After a burst of points, Sun Miao's usually fierce face was instantly filled with an expression of extreme disbelief.
Seeing Sun Miao standing there, stunned and silent, Qin Lei, who was beside him, first shook his head with a slight smile, then quickly walked forward and greeted him.
About ten minutes later…
As we walked out of the arcade and exchanged the coins back for cash, Sun Miao handed me two hundred yuan and said with a smile, "Thanks, brother! Your skills… are truly god-like!"
"Let's go, let's go, let's eat! My treat today!"
After taking the money Sun Miao handed over, I didn't say anything, just smiled.
Following Sun Miao into a Shaxian Delicacies restaurant about twenty meters away from the arcade, we sat down and ordered three pork chop rice meals. While eating, I listened to Qin Lei and Sun Miao's conversation…
"Brother Sanshui, what big project have you been busy with lately? Why do you keep running to the arcade every few days?"
What Qin Lei referred to as a "big project" was a common phrase used by people involved in pyramid schemes, intended to tease Sun Miao.
"What else can I do? After being tricked into going to Ningnan, besides developing a mouth that can brag without needing a draft, I can't lift anything heavy or carry anything with my hands. I can't do anything else!"
"I can only wander around outside like this, scraping by day by day."
In the small county town of 2008, leading sales industries like insurance, finance, and real estate had not yet emerged.
For someone like Sun Miao, who graduated from a vocational school, finding a job had significant limitations.
If he didn't want to work in a factory, his only option was to become an apprentice and learn a skill for self-reliance.
But how many young men around twenty years old could endure hardship?
Therefore, it's important to study hard during one's school years.
Although knowledge doesn't necessarily change destiny, education… can, to a certain extent, help you change the direction of your future life!
After a period of casual chatting, and having gathered most of the information about Sun Miao's family situation and recent activities, I gave Qin Lei a subtle glance.
Next, Qin Lei decided to get straight to the point.
"It's like this, Sanshui! I've been working with Brother Xiang recently. Are you interested in joining us?"
"As long as you join us, I guarantee that your mouth will be able to maximize its value!"
"We definitely won't let a 'hero' like you, who resists pyramid schemes, be without a place to use your talents!"
Sun Miao, who was heartily chewing on a pork chop, was immediately choked by Qin Lei's words!
"Hiccup~"
After letting out a long hiccup, with his mouth full of meat, Sun Miao mumbled, "Leizi, stop messing around, will you!"
"I told you before not to get involved with those people who follow Lao Gao. Not only did you not listen to my advice, but now you want to drag me down with you!?"
"To be honest, ever since I was deceived by a pyramid scheme during an online romance, I've become really disgusted and repulsed by these things that skirt the line of illegality and commit wicked deeds!"
"If it weren't for the fact that we shared a dorm and slept in the same bunk beds back in the day, I would have told you to get lost long ago!"
"So, I'm sorry, brother! After we finish eating… we'll go our separate ways!"
Upon hearing this, Qin Lei's face immediately showed an embarrassed expression.
It seemed that Qin Lei had not expected to be rejected by Sun Miao at all.
Seeing this, I put down my chopsticks and decided to take the initiative.
After a brief self-introduction, without beating around the bush, I got straight to the point and said, "Qin Lei is currently working with me.
"My team currently needs someone with a quick tongue to pass on and generate various messages. Are you… interested?"
Hearing my words, Sun Miao slowly put down his chopsticks and looked at me with a puzzled expression.
It was clear that he didn't understand what I meant.
After handing Sun Miao a cigarette, I directly revealed my identity.
"I am a professional gambler, and I plan to recruit a few reliable people to make money together."
"Have you heard of the Eight Generals of the Gamblers?"
"I think you are very suitable for the role of 'rumor-monger' among the Eight Generals of the Gamblers."
Sun Miao, who had just taken the cigarette and was about to light it, immediately changed his expression upon hearing that I was a gambler!
He suddenly stood up from his seat, glared at me with wide eyes, and asked in a deep voice, "What did you say!? A gambler!?"
Sun Miao's shout instantly drew the attention of everyone in the shop.
Fortunately, it was just past eleven o'clock, and there weren't many people eating at Shaxian. The scattered customers quickly averted their gaze.
At this moment, Qin Lei also quickly got up to hold Sun Miao down. Then he pulled him back to his seat.
Although Sun Miao sat down again, I could feel that his gaze towards me had changed significantly.
Suspicion, hesitation, disdain, resentment, and other emotions were intertwined and mixed.
In short, Sun Miao's gaze towards me… was not friendly!
After returning the cigarette I was about to light, Sun Miao crossed his arms and stared at me with a half-smile.
Seeing this, I first smiled noncommittally, then without avoiding his direct gaze, I met his eyes.
"Do you really think that the 'Triple Grand Slam' just now was me blindly stumbling upon luck, which allowed you to turn your losses into gains?"
"If I wanted to, I could make you win until you were numb, or lose until you doubted your life!"
"If I hadn't been there just now, let alone Shaxian, you might not even be able to afford a packet of instant noodles right now!"
Hearing my words, Sun Miao's face froze slightly, but then he said indignantly, "So what if I can't afford instant noodles!? I'm willing!"
"Besides, you let me win money only because I have value, right?!"
"If I had no value, would you have come looking for me with Leizi? Would you have let me win that Triple Grand Slam? Would you have persuaded me to join you!?"
"Even though you let me win, I still want to say: we have different paths and cannot plan together!"
"Cannot plan together! Heh heh."
Amused by Sun Miao's words, I said pointedly, "Qin Lei told me you've been addicted to slot machines for almost a year now."
"If I'm not mistaken, you've lost more than you've won during this past year, haven't you?"
"A gambler who loses more than they win claims they are not of the same kind as a gambler? Heh, your logical thinking… is truly surprisingly fresh!"
"Stop deceiving yourself, Sun Miao!"
"In essence, both gamblers and gamblers are on the gambling table to win money."
"The only difference is that from the moment they sit at the table, gamblers are destined to be losers, complete and utter losers!"
"And we gamblers are the undisputed big winners!"
"If you tell me you can quit your gambling addiction and the slot machines, I'll turn around and leave right now without a second thought!"
"Can you do it!? If you really can, then I won't say anything further!"