Chapter 349: Challenge

He Zuming gave a wry smile and waved his hand,

Old Zhu, don't mention it. Sigh, the past is unbearable to recall.

I said, "Today I finally got to see a master of cricket fighting. Mr. Ma, I want to ask, do these capital city players also go to Ningyang to collect crickets?"

Ma the hunter said: "The capital city players won't go; it's all done by some middlemen who go to Ningyang to collect, then sell back to Sijiucheng."

"The crickets in Sijiucheng mainly rely on technology and ruthless tactics."

"Good, we'll challenge those technology-and-ruthless-tactics crickets. Come on, let's go eat first."

I then brought the gang to eat.

After another three days, that morning He Zuming received a notice from Hongguo Li,

Qiu Xi wants to hold the second cricket fighting tournament. He asks He Zuming to bring me to participate.

Upon hearing that, I thought, "Damn, this time I'll really mess around with Qiao San."

I and He Zuming first went to that boss's tea shop and exchanged tea cards worth over ten million.

This time we're going big, let that young master Qiao know pain.

I brought the jumping cricket of Ma the hunter, specifically to counter Qiao San's bomber.

I named this cricket "Spring".

We soon arrived at Yangquan Hutong,

At this moment the street at the hutong entrance was already bustling, with players from all over gathering again.

I could see Qiao San's luxury car from far away,

This time Qiao San also brought a woman along,

The two started cuddling as soon as they got out of the car,

Upon seeing me, Qiao San pointed at me and said to that woman: "Last time it was this dumbass who lost, damn it, still wants to challenge my bomber. What a joke."

The woman gave me an even more contemptuous look.

Upon hearing that, anger flared in my heart,

I cursed in my mind, "Fuck your grandpa, just wait, today I'll make your bomber crash."

"Make you cry without tears."

I ignored him and continued walking into the hutong,

We soon entered the courtyard inside the hutong,

Since we're all acquaintances,

Xiao Yan directly led us to the inner courtyard.

At this moment Hongguo Li came over from the side,

"Oh, Mr. He, Mr. Zhao has come. Mr. Zhao, you don't have any insects left, how will you play? Should I sell you another one here?"

"I've just brought in a new batch of varieties. Take a look."

Hongguo Li was promoting his crickets.

I laughed, "Mr. Li, I've already bought the cricket."

"Mr. Zhao, where did you buy it? Let me see."

I then took the cricket out from my pocket,

Hongguo Li glanced at it,

"Mr. Zhao, this cricket's appearance is mediocre; it looks like a wild-bred one. Entering such a cricket in the competition, the chance of losing is higher. You should be careful."

I said, "What win or lose, it's just for fun, not just a few packs of tea. This cricket was a gift from a friend, let us bring it to gain experience."

"Oh, I underestimated Mr. Zhao, I spoke too much. May I ask what your cricket's name is, so I can register it?" Hongguo Li asked.

"It's called Spring." I said.

"Alright. Mr. He, Mr. Zhao, please come inside." Hongguo Li gestured for us to enter.

I and He Zuming arrived inside the house,

The inside was already very lively,

Some people couldn't wait to take out their crickets to display,

"Look, my cricket is a Big Golden Wing, a rare breed."

Someone nearby glanced twice,

"What Big Golden Wing? It looks wilted at first glance. Mine is the real good cricket; look at my Big Steel Tooth—its teeth can bite through iron plates." Another bragged.

Upon hearing someone belittle his cricket, that person naturally refused to accept it, thus began an argument, which turned into a quarrel,

Then they were about to get physical,

Since the crickets weren't fighting, the people fought first.

The house became somewhat chaotic.

Qiu Xi loudly shouted: "What's the noise? This is a refined pastime for scholars; your squabbling makes it vulgar."

"Anyone who says another word will have their competition eligibility canceled immediately."

Qiu Xi's words still carried weight,

The two dared not say another word.

Soon the match began,

Everyone were veteran players, they knew the rules.

This time the first cricket to enter the arena was not Qiu Xi's, but that Big Golden Wing.

As the Big Golden Wing entered, the other Big Steel Tooth also entered.

The owners of both, who had been unwilling to accept defeat just now down below, thus only let the crickets fight it out in the arena.

Their betting capital wasn't high, only two bags of tea.

The two crickets fought decently, and in the end Big Steel Tooth snapped off a leg of Big Golden Wing.

Big Steel Tooth won.

Big Steel Tooth's owner was thrilled, cradling Big Steel Tooth in his hand and shouting nonstop.

That Big Golden Wing was pressed to death on the ground by its owner.

Then, in a fury, (they) slammed the door and went out.

That's the fate of crickets: win and you can live, lose and you can only die.

The owners are similar; when their crickets win, they not only win money but also save face,

when they lose, they become a laughingstock and also lose money.

The competition continued.

I kept watching from the side, waiting for Qiao San's bomber to take the stage.

He seemed to be waiting for me as well.

Everyone waited tacitly.

Soon Qiao San brought his cricket to the fighting basin.

Then he deliberately shouted, "Anyone dare challenge my bomber, five bags of tea?"

After speaking, he gave me a contemptuous glance.

I hurried forward.

"I'll go."

"Yo, you really aren't afraid of death. What great general are you using this time, the Shrinking‑Head General?" Qiao San mocked.

I said directly to Qiao San,

"Five bags of tea is too little; dare to play big?"

Hongguo Li looked at me then, urging, "Mr. Zhao, just play for fun, don't be aggressive."

"Haven't seen each other for days, and you're getting a temper. Country bumpkin, tell me how big you want to play." Qiao San said.

"How about twenty bags of tea?" I said.

"Alright, who doesn't dare to play? Who the hell is a grandson, Hongguo Li, announce it. We'll play for twenty bags of tea, ask if anyone else wants to join. Ha ha, if you're going to play, play wildly." Qiao San laughed loudly.

I pulled the cricket out of my chest,

handed it to Hongguo Li, who placed it in the basin,

and when he saw my cricket was half a head smaller than his, Qiao San laughed even more wildly,

"I thought it was something big, but it's actually a little chick*, hasn't grown, call your father to the match. Ha ha."

I ignored Qiao San's mockery,

I said to Hongguo Li, "Mr. Li, ask if anyone else wants to join. Whatever amount, I'll take it."

"Alright, Mr. Zhao, that's settled, willing to gamble and accept loss, can't default." Hongguo Li said.

"Don't worry, that boss here can testify, I have enough tea cards." I said.

"Yes, don't worry, Mr. Li, Zhao Laoban has many tea cards with me." The boss said beside.

"Is anyone else joining? Zhao Laoban eats whatever, that's a big player. Mr. Zhao's spring and Young Master Qiao's bomber are about to compete, anyone joining, quickly state your number, after this village passes there will be no shop." Hongguo Li shouted.

At this moment many people glanced at the basin at my cricket and Qiao San's cricket.

Then someone said, "I'll take twenty bags of tea."

It was Li Tian, who was with Qiao San,

Soon there were more people joining,

Qiu Xi hurriedly had Xiao Yan tally,

In total there were sixty bags of tea joined.

That means if I lose I have to pay 6,000,000; if I win, I also have to win 6,000,000.

Because the stakes rose, the atmosphere in the house was also stirred up.

Many people's eyes stared straight at the two crickets in the fighting basin.