Chapter 4: Playing Dice

Pai gow is the kind Ruan Fu was just playing: twenty-four Leaf Cards, eight each of black, red, and blue, with four suits—plum blossom, orchid, willow branch, and maple leaf. Winning or losing is determined by the value of the cards. Each person takes turns drawing three cards from the deck as their hole cards. After looking at their hand, they can choose to raise, and the next player must choose to raise, fold, or challenge the opponent.

Raising needs no explanation; it means exactly what it says. Folding means admitting defeat and giving up the bet already placed; people usually choose this when they feel their hand is weak and has no chance of winning, which can be considered cutting one's losses. Challenging the opponent is a way to force an end to the game when one cannot raise but feels their hand is strong, but it is very risky. If you challenge and your hand is smaller than your opponent's, not only does all the money on the table go to the opponent, but you must also pay an additional amount equal to the table's stake to all three parties.

It is actually a type of psychological warfare. The way to win is to force the others to fold and admit defeat until only one person remains to take the pot, or two people remain to reveal their cards. Very few people have the absolute confidence to choose to challenge.

Mahjong is equivalent to modern Mahjong. Collecting four sets of triplets plus one pair to form fourteen cards is enough to win. This game has many complex variations and is considered a high-end game in the Gambling Den; without the ability to memorize and calculate cards, it is difficult to win money in such matches.

As for Dice and Fan-tan, they both actually involve shaking a Dice Cup. In the former, you shake the Dice Cup yourself and guess the numbers; in the latter, the dealer shakes the Dice Cup, and the participating gamblers guess whether the total is big or small.

If you want to play for high stakes and get rich overnight, you naturally choose the first two, but the confidence Ruan Xing had to ask to gamble herself came from the Simulator, so the latter two were better.

She didn't know if Qiye possessed the unique skill of shaking dice to get whatever number he wanted, but she certainly didn't, so Ruan Xing said, "I don't understand those complicated ones. Qiye, please indulge me and let's play Fan-tan."

"Alright."

Qiye didn't mind; to him, it was all the same regardless of what they played.

He swept his gaze, and a man came over, wiped the table casually, placed a Dice Cup on it, and lifted it for Ruan Xing to inspect.

This was a necessary procedure; before starting, one must check the gambling tools for hidden mechanisms. The man did not look down on Ruan Xing or skip this step just because she was a child.

Of course, Ruan Xing, who was not proficient in this, couldn't check for any problems.

"Let's begin," she said.

The man picked up the Dice Cup with one hand and began to shake it.

At the same time, Ruan Xing opened the Simulator panel in her mind.

The handful of silver she had grabbed earlier had already turned into points, displayed as 24.3 points in her balance.

She could simulate 24 times, which should be enough. Start simulation! 【Simulating...】

At age six, you take the initiative to replace your father and gamble against Qiye. You choose the Fan-tan game. In the first round, after the dealer shakes the Dice Cup, you guess small, and Qiye guesses big. After the cup is opened, the dice show five, five, and six; you lose.

Your father rushes over and kicks you down. Your head hits the corner of the table, and you die.

【Simulation ended】

Please choose a reward for this simulation:

1. Memories from age six.

2. A random item carried at age six.

3. A random skill mastered at age six.

A bad start indeed.

Ruan Xing casually chose one, and for the sake of safety, started the simulation again.

【Simulating...】

At age six, you take the initiative to replace your father and gamble against Qiye. You choose the Fan-tan game. In the first round, after the dealer shakes the Dice Cup, you guess big, and Qiye guesses small. After the cup is opened, the dice show five, five, and six; you win.

In the second round, after the dealer shakes the Dice Cup, you guess big, and Qiye guesses small. After the cup is opened, the dice show three, three, and two; you lose.

Your father rushes over and kicks you down. Your head hits the corner of the table, and you die.

【Simulation ended】

Please choose a reward for this simulation:

1. Memories from age six.

2. A random item carried at age six.

3. A random skill mastered at age six.

After choosing option one again, Ruan Xing said firmly, "I guess big!"

"Then I'll guess small," Qiye said. As soon as his voice fell, the man opened the cup. Qiye glanced at the dice and smiled, "Five, five, six. Little girl, your luck is good. I'll take charge and clear the debt from the Pai gow game your father lost today."

"Come, second round."

The man shook the Dice Cup. Ruan Xing pursed her lips and silently recited to start the simulation.

【Simulating...】

At age six, you take the initiative to replace your father and gamble against Qiye. You choose the Fan-tan game. In the first round, after the dealer shakes the Dice Cup, you guess big, and Qiye guesses small. After the cup is opened, the dice show five, five, and six; you win.

In the second round, after the dealer shakes the Dice Cup, you guess small, and Qiye guesses big. After the cup is opened, the dice show three, three, and two; you win. Qiye admires you greatly, waives your father's previous debt and interest, and asks to play one more round. If you win, he can grant you one request; if you lose, you must follow Qiye, and he will train you to work for him in the future. You agree. In the third round, you guess small, and Qiye guesses big. After the cup is opened, the dice show three sixes; you lose.

Your father rushes over to hit you but is stopped by Qiye's men. You are taken away by Qiye to be taught Gambling. You have mediocre talent in Gambling; after three months of study, you still don't understand the basics. Qiye gradually becomes disappointed in you and stops paying attention. You become a maid doing rough work at Qiye's estate.

At age seven, long-term exhaustion leads to a severe illness you cannot recover from, and you die.

【Simulation ended】

Please choose a reward for this simulation:

1. Memories from age seven.

2. A random item carried at age seven.

3. A random skill mastered at age seven.

As usual, she chose one. Ruan Xing followed the actions from the Simulator and guessed small; sure enough, she won.

A flash of appreciation crossed Qiye's slender eyes. He sat up slightly and said, "Who knew a bad bamboo could produce a good shoot? Little girl, what is your name?"

When Ruan Fu first saw her, he had called her Xing'er, but at that time, Qiye didn't think a little girl was worth noting and forgot it as soon as he heard it. He didn't expect that less than the time it takes to burn an incense stick, the situation would reverse, and he would take the initiative to ask for the little girl's name.

"My name is Ruan Xing," Ruan Xing answered briefly, without saying anything more. Receiving several sets of memories out of thin air in her mind in a short time made her feel a bit dizzy. Fortunately, she had died relatively early in these simulations, so there weren't many memories; otherwise, she might have vomited on the spot.

"Little Xing, I quite admire you. Staying with your father is a waste of your luck and talent. Why not follow me, Qiye, and let me train you properly?"

Seeing Ruan Xing look hesitant, Qiye continued, "I, Qiye, believe in fate and luck. That you could meet me today is destiny between us. Why not gamble one more round? If you win, I will grant you one request; I can help you with anything within my ability. If you lose, you will follow me properly, and I will give your father some compensation. How about it? Do you agree?"

Qiye's smile looked very kind, as if it wouldn't matter even if Ruan Xing didn't agree.

But Ruan Xing could not trust Qiye so easily; someone involved in gangs was never simple.

Furthermore, the results of the two simulations had already told her that Qiye would cheat in the third round; it was impossible for her to win.

She lowered her head, appearing to be thinking, while continuing to simulate in her mind.

【Simulating...】

At six years old, you agreed to your third gambling match with Qiye; you guessed Big, Qiye guessed Small, and you lost.

……

【Simulation in progress】

At six years old, you agreed to your third gambling match with Qiye; you guessed Small, Qiye guessed Big, and you lost.

……

Beads of sweat broke out on the tip of her nose from nervousness; Ruan Xing wiped them away haphazardly with her sleeve, looked up at Qiye, and offered a fawning smile, "Qiye, will you let me think about it?"

"Fine, this can be considered a major life event for you; I'll give you the time it takes to drink a cup of tea to think it over carefully."

Qiye beckoned, and a man in the back row poured a cup of hot tea and brought it over; Qiye held it in his hand and blew on the white steam rising from it.

Since she would lose no matter what she chose, Ruan Xing could not waste her Simulation attempts on this; she had to obtain something useful from the remaining attempts. The subsequent direction of the Simulator was very rigid, and her thoughts could only alter minor directions. After thinking it over, Ruan Xing continued the Simulation: what if she didn't agree to this third gambling match with Qiye? 【Simulation in progress】

At six years old, you refused your third gambling match with Qiye; Qiye expressed great disappointment but still let you and your father leave the Gambling Den. That evening, your mother returned home and proposed teaching you and your sister how to weave; your father, in a good mood because his debts had been cleared, agreed. You and your sister were also very happy and began learning to weave.

At seven years old, you and your sister worked hard to learn weaving; your father still lingered at the Gambling Den and lost all the family's remaining wealth. Your sister voluntarily gave up her opportunity to learn weaving, providing all resources to support you. A few months later, your father owed a massive gambling debt and wanted to sell you and your sister to pay it off; after your mother and sister begged bitterly, your sister was sold to a human trafficker to pay off half the debt, and you remained.

At eight years old, you worked hard at weaving; although the cloth you wove was somewhat coarse, it had reached the standard to be sold for money.

At nine years old, in order to pay off your father's debts, you worked hard at weaving; your mother requested the Guan of the Weaving Workshop to take you in as an apprentice.

At ten years old, you worked hard at weaving, and your craftsmanship improved.

At eleven years old, you worked hard at weaving; Qiye sent someone to ask if you wanted to do an easier job, and you refused.

At twelve years old, you worked hard at weaving; your father seemed to have lost interest in the Gambling Den and spent more time at home.

At thirteen years old, you worked hard at weaving and finally paid off the debts; through your father's efforts, your mother became pregnant again.

At fourteen years old, you worked hard at weaving and became a formal weaver at the Weaving Workshop; your mother gave birth to a younger brother.

At sixteen years old, you worked hard at weaving; a wealthy gentleman from the neighboring county sent a matchmaker to your home to propose marriage. He gave your father a generous dowry, and you were married to the gentleman as a concubine.

At seventeen years old, you were quite favored by the gentleman; not long after, you became pregnant. The gentleman's wife took advantage of the gentleman being away to punish you by forcing you to jump into a pond alone to search for her lost earring. You stayed in the water for six hours, and after returning, you fell into a serious illness and died.

(End of chapter)