Chapter 399

After Han Zhang received ten million, he took a boat to Macau that same afternoon.

Translation: After Han Zhang received ten million, that afternoon he took a boat to Macau.

But need to keep numbers exactly: ten million = ten million. Could also be "ten million". Keep as "ten million". Use "Macau". Good.

Before departing, Han Zhang specially went to the temple to offer three sticks of incense to Mazu, praying for the ancestor's blessing. Mazu did not say she would protect him, but he felt sure he could recoup his losses this time and win back everything he had lost.

Before departing, Han Zhang specially went to the temple to offer three incense sticks to Mazu, praying for the ancestor's blessing. Mazu did not say she would bless him, but he felt sure he could break even this time and win back all his losses.

Need to keep "ancestor" as "ancestor". Could be "the ancestor". We'll translate as "the ancestor". Keep "Mazu". Good.

Not every gamble results in a loss; this is a belief deeply ingrained in many gamblers.

Having a gamble does not necessarily mean losing; this is a belief deeply ingrained in many gamblers.

The fishermen in the fishing village also love to gamble.

The fishermen in the fishing village also love to gamble.

But they lack the means to travel overseas to Macau to gamble, so they can only gather on the beach to gamble on fish, shrimp, and crab—a traditional dice game popular in the Haishan area.

But they lack the means to go overseas to Macau to gamble; they can only gather by the beach to gamble on fish, shrimp, and crab, a traditional dice game popular in the Haishan region.

This game uses three specially made dice.

This game uses three specially made dice.

Each die has six faces carved with fish, shrimp, crab, rooster, money, and gourd (in some places the designs vary slightly due to local customs), using the patterns instead of pips.

Each die's six faces are carved respectively with fish, shrimp, crab, chicken, money, and gourd (in some places the folk customs differ, so the patterns vary slightly), using the patterns instead of pips.

The banker simply lays a sheet of paper on the ground.

The banker simply lays a sheet of paper on the ground.

The paper also depicts the six corresponding symbols; players only need to place their bets on the symbol they choose.

The paper also depicts the corresponding six patterns; players only need to place their bets on the pattern they choose.

After the banker shakes the dice and opens the cup, the outcome is determined by the symbols shown; betting on the matching symbol wins. Excluding cheating methods, the game involves no skill whatsoever.

After the banker shakes the dice and opens the cup, the outcome is judged by the patterns shown; matching the pattern you bet on means a win. Excluding cheating methods, this game involves no skill at all.

But everyone loves playing it.

But everyone loves to play it.

In the past, when everyone had no money, the stakes were the fish, shrimp, and crab they had painstakingly caught.

In the past, when everyone had no money, the stakes were the fish, shrimp, and crab they had painstakingly caught.

Braving wind and waves for four or five days at sea, they would bring back a boatload of fish, only to lose it all within half an hour of coming ashore. Some, desperate from losing, would even wager their own fishing boats.

Braving wind and waves, they went out to sea for four or five days, hauled in a boatload of fish, only to lose it all within half an hour of coming ashore. Some, losing their tempers, even wagered their own fishing boats.

Old Man Zheng of the village once won his first fishing boat in this very way.

In the village, Zheng Lao Pi won his first fishing boat in life exactly this way.

After tasting success, Old Man Zheng took to being the banker. He is bold, willing to accept any stake, and will fight to the bitter end whenever there is profit to be made.

After tasting success, Zheng Lao Pi took to being the banker. He is especially bold, willing to accept any stake. Whenever there is profit to be made, he will fight to the bitter end.

Today, Old Man Zheng has opened another table.

Today Zheng Lao Pi set up another stall.

But today he is not betting on fish, shrimp, or crab; he is betting on whether Lin Dongfan will return alive. From the moment he learned that Lin Dongfan had gone to the Haishan Hotel for a meeting, he set up his betting stall.

But today he is not gambling on fish, shrimp, and crab; he is betting on whether Lin Dongfan will return alive. From the moment he learned Lin Dongfan had gone to the Haishan Inn for a meeting, he set up his betting stand.

There are three options on the betting table:

There are three options on the betting board:

1. Death.

1. Death.

2. Injury.

2. Injury.

3. No incident.

3. No incident.

More than a dozen people excitedly placed their bets in front of the stall, these guys are seriously out of the loop—they don't even know that Lin Dongfan has already come out unscathed.

More than a dozen people excitedly gathered around the betting stand to place their bets; these fellows are seriously out of the loop, still unaware that Lin Dongfan has already returned unharmed.

Old Man Zheng saw that everyone had placed their bets on the 'injury' character.

Zheng Lao Pi saw everyone putting their bets on the "injury" character.

He chuckled smugly: 'You bunch of idiots, playing without brains. You deserve to lose money—get ready to go home naked. What is the Haishan Hotel? It's the contact point of the Hai Long Society. Fan the boss went into the dragon's den and tiger's lair; could he possibly come out alive? He'll surely be chopped into minced meat and thrown into the sea to feed the fish.'

He chuckled smugly: "You bunch of idiots, playing without brains. It serves you right that you can't win money; get ready to go home naked. What is the Haishan Inn? It's a contact point of the Sea Dragon Society. Boss Fan went into the dragon's pool and tiger's den—could he possibly come out alive? He'll surely be chopped into minced meat and thrown into the sea to feed the fish."

An uncle interjected: 'Old Man Zheng, don't get too excited too soon. Boss Fan knows martial arts, and his bodyguards are formidable. At worst he'll get injured; he won't die.'

An uncle interjected: "Zheng Lao Pi, don't get too excited too soon. Boss Fan knows martial arts, and his bodyguards are also very tough. At most he'll get injured; he won't die."

'No matter how good one's kung fu, they still fear a cleaver; the Hai Long Society is numerous and powerful—if each person comes at him with a knife, how could he resist? He has no brains.' Old Man Zheng firmly believed Lin Dongfan would surely die. Seeing someone trying to move their bet to the 'death' character, he slapped them and said, 'What are you doing? Once you've bet, you can't change your mind!'

"Even the best martial arts fear a cleaver; the Sea Dragon Society is numerous and powerful—if each person slashes at him with a knife, how could he resist? He has no brains at all." Zheng Lao Pi firmly believed Lin Dongfan must die. Seeing someone trying to shift their already placed bet to the "death" character, he slapped them down: "What are you doing? Once you bet, you can't change your mind!"

'You're going too far!'

"You're going too far!"

An angry voice came from the seaside, putting an end to the commotion.

An angry voice came from the seaside, ending the noisy scene.

Old Man Zheng turned toward the sound.

Zheng Lao Pi turned toward the sound.

He saw it was Chen Xiaoyu.

He saw it was Chen Xiaoyu.

He couldn't help but tease: 'Earlier, Boss Fan said he'd give you a large ocean-going fishing boat. That's a luxurious gift worth over ten million. Now that promise hasn't been fulfilled, and Boss Fan himself is in trouble. Your beautiful dream just went *pfft* and shattered—doesn't that make you feel a bit upset?'

He couldn't help but jeer: "Earlier, Boss Fan said he'd give you a large ocean-going fishing boat. What a sweetheart—that's a luxurious gift worth over ten million. Now that promise hasn't been fulfilled, and Boss Fan himself is in trouble. Your beautiful dream just went 'pop' and shattered on the ground; aren't you feeling a bit upset inside?"

'Boss Fan stood up to the Hai Long Society to defend everyone's rights; you not helping is bad enough, but now you're betting he'll be hacked to death—do you have any conscience at all?'

"Boss Fan is opposing the Sea Dragon Society to defend everyone's rights; you not helping is bad enough, but now you're betting he'll be hacked to death—do you even have a conscience?"

Speaking, Xiaoyu had already walked up to the betting stall.

Saying this, Xiaoyu had already walked up to the betting stand.

Seeing Xiaoyu approach aggressively, Old Man Zheng thought she wanted to overturn his stall, so he rushed forward to block her with one hand: 'Never mind whether I have a conscience—if you knock over my stand, don't blame me for stripping your clothes.'

Seeing Xiaoyu approaching aggressively, Zheng Lao Pi thought she wanted to overturn his stall, so he hurried forward to block her with one hand: "Never mind whether I have a conscience; if you knock over my stand, don't blame me for tearing off your clothes..."

'Get out of the way!'

"Get out of the way!"

Xiaoyu angrily flicked her hand.

Xiaoyu angrily flicked her hand.

Don't let her delicate, pretty appearance fool you—her hand is strong, shoving Old Man Zheng so he staggered back two steps, nearly tripping over a nearby fish basket.

Don't let her delicate, pretty appearance fool you—her hand packs quite a punch, shoving Zheng Lao Pi so he staggered back two steps, nearly tripping over the nearby fish basket.

Before Old Man Zheng could regain his footing.

Before Zheng Lao Pi could steady himself,

Xiaoyu pulled out two stacks of her private savings from the bottom of her box—twenty thousand in total—and placed it all on the 'no incident' characters without a hint of hesitation.

Xiaoyu pulled out two stacks of private savings from her bottom drawer, totaling twenty thousand, and placed it all on the "no incident" characters without a hint of hesitation.

The odds for those two characters are one to five.

The payout for those two characters is one to five.

If Lin Dongfan returns safely, Xiaoyu wins and Old Man Zheng must pay her one hundred thousand. But Old Man Zheng isn't worried at all; he's actually grinning from ear to ear.

If Lin Dongfan returns safely, then Xiaoyu wins and Zheng Lao Pi must pay her one hundred thousand. But Zheng Lao Pi isn't worried at all; instead he's grinning with delight.

He stepped forward and chuckled: 'You actually rushed over to give me money—did water get into your brain?'

He stepped forward and chuckled: "You actually rushed over to give me money—did water get into your brain?"

'Having water in your brain is better than having no conscience!' Xiaoyu retorted at Old Man Zheng, then turned to the crowd: 'And you lot, all of you hoping Boss Fan ends up dead or injured—yet none of you bet on him coming out unscathed!'

"Having water in your brain is better than having no conscience!" Xiaoyu retorted at Zheng Lao Pi, then turned to the crowd: "And you all, each of you hoping Boss Fan ends up dead or injured—right? Yet none of you bet on him coming to no harm!"

'Xiaoyu, you can't blame us for this,' the village chief said glumly. 'We don't want Boss Fan to come to harm either, but this isn't something we can change. He went to the Haishan Hotel on his own, and the outcome will be either death or injury—coming out completely unharmed is impossible. If we bet on no incident, we'd just be handing money to Old Man Zheng.'

"Xiaoyu, you can't blame us for this." The village chief explained glumly: "We don't want Boss Fan to come to harm either, but this isn't something we can change. He went to the Haishan Inn himself, and the outcome is either death or injury. Being completely unharmed is impossible. If we bet on no incident, it would be like giving Zheng Lao Pi money."

An uncle chimed in: 'Exactly, we can't do something that neither saves anyone nor loses money—that's just stupid. Don't be foolish; move that twenty thousand somewhere else.'

An uncle echoed: "Exactly, we can't do something that neither saves anyone nor loses money—that's stupid. Don't be foolish; move that twenty thousand somewhere else, quick."

'No regrets on the bet!'

"No regrets on the bet!"

As soon as he heard 'move the money,' Old Man Zheng immediately stepped on the twenty thousand.

As soon as he heard "move the money," Zheng Lao Pi immediately stepped his foot onto the twenty thousand.

He then smugly mocked Xiaoyu: 'That's your own bet—no one forced you to pick no incident—just wait and cry.'

He then smugly mocked Xiaoyu: "This is your own bet; nobody forced you to place it on no incident—just wait and cry."

'Hmph, who knows who'll end up crying—I'm betting on Brother Fan coming out unscathed!'

"Hmph, who knows who'll end up crying—I'm betting on Brother Fan coming to no harm!"

Xiaoyu actually felt uneasy inside, worried that Lin Dongfan might truly not return; placing her twenty thousand on the 'no incident' characters was purely for peace of mind.

Xiaoyu actually felt nervous inside, worried that Lin Dongfan might truly not return; placing the twenty thousand on the "no incident" characters was purely to seek peace of mind.

She turned and faced the direction of the Mazu temple.

She turned her body to face the direction of the Mazu temple.

She pressed her palms together.

She put her palms together.

She closed her eyes and silently prayed: 'Please, Mazu, protect Brother Fan's safe return; as long as he comes back unharmed, I, a common girl, would have no regrets even if I never caught another fish in my life.'

She closed her eyes and silently prayed: "Please, Mazu, protect Brother Fan's safe return; as long as he comes back safely, even if I, a common girl, never catch a fish in my lifetime, I will have no regrets."

Just then, a car horn sounded not far away.

Just then, a car horn sounded not far away.

Xiaoyu turned her head and, upon seeing, exclaimed delightedly: 'Thank you, Mazu!'

Xiaoyu turned her head and looked, then instantly rejoiced: "Thank you, Mazu!"

Happiness came so suddenly.

Happiness came so suddenly.

She eagerly ran toward the Rolls-Royce.

She eagerly ran toward the Rolls-Royce.

Now it was Old Man Zheng's turn to look bewildered.

Now it was Zheng Lao Pi's turn to look bewildered.

He gazed from afar at the just-stopped Rolls-Royce, muttering in bewilderment: 'He's not dead? That makes no sense—is there anyone in this world the Hai Long Society can't kill?'

He gazed from afar at the just-stopped Rolls-Royce, muttering puzzledly: "Not dead? That makes no sense—is there anyone in this world the Sea Dragon Society can't take down?"

This doubt lasted less than two seconds; the dazed Zheng Lao Pi collapsed, laughing through tears: "Doomed goods, this time I've lost to the Pacific, blood compensation of a hundred thousand…" All that could be seen was Lin Dongfan getting out of the car, safe and sound.

What is the concept of 100,000 dollars?

Nowadays, after haggling, you can buy a used small trawler.

But Zheng Lao Pi's old asbestos‑tile house isn't worth anything; even if he sold it together with all the junk furniture at home, it still wouldn't reach 100,000 dollars.

"Brother Fan."

Xiao Yu was overjoyed, really wanting to hug Lin Dongfan, but didn't dare.

She said excitedly, "I bet you'll come back safe and win 100,000 dollars."

"There's more good news?"

While chatting and laughing, Lin Dongfan had already turned his gaze to the seaside gambling stall; squinting, upon seeing Zheng Lao Pi's devastated, miserable expression, he knew it was a season where some rejoice and others grieve.