The Missing Daughter – CH 016

Chapter 16. The Lottery 1

“The Lottery”
“After claiming a 30 million prize, the winner disappeared.”
By Zhen Bai

**

“Cash or mobile payment?”

Most people buying phones in the store used mobile payment, but the clerk, seeing my shabby clothes, carrying a large flowerpot, and having a large black bag slung across my chest, probably guessed that the bag likely contained cash.

I chose the best and most expensive new phone, opened my bag, took out several stacks of cash, and counted them. “Cash.”

She glanced at it, didn’t take the money immediately, but went inside and called over an older shop assistant. The two checked that it was genuine before taking the money, smiling and saying to me, “Sir, would you like us to install a SIM card?”

I’d never used such an expensive phone before. I thought for a moment and said, “Can you make a SIM card here?”

“I’m sorry, I don’t quite understand what you mean.”

“I want to get a new phone number.”

“Yes, you can. Do you have your ID card? We can install SIM cards here.”

I canceled my old phone number, got a new SIM card, and had them set up the phone, install the SIM card, and even activate a data plan for me.

After walking along the street for a while, I looked back several times, feeling like someone was following me.

But the person was very discreet; I couldn’t see who it was.

“In this lottery draw, a total of three first-prize winners were issued nationwide. One of the winning tickets was sold at a lottery outlet in our city. The winner has recently claimed their prize…”

There was a lottery outlet right next door, and the TV outside was playing various lottery-winning news on a loop. I knew this was a marketing tactic used by lottery sellers to make others believe that they, too, could win the lottery and change their lives.

My brother, Duan Bin, loved watching these news reports. Every time he borrowed money from me to buy lottery tickets, he confidently declared that the next lucky winner would be him.

He could go for a day or two without food, only drinking water, but he absolutely had to buy a ticket for that draw.

I clutched my cash bag tightly.

I shouldn’t flaunt my wealth; I was probably being watched.

Passing by a shopping mall, I glanced at its gleaming interior while I was dressed in shabby clothes. Several times I wanted to go in, but the thought of the way the shop assistants would look at me made me back down.

After hesitating for a long time, I touched the money in my bag and cursed myself a few times.

Xiang Zhicheng, you coward! You were too scared to come when you had no money, and still too scared to come now that you have it!

Why not spend your money? Are you going to take it to your grave?

Spend it! Spend it however you want!

After slapping myself a few times, I gritted my teeth and rushed inside as fast as I could, finding a men’s clothing store.

At first, the shop assistants treated me like a homeless person and tried to kick me out, but when I threw the cash on the ground, their expressions changed, and they even spoke to me much more politely.

“Brother, please calm down. Don’t take what I said to heart.”

“Keep this potted plant here. Try on whichever outfit you like! Uh… but brother, the clothes you tried on might get dirty, so you’ll have to buy them. So, you see…”

I sneered, “Do you think I’m stingy?”

The salesperson smiled awkwardly. “You misunderstood. How about this: what style do you like? I’ll recommend something for you; I guarantee it’ll be good and cheap.”

I said, “I don’t want cheap; I want expensive. Whatever the shopkeepers like to wear, give me that.”

Leaving the mall, I looked completely different.

But I didn’t forget to buy a few hats and masks to cover my face.

After changing my clothes, I thought, now that I had money, I didn’t need to live in that shabby place anymore. I should live in the best place here.

**

Anquan Residential Complex was an upscale community. Originally called Ricky Kedra Golden Garden, that name was too difficult for locals to pronounce. Since it was located on Anquan Road, everyone simply referred to it as the Anquan Residential Complex.

There were many residential areas on Anquan Road, but none were as prominent as Ricky Kedra Golden Garden. Therefore, Anquan Residential Complex had become the specific name used to refer to the area.

I used to work here as a water deliveryman. The price per square meter of housing here was equivalent to me working for three or four years without eating or drinking.

I met Duan Bin at a construction site. He’d been in Chushui City for ten years. His wife left him, taking their son with her, because he was poor. At first, he sent some of his earnings home, but later he became addicted to buying lottery tickets. He spent all his money at the lottery station—big and small, welfare lottery, double-color ball, seven-color lottery…sports lottery, scratch-offs—he bought everything.

Duan Bin firmly believed that as long as he bought enough and persisted, he would eventually win a big prize.

And he persisted like that for ten years.

The apartments in Anquan Residential Complex were all sold out long ago. On the information board outside the complex, I only saw rental listings. Renting a place was usually difficult, especially haggling with the landlord, but with so much money, it became surprisingly easy.

Finally, I moved into my dream place.

I placed the potted plant on the table in the middle of the living room, then looked up to admire this beautiful place. The floor was clean, dust-free, and made of waxed solid wood. The chandelier overhead cast a soft glow, and all the furniture was there.

But there was no food in the kitchen, so I had to go out.

I put on my coat, mask, and hat. I remembered there was a supermarket in the complex, but it was late. Luckily, it was still open. After buying two bags of water and food, I hurried back.

There weren’t many people on the streets of the complex at night. The complex had many trees, as well as artificial hills, a lake, and an outdoor swimming pool. I heard footsteps behind me, but when I turned around, there was no one there.

I quickened my pace and walked back.

Tap tap tap tap tap tap!

The footsteps behind me grew closer and faster.

I was dressed thickly and tightly, sweating profusely from the heat. Turning around again, I only saw a dark shadow flash by.

I knew I had to get home quickly; it was possible that I was being watched.

As soon as I entered the elevator, I pressed the button for the eleventh floor.

Just as the elevator doors were about to close, a hand suddenly blocked my way.

My hair stood on end.

A slightly overweight man squeezed through the elevator doors. “Hello, hello.”

I nodded.

“Are you a resident here?”

He actually asked me.

I said, “What’s it to you?!”

“Don’t misunderstand, don’t misunderstand.”

The slightly overweight man looked to be in his thirties, his smile somewhat awkward. “I’m from the property management here; my name is Duan Xiqun. You can call me Xiao Duan. I’m here to collect the property fees. The resident on the eleventh floor hasn’t paid. I saw you press the eleventh floor button, but I’ve never seen you before…”

I said irritably, “I just rented here; the landlord pays the property fees.”

“Oh, I knew it. But I remember there’s only one resident on the eleventh floor.”

“The landlord is a woman. The other tenant is abroad and hasn’t returned yet. You’re renting apartment number 1 on the 11th floor?”

“I live in apartment number 2 on the 11th floor!”

“That isn’t right.”

Duan Xiqun glanced at the form in his hand. “The owner of apartment number 2 on the 11th floor is a woman…”

I was also puzzled. The landlord was clearly a man, and I’d seen him before; he wasn’t abroad at all. Duan Xiqun and I went to the 11th floor, knocked on the door, and after a while, a young man’s voice came through the loudspeaker at the door.

Upon learning that Duan Xiqun was there to collect overdue property management fees, the man inside said that his girlfriend was currently away on a business trip and he was paying the fees on her behalf.

After speaking, the young man opened the door. Coincidentally, he was also wearing a hat and mask, dressed the same as me. He paid in cash and, seeing we weren’t leaving, asked suspiciously, “What’s wrong?”

I said, “Who are you? Why are you living in my house?”

The young man said, “Are you crazy? How did this become your house? This is clearly my girlfriend’s house.”

Duan Xiqun was also confused. He scratched his head and asked me, “Um, what should I call you, sir?”

I said, “My surname is Xiang.”

“Mr. Xiang, are you sure you live here? You just rented this place; could you have remembered the address wrong?”

“Impossible, Building 9, Unit 2, 11th floor, No. 2. The 11th floor is correct, and No. 2 is correct, right?”

“Misunderstanding, misunderstanding.” Duan Xiqun pulled me outside. “Mr. Xiang, you’ve gone to the wrong place. This is Unit 1! Unit 2 is a few steps further ahead. I’ll take you there.”

**

It was all that person’s fault for following me; I panicked and went the wrong way.

Back at home, looking at the potted plant in the middle of the living room, I finally felt at ease.

I ate something and lay down to sleep.

But I slept restlessly.

I dreamt of the recent heavy rain. I was walking around in the mud, in a very remote place near the Chushui Bridge. I saw lights on the bridge in the distance and tried to walk towards them, but I walked for a very long time, and the lights remained far away.

Raindrops pelted my face, and I heard footsteps behind me.

Tap tap tap, tap tap tap tap tap!

I turned around and saw a huge figure, covered in blood, lunging at me. I scrambled forward, finally escaping the green space, and saw a bridge in the distance and the rushing river below.

I cried out for help to the people on the bridge.

But no sound came out.

Suddenly, I fell hard, my face hitting the ground, but it didn’t hurt. I looked down and saw that I had money under me—lots and lots of money.

I woke up abruptly and found myself in bed.

Many bright red hundred-yuan bills were on the sheets. I hugged the money and laughed.

**

During the day, I didn’t go out. Drinking the alcohol I bought helped me sleep more soundly, but at night, I couldn’t sleep. I was afraid of having nightmares if I fell asleep. Even if I had nightmares during the day, waking up to bright light didn’t scare me.

Besides, I felt that the person targeting me would definitely attack me at night.

I locked all the windows in the house, checking them every day, and then watered the potted plant, waiting for it to bloom. Only when I saw the vibrant green leaves could I find peace.

I opened the refrigerator; all the alcohol and food were gone. I glanced at the time—midnight. But it didn’t matter; the supermarket in the neighborhood was open 24 hours.

As soon as I stepped into the supermarket, the cashier rushed up to me, pointing and yelling, “It’s you! Oh, you’re here again! Last time you tried to kill me with counterfeit money! I not only had to pay compensation, but I also almost lost my job! You owe me money!”

I frowned. “What are you yelling about! What counterfeit money? Could I have given you counterfeit money? Besides, didn’t you check it?”

The cashier went behind the counter and picked up the landline. “Don’t go; I’m calling the police.”

I rushed over, snatched the receiver, and slammed the phone to the ground. “Call the police? Call what? I’m warning you, don’t mess with me!”

She was terrified by my appearance and stood trembling against the wall.

I grabbed a basket, placing a bunch of groceries in it, and then placed them in front of the checkout counter. “Ring them up!”

The cashier, however, was too scared to come closer and started crying.

A wave of annoyance washed over me. I took a few hundred yuan from my bag and threw it on the counter. “Keep the change; here’s the extra!”

“No, no, I don’t want your money…”

She cried, “Your money is fake.”

I picked up one of the hundred-yuan bills. “Look closely. What is this? This is—”

The banknote, which had appeared normal before, now had a man’s face on it, covered in blood, and the bank on the paper had changed to the Heavenly Bank.

The cashier was still crying. “Your money is ghost money; it’s fake. I can’t accept it, I can’t accept it…”

I threw away the ghost money in my hand and looked down at the cash in my bag.

It was still ghost money, all of it, mixed with a lot of white paper money, the kind burned for the dead.

I grabbed a piece of paper, rushed to the cashier, grabbed her arm, and asked, “What is this? Is this money?!”

She stopped crying, her eyes red as she looked at me.

“Speak!”

“It’s…it’s money…”

I asked, my eyes still red, “What kind of money?!”

The sales clerk was terrified and collapsed. “It’s money for the dead! It’s money for the dead!”

I threw down the bag of money and fled.

**

How could this be?

Back home, I looked at the potted plant and checked each bag of money. They were all real money, but how did they turn into ghost money outside?!

The cashier saw it too, so it couldn’t be my imagination.

Could it be…could there really be ghosts in this world?

Impossible! It must be someone’s prank. Someone switched my money. There couldn’t be ghosts in this world!

I opened my phone and started searching for keywords.

“Dead people.”

No relevant results.

“Corpse.”

No news related to Chushui City either.

Finally, I typed two words—”Chushui” and “missing”—which yielded quite a few results, but none of them were what I wanted, except for one…

“It is reported that the missing person just won a 30 million yuan lottery prize. Even after paying taxes on-site, it’s still a large sum of money. However, according to the winner’s family, they haven’t been able to contact the winner for several days, and even their residence is nowhere to be found…”

“Recently, there have been frequent missing persons cases in our city. The police once again remind residents, whether out and about or at home, to be wary of strangers, pay attention to their personal safety, and remain vigilant at all times…”

“Brother Xiang, what are you looking at? Let me see too.”

I looked up but couldn’t see the person who spoke.

The voice continued in my ear. “Brother Xiang, my wife left, my son doesn’t recognize me, and my parents died young. We’ve been struggling in this big city for so many years; we are best brothers. Don’t worry, once I win the lottery, I’ll definitely buy you a big house first, then introduce you to a wife. Don’t worry, there’s nothing money can’t buy in this world!”

It was Duan Bin’s voice. He asked, “Is your father’s illness really incurable?”

Late-stage cancer; what was the point of treatment? Any money spent would be a black hole; the chance of a cure was minuscule, and besides, I didn’t have the money to spend.

No money for medical treatment, no money for food, and no money to buy ourselves decent clothes; we were like rats in the deepest, darkest gutter of this city, sometimes full, sometimes hungry.

“Don’t worry, when I’m rich, I’ll definitely give you a good life. By the way, Brother Xiang, lend me some more money. I have a feeling I’m about to win the lottery!”

“This plant was a gift from a boss of mine. He said it’s a mini money tree! I’m giving it to you. Just water it every day, and the day it grows up will be the day we two brothers become rich!”

Boom!

Suddenly, lightning flashed and thunder roared outside the window. I snapped back to reality, and the sounds around me disappeared.

Looking at the torrential rain outside, I suddenly felt a chill run through me.

**

That night, I went out to buy things again.

I couldn’t go back to that haunted supermarket. I bundled myself up tightly, looking back every few steps, and bought two bags of groceries outside the apartment complex.

After returning and entering the elevator, I closed the doors, but the elevator didn’t start immediately.

My feet felt sticky. I looked down and saw that the floor was covered in blood!

I looked up, intending to leave the elevator, but in the reflective light of the elevator doors, I saw a blood-soaked figure standing behind me!

I turned around, but there was nothing behind me, and the blood at my feet was gone.

The elevator remained motionless.

I froze until the elevator doors opened and a young woman in a white dress entered. She gave me a strange look, seemingly thinking I was abnormal, and moved away from me before pressing the elevator button. Only then did the elevator begin to ascend.

So…

I had forgotten to press the button.

I glanced down; she had pressed the 11th floor.

I looked down at the floor. There wasn’t a drop of blood on the ground. Why did I keep seeing those eerie things? There were no ghosts in this world.

I looked up to see how long it would take to reach the 11th floor, but found myself alone in the entire elevator cab.

The elevator hadn’t stopped at all. Where had the girl gone?

I got goosebumps all over.

When the elevator reached the eleventh floor, I rushed out and headed straight for home—

But as I reached the door, before I could even open it, the door opened by itself!

My scalp tingled instantly.

Did I forget to lock the door when I left? What if someone got in? All my money was in there, all my money was in the house!

I put down what I was carrying and tiptoed inside.

The living room was dark, lit only by candles. A lavish dinner was laid out on the table. A pretty, slender girl sat with her back to me, wearing a white dress that looked the same as the one worn by the girl in the elevator…

Wait, this was my house.

Who was she? How did she get in?!

The air was thick with the aroma of beef mixed with a strong perfume scent, making me want to vomit.

A man’s voice came from the kitchen, “Honey, wait a moment; the beef is done. How would you like it cooked?”

The woman didn’t answer.

The man muttered to himself, “Medium? Got it. You can rest assured about my cooking.”

The next moment, he came out of the kitchen carrying a plate.

I recognized this man; he was the one who paid the property fees. He said his girlfriend was away on a business trip, so I went to the wrong room again?!

The moment he saw me, the man’s expression changed. “How did you get in?”

I saw him grip the knife tightly in his hand, not walking towards me but staring at me, retreating to the doorway, then casually tossing the plate on the ground, freeing his hand to close the door.

I took a few steps back, bumping into the chair behind me.

With a thud, the woman in the chair fell directly to the ground. I turned around and saw strange bruises on the exposed skin of the girl’s arm, or rather, more like… lividity!

Her face was covered in an excessive amount of foundation, like a mask.

The girl lay half-reclined on the ground, her eyes wide open but motionless, her pupils already unfocused, like a stiff, dead fish.

I understood. I turned and charged at the tall, thin young man in front of me. His knife plunged into my arm, but ignoring the pain, I slammed him to the ground and punched him several times.

I was a hard-working laborer, and he wasn’t as strong as I was. We wrestled, and he pulled the knife from my arm, trying to kill me. I snatched it away and stabbed him in the face!

With a scream, blood gushed from his pierced cheek. Seeing this, my vision blurred, my scalp tingled, and I was terrified. I dropped the man, staggered, opened the door, and fled.

The elevator was taking forever to come up. I opened the stairwell door and ran frantically downstairs. When I finally got out, I collapsed on the steps outside the building. Looking back, I realized it was indeed Unit 1; I’d gone to the wrong building again.

People nearby saw my disheveled state and screamed.

Others pulled out their phones, undoubtedly calling the police.

I staggered back to my building, my hands trembling as I pressed the elevator button. Once home, I hugged my potted plant and double-checked all my bags, doors, and windows—locked them all, locked them all.

I fell asleep.

**

The police came to my door the next day.

I refused to open the door, but they broke it down and forcibly took me away. I clung tightly to the money tree that Duan Bin and I had kept together. At the police station, they spent a long time persuading me before I finally lowered my guard and let them treat my wounds.

Back home, I had simply wrapped these wounds with torn sheets; some were even swelling and festering.

After treating my wounds, they wouldn’t let me go home.

“Don’t be afraid; my name is He Chenghui. I’m a policeman here.”

The man in front of me poured me a glass of water. “Your name is Xiang Zhicheng, right?”

I nodded numbly.

“I want to ask, last night, did you go to the apartment next door to unit 2 on the 11th floor?”

He asked a question, and I answered.

“Alright, it’s alright. You’re the victim; this is self-defense. The person you encountered is a murderer, and we suspect he’s connected to the two previous home invasion murders.”

I asked, “Is he… is he dead?”

“No, but he’s seriously injured and still in the hospital.”

He Chenghui looked at me. “I don’t understand. Why didn’t you call the police? Were you afraid of being held responsible?”

I trembled, unable to answer.

“By the way, Xiang Zhicheng, you’re the lucky one who won 30 million a while ago, right? A lottery jackpot winner, shouldn’t you be happy? Why didn’t you contact your family? They’ve been looking for you everywhere; they are so worried.”

I stared blankly at the money tree in my arms. “They aren’t my family. My mother died a long time ago, my father had cancer a few years ago, couldn’t afford treatment, and died too. I don’t have a wife or children…”

He Chenghui flipped through the documents in his hand. “The person who reported the case said he was your uncle…?”

I replied: “My family is all dead, but I have a bunch of poor relatives who know I won the lottery, and they’re all looking for me, asking me for money. Money—he wants to borrow money from me. When my dad was sick before, he blocked my number. Now he even knows where I live. He’s looking for me…”

I grinned. “He’s not looking for me; he’s looking for money.”

He Chenghui sighed. “But he’s still your uncle. We’ve already notified them to come over. Whatever it is, you two should resolve it calmly. After all, you’re related by blood.”

I shook my head. “They want money, but this money isn’t theirs, nor is it mine, nor is it mine…” I laughed as I spoke.

I changed my phone number, changed my address, and everything. They couldn’t find me, so they called the police and let them come find me. I knew they’d do anything for money.

He Chenghui. “What do you mean? Isn’t this your lottery winnings?”

I said. “Yes, but this isn’t my money; it’s a dead man’s money! Officer He, do you believe in ghosts?”

He Chenghui shook his head. “Calm down; there are no ghosts in this world.”

My smile widened. “How could there be no ghosts? Murderers don’t lock the door after killing someone! That female ghost led me to her. There are ghosts in this world; there are ghosts! Officer He, you know, I can’t stay here. He already knows I’m here.”

“Who? Your uncle and the others?”

I shook my head, standing up while hugging my money tree. “Officer He, can I go home? The longer I stay outside, the less safe it is.”

Officer He. “I’m sorry, you may not be able to leave for the time being. Although you acted in self-defense, we still need to proceed further…”

I shoved him aside, kicked away another officer taking my statement, and ran outside with my money tree. There were many people in the corridor, but I knew they were all watching me, suspecting me. I couldn’t stay in this police station; I had to leave as soon as possible!

I bumped into many people along the way. I heard heavy footsteps behind me, and when I turned around, I saw Duan Bin. He was covered in blood, soaked by the rain, chasing after me. He was getting closer and closer. Even though I couldn’t see his face, I recognized him. He had worn that shirt for two years…

Ghosts existed in this world. He had been following me, wanting his things back.

So everything I saw wasn’t an illusion!

I ran even faster, almost reaching the gate, but a policeman was standing there. Seeing me rush out, with chaos still behind me, he twisted my hands behind my back and pinned me against the wall. I struggled desperately, but it was no use.

Turning around, I was horrified to see Duan Bin getting closer and closer.

But no one else could see him.

That was normal, because he was a ghost.

With a bang, the flowerpot shattered.

I couldn’t hear what the people around me were shouting.

All I knew was…

Duan Bin tumbled out of the dirt, crashed onto the floor, and spun around a few times.

**

“I won! I won! Thirty million!”

“Great! We are rich!”

“We? This is the lottery ticket I bought. I can give you thirty to fifty thousand, but, haha, Old Xiang, you always laugh at me for buying lottery tickets as if I’m giving money away to the lottery station. How about it? Tomorrow, when we claim the prize, I’ll be a multi-millionaire! I won’t have to do this dirty work anymore!”

“You… what do you mean? I lent you money to buy this lottery ticket. Shouldn’t we split it in half if we win?”

“Xiang Zhicheng, are you out of your mind? Thirty million for you in half?”

“You said before that if you won, you’d buy me a house; you said…”

“No way, you actually believed that casual remark? Back then, I didn’t have the money to buy you a house. Of course, I just said it casually. Now it’s different. I really have thirty million! Thirty million! Hahahaha!”

That day, it rained heavily all night in Chushui City.

That day, Duan Bin started to be inseparable from me.

**

Looking at Duan Bin lying on the ground, I grinned.

Are there really no ghosts in this world?

**

“Welcome to today’s news.”

“Chushui police have confirmed the identity of the headless male corpse found in Chushui Bridge Park. The deceased is Duan, a 59-year-old migrant worker from this city. The perpetrator is currently in custody, and the motive is suspected to be related to a lottery dispute. The case is under further investigation…”

Duan Xiqun was watching TV in the duty room when he suddenly froze.

His colleague looked at him. “What’s wrong?”

“That, that photo on the screen, it looks like my dad…”

“Your dad?!”

Duan Xiqun stared blankly at the deceased’s ID photo on the TV, probably obtained from Duan Bin’s workplace, muttering to himself, “My mom said my dad was ruined by the lottery his entire life, and he’d die from it sooner or later…”

But unexpectedly, it really happened.

But the news abruptly ended the next moment.

“Recently, Chushui police, in conjunction with Yangshan police, dismantled a human trafficking ring operating across multiple locations. The gang was well-organized, with detailed divisions of labor and a large number of members. Chushui Fisheries Company provided the necessary services, transporting trafficked individuals to other provinces. It is reported that the company’s responsible personnel have been arrested. This operation rescued 38 trafficked women and children. The search for the remaining trafficked individuals continues…”

“This station once again reminds everyone that whether out and about or at home, you should be vigilant. If you encounter danger, you can call the police. Don’t give bad people any opportunity, and don’t have any illegal or criminal thoughts or actions…”

【The Lottery Chapter/End】