Carefree Farmwife: Training the Husband, Raising the Bun - Chapter 91

Wang Ba chuckled. “Could it be, Sister, that you know other ways to play?”

Ying Su’s lips curved. “I do know a few variations. Would Brother Wang Ba like to try?”

Wang Ba’s enthusiasm for gambling flared even brighter than when she’d spoken of mirrors and glass earlier. 

“You know other games? Come, come, let’s try right now!” His broad hand clapped down on her shoulder as he pushed her back toward the upstairs room.

Ying Su only smiled as the group returned upstairs.

Lu Da muttered inwardly. This little lady is skilled in martial arts, could it be her gambling skills are sharp too? Master Ba has made his name sweeping across the land with dice. In the dice world, he’s the grandfather of them all! And yet she dares to claim she’ll teach him new ways? Interesting!

Soon, they were back in the same room as before. Ying Su walked to the gaming table, set her hand over the dice cup, and picked up the dice with the other. She dropped them into the cup, her wrist flexing slightly.

It had been a long time since she last touched dice, yet the moment her fingers gripped the cup, that old familiarity rushed back.

She slammed the dice cup down on the table, lifting it in one smooth motion along with the dice. Her wrist turned, and she began to shake.

Her movements were fast and fluid, shadows flickering like light and smoke.

A true expert is revealed at first touch. Wang Ba narrowed his eyes. This girl is remarkable! The way she handles dice is beyond even the dealers I’ve trained here. I’m genuinely curious about these “games” she spoke of now.

But however skillful her hand, Wang Ba wasn’t impressed. Over the years, he had honed his ability to tell dice results by sound alone. No matter how the dice fell, even if shaken into a flower pattern, he could always tell by listening.

After a dazzling display of motion, Ying Su slammed the cup down on the table. Wang Ba had been relaxed at first, but suddenly his posture stiffened. He tilted his head this way and that, ears twitching, even leaning close to the cup until his ear was nearly pressed against it.

Ying Su watched calmly.

Strangely, Wang Ba licked his lips, rubbed his shiny bald head, and frowned. “That’s odd… why didn’t I hear anything?”

Ying Su’s smile deepened. “Brother Wang Ba, do you determine dice by listening?”

“Heh, yes,” Wang Ba said proudly. “After gambling so long, I’ve trained myself.”

“Impressive indeed,” Ying Su praised.

Still frowning, Wang Ba tugged his beard. “But how come I didn’t hear the dice settle just now?”

Ying Su’s expression was serene. Back when she had roamed the casinos of Las Vegas, she had encountered all manner of gambling masters. Their strength lay not only in skill and calculation but in psychology, eyes, and ears. To counter those who relied on sound, she had trained in a technique to silence the dice entirely, Soundless Dice Drop.

“Indeed, there was no sound,” she said evenly.

Wang Ba blinked, taken aback. “Then… you practiced this deliberately?”

Ying Su nodded.

At once, Wang Ba’s expression transformed into one of eager flattery. “My, oh my! Sister, that’s incredible! You must teach me! I’ve never seen such a thing in my life. If you walked among us gamblers with just this one skill, you could sweep the entire land!”

His excitement was boundless, he nearly grabbed her leg in devotion.

Ying Su arched a brow. When she had spoken of glass and mirrors earlier, Wang Ba had remained calm. But just one glimpse of her gambling skill had him in rapture. Truly, the key is to appeal to a man’s heart.

“Since Brother Wang Ba wishes to learn, I’ll teach you when I have the time,” she said lightly.

Wang Ba was overjoyed, almost unable to wait, wishing she’d start teaching him right now.

But Ying Su added, “It’s late today. I’ll first teach you a few game variations. I’ll save Soundless Dice Drop for another time.”

Though impatient, Wang Ba nodded. “Alright, Sister, alright!”

Ying Su began explaining. “The first one is this: each person has a dice cup and five dice. The banker first calls out any three numbers between one and six. At this point, no one, including the banker, may look at their dice. Everyone then reveals their dice together. Any dice that match the three called numbers are removed. Then everyone shakes again, passing the banker’s role to the next person. The first to clear all their dice loses.”

She raised her eyes. “Brother Wang Ba, do you follow?”

Wang Ba replayed the steps in his mind, then burst out laughing. “Marvelous! Brilliant! Why didn’t I think of this? Excellent, excellent!”

Lu Da quickly turned to an assistant. “Did you write it down?”

The man nodded repeatedly. “Every word, nothing missed!”

After witnessing her Soundless Dice Drop, Lu Da already admired her deeply. He hadn’t expected her gambling skills to be as impressive as her martial arts. Knowing she planned to teach Master Ba several games, he had the foresight to have someone record it all in case Wang Ba forgot.

“This one is called Five-Dice. Now I’ll explain another called ‘Three Dukes’…”

Ying Su slowly described five different games in all, until her mouth was dry.

Seeing this, Wang Ba immediately ordered Lu Da to bring tea. With every game she described, he was more amazed, until at last he regarded her as a kindred spirit in the gambling world.

After wetting her throat, Ying Su concluded, “You’ve got the methods written down. Try introducing just two or three at first. Too many new games at once may overwhelm people. They’ll need time to adapt. It’s really late now, I must be going.”

Wang Ba hurried to his feet. “I’ll escort you.”

Ying Su smiled faintly. “No need, Brother Wang Ba.”

“How could I not?”

“There’s no need for formality between us.”

“Right, right, Sister’s correct. From now on, don’t call me Brother Wang Ba. If you don’t mind, call me Big Brother.”

Her lips curved, her brows arching gracefully. “Why not? Big Brother, I’ll take my leave.”

“En.” Wang Ba called out, then barked at Lu Da. “Well? See my sister out!”

Lu Da hurried forward. “Miss Cuihua, let me escort you.”

But inwardly, he grumbled, Master Ba sure dares to call her “my sister.” His own son is about her age, yet he says it without shame.

Of course, even with ten lives, he’d never dare voice that thought aloud.