Chapter 5019 — A Swindler on the Road
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
"Then there's nothing more to say. Call the police." The buzz-cut young man immediately took out his phone.
"No, no, no!" The old man — perhaps afraid of trouble, perhaps knowing he was in the wrong — hurriedly reached out to stop him. Reluctant as he was, he still forced himself to say, "Half is half, then. You give me the money, and I'll give you the ticket."
"Watch closely. This is five thousand. Hand over the ticket." The buzz-cut man reached into his coat and pulled out a stack of cash. For someone so unremarkable in appearance, dressed in no particular brand, he carried that much money on him — it was a little surprising.
"Five thousand?" The old man froze for a moment at the sight of so much money. With his little shoulder-poles, he might not earn that much in a whole year, but he quickly caught on that something was off, and began to shout, "You just said thirty thousand! Why are you giving me five thousand? You think you can push around an old man who never went to school, is that it? You want the ticket, you give me fifteen thousand!"
"Fifteen thousand? You look like an honest old fellow, but you've got a black heart! Opening your mouth for fifteen thousand — you've gone mad for money, haven't you!" The young man made as if to strike him.
The old man hurriedly ducked behind Wei Zhao and cried, "Young man, you saw it all! He's the one who said we'd split it even! A ticket worth thirty thousand and he wants to fob me off with five — he thinks an old man can't count!"
"Bullshit! Don't you know prize money gets taxed? Dreaming of thirty thousand — after a twenty percent income tax, there's only twenty-four thousand left. Don't you know that?" Unable to reach the old man, the young man had to swallow his temper and keep his patience.
"Twenty-four thousand?" The old man was stunned for a moment, mulled it over, then started shouting again. "Even so, you can't give me just five thousand! Young man, do the sum for me — what's half of twenty-four thousand?"
"Twelve thousand," Wei Zhao said without batting an eye.
"Right, right, twelve thousand! See, even this young man says twelve thousand — and you, you little punk, still want to cheat me?" The old man was red in the face with anger.
"Fine. If that's how you want it, then you give me twelve thousand and the ticket's all yours. How about it, old man?" The young man seized the opening.
"Where would a vegetable-selling farmer like me get that much money!" The old man's tone turned sheepish. Looking at the young man, he said, "You look like you've got money on you. You just give me twelve thousand, and the ticket's yours."
"Wishful thinking. Why should I be the one to go through all the hassle of claiming the prize, just so an old codger like you can pocket the profit for nothing? I'm telling you, I've only got five thousand here, not a cent more. Just tell me — do you want it or not?" The young man's tone was hard.
"No! Splitting it even with you is already a loss, and now twelve thousand turns into five? You really think I'm easy to fool!" The old man gritted his teeth.
"Fine. I'm calling the police right now, and you won't even get the five thousand, old man!" The young man made to pick up his phone again.
"You—!" The old man was furious and frantic at once, and hastily blocked him. "All right, I'll take a step back. I won't ask for twelve thousand either — just give me ten thousand, and the ticket's yours. That's fair enough, isn't it?"
"I told you, I've only got five thousand on me in total, not a cent more. If you can give me ten thousand, I've no objection! No — as a young man I'll be generous. I don't even need ten thousand. You just give me five thousand, and the ticket's yours. How about it, old man? Now you've got nothing to say, have you?" The young man sneered.
The old man looked somewhat tempted, but still said sheepishly, "I don't have five thousand either!"