he was running this business just to make a guaranteed profit, indicating there was something fishy about the “poking” business.
A crowd gathered around, demanding an explanation from Wei Wanshun.
Truly an unlucky day!
Encountering someone with such good luck and not only deceiving him but also being surrounded by others demanding justice, Wei Wanshun was furious. Seeing Song Jingyun being pressed in the crowd, looking bewildered as if these matters had nothing to do with him, only fueled his anger.
“It’s all your fault, you troublemaker! If not for you, my business would have been fine! You’re nothing but trouble!”
The more Wei Wanshun thought, the angrier he became. In the midst of the chaos, he raised his hand to slap Song Jingyun.
After all, as the business was already ruined, a little chaos wouldn’t matter right now. First, he needed to let off some steam!
Moreover, with so many people around, he wouldn’t be able to deny it later.
“I’ll teach you a lesson, you troublemaker!” Wei Wanshun thought, putting all his might into the slap, wishing to strike Song Jingyun hard.
Yet, before the slap could land, Wei Wanshun felt his wrist being restrained.
Surprised, Wei Wanshun looked up to meet Jiang Mixia’s cold gaze.
If he wanted to bully her family’s son-in-law openly, he had to see if she would allow it! Seeing her being obstructed by Jiang Mixia, Wei Wanshun grew increasingly angry. He tried to free himself but found Jiang Mixia’s strength overwhelming. Frustrated, he raised his left hand to strike Jiang Mixia.
“Alright, if you’re still up to no good, then I won’t hold back,” Jiang Mixia swiftly intercepted Wei Wanshun’s other hand and forcefully flung him aside.
Startled, Wei Wanshun stumbled and was thrown out like a sack, colliding squarely with the large wheel, rolling a few times on the ground before coming to a stop.
Accompanying his fall were two stone-like objects that clinked and clattered as they rolled to a bystander’s feet.
“What’s this?” someone picked it up.
“It looks strange, like it fell out of that person’s sleeve.”
“It’s a magnet, it attracts iron!”
Hearing this, the person who picked it up tested it on the large wheel, and with a “click,” it was attracted to the surface.
“No wonder others couldn’t win, and why that young man was discouraged to keep playing after winning. They were up to no good, trying to make money!”
“This is deception!”
“Deceitful scoundrels! If it weren’t for that lucky young man intervening, who knows how many people would have been deceived!”
“Don’t talk, take these deceitful tricks to the authorities!”
“The magistrate should give him a good lashing to teach him a lesson!”
The crowd, in a flurry of chatter and commotion, hoisted Wei Wanshun up, twisted his arms, and escorted him to the authorities.
As some onlookers remained, gossiping and pointing fingers, they dispersed only when the constables arrived.
Song Jingyun, having legitimately won his prizes, was questioned briefly by the constables and was soon cleared of any involvement.
The other witnesses also gave their accounts, describing Wei Wanshun’s deceitful behavior and unscrupulous dealings.
After further inquiry, the constables returned to the office to report.
Meanwhile, Jiang Mixia and Song Jingyun, noting the late hour, gathered their belongings and sought out the fellow travelers who had come to the county with them.
“That commotion just now was terrifying,” Song Jingyun, feeling a sense of having narrowly escaped a calamity, sighed heavily and then looked at Jiang Mixia with gratitude. “Thank goodness you were there.”
“Otherwise, that box of assorted pastries might have been ruined,” he added.
Jiang Mixia thought to herself, feeling surprised that her husband was relieved not because he avoided a beating from the stall owner, but because the pastries remained intact. However, the comment did come from her husband’s own lips…
Everything seemed to have fallen into place quite nicely.
The box of assorted pastries they brought back lasted for several days due to its generous portion. As for the fabric won from “poking,” it was all sent to the workshop and crafted into straps for bamboo baskets.
Regarding the white porcelain bottle, it was placed inside the house and adorned with several blooming peach blossoms of the spring season. The pink petals, against the white porcelain, brought a lively touch to the entire room.
It could be said that everything was put to good use.
Jiang Mixia was very pleased with this.
Song Jingyun seemed somewhat regretful, scratching his head. “It’s a shame we couldn’t play again. Otherwise, I could have won another porcelain bottle, and then we could have had two vases for flowers in the house.”
Peach blossoms are beautiful, and so are apricot blossoms. Additionally, peaches and apricots are delicious, one purely sweet and the other sweet and tangy.
“Don’t be too greedy,” Jiang Mixia reassured. “This time was incredibly lucky. If we encounter any more instigating situations in the future, we can’t act rashly again.”
“Well, actually…” Song Jingyun hesitated for a moment, then replied, “I knew the stall owner was up to something, but I wanted to play, so I just went along with what he said.”
Jiang Mixia remained silent.
So, he was as clear as day inside, just wanting to play?
Seeing Jiang Mixia’s lack of response, Song Jingyun added, “It’s not really just about having fun; I just felt confident that I could win.”
Then he continued, “I also noticed something stuck behind the wheel, but I didn’t know what it was for. It didn’t seem right, so I quietly removed it when I spun the wheel, and then quietly put it back later.”
Jiang Mixia was speechless.
She needed to have a new respect for her husband!