Chapter 278: Prisoner's Dilemma

“Ah?” I jumped in fright, not knowing what I had done wrong.

“Shu, tell me the truth. Is this game something you thought up overnight?” Bai Yang Gege asked sternly.

“I… I…” I lowered my head silently. “Bai Yang Gege, I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have lied…”

Grandma had always told me that good children don’t lie.

I thought apologizing would calm Bai Yang Gege down, but he seemed even angrier.

“Why apologize?” He stood up and came over to me. “If you think lying is wrong, how are you going to survive here? This is the first time you’ve admitted a mistake to me, and I don’t want there to be a next time.”

“Ah…?” Looking at his expression, I was at a loss for what to do.

“Shu, I’ve written a game for you.” Bai Yang Gege pulled a notebook from his pocket, filled with writing. “Follow this game for today.”

The three uncles behind me quickly gathered around to look.

Game name: Qi Zhao Cang Ku.

Entry fee: Two Dao.

The first person enters and observes all the items in the warehouse. The second person enters five minutes later and also observes the items.

Then, each takes one item and, after a second observation, guesses what the other has taken.

If both guess correctly, each gets one Dao. If both guess wrong, neither gets any Dao.

If one guesses correctly and the other wrong, the one who guessed wrong gets four Dao, and the one who guessed correctly gets nothing.

The three uncles thought for a moment and all nodded in agreement.

“I see…” Hei Yang Shushu spoke first. “This is a classic ‘Prisoner’s Dilemma.’ It’ll tear apart human nature and might even lead to big gains.”

“Though it’s a ‘Yang’ game, it’s simple to play.” Bai Yang Gege said, “Try it out with these rules today, and report back to me tonight.”

I nodded, though I only half understood, and glanced at the uncles.

“Little Shu, it’s your first day on the job, so remember to do your best.” Hu Shushu patted my head. “If you forget the rules, just check the notebook.”

“On the job…?”

Hu Shushu nodded. “That’s right, Little Shu. From now on, stick with us, earn some Dao, and have good meals. We and Bai Yang Gege will help you out.”

She Shushu winked at me. “Be good, and don’t learn from that loss-making Hu Shushu. Try not to lose today.”

“Ah, okay… alright.”

I nodded, and saw the uncles straightening their clothes.

They adjusted their masks and smoothed out the wrinkles in their outfits, then headed out the door.

“Come on, Little Shu.” Hu Shushu called to me.

I tucked the notebook Bai Yang Gege had given me into my pocket and hurried after them.

She Shushu and Hu Shushu held my hands as the three of us followed Bai Yang Gege and Hei Yang Shushu down the hallway.

I noticed the doors on both sides of the corridor slowly opening, and people wearing various masks stepped out.

I had thought they were all afraid of Hu Shushu and always made way for him, but to my surprise, a few people in masks were so scared of Bai Yang Gege that they retreated back inside their doors.

Was Bai Yang Gege even fiercer than Hu Shushu?

As we walked, we were suddenly blocked by someone.

His head was strange—it wasn’t a mask or furry like an animal… He seemed to be a… Xi Shu Ren?

“Di Yang, what are you up to now?” The Xi Shu Ren looked at me and asked.

“Working.” Bai Yang Gege replied coldly. “Get out of the way.”

“What right do you have to work?” The Xi Shu Ren stood in front of Bai Yang Gege. “Tian Long thought so highly of you, but your students are all disappointments. Instead of fixing that, you’re taking on some short kid. Are you just giving up entirely?”

“How my students are is my business.” Bai Yang Gege answered fiercely. “Who do you think you are, pointing fingers at my people?”

“I’m the manager of all ground-level ‘Sheng Xiao’!” The Xi Shu Ren roared. “Why can’t I deal with you?!”

“You’re only manager because I didn’t bother to fight for it. Go ahead and strut around with your flatterers, but don’t stand in my way.” Bai Yang Gege said. “If you insist on being disrespectful, I don’t care if you’re the Di Long—I’ll make sure you lose face completely.”

Several people behind the Xi Shu Ren stepped forward, and one wearing a Ma Tou mask pointed aggressively at Bai Yang Gege. “Di Yang, don’t you dare be disrespectful!”

“You damn horse, who the hell do you think you are?!” Hu Shushu yelled, but then he glanced at me and corrected himself. “I mean, Mr. Horse, who are you talking to?”

The Ma Tou mask looked frightened and ducked behind the Xi Shu Ren, shouting, “Ren Hu, don’t think you can bully people just because you’re strong! One day I’ll sign a contract and come back to tear you apart!”

“Then I’ll… I mean, I’ll have to make sure you never get out!”

The two were about to start fighting, and this time Bai Yang Gege didn’t stop them.

Hu Shushu quickly knocked the Ma Tou mask to the ground and reached to pull off his mask. “I’ll… I mean, I want to see what you look like!”

Seeing I was scared, She Shushu pulled me behind him. “It’s okay, don’t worry.”

Just as the Ma Tou mask was about to have his mask ripped off, the Xi Shu Ren stepped in and threw a punch at Hu Shushu’s back. But in the next second, Bai Yang Gege appeared and kicked the Xi Shu Ren’s fist away.

I thought it was just an ordinary fight, but when their fists and feet met, it made a huge noise that almost knocked me off my feet.

“Di Yang! How dare you fight me?!” The Xi Shu Ren looked furious. “Have I been too lenient with you?!”

“No, I’ve been too lenient with you.” Bai Yang Gege replied. “Lenient enough to let you think you can touch my people.”

“You…” The Xi Shu Ren clutched his wrist, his face twitching. “Dare to cross me… You’ll regret it eventually…”

“I don’t need regrets.” Bai Yang Gege answered. “I’m already thinking about how to kill you.”

“What?! You… Killing me? Do you even respect Tian Long?!”

“If I kill you, I’ll go confess myself.” Bai Yang Gege smiled. “If he executes me, he’ll lose two key players at once, so for the sake of his long-term plans, he’d probably forgive me.”

“You’re out of your mind!” The Xi Shu Ren’s tone softened noticeably. “Plotting against Tian Long like that?”

“Too bad Tian Long loves my schemes.” Bai Yang Gege said. “If you get it, then scram. If you delay everyone’s work… Today’s losses for everyone here will be on you.”