Chapter 36: Fifth Place?

On the evening of the eleventh, all competition events had concluded, and with the closing ceremony scheduled for the next day, many at City Hall finally breathed a sigh of relief.

During the day, Su Mu had been preoccupied with matters concerning Grandma Lin’s relief fund, nearly forgetting about his gambling bet. While eating, he overheard the radio announce that all events of the Los Angeles Olympics had ended, and a sudden wave of panic swept through him.

He had wagered a total of four thousand two hundred fifty dollars—two hundred fifty of which were gifted by the William Hill betting company. Losing that wouldn’t trouble him, but the remaining four thousand dollars, painstakingly saved from his own stash, represented almost all his assets. Most of his fortune hinged on this Olympic bet.

Having already won three thousand five hundred dollars, he would still come out ahead even if he lost this time. But once money enters your pocket, it feels truly yours, and no one likes to lose it again. Su Mu had never been wealthy; this outcome meant everything to his “life and livelihood.” He lost his appetite, anxiety knotting his stomach.

Four thousand dollars—not a fortune, but not insignificant. He could always earn it back, but if the outcome didn’t match his expectations, it would mean the news he’d heard on the radio wasn’t accurate. This was what Su Mu valued most: all his previous assumptions would have to be overturned, and he’d return to his original path, living honestly as an ordinary person.

Self-doubt crept in.

For example: Li Ning, a gymnast who participated in the Olympics and won three gold medals. According to the radio, he would eventually found a clothing company and successfully hold a striking fashion show in New York. Su Mu found it hard to believe—a muscular man named Li Ning didn’t seem like someone with a business mind. He began to question the truth of such information.

Everyone is susceptible to anxiety over gains and losses, and Su Mu was no exception. His mind was so muddled he couldn’t think objectively. Even the fragrant dumplings tasted bland in his mouth, and he was so tense that cold sweat broke out on his back, chilling him to the bone under the whirring fan.

Su Lao Tou had just returned from work, showered, and sat down at the table to eat. The scent of soap made him feel refreshed; the bus ride home had been so stuffy he felt soured.

Seeing his grandson distracted, Su Lao Tou asked, “I ran into Old Lady Lin selling rice dumplings on my way home. She told me you’re helping her get some money? She gave us more than ten dumplings and wouldn’t take any payment, saying she just wanted to thank you whether it worked out or not. What’s going on? Could someone have bought her dumplings and not paid? Animals! Bullying an old woman like her!”

Just then, the radio announced, “This time, the United States ranks first in total medal count, Romania second—quite unexpected. West Germany has fifty-nine medals, followed by Italy, China, Canada…”

Hearing this, Su Mu felt dizzy. His mind was filled with the loss of four thousand dollars, the stash he’d saved and counted so many times, gone in exchange for a useless lottery ticket.

A month and a half of work had earned him just over a thousand dollars, meaning all those days had been in vain, and he’d need to keep working part-time for another three or four months to recoup the loss. Instinctively, he concluded that the information from the radio was fabricated, and all his prior certainty was swept away in a moment.

His grandfather’s concerned voice reached his ears; Su Mu took a few deep breaths before forcing a smile and saying, “I’m fine—maybe just a bit of a cold. I’ll cover up tonight and sleep it off.”

“No one refused to pay Grandma Lin, but you could say, given her circumstances, she should’ve been eligible for social security benefits. For years she hasn’t received them, so I’m helping her claim what she’s owed. I’m full now; I’ll go rest in my room and talk to you later…”

His mother noticed something was off and wanted to follow him, but his father, Su Dingcai, stopped her. “Let him sleep first. When he wakes up, we’ll give him some cold medicine. Ha! My son is remarkable—so upright, just like me.”

“Is that a good thing?” Su Lao Tou retorted. Having endured hardship, his perspective was different. “Too upright isn’t good. I’d rather he be a bit shrewd; that way he won’t suffer as much in the future.”

“Dad, don’t give me that nonsense! What kind of way is that to raise a child…”

********************************

The sky hadn’t fallen, but it was enough to leave Su Mu listless and anxious. Four thousand dollars—a thick stack—gone without doing anything. Regret was inevitable; a loss was a loss, and the money wouldn’t come back. He could only lie in bed with eyes open, forcing himself to accept reality, consoling himself that he’d still made over three thousand dollars.

What saddened Su Mu most wasn’t losing the bet. Compared to the information he knew, this money was insignificant. If what he’d heard on the radio was true, he could buy lottery tickets from major companies, invest in real estate in China’s so-called “land king” developments and wait for future appreciation, invest in Intel, Apple, Walmart, and other companies.

He might even start his own business—since he knew which industries would succeed, there was nothing stopping him from trying.

But now, doubting again, Su Mu decided not to pursue such dreams. When Xu Haifeng won gold, he chalked it up to coincidence. Life seemed to lose its color; he lay powerless in bed, accepting the brutal truth that he was “nothing special.”

Except for bathroom breaks, Su Mu stayed in his room. His mother brought him a cup of cold medicine; perhaps its sedative effects helped, because, contrary to his belief that he wouldn’t sleep a wink, he soon drifted off without a care.

He had a nightmare that night.

When morning came, Su Mu hoped the news that China ranked fifth in the gold medal tally was just a dream. Unfortunately, once awake, he realized it had really happened—his money was gone.

He sighed deeply; life had to go on. Luckily, his parents didn’t know about the stash, so he could bear it alone—otherwise, he’d surely be beaten. He cheered himself up, determined to earn the money back through part-time jobs during study breaks. Yesterday, Boss Han had told him to take a holiday, but since today was the weekend and the Social Security Administration was closed, he’d be idle at home. In the end, he decided to help out at the convenience store.

After being made to drink a large bowl of cold medicine by his father, Su Mu was finally allowed out. He walked the streets in a daze, unable to shake off his gloom, his mind filled with thoughts of the four thousand dollars.

Arriving at the store, he greeted Boss Han, who was brushing his teeth. “Good morning. I went to fill out the forms yesterday, but today’s a holiday. I’ll wait for them to be back at work before helping her claim her money. I’ll work today—it’s the last day, so I’ll finish up properly.”

“What?!” Boss Han suddenly shouted, toothpaste foam spraying everywhere, startling Su Mu.

He kept shouting, “Ha ha ha! I finally made it! I bet two hundred bucks on third place, three hundred on fourth! So proud—China tied with Italy for fourth place! Don’t work today! Come with me to the west side, help me pick a good spot. I couldn’t sleep at all last night; I think the supermarket idea you mentioned yesterday is really promising! Let’s look for a suitable location and invest in one—it’s just a bigger convenience store, and even if we lose, it won’t be much…”