Chapter 3: Gamble

The narrow alleys of Wuyuan held many secrets, and one such alley was known to a select few as "Gamblers' Haven." Tucked away from the town's main streets, it was a place where desperate souls sought fortune or, more often than not, met their downfall.

One evening, as Li Yang was taking a shortcut home, the sound of excited voices drew him to this hidden corner of the town. Peering cautiously from behind a wooden barrel, he observed a group of men huddled around a makeshift table. Dice rolled, cards were slapped down, and money changed hands.

The energy was palpably different from the serene Xiangqi games at the market square. Here, the stakes were high, and the rewards, at least for some, seemed even higher. Li Yang watched as one triumphant player raked in a pile of coins, his face alight with a mix of relief and euphoria.

An idea began to take root in Li Yang's mind. If he could apply his incredible memory and observational skills here, he might have a chance to escape the confines of the orphanage and the shadows of ridicule. With money, he could possibly find a better life, perhaps even search for clues about his origins.

But there was a problem. Li Yang knew the intricacies of Xiangqi but was utterly clueless about gambling. In his naivety, he thought of the one person who might guide him: Miss Huang.

The next day, after classes, he hesitated outside Miss Huang's office, gathering his courage. Taking a deep breath, he knocked and entered. The room was filled with the scent of old books and ink. Miss Huang looked up, her expression neutral.

Swallowing his nervousness, Li Yang blurted out, "Miss Huang, how do you gamble?"

Miss Huang's face, usually so controlled, registered shock. She stood up, her voice cold and sharp. "Li Yang, why would you ask such a thing?"

He tried to explain his observations and the allure of the potential rewards. But the more he spoke, the angrier Miss Huang became.

"Gambling is a vice, Li Yang! Many have lost everything – their wealth, families, and even their lives – to this destructive path. You're already struggling here; do you wish to add more hardships to your life?"

Li Yang, chastened and near tears, mumbled an apology. Miss Huang's voice softened slightly. "Promise me you'll stay away from such things."

He nodded silently and left her office, his enthusiasm dampened but curiosity unsated. While he had been reprimanded, the allure of the gambling world, with its promise of quick riches, was hard to resist. And though he had promised Miss Huang, the seeds of temptation had already been sown.