I support the army through farming and business.

Chapter 367 Wealth and Lust

Inside the brocade tent, families are torn apart and lives are lost every moment, and every gambler dreams of getting rich quick.

The manic, obsessive expression on his face filled Tian San with both fear and an irresistible urge.

"Brother Meng, weren't you going to see the master? Why are you at the gambling den?"

“Our mastermind is the real boss behind Jin Zhang Chun,” Meng Liang said, putting his arm around Tian San’s shoulder. “Brother, want to play a couple of rounds?”

"Play a couple of rounds?" Tian San swallowed hard. "No, I won't," he said, afraid of losing his pants.

"Don't be afraid. You can be considered half a member of Jin Zhang Chun now. Jin Zhang Chun's rule is that everyone can play three times a day for free. If you win, the money is yours. If you lose, Jin Zhang Chun won't ask you for a refund. With such a windfall, are you going to refuse?"

Tian San pursed his lips. "Really, is there really such a good thing?"

“Look,” Meng Liang pointed to the people dressed in uniform around them, “those, those, and those, they are all our brothers from Jinzhangchun!”

Tian San looked in the direction Meng Liang was pointing and saw a man with a pointed mouth and monkey-like face. He laughed and stretched out his arm to gather all the silver coins on the table into his arms.

Tian San watched with envy, "Brother Meng, I... I want to play a couple of rounds too."

Meng Liang smiled and asked, "Which one do you want to play?"

This was Tian San's first time stepping into a gambling den, and he had no idea what kinds of games were available. But fortunately, he was self-aware enough to ask, "Which one is the simplest?"

"Roll the dice," Meng Liang led Tian San to the gambling table in the middle, pushed aside the people who had lost in front of him, and said, "Guess whether it's big or small, and the money is yours if you guess right."

Is it that simple? Tian San's gaze fell on the woman shaking the dice. She was fair-skinned, beautiful, and had a graceful figure. Her dice-shaking technique was dazzling.

The dice cup slammed onto the gambling table with a thud. The woman's foxy eyes swept over the people at the table. "Gentlemen, please place your bets!"

People at the gambling table placed their coins into the circles marked with "big" and "small" on the table.

The woman looked at Tian San, "Sir, aren't you going to place a bet?"

Everyone at the gambling table turned to look at Tian San.

In all his life, Tian San had never been watched by so many people. His face immediately turned bright red, and he was at a loss for what to do.

Meng Liang sneered inwardly, but smiled kindly as he untied the money pouch from his waist and handed it to Tian San, whispering in his ear, "Don't be afraid, you have three chances."

Tian San's eyes lit up. That's right, he could get three freebies a day! Tian San pushed aside Meng Liang's money bag, took out a two-tael silver ingot from his pocket. He couldn't read, so he casually slapped the silver ingot onto the side with the most bets, "I'm betting on this!"

"No regrets once the die is cast!" Bao Guan lifted the dice cup, her voice alluring and charming, "Two, three, four, small!"

"Brother Tian, ​​you won!" Meng Liang exclaimed excitedly.

"I won?" Tian San was completely bewildered.

“You bet on small!” Meng Liang explained. “The odds are one to one, so you won two taels of silver!” Meng Liang reached out and placed two two-tael silver coins in front of Tian San.

Is it really that easy? He worked hard on the farm for half a month and only earned one and a half taels of silver! But in the blink of an eye, he won two taels of silver!

"This gentleman has such good luck," Bao Guan said with a smile. "Will you play again next round?"

"I'll play!" Tian San said decisively. Anyway, he had three chances. If he won, the money was his; if he lost, the gambling house would compensate him. What was he afraid of?
The dice cup was shaken again, and Tian San bet on "small" again. The dice cup was lifted, and the announcement was made: "Two, two, three, small!"

The third time, Tian San changed his bet to "Big," and the dice cup was opened. "Six, five, six, Big!"

After three rounds, the silver particles in front of Tian San had piled up into a small mountain. Tian San wanted to play again, but Meng Liang stopped him, saying, "Brother Tian San, you've used up your chance for today. Let's play again tomorrow!"

Tian San was reluctant to give up; even if he didn't have the chance, he still had money in his hands!

Meng Liang advised, "Brother Tian, ​​a little gambling is harmless, but excessive gambling is harmful. Playing three rounds a day to relieve boredom is fine, but you can't become addicted to gambling."

Seeing that Tian Sanru was rooted to the spot and unwilling to leave, Meng Liang had no choice but to put the silver away for him and forcibly pull him towards the backyard, saying, "Don't forget we still have trade routes to run!"

Tian San then remembered, "Oh right, he came here to run trade routes."

Upon arriving at the backyard, a middle-aged man dressed in fine silk and satin was sitting in the pavilion, drinking tea and listening to music. Meng Liang greeted him respectfully, "This humble servant greets the manager!"

Tian San quickly followed suit and bowed, saying, "Tian San greets the manager."

"Haha, Brother Tian, ​​no need for such formalities," the innkeeper laughed heartily, inviting Tian San to sit opposite him. "I've long heard from Meng Liang that he's made a brother of great loyalty and righteousness. Meeting him today, I see he's truly extraordinary. Bring tea!"

A maid gracefully approached, carrying a cup of tea. "Please have some tea, sir."

Tian San stared wide-eyed. The shopkeeper was so lucky; even the maids serving tea were so beautiful.

“I own a silk shop in the Northwest, and we are in dire need of fabric. Fortunately, we have a surplus of fabric in the Jiangnan region, so I would like to send it to the Northwest,” the shopkeeper said. “I wonder if Brother Tian San would be willing to make the trip?”

Tian San stared intently at the maid standing to the side.

Meng Liang stomped hard on Tian San's foot. Tian San winced in pain and came to his senses. He saw the shopkeeper looking at him with a smile, "Brother Tian San, are you willing?"

"Willing to what?" Tian San looked at Meng Liang.

Meng Liang gritted his teeth and whispered, "The shopkeeper asked if you're willing to go to the Northwest."

Northwest? Tian San was taken aback. Where was that? Was it far from Minzhou?
"I am unwilling to deceive my brothers. The Northwest is a thousand miles away from Minzhou. The journey involves crossing mountains and valleys, and the hardships and dangers along the way are self-evident. There are even bandits and brigands blocking the road. At best, you will be injured; at worst, you will lose your life. Whether you want to go or not, Brother Tian, ​​you should make your own decision!"

"Go to my death?" Tian San shook his head in fright, "Then I'm not going!"

The shopkeeper sighed, "I understand. Money is just an external thing; life is the most precious. In that case, Meng Liang, you should see the three Tian brothers off."

“Yes,” Meng Liang stood up. “Brother Tian San, let’s go.”

Tian San didn't want to leave. He mustered his courage and said, "I... I can stay and work at the gambling den!"

Seeing the shopkeeper looking at him, Tian San swallowed hard. "The gambling den needs thugs, right? I know some martial arts."

"Oh?" The shopkeeper's eyes lit up. "That's wonderful!" He looked at the maid serving tea. "Take Brother Tian San downstairs and get him a set of brocade spring clothes!"

"Yes!" The maid bowed to Tian San. "Please come with me, sir."

Tian San followed the maid downstairs, feeling unsteady on his feet. They walked around the pavilions and towers and entered an ordinary courtyard in the backyard. "Please wait a moment, sir."

Tian San nodded blankly.

The maid went out for a moment and returned with a set of fine clothes in her hands. "My lord, let me help you change your clothes!"

Tian San felt completely cooked.

The maid quickly took off Tian San's newly bought clothes and threw them on the ground. She then changed Tian San into the uniform of the Jin Zhang Chun thugs.

Tian San felt the maid's hand brush against him like a spring breeze, causing him to tremble all over.