Gambling, Currency, and Discipline

"What else could they do? Give both sides fifty strokes!"

"How would they do that?" Zheng Qing pressed.

"Lightly... Haven't you heard that the law can't punish the masses?" Fatty Xin curled his lip, his tone carrying a hint of mockery. "The school has to protect its reputation, and Old Yao has to protect his position... Nothing would suit them better than turning a major issue into a minor one, and a minor one into nothing at all."

"And what would the specific punishment be?" Zheng Qing patiently continued asking.

"Written self-criticisms, warnings, major demerits, probation... nothing more than that. Oh, right, fines too." The fat man counted on his fingers. "People from the two academies threw Evil Curses at each other and damaged public property—stands, railings, chairs, Trumpet Flowers, and so on. Averaged out, each of us will probably have to fork over seven or eight Copper Coins!"

"That's enough for a hearty breakfast." Dr. Xiao muttered. "Fried dough sticks at the cafeteria only cost two Copper Coins, tofu pudding costs three, stir-fried liver costs four..."

"You'll have money soon enough." As though suddenly remembering something, Zhang Jixin cut off Xiao Xiao's muttering and chimed in with an envious look. "Remember those 'tickets' we bought before the hunting match? That Blue-Green Eyes's Half-Face told my brother this morning to notify everyone in our class to go collect their winnings."

"Right!" Zheng Qing suddenly realized. "I bet three credits, five Silver Horn Coins, and eighteen Copper Coins! I bought the Freshman Competition champion, best hunting team, and best hunter—all on our hunting team and myself! I definitely got them all right, didn't I?"

Thinking of that, he could not help growing excited, seized by the urge to skip the hunting match's closing ceremony and immediately find Blue-Green Eyes to cash