Chapter 8: Live off the Mountain
In fact, like Indian policemen, in the eyes of the British, Chinese policemen also have many problems, such as alcoholism, extortion, and gambling.
Gambling is commonplace for Chinese people. Mahjong, leaf cards, dice rolling, and even simple guessing of odds and evens can all allow Chinese people to play in countless ways. Sometimes you have to admire some people. Knowing how to play is a kind of talent. It's a pity that many Chinese people are unwilling to use their talents in the right way.
As early as the Chinese Brave Battalion era, gambling had become a chronic disease among Chinese soldiers. British officers tried every possible way to change the Chinese gambling habit, even using corporal punishment and confinement, but unfortunately the effect was minimal. What was particularly ridiculous was that the Chinese soldiers enjoyed the punishment of confinement because the British cells were clean and tidy, they had two meals a day, and those imprisoned inside could rest comfortably all day without having to undergo hard training or carry out missions. This was almost like a reward for the soldiers who made mistakes.
As the saying goes, big gambling is harmful to the body, but small gambling is enjoyable. In the past, Rock would play a few rounds when he had nothing to do, but the winnings and losses were limited to one shilling. Whether he lost or won a shilling, he would stop immediately.
Others do not have this self-control. Some Chinese policemen are addicted to gambling and lose all their salaries before they even have time to warm their hands. It is common for them to roll up their sleeves and start working when they are desperate. Luo Yi is one of the best. He used to be a gangster in Tianjin and is proficient in all kinds of underworld tricks. Usually, Luo Yi is the banker and opens the market.
The noise came from Luo Yi's room. When Rock opened the door, a pungent smell of foot odor mixed with the smell of tobacco gushed out. It felt like being in a garbage dump in August. The smell was so sour that it was disgusting.
Forcing down the discomfort, Rock went in and separated the people who were pulling each other. The reason was simple. Luo Yi probably had bad luck today , and was discovered when he was cheating. As a result, several Chinese policemen, who were furious about losing, immediately refused to do it. If Rock had not arrived in time, Luo Yi would definitely have been beaten up today.
"The inspector has repeatedly warned us not to allow group gambling. You really are not afraid of death." As a former corporal in the Chinese Battalion, Rock still has some prestige among the Chinese police officers, otherwise it would be impossible to separate the furious gamblers.
"As long as we don't say anything, the inspector won't know." Luo Yi grinned. With Rock around, Luo Yi was able to escape danger today.
"Where is your partner? Can you guarantee that he won't tell on you?" Rock didn't believe in human nature. He only believed that there was no impenetrable wall. They were all gamblers. There was no bottom line. When they were desperate after losing, they would even pick up a knife and chop people.
"I gave him a shilling and asked him to go out and play. If he tells tales, he won't be able to earn this money in the future." Luo Yi is quite resourceful and his methods are quite practical. He is a talented person, but it's a pity that he doesn't use his talent in the right way.
"How much did you win today?" Rock stopped arguing and went straight to the point.
"Damn, he won more than a pound from us--"
"He didn't win a dick. He cheated. We knew something was wrong a long time ago. Today we finally caught the thief and the dirty work."
"Return the money you paid to us, and return all the money you have cheated us of."
The policeman who lost the money was filled with righteous indignation. This time Luo Yi was doomed. According to the rules of the underworld, if you are caught cheating in public, your hands will be chopped off.
"Don't look into old accounts. Pay back the money this time, then come to my room and I'll find a way for you to make the money back." Rock didn't look into old accounts. Such accounts couldn't be settled, and no one knew how much he had lost or won.
It was a blessing to have such a result. Luo Yi didn't waste any words at this moment. He emptied his pockets. Although several policemen who lost money were unwilling, they also accepted Rock's mediation. There was nothing they could do if they didn't accept it. If the matter was brought to the British, no one would be in a good situation. The British would not care who was right or wrong. As long as they participated in gambling, they were wrong.
Back in his dormitory, Rock found a stack of bowls, gave each person a bowl of beer, and then they had a heart-to-heart talk.
"What's the point of winning your own people's money? You're just a bully in your own den. You're always cheating your own people. Once you fall out with them, who will help you out when you get into trouble in the future? You can't even rely on your own brothers, so how can you rely on those foreigners?" In another environment, Rock would never care about the life and death of these gamblers, but now he has to. There are probably only about 30 Chinese people in the whole of Cape Town. Rock doesn't want to give up : "Where are we? Cape Town, the largest port in southern Africa, with countless merchant ships going back and forth every day. Those merchant ships have to rest for a few days when they come to Cape Town. Can't the sailors have some fun when they dock? Those sailors are very rich. You don't cheat those sailors, but you covet the money in your brothers' pockets. I'm ashamed of you."
As the saying goes, if you live by the mountain, you eat by the mountain; if you live by the water, you eat by the water. When you are in Cape Town, you should target the passing sailors. Unlike the sailors in the general concept, sailors who sail on the oceans these days are very rich. Sailors can carry some supplies with them for reselling. The money comes easily and is naturally spent easily. Besides, it is impossible for sailors to stay in Cape Town for too long. If they are cheated, they have nowhere to seek justice. Rock and his men are policemen themselves.
This, this is simply the right time, right place, and right people.
"Cheating foreigners!" Luo Yi's eyes widened like bells. He never expected that this was Rock's way of making money.
"Foreigners are not easy to trick."
"Can foreigners be cheated?"
"Something might happen."
Others also talked a lot, and they were obviously afraid to take action. These days, foreigners are the emperors in front of the Chinese. The Chinese police dare not resist the Indian police. Asking them to take action against real foreigners is too big a gap.
"Foreigners are human beings too, why can't we cheat them? Don't forget that we are Cape Towners now, and we are also working for foreigners. Don't worry about other things. Luo Yi, I only ask you one thing, how about your skills?" Rock didn't have such concerns. For other people, cheating foreigners is inviting disaster, but for Rock, it is an honor to make money from foreigners. No matter how the money is made, it doesn't matter if it is dirty money.
In fact, it's not that they are heartless. How can it be heartless in the civilized world? The British openly robbed the Qing Dynasty with their powerful ships and guns. In the jungle society, the one with the bigger fist is right. To put it bluntly, flies don't bite eggs without cracks. The only thing they can do is to trick greedy gamblers. They don't gamble or are greedy. Rock and his men can't force people to gamble with guns.
"Master Luo, I'm not bragging about my skills. As long as those foreigners dare to come out, I, Luo Yi, will not be named Luo unless I win their underwear back." Luo Yi spoke so arrogantly that Rock did not know whether to laugh or cry. You are not my son, and your surname Luo has nothing to do with me.
