Chapter 87: Jinling's Gambling God

In the "Jufu Hall" casino beside Jinling's Fuzi Temple, the smell of smoke mingled with sweat, and the murky air was filled with the crisp clatter of dice. Li Yuxuan, wearing a moon‑white long robe with the cuffs rolled to his forearms, stared blankly at the dominoes on the gambling table—this was his first time in a place like this, and the chips on the table were stacked crookedly, clearly indicating he hadn't yet figured out the ropes.

"Big, big, big!" the bearded man opposite slammed the table and roared, spitting droplets onto the tiles.

"Small, small, small!" the merchant‑looking man beside him reddened his eyes, his folding fan's bamboo ribs snapped in his grip.

Li Nian'an sat in a corner tea seat, holding a covered bowl of tea with a half‑smile: "Didn't you say 'Revolutionaries don't involve themselves in romance'? Why are you here?" He had changed into a black suit today, standing out in this den of fish and dragons.

Li Yuxuan rubbed his nose and rearranged the cards in his hand: "I'm that old and it's my first time in a casino; what's wrong with trying something new?" He lowered his voice, "Besides, the Chairman already has the nickname 'Wolf of Huangpu Jiang'; can't I earn the title 'Jinling Gambling God' as well?"

Since the Fifth Army was disbanded, he had become the most idle person in Jinling City. Although the Chairman gave him a staff position as chief of staff, he was never allowed to handle core military affairs; his days consisted of reading irrelevant briefings, like a tiger kept in a cage. Even when he mentioned going abroad, people said they feared he would cause trouble. They said that after the nation truly unified, he could train the army if he wished, or become Chairman if he wanted. For now, he simply stayed in Jinling, obediently.

"Deal the cards, deal the cards!" the bearded man impatiently urged.

The dealer was a tall, thin man, his fingers deftly shuffling; the dominoes fluttered in his palm like butterflies. Li Yuxuan was dealt three tiles; when he spread them out, his heart leapt—three eights. According to the casino's rules, three identical tiles constitute a "Heavenly Win", almost a guaranteed victory.

"Bet, bet!" He pushed all his chips forward; they added up to only a few dozen yuan, the money the Chairman had slipped to him when he left, saying it was fine as long as he didn't cause trouble.

The bearded man sneered and also pushed his chips: "My turn!" He leisurely revealed his tiles, which were the same‑suit 7‑8‑9.

A collective gasp rose in the casino. Li Yuxuan suddenly furrowed his brow and tapped his finger on the table: "That's not right."

"What's not right? Can't afford to lose?" the bearded man asked, eyes narrowed.

"I have three eights in my hand; where did your eight come from?" Li Yuxuan's voice rose sharply. "This deck contains only eight eights and nines in total; I have three eights, so how could you possibly have a complete 7‑8‑9? Even if you did, the heart‑suit eight is still in my hand. Where did your heart‑eight come from? Damn, are you cheating?"

"Who cheated?" the bearded man slammed the table, a dagger half‑exposed at his waist. "Don't spit false accusations! Admit defeat if you lose, and stop causing a ruckus here!"

"I have three eights; where did your heart‑eight come from?" Li Yuxuan also stood up, his moon‑white robe torn and misshapen. "This deck has only four eights and four nines; I have three eights, so how could you have an extra heart‑eight? Dealer, I demand a card inspection!"

A few hulking thugs suddenly gathered nearby, all casino enforcers, their bulging waists clearly hiding weapons. The casino owner, a plump middle‑aged man, shook his sandalwood fan and approached, a fake smile on his face: "Brother, are you picking a fight in my Jufu Hall?"

Li Yuxuan glanced at the surrounding thugs and sneered: "What? Can't pay when you lose, and you still want to act superior?"

The plump boss held his fan against his chest: "Do you know who's standing behind me?" He lowered his voice, threateningly, "You can't afford to offend me." If you offend me, I'll let you in standing upright and out lying down.

"Damn, in all of Jinling City there are only a handful of people I can't afford to offend," the plump boss said. Li Yuxuan crossed his arms and replied, "But you, daring to run a cheating casino under the emperor's feet, that's quite bold."

The plump boss sized him up from head to toe, then suddenly found the face familiar and tentatively asked, "Brother, where are you employed?"

"I'm Li Yuxuan."

The casino fell silent in an instant, the sound of dice hitting the floor audible. The plump boss's face turned ashen, and his sandalwood fan slapped onto the ground—who didn't know that Chairman Li was the ruthless commander who had just finished the Jinan Campaign, daring even the Japanese, and was not someone a street thug like him could provoke?

"No… that can't be," the plump boss stammered, "You… you're the Chairman, how could you come to a place like this?"

A thug behind him suddenly leaned in, whispering, "Boss, it really does look like Chairman Li… I saw him from afar at the last commendation ceremony, and it seems to be that face."

The plump boss's leg gave way, and with a "thud" he knelt, slapping his own mouth faster than anyone: "Audacious little thief! How dare you cheat right in front of Chairman Li! Bring someone, seize this cheating scoundrel!"

The bearded man hadn't even reacted before several thugs pinned him to the floor, his face smashing into the table, two front teeth knocked out. The plump boss got up, bowing respectfully beside Li Yuxuan, his back arched like a bow: "Chairman Li, I've already apprehended the one who dared cheat before you; are you satisfied?"

Li Yuxuan looked at the bearded man pinned on the floor, then at the cards covering the table, and suddenly lost interest. He bent down, gathered the chips on the ground, and handed them to Li Nian'an: "Take them."

"Hmm, but how do I count the time?" he asked the plump boss, his tone even—since entering and dealing with this, at least two hours had passed.

The plump boss's eyes flickered, and he hurried, "Chairman Li, rest assured, I'm just a clueless youngster who disturbed your refined mood. I'll personally bring some modest gifts to your residence later to make amends; I guarantee you'll be satisfied." He rubbed his hands, his face oozing flattery, "Do you think this cheating scoundrel should be handed over to the authorities, or…?"

Li Yuxuan glanced at the whimpering bearded man on the ground and waved his hand: "Enough, just drive him away." He's not a man of bold violence; he simply can't stand such swindling, "And if this casino dares cheat again, next time it won't be so easy."

"We won't, we won't!" the plump boss nodded repeatedly, "I'll straighten things out right away, never again!"

Li Yuxuan ignored him, turned to Li Nian'an and said, "Let's go."

The two left the casino, and the evening breeze carried the mist from Qinhuai River, dispersing the lingering smoke. Li Nian'an fiddled with the chips in his hand and suddenly laughed out loud: "I never expected Chairman Li to have this side; a few words scared the casino owner half to death."

Li Yuxuan gave a helpless smile: "I didn't expect it either; I just wanted to get some fresh air and ran into this." He gazed at the streetlights glowing in the distance and let out a sigh.