I Crossed Over with My Enemy, Only to Find Him Running the Empire - Chapter 48

Chapter 48: The Gambling House

Wu Peilan paused, then added: “Furthermore, if our second branch had the heart for revenge, why wouldn’t we just leave after stealing? Why stay at home waiting to be suspected?”

These words left everyone speechless.

Even Zhang Jinhua was stunned, re-evaluating this usually unremarkable granddaughter from the second branch.

Since the first and second branches had been cleared of suspicion, everyone’s gaze naturally turned toward the third branch.

It was only then that everyone noticed Wu Tiegen of the third branch had been nowhere to be seen since early morning. His wife, Mrs. Liu, was huddled in the corner, not daring to lift her head.

“Where is the third son?” Wu Duofu asked in a heavy voice, his dry tobacco pipe thumping against the corner of the table.

Mrs. Liu answered timidly: “He went out early this morning, didn’t say where he was going…”

These words reminded everyone of Wu Tiegen’s usual conduct, sneaking around, filching things, and a love for gambling a few rounds.

With money just missing from the house, his disappearance at this specific time made him the prime suspect.

Zhang Jinhua shook with rage: “It must be that god-cursed man! Loafing around all day, only knowing how to covet his old mother’s coffin money!”

Wu Duofu immediately gave the order: “Go look! Find that unfilial son and bring him back to me!”

Wu Tiezhu took the initiative to respond: “Father, I know a few places the third brother frequents. I’ll go look.” After saying that, he turned and walked out the door.

At this time, the invited physician stood at the door, caught in a dilemma.

Originally, he was called to treat Zhang Jinhua, but now…

Zhang Jinhua glanced at the physician and said crossly: “What are you looking at me for? I have no money for treatment! Go check on the second son; he was beaten like that, don’t let any permanent ailment take root.”

After speaking, she muttered another sentence: “The medicine money will be owed for now; I’ll pay once the money is found.”

These words startled everyone. The old lady, who was just cursing and swearing, had a soft heart after all.

The physician hurried to check Wu Tiesheng’s injuries. The second branch family thanked her repeatedly, but Zhang Jinhua turned her face away and ignored them.

Seeing this situation, Mrs. Liu thumped onto her knees before Zhang Jinhua, eyes brimming with tears: “Mother, it’s my fault for not managing my man well, I have failed you…”

Looking at the third daughter-in-law kneeling on the ground, Zhang Jinhua ultimately didn’t say any harsh words, only letting out a long sigh: “Get up, look at yourself.”

But Mrs. Liu refused to get up, sobbing as she said: “When Tiegen went out this morning, he was indeed abnormally happy. I was wondering about it; a man who usually sleeps until the sun is high was up when the sky was barely grey, with a smug smile on his face…”

Her voice grew smaller as she spoke; she had almost concluded that it was her own husband who stole the money.

The room fell silent for a time, save for Mrs. Liu’s low weeping and the crying of the children.

Everyone felt a mix of emotions in their hearts both anger and sadness.

A family like this had actually produced a thief, and the theft was from their own people.

Wu Duofu smoked his dry tobacco in silence, his brow furrowed into a knot.

Wu Ya and Li Qiaoqiao exchanged a look, seeing helplessness in each other’s eyes. If the third brother really stole the money, this matter would be difficult to handle.

Outside the window, the sun gradually rose higher, and the sunlight shone through the small hole in the window paper, casting a tiny spot of light on the floor.

The room full of people had their own thoughts, waiting for Wu Tiezhu to bring Wu Tiegen back.

Zhang Jinhua leaned against the head of the kàng bed, cursing a few words one moment and wiping tears the next.

She remembered how hard it was to save this money selling eggs one by one, saving by the bundle of firewood, finally amassing this bit of family fortune, hoping to marry off the fifth son Tiechui and use it for the children’s emergencies…

Now it is all gone.

Her gaze swept through the room, finally landing on Wu Ya. Fortunately, Tie Niu’s illness was cured, otherwise, this life truly couldn’t go on.

Just then, footsteps were heard from outside; Wu Tiezhu had returned, but he returned alone.

“Father, Mother, I’ve checked the few places the third brother usually goes, but didn’t see him,” Wu Tiezhu said, panting. “I heard he was indeed out last night, but he left before dawn, and no one knows where he went.”

The room instantly erupted in chaos.

The person was missing. Wasn’t this a clear sign of a guilty conscience?

Zhang Jinhua jumped up, about to start cursing again, but suddenly her body swayed. Li Qiaoqiao quickly supported her: “Mother, don’t be anxious, your health is important.”

Wu Ya stepped forward and said calmly: “Father, Mother, since the third brother can’t be found for the moment, why don’t we think about where he might have gone. If it’s a gambling den, we must find him quickly; if we’re late, the money might be gambled away completely.”

This reminded everyone. Wu Tiegen was a gambler; having stolen the money, he very likely went straight to a gambling house.

Wu Duofu immediately instructed: “Eldest son, go look in the various gambling houses in town. Although the second son can’t move, his friends might be able to help, ask around.”

He then looked at Wu Ya: “Fourth son, your mind is quick, think of where else he might go.”

Wu Ya nodded, but thought to himself: If he really went to a gambling house, those thirty taels of silver are likely almost all gone.

Hearing this, Mrs. Liu cried even harder. If her husband really stole the money and lost it all, this family would truly be finished.

Zhang Jinhua was so angry she thumped the edge of the kàng: “That spendthrift! If he really gambled the money away, I’ll definitely break his legs!”

Li Qiaoqiao quietly tugged at Wu Ya’s sleeve and whispered: “I remember, the book mentioned that if Wu Tiegen stole money, he would surely go to the gambling house.”

Wu Ya’s eyes flashed, and he immediately said to Wu Duofu: “Father, the third brother loves gambling; he likely really went to the town’s gambling houses. We must hurry to find him; if we’re late, the money will be gone.”

Wu Duofu’s brow was locked tight, his tobacco puffing loudly: “There are several gambling houses in town, where do we look?”

“I know the few he frequents,” Wu Ya responded steadily. “But Father, you must come with us. Qiaoqiao and I are the younger brother and sister-in-law; I’m afraid we won’t be able to suppress the third brother.”

Wu Duofu pondered for a moment and gave a heavy nod: “Let’s go!”

Without another word, the three of them headed straight for Lecuan Town.

As for Wu Tiegen, he had slipped out of the house as the sky was barely grey, clutching more than twenty taels of silver stolen from his mother, his heart both panicked and joyful. He first went to the Four Seas Gambling House, tried his luck for a few rounds, lost three taels of silver, and felt the feng shui there was bad, so he turned and went to the Xiongtian Gambling House.

The Xiongtian Gambling House was hidden in a narrow alley at the west end of Lecuan Town, with a “Tea” sign hanging outside, but inside was a different world entirely.

The smoke-filled room was crowded with gamblers; shouts, the sound of dice, and the clinking of copper coins mixed together.

At first, Wu Tiegen’s luck was extremely good; he won several rounds in a row, and his silver piled up to nearly thirty taels.

He was flushed with excitement, feeling he had struck great luck today. Who would have thought the good times wouldn’t last? In the blink of an eye, he lost several rounds in a row, not only spitting back the money he won but also nearly losing his original capital.

“Again! I don’t believe in this evil!” Wu Tiegen’s eyes were bloodshot as he wagered his last bit of silver.

The dice were revealed, and he lost again.

Wu Tiegen slumped on the stool, drenched in cold sweat. Not only was the stolen money gambled away completely, but even his outer coat was pawned to the gambling house, leaving only a pair of undergarments for modesty.

The gambling house attendant sneered and came over: “Wu the Third, if you have no capital, please leave; don’t get in the way here.”

Wu Tiegen was unwilling to leave; he grabbed the attendant’s sleeve: “Lend me a bit more, I’m sure to win it back in the next round!”

The attendant shook him off and mocked: “What will you pay it back with?”

Wu Tiegen gritted his teeth: “I have land deeds at home! I’ll steal them next time to use as collateral!”

Hearing this, the gambling house manager gave a signal, and someone immediately brought paper and brush: “Verbal promises are not proof; write a promissory note as evidence.”

With trembling hands, Wu Tiegen wrote the promissory note. Before the finalization, he still had to press his thumbprint.