The God of Wealth starts with doing whatever you want

The night at Sha Tin Racecourse is divided into a chessboard of light and shadow by countless lights.

The VIP passage is carpeted in deep red, and oil paintings of past horse racing champions hang on the walls on both sides. The sound of horses' hooves seems to travel through time and echo faintly in the corridor.

Ruan Shaohua led Xu Yun and his group through the passageway toward the stables in the back of the horse farm.

The air is filled with the scents of hay, leather, and horses, mixed with the freshness of disinfectant, creating a unique atmosphere belonging to the world of horse racing.

"Brother Xu, this way please."

Ruan Shaohua pushed open a double wooden door, revealing a spacious and bright dedicated stable area.

Several racehorses were in their respective compartments, some quietly chewing hay, others pawing restlessly.

The stable boys moved among the stable boys, making final preparations for the upcoming race.

In front of the innermost compartment stood a blond, blue-eyed middle-aged foreign man, dressed in a neat jockey's uniform, speaking to the horse in a low voice in English.

Upon seeing Ruan Shaohua, he immediately went to greet him.

"Mr. Ruan, you've arrived."

"John, this is the Mr. Xu I told you about."

Ruan Shaohua introduced, "Brother Xu, this is John Harrison, a trainer I brought in from Australia. He has thirty years of experience and has trained three Melbourne Cup champions."

John extended his hand and said in slightly accented Chinese, "Mr. Xu, it's an honor to meet you."

Xu Yun shook hands with him, his gaze already fixed on the horse in the cubicle.

It was a pure black thoroughbred horse, with a shoulder height of sixteen hands (about 1.6 meters), its muscles flowing like a sculpture, and its coat gleaming like satin under the light.

What is most striking is its eyes—large and bright, with a sharp gaze that exudes a rebellious spirit.

"This is the 'Son of Thunder'."

Ruan Shaohua said with pride, “Three years old, Australian ancestry, father’s lineage is ‘Deep Space’, mother’s lineage is ‘Starry Night Dancer’.”

He participated in six tournaments in Australia, winning four, finishing second once, and third once, three of which were Group 1 tournaments.

Xu Yun approached the cubicle.

The horse immediately pricked up its ears and looked at him warily, but instead of retreating, it leaned forward as if scrutinizing the stranger.

"A fine horse," Xu Yun commented softly after observing it for a moment.

"What's so good about it?" Ruan Shaohua's eyes lit up, like a student waiting for a teacher's comments.

Xu Yun did not answer immediately, but instead slowly walked around the cubicle, observing it from different angles.

Fu Baoying stood beside him, a faint smile on her lips.

She knew that although Xu Yun didn't often get involved in horse racing, he had a sharp eye for people and a unique way of judging things.

"A well-proportioned skeleton, a broad chest and a straight back are the foundation of speed."

Xu Yun finally spoke, pointing to the horse's forelegs, and said, "Look at its forelegs (lower part of the forelegs), they are short and thick, and this structure gives it strong explosive power."

The angle of its hind legs is also excellent, making it suitable for sprinting.

He paused, then continued, "More importantly, it's about demeanor."

A good horse, like a good general, should be proud but not irritable, vigilant but not timid.

"Your horse has a fiery gaze; it has the look of a champion."

Ruan Shaohua was overjoyed and nodded repeatedly: "That's what John said too!"
He said 'Son of Thunder' is the most talented three-year-old horse he's seen in the last decade, and it has a very good chance of winning tonight's 1600-meter turf race!

John added from the side, "We were fully prepared."

I spent the past month specifically adapting to Hong Kong's climate and venue, and yesterday's test run results were even better than in Australia.

The jockey is Billy Smith, one of Hong Kong's highest-winning jockeys this season.

"How much did you invest?" Xu Yun suddenly asked.

Ruan Shaohua was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "Buying the horse cost 32 million Hong Kong dollars, and transportation, training, and hiring a team cost another 8 million, for a total of 40 million Hong Kong dollars."

"Then I wish you great success."

Xu Yun patted him on the shoulder and said, "Your dream has come true."

"Thank you for your kind words, Brother Xu!" Ruan Shaohua smiled broadly, his eyes disappearing behind his teeth.

After watching the horse race, everyone returned to the VIP viewing area.

The VIP boxes at Sha Tin Racecourse are located on the top floor of the main grandstand, with floor-to-ceiling glass walls offering panoramic views of the racetrack.

The private rooms are luxuriously furnished, complete with leather sofas, solid wood coffee tables, and crystal chandeliers, and also have dedicated service staff and private chefs.

Through the glass, you can see that the stands below are already full of spectators.

The atmosphere at the night match was electric, with neon lights flashing and match information and odds scrolling across the big screen.

Excited whispers filled the air, surging like a tide.

"Ladies and gentlemen, there are eight matches tonight. We are now in the betting period for the sixth match."

A uniformed staff member respectfully handed over the betting tablet and said, "You can operate directly on the tablet, or you can tell me your choice."

Ruan Shaohua was the first to take the tablet and entered the bet amount of five million Hong Kong dollars under the name "Son of Thunder" without hesitation, betting on the horse to win.

"All in!"

He declared with great confidence, "I have confidence in my horse!"

The staff quickly processed and printed out the betting slip.

The tablet was passed to Fu Baoying.

Instead of placing a bet immediately, she carefully studied the information of each horse on the screen.

Past performance, jockey win rate, trainer record, recent form rating...

Her gaze was focused and professional.

Having been a senior executive at the Hong Kong Jockey Club and having managed Sha Tin Racecourse for three years, Fu Baoying is very familiar with the ins and outs of the place.

"Number 7, 'Emerald Whirlwind'."

Fu Baoying finally made her choice, entered one million Hong Kong dollars, and said: "Although this horse is a bit old, it is very experienced. The jockey is Lei Shen (Lei Jingyi), and it is good at sprinting from behind."

The track conditions tonight are in its favor.

It was Zhang Jin and Ada Choi's turn.

The couple exchanged a glance, and Ada Choi smiled and said, "We don't know anything about these things, so let's just buy from Mr. Yuen and share in the good fortune."

They invested HK$500,000 in "Son of Thunder".

Finally, the tablet was passed to Xu Yun.

All eyes turned to them.

Xu Yun didn't look at the screen immediately, but instead looked out the window at the racetrack.

The grass track under the night sky was illuminated as if it were daytime, and the grass blades were covered with glistening water droplets after the water truck had just sprayed water.

In the distance, horses are trotting slowly in the warm-up area, with riders lying on their backs as if they were one with their mounts.

He closed his eyes, as if sensing something.

In reality, deep within Xu Yun's consciousness, the system's intelligence exchange interface quietly unfolded.

In just three seconds, a massive amount of information flowed through Xu Yun's mind.

The system not only provides the current real-time status of each horse.

Which horse has hidden injuries, which horse is agitated, and which horse is at its peak?

It also incorporates the jockey's tactical inclinations, track adaptability, and even some unknown "operations" within the racecourse.

Ultimately, an unexpected result emerged.

Xu Yun opened her eyes and swiped her fingers across the tablet.

He did not choose the popular "Son of Thunder" (odds 1 to 2.5) nor "Jade Whirlwind" (odds 1 to 5) favored by Fu Baoying.

Instead, he scrolled straight to the end and clicked on a horse that almost no one paid attention to.

Number 12, "Night Ship".

Odds: 87 to 1.

"what?!"

Ruan Shaohua was the first to speak up, asking in confusion, "Brother Xu, you chose this one?"

Fu Baoying frowned and said, "'Night Voyage'? This horse is seven years old this year and has passed its prime."

He has participated in six races this season, with his best result being fifth place. The jockey is rookie Wang Zhiming, whose win rate is only 8%.

"Xu Yun, wouldn't you like to reconsider?"

Although Zhang Jin and Ada Choi didn't understand, seeing the odds of 87 times, they knew this was definitely an upset.

Xu Yun remained calm and entered HK$50 million into the betting amount field.

"Xu Yun!"

Seeing this, Fu Baoying said again, "Fifty million to buy a horse that has almost no chance of winning? Even if you're playing, this isn't how you play."

Ruan Shaohua also advised, "Brother Xu, I know you're not short of money, but this is like throwing money into the water!"
"How about this, you bet on 'Son of Thunder' too. If you win, it's yours; if you lose, it's on me!"

Xu Yun felt a warmth in her heart as she looked at their concerned eyes, but her hands did not stop moving.

He gently pushed Fu Baoying's hand away and clicked to confirm.

"It's nothing, just playing around."

He smiled and said, "If I lose, I'll consider it as supporting Hong Kong horse racing."

Print out the betting receipt.

The staff member's hands were trembling slightly when they received it.

A single bet of fifty million.

Even in VIP rooms, this is extremely rare!
What's more, the other side is betting on a super underdog with odds of 87.

The news spread like wildfire.

The Jockey Club Operations Center, monitoring room.

Dozens of screens display real-time footage of every corner of the horse farm.

The central screen displays constantly updated betting data, with numbers jumping and amounts accumulating.

"Boss, there are unusual bets in VIP room number three," an operator suddenly reported.

Chen Wenbin, the director of the racecourse department of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, who was drinking tea, looked up: "What's wrong?"

“Someone bet 50 million on the 'Night Ship' number 12.”

Chen Wenbin nearly spat out his tea, exclaiming in shock, "How much? Fifty million? The 'Night Voyage'? Are you sure you didn't misread it?"

"Confirmed."

The operator paused, his voice a little dry, "It's a person named Xu Yun, the bettor's registration information is..."

"Xu Yun?!"

Chen Wenbin suddenly stood up, his chair sliding backward with a screeching sound, and exclaimed in surprise, "Xu Yun, the one who won 1.2 million in one race at Happy Valley last year?"

"It's him."

The monitoring room fell silent instantly.

Everyone remembers the turmoil that happened last year.

Xu Yun came to Hong Kong for horse racing for the first time and casually placed a bet, which unexpectedly won him HK$1.2 million.

The Jockey Club conducted repeated investigations afterward but found no evidence of cheating and had to accept the outcome.

But this incident became a thorn in the side of the Jockey Club's management.

It was after that incident that Fu Baoying, the former head of Sha Tin Racecourse, resigned and transformed into an international financial tycoon with assets worth hundreds of billions.

"He's here again..."

Chen Wenbin's face darkened, and he quickly asked, "And this time it's the 'Night Voyage Ship'? What's so special about this horse?"

Another analyst pulled up the analysis data.

"Night Ship, a seven-year-old castrated horse, sire 'North Sea Storm', dam 'Moonlight'."

This season, it has 0 wins, 0 second places, and 0 third places in six races, with a best finish of fifth. The trainer is Li Zhenbang, and the stable is small with limited resources.

Jockey Wang Zhiming is a newcomer with little experience.

From any perspective, this horse's chances of winning tonight are no more than 1%.

"Then why did Xu Yun bet 50 million on it?"

Chen Wenbin stared at the screen and questioned, "Does he know some inside information that we don't?"

"impossible."

Someone replied, "We strictly monitor the horse's drug testing and the jockey's communications."

Moreover, the owner of 'Night Boat' is Chen Bo, a retired teacher with a clean background, who has neither the financial means nor the motive to manipulate the race. Chen Wenbin paced back and forth in the room.

Fifty million might not be much to Xu Yun, but for the Hong Kong Jockey Club, if this horse with odds of 87 actually wins, the payout will be as high as HK$4.35 billion.

This will be the highest payout in Hong Kong horse racing history, enough to wipe out a quarter's worth of the Jockey Club's profits.

More importantly, if Xu Yun wins huge sums of money twice in an unbelievable way, the credibility of the Hong Kong Jockey Club will be seriously questioned.

Outsiders might suspect that either there are insider dealings or that the horse racing is of low quality and relies entirely on luck.

"No."

Chen Wenbin made up his mind and said, "We absolutely cannot let him win. How long until the sixth match starts?"

"Twenty-five minutes."

"Do three things immediately: First, conduct another pre-race inspection of the 'Night Boat,' focusing on drug tests and health status;
Second, I need to have Wang Zhiming (the jockey) come to see me; I want to speak with him in person. Third…

He paused, lowered his voice, and said, "Notify the track management to urgently adjust the water spraying volume before the sixth race to increase the track humidity."

"Master, increasing humidity will affect all horses, not just the 'Night Voyage'..."

"I know."

Chen Wenbin's eyes were sharp as he said loudly, "But according to the data, the 'Night Boat' performs even worse on softer surfaces."

It suffered three crushing defeats in the rain last year; we must maximize its disadvantages.

The order was issued swiftly.

The backstage area of ​​the horse farm immediately became busy.

The veterinary team returned to the "Night Ship's" stables for further examination.

Wang Zhiming was called to the office, where Chen Wenbin personally "reminded" him to abide by the competition rules.

The field team activated the backup sprinkler system, spraying an additional layer of water onto the already suitable field.

Xu Yun saw all of this.

Inside the VIP box, Xu Yun stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, his gaze seemingly casually sweeping over the racetrack.

In fact, the system's monitoring function had already relayed any unusual activity to him from various parts of the horse farm.

Fu Baoying walked to his side and asked softly, "Have you discovered something? Does the 'Night Ship' really have a chance of winning?"

Xu Yun turned to look at her and smiled: "What do you think?"

"From a rational perspective, no."

Fu Baoying shook her head and replied, "But I know you. You're not the kind of person who would just throw away 50 million."

"Maybe I'll just be willful for once today."

"Xu Yun".

Fu Baoying looked him straight in the eye and said, "If you have any inside information or have figured out anything, you can tell me."

I'm a former senior executive at the Hong Kong Jockey Club, so I know how complicated things are here.

If the horse racing association notices anything unusual, they might... take action.

She spoke in a very veiled way, but Xu Yun understood.

"rest assured."

He took her hand and smiled confidently, "I know what I'm doing."

At that moment, cheers erupted from the stands below.

The jockeys ride their horses into the display ring, circle the track once, and allow spectators and bettors to observe the horses' condition one last time.

The appearance of "Son of Thunder" caused a sensation.

The black horse moved with a light gait, its muscles shimmering like mercury under the lights. Jockey Billy Smith sat on its back, looking confident, and waved to the audience.

In stark contrast is the "night-going ship".

This chestnut horse is slightly smaller in size, with a steady but unenthusiastic gait.

The jockey, Wang Zhiming, was a young man in his early twenties who seemed a bit nervous, constantly adjusting the reins.

After their public display, the horses entered the gate preparation area.

Inside the private box, Ruan Shaohua looked at his warhorse and rubbed his hands excitedly: "Brother Xu, the race is about to begin! It's about to begin!"

Zhang Jin and Ada Choi also stood by the window, and Ada Choi even took out her phone to record a video.

The countdown began on the big screen: 60 seconds, 59 seconds, 58 seconds...

Xu Yun remained calm, but his gaze was fixed on the No. 12 gate box.

Inside the lock, the "Night Ship" seemed somewhat restless, constantly stamping its hooves.

Wang Zhiming tried to comfort her gently, but to little avail.

The "Son of Thunder" in the adjacent gate stood quietly, displaying the composure of a top racehorse.

"On your marks..."

The starter's voice came over the loudspeaker.

The entire room fell silent.

"boom!"

The starting gun fired, and the gates sprang open simultaneously.

Eight racehorses shot off like arrows released from a bow!
"Son of Thunder" got off to a perfect start, instantly seizing a favorable position on the inside rim. Billy Smith lowered his body and controlled the rhythm perfectly.

"Great!" Ruan Shaohua cheered, clenching his fist.

The other horses also displayed their unique abilities.

As planned, "Jade Whirlwind" will remain in the middle to late stages, waiting to unleash its power in the later stages.

The "Flying Spur" took the lead and began to dominate.

"The Return of the King" closely follows "Son of Thunder," forming a second group.

The "Night Ship" started off poorly and ended up in last place.

Wang Zhiming seemed somewhat flustered, and his horse-controlling movements were slightly stiff.

The chestnut horse ran on the softer ground, splashing up tiny water droplets; its gait was indeed not as smooth as it would be on a hard surface.

"It's over."

Ruan Shaohua shook his head and said, "Brother Xu, I'm afraid your 50 million is really going to go down the drain. 'Night Voyage' is completely out of sorts."

Fu Baoying didn't speak, she just looked at Xu Yun.

She noticed that even though the "Night Ship" lagged behind, Xu Yun's expression remained unchanged.

There was even a faint smile on his lips.

The match has entered its middle stage.

At the 800-meter mark, the "Flying Sprinter" continued to lead, but its speed decreased.

"Son of Thunder" is firmly in second place and is ready to overtake at any time.

"Emerald Whirlwind" began to accelerate from the back, rising to fifth place.

"Night Ship" was still last, and the gap between it and the second to last place had widened to five horse lengths.

Boos erupted from the stands.

Clearly, many people who bought this extremely underdog horse are now regretting it.

Chen Wenbin breathed a sigh of relief in the monitoring room.

It seems his intervention worked; the "Night Ship" is completely out of sorts tonight.

That 50 million should be safe now.

However, just as the race entered the final 400-meter straight sprint, an unexpected change occurred!
The "night ship," which had been lagging behind, suddenly began to accelerate.

It didn't accelerate gradually, but rather it was like a different horse, bursting forth with astonishing sprinting power.

Wang Zhiming seemed to have suddenly found his rhythm, adjusting his riding posture and flicking the whip lightly—not as a lash, but as a rhythmic guide.

The chestnut horse's gait changed.

The steps that were originally a little clumsy on the soft ground suddenly became light and springy.

It cleverly avoided the muddy track areas trampled by the previous horses, choosing a relatively firm route, and each step was powerful.

One horse body, two horse bodies, three horse bodies...

Just like its name suggests, the "Night Ship" sails silently in the night, unknowingly overtaking one horse after another.

"What's going on?!" Ruan Shaohua's eyes widened.

Fu Baoying was also stunned.

As a former Jockey Club executive, she had seen countless races, but such a late surge was truly rare.

It wasn't about how fast it was, but rather the precise route selection and rhythm changes, as if the horse and rider had suddenly gained some kind of enlightenment.

In the monitoring room, Chen Wenbin suddenly stood up: "Impossible! How can it still accelerate?!"

On the track, the last 200 meters.

The leader's "Speedster" was exhausted and its speed dropped sharply.

"Son of Thunder" took the lead and overtook Billy Smith, who then began to spur his horse on with all his might. The dark horse shot straight to the finish line like a bolt of lightning.

But another shadow was faster.

"Night Ship" has climbed from last place to third!

And the speed is still increasing!

Wang Zhiming was almost pressed against the horse's back, achieving a wonderful harmony between man and horse.

The chestnut horse's hooves barely touched the ground, casting afterimages under the lamplight.

100 meters!
"Son of Thunder" is one horse length ahead.

The "Emerald Whirlwind" caught up from the outside and raced alongside the "Night Ship".

Three horses charge side by side!
A deafening roar erupted from the stands.

This dramatic reversal is precisely what makes horse racing so captivating.

50 meters!
The Night Voyage Ship suddenly sped up by half a point, overtaking the Emerald Whirlwind by half a horse's head and closing in on the Son of Thunder.

Billy Smith glanced back, a look of astonishment flashing in his eyes.

He spurred it on with all his might, and the "Son of Thunder" let out a screech, making its final struggle.

But the "night ship" is like a tireless machine, each step more powerful than the last.

The last 10 meters!
The silhouette of the chestnut horse finally paralleled that of the black horse.

Crossing the finish line!

Eight horses crossed the finish line almost simultaneously, kicking up a cloud of water.

The entire venue was silent for a second, then erupted in chaos.

"Who won? Who won?"

Slow-motion replay on a large screen.

The scene progresses frame by frame, with the heads of the three horses almost aligned as they cross the finish line.

The final frame showed that the nose of the No. 12 "Night Ship" touched the line first by a mere 5 centimeters.

Champion – Number 12, "Night Ship"!
Odds: 87 to 1.

Bet amount: HKD 50000000.

Potential payout: HK$4350000000.

4.35 billion.

The entire private room was deathly silent.

Ruan Shaohua's mouth was open, but he could no longer speak.

Zhang Jin and Ada Choi looked at each other, able to feel their own heartbeats.

Fu Baoying slowly turned her head, her gaze towards Xu Yun becoming complicated, filled with more palpitations and disbelief.

How did he manage to do that?!
In another office at the racecourse, Chen Wenbin stared at the final result, completely dumbfounded.

He slumped into his seat, thinking to himself that he was finished.

How am I supposed to explain this to the board of directors of the Jockey Club?

Four billion.3 billion.

That's a whopping 4.3 billion in damages! (End of Chapter)