Zhou Huan was ushered into the village by the locals, and the village leaders were quite enthusiastic upon seeing the vehicle. When Zhou Huan finally stepped out, many of those present froze, unable to recognize him.

"Who might you be?" Many villagers felt a sense of surprise, as they recognized everyone who accompanied Elder Wang. As for Mr. Wang, there was no need for introduction, and the car Zhou Huan was driving was Mr. Wang's former carriage. Thus, it was not strange that the villagers felt unfamiliar with Zhou Huan.

Someone in the crowd spoke up, "Isn't that Master Zhou?"

"Master Zhou? From Fushou Hall?" the leader asked Zhou Huan, scrutinizing him closely.

Zhou Huan bowed respectfully. "It is indeed I. I feel a similar sense of surprise today; I have only visited this village once, yet the elders show me such warmth. I truly don't know what to say."

"Oh... oh, Master Zhou is a close friend of Mr. Wang. Your presence brings great honor to our village. Please, come inside quickly!" The village head gestured Zhou Huan in, and Zhou Huan, with Dongzi in tow, entered the village.

As they walked, Zhou Huan remarked, "I've long heard that this village is famous within dozens of miles as an entertainment hub. So, I’m here today to enjoy some recreation. I’ve also arranged to meet a friend; he should arrive shortly."

"That's excellent news. Since you brought the guest, we guarantee we won't charge you any table fees. To speak of such things would be insulting!" The village head flattered, then added, "Master Zhou, please feel free to enjoy yourself in the village. All your food, drink, and tobacco expenses will be covered by me. You won't need to pay a cent, Master Zhou; perhaps just cover the fuel cost, considering the car isn't ours—we had to borrow it from the neighboring village after all!"

"Rest assured, forget the fuel money; I won't short you a single penny on anything else. I'll only pay more, not less. If my friend is well taken care of, he will offer even more." This was the first time Zhou Huan had spoken with such opulent disregard for cost, surprised by this new side of himself.

Dongzi, carrying the boxes behind Zhou Huan, nearly burst out laughing but managed to restrain himself.

The village head led Zhou Huan and Dongzi into a private room. Inside, there was only one kang (heated brick bed), with a small square table set in the middle. Near the window, an array of teas, snacks, and various tobaccos were laid out. Those participating in games sat facing the entrance, seated on small chairs that had been custom-fitted into the kang. The cushions on these chairs were exceedingly thick, offering supreme comfort. Standing at the edge of the kang was a server, dressed in formal attire, projecting an air of grandeur.

Zhou Huan pushed the door open slightly. The moment his hand touched the doorknob, he felt a sensation akin to water—the pinnacle of tactile pleasure.

"Master Zhou, please, take the main seat!"

Zhou Huan first removed his shoes, which the server promptly took and stored in a specially designed shoe cabinet before helping Zhou Huan onto the kang.

This was truly aristocratic treatment. What was this? Every step seemed calculated to cost money. When he observed the items near the windowsill, he realized every price tag was marked up ten, sometimes even a hundred times the retail price. This was no different from outright robbery.

"Brother, I..." Dongzi stood uncertainly, unsure of what he should do.

Zhou Huan then addressed the village head. "Brother Village Head, could you please find a chair for my younger brother to sit on? Otherwise, standing here all night will exhaust him."

"Yes, yes, right away!" The village head hurried out to fetch a stool.

At that moment, Zhou Huan glanced out the window towards the parking area. Another car had just pulled in—the same vehicle they had seen leaving earlier yesterday. As the occupants alighted, the villagers greeted them with the same fervent enthusiasm they had shown Zhou Huan, welcoming this so-called rich heir and gambler.

"Brother Hong, which room will you be playing in today?" the attending server asked the newcomer.

The man’s name was Brother Hong, but his real name was Zhang Hong. His father was a businessman overseas, and the family was tremendously wealthy. This young man squandered a significant portion of his inheritance annually, especially through gambling, which he indulged in almost daily. Typically, he kept the stakes low, with minor wins or losses. However, ever since he started gambling against the driver, the stakes had escalated. Yesterday, he had nearly lost his father’s car—a loss that would result in severe punishment from his father. Thus, he was focused on winning back his losses. Hearing Zhou Huan’s arrangement, it seemed things were about to get interesting.

"Take me to Zhou Huan's room. He invited me here today." As he mentioned Zhou Huan’s name, the server immediately recognized he was out of his depth and rushed to find the village head, who was still busy finding something for Dongzi. Upon hearing that Zhang Hong had arrived, and moreover, had been invited by Zhou Huan, the village head's eyes lit up. Having two wealthy patrons arrive simultaneously was an event that hadn't occurred in years. The last major windfall came when Mr. Wang played a small game with the Gambling King of Hong Kong, which significantly boosted the village's economy.

Soon, Zhang Hong was ushered into Zhou Huan's room. He, too, was helped onto the kang by the server. The server then ascended the kang as well, kneeling on both knees to deal the cards for Zhou Huan and Zhang Hong.

"Master Zhou, why did you arrange for me to come here today?" Zhang Hong had inquired about Zhou Huan before arriving, so he felt reasonably informed about the man he faced.

Zhou Huan smiled upon seeing Zhang Hong’s appearance. Zhang Hong had a small piece of red paper taped over his eyelids. Every time he blinked, he had to gently steady the paper with his hand.

"Mr. Zhang Hong, what is the matter with your eyes? Is your eyelid twitching?" Zhou Huan pretended to examine him closely. "Oh dear, it’s the right eye twitching."

Zhang Hong was straightforward. "Don't mention it. My eyelid started twitching right before I left. Knowing I had to gamble with you today, I had no choice but to stick on this paper. Regardless of whether it's just a superstitious notion, I need the psychological comfort. I absolutely cannot afford to lose again."

Zhou Huan understood the man’s mindset immediately. It seemed everyone in this room must have experienced eyelid twitches. He then asked the server, "Did your eyelid twitch today?"

"It did, but it was the left eye. And look, our two patrons of fortune have arrived!" The server was quick-witted. Following this, Zhou Huan and Zhang Hong each tossed the server a hundred yuan note.

The server was overjoyed, unable to close his mouth in a smile. Usually, tips were given at the end of the session or during breaks. But here, right at the start, one remark earned him two payments, one hundred yuan from each of them.

"Gentlemen, rest assured today, I guarantee I will serve you well. Don't worry about a thing. If this humble servant does anything improperly, feel free to hit me or scold me!"

"Enough chatter. Let's get the cards ready!" With that said, the two men displayed their initial stakes on the table—a box of cash each. The sight of it caused the server's eyes to nearly pop out of his head and stick to the money chests.

As Zhou Huan pushed his money onto the table, he cautioned Zhang Hong, "Since your eyelid twitched, it proves we are people of shared destiny. Neither of us will have an easy night, simply because we are sitting in the same room."

"Haha, joking aside! Who says an eyelid twitch necessarily means something bad? Don't assume I'll believe you just because you're some 'Master of Longevity.' I never believe in superstition. Enough nonsense, tell me how we’re gambling today!" Zhang Hong was rather defiant.

Zhou Huan smiled. "Today, we play Cockfighting. One hundred yuan minimum per round. We play until the money on the table is gone." Those familiar with Cockfighting know that rules vary by region, affecting the scale of the game. A minimum of one hundred yuan per pot means there's no limit on whether to call, raise, or how much to raise; the maximum single loss or win could reach eight or nine thousand yuan.

"Very well. Master Zhou is clearly a straightforward person. One hundred it is, then! Let's get the wins and losses over with quickly!"

As they spoke, everyone in the room noticed their own eyelids had twitched—some more, some less, some left, some right. In any case, judging by past experiences, the fate of everyone in this room was suddenly uncertain. No one knew what truly awaited them tonight.

Zhou Huan was already mentally planning the evening’s events. He suspected that the moment the gambling concluded, and the results were finalized, some supernatural event would surely occur. Therefore, he secretly instructed Dongzi to make preparations on the sidelines. Furthermore, throughout the gambling, Zhou Huan continuously tested Zhang Hong, subtly explaining methods for cooperating with Zhou Huan in ghost-catching.