Daily Intelligence System: Financial Independence

Chapter 665: Chapter 316: Where’s My Million-Dollar Prize??? (2)

"Old Jia, did you come across anything when you went to buy scratch cards? Or, was anyone else buying them too?"

"No, I went there before 8 o’clock, right after the owner opened the store. I was the first to enter."

While driving, Jia Guolin truthfully reported his lottery buying process to Jiang Tao.

Jiang Tao continued to ask, "Are you sure you bought all of that type of lottery ticket?"

"Well..."

Jia Guolin actually wasn’t too sure either.

After all, he’s not the lottery owner, just a customer.

"I told the owner I wanted all of it, asked him to give me everything, and then he handed me these."

As Jia Guolin answered Jiang Tao’s question,

he secretly blamed himself for being too careless and not thorough in his actions.

Since the owner instructed him to buy all of the same type of scratch cards,

he should have carefully checked to see if there were any left behind at the time.

"Old Jia, let’s go back to that lottery shop and check again."

Jiang Tao decisively instructed Old Jia to make a detour to the store where he purchased the scratch cards.

The scratch card worth one million that wasn’t bought is likely still in the store.

It might have been overlooked in some corner.

Or it’s buried under other types of scratch cards.

"Okay, boss!"

Jia Guolin nodded, agreed, and turned around at the right intersection, skillfully heading towards the lottery shop he visited just this morning.

At 9:43 a.m.

The Mercedes-Benz G-Class arrived at a small commercial street entrance behind Wangfu Tea House.

This street is a two-way single lane, not spacious, and has no designated parking spots.

Jia Guolin found a temporary parking spot near the street entrance and parked the car.

Jiang Tao instructed him to stay in the car and watch it, while he went to the lottery shop mentioned in the information by himself.

At this hour in the morning, the business in the lottery shop was average.

When Jiang Tao entered, there was only a man in his forties standing next to a chart on the wall.

However, his eyes occasionally glanced at the woman sitting behind the counter inside the shop.

The woman looked to be in her forties as well, slightly plump and full-figured, with a fair and round face wearing purple-rimmed glasses.

She wore a yellow dress with white flowers that exposed a large portion of her fair chest, exuding a certain charm.

Seeing this, Jiang Tao secretly chuckled to himself, realizing that the man inside wasn’t studying the numbers but rather studying the owner.

"Hey handsome, want to buy a ticket?"

Qiu Lizhen looked up and saw Jiang Tao enter, and her eyes lit up.

With her right hand, she adjusted her glasses on her nose, trying to get a better look at Jiang Tao.

"Huh? You’re the brave guy from the supermarket yesterday!"

As soon as Qiu Lizhen recognized Jiang Tao’s face, she stood up excitedly, beaming at him.

"It’s really you, handsome! I even watched your live stream last night, followed you, and sent you some gifts!"

"You’re awesome, handsome! I give you a thumbs up!"

"In such a dangerous situation yesterday, when a group of guys was busy running away, only you dared to step up, you’re the real man!"

After recognizing Jiang Tao, Qiu Lizhen showered him with praise, her attitude growing even more enthusiastic!

"Uh, sis, you’re flattering me. I just did what I thought was right, it’s nothing worth mentioning."

Jiang Tao didn’t expect to meet a fan while buying some scratch cards, and he modestly waved his hand with a smile.

"See, handsome, I’m not lying to you, I really sent you gifts yesterday, I’m a real fan of yours."

Qiu Lizhen said while opening her phone, tapping on her App to show Jiang Tao her spending record.

Oh my.

Seeing is believing.

Jiang Tao glanced, and this sister sent him gifts worth more than 2000 yuan.

She’s definitely a true fan!

"I believe you, I do. You seem like a genuine person, sis, thank you for your support and love."

Jiang Tao found himself a bit amused and exasperated by the enthusiastic actions of the sister with a strong Beijing accent before him.

The guy beside them watching Qiu Lizhen shower Jiang Tao with enthusiasm felt really envious!

He’s been coming here to watch games... no, to buy lottery tickets for years, but never received such treatment!

People really get frustrated comparing themselves to others!

Being good-looking is truly something!

"Jiang, we’re so fated, sis won’t charge you today."

"You tell me what to play; we’ll play it. You tell me how much to play; we’ll play that much."

"I, Qiu Lizhen, admire men like you who dare to step up in the face of danger!"

Qiu Lizhen’s frankness left Jiang Tao feeling flattered and quickly shook his hands with a smile:

"No need to be so polite, sis. It’s not easy for you to do business; I’m just browsing for fun."

"Hey! Brother, don’t be polite with sis!"

"Even though this shop isn’t big, I don’t earn much money each month."

"To be honest, I don’t rely on this for a living; it’s just something to keep myself busy."

"Sis has five properties in Chaoyang District. Just from collecting rent, I can live quite comfortably every month."

Qiu Lizhen looked at Jiang Tao with a big smile, the more she looked, the more handsome she found him.

She usually wouldn’t casually flaunt how rich she is or how many properties she has.

She only showed off her status before Jiang Tao to gain more of his attention and likability.

"..."

Jiang Tao was speechless upon hearing Qiu Lizhen’s words.

In Beijing, this place truly is full of hidden talents, and you shouldn’t underestimate anyone!

Turns out the owner of such a small lottery shop is a "landlady" with multiple properties.

Furthermore, properties located in Chaoyang District!

The housing price here, even for just one property, would be at least several million, if not tens of millions.

"Haha, with such strong capability, sis, I really won’t be polite with you."

"I’m just browsing for fun; felt an impulse to buy a scratch card to play with."

Jiang Tao didn’t really plan on playing the lottery.

That’s not probability theory in play; it’s statistics!

"Alright, brother, just take a look, and if you fancy one, I’ll gift you a few packs!"

Qiu Lizhen seemed to have a naturally outgoing personality.

Within three minutes of meeting, her terms of addressing Jiang Tao changed from handsome, to Jiang’Er, to brother.

The guy studying the chart next to them knew they had just met.

To others, it might seem like they had years of friendship.

"Sis, do you have the ’So Close Yet So Beautiful, Weekend to Hebei’ scratch cards?"

"My hometown is in Hebei, so I want to buy some to support the local welfare."

Jiang Tao glanced inside the sales cabinet where a variety of colorful scratch cards with different amounts were displayed.

But he couldn’t find the "So Close Yet So Beautiful, Weekend to Hebei" ones he wanted.

"Oh, several people have looked for this today."

"Brother, you came a bit late today, I only have about ten left."

"Early this morning, a man bought three whole packages and some random tickets out."

Upon hearing Jiang Tao was also looking for the "So Close Yet So Beautiful, Weekend to Hebei" scratch cards, Qiu Lizhen was a bit puzzled.

Usually, when a type of lottery ticket wins a big prize of twenty or thirty thousand appearing on the news, it leads to many people seeking the same kind.

Seeing others win, buyers think they can win too.

Why not, right?

If a big prize suddenly appears in a particular draw of the Double Color Ball game, it could spike sales.

"So Close Yet So Beautiful, Weekend to Hebei" is just a niche local lottery game in Hebei.

It is sold only in a few northern provinces like Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Henan, and Shanxi, with a total issue of only four to five billion.

Moreover, this scratch card hasn’t recently won any huge lottery, so its sales have always been average.

"Still have about a dozen?"

Jiang Tao’s eyes lit up hearing Qiu Lizhen, thinking this must be where the problem lies.

Seeing that the guy studying the chart had left, the shop was now occupied only by her and Jiang Tao.

She leaned in close to Jiang Tao and whispered:

"Brother, let me tell you something. Those tickets are almost sold out, and haven’t even hit a 100 yuan prize yet."

"I figured there’s probably a big prize among the remaining dozen or so. I planned to scratch them myself today."

"But since you want that type of ticket, I’ll gift them to you!"