Daily Intelligence System: Financial Independence-Chapter 56: From Joy to Sorrow—Xu Li Really Lost Her Lottery Ticket!
When Jiang Tao returned to the Xiaoshanhe rental house with a case of Maotai and a box of tea leaves, it was already half past one in the morning.
Although he didn’t know the value of these items, Brother Tongzi did.
Based on the information shown by the Intelligence System.
The tea leaves were worth around 30,000 yuan.
A case of Feitian Maotai was worth 17,000 yuan!
Today was already the 23rd day of the lunar calendar, just one more week until the New Year.
Jiang Tao decided to keep this case of Maotai.
A case of Maotai contains exactly six bottles, perfect for giving two bottles each to his dad and father-in-law for the New Year, and keeping two for himself.
By now, the family’s external debts had been paid off.
He and Xu Li’s combined savings exceeded 500,000 yuan.
During the New Year, indulging in two bottles of Maotai wasn’t a big deal.
In Jiang Tao’s hometown, the custom was to give cigarettes and alcohol to his dad and father-in-law during the Spring Festival.
Every year he would give a carton of Liqun cigarettes costing over a hundred yuan, and alcohol costing about 400 yuan a box.
His mom would always say it’s too expensive, telling him to buy cheaper ones next time, even bulk alcohol, just to maintain the gesture.
But at his father-in-law’s house, the scene was completely different.
Every year he would get dissed by his mother-in-law and sister-in-law, with a few looks implying he should understand.
Despite Xu Li being objectively better in both figure and looks, her cousins married pretty well.
During holidays, those cousins would gift their father-in-law Huazi cigarettes or Maotai alcohol.
Each one trying to outdo the other.
Jiang Tao really couldn’t keep up.
He and Xu Li both felt it was unnecessary to match those cousins just for appearances’ sake.
Consider their salaries compared to his?
For the sake of being looked up to, placing a huge burden on the family of three.
That would truly be dying for face, living for suffering.
Even though Jiang Tao recently earned quite a bit with the Intelligence System, he was still the same old self, without any inflated ego.
Nor did he think about outshining those brothers-in-law during New Year, or publicly shaming them.
At the age of thirty, he long lost that youthful bravado of "don’t underestimate the poor youth."
This year, just like any other year, doing what needs to be done.
At most, just slightly upgrading the quality of cigarettes and alcohol.
Buy his dad and father-in-law a box of better alcohol than last year’s, a thousand yuan or so would suffice.
If it’s too expensive, his dad would be reluctant to drink it, thus losing the purpose of gifting alcohol.
Jiang Tao was certain that the two bottles of Maotai for his dad, he would definitely store them away, unwilling to drink them.
Only taking them out when there’s a major joyous occasion at home.
Like his sister’s wedding, or his eldest grandson’s marriage, his granddaughter’s wedding, something like that.
His father-in-law didn’t mind much; every year on the third day of the lunar new year, Jiang Tao would be welcomed with Maotai by his father-in-law.
In seven years of marriage to Xu Li, he drank quite a bit of his in-law’s Maotai instead.
This year, giving back two bottles to his father-in-law was only fitting.
Regarding cigarettes, they could be upgraded to Huazi.
In recent years, people have been saying earning money has become increasingly difficult.
But come New Year, even in the village, more people were gifting and smoking Huazi.
A pack of Huazi was just over 600 yuan, something Jiang Tao could completely afford now.
As for the box of tea leaves valued by the system at over 30,000 yuan, Jiang Tao wasn’t planning on keeping it.
For someone who seldom drinks tea, tea leaves at this price were too extravagant.
For him, tea costing over 300 yuan per 50 grams was already considered great tea.
"Tomorrow, I won’t be working, I’ll find a place to sell this tea."
Jiang Tao crouched down, placing the case of Maotai and tea leaves under the bed.
He rinsed briefly with the water from the thermos before getting back into bed, ready to sleep.
"Why do I always feel like I’ve forgotten something..."
Lying in bed, Jiang Tao stared blankly at the ceiling, but he still felt like he had forgotten something.
"That’s right! Didn’t Xu Li buy the lottery ticket yesterday, why didn’t she call me to share the news?"
Suddenly, Jiang Tao remembered.
Yesterday, he asked Xu Li to buy the same lottery numbers as Sun Na’s, and the draw should have been last night.
Thinking of this, Jiang Tao got out of bed and sat by the table again.
He first opened the WeChat conversation with Xu Li, copying the numbers from the 100-yuan lottery ticket she sent him onto paper.
Then, he opened the browser on his phone and checked last night’s results.
"Red balls 2, 4, 11, 12, 23, 25. Blue ball is 6..."
Comparing these results on his phone with the numbers on the paper.
First, no red ball matched, no blue ball, winnings: 0.
Second, one red ball matched, no blue ball, winnings: 0.
Third, three red balls matched, no blue ball, still winnings: 0.
Fourth, two red balls matched, no blue ball, winnings: 0.
Finally, five red balls matched, no blue ball, winnings: 3,000!
"Isn’t this a win! Why didn’t that silly wife call to share the good news?"
"Could it be... she lost the lottery ticket?"
"Pei pei pei, what nonsense am I spouting."
"Although that silly wife can be a bit silly at times, she’s quite reliable still."
"She shouldn’t make such a basic mistake!"
Though he kept saying Xu Li wouldn’t make such a basic mistake.
But deep down, Jiang Tao was a little uneasy.
In a normal scenario, Xu Li would definitely be the first to share the good news of winning, but she hadn’t.
This was a bit unusual.
As for the probability of losing the lottery ticket...
A couple of days ago, Jiang Tao had found a lost ticket himself and sold it for about 70,000 yuan.
"I hope I’m worrying too much, forget it, time to sleep."
"I’ll just wait for Xu Li to call me instead of rushing her."
With a hint of doubt, Jiang Tao got back into bed and pulled the covers over him to sleep.
...
Jiang Family Manor, at Jiang Tao’s house.
"Where did it go, where did it go..."
"That was 30,000 yuan, wu wu wu."
"How could I make such a big mistake!"
"No, no, no, still no..."
The bed where Xu Li and Jiang Tao sleep was at this moment piled high with clothes.
Xu Li searched one by one through the clothing pockets for the lottery ticket she bought yesterday.
Just as Jiang Tao had guessed, Xu Li really lost the lottery ticket!
Even though she hadn’t worn those clothes at all today, she didn’t let that go either.
What if it was in there?
In her desperation, Xu Li was beyond considering logic or reason.
Any possible place had been searched.
The house was rummaged through more thoroughly than if a thief had been there.
That lottery ticket indeed won!
Last night when the draw happened, Sun Na called Xu Li sharing her excitement and regrets!
If she had listened to Xu Li back then, Sun Na could’ve earned 27,000 more!
Clearly, it was Xu Li’s ticket and she only won 3,000, but her friend re-bought the ticket and won 30,000.
Moreover, her friend even encouraged her to buy ten times more, but she didn’t listen.
Thus, narrowly missing a chance for a big win, Sun Na was devastated!
However, being friends for over a decade, this little incident didn’t cause a rift between them.
They just joked for Xu Li to treat for a fancy meal, which she readily agreed to.
But, alas, misfortune followed happiness.
Xu Li even tore apart the pockets of her down jacket but couldn’t find the lottery ticket she bought in the daytime.
Then began searching through the house top to bottom.
Calling her mom late at night to see if it was left over there.
Searching tirelessly until past one or two in the morning, Xu Li sat slumped on the floor.
Lottery tickets are a special type of anonymous issuance.
If lost, they’re lost, and no replacement exists.
Just thinking about losing 30,000 yuan, Xu Li burst into tears.
30,000 yuan was a huge sum for their small family!
She’d never lost so much money in her life!
