The Three Gambling Ghosts

At a table nearby three men exchanged knowing looks with each other, smiling as they watched him.

"This little brother knows how to enjoy life," said one. "Look at him down that wine. Methinks he would be an interesting acquaintence to make. Eh, brothers?"

"Ay, one with well-lined pockets," replied his friend, leaning back.

They chuckled softly.

The three men were known in the town; they went everywhere together. They were die-hard gamblers who pickpocketed or did petty robberies to get the money they needed to feed their addiction. The Three Gambling Ghosts as they were known, were sure to be present at any gambling den you entered, or every time there was a scuffle in the town, yet the officials had never managed to pin anything on them.

Leaning their heads together over their last jar of wine, the Three Gambling Ghosts had a whispered consultation, throwing the young gentleman in green glances over their shoulders as they did so. To be sure, Lao Lu did most of the talking. A small, thin man with a sharp weaselly face and a chipped front tooth, he had a glib tongue. He did not look like much but he had the deft hands of a pickpocket, and there was a knife thrust into his belt that had been used too often.

In contrast, WangFan was stout and bald. He got excited as easily as he perspired, and had a sensitive temper, but his forearms and wrists were as thick as legs of ham, and his favourite boast was that he could fell a man with one blow. Next to him lounged SuanRong, who was vain and considered himself superior because a fortune teller had once told him that his nose was auspicious and attracted women. He found pleasure in comparing himself to his two friends and reassuring himself that he was clearly the handsomest of the three.

As they finished their discussion, they all rose slowly and made their way towards Young Master Qing's table, carrying their wine bowls in hand. The customers at the other tables murmured uneasily when they saw this, and those who were closest started to wonder if they ought to change tables.

Qingqing froze with the trotter still between her teeth as she felt their shadows fall across her back. Her eyes narrowed as the chairs at her table were pulled out roughly, creaking as the Three Gambling Ghosts sat down heavily in them.

"It's bad manners to invite yourselves when you aren't wanted," she said coolly. "Didn't your mothers teach you?"

WangLu looked in astonishment at his companions. "What did that little wretch say?"

Lao Lu held out his hand quickly, motioning him to be quiet. He leaned forward and smiled ingratiatingly at Qingqing. "Young sir, don't be offended. Your humble servants were merely drawn by the aura of intelligence and charisma that you bear. We felt that it would be an honour to get to know you, and drink a round with you."

Qingqing sized them up cynically. She did not want to admit it, but she was lonely, and some drinking companions would be nice. Yet she distrusted these three, as she distrusted anybody she met on the streets.

She took a swig of wine. "Am I supposed to know who you are?" she said carelessly.

LaoLu bowed and gestured to his friends. "You see before you the Three Gambling Ghosts, as they call us. Allow me to introduce ourselves. I am LaoLu of the Divine Hands, this is WangFan Single Strike, and here is SuanRong, the--the--"

SuanRong coughed affectedly. "SuanRong the Unforgettable."

Qingqing gagged and restrained herself from spitting out a mouthful of wine with an effort--it was good wine, which didn't deserve to be wasted. What idiotic names. Laughable didn't even describe it. She could feel her gorge rising against these potential drinking buddies already.

"You call these names?" With a sigh, she rolled her eyes and picked up her trotter again. "Come back and try again when you find better ones. I'm not that desperate for company."

The Three Gambling Ghosts stared at each other blankly as Qingqing busied herself eating. SuanRong lowered his wine bowl, lip curling back over his teeth, and a slow, ominous red flush was rising in WangFan's face. Lu swallowed, and spoke again, controlling his voice with an effort.

"Young Master Qing must be new in town, or you would know better than to be so rude to the Three Gambling Ghosts."

Qingqing did not pause in her gnawing. Her voice was slightly muffled by the trotter. "I said what I said. Get lost now, and don't you dream of stealing any of my meat."

Irritably she waved the half-eaten bone in the direction of the door. "Shoo! Don't try my patience."

There was a smash as SuanRong flung the wine bowl down, and it shattered noisily on the floor. The other customers started violently and started to make their way towards the door, clearly nervous.

"You're an insolent rascal," barked SuanRong furiously. "How dare you throw your weight around just because you've grown a halfassed moustache?"

Qingqing felt instinctively for her moustache, afraid that it had gone crooked again. She pressed it securely against her lip and eyed him coldly. "Throwing my weight around? You should say that to your friend over there." she shot back rudely. "Halfassed moustache my foot. As if yours is any better," she added crossly. She had made the moustache from some rabbit fur and glue, and was very proud of it. It was definitely a great improvement from the first one she had made with her own hair and paste when she had fed Mao Xiang the love philtre.

WangFan gasped inarticulately in rage and heaved himself up from his seat. SuanRong sprang up as well, reaching for the club slung across his back. There was an ugly look in their eyes.

"You won't be so cocky soon, our fine young gentleman. Let's see if you can still eat your meat when you're missing every tooth in your head," growled SuanRong.

Qingqing ignored him. "Someone farted," she called out cheekily. "I heard it, clear as crystal. I can smell it, too."

"Are you insulting me, you brat?" roared SuanRong, snatching his club.

She pinched her nose theatrically and grimaced. "Oh, another one! Quite unbearable!"

Without ado the Three Gambling Ghosts fell on her.