Chapter 7: Stone Gambling

Just as Jiang Cheng was quietly watching Gu Zhixia wash the dishes, feeling overwhelmed with emotion, he received a call from Qin Xiaoshu.

Qin demanded to know where he had gone, complaining that Jiang Cheng had left without him. They had agreed to go drinking, yet Jiang Cheng had slipped away on his own. He also grumbled that Shen Sining was like a bandit, eating her fill and packing up leftovers, costing him 430 yuan. He felt the sting in his wallet and insisted that Jiang Cheng reimburse him.

Jiang Cheng chuckled and quickly agreed. He recounted what had just happened, leaving Qin Xiaoshu stunned. Qin insisted on visiting Gu Zhixia’s mother at the hospital, to which Jiang Cheng agreed. They hailed a taxi and headed straight for the hospital.

Fifteen minutes later, they met at the hospital entrance.

"Zhixia! Long time no see!" Qin Xiaoshu greeted her with a grin.

"Xiaoshu, long time no see!"

They weren’t particularly close, so the conversation felt rather awkward. Had Jiang Cheng not run into Gu Zhixia by chance today, they likely would never have crossed paths again. What surprised Jiang Cheng, however, was that Shen Sining had tagged along. Seeing the steamed sea bass in the takeout box she was carrying, Jiang Cheng couldn't help but laugh; she had actually packed it!

He was glad he had left early. What he didn't know was that Shen Sining had witnessed him extorting 100,000 yuan in medical expenses from the swindler at the Fuyuan Restaurant. Now, she looked at Jiang Cheng with stars in her eyes. This man was incredible! She felt a sudden urge to become his apprentice. Plus, he was quite handsome.

Shen Sining remained silent, staring thoughtfully at Gu Zhixia, then glanced down at her own ample chest, satisfied to find hers was a bit larger. Gu Zhixia looked at this beautiful girl who seemed to have walked out of a manga, then caught the way she looked at Jiang Cheng, and felt a wave of desolation.

The group walked into the inpatient department without further words. Inside the ward, they found Gu Zhixia's mother, Du Mei, lying in bed, her face as pale as paper, devoid of any color. When she saw them arrive, she tried to sit up but was too weak to manage it, eventually offering a dry, faint smile. Jiang Cheng felt a pang of heartache, reminded of his own foster mother who had passed away from illness while steeped in sorrow.

Just then, a nurse in her thirties entered. Her face turned cold the moment she saw Gu Zhixia. "Listen, family of Du Mei, can you pay the outstanding treatment fees? Even though Dean Bai knows you and asked us not to give you a hard time, our hospital is not a charity. Chemotherapy, diagnostic tests, medication—none of these are free. Do you have any idea how much trouble you’re causing Dean Bai by constantly defaulting? If you don't pay today, you’ll have to leave this temporary ward. We’ll be forced to have security escort you out."

Gu Zhixia grabbed the nurse's hand, pleading, "Please, don't. I’ll pay the arrears right away! I'm sorry for the trouble."

"Hmph! Dean Bai is kind-hearted and asked us to accommodate you, but don't take that kindness for granted," the nurse muttered coldly before sashaying out of the room.

Gu Zhixia felt a deep sense of despair. She knew the nurse was right, but what choice did she have? Who would want to be treated with such disdain? Who would want to be a social pariah for failing to repay a favor? But that was her mother—she couldn't just let her be discharged to die for the sake of her own pride. She had to drag it out one day at a time.

Du Mei, tears in her eyes, grasped Gu Zhixia’s hand and said tremblingly, "Zhixia! Stop the treatment! Discharge me! Your father ruined your life; I can't drag you down further, and I can't keep causing trouble for Dean Bai!"

Gu Zhixia’s eyes welled up. She forced a smile and said, "Mom, don't worry. The doctor says it's early-stage; once you have the surgery, you'll be fine. I’ll raise the money! I will heal you!" But she didn't know how much longer she could keep up this facade. She was exhausted.

Jiang Cheng stared at Du Mei, and suddenly, his gaze sharpened. He saw a gray mist hovering over her abdomen, which gave him an unsettling feeling. There were three patients in the temporary ward; he had chatted with the others earlier—one had coronary heart disease, the other a broken leg. He looked at them again. Sure enough, the heart patient had a gray mist over their chest, and the patient with the broken leg had one over their calf. Du Mei had early-stage stomach cancer, hence the gray mist over her abdomen.

Jiang Cheng pondered: could this gray mist represent illness? His eyes had this kind of function?

It reminded him of the beautiful woman named Murong Xue; the black mist between her brows had also made him feel uncomfortable. But that was black mist—what did that mean? He couldn't figure it out.

Outside the ward, Jiang Cheng asked, "Zhixia, how much more do you need for your mother’s surgery? Let’s see if we can pool it together." Regardless of anything else, raising the money was the priority. Jiang Cheng wasn't a saint, but Gu Zhixia’s situation struck a chord. His foster father had died in a car accident, and his foster mother had passed away from a terminal illness because they couldn't afford treatment. It was his lifelong regret. Now, seeing Gu Zhixia following the same path, he wanted to help. Besides, he seemed capable of it now. He thought of jade gambling.

Gu Zhixia said desolately, "After paying off the 80,000 yuan in hospital arrears, I still need 300,000 for the surgery. I’ve borrowed from every relative and friend I have, but... no one will help. They used to benefit from our family, but now that we’re in trouble, they treat me like a plague." She choked up.

Qin Xiaoshu offered comfort, "When you're poor in the city, no one notices; when you're rich in the mountains, you have distant relatives. Don't take it to heart, Zhixia; that's just human nature."

"Zhixia, don't worry, we'll find a way to get the money," Jiang Cheng promised.

As they were about to leave, Shen Sining, who had been watching quietly, spoke up. "Brother Cheng, I have money. Do you need it? If you do, I can lend it to you." Seeing Jiang Cheng’s desire to help, she had spoken instinctively. She liked helping Jiang Cheng.

"Sining, you're so broke you’re bumming meals, where would you get money? Don't tell me you saved it from all the free food!" Qin Xiaoshu laughed.

Shen Sining retorted, "Hmph! It's my own saved lucky money! I've been saving for 22 years since I was born. It's exactly 300,000. Is that not enough?" She rolled her eyes at Qin.

"Damn, Sining, your family is that rich? And you're working as a real estate agent?"

"We're not super rich, just a little bit. I have a lot of elders—over thirty uncles, a dozen grandfathers, and... saving ten thousand a year, it adds up..." She listed them off seriously.

Jiang Cheng exchanged shocked looks with Qin Xiaoshu and Gu Zhixia. He realized that for Du Mei, the sooner the surgery, the better. With his new eye ability, money wasn't a long-term problem, but he needed to pay the fees now. "Alright, Sining, consider this 300,000 a loan. We’ll schedule the surgery for Auntie Du, and I’ll pay you back tomorrow."

Shen Sining nodded immediately. "Deal!"

Jiang Cheng asked curiously, "Sining, we just met today. You’re not afraid I won't pay you back?"

Shen Sining pouted, looking at him oddly. "Brother Cheng, don't you plan on paying me back? That money was my future dowry!"

Jiang Cheng was left speechless. This girl was truly something!

Gu Zhixia watched their intimacy with a bitter heart. If a girl was willing to lend her dowry to a boy, the meaning was obvious. She and Jiang Cheng might never have a chance. Shen Sining was beautiful, a perfect match, and so generous. If this were the past, 300,000 would have been nothing, but now, her family's assets had been auctioned off, she had lost her bank job, and she was 2 million yuan in debt to loan sharks. She was on the verge of collapse. She was touched that a stranger she had just met was willing to reach out.

"Sining, I appreciate your kindness, but I have no way to pay you back," Gu Zhixia said bitterly.

Shen Sining blinked and said, "But I'm lending the money to Brother Cheng! What he does with it isn't my concern!"

Jiang Cheng sensed Gu Zhixia's burden. "Zhixia, as long as people are alive, money can be earned. You won't be unlucky forever. Your mother's surgery is the priority. Consider this an advance on your salary. I’m planning to start a company and need help. You’re a top student from the Capital University of Finance and Economics; I need your expertise!"

"Start a company? Are you crazy? Do you even have start-up capital?" Qin Xiaoshu asked, stunned. He knew Jiang Cheng's situation—he probably had less money than him!

"Xiaoshu, don't you trust me? I'll earn the start-up capital tonight!"

"Jiang Cheng, are you serious?" Gu Zhixia looked at him earnestly.

"How about this, Zhixia? Give me one night. If I put the start-up capital in front of you tomorrow, you have to come work for me. Deal?" Jiang Cheng smiled warmly.

Gu Zhixia stared at the sunny, handsome boy, hesitated for a long time, then nodded heavily, her eyes misty. "It's a deal!"

...

Jiang Cheng didn't waste any more time. He went downstairs and deposited the 300,000 yuan into Du Mei’s account. The attending physician immediately moved her to a private room and organized a team to discuss the surgery that very night. The efficiency shocked Jiang Cheng—was this the power of money?

After a quick dinner at the hospital cafeteria, he led Qin Xiaoshu out. To their surprise, Shen Sining followed, insisting on coming along. "You said you'd earn 300,000 tonight, right? I want to see for myself!" she said seriously.

Jiang Cheng’s mouth twitched. Qin Xiaoshu laughed, "Sining, you're afraid we'll run off!"

"I know it, that's my future dowry! Can I be at ease?" Shen Sining pouted. "If you do anything illegal, I'll be the first to call the police!"

Jiang Cheng and Qin Xiaoshu were defeated by her earnestness. They took a taxi to the Wanfu Jade Carving Center. It was 7:35 PM, and the sky was turning dark.

Upon arriving, Qin Xiaoshu frowned. "Cheng, you’re here to earn money? You’re not planning to beat up Zheng Wanfu, are you?"

Jiang Cheng smiled. "I’m here to gamble on stones."

"What? Jade gambling?" Qin and Shen exclaimed in unison. It was, indeed, one of the few ways to make 300,000 in a night.

Ignoring their complex expressions, Jiang Cheng walked to the raw stone warehouse. Zheng Wanfu was there checking inventory. Seeing Jiang Cheng, his face darkened. "Jiang Cheng, you dare to come back? Do you believe—wait, your eye is better?"

Zheng Wanfu, who had expected Jiang Cheng to be begging for his job back, was stunned.

"You cheated me! You owe me a truckload of stones!"

Qin Xiaoshu pushed Zheng Wanfu aside. "Don't look for trouble, Zheng. Cheng just got lucky and his eye recovered. Why would he cheat you?"

Zheng Wanfu gritted his teeth, feeling sickened, but he didn't dare retaliate. Jiang Cheng looked at the man he had once respected and sighed. "Boss Zheng, I'm not here for trouble. I'm here to buy raw stones."

"What? You want to gamble?"