I'm not sure if there are short-distance buses, but long-distance ones... there definitely are!
The reason I'm so certain is that Uncle Tuo once told me that some professional gamblers, known as "zou qian tuan," specifically frequent trains.
Their common trick is to attract and lure train passengers into betting by setting up all sorts of bizarre gambling games.
Things have been better in recent years, as the country continuously disseminates knowledge about fraud prevention, and the general public's awareness of financial protection is gradually strengthening.
Previously common gambling games have, for the most part, lost their effectiveness.
But as the saying goes, for every policy, there is a countermeasure.
When ordinary gambling games no longer work and can't swindle much money, the "zou qian tuan" have decisively changed their tactics and racked their brains to devise a scheme that still strikes fear into people's hearts.
The "killing pig" game!
That's right, folks, you read correctly. The "killing pig" game I'm referring to is the "pig butchering" scam that was later applied to telecommunications fraud and the stock market!
The "killing pig" game, also known as the "pig butchering" scam.
The earliest "killing pig" games didn't originate on trains but were common tricks used by gamblers when targeting multiple people.
After selecting a target and before starting the game, the gamblers would use acquaintances of the targeted person as bait.
They would offer substantial benefits to the target person's acquaintances, asking them to cooperate in the card games to lead the target person step by step into an abyss, thereby reaping generous rewards.
It's no exaggeration to say that people who were targeted by gamblers and ruined by the "killing pig" game... are by no means few!
Later, this "killing pig" tactic was further perfected by the traveling "zou qian tuan" on trains.
So, when you're out and about, especially in places like train stations where all sorts of people gather, never strike up conversations with strangers casually.
And certainly, don't let curiosity drive you to watch those dark gambling games that are openly displayed in broad daylight.
Don't you understand the principle of not flaunting your wealth?
Greed devours people!
All gambling scams stem from the workings of inner greed.
The moment you entertain greed, don't harbor any hope for luck.
Because greed... can backfire at any moment, and even deeply harm you!
Therefore, not listening, not looking, not hearing, and not asking is the right way.
After all, not gambling is winning.
Apart from that, unless absolutely necessary, don't buy anything outside the train station!
Most of the food and drinks are not only imitations and counterfeits but also contain a small portion of "products" with unknown ingredients added.
For example: obedience water, happy liquid, amnesia water, mesmerising drugs, killing pig powder (i.e., gambling powder)...
These things I'm talking about are added to some edible foods.
Except for certain specific places, you might find it difficult to see these elsewhere, but!
At train stations, you have the opportunity to see, or even experience, all of the above!
So, if you don't want to become prey to gamblers or those from the underworld, no matter what happens, remember to stay out of trouble and adhere to the "five nos" principle.
Don't listen, don't look, don't hear, don't ask, and not gambling is winning...
Alright, let's get back to the main topic.
As the train started moving, and I was preparing to get a good night's sleep, a fragrance suddenly wafted towards me.
The sudden aroma injected a trace of refreshing coolness into the stuffy and hot atmosphere of the entire carriage.
Initially, I thought this fragrance would be like a sudden thunderstorm, brief and fleeting, disappearing into nothingness after a short stay.
Unexpectedly, not only did the fragrance linger, but a clear female voice also followed, sounding by my ear.
"Um... could you please move aside?"
Since I had bought a row of seats, I knew clearly that the woman was speaking to one of the three of us.
Among us, I was sitting in the innermost window seat, so I could be ruled out first.
As for Cheng Minglang, he was right next to me. And before I leaned against the window and closed my eyes, he had already tilted his head back and was dozing in his seat.
Therefore, I was certain that the woman was definitely speaking to Han Jinlun.
With this thought, I raised my eyes and turned my head to look in the direction of the voice...
I saw a woman, dressed very revealingly, staring coldly at Han Jinlun.
Although the woman wasn't particularly beautiful, she made up for it with her fashionable attire.
And her smooth, fair, and tender long legs were enough to compensate for the lack of beauty.
Based on my observation and understanding of Han Jinlun, his habitual posture when appraising a woman is to look from bottom to top.
So, if nothing unexpected happened, this woman, who wasn't exactly beautiful but had very attractive legs... would be enough to make him fall for her!
As expected, Han Jinlun's gaze, which was slightly lowered, couldn't move away once it swept over the woman's long legs.
He didn't notice that the woman's face was already as cold as frost and shrouded in gloom.
Seeing this, I quickly coughed lightly twice.
Upon hearing my cough, Han Jinlun instantly snapped back to reality.
He gave an awkward smile and quickly stood up, moving aside to give the woman some space.
After lifting his luggage and placing it on the overhead rack above Han Jinlun's head, the woman actually took the train and sat directly opposite Han Jinlun.
This action by the woman immediately made me frown slightly.
What a coincidence?
In this carriage where I was, there were hardly any women. Even if there were, most of them were elderly aunts and middle-aged women.
How could it be such a coincidence that this woman happened to be sitting in the row opposite us?
I vaguely remembered Uncle Tuo saying that women on trains... should not be approached easily. Nor should their advances be accepted!
Although I could guarantee that I wouldn't initiate contact with anyone, it was hard to guarantee that others wouldn't approach me with ulterior motives.
However, the woman's actions after sitting down did alleviate some of my doubts.
After sitting down, the woman ignored any of the men around her and just held her phone, tapping away incessantly, seemingly texting or chatting with someone.
This scene caused me to secretly lower my guard, while Han Jinlun's face was tightly contorted.
It was obvious that this guy wanted to strike up a conversation!
But the woman gave him no opportunity, not even lifting her head after sitting down.
Seeing this situation, a faint, imperceptible curve appeared at the corner of my mouth, and I immediately rested my head against the window again, closing my eyes to rest.
Before long, as the departure time arrived, I officially embarked on my journey back to Anhai...
They say the martial world is a great dye vat, shaping all sorts of people, and that saying is absolutely true!
During the time I closed my eyes and truly fell asleep, the passengers in the carriage, those who were naturally sociable, had already started chatting enthusiastically with their newfound strangers, boasting wildly.
After an unknown amount of time.
When I awoke from my slumber, the sky outside had turned dark.
When I turned to look at my side, I suddenly discovered that Han Jinlun, who should have been sitting on the outermost side... was gone!
Not only that, but the woman sitting opposite had also disappeared along with Han Jinlun!
Seeing this, my heartstrings instantly tensed.
What in the world was going on?!
Just then, Han Jinlun's voice suddenly came from not far ahead.
"Holy crap! Are you kidding me!?"
"They're even using 'rivalry cards' now?"
"Looks like luck isn't on my side tonight either!"
The moment I heard Han Jinlun's voice, my tensed heartstrings immediately relaxed.
But then, my brows furrowed tightly without any warning.
Han Jinlun... had fallen into the "killing pig" game.