Chapter 138: Street Games

On the roller coaster, Jiang Xianyue let out a loud shout, while Jiang Zheng, facing the wind, glanced at her.

After getting off, Jiang Xianyue’s face was flushed, looking nothing like someone who had been screaming on a roller coaster just moments ago.

"Next, let’s go to the haunted house," Jiang Xianyue said.

"Alright," Jiang Zheng replied.

The haunted house was different from what it used to be, with its scare tactics keeping up with the times. As the two entered, the eerie atmosphere and terrifying music pulled at their nerves, building a sense of tension and fear.

It was a maze-style haunted house where each room contained clues to help visitors find the exit. Naturally, every room was staffed with NPCs who would pop out from various hidden spots.

In the first room, just as an NPC poked their head out, Jiang Zheng pressed their head back in. The NPC was stunned, wondering what had just happened and whether they had actually managed to make an appearance.

Finding the clues, the two proved to be very sharp and quickly navigated their way through.

Upon reaching the second room, the NPC tried a different approach, but before they could even attempt a scare, a stern shout from Jiang Zheng sent them retreating in fear.

After finding the clue and exiting the second room, Jiang Xianyue asked, "Aren't you afraid at all?"

"It’s just people in costumes; what’s there to be afraid of?" Jiang Zheng replied.

Jiang Xianyue was speechless. While technically true, it certainly ruined the gaming experience.

Following that, the two cleared the attraction rapidly, with Jiang Zheng handling every NPC they encountered.

Once they were out, Jiang Zheng asked, "What shall we play next?"

"Let's go on the pirate ship. It looks pretty good," Jiang Xianyue said.

Jiang Zheng remarked, "How come you only like to play such thrilling rides?"

"I just like playing these kinds of things," Jiang Xianyue said.

Jiang Zheng shrugged; he was here to accompany her, so she could play whatever she wanted.

By the time Jiang Xianyue had tried all the thrilling rides in the park, she turned to Jiang Zheng and asked, "What do you want to play?"

"Bumper cars," Jiang Zheng said.

Jiang Xianyue: "..."

The two played for the entire afternoon. While they hadn't gotten to every attraction, it was the fun that mattered, and the rest was insignificant.

At seven in the evening, they left the amusement park. It was still quite bright, and the sun hadn't fully set. Just outside the exit, they noticed a crowd gathered around something. Interested, the two walked over to take a look.

Watching the spectacle was, after all, human nature.

In the center sat a man on a folding stool with a marble-shooting device in front of him. It contained a glass marble that could be launched by pulling a lever. Each landing spot was marked with different numbers, representing prizes, with the highest being two hundred.

Jiang Zheng recognized it at a glance as a street game. The rules were simple: pay to play, pull the lever, and win the prize corresponding to the number the marble landed on.

Just then, a man with a flushed face crouched there, pulled a hundred-yuan bill from his pocket, and said, "Ten more rounds!"

"It's ten yuan a round; that hundred is as good as gone," Jiang Zheng muttered, shaking his head.

Jiang Xianyue asked in a low voice, "How do you know that money is gone?"

"I played this kind of game when I was a kid. I only realized later that it's all a scam," Jiang Zheng explained.

"How is it a scam? Tell me," Jiang Xianyue said, clearly intrigued.

"The device itself is rigged with a hidden mechanism. As long as it's activated, the marble will never land on anything higher than ten yuan," Jiang Zheng said.

"Really?" Jiang Xianyue asked.

"Just watch. I'll show you something interesting in a moment," Jiang Zheng said, lowering his voice.

Jiang Xianyue nodded and watched quietly. Sure enough, the man played ten times, but the most he won was five yuan; he didn't land on a single spot worth more than ten.

"Damn it!" the man cursed, preparing to pull out more money.

At that moment, Jiang Zheng stepped forward and said, "Brother, mind if I give it a try? It looks quite interesting."

The man’s expression shifted, and he said, "Fine! Go ahead."

Jiang Zheng crouched in front of the stall owner and asked, "Boss, can I test how it works first?"

"Sure, go ahead and test it. But I have to be clear: if you haven't paid, it doesn't count," the stall owner said.

"I understand," Jiang Zheng nodded.

He pulled the lever and launched the marble casually; it landed perfectly on the two-hundred-point spot.

"This is actually quite simple," Jiang Zheng said with a smile.

"Of course it's simple. How about it, want to play a few rounds?" the stall owner asked with a grin.

"No rush. Let me try a few more times to get the feel of it," Jiang Zheng said.

"Go ahead," the stall owner agreed readily, generously letting Jiang Zheng test it as much as he liked.

Jiang Zheng flicked the lever repeatedly. Every single time, the marble landed on twenty, fifty, one hundred, or two hundred. He didn't hit a single spot below ten; every outcome was a win.

Jiang Xianyue stood outside the crowd, stunned. The man before had lost every round, but for Jiang Zheng, the result was always a win.

"Young man, you've tried so many times, are you going to play or not? If not, don't hold up my business," the stall owner said, losing patience after watching Jiang Zheng play for free for so long.

"Let me think... there must be some sort of mechanism in here. How about you let me inspect it?" Jiang Zheng said, lowering his voice.

The stall owner’s expression darkened. Being exposed on the spot made him feel a mix of shame and anger.

"Kid! You looking for trouble? You want me to have someone break you?" the stall owner threatened.

Jiang Zheng patted the stall owner on the shoulder and said with a smile, "I'm just giving you a friendly reminder. One should walk the straight and narrow; otherwise, sooner or later, someone will help you find the right path."

The stall owner’s face changed. When Jiang Zheng patted him, he tried to stand up, but Jiang Zheng’s grip was incredibly strong, pinning him down and making it impossible to rise.

*I've kicked an iron plate!* the stall owner realized instantly.

He whispered, "Brother, I was impulsive just now. I was just talking nonsense, don't take it to heart."

"If you want me to let you go, fine. Hand over the money you just won from others," Jiang Zheng said.

"Brother, isn't that a bit much?" the stall owner replied, his tone displeased.

"Then I'll have to call the police to settle this," Jiang Zheng said, waving his phone.

The stall owner gritted his teeth and said, "Fine, I admit defeat. I had eyes but didn't recognize a superior. Here is the money."

Their movements were subtle and their voices low, so no one noticed what was happening.

"Go on then, and don't let me see you again," Jiang Zheng said, releasing his grip.

The stall owner, feeling as though he had been granted a pardon, hurriedly began packing his things.

"Sorry everyone, I just remembered an urgent matter and have to leave. We'll meet again if fate allows," he announced.

The people who had been interested in playing tried to stop him, but the stall owner, now terrified, had no intention of staying. He was desperate to get as far away from this dangerous man as possible.

And so, he scurried off with his belongings in tow.