Tuesday, eight in the evening.
"Lao'er, struck it rich? You've been playing pretty big these past few days."
Life was one big gamble, and no one fit that saying better than Wang Lao'er.
The world was full of people like him, dissatisfied with their lot but powerless to change it, chasing a life of luxury beyond their means, until all that resentment and vanity ended up riding on the card table.
Beneath each playing card in his hand lay not chips, but a ladder that could take a man straight to the top.
Hearing someone speak, the man in charge of the little card room frowned and glanced toward Wang Lao'er.
"Struck it rich? Then hurry up and settle what you owe me!"
Wang Lao'er said nothing, nervously turning over the last card in his hand.
"Ha!" Carried away, the gambler shoved every chip in front of him forward. "All in!"
The man opposite him had a decent hand, but after calling for two rounds, he was already struggling. Seeing how confident Wang Lao'er looked, he folded outright.
Wang Lao'er burst out laughing and turned over his cards. Three aces swept the table.
His chips formed a little mountain on the tabletop. Grinning, Wang Lao'er called for another round while looking toward the man in charge a short distance away.
"Don't worry, Brother Dong. A buddy of mine's been coming to me for goods lately. I'll bring you the money before long."
The man called Brother Dong was long used to his endless bullshit and questioned him with open contempt.
"What goods? What goods could you possibly have?"
Wang Lao'er put on a mysterious air. "Don't you worry about that."
"..."
Buying flowers from the Flower Nursery had somehow become "getting goods" in his telling. A change of wording lent