Signing In At The Civil Affairs Bureau, I Was Rewarded With A Gorgeous Wife

"You've won quite a bit today, haven't you?"

During the mid-game break, Uncle Gang sat down next to Zhou Hao with a smile and said, "Young man, don't be too greedy. If you win too much, it won't be easy for me to explain."

"Uncle Gang, I'll play for at most one more hour. I hope you can go easy on me, and I'll make it worth your while afterward!"

Zhou Hao obsequiously offered the other man a cigarette and said, "I haven't won that much today, just managed to recoup my initial investment. I really will only play another hour, I won't make things difficult for you!"

"Alright then, I'll give you a few good hands."

Uncle Gang lowered his voice and said, "It's just that our boss is here today, so I can't be too blatant about it. How about this, I'll let you lose a few hands and then win a few. I guarantee that you'll ultimately leave a winner, how does that sound?"

"I couldn't thank you enough, I don't even know what to say. As long as I win money today, I'll give you half!"
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Zhou Hao was no fool. The other guy had come to him looking for his own benefit, right? So he played big, bypassing the petty thug to connect directly with Uncle Gang. Wasn't that a guarantee of money in the days to come?

"Such a teachable lad!"

Uncle Gang looked at him approvingly and turned to leave.

Damn it, this kid really is greedy. But that's good, it saves him from wanting to leave right now.

Uncle Gang didn't know that this kid had somehow offended the boss, Chang Chun had actually decided to bankrupt this kid today!

This had never happened before. Uncle Gang turned back and looked at Zhou Hao with pity. The kid wouldn't be able to leave anything behind today; he'd have a hard time getting out!

The second half began, and Zhou Hao indeed continued to win big, causing resentment among the other gamblers. Some smart ones followed Zhou Hao's bets, and they made quite some money in the process.

Under normal circumstances, if the house had lost that much money, they would have already cleared the place out. But not this time. The bouncers were like frost-bitten eggplants, huddled together chatting and completely ignoring what was happening here.

This gave the gamblers immense confidence, believing today was their lucky turnaround day!

An hour passed, and Zhou Hao looked at the 250,000 cash in front of him, trembling with excitement.

Just one night! He had won so much! Wasn't this better than working a job? Those pretty boys hustled through wind and rain every day, and maybe their monthly salary wasn't even close to what he made in a few minutes!

"This kid really is greedy, wanting to keep winning!"

Uncle Gang eyed Zhou Hao as if he were prey, thinking to himself to just keep playing, otherwise he would have trouble explaining to the boss.

Another hour passed by, and the 250,000 in front of Zhou Hao had dwindled to 120,000. Even so, if he left now, he could still keep his investment and maybe have an extra ten thousand or so.

But Zhou Hao's eyes were bloodshot with the thrill of gambling, ignoring all reason and betting on a whim.

"Cough, cough, Zhou Hao, you've run out of money."

Uncle Gang gave a deliberate cough and said, "Now is when your luck is slowly picking up. Why don't you take a few more chances?"

Zhou Hao checked his money pouch in surprise, only to find it completely empty.

But he couldn't accept it, the adrenaline rush from the dramatic ups and downs had him so excited he couldn't pull himself away. He didn't realize how this feeling would trap him deeper in the mire.

He just knew that if he kept losing, there would be a time when he would win!

Then he would stop and never gamble again!

But the problem now was that he had no capital left!

"Um... Uncle Gang, could you lend me some money? Not much, just ten or twenty thousand."

Zhou Hao rubbed his hands together in a pitiful plea.

Uncle Gang immediately waved him off, jokingly. It was no laughing matter to "go easy" on someone in his boss's territory. If he were overheard, even with a plan, he would inevitably face consequences after the fact. Who knew whether this would be seen as a one-off or a habitual offense.

"How about this, I know some people here who can lend you money, but the interest..."

"I'll listen to you, I'll just borrow it for a while and pay it back as soon as I win!"

Zhou Hao yelled desperately.

"Okay, then follow me."

Uncle Gang declared a short break and took Zhou Hao to meet a woman.

"Sister Xia, this kid wants to borrow some money. What do you think?"

"Zhou Hao, right? I see you're a regular. Tell me, how much do you want to borrow?"

This woman was in her thirties, holding a cigarette in one hand and a cell phone in the other, playing a TV show, with no intention of looking up at Zhou Hao.

"Borrow... borrow ten thousand?"

Zhou Hao asked tentatively.

"Pfft."

Sister Xia couldn't help but laugh. She looked up, glanced at him, and pointed with the hand holding the cigarette, "You dare interrupt my TV show just for ten thousand? I don't lend less than a hundred or two hundred thousand normally. But fine, since it's your first time, I'll lend it to you. However, let's get one thing straight, how long will you borrow it?

Do you have someone to guarantee for you?"

"I'm just borrowing for one night... no no no, an hour, the guarantor..."

Zhou Hao cast a careful glance at Uncle Gang, who quickly understood and said, "Sister Xia, put this one on my account."

"Alright, sign the IOU."

Sister Xia took out an IOU from her bag and casually threw it to Zhou Hao.

Zhou Hao read through it carefully and winced, "Sister, isn't this interest a bit high? I borrow for an hour, and I have to repay thirteen thousand?"

"Damn it, take it or leave it. If you're not borrowing, get lost and don't delay my show."

Zhou Hao's heart sank upon hearing that. He was counting on this money to break even!!!

"Scribble scribble scribble!"

In no time at all, Zhou Hao wrote his name on the paper.

"Go gamble, hope luck's on your side today."

Sister Xia, satisfied with the IOU, waved her hand dismissively, signaling the two men to leave.

Second floor.

Song Yun was sitting in his chair, watching this scene unfold. From the moment Zhou Hao signed his name, it was like the fish biting the hook.

It doesn't matter that the IOU said he needed to return thirteen thousand in an hour's time— that presumed he had the money.

What if Zhou Hao kept losing?

Then, with every minute he exceeded the time, the debt would double—that kind of thing was the barefaced "usury"!

A demon that scattered countless families, leaving wives and children separated!

"You really are bold."

Song Yun murmured.

"Boss Song, the most exciting part of the play is coming up. I'll go downstairs and get ready."

Chang Chun said excitedly.

"Go ahead, just be careful not to give the game away."

"Sure thing!"

Downstairs.

In just ten minutes, Zhou Hao found himself penniless again.

He held his head in his hands, fingers clawing at his hair, trying to clear his mind.

Thirteen thousand!

How was he going to pay back the money!

"Uncle Gang..."

"Sigh, forget it, you better go find Sister Xia yourself."

Uncle Gang shook his head and sighed.

Zhou Hao walked to Sister Xia in a daze and borrowed another ten thousand...

Ten thousand and then another ten thousand...

Ten thousand and then another ten thousand...