Chapter Forty-Nine: Shared Funds, Taking Turns to Enter the Stage!

I let out a cold laugh, already having made up my mind. “Of course I accept. I’ll see this wager through to the end.”

“However, since this is my first time dealing with such rules, you’d better spell them out clearly!”

Gao Youde’s gaze grew even more sinister; clearly, he hadn’t expected my answer. But soon he regained his composure. “Very well, let’s continue.”

He turned to Old Leopard Chen. “Since the rules are set, let’s proceed accordingly.”

Old Leopard Chen nodded, signaling the staff to adjust the proportions of the betting funds.

Meanwhile, Su Li stood silently to the side, her eyes complicated as she looked at me. Lu Yier spoke up directly. “The rules are simple. From now on, both sides’ funds are pooled together, but your one dollar is worth only fifty cents to the other side. Also, you may choose a single person to participate in the stone gambling, or take turns, or decide yourselves. The point is, only one of you can compete.”

Hearing this rule, I realized the coming rounds would be much tougher. Anxiety crept in—I knew nothing about how Su Li had come to this path, nor could I say we had any rapport. If she truly had skill, that would be fortunate. But from what I’d seen, I had my doubts. In fact, I suspected she was here just to undermine me. Otherwise, why call out “cousin” in front of everyone earlier?

If Su Li joined and became a liability, I’d lose disastrously. The final outcome would surely be my elimination. And the one to profit from it all—of course, it would be Gao Youde.

“Could it be that Gao Youde’s treatment of Su Li was just a performance? Is he actually her collaborator?”

As I pondered this, I realized that something didn’t add up—Gao Youde had increased her funds. Suddenly it struck me: this was Gao Youde’s way of consuming my funds completely.

I drew a deep breath, struggling to keep calm. The situation was clearly unfavorable, but surrender wasn’t an option—I had no way out. All the money I carried was borrowed from Gao Youde. If I retreated now, I’d fall right into his trap.

I must win, and I must bring Gao Youde down completely. Otherwise, he’ll become a lingering specter in my life.

Even if I managed to scrape by, he’d still control me.

I turned to Su Li, catching a fleeting complexity in her eyes before it was masked by indifference. She slowly stepped to my side and whispered, “Cousin, since things have come to this, we have no choice but to cooperate.”

I looked at her coldly. “What is your real purpose? Why are you doing this?”

Su Li smiled faintly. “Cousin, whether you believe it or not, I’ve been forced into this. Now, only if we work together will we have the slightest chance.”

Her words sent a jolt through me, but I stayed wary. The scent of her perfume stirred memories of unpleasant times, so I kept my demeanor cool. After all, in the world of stone gambling, there are no absolute friends—only shifting interests.

“Fine. Let’s work together this once,” I said coldly.

Su Li nodded and turned to Lu Yier. “We’ll pool our funds and take turns competing.”

Lu Yier replied blandly, “Who goes first?”

Su Li said softly, “I’ve read the rules… Since I’ve already lost everything and am re-entering, I should take the first spot, right?”

Lu Yier nodded.

Su Li smiled and glanced at me. “Cousin, you go first.”

To be honest, her words took me by surprise—I hadn’t expected her to offer me the first turn.

Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to focus. Now was no time to dwell on Su Li’s background; every second in the stone gambling arena counted.

I stepped forward, stopping before the stone gambling table. The staff were ready.

Lu Yier called out, “Round two begins. There are ten raw stones on this little train—please watch closely!”

The toy train slowly chugged along as the staff placed the stones onboard. Soon, the first raw stone appeared before me.

I took a deep breath, focusing intently. My heart raced, palms damp with sweat. In that moment, time seemed suspended—everything faded except for me and the stone.

I slowly reached out, gently touching the surface of the stone, feeling its temperature and texture. Possibilities and judgments flashed rapidly through my mind, searching for any hint.

Any slight misjudgment now could lead to total defeat.

“Come on, sissy! If you’ve got guts, take them all like I do!”

Gao Youde cursed from the sidelines.

“No loud interference from other contestants—first warning; second offense, you’ll be expelled,” Lu Yier’s voice sounded, stern and cautionary.

Only then did Gao Youde fall silent.

I had only a few seconds to observe, for after this first stone, the fourth compartment of the tin toy train would bring the second stone.

Ten stones in total—I couldn’t afford to take them all like Gao Youde.

First, my funds were insufficient, leaving no room for error. Second, it would be a disgrace to all I’ve learned from “The Jade Eye Method.”

I let the first stone pass.

Gao Youde sneered.

The stone rolled on to Sister Hong’s position. She too declined to make a choice.

Then it reached Gao Youde.

Suddenly, Gao Youde pressed pause. “I’ll take this one!”

Everyone was stunned. Sister Hong looked at Gao Youde in confusion.

He laughed loudly. “Looks like you were bluffing earlier! This piece of jade may not be valuable, but it more than meets the contest standards. You missed out, so you get a double penalty. Since you’re the first to pass, and there’s a second behind you, you owe four times the penalty!”

“How could you hope to play against me?”

The raw stone paused before us all.

Such misjudged stones only concern those who missed them. Old Leopard Chen was last in line, so he was excluded.

Gao Youde patted the stone and called to the staff, “Cut it, price it!”

He then pulled out a price tag, scribbled an amount, and tossed it into the sealed box. The staff took the stone aside and began to cut.