Chapter 995

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Protagonist:

Li Xiulan

Zhong Jianguo walked with shuffling footsteps to the bald man's house in the neighboring village.

Today was the draw day, so quite a few people had gathered here.

They were all from the nearby villages; some came from farther away and rode motorcycles specially to get here.

Besides selling Liucun lottery tickets, this place also counted as a small gambling den; inside the room were three tables — one mahjong table and two card tables.

Quite a few people were gambling inside, noisy and rowdy, thick with smoke and foul air.

Because of this gambling den's existence, the bald man also ran a small shop on the side.

Back then even Shangou Village's small shop couldn't stay open; unexpectedly, the bald man used the gambling den to draw customers and actually got the small shop running again.

Only his small shop specifically served the people who came to his place to gamble and play Liucun, so he sold things like peanuts, cigarettes, and alcohol.

Snacks and such were rarely sold.

Daily necessities were simply not sold at all.

Zhong Jianguo arrived and watched a crowd surrounding the bald man buying numbers.

"Don't rush, don't rush, one by one; the draw is at nine thirty, it's still early! What number are you buying?"

"I'm buying Rabbit, two yuan each!"

"Okay, eight yuan, I'll mark it down for you!"

"How about you?"

"I'm buying even numbers, two yuan each!"

"Even numbers, 24 of them, two yuan each, that's 48 yuan……"

Zhong Jianguo watched from the periphery, chuckling to himself.

He felt they were really nice.

Still so enthusiastic.

Someone his age, even if he wanted to play, wouldn't have the energy.

"Doctor Zhong, what brings you here?"

It was Yang Xiaocai's voice.

Zhong Jianguo turned back and saw Yang Xiaocai walking over with a cigarette in his mouth.

"Just came to look around, join the fun; right now among the nearby villages, this place is the liveliest."

Yang Xiaocai said with a grin:

"Why don't you buy a number too? You might just hit it!"

Zhong Jianguo waved his hand:

"I don't understand this stuff!"

Yet Yang Xiaocai kept egging him on:

"What's there to understand or not? 49 numbers, pick any one; if you win it pays forty to one, if you lose it's gone!"

Zhong Jianguo half-believed, half-doubted:

"Is it really that simple? I see you buying zodiac signs, buying odd/even, and there's red/green waves and whatnot; plus you study it every day and still haven't won more than a few times — feels pretty complicated!"

Yang Xiaocai was made a bit embarrassed by those words.

He was exactly the type who studied every day yet rarely hit a winning number.

"Don't overthink it; it's just luck! 49 numbers, pick any one and that's it!"

Yang Xiaocai said.

At this moment, the bald man also spotted Zhong Jianguo:

"Doctor Zhong, rare guest! What brings you here?"

As the old doctor of the health station serving villagers from several nearby villages, even a local hoodlum like the bald man treated him with three parts respect.

After all, if Zhong Jianguo quit, the villagers from these several villages would have to travel all the way to town for any headache or foot pain.

"Just came to watch the fun!"

Zhong Jianguo clasped his hands behind his back, slightly stooped, temples streaked with gray, revealing a simple, honest smile.

"Why don't you buy a number too? Play a couple rounds, everyone plays together, have a laugh; it won't cost much!"

Zhong Jianguo was persuaded; he also felt spending two yuan wouldn't have any bad consequences.

So he said:

"Can I buy two yuan's worth?"

"Sure, what number do you want? I'll jot it down for you!"

Zhong Jianguo thought a moment and casually named a number:

"I'll buy number 18!"

Zhong Jianguo handed over two yuan; the bald man recorded his number and gave him a ticket — if he won, he could redeem it for cash with that ticket.

Zhong Jianguo didn't really expect to win; he just came to have a bit of fun.

Staying alone at the health station all day was simply too lonely and boring.

He had to find someone to talk to.

Daytime was fine; villagers still came to his health station to see him.

In the evening basically no one would come over; it was too early for him to fall asleep, so he could only sit there idly, staring blankly at the TV — it was truly too hard to endure.

That was why he came over to join in the lively bustle.

He didn't need to interact with others, nor did he need to blend in.

Just standing to one side, watching everyone else lively and bustling, able to hear human voices and feel the presence of people, his heart felt much more at ease.

That kind of feeling, only the left-behind elderly in the rural areas can truly experience.

Before, Zhong Jianguo didn't understand why Liang Xinghua's mother Zhou Aidi would commit suicide — an originally easy-to-get-along-with old woman, why would she do something so extreme.

Later, as his own health grew worse and worse, and his own son hardly ever came back to show concern, he gradually understood Zhou Aidi's choice.

She needed her children's attention too much; digging up the Wang Family's ancestral grave was for her son's good, and also to draw her son's attention.

Later, hanging herself in Wang Changgen's new house was because of the accumulation of negative emotions, with nowhere to vent and nowhere to pour out her grievances, she could only indulge in wild thoughts, and finally walked down that extreme path.

Zhong Jianguo stayed at the bald-headed man's home until nine thirty in the evening, and still hadn't left.

At nine thirty the Liucun draws its numbers; this is something many people in the rural areas know.

The bald-headed man made a call to his supplier, and before long he got the draw information.

"Tonight's winning number is 18! Winners come to me to claim your prize!"

The bald-headed man gave a loud shout to everyone in the room.

Immediately some were happy and some were worried.

The majority were worried; only a few were happy.

After all, with a one-in-forty-nine probability, the majority definitely couldn't hit the number.

Yang Xiaocai also didn't hit the number this time, his face full of dejection.

He remembered the number Zhong Jianguo bought — it seemed to be 18!

"Doctor Zhong, you bought 18, right? You won!"

Zhong Jianguo was only focused on watching the fun, enjoying this touch of worldly warmth, and had forgotten what number he'd bought.

He took out the receipt the bald-headed man had written for him and looked — only then did he remember, he really had bought 18!

"Hehe, so I won just like that?"

A delighted smile involuntarily appeared on Zhong Jianguo's face.

He hadn't expected to win at all; he just spent two yuan to amuse himself.

Unexpectedly, an unintentional act brought an unexpected reward — he actually won!

Yang Xiaocai was filled with envy:

"Doctor Zhong, you're too amazing — first time buying a number and you hit! I've studied for so long and never won!"

Zhong Jianguo was praised until he felt a bit embarrassed:

"Just a fluke; I bought randomly!"

Yang Xiaocai urged him:

"Hurry up and claim the prize — 80 yuan, that's enough for two or three days of food expenses for you!"

Zhong Jianguo grinned from ear to ear:

"Not just two or three days — I couldn't spend 80 yuan in a whole week!"

He claimed the prize at the bald-headed man's place, holding the 80 yuan he'd won, happy like a 70-something-year-old child — grinning wide, revealing his gapped teeth, delighted beyond measure!

Zhong Jianguo felt this was the happiest day he'd had in the past year!

Even the Spring Festival wasn't as happy as tonight!

Because last year during the Spring Festival, his son didn't come home!

……