"Buzzzz." The hairdryer was loud. Su Cui thought it was time to replace it—the hot air had a burning smell.
Just then, Su Baixue pushed open her door and came out, glancing at Su Cui.
Su Cui turned off the hairdryer and asked, "Did I disturb you?"
Su Baixue shook her head and smiled. "No, Grandma. You shouldn't wash your hair too late; it's cool at night, and you might catch a cold. Next time, do it earlier~ It's fine to turn up the TV; I've finished studying. I wanted to take a break and get a glass of water."
Su Cui picked up the remote and turned up the volume, then continued drying her hair.
Su Baixue poured water at the side table.
The TV sound became much louder.
"A woman jumped off a building due to gambling debts. She had abandoned her family to satisfy her gambling addiction. On the 24th of this month, while her husband was away, she cruelly killed her children before jumping... The police have investigated and dealt with seven gambling cases, raided gambling dens, and seized gambling funds..."
There really were a lot of gamblers lately.
Elderly people have thin hair, so Su Cui finished drying quickly. She noticed Su Baixue staring at the TV, her cup at her lips, not taking a sip.
Su Cui asked curiously, "What's wrong, Bai Xue? Is the water too hot?"
Su Baixue shook her head, pressing her fingertips against the warm ceramic cup, and said sadly, "I just can't understand why people gamble so much, even when they're poor. They keep gambling until they lose their happy family... and everything."
Su Cui was silent for a moment.
"Desire is hard to satisfy. Even if someone seems to have everything—enough food, clothes, happiness—if they can't control their urge to gamble, they'll be consumed by that desire."
Su Baixue couldn't quite understand.
In her heart, she had once wished her parents could be there, but now that her grandmother was with her, she felt satisfied.
She was always easily satisfied.
She had played cards with Li Guizhi before, and winning a yuan or two made her happy, but she never felt the urge to keep playing. At first, gambling was just for fun.
"Do rich people, with more entertainment options, gamble less?" Su Baixue blew on the rim of her cup. The water was indeed hot, so she could only take tiny sips.
"Not necessarily." Su Cui stared at the TV, recalling a dream she had on the bus. "Poor people might start gambling for fun, as a way to relax and escape stress... But when they lose a certain amount, the escape from stress becomes an increase in stress. After falling into debt, they grit their teeth wanting to win it back, but end up losing more, creating a vicious cycle and becoming addicted."
Su Baixue was getting sleepy. "Mm... Grandma Li always says, a small gamble cheers you up, a big gamble harms your health."
"Even the wealthy may not feel fulfilled inside. Gambling is thrilling and risky—that's very appealing to them. More money can mean more debt. Your Grandma Li's saying applies to everyone, rich or poor. But the kind of card games she plays, with small stakes and among relatives and friends, isn't strictly gambling. Gambling involves strangers and a certain amount of money." Su Cui stroked Su Baixue's head, noticing her yawn. "Go to sleep if you're tired."
Su Baixue shyly leaned against Su Cui.
On TV, a suspected gambler still pleaded and wept, expressing remorse, begging for forgiveness from his family, hoping the police could help him find his daughter. His expression was so sincere, so heartbreaking.
Su Baixue was really sleepy now. She looked at the TV and murmured, "Actually, these gamblers are also pitiful..."
"What's so pitiful about them?" Su Cui suddenly raised her voice.
Su Baixue was startled awake. She looked up, her pupils slightly dilated. Su Cui's expression was very cold, as if she was thinking of something she deeply loathed.
Her aged voice was also colder than usual.
"When they sink into gambling, they've already forgotten their responsibilities. If they're pitiful, what about those who have to bear the consequences of their gambling? Selling your children is no different from killing them!" Su Cui said excitedly. "Do they really not understand the consequences? They just care more about satisfying their temporary gambling urge than the things they're willing to bet! Now they put on an act—it's too late!"
Su Baixue blurted out, "Grandma, who are you talking about?"