Chapter 466: Goat-Bearded Uncle

The crowd erupted in cheers.

There were too many people; Xiao Ningyuan shielded Tuan Tuan in front of him, secretly astonished—when had his sister mastered this 'always-win in gambling' skill? Had she learned it on the road?

He caught a glimpse out of the corner of his eye of the man with a goat beard, seeing him give a glance to someone nearby.

The dice official at the table immediately claimed fatigue and had someone else take his place.

The newly arrived dice official, who looked about fifty, swapped out a dice cup, examined it repeatedly, and full of confidence said, 'Come on, kid, let me see what you've got!'

But whenever Tuan Tuan lifted her little hand and pointed casually, betting 'big' would win big, betting 'small' would win small, and she even hit three 'triples' in a row.

The gamblers went completely crazy; wherever Tuan Tuan placed her bet, everyone would pile their money there.

As the stakes kept climbing, the dice official's face grew paler and his hand shaking the dice began to tremble.

"Five, six, six—seventeen points, big!"

"Another win!"

The cheers nearly lifted the roof.

"Make way! Make way!"

Shanyanghu finally pushed through the crowd and walked over, his probing eyes fixed firmly on Tuan Tuan.

"Young brother, your luck is astonishingly good!"

Xiao Ningyuan pulled Tuan Tuan behind him, clasped his fists and smiled: "Kids just playing around—it's just luck."

"Luck? Shanyanghu tugged at the corner of his mouth, though there was little smile in his eyes, "Thirty-two straight wins—that can't be explained by mere luck."

He paused: "Would you two be willing to move to our inner hall? It's quiet there, and you can enjoy yourselves more."

"Inner hall? Xiao Ningyuan showed difficulty, "My younger brother is just playing casually—no need..."

Shanyanghu raised a hand to interrupt: "Our inner hall, per the host's rules, is no place for ordinary people."

Xiao Ningyuan's heart stirred— a place ordinary people can't enter?

Just then, Xiao Er and Lu Qi quietly appeared in the shadow of the second-floor stairwell.

He glanced over and saw the two shake their heads ever so slightly.

Not found.

Xiao Ningyuan's heart sank, and he immediately cupped his fists toward Shanyanghu and said, "Since we can't refuse your kindness, we'll follow your lead."

Tuan Tuan was excited: "Great! Does the inner hall have prettier dice?"

Shanyanghu smiled and said, "Yes! Of course. Little brother, this way please."

Xiao Ningyuan feigned helplessness: "This kid, oh well—then we'll bother you, brothers."

"Please."

"My money!" Tuan Tuan spread her little arms, gathering the small pile of silver on the table into her arms, a little worried: "I can't carry it!"

Shanyanghu's eyelid twitched: "Don't worry, I'll exchange it for banknotes for you to take."

Xiao Ningyuan laughed despite himself: "Come on, the Incense-Burning Tower's reputation is known far and wide—it won't greedily take your little bit of silver."

Shanyanghu turned sideways to lead the way; the two followed him through the bustling lobby to a carved wooden door deep in the second floor.

He gently pushed open the wooden door: "This is the inner hall—please, both of you."

The brother and sister entered.

The hall was spacious, with several bronze crane lamps inside; the glass beads in the cranes' eyes reflected the candlelight, casting a soft glow that filled the room with shifting shadows.

A massive stone gambling table stood in the center, with various gambling implements neatly arranged—ivory dominoes, rhinoceros-horn tiles… each exuding a warm luster.

Xiao Ningyuan looked around—what a luxurious and tranquil place!

"Please, have a seat." Shanyanghu gestured to the zitan chairs beside the table, picked up an ebony dice cup, and said, "Little brother, why not try your hand here?"

Tuan Tuan climbed onto the chair, touched the stone table, and said, "Great!"

Xiao Ningyuan understood: they were testing whether Tuan Tuan was cheating.

Shanyanghu placed three white jade dice into the cup and flicked his wrist.

"Clatter…"

The dice collided and spun inside the ebony cup, producing a sound much clearer than the bamboo ones outside—very pleasant to hear.

"Smack!" the dice cup fell.

He lifted his eyes to Tuan Tuan: "Little brother, guess—big or small?"

Tuan Tuan blinked her big eyes: "Big!"

Shanyanghu lifted the dice cup.

Four, five, six—big.

His eyelid twitched slightly.

"Good! Again!" He dumped the dice back into the cup, snapped his wrist sharply, and the dice spun and collided inside with a noisy clatter.

The dice cup fell again, and Shanyanghu asked, "How about this time?"

Tuan Tuan tilted her head, without a hint of hesitation: "Small!"

The dice cup opened: two, two, three—small.

Shanyanghu was visibly startled.

He shook the cup a third time in quick succession, but this time he merely slipped the dice in, gave it a few gentle shakes, and asked, "This time, guess the total."

Tuan Tuan glanced at the dice cup, pursed her little lips: "I've guessed right twice already! If I get this one right too, you have to treat me to a meal—I'm tired!"

Shanyanghu silently chuckled: What you've won tonight would be enough to buy a grand manor in this Yu Prefecture plus a large ship.

All you want is for me to buy you a meal? What a kind-hearted kid.

"Good! It's a deal!"

Only then was Tuan Tuan satisfied: "Nine points!"

The dice cup opened, three, three, three, nine points.

The goatee slowly set down the dice cup, staring intently at Tuan Tuan for a moment: "Little brother, how many years have you practiced to have such skill?"

Tuan Tuan's voice clear and crisp: "I haven't practiced before; today is my first time playing."

"First time?" the goatee exclaimed.

"Yeah, what's wrong?"

The goatee was completely stunned.

He had looked at dozens of gambling tables in this Incense Burning Tower, seen all kinds of gamblers, but had never seen a young child who, upon first entering a gambling house, could win every bet.

This is truly a one-in-a-million genius!

His eyes burning with enthusiasm, he fixed his gaze on Tuan Tuan: "This young brother! If you ever want to pursue this line, I, though unworthy, would be honored to be your teacher and impart all I know."

"With your talent, within three years you will surely become the world's one and only gambling king!"

"Gambling king? Tuan Tuan?" Xiao Ningyuan snorted, then coughed loudly, "kakaka".

Tuan Tuan shook his head, staring at the dice cup in his hand: "Uncle Goatee, may I play with this?"

Xiao Ningyuan pressed his lips together, "Uncle Goatee?"

"Of course!" the goatee first startled, then gladly pushed the dice cup toward her.

Tuan Tuan imitated his earlier motion, carefully placing the three white jade dice into the dice cup, cupping them with his two small hands, and gave a vigorous shake.

"Clatter! Ding—"

The three dice shot out of the cup in a scramble!

Two landed on the stone table, spinning round and round, while the third made a soft "tap" and rolled under the stone table.

"Oh no!" Tuan Tuan hastily put down the dice cup.

"It's fine, it's fine." the goatee picked up the two dice on the table, bent over, trying to reach the one under the table.

"Let me, let me! Sorry, Uncle Goatee." Tuan Tuan slid off the chair in a flop, lay on the ground, sticking out his little bottom, and crawled under the table.

"Careful not to bump it!" Xiao Ningyuan shouted urgently.

"Got it!"

Tuan Tuan looked around, wow, this space under the table is huge!

That white jade die lay still not far away.

She crawled over using hands and feet, picked up the die and held it in her palm, just about to retreat when her gaze inadvertently swept across the underside of the table.

"Huh, what is this?"