Volume 1: The Beginner's First Cry Chapter 3 Lottery
Ignoring Afeng's mumblings, I picked up the vegetables he bought, got up and went to the kitchen to cook. I had to rely on myself when I went out, and men also had to learn to cook.
While playing the symphony of pots and pans, I heard Afeng shouting in the living room, "Hey, A-Dai, you finally got it. Do you want to play games? Why are you studying my magazines?"
I was completely confused by what he said, “When did I ever read your magazine? I never thought about playing games.” What a joke! I barely have money for food, how could I have the energy to think about games?
"Don't deny it. You didn't even wipe your mouth clean after eating and I caught you red-handed. Actually, you don't have to be embarrassed. It's rare that you have freed your mind, listened to my advice, and are willing to join our big family of gamers. I am sincerely happy! How about it? If you have any questions, just ask me. I promise to tell you everything I know until you are satisfied. From now on, we can fight side by side in Tianxia and hunt for the first pot of gold in our lives."
What is going on? I don't understand. Could it be that Afeng's paranoia is getting worse, to the point where he is having hallucinations?
"Well, what's wrong? I remember that I carried that magazine in my briefcase with me. I took some time to read it this afternoon. That's right, there was a copy in my bag. How come there is another copy at home? Ah Dai, you must have bought another copy, right? In fact, why bother? If you want to read it, why don't you just borrow it from me? Why spend money to buy it? This is a hundred yuan a copy. You can save money to eat several meals of meat. Although you can participate in the lottery and the prizes are relatively generous, there are so many participants that the chance of winning is about the same as buying a lottery ticket. For those of us who are struggling to make ends meet, there is no need to invest so much. Capital is limited, so we should pay attention to saving costs. There will be many places where money will be needed in the future."
I really can't stand it anymore. How come this guy is becoming more and more like Tang Monk in a classic comedy movie - "A Chinese Odyssey". He talks so much nonsense that it's confusing. Although I'm used to his meaningless gossip, I'm in a bad mood today and I'm busy, yet he's still making fun of me.
I put down the unwashed dishes and rushed to the living room, where I saw Afeng flipping through two identical magazines - the latest collector's edition of the "Virtual Online Game" special issue. One of them should be the one I picked up from the street and placed on the table.
I finally realized what was going on. After talking for so long, it turned out to be because of this. I looked at A Feng unhappily and said, "Don't guess blindly. I didn't think of playing any games. I picked up that magazine on the street, not bought it. You know my situation well. How can I have the spare money to spend on this?"
Ah Feng immediately slumped down like a deflated ball. "I thought you, a blockhead, had finally come to your senses. I was so happy for nothing. Unfortunately, you are one day late. I have already bought the magazine. A person can only enter the lottery once. If you send more than one copy, it will be invalid. The person who sent this magazine must be pissed. I have wasted this opportunity in vain."
I didn't take it seriously. He was the one who bumped into me first, so losing the magazine was God's retribution. Even if I didn't pick it up, it would only benefit others and there was no way I could return it to its original owner.
I was about to go back to cooking when Ah Feng suddenly had an idea, "Ah Dai, I can't use the lottery card in there anyway, it would be a shame if it was wasted. Why don't you fill it out and I'll mail it out for you. Maybe you'll be lucky enough to win a consolation prize or something, which will bring you good luck and wash away your recent bad luck."
"Forget it. I've always had bad luck. I finally won fifty with three lottery tickets for six yuan. I got so excited that I immediately added fourteen yuan to buy a double ticket. In the end, I got nothing. I lost both the wife and the army. You'd better save your money and stop daydreaming. You're also wasting my time cooking!"
"If you can't use it, you still have me. If you win a monthly card or a game account or something, I can use it too. The opportunity is right in front of you, it would be a waste if you don't use it!" This sentence revealed his true intention, and he spoke as if he could really win the prize.
Afeng kept pestering me to fill out the lottery card. I really couldn't persuade him, so I had to fulfill his wish. Only then could I have some peace and quiet. It's true that scholars are easy to bully, but little devils are hard to deal with!
Days passed by, and this episode in my life soon became a fading memory, forgotten in my mind. The livelihood issue was imminent, and I was anxious , but I had no idea what to do. The job application letters I sent out were like a stone sinking into the sea, and no response was received. I cast my net everywhere, but I didn't see any small fish, not even the shadow of a shrimp. It was really like a house leaking when it rains continuously, and the flood completely submerged my single-plank bridge!
Afeng's life is still as "fulfilling" as before. After work every day, he is painstakingly studying the virtual game "Tianxia" which has not yet been launched on the market. This is his usual style. If the troops do not move, the food and grass must be sent first. If the preparations are done well in advance, you can take fewer detours when playing the game. These are all lessons learned at the cost of blood. According to him, it is simply a blood and tears history of a new gaming player.
It has been a month, and I paid the rent again. Looking at my almost empty wallet, my heart was particularly heavy. Although Afeng had advised me several times, saying that he would pay my share of the rent first, and I would pay him back when I had money in the future, I always insisted on not agreeing. On the one hand, Afeng himself was not well-off and had many places to spend money. On the other hand, it was due to my pitiful self-esteem. I was also an adult in my twenties, and I was not disabled. Unless it was absolutely necessary, I didn't want to be reduced to relying on others for my life.
I returned to my residence with a frown on my face and a confused mind. As soon as I entered the door, I saw Afeng rushing over and staring at me intently. I was shocked: What's wrong? Is there something on my face? I quickly looked in the mirror hanging on the wall next to me. I looked fair and tender. Except for my complexion being a little worse, nothing else seemed to be wrong. What was wrong with Afeng again? Why was he so stupid?
A Feng still said nothing, staring at me, his eyes seemed to have something in them, there was surprise, there was a sigh, but more of it was joy, envy, which made me feel weak, joy, envy, in my current situation, basically half a useless person, almost falling to the point of being unable to take care of myself, what is there to be happy about, to be envious of. Suddenly, I had an idea: I sent out so many job applications a few days ago, could it be that there was a response?
I once had a cell phone, but I lost it in an accident. I don't have money to buy a new one, so the contact information I left on my cover letter is Afeng's. He will notify me if there is any news. Thinking of this, my heart couldn't help but beat wildly. My blood rushed up and my fair face turned red. I took a few deep breaths, barely suppressed my excitement, and asked in a trembling voice: "Afeng, is there any good news about me?"
A Feng came back to his senses and looked at me strangely, "Hey, I haven't told you yet, why are you so excited? Did you already know? That's impossible, I was the one who notified you, how did you know?"
