Originally, Xiang Tianhua had no intention of taking the mortgage note written by Zhu Wendong seriously. He only wanted to use the method of compounding interest to trap the latter firmly.
However, upon learning that she had been sold out, Zhu Wenjing became displeased. She insisted that Zhu Wendong take her to reclaim the nonexistent promissory note and her ID card.
Zhu Wenjing was anxious to get the note and ID card back, but she didn't realize that this trip would lead her into Xiang Tianhua's trap.
As I mentioned earlier, Xiang Tianhua, like Hao Qi, was a notorious lecher.
Although Zhu Wenjing had disguised herself before coming, appearing as a tough little punk who swore frequently, men always look at women in a specific order: bust, legs, and then the rest.
The elegant and graceful Zhu Wenjing naturally did not escape Xiang Tianhua's gaze.
To lure Zhu Wenjing into his trap, Xiang Tianhua generously said that since she was unaware of the situation, he would return the note and ID card intact if she could gather 100,000 yuan within three days.
Zhu Wenjing, believing him, went back and scraped together money from relatives and friends.
Rushing against time, she finally managed to gather 100,000 yuan on the third day, which was today...
Zhu Wenjing had expected to exchange money for the note and ID card today.
But to her surprise, Xiang Tianhua not only denied his previous promise but also changed his terms, stating that he would only return the note and ID card if Zhu Wenjing could win against him at the gambling table.
Because of the effects of the "dapaiyan" (gambling cigarette), Zhu Wenjing unknowingly fell into the trap.
Fortunately, just as Zhu Wenjing agreed to gamble with Xiang Tianhua, he received a phone call, hurriedly gave a few instructions, and then rushed out.
Otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
What happened afterward was largely similar to what I saw when I arrived.
Earlier, the reason Zhu Wenjing did not tell me the truth and insisted on bringing Cheng Minglang and Han Jinlun was that after the effects of the "dapaiyan" wore off, she feared that the three of us were Xiang Tianhua's men and were plotting to harm her.
It was only after these two exposed the matter of the "dapaiyan" and, without further ado, launched into a brawl, stirring up the emotions of most of the gamblers, that Zhu Wenjing finally let down her guard.
After deducing my identity, her request for my help was straightforward.
She wanted me to retrieve the promissory note on which Zhu Wendong had personally written her name and her ID card.
Even with the fierce commotion inside, where the originally menacing security guards were all beaten into timid, obedient quail, the crucial promissory note was still not found.
...
After hearing the entire story, I couldn't help but sigh, "Time and fate! Destiny!"
"Time and fate" referred to Zhu Wenjing, and "destiny" referred to myself.
If I hadn't come to challenge them today, at this particular time, perhaps, possibly, probably, should have...
Zhu Wenjing's life would have been completely ruined by this promissory note!
No wonder she had been hesitant and seemed to have something to say but couldn't, as she was struggling with whether to ask me for help.
To be honest, I admired Zhu Wenjing's courage and insight, but...
I wasn't too eager to help her.
Firstly, there was no need.
Based on Zhu Wenjing's description, her brother Zhu Wendong was a gambler devoid of humanity.
The reason gamblers are gamblers is that they have reached a state of obsession with the word "gamble."
In the eyes of a gambler, anything that can be converted into money, including friends and family, is a "commodity" that can be priced and sold!
To put it in a nutshell: if the money is right, you can sleep with my wife and children!
Even if I helped Zhu Wenjing find Xiang Tianhua and get back the note and ID card today, it would be useless!
As long as Zhu Wendong lost all his money, he would still find ways to get more!
Even selling his own sister again in the same way would be no big deal to him.
Therefore, while I could sympathize with Zhu Wenjing and do her a favor today, there was no point in going out of my way to help.
Because, in the end, this was her fate!
As for the second reason, it was the story of being bitten by a snake and fearing the well rope for ten years.
Setting Qin Lei aside, let's talk about Yu Xian.
I almost got myself into trouble helping him, and his brother Yu Fei wasn't as deeply mired as Zhu Wendong.
In the end, what did I get?
Otherwise, why do people say, "If one does not live for oneself, heaven and earth will destroy him"?
Between blood relatives and friends, or rather, good friends, how many people would choose friends for the sake of righteousness?
I didn't want to witness the scenario of "a bowl of rice in the present, a debt of gratitude in the future" for the third time.
Just as I was about to refuse Zhu Wenjing, I suddenly saw her expression change.
Following the direction that caused Zhu Wenjing's expression to change drastically, I saw a middle-aged man, wearing a somewhat faded gray shirt and with a cheap "Da Qianmen" cigarette dangling from his lips, striding towards her.
Looking at the man's face, which bore a six or seven-tenths resemblance to Zhu Wenjing's, I knew this must be Zhu Wendong, whom she had mentioned.
As Zhu Wendong got closer, Zhu Wenjing instinctively stood up and then stealthily took small steps, looking like she was about to slip away.
Seeing this, Zhu Wendong immediately quickened his pace and coldly shouted, "You son of a bitch Zhu Wenjing, if you dare to run, I'll break your legs when we get back!"
Upon hearing this, Zhu Wenjing was so scared that she stopped in her tracks, standing frozen.
Seeing this, the three of us – myself, Cheng Minglang, and Han Jinlun – wore expressions of disbelief.
Was this a mistake?
It was clearly Zhu Wendong's fault, yet why did Zhu Wenjing appear so submissive, timid, and fearful?
It was only later that I learned Zhu Wenjing was afraid of Zhu Wendong because she knew he had become a beast devoid of humanity.
Trying to be tough or reason with Zhu Wendong would not only be useless but would also backfire and directly enrage him.
At best, it would lead to scolding and beatings; at worst, it could result in him killing someone in a fit of rage!
Of course, at this moment, my mind was a complete mess, and I couldn't make sense of what was happening.
With a face full of fear, Zhu Wenjing looked at Zhu Wendong with terror in her eyes and said, "Brother, you, you... why are you here?"
Hearing this, Zhu Wendong became furious and pointed at Zhu Wenjing, cursing, "You son of a bitch Zhu Wenjing! How dare you say that?!"
"Do you know to borrow money to redeem yourself, but not to give me the money to win back first?"