Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 29 The Great Tycoon

After watching Shen Qingzhou and the other two go in, Lu Jia also dressed herself up, covering half of her face with a headscarf, pretending to be a young lady selling betel nuts. Then she called Xie Yi, who was dressed as a waiter, to come out, and they walked into the gambling house one after the other.

Xie Yi was responsible for gathering intelligence on both inside and outside the company, as he needed to be wary of the Zhang family members suddenly appearing and causing trouble.

Lu Jia walked towards Shen Qingzhou's table while selling betel nuts.

Zhang Laosan seemed to be on a winning streak, his chubby face glowing red. He occupied one side of the gambling table, while the person at the opposite table looked dejected, though still seemingly wanting to put money on the table.

Lu Jia frantically tried to signal to Shen Qingzhou, who was standing with his hands behind his back, hoping he would take this opportunity to step forward and grab a seat.

Shen Qingzhou glanced at her casually, then walked to a nearby table, took a seat, and picked up the dice.

Gamblers only care about winning or losing; it doesn't matter to them who sits in the seat.

Besides, Shen Qingzhou's outfit was so ordinary that it wasn't worth paying much attention to.

But after he sat down, he won three games in a row, which made people take him seriously.

The loser sitting opposite was pulled apart, and the newcomer, after sitting down for a short while, lost a pile of loose silver.

The gamblers who had been crowding around Zhang Laosan's table gradually shifted their focus and surrounded Shen Qingzhou's table.

Although Zhang Laosan didn't move, his gaze kept drifting in this direction.

When a pile of silver coins of various sizes was stacked in front of Shen Qingzhou, almost blinding Lu Jia in the crowd, Zhang Laosan finally couldn't help but walk over.

"Your luck is so good, and your face is indeed somewhat unfamiliar. Are you from out of town?"

Zhang Laosan bowed to Shen Qingzhou, and someone immediately made way for him to sit down. After sitting down, he casually picked up the gambling equipment in front of him.

Shen Qingzhou spoke in perfect Mandarin: "I'm from Yanjing. I came to Tanzhou to do business for my family, and I just happened to be itching to get my hands dirty, so I came out to have some fun."

"Third Master Zhang, it's a pleasure to meet you."

Zhang Laosan squinted: "You recognize me?"

Shen Qingzhou raised his lips: "The Zhang family's businesses are all very famous. Which merchant who comes to Shawan Wharf to buy and sell goods does not know the Zhang family?"

"Not to mention that you, Master Zhang, are generous and have a large following. Even if I, an outsider, am not qualified to pay my respects at your residence, I still need to inquire about your reputation."

Zhang Laosan laughed heartily, staring intently at him for a moment: "How shall I address you, sir?"

"His surname is Qin."

"Alright!" Zhang Laosan's gaze swept over the three large gold rings on the fingers of his left hand, and he laid out the dominoes in front of him. "It is fate that I met Young Master Qin here. Tonight, I, Zhang, will do my best to be a good host and have some fun with you."

Shen Qingzhou didn't say much: "Please."

Lu Jia was initially quite worried, but after seeing everything along the way, she was able to calm her anxieties for the time being.

Zhang Laosan was clearly an expert in this field. The dice were obedient and docile in his hands. After two rounds of throwing, he had already revealed a pair, and it was even a pair of "double grounds".

A wave of gasps erupted from the crowd, for only Shuangtian and Zhizunbao could keep up with this.

All eyes were on Shen Qingzhou's hand as he rolled the dice in the final round.

He already has a two in front of him; if another two is drawn, it will be a "double heaven" hand.

But the chance of getting another two points is only one in 496, which is extremely slim!
At this moment, Lu Jia couldn't help but feel a little worried for him.

The rule of the game set up by Zhang Laosan was that the winnings or losses would be no less than one thousand taels of silver.

Zhang Laosan was clearly upset that he had stolen his thunder and was trying to intimidate him.

Lu Jia took a deep breath, her gaze becoming intense.

Shen Qingzhou, however, calmly and deliberately threw the dice.

The dice spun on the table, sometimes showing a six, sometimes a four, and then suddenly a two appeared, making everyone's heart jump into their throat!
Finally, it came to a steady stop, revealing two dots on its surface!

"Tsouten! It's Tsouten!"

Xie Yi shouted out from between the crowd! Then everyone else shouted too!
They turned their attention back to the fair-skinned young businessman and began to look at him with new respect.

Gambling certainly involves some luck, but to have such luck in a place like a casino, doesn't that also demonstrate some skill?

Zhang Laosan's expression was not good. He ordered the silver to be brought up. He pushed the dice aside again: "Young Master Qin is indeed a favorite. This time, the young master goes first!"

Without a word, Shen Qingzhou played another round with him. This time, he started with a pair, not a big one, a pair of four points, a mixed hand. There were at least thirteen pairs above him that could beat him.

Unfortunately, Zhang Laosan didn't have that luck. After meeting Shen Qingzhou, his luck seemed to run out, because he didn't win a single one of the next two games.

Zhang Laosan is out of money.

His face turned extremely ugly, and he began to lash out at Shen Qingzhou: "I don't believe you can win every time, you must be cheating!"

In fact, Lu Jia also believed that Qin Zhou had cheated, but now Zhang Laosan had been unknowingly led by the nose, which suited her plan.

"Third Master, that's going too far. I'm sitting right here. If you can find something wrong with me, I'll do whatever you want with me."

Shen Qingzhou spread out his hands.

Zhang Laosan leaned on the table, his teeth clenched tightly.

The other side came empty-handed this time. Even if they cheated, what evidence could I possibly have against them?
Shen Qingzhou smiled and pushed half of the four thousand taels of silver he had won back: "Third Master, please keep it."

Zhang Laosan stared blankly at the silver notes in front of him.

"What are you doing?"

"I just came out to kill some time, not to win money. It's my good fortune to have made a friend like Third Master in a few hands of cards."

Zhang Laosan's anger subsided by half, and his tone softened: "In that case, I, Zhang, am sorry."

Shen Qingzhou glanced at the empty tea room in the corner of the gambling den: "How about I invite Third Master over for a cup of tea?"

At this point, how could Zhang Laosan still be stingy?
When the two arrived at the teahouse, He Qu and Tang Yu stood guard at the door. Lu Jia wanted to follow, but the teahouse had no windows, so it would be pointless.

Zhang Laosan sized up the other party: "Young master, you are so generous. It seems your family business is quite extraordinary."

Where Lu Jia couldn't see, Shen Qingzhou sat calmly, his eyes lowered as he poured tea, his expression indifferent: "It's just a small business, how dare I claim to be a big shot in front of Third Master?"

As he spoke, he casually pushed the teacup in front of Zhang Laosan with three fingers of his slender, fair right hand, while also giving him a subtle glance.

Zhang Laosan watched his actions intently, not daring to be careless at all.

This man doesn't look like a small businessman at all. In his every move, he seems to have more presence than the county magistrate, no, he even seems to have more presence than the prefect.

This can't possibly be a small businessman!
He must be a very wealthy man!
He couldn't be wrong!

Ninety-six's new book: *Drunken Golden Cup*

Lu Nian, the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Dingxi, who had been married off to Sichuan for nearly twenty years, returned to the capital, bringing with her her only daughter, Yu Ruwei, who had just come of age.

Despite the distance between the two places and the difficulty in communication, the nobles in the capital had gradually heard about the situation of the mother and daughter, which was truly bizarre.

Even before she was married, Lu Nian was extremely domineering. Her biological father was difficult to control, and her stepmother dared not discipline her. The Marquis's family had no choice but to marry her off far away before she caused any trouble.

Unexpectedly, his daughter surpassed him in virtue, causing the Yu family to be almost wiped out, forcing them to return to the capital and rely on the Lu family.

The noble ladies of the dukes, marquises, and earls were all on high alert, determined not to let Yu Ruwei, who was even more beautiful than her mother, take their good sons away!
——
Born to be the granddaughter of a Grand Tutor of three dynasties, Awei remained the most beloved little dumpling in the clan even after her parents and brothers went to take up their posts in other places.

As the political winds shifted, the Grand Tutor's mansion became embroiled in the struggle for the throne, ultimately leading to its downfall.

Awei managed to escape and struggled to make a living until she met Lu Nian, who was on the verge of going insane.

She became Yu Ruwei, Lu Nian's medicine, and Lu Nian's knife.

She helped Lu Nian take revenge, and also took revenge for herself.

——
A story of a fake mother and daughter joining forces to seek revenge.



(End of this chapter)