Wu Tianzhen was not wrong. By the time Zhang Qiling finally escaped the crowd in the evening, he was already holding a fortune.
It must be mentioned here that a considerable portion of this fortune came from Wu Tianzhen and Fatty. Taking advantage of the chaotic situation, these two also rushed in and took several sets of photos.
Hei Yanjing claimed to be a benevolent businessman who never shortchanged anyone. After listing his expenses for equipment, labor, and creative input, he very candidly took more than half of the fortune and disappeared instantly, melting into the crowd without even saying goodbye to Wu and Fatty.
Zhang Qiling was left standing alone, holding a sum of money, looking utterly pathetic, like a pitiable soul who had been used for their looks by a heartless scumbag, only to be abandoned with a small sum of money.
[By the way, this treasonous thought was entirely Wu Tianzhen's idea. Fatty knew nothing about it.
—Fatty's words.]
Zhang Qiling: ...
Zhang Qiling really wanted to say something, like how these two, while denouncing Hei Yanjing's arrogance in front of him, couldn't even hide the ten-yuan photos fresh from their pockets.
However, to be fair, a stack of money as thick as bricks wouldn't be easy to hide.
Sighing softly, Zhang Qiling ultimately said nothing and quietly handed over the wad of cash in his hands.
Most of his time when he wasn't exploring was spent at Wu Shan Ju. Fatty and Wu Tianzhen covered all expenses, and he himself had no real need for money.
...Of course, the most important thing was that he didn't want to flaunt a stack of cash, as it looked rather strange.
Wu Tianzhen and Fatty: So, Brother, you're saying it's not strange for us to flaunt a stack of cash?
Fatty's bag was already full from the money he earned selling fish and various equipment. Wu Tianzhen and Zhang Qiling, on the other hand, had no bags and were empty-handed. At this moment, both of them were holding the hard-earned money that Xiao Zhang had made from his "performance" and didn't quite know where to put it.
Initially, they instinctively reached for their pockets, but a glance down revealed the photos with Zhang Qiling's death stare half-exposed and clearly printed on them.
In that instant, they suddenly understood what Zhang Qiling had been looking at.
At that moment, their hands, reaching for their pockets, slowly retracted.
While logically, it would be reasonable to put the money in their pockets and hold the photos, neither Wu Tianzhen nor Fatty dared to brazenly display their photographic achievements again.
...But to return the money to Zhang Qiling...
They looked at the distant and clear-eyed Zhang Qiling, who seemed to exist beyond the mundane world, and decisively abandoned the idea of defiling Xiao Zhang with the stench of money.
...It felt like sticking hundred-yuan bills on a desolate snowy mountain or placing a gold ingot on Xiaolongnü's head; it was the kind of thing that would cause pangs of conscience.
But fortunately, this dilemma didn't last long, because—
Fatty discovered a lottery shop.
He instantly recalled how the Evil Sea King had shown immense power along the way, sending them into the uncanny world multiple times. His wild business instincts were reawakened!
"Young Master Tianzhen!" he grabbed Wu Tianzhen's hand forcefully. "Whether Fatty can become rich overnight, or whether Brother can live a luxurious life of wearing and discarding hoodies, it all depends on your success this time!"
Wu Tianzhen hesitated, his last shred of rationality telling him not to believe in such superstitions. However, his curiosity soon overcame his reservations. xxs
The two happily rushed into the lottery shop and, like lunatics, slammed a handful of cash onto the glass counter—
"Hurry up, give Fatty ten or eight tickets!"
Wu Tianzhen, at least, still maintained a modicum of politeness and reason. He smiled friendly at the clerk, carefully calculated the amount of money they had put down, and said gently:
"Excuse me, he's a bit excited."
"Um, could I have three hundred and thirty-eight tickets, please!"
"Thank you!"
The clerk: ...Do you think you're normal?
How had the clerk ever encountered such a situation? Good heavens, these two barged in, threw down money, and then asked for three hundred and thirty-eight tickets? Was there even a precise number like that?
With the number for the psychiatric hospital memorized, his hand silently reached for the nearby optical computer.
Fortunately, Zhang Qiling, who looked normal no matter how you looked at him, finally followed them in. His normality proved that the other two were still mentally sound, thus preventing the clerk from sending Wu Tianzhen and Fatty to the mental institution.
After this series of setbacks, Wu Tianzhen and Fatty finally succeeded in exchanging a pile of cash for a pile of lottery tickets, and with boundless hope, they happily walked home.
...And they didn't win a single one.
"What the hell! Is this reasonable?!" Fatty frantically searched through every ticket after the winning numbers were announced on TV.
But forget winning the grand prize; can you believe it, with so many tickets, not a single number matched!
"Damn it, playing dodgeball isn't even this precise at avoiding the correct option!"
Fatty finally gave up, plopped down on the pile of lottery papers, and sighed, "Tianzhen, alas, Fatty thought your skills could extend to lottery tickets, but I never expected this!"
"You certainly showed your skills; it's too uncanny. I might not witness something this uncanny in my lifetime, but I've seen it today."
"Remarkable, remarkable!" He stood up again, poured Wu Tianzhen a glass of water, and respectfully handed it over. "Here, here, I'll toast you!"
"...Fatty, stop mocking me." Wu Tianzhen was dejected, like a wilted eggplant or a boneless puppy. "It shouldn't be like this. Is it possible that I'm destined to be without fortune in this life?!"
"Nooooo—!"
A wail echoed through the living room. Zhang Qiling leaned against the doorframe, glanced inside, and silently took out a lottery ticket from his pocket.
...He had bought it himself. He checked it just now and won five yuan.
The ticket in his hand slowly drifted down, disappearing into the pile of discarded lottery papers, indistinguishable. Zhang Qiling had no intention of claiming the five yuan; he had only bought the ticket to verify something.
The corners of his mouth curved slightly, and Xiao Zhang was finally relieved.
...He hadn't caught it from Wu Tianzhen after all!
—
Life at Wu Shan Ju was leisurely and passed quickly. Song Shuning hadn't reappeared to cause trouble, and it was unknown if they hadn't finished their research in the Cangshan region.
Wu Tianzhen was almost softened by the comfortable life; he had even vaguely forgotten the unease he had felt in Yingzhou at the time.
But such leisurely times would not last forever.
A few days later, the long-silent Ghost Seal suddenly lit up.