Chapter 476: Looking for the Gambling Stall

Following the villagers' directions, I and Pangzi went to the town hospital, bought some apples, oranges and such to visit Grandma Huang.

In the hospital ward we saw the emaciated Grandma Huang; their complexion was not good, their whitened sideburns made them look even older. I and Pangzi considered Grandma Huang's future lodging, planning to wait until we caught the Masked Beast, then go to the county town to find an welfare home to settle this elderly person who lost their child.

However, our worry was unnecessary; Grandma Huang has a niece named Huang Yan, who married into the county town when she was young. Huang Yan's parents passed away when she was young, so now her only surviving relative is Grandma Huang. In fact, Huang Yan had long considered bringing Grandma Huang to live with her in town. However, this elderly person has stubbornly stayed in the countryside: first, they cannot bear to leave the ancestral home they are accustomed to and have feelings for; second, they are guarding the dilapidated ancestral home, waiting for Chen Biao, this unfilial son, to have a change of heart.

Now Chen Biao has left, Grandma Huang is alone and has nowhere to go. Huang Yan thought about bringing Grandma Huang to live together: first, to give the elderly person a place in their later years; second, Huang Yan could also show full filial devotion toward this aunt.

"Aunt Huang, this is a small token of our thoughts; please accept it first, buy some things to nourish Grandma Huang well." In the hospital corridor, Pangzi shoved five thousand into Huang Yan's pocket. It's clear that although Huang Yan has moved out of the county town, her home environment is not good either! From her plain clothing and her hands covered in calluses, one can see that Huang Yan is actually from an ordinary farming family.

Huang Yan's pocket was stuffed; she absolutely refused to take Pangzi's money. She said my aunt had previously asked you to tell fortunes, and that incense money hasn't been paid yet. How could I still take your money?

"The incense money of gods and buddhas is taken from believers; if believers have need, they should also selflessly offer it. Whether Daoist or Buddhist sect, what they speak of is a heart of compassion that seeks to save all beings." Pangzi tightly grasped Huang Yan's hand and said: "So you needn't stand on ceremony. If you truly regard me as a Daoist, then accept this money. In the future, treat Grandma Huang better, be more filial. A family with an elder is like having a treasure; instructing the elder will bring blessings."

"It's time, let's go!" I glanced at my watch and gave Pangzi a look.

The two bade farewell to Huang Yan, then entered the ward again to say goodbye to Grandma Huang. After that, I and Pangzi left the hospital, split up: one went to town to inquire about the gambling den's whereabouts; the other stood guard at the mutton stall.

The task of investigating the gambling den naturally fell to me, while guarding the mutton stall fell to Pangzi. As Daoists, we don't eat dogs or cattle, so the only meat we can eat is pork and mutton. However, I am naturally averse to the gamy smell of mutton, whereas Pangzi, this glutton, naturally loves eating mutton.

I estimate that with Pangzi's appetite, while keeping watch, he could at least polish off half a sheep. A glutton is always the best cover for a detective. Hardly anyone would suspect the roadside stall, the mutton shop where that big‑eating Pangzi is.

After splitting up, I went to the bank to withdraw some money, then ran into a small alley that looked rather chaotic, with a complex flow of people.

In this alley there were big and small game rooms and mahjong stalls. Generally speaking, gambling dens are hidden in places with mixed crowds that are not easy to notice. Of course, except for Macau and Hong Kong.

From evening onward I kept loitering in this alley. I deliberately took off my hat, exposing my bald head, cigarette in mouth, arms open, truly the image of a delinquent youth.

Occasionally I would take out money and go to the stall to buy betting tokens, whether for Fight the Landlord, or playing cards, Bullfighting, or Three Public. As long as the gamblers permit, onlookers can also buy betting tokens; some places also call it buying numbers. You can press your money directly onto any person. Or you can arbitrarily draw a card from another deck; the former method applies to many kinds of gambling, while the latter method usually only applies to Fight the Landlord.

After gambling a few rounds at the small stall by the street, losing some money, I deliberately, when the crowd grew thicker, cigarette in mouth, cursed fiercely: "Damn, this little toy of a gamble is really frustrating; betting back and forth, you only get a few measly points after going back and forth, boring, truly boring."

I deliberately adopted a contemptuous attitude, sighed heavily, and exposed a corner of the money in my wallet. Of course, I understand not to reveal wealth openly; at the same time I revealed wealth, I also exposed the small knife I had just bought.

Matching my current eye bags, bald one‑eyed dragon look, I estimate that even if someone wanted to scheme against me, they'd have to weigh whether they're up to it.

As expected, after I loudly complained with sighs a few times, a shrinking, small‑statured man actually came over to me.

This man was also bald, looked a few years older than me but shorter, and at a glance you could tell he was the sort of ruffian whose body has been hollowed out by drink and lust, often staying up late.

This guy came up to my side, patted my shoulder, and whispered with a sly smile: "Brother, I heard you want to play a big game."

Upon hearing that, I secretly thought the opportunity had come. My expression unchanged, I feigned impatience and said: "How so, do you have a good recommendation?"

The baldy didn't answer me directly, but after glancing around cautiously, he beckoned me furtively and said: "Over there they say there are often plainclothes police patrolling around here."

I followed him to a dark corner of the alley; the baldy took out a cigarette from his pack and handed it to me, then he himself played with that cigarette, smilingly probing: "Little brother, are you from the Guangdong area?"

I held the cigarette, gave him a contemptuous glance, and shouted impatiently: "What does it matter whether I'm from Guangdong or Guangxi? If you know a good spot, say it quick; otherwise, get lost."

Having said that, I prepared to turn and leave.

"Hey hey hey, little brother, don't go, don't go!" Seeing I was about to turn and leave, the baldy hurriedly grabbed me, apologetically smiling: "Don't be angry! I'm not worried you're a police plant, that's why I asked a couple more questions."

"Police, do you think I look like a police?" I gave him a contemptuous glance, cigarette in mouth, head tilted upward, my unruly ruffian temperament fully on display.

"To tell you the truth, I have a brother who heard he won a big pile of money here a couple days ago. After returning to the village, you wouldn't believe how arrogant he got. I just can't stand his attitude, so I'm thinking of making a big score, trying my luck, then going back to compete with him." I deliberately hinted at Chen Biao's village information in the conversation.

Unexpectedly, upon hearing that, the baldy immediately got energized.

"You mean Biaozi, right? I know his affairs; that money was won at Master Bao's venue. Master Bao's venue, around here is the most righteous when it comes to ethics. At his venue, if you have the skill to win money, you can take it away; there won't be any black‑on‑black theft." Upon hearing that I and Chen Biao came from the same village, the baldy let down his guard considerably. However, this baldy is no fool, and soon he noticed something was off.

"That's not right, you're from Guangdong, Biaozi is a local. How could you be from the same village?" The baldy took two puffs of cigarette, stared at me warily, stepped back two steps, and I instantly broke out in a cold sweat.

"Um… actually, actually, I'm a local. It's just that my father does business in Guangdong; I've lived there since I was little, rarely returning to the countryside. So my accent leans toward Guanghua, a bit heavy." A flash of inspiration struck me; I came up with this excuse, then took out my ID, covered the name, leaving only the surname for the baldy to see.

"Look, I also bear the surname Chen, so I'm kin to Biaozi."

In rural areas, people of the same surname are common. Producing this ID, although the baldy couldn't see it clearly, it also dispelled his inner suspicion.

"Now can you take me to Brother Bao's venue?" I asked, spreading my hands.

"That's naturally no problem!" The baldy rubbed his hands with a dry laugh, then extended his hand, halted in mid‑air making a money‑gesture, chuckling: "Just… you know the rule."

"Um… rule?" I hadn't yet reacted for a moment.

"Rule, you don't understand this, it's the 'happy money'!" The baldy, anxious and doubtful, looked at me and asked: "You really don't understand this rule?"

I shook my head, bewildered: "What are you talking about, this 'happy money'? Do I have to pay you to have fun? You can't even give me fun, uh…"

Suddenly, this chat pattern seemed off!

This tiny baldy didn't notice the error in my words, but anxiously gave me an explanation.

The so‑called happy money is an unwritten rule among these people, like pimping: in today's cities, if you go out in the middle of the night, hop on a motorcycle or even a taxi, the drivers will mysteriously, with a grin, ask you: "Want to go have some fun?"

Their fun means taking you to find women. Don't wonder why they go to such trouble.

Because in the prostitution fee you give, they get a cut—sometimes a few tens, sometimes up to a hundred. This is the so‑called happy money, also called water fee or pumping in some places.

The happy money this baldy spoke of is no different from the cut taken from the prostitution fee. In short, thanks to his connections he leads you into the gambling den, and you have to pay him for guiding you; afterward the gambling den also gives him a reward, and both sides collect money.

In order to find out the Masked Beast's whereabouts, I immediately agreed without hesitation.

Afterward, that baldy furtively led me around another corner of the alley, winding nine times and eighteen bends, taking me through the dark little alley.

Finally, after half an hour, the baldy led me into the underground parking lot of a mall, and inside the parking lot there was another passage.

Inside, there was another world.

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