"Well, since you both agree, let's go with that," the bespectacled man said, taking the pockmarked man's can for inspection. "It states here that the first prize is one hundred thousand yuan. After deducting twenty percent for personal income tax, that leaves eighty thousand. However, considering the complications of claiming the prize, whoever goes to collect it should give the other thirty thousand yuan. How does that sound?"
"Sounds good!" The pockmarked man was eager to secure some money, so he readily agreed. "You give me thirty thousand, and you can go collect the prize!"
The bespectacled man's eyes glimmered with delight as he opened his briefcase to find the cash. Initially, his expression was one of joy, but as he rummaged faster, his countenance darkened, and beads of sweat began to form on his forehead. Finally, he sighed in dismay, "Oh no, I didn't bring enough money today. I only have thirty thousand! You certainly wouldn't sell it, would you? And now it seems this fortune is slipping away—what bad luck!"
"Ah?" The pockmarked man and the short-haired man were taken aback. With neither of them having money, how could they claim the prize? The pockmarked man shifted anxiously, saying, "Sir, you are knowledgeable and cultured—please think of a solution for us!"
"How about this: let's ask someone else…" The bespectacled man turned to Lin Yi, who sat nearby. "Young man, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Do you have money to lend them thirty thousand each? You could take the pull tab and collect the prize, instantly profiting twenty thousand! Is there a better deal than this? If I had brought cash, I would have claimed this for myself..."
All along, Lin Yi had been observing these three playacting, clearly aware that they were all in cahoots. The pockmarked man was the principal, the short-haired man the accomplice, and the bespectacled man the stooge.
Though Lin Yi had grown up in the mountains, he was no fool. Despite his humble attire, few could match his intellect—certainly not these third-rate con artists.
"Me?" Lin Yi feigned surprise, pointing at himself. "Am I allowed to?"
"Of course! This fortunate opportunity has just fallen into your lap!" The bespectacled man beamed at Lin Yi's inquiry, interpreting it as a sign that he likely had cash on hand.
Just as Lin Yi was about to respond, he felt a gentle kick on his leg. Turning slightly, he caught sight of a beautiful girl his age sitting nearby.
With graceful features and fair skin, she had not yet stood, but Lin Yi estimated her height to be at least one hundred sixty-five centimeters, giving her an elegant stature.
Since boarding the train, she had quietly listened to her MP3 player. Lin Yi had hoped to strike up a conversation to alleviate the tedium of the journey, but her earbuds had made it impossible.
At that moment, the girl looked at Lin Yi with a sense of urgency, as if wanting to say something but hesitating. Instead, she communicated her warning through her eyes.
Lin Yi understood her intent—she was cautioning him against being deceived. His heart warmed; contrary to the stereotype that city dwellers were cold and indifferent, her concern showed her kindness.
Instantly, the girl's image in Lin Yi's mind improved significantly. While beauty was important, a cruel heart rendered physical allure meaningless. This was Lin Yi's criterion for evaluating women.
"Cough, cough!" The short-haired man opposite the girl seemed to notice her behavior and loudly cleared his throat, glaring at her fiercely. The girl's face paled, and she lowered her gaze.
Naturally, these subtle details did not escape Lin Yi's notice. Bored during the journey and still simmering from a quarrel with the old man, he was eager for an opportunity to tease these fools. How could he pass up such a chance to mock them?
However, although the girl had lowered her head, she continued to nudge Lin Yi with her foot, offering him a silent warning. Yet, Lin Yi seemed utterly oblivious, remaining unmoved.
"I only have forty-nine thousand, not that much!" Lin Yi feigned innocence, speaking as if he were genuinely simple-minded.
Upon hearing that Lin Yi possessed forty-nine thousand, the pockmarked man and the short-haired man exchanged eager glances, though their expressions remained morose. "Forty-nine thousand? Isn't that a bit scant? How much will we each receive?"
"Forty-nine thousand divided by two is twenty-four thousand five hundred…" the short-haired man calculated aloud.
"Twenty-four thousand five hundred? That's not insignificant. I agree; what about you?" The pockmarked man nodded eagerly.
"Fine, since you both agree, I shall also consent," the short-haired man affirmed. "Now, hand over the money."
Lin Yi unzipped his backpack and retrieved a small package wrapped in newspaper, carefully unwrapping layer after layer until five neatly bundled stacks of cash were revealed.
"This is forty-nine thousand; it's all there… Please, count it," Lin Yi stated plainly. "Now, about that pull tab?"
This money was intended as Lin Yi's living expenses for the next few years, a meager sum given that he had earned his guardian a substantial amount over the years. Take, for instance, the assassination mission in North Africa, which, by international standards, should have fetched at least several hundred thousand in rewards.
Yet, just before his departure, the old man had rummaged through a tattered bag and unearthed this forty-nine thousand, claiming it was all he had and instructing Lin Yi to be frugal.
This left Lin Yi feeling perplexed. Was the old man truly destitute, or merely feigning poverty? He certainly didn't seem to live extravagantly, sharing simple meals with Lin Yi each day. Perhaps Lin Yi had overestimated the rewards for those tasks?
"All right, all right!" The pockmarked man and the short-haired man eagerly devoured the cash before them like ravenous wolves, quickly dividing it among themselves before handing over the pull tab to Lin Yi.
Lin Yi gingerly tucked the pull tab away, treating it as if it were a precious treasure, fearful of misplacing it.
Seeing the three con artists succeed, the girl beside Lin Yi let out a resigned sigh. Watching Lin Yi revel in his apparent good fortune, she found herself at a loss for words.
With the money secured, the trio returned to their previous calm, each acting as if they were strangers to one another, engrossed in their own pursuits.