Chapter 162: Restraint

Chapter 162: Restraint

"Ever since that Confucian won the 'Grand Court Debate' and ascended to the pinnacle of the Three Teachings, even the rains have grown inexplicably heavier."

He Zang Jia produced a glass bottle of Western wine from nowhere, poured a cup, and pushed it toward Zhou You.

"Biting wind and cold rain—only strong wine can warm the stomach."

At this moment, within the casino, only he and Zhou You remained. Under the warm yellow lamplight, a blood trail left by dragging was starkly visible on the ground.

Zhou You seized the wine cup and drained it in one gulp, closing his eyes to savor the pungency on his lips and teeth. After a moment, he sneered and voiced his conclusion.

"Not as good as clear wine."

He Zang Jia raged: "You brat are nothing but a boar who can't appreciate fine rice! Do you know how costly this wine is?"

"Expensive doesn't necessarily mean good."

"If expensive things aren't good, then what is?"

Zhou You pondered briefly, then slowly uttered two words: "To one's taste."

He Zang Jia shook the wine cup in his hand, a half-smile on his face, "Then is it to your taste now?"

Zhou You understood—the other was asking about his feelings during this time at the Chuan Yu gambling house.

"As long as it earns money, it's to my taste."

He Zang Jia, mimicking the manner of those so-called Western gentlemen in his memory, took a slow sip from his cup.

"The plate of Chongqing Prefecture is this small—if you don't want to starve, you must guard your own food and watch others' bowls. Such matters will not be few in the future."

Zhou You rubbed his thumbs against the cup's rim, his gaze low, and fell silent for a moment.

He Zang Jia glanced at him, teasing: "What's with that expression? Haven't you killed someone in the Eighteen Stairs slums?"

"I have."

The youth's low voice emerged from beneath his drooping head, "But before, I was a wretch with a rotten life, coming and going alone, risking death for a few hundred or thousand coins. Now..."

He Zang Jia chuckled, "Now you have scruples?"

Zhou You did not deny it, his voice tinged with an indescribable emotion, "I fear that if I strike this blade, and the 'Tube' people seek revenge, many might die."

"What's there to fear about a mere two of sticks?"

He Zang Jia's tone was disdainful: "That fellow Xu Kang—if he dies on the road tonight, tomorrow morning the 'Tube' will have someone to replace him. Do you believe it?"

Zhou You shook his head: "Not everyone is a literary tiger with a tiger's head."

"That's why you must learn this lesson today."

He Zang Jia's expression turned solemn: "You are now part of the 'Card System,' no longer a destitute wretch who eats one meal and has none the next. Whatever you do in the future, you may not consider gains, but you must think through the consequences."

"In this empire, high and unseen, deep and unfathomable, it's not just us who dabble in the margins—there are many who walk a path with no retreat."

He Zang Jia stared into the youth's eyes, "So whatever decision you make, you must not waver. Even if you realize your mistake halfway, you must grit your teeth and see it through."

Zhou You managed a bitter smile: "Is it worth risking the wrath of the military commissioner to give me this lesson?"

He Zang Jia neither confirmed nor denied, merely smiling slightly, "My days as a shopkeeper were quite pleasant."

Zhou You pressed his lips tight without speaking, yet a warmth he had never felt before stirred in his heart.

"Enough, stop looking at me like that—we're both men, it's disgusting."

He Zang Jia rubbed his stubble, "But you, when will you replace that broken armor of yours? I can smell the rust from miles away."

Zhou You grinned, "When I've earned enough money."

"I've already said I don't need you to pay—I'm lending it to you. You're now managing my industries, after all. If you're too shabby, people will say I'm embezzling from my subordinates."

He Zang Jia had said as much, yet the youth still shook his head in refusal.

No merit, no reward—this was his principle.

In the years of the Eighteen Stairs slums, he had seen too many perish for a moment's greed.

Through constant observation, he had long etched into his bones a truth—restraint ensures longevity.

Whether the gift was bestowed or given as charity, he would not cross his own boundaries to take what was not his.

Moreover, Zhou You understood that He Zang Jia's kindness stemmed not just from admiration for his abilities, but more so to curry favor with Li Jun.

Accustomed to the rain, he disliked standing beneath another's shade.

How perceptive He Zang Jia was—naturally, he sensed the youth's hesitation. Yet he did not speak it aloud, instead drawing a bank card from his pocket and tossing it over.

"This card holds forty thousand silver dollars."

Zhou You opened his mouth to speak, but He Zang Jia waved him off, "Don't rush to refuse—this time, you've salvaged much loss for me. These are your due."

"It's the gambling house's long-standing rule—you can ask anyone."

This time, the youth did not continue to decline. Carefully, he tucked the card against his body and sincerely thanked him.

"Call it even for what's yours to take." He Zang Jia, curious, "Though I must ask—how did you discern that two of sticks, Xu Kang, was cheating?"

"Hypnotizing the dealer, colluding from within—this method isn't rare, but it's sufficiently covert. You didn't even enter the sequence—how did you catch him?"

The youth confessed, "I gambled."

"Gambling?!" He Zang Jia's brow furrowed.

Zhou You explained, "In a gambling house, only the dealer wins long—how could gamblers? If a gambler wins consecutively at one table more than five times, it's likely not luck, but skill."

"Moreover, he won so much money—even if today's fortune is high, and prosperity abounds, and luck flows smoothly. If I say he cheats, then he must."

Watching the flicker of ruthlessness on the youth's face, He Zang Jia was momentarily stunned.

In a daze, he seemed to glimpse himself, long ago, upon first joining the Chuan Yu gambling house.

The same calculated retreats, the same lack of bloodlust.

He Zang Jia laughed aloud, his laughter unrestrained.

At that moment, the youth suddenly rose, bowed with clasped fists, and hurried toward the door.

Though knowing what the other intended, He Zang Jia couldn't help but inwardly curse—here he was, emotionally stirred, and the youth was bolting without a word. How heartless!

"Hey, do you need to rush so? The Luohan Temple isn't closing tomorrow."

The youth ignored the shouts behind him, his figure quickly vanishing into the rain and wind outside.

"Since you value loyalty, I'll give you loyalty. Even if in the end you can't curry favor with that elder brother, nurturing a devoted left and right arm isn't such a loss."

He Zang Jia withdrew his gaze from the youth's retreating back, drained the wine cup, held it in his mouth, and savored it slowly.

He squinted, his expression slightly intoxicated.