Chapter 60: Step Aside, Let Me Handle This

By the time Liu Xing arrived at the black market in the outskirts of the Eastern Garden, it was already past four o'clock. Because it was late afternoon, there weren't many vendors selling their wares, nor many buyers wandering about.

Afraid that his bicycle might get stolen like last time, Liu Xing pushed it along the street as he searched for Xie Lionhead, also known as Xie Zhong—the overseer of this black market. Much to his frustration, he had nearly walked the entire market and still hadn’t spotted the burly figure of Xie Lionhead. Just as he was about to ask a vendor for information, Zhong Jun, the portly owner of the grain and oil shop, appeared before him, rubbing his round belly, “Isn’t this young Liu? What brings you here so late today?”

“I need to see Xie Lionhead about something,” Liu Xing replied.

“That’s easy! At this hour, he’s definitely inside, playing cards and drinking.” Zhong Jun chuckled, patting Liu Xing’s shoulder. “If you trust me, follow along.”

“Alright!” Liu Xing nodded, but still refused to let go of his bicycle.

Zhong Jun shook his head at Liu Xing’s insistence, “Just leave your bike nearby. Last time was simply a fluke. If your bicycle gets stolen again and Xie Lionhead won’t compensate you, I’ll buy you a new one myself.”

“Really?” Liu Xing was taken aback.

“Really,” Zhong Jun assured him.

“Alright then.” Liu Xing parked his sturdy old bicycle to the side and followed Zhong Jun into a nearby house.

A few unruly youths lingered around the house, but when they saw Zhong Jun leading Liu Xing, they merely smiled and paid no further attention.

“Xie Lionhead, young Liu is here to see you!” Zhong Jun shouted before even entering.

At once, Xie Lionhead’s boisterous voice echoed from within, “Which Liu are you talking about? Could you speak plainly for once?”

“It’s me,” Liu Xing called out, somewhat annoyed.

“Oho!” Xie Lionhead rushed out, and upon seeing that it was indeed Liu Xing, gave an embarrassed smile. “Sorry about that! I was caught up playing cards and didn’t notice it was you.”

“No worries, I’m only taking a few minutes of your time,” Liu Xing said.

“So, what’s the matter?” Xie Lionhead clasped his hands behind his back, listening.

“Where’s the blacksmith around here? I need someone skilled,” Liu Xing said.

“What for?” Xie Lionhead was puzzled.

Zhong Jun also looked confused. Who just comes looking for a blacksmith out of the blue? Was this guy planning to forge swords?

“It’s like this,” Liu Xing explained. “My iron plough fell apart. I want a good blacksmith to make a new one, with an all-metal frame.”

“Oh, I see!” Xie Lionhead breathed a sigh of relief. “Wait until I finish this round of cards, then I’ll take you myself.”

“Alright,” Liu Xing nodded. He was glad for Xie Lionhead’s willingness.

“Just wait here,” Xie Lionhead grinned and went back inside.

But to Liu Xing and Zhong Jun’s surprise, Xie Lionhead didn’t reappear for over ten minutes after going inside.

Liu Xing grew suspicious. Exchanging a glance with Zhong Jun, he entered the house.

He soon learned that Xie Lionhead had been detained by his two card partners, who refused to let him go until they played ten more rounds. They’d lost a lot of money to him earlier, and if Xie Lionhead left now, they’d never have a chance to win it back.

Oddly enough, since Xie Lionhead returned, he hadn’t won a single hand, losing even more money each round.

Liu Xing noticed they were playing a game called "Running Huzi" and shook his head.

As the game progressed, he quickly sensed something was off.

The two card partners were cheating, manipulating cards and signaling each other. Frankly, he hadn’t expected this, and when he saw Xie Lionhead was about to lose again, he coughed lightly to alert him, “What use is that little four? Play it quickly.”

“Spectators shouldn’t talk, don’t you know?” one middle-aged partner glared at Liu Xing.

“What nonsense! He’s my brother—he can say whatever, he hasn’t seen your cards,” Xie Lionhead, troubled by his own hand, retorted and played the little four.

The two partners exchanged sour looks but had no choice but to draw cards.

When it was Xie Lionhead’s turn to draw, he pulled a big red "two," which made him groan inwardly.

If he didn’t take it, the partners would benefit. But if he played it, his own hand would be disrupted.

Helpless, he sought advice from Liu Xing and Zhong Jun.

Zhong Jun, unfamiliar with the game, offered only a nervous smile and kept quiet.

Liu Xing said, “Why don’t I try, Brother Xie?”

“Are you up to it?” Xie Lionhead chuckled.

“Don’t worry. If I lose, I’ll pay,” Liu Xing said, not waiting for Xie Lionhead's approval, and pulled him from the chair.

It wasn’t that he was fond of gambling, but he didn’t want to waste time. If it dragged on until evening, his plough would never get made.

Helping Xie Lionhead was, in truth, helping himself.

Seeing Liu Xing’s confidence, Xie Lionhead agreed.

To his astonishment, Liu Xing never even laid out the cards, but played swiftly and decisively.

In just over a minute, Liu Xing won the round.

The two partners’ faces soured; even with their cheating, they were defeated. Clearly, this young man was no ordinary player.

Yet their pride wouldn’t let them quit. After handing over the money, they immediately began another round.

“Fools who don’t know their limits,” Liu Xing smiled, never once looking at his own cards as he drew—his eyes fixed instead on the two partners.

Once they finished drawing and couldn’t cheat further, he picked up his cards, arranged them, and placed them on the table. “Thirty Hu—Heavenly Hu!”

He hadn’t cheated—his luck was simply extraordinary, so much so that he could hardly believe it himself.

“Are you kidding?” the middle-aged partner stared wide-eyed at Liu Xing’s cards.

Seeing it was indeed a "Heavenly Hu," he covered his face, at a loss for words.

“Pay up!” Xie Lionhead roared with laughter.

Only now did he realize that his new friend Liu Xing was quite the character.

“Here, take it—I never shy away from losses,” the middle-aged partner handed over the money, stood up with a grim face, and left. The other partner followed close behind.

For them, staying any longer would only mean more disastrous losses.

Xie Lionhead said nothing more, but clapped Liu Xing’s shoulder. “Brother, thanks for the help today!”

“Wait, from what you said, you already knew those two were cheating?” Liu Xing asked, surprised.

“Yes, but I could never catch them in the act. Scoundrels like them need to be dealt with, but lately I’ve just been losing money, unable to find proof,” Xie Lionhead answered sheepishly.

“Their cheating was simple—switching cards as they drew and using secret signals,” Liu Xing checked the time. “Why don’t you take me to the blacksmith now, and I’ll explain as we walk?”

“But my men are watching outside—how can they swap cards?” Xie Lionhead scratched his head, puzzled.

“It takes skill and technique, hard to explain all at once,” Liu Xing smiled. “But if you watch their eyes closely, they’ll never dare to cheat.”

The eyes are windows to the soul—cheaters always reveal themselves if watched closely.

“I see!” Xie Lionhead suddenly understood.

So that’s why Liu Xing never looked at his own cards, but kept his gaze fixed on the two partners.

“Let’s go! I’ll explain on the way,” Liu Xing said, stepping out of the house.

Xie Lionhead followed close behind.

Zhong Jun, seeing nothing else to do, tagged along as well.

Neither of them knew that Liu Xing could spot the cheating so easily because, in his previous life, he had been an experienced card player.

He’d spent idle hours at home playing cards, which in the southern province was a common pastime—much like how people along the coast gathered to play mahjong.

But Liu Xing had lost plenty of money gambling, until even his meal money was gone, finally realizing a hard truth:

Of ten gamblers, nine lose, with only the house ever winning.

Ordinary folk hoping to make money from cards were deluding themselves—unless they cheated.

Yet cheating comes at a high price…

He recalled his cousin, who in his previous life had his right hand chopped off for cheating.

The memory made him shudder.

So, whether before or after his rebirth, Liu Xing would never again be obsessed with card games.

The lesson had been harsh enough.

He would not repeat his mistakes.

———

Thanks to Jun Zi Zhi Feng for the hundred coins reward, thank you to Ziwen Lulu for the thousand coins reward, and thank you to Angel and Devil’s Pact for the hundred coins reward.

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