CFSMS -Chapter 83 You Are My God

Because there wasn’t enough food to satisfy him, Boss Zhu continued grumbling inwardly while immersing himself in the delicious skewers. As a result, he failed to notice the changes happening among some of the gamblers nearby.

At Table No. 12, a middle-aged woman took out a small box from her robes. Inside was the last of her savings.

“I can win. I can definitely win.”

Despite losing the entire night, she remained obsessed with winning just once.

She firmly believed that all she needed was one opportunity to turn everything around.

Many people at the gambling tables were in the same situation. Everyone seemed eager to wager every last coin they owned.

“Come on, place your bets! No changes after the dice are cast!”

The dealer maintained a pleasant smile as he controlled the game. His gaze swept over the gamblers at the table, urging them on, while deep indifference hid in his eyes.

This was something they saw every day.

Countless people had lost everything in the Heaven and Earth Casino, their families ruined and lives destroyed.

But he didn’t care.

His job was to empty their pockets completely and then, when they had nowhere left to turn, extend a helping hand.

Those people thought salvation awaited them.

They thought hope awaited them.

In reality, it was a deeper and darker hell.

Heh heh heh…

“I’m betting Big!”

“No, it’s definitely Small!”

“Which one? Which one…? Heaven, please bless me. Let me choose correctly this time!”

Many people muttered nervously to themselves as they pushed all their chips forward.

Driven by the frenzy around them, more and more gamblers lost their ability to think rationally.

Excitement and obsession became chains stronger than iron, firmly imprisoning every gambler.

The woman’s hands trembled slightly as she clutched the box.

Her bloodshot eyes stared viciously at the dice.

Just as she was about to wager her final possession, Steward Zhu happened to walk past carrying a tray of skewers.

A trace of worldly warmth drifted through the air.

It brushed against her twisted expression.

The aroma was incredibly rich, yet it felt like a cool breeze sweeping through her overheated mind.

Her consciousness instantly cleared.

The woman widened her eyes and looked around in confusion.

“How did this happen?”

she whispered.

Looking at the irrational crowd surrounding her, she sucked in a sharp breath.

Her husband had been gravely injured in a duel some time ago.

Now he lay bedridden, barely clinging to life.

Treating him required an expensive spiritual medicine.

But they couldn’t afford it.

She had borrowed from everyone she could think of and still hadn’t gathered enough money.

Then, in her desperation, she heard an acquaintance bragging about how many spirit stones he had won at the casino.

A tiny spark of hope had ignited within her.

Gamble.

If she could win one huge round, her husband’s treatment would be secured.

With that thought, she had entered the Heaven and Earth Casino.

At first she remained calm, carefully observing and only placing small bets.

She won several times.

The spirit stones in her possession increased considerably.

Just a few more wins and she’d reach her goal.

Filled with hope, she continued betting.

And then…

Someone shoved her shoulder.

“Are you betting or not? If not, get lost! Stop getting in everyone’s way!”

A flushed-faced man snarled at her viciously.

The people around them acted as if nothing had happened.

That’s right.

After that, she had become exactly like them.

From wanting to earn a little money…

To gambling for the sake of gambling itself.

She had even risked her husband’s medical fund.

Like a possessed woman, she had completely forgotten that someone was still waiting for her at home.

Now even her last valuable possession had been taken out.

Just a little more…

Just a little more and she would have lost everything.

Fortunately, she had awakened in time.

Pressing her lips together, the woman cautiously stepped away from the gambling table.

Lowering her presence as much as possible, she quietly retreated.

She didn’t notice that, along Steward Zhu’s path, several other gamblers were waking up just as she had.

Only after she walked out of the casino did her heart finally settle somewhat.

“Thank goodness…” she thought.

The item in her arms was still there.

As long as she had it, she and her husband had not yet reached a dead end.

The moment she thought of her husband, anxiety filled her heart.

She wanted to hurry home.

Then she turned her head and spotted the skewer stall.

A gust of fragrance drifted over.

The rich aroma, blazing like the summer sun, rushed into her nose and completely cleared away the lingering haze in her mind.

It was this smell.

When she had been trapped in the depths of gambling, this was the scent that had awakened her reason.

“Night Fragrance Skewers! Delicious and won’t make you feel overheated! Want to try some?”

The emotions in the woman’s eyes were far too complicated for Lu Wu to understand.

She simply called out to attract customers.

“Then… one serving of vegetarian skewers.”

The woman had never tried these skewers before.

But in the face of such a life-saving kindness, buying only a small serving felt far from enough repayment.

Unfortunately, she was nearly broke.

These ten spirit stones represented the deepest gratitude she could afford.

“Sure thing. Just wait a moment.”

Lu Wu withdrew her gaze from the woman’s exhausted face.

For some reason, she always felt that the customers from this casino were a little strange.

First there was the drooling fool.

Now there was this woman who looked utterly drained of life.

But what did any of that have to do with a humble stall owner like her?

Focused entirely on selling skewers, Lu Wu placed the three vegetables the woman selected into the clear broth.

“Would you like some spice added?”

Lu Wu asked.

“No, thank you.”

The woman generally preferred mild flavors.

Besides, she wanted to bring the skewers home for her husband to try.

In her heart, Lu Wu was now her benefactor.

Her savior.

Her god.

Perhaps if her husband ate skewers made by this benefactor, his condition might somehow improve.

The mushrooms, naturally flavorful to begin with, became even more delicious after simmering in the rich broth.

The potato slices glowed with an enticing golden sheen.

The bright green kelp looked refreshingly crisp.

Under the lantern light, steam rose gently into the air.

The fragrance spread everywhere.

Lu Wu’s movements flowed as smoothly as brushstrokes in a painting, pleasing to watch.

A chilly wind blew past.

The gray pallor gradually faded from the woman’s face.

She accepted the skewers from Lu Wu and smiled.

“Thank you, Boss.”

Those words contained one hundred percent sincerity.

Scratching her head, Lu Wu watched the woman’s relieved retreating figure in confusion.

Still, the increase in her mission progress made her happy.

Just as Lu Wu thought she’d have to continue enduring the cold wind, the casino doors opened again.

Several gamblers emerged.

Their footsteps were unsteady.

Their faces looked terrible.

For a moment, Lu Wu thought she had somehow returned to Willow Street.

Or maybe the casino offered some kind of special service?

The grim expressions on their faces made her afraid to call out for customers.

What if she got beaten up?

Yet after exchanging looks among themselves for a while, they all walked toward her.

“Boss…”

One young man looked at Lu Wu’s youthful face and seemed to want to ask something.

But when he met her puzzled gaze, he swallowed his words.

The others were the same.

Each looked as though they had encountered something impossible to talk about.

In the end, all the countless thoughts in their hearts condensed into a single sentence:

“Boss, give us a few servings of skewers!”

Business suddenly exploded.

Lu Wu had no time to investigate the change in their attitudes.

Quickly and skillfully, she gathered the skewers they selected and dropped them into different broths.

The stall was officially open for business.