Chapter 121: Took the Bait!

Song Erlang was not at Xihe Academy but at Guangcai Academy.

He handed his essay to the teacher: “Sir, with only a dozen days left before the imperial examination, do you have any advice?”

The teacher handed a set of the Four Books and Five Classics to Song Erlang: “This is what I’ve focused on based on past provincial exams. Take a look at it when you go back.”

“I will study it carefully,” Song Erlang said as he cautiously put away the books.

“This year, the Regent intends to promote water conservancy projects, so the exam questions are likely to be related to this. You should write more essays on water conservancy as a precaution.”

The teacher, who had high hopes for Song Erlang, patted him on the shoulder and said earnestly, “With your level, if you review well during this time, you’ll definitely pass the provincial examination.”

Song Erlang, full of enthusiasm, bid farewell to the teacher and left the academy.

“Song Erlang!” Fang Youtian emerged from the corner, hiding his injured hand in his sleeve and forcing a stiff smile. “Are you planning to return to Xinghua Village now?”

“What do you want?” Song Erlang had little regard for Fang Youtian. It wasn’t just that his family was poor—he had inherited his father’s gambling addiction, seeming as if he wouldn’t mind dying in a gambling den, with no ambition whatsoever.

Song Erlang’s expression was haughty, his eyes filled with undisguised disdain for Fang Youtian.

Fang Youtian clenched his fists. What made Song Erlang so great? Besides being able to study, he was good for nothing.

It wasn’t that Fang Youtian was trying to take advantage of a friend, but rather that Song Erlang never treated him as one.

“Erlang, do me a favor.” Fang Youtian grabbed Song Erlang’s sleeve and pulled him aside. “I went to see a fortune-teller today, and he said that someone born under the sign of the Metal Ox could bring me wealth. Come with me to place a bet—if we win, we’ll split it fifty-fifty.”

Song Erlang pulled his sleeve back. “What if we lose?”

“We can’t lose! That fortune-teller is very accurate. There was a guy who owed the gambling den a few hundred taels of silver, and after consulting the fortune-teller, he wore a wealth-attracting charm. Not only did he pay off his debt to the gambling den, but he also had 200 taels of silver left!”

Song Erlang was startled. “That much?”

“If I win 100 taels, I’ll give you 50. That would be enough for you to cover your travel expenses to take the imperial exam in the provincial capital,” Fang Youtian coaxed. “All you have to do is come with me and stand by my side. You don’t even have to place a bet yourself.”

Song Erlang was not a particularly strong-willed person. As soon as he heard Fang Youtian’s suggestion, he was tempted.

If they won, he would get money for nothing.

If they lost, he wouldn’t have to pay a thing.

Song Erlang’s eyes flickered. Seeing this, Fang Youtian grinned, hooked an arm around his neck, and started leading him towards the gambling den. “Consider it a favor I’m asking of you. When I strike it rich, I won’t forget your kindness.”

“Just this once,” Song Erlang reluctantly agreed.

When the two arrived at the gambling den, Brother Niu was standing at the entrance. He stared at Song Erlang’s face for a moment, then turned to give Fang Youtian a knowing smile. “Not bad, kid.”

Fang Youtian said sheepishly, “Brother Niu, I’m here to win back my losses.”

Brother Niu pointed his chin towards the inside. “Go ahead.”

Song Erlang felt uneasy. That look from Brother Niu gave him an inexplicable sense of foreboding.

He hesitated. “Fang Youtian…”

“Erlang, hurry up and get in here,” Fang Youtian said excitedly, and pulled Song Erlang into the crowd. He pulled out one tael of silver and shoved it into Song Erlang’s hand. “You place the bet for me. If we lose, it’s on me.”

Song Erlang felt extremely uncomfortable in the smoky, noisy gambling den. Holding the tael of silver in his hand, he hesitated, unable to bring himself to place the bet.

“Erlang, hurry up! Place the bet!” Fang Youtian urged anxiously, seeing that Song Erlang was staring blankly at the gambling table. He gave him a hard push.

Off balance, Song Erlang stumbled and fell onto the gambling table, his hand with the silver pressing down on the “small” side of the bet.

He was stunned and, in a panic, tried to retrieve the money.

“What are you doing?” Fang Youtian grabbed hold of Song Erlang.

Song Erlang wanted to explain.

“Place your bets, no more changes,” the dealer called out.

Song Erlang’s mind was in a whirl as he watched the dealer shake the dice. His eyes followed the dealer’s hand, his heart pounding in his chest, and he held his breath.

“Open—” the dealer lifted the cover.

Both of them stared intently.

“Small!” the dealer shouted.

“Small! Small! It’s small!” Fang Youtian’s face flushed with excitement as he grabbed Song Erlang’s arm and shook it vigorously. “The fortune-teller wasn’t lying, he wasn’t lying!”

Song Erlang stared blankly at the gambling table, unable to fully process what had just happened. He looked at his hand, and wondered—could he really bring good luck to Fang Youtian?

Fang Youtian scooped up the money and shoved it all into Song Erlang’s hands. “Keep going!”

This time, Song Erlang didn’t hesitate and placed it all on “big.”

The dealer opened the cover—

“Big! It’s big!” Fang Youtian’s eyes were red with excitement.

The last bit of Song Erlang’s hesitation vanished. Without needing Fang Youtian’s prompting, he eagerly placed the next bet.

In just a short quarter of an hour, Fang Youtian had won over 200 taels of silver.

Fang Youtian immediately handed 100 taels to him. “Erlang, with luck like yours, why not place a bet for yourself?”

Song Erlang looked at the handful of money in his hand, feeling its heavy weight. Never in his life had he owned so much money.

He hadn’t risked any of his own money, yet he had gained 100 taels!

Some people toil their entire lives and never earn this much.

“Give it a try. If you lose, just stop in time. After all, this silver was basically free,” 

Fang Youtian encouraged Song Erlang, and exchanged a glance with Brother Niu. “I’m going to play some Pai Gow.^[1]牌九(páijiǔ) = Pai Gow is a traditional Chinese gambling game that is played with a set of 32 Chinese dominoes. The name “Pai Gow” roughly translates to “make nine” in … Continue reading”

After Fang Youtian left, Song Erlang cautiously placed a bet of one tael of silver.

He tested the waters three times in a row, and each time he won. Song Erlang’s confidence soared, and his bets grew larger and larger, winning almost every time.

The dealer narrowed his eyes. “Young sir, you’re having good luck today. How about we play a life-or-death round?” He tapped his fingers on the dice cup. “Bet all your silver. If you win, I’ll pay you ten times the amount.”

Song Erlang hesitated.

People around him began to chime in, encouraging him. “Young sir, go for it. Even if you lose, it’s just the money you’ve won—it didn’t come out of your own pocket. But if you win… You’ve got several hundred taels here. Multiply that by ten, and you’re looking at thousands of taels. If I had your kind of luck, I’d definitely take the bet.”

“Yeah, young sir, give it a try.”

“Someone once played a life-or-death round and walked away with over ten thousand taels of silver. They moved their entire family to the capital, bought a house, and set up a business. Now they’re living the high life.”

Song Erlang wavered. But if he lost, all the hundreds of taels he had won would be gone, and he wouldn’t have a single coin left.

“Alright, alright, if you’re not betting, move aside and let someone else have a turn,” the dealer said impatiently, shooing him away.

“I’ll bet!” Song Erlang gritted his teeth and pushed all his money forward.

If he lost, so be it—it was all money he had won anyway.

But if he won? He would turn his life around completely!

“I bet on big!”

Song Erlang withdrew his hand, and his whole body tensed with anticipation.

The dealer shook the dice, pulled his sleeves up to his elbows, grasped the cup with both hands, and slowly lifted the cover—