How A Ride-Hailing Driver Comes To Dominate The World? [EN]: Chapter 239

You’re Such a Spendthrift Taxi Driver

Chapter 239: You’re Such a Spendthrift Taxi Driver

Seeing that things were exposed, Lin Jing stopped acting and pushed Zhou Wenqi away with a sneer, saying, “Alright, stop acting.”

Zhou Wenqi looked puzzled and asked, “Xiaojing, what do you mean by that? I rushed over to save you as quickly as possible. I didn’t know they would hit you. Really, you have to believe me.”

Lin Jing got up and walked to Yang Chen, asking with a smile, “You’re quite the actor, aren’t you?”

Yang Chen: “I’m not acting. Your acting is pretty good, though. You’re clearly a service staff member at Mingcui Workshop, yet you pretended to be an ordinary person and became her best friend, inducing her to lose her entire fortune. She was greedy herself, so she can’t blame others. But you guys are too greedy. You knew her son needed money for surgery, yet you still tricked her out of all her money and even tricked her into taking out loans to continue playing. Tsk tsk tsk… Mingcui Workshop touts itself as the most disciplined, but in reality, it’s even more ruthless than those underground casinos. At least they don’t actively induce gamblers; it’s all based on personal will. You guys are good, inducing people to lose all their capital isn’t enough, you even have to make them take out loans. I want to know who your boss is. How can he be so unscrupulous?”

Zhou Wenqi was immediately shocked and quickly grabbed Lin Jing’s arm, asking if what he said was true.

Lin Jing sneered again and pushed Zhou Wenqi away, saying, “That’s right, what he said is true. But in the final analysis, it’s because you were too greedy, wasn’t it? I also advised you to stop, but you said that if you could get a small win, you could definitely get a big one, and you insisted on continuing to play. The current situation is mainly related to your greed. I am suspected of inducing you, but if you weren’t greedy, how could I have succeeded in inducing you?”

Zhou Wenqi was furious and wanted to hit Lin Jing, but Lin Jing kicked her away.

You could tell that Lin Jing had practiced, at least knowing some self-defense techniques.

Wang Zheng quickly helped his wife up. He didn’t blame his wife but stood in front to protect her.

I have to say, this man is a man of character.

Learning that his wife had lost the family fortune and that his son’s surgery money was gone, he really hated her and wanted to hit her.

But knowing that his wife had been deceived and bullied, he bravely took on the responsibility that a husband should bear.

At this moment, the middle-aged man who had been sitting stood up.

He took out more than a dozen IOUs [I Owe You notes] and said, “Let’s not waste any more words. These IOUs have your signature and fingerprints, so you can’t deny them. Tell me, how are you going to pay them back, and when? We need to know. I need to remind you that the annual interest rate on these IOUs is 20%. We are a legitimate lending company and can accept your monthly installments.”

Zhou Wenqi immediately refused, saying, “I won’t give you a penny! You set up a trap to cheat me out of my money. I’m going to call the police and arrest you!”

The middle-aged man sneered, saying, “Go ahead and call the police, but I can tell you clearly that it’s useless even if you call the police. It’s all in black and white, with your signature and fingerprints, and the interest rate doesn’t exceed the legal maximum limit. I don’t care if you call the police or file a lawsuit in court. We’ve seen many people like you, and in the end, they all have to pay back the money honestly.”

Although this is indeed a “pig butchering scam” [a confidence trick where victims are financially exploited after a period of building trust], Mingcui Workshop operates within the legal scope, and Zhou Wenqi can’t win even if she sues in court.

Stone gambling is legal. If it were illegal gambling, she might have a chance to win the case.

Wang Zheng said, “Can you please just consider it as us begging you? You won our 4 million yuan principal, and now you want us to pay back 1.5 million yuan. That’s pushing us to the brink. Our child is still in the hospital waiting for surgery tomorrow, and we don’t have a single penny left. Please, have mercy and let us off. Please?” He knelt down and kowtowed [a deep bow touching the forehead to the ground, showing respect].

Zhou Wenqi cried and tried to pull him up, but she couldn’t, so she also knelt down and kowtowed.

This matter is indeed Zhou Wenqi’s fault for being too greedy, but it’s also wrong for Lin Jing to set up a trap to cheat her out of money.

Legally speaking, Mingcui Workshop has no problems.

But morally speaking, they are too greedy.

Now, Mingcui Workshop is relying on its legality, and no matter how Wang Zheng and Zhou Wenqi kowtow, they remain indifferent. That 1.5 million yuan must be repaid at an annual interest rate of 20%.

Wang Zheng and Zhou Wenqi’s foreheads were bleeding from kowtowing, but the people at Mingcui Workshop just sneered.

Especially Lin Jing, her smile was the coldest.

First, she became Zhou Wenqi’s best friend, then she found an opportunity to lure her into losing her entire fortune and owing Mingcui Workshop 1.5 million yuan. The key is that she knew Zhou Wenqi’s son was waiting for surgery, yet she could still smile.

Yang Chen couldn’t stand people who have no bottom line in order to make money.

Yang Chen helped Wang Zheng and Zhou Wenqi up, saying, “Since you’re already desperate, why not take another gamble? Borrow more money from them, and I’ll take you to play a round. If you win, you’ll turn things around. If you lose, it won’t make much difference to you now to have tens of thousands more in debt. More debts don’t weigh you down, and more lice don’t itch [an idiom meaning when one is already in a bad situation, additional troubles are insignificant]. Do you dare?”

Wang Zheng and Zhou Wenqi looked at Yang Chen, not speaking for a long time.

The middle-aged man said with a smile, “Young man, you look unfamiliar. Is this your first time playing at Mingcui Workshop?”

Yang Chen nodded, saying, “Yes! I’m a taxi driver, and I happened to pick her up tonight. She wanted to jump into the river, so I saved her. I heard her say that she lost her entire fortune here and owes 1.5 million yuan, so I came to see what it’s all about.”

Middle-aged man: “Haha… taxi driver, well, it looks like you’ve already picked three stones. Aren’t you going to open them to see if there’s any jade?”

Yang Chen: “No, I’m going to play on the second floor. Let’s open them together later. What do you two say? Do you dare to risk everything on one last gamble?”

Middle-aged man: “I advise you two to think carefully. He’s just a taxi driver, and it’s his first time here. Believing him is worse than believing Lin Jing. At least she can pick out stones with a little bit of jade for you.”

“Haha…” Everyone laughed.

Zhou Wenqi looked at her husband, waiting for him to make a decision.

After hesitating again and again, Wang Zheng gritted his teeth and said, “Okay! Brother, I believe you! Come on, lend us another 500,000 yuan. Let’s make it a round number. At worst, we’ll work for you for the rest of our lives.”

The middle-aged man laughed and asked someone to bring paper and pen, so that Wang Zheng could write the IOU in his own handwriting according to their format, sign it, and put his fingerprint on it.

Afterwards, the middle-aged man had someone bring a 500,000 yuan check to Wang Zheng, saying, “Good luck to you!”

Yang Chen led Wang Zheng and Zhou Wenqi away, and Lin Jing immediately led people to follow them.

“Are you scared?” Yang Chen asked with a smile.

Wang Zheng: “It would be a lie to say I’m not scared, but I believe our benefactor wouldn’t harm us.”

Yang Chen: “What if this is the second trap?”

Wang Zheng and Zhou Wenqi were stunned.

Then Wang Zheng laughed and said, “If this is the second trap, then we’ll accept it. If you set up such an elaborate trap, it’s only natural that we fall for it.”

“Haha…” Yang Chen also laughed.

Wang Zheng helped carry the stones to the second floor.

The rough stones on the second floor were indeed very large, some even as tall as Yang Chen.

If you could cut out a jadeite [a green mineral used in jewelry] as tall as a person, you would take off directly [become extremely successful].

Of course, it’s not to say that big stones are necessarily good, and there must be jadeite, but the feeling is that big stones have a higher chance of producing jadeite.

At this time, a group of people were discussing a half-person-high boulder.

“In my opinion, there must be green in this stone.”

“Young Master Ning, should we take it down?”

“It’s a pity that it costs 25 million yuan. I really can’t afford it. If it could be half the price, I would take it down!”

“This stone has been appraised by many experts, and everyone thinks there is green inside. It’s just that no one can be sure how big it is, so no one dares to take it down.”

…

The Young Master Ning in everyone’s mouth was a young man wearing glasses, who looked gentle and refined.

He frowned, unaffected by the outside world, and kept observing the stone on his own.

Yang Chen took Wang Zheng and Zhou Wenqi over.

When those old customers saw Zhou Wenqi coming again, they immediately started talking.

“Damn! You’re here again? Didn’t you say you lost everything?”

“Are you bringing two more helpers to continue playing? You’re really awesome, even more addicted than us.”

“Have you paid off the 1.5 million yuan you borrowed from Mingcui Workshop? I can’t believe you’re still a little rich woman!”

“Haha…”

“Come on, little rich woman, do you dare to buy this stone? Many experts have appraised it, and there must be jadeite inside. Do you dare to buy it?”

…

When Zhou Wenqi saw that this stone was priced at 25 million yuan, she was so scared that she quickly backed away.

Wang Zheng asked with a smile, “Benefactor, tell us how to buy it, and we’ll buy it. We both listen to you.”

Yang Chen handed the basket of stones to Wang Zheng to hold, and then walked closer to observe.

“Yo-ho, an expert has come! He even knows how to observe the texture and veins.”

“Young Master Ning, you have to hurry up, an expert has come, don’t let others take the lead.”

“That’s right, you’ve been looking at this stone for more than half a month, don’t let someone else get there first at this time.”

…

Young Master Ning looked at Yang Chen and asked with a smile, “Brother, what do you think of this stone?”

Yang Chen didn’t speak, but put his ear to the stone and tapped it rhythmically, listening to its echo.

“Haha… young man, do you think you’re buying a watermelon? Tapping it to see if it’s ripe?”

“Haha…”

“Don’t say that, what if he’s a master and can tell whether there’s green inside the stone based on the sound?”

…

Yang Chen looked up at the people who were talking the most nonsense and said, “Please be quiet, everyone. You’re affecting me.”

“Yo-ho, he’s really acting like he knows what he’s doing!”

“Everyone, stop talking. Otherwise, if he misjudges, he’ll blame us for interfering with him.”

“That’s right, let’s be quiet, otherwise, if he blames us, we can’t afford to pay for it.”

…

After these people said a few sarcastic words, they finally quieted down.

Yang Chen tapped around the stone, and he could basically determine that there was indeed jadeite inside, but it wasn’t big, about 200-300 grams.

According to Mingcui Workshop’s recycling price, even if it was the best imperial green [a highly prized, vivid green variety of jadeite], such a small piece would only be worth 7-10 million yuan.

But this stone is priced at 25 million yuan, wouldn’t that be a blood loss of more than 10 million yuan?

Yang Chen said with a smile, “I think there is indeed jadeite inside, I’ll leave it to you.”

After speaking, Yang Chen signaled Wang Zheng and Zhou Wenqi to look at other stones.

“Haha… isn’t that nonsense?”

“He obviously doesn’t know how to play, he’s just saying what we want to hear.”

“Don’t mind them, Young Master Ning, are you going to take it down?”

…

Young Master Ning was already very hesitant, but now that Yang Chen said there was jadeite inside but didn’t buy it, it made him even more confused.

Yang Chen and the other two came to the side to look at other stones.

Wang Zheng asked in a low voice, “Benefactor, is there really jadeite inside that stone?”

Yang Chen nodded, saying, “Yes.”

Wang Zheng: “Ah? Then why aren’t we buying it?”

Zhou Wenqi: “It costs 25 million yuan. How can we buy it?”

Wang Zheng nodded, saying, “That’s right, it’s too expensive.”

Yang Chen: “There is indeed jadeite inside, but I estimate it’s only about 300 grams at most. According to Mingcui Workshop’s recycling price, it can be exchanged for about 10 million yuan. Buying it for 25 million yuan and exchanging it for 10 million yuan, wouldn’t that be a blood loss?”

The two suddenly understood, so that’s how it is.

Zhou Wenqi: “Benefactor, you’re so amazing, you can even tell how big the jadeite inside is.”

Yang Chen: “I can’t explain this to you, it can only be understood implicitly, not expressed in words. Anyway, I can tell whether there is jadeite inside based on the sound, and if there is jadeite, how big it is. Let me see how this one is.”

With that, Yang Chen squatted down and studied a one-meter-high stone.

This stone costs 12 million yuan, which is also very expensive.

Yang Chen carefully observed it and found texture and veins at the bottom.

Then, he tapped and listened to the sound, confirming that there was a big find inside this stone.

The ability to form veins and textures on the surface of the stone is enough to prove that the jadeite inside is not small.

The stone that Young Master Ning and others were surrounding had no texture or veins on the surface, so the jadeite inside was very small.

Yang Chen remained calm and continued to look at other stones.

At this time, a burly man with five big and three thick [a Chinese idiom describing a large and imposing man] followers came up.

When everyone saw him, they quickly dodged, and only Young Master Ning dared to continue studying that stone.

Zhou Wenqi said, “I heard Lin Jing say that this person is called Hong Junle. He runs nightclubs and KTVs [Karaoke Television venues] next door. His backing is the Xue family or the Xu family? I forgot. When I came to play, he was also there, yelling very arrogantly.”

Yang Chen nodded, not caring whether he was backed by the Xue family or the Xu family, as long as he didn’t touch the stone that Yang Chen had just taken a fancy to.

Hong Junle came to Young Master Ning and said with a smile, “Young Master Ning, are you really going to do it? You’ve been looking at a stone for more than half a month and still can’t make up your mind. I look down on you. I’ve already raised enough money. If you don’t want it, then I’ll take it!”

Young Master Ning quickly said, “Brother Le, don’t do this. Who doesn’t know that I haven’t been eating or sleeping well for this stone? Don’t mess with me, brother.”

Hong Junle: “Haha… then you should buy it! You can’t just not buy it yourself and not let others buy it, right? Does everyone agree with this?”

“That’s right, Brother Le is right. Young Master Ning, you’ve been looking at it for so long, you should buy it.”

“We’ve been waiting to see what’s inside this stone for more than half a month.”

“Young Master Ning, if you don’t dare to buy it, then let Brother Le have it. The brothers want to see what’s inside tonight.”

“Yes! Young Master Ning, buy it, otherwise, let Brother Le have it.”

…

Hong Junle laughed and said, “Young Master Ning, don’t blame me for not giving you face. I’ll take another look around. When I come back, if you haven’t bought it, then I’ll buy it. Is that enough face for you?”

Young Master Ning nodded and quickly studied it again.

Hong Junle strolled around with his followers and soon came to Yang Chen and the other two.

“Yo, you’re here again! Didn’t you lose everything? Did you borrow more money?” Hong Junle said to Zhou Wenqi.

Good fellow, Zhou Wenqi is also amazing, she became a celebrity the first time she came.

Zhou Wenqi replied awkwardly, “I’m accompanying my friend to play.”

Hong Junle smiled and extended his hand to Yang Chen, saying, “Brother, what’s your name? My name is Hong Junle, and I own the Oscar Bar next door.”

Yang Chen: “My name is Yang Chen, and I’m a taxi driver.”

Hong Junle: “Oh. Taxi driver, haha… okay, good luck to you.”

Hong Junle led people away, and several people started talking.

“Another fat pig [an idiom for someone easily exploited]!”

“This woman is ruthless! She lost everything herself and dragged her friends down with her!”

“Alas… I’ve said it before, stone gambling is like gambling, as long as you lose money, you’ll always want to turn things around.”

…

The stones on the second floor are very high-end, but the total amount is not large, only 50 pieces in total.

The cheapest one is 1 million yuan, and the most expensive one is 35 million yuan.

Soon, Yang Chen looked at all the rough stones on the second floor.

The quality of the rough stones on this floor is indeed very high, and their high prices are justified.

In addition to the one that Young Master Ning was looking at, Yang Chen also found 3 rough stones with green.

Yang Chen came to the rough stone worth 12 million yuan and said loudly, “I want this stone!”

Everyone on the second floor looked over.

“Damn! That taxi driver made a move!”

“Is he serious? He made a move so quickly?”

“Let’s go, let’s go see.”

…

Everyone gathered around, and Young Master Ning and Hong Junle also came.

Lin Jing walked over with her people.

Zhou Wenqi glared at her fiercely, but she talked and laughed as if she didn’t care at all.

“Boss Yang, are you sure you want this one? It’s 12 million yuan, it would be a big loss if you misjudge it,” Lin Jing said with a smile.

Yang Chen: “I’m sure. I want this one.”

Lin Jing: “Come on, push this stone out!”

Several male workers quickly pushed the stone out.

Then Lin Jing said loudly, “Congratulations to Boss Yang for choosing his favorite stone.”

The onlookers were talking.

“It doesn’t look like anything special? How dare he be so sure!”

“Alas… it’s normal for him to be here for the first time. When I came to play for the first time, I also thought my vision was unique, but I lost more than a million yuan.”

“Haha…”

“Little brother, it’s 12 million yuan, why don’t you think about it again! If you lose, you won’t be able to sleep for at least a month.”

“Haha…”

Lin Jing was worried that Yang Chen would be persuaded to change his mind, so she quickly said, “Boss Yang, please come with me, we’ll go make the order and pay now.”

Yang Chen: “Wait a minute.”

“He’s regretting it! He’s regretting it!”

“Haha… he’s obviously a newbie, he can’t listen to other people’s advice and can’t stick to his own choice.”

“Young man, we’re just talking casually, don’t take it seriously!”

“Haha…”

…

Lin Jing: “Boss Yang is regretting it?”

Yang Chen: “No, I mean let’s go pay after I’ve chosen all the stones.”

Everyone was shocked, this guy still wants to buy other stones?

Yang Chen walked to the second stone and said, “Give me this one too.”

When everyone saw it, that stone was priced at 20 million yuan, and they were shocked again.

“Young man, are you kidding me? This one is half the size of Young Master Ning’s, you’re paying 20 million yuan for it, why don’t you add some money and buy Young Master Ning’s?”

“That’s right! Young Master Ning’s is confirmed to have green, this one is very ordinary, no player has ever said that there is green inside this stone.”

“You taxi driver is too much of a spendthrift. This is ridiculous.”

…

Lin Jing didn’t care so much, as long as it was sold, she would get a commission, so she quickly asked someone to push this stone out as well.

“Boss Yang, you’re really bold. Is there anything else you like?” Lin Jing asked with a smile.

Yang Chen nodded and pointed to the stone that was about the same height as him, saying, “And that one!”

“Wow! That’s so brave! 35 million yuan!”

“Only Old Master Chen Qing thinks there is green inside this stone, but he thinks that even if there is green inside, it will definitely not be worth the money.”

“Damn, he’s making such a big bet the first time he’s playing, I’m impressed!”

…

Young Master Ning quickly asked, “Brother, do you have any secrets? Why did you choose these three stones?”

Yang Chen replied with a smile, “There are no secrets, it’s all based on feeling. I feel like they have something, so I chose them.”

Hong Junle: “Damn, brother, are you serious? You really just chose them randomly?”

Yang Chen nodded, saying, “Yes! I chose them randomly.”

Hong Junle: “Then do you think there is something in that stone?”

Yang Chen: “Yes! I told Young Master Ning and the others just now that there is something inside, but I gave it to them. First come, first served, I won’t compete with you old players.”

Lin Jing took Yang Chen to pay, one for 12 million yuan, one for 20 million yuan, and one for 35 million yuan, totaling 67 million yuan.

Yang Chen said to Wang Zheng, “Give me the check, you can invest in this 35 million yuan one.”

Wang Zheng nodded and quickly gave the 500,000 yuan check to Yang Chen.

Afterwards, Yang Chen signed a 67 million yuan check to pay.

Seeing Yang Chen pay so confidently and decisively, Hong Junle gritted his teeth and immediately ran to the 25 million yuan stone and said loudly, “I want this one!”

Young Master Ning quickly ran over and said, “Brother Le, don’t mess with me! I’ve been looking at it for more than half a month and I’m about to buy it, don’t rob me!”

Hong Junle: “Damn, Young Master Ning, you’re not being fair! You’ve been looking at it for more than half a month and haven’t bought it, now that I’ve bought it, you’re causing trouble. Didn’t I say that I would come back after taking a look around, and if you hadn’t bought it, I would buy it. Did I say that?”

Young Master Ning: “I’ll buy it now, okay?”

Hong Junle: “Don’t joke around! I’ve already said I want to buy this stone, what do you mean by robbing it now? Are you not giving me, Hong Junle, face?”

Young Master Ning: “It’s not that I’m not giving Brother Le face, but…”

Hong Junle: “But what? I want this one, whoever robs me is my enemy!”

After speaking, Hong Junle ran over to pay.

“Alas… Young Master Ning, we’re not saying this to you, but you didn’t dare to buy it after looking at it for more than half a month, so you can’t blame Brother Le for taking the lead.”

“That’s right! You still have to be decisive in life. Stone gambling is about creating miracles by being decisive, you hesitated and missed the opportunity when fortune was upon you.”

“Alas… be more decisive next time.”

…

Young Master Ning gritted his teeth, his eyes revealing a strong murderous aura.

However, he didn’t dare to move Hong Junle easily.

Hong Junle himself didn’t have much ability, but his father, Hong Sitong, was the butler of the Xue family, and moving him was equivalent to moving the Xue family.

That’s why everyone was still afraid of Hong Junle, and Young Master Ning didn’t dare to do anything to him.

Lin Jing said with a smile, “Please come with me, everyone, I’ll take you to cut the stones now.”

The third floor of Mingcui Workshop is where the stones are cut, and there are professional stone cutters here.

If jadeite is cut out, it can be exchanged for money with Mingcui Workshop on the spot based on the color and weight.

Of course, other players can also bid according to their own judgment.

This is one of the reasons why everyone likes to come to Mingcui Workshop to play stone gambling.

At this time, the stone cutting hall was very noisy.

“Give me green! Green! Green!”

“If you want to live a good life, you have to wear some green on your head! Give me green from head to toe!”

“Damn! It’s empty again! I just lost a million yuan!”

“Damn it, the stone I bought for five million yuan only cut out a fingernail-sized jadeite, I’m losing so much money!”

…

This scene is similar to the scene of gambling dice in ancient costume dramas.

In that, they shout “Big, big, big”, “Small, small, small”, here they shout “Green, green, green”.

It is said that men hate green the most, but the men who come here all like green, wishing that with one cut, they would be green from head to toe.

Hong Junle said with a smile, “Brother, you go first?”

Yang Chen: “You go first. Everyone is waiting to see what your stone can cut out.”

Hong Junle: “Haha… okay! Then I’ll go first! Come, cut my stone open!”

The stone cutter nodded, signaling the staff to push the stone over.

Everyone gathered around, the moment to witness the miracle has arrived…

I’m ashamed, I’ve never played stone gambling, I’m just imagining it myself, there will definitely be many illogical places, please bear with me, ignore the illogical aspects, and focus on the plot. Thank you everyone.