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It didn't take long before Qin Fang and Tang Feifei met up with Qu Yuancheng and his wife Chen Qi. Then they each drove off from the Qu Family estate, heading toward their respective destinations.

Understandably, Tang Feifei went along with her cousin-in-law Chen Qi. Their planned activities for the day were quite packed, certainly much more elaborate than Qin Fang's plans, and it seemed they wouldn't be back before seven or eight in the evening.

Chen Qi was the daughter of the Chen Family, one of the Top Ten Wealthy Families of Hong Kong. This was a family on par with the Qu Family in terms of status. Their marriage alliance was naturally a strategy of uniting powerful forces, a common practice among Hong Kong's elite families.

Besides that, Qin Fang had a rough idea that the Qu Family had additional marriage ties with two of the other Top Ten Wealthy Families, effectively linking four major families through marriage connections.

It was quite normal for the Ten Great Families to marry among themselves, but these relationships were essentially driven by profit. During times of mutual cooperation and shared gains, everything seemed fine, but when it came to life-and-death crises for any family, such marriage bonds often proved unreliable.

However, this had little to do with Qin Fang. He didn't bother with such matters—he was a Qin by surname, and he had nothing to do with the Qu Family.

The Qu Family might be wealthy beyond imagination, but Qin Fang didn't care for a single penny of theirs. Even if the Qu Family were to go completely bankrupt, Qin Fang still wouldn't lend a dime to help them out.

Tang Feifei and her group set off, while Qin Fang accompanied Qu Yuancheng to the racetrack in Hong Kong Island.

Horse racing is one of the most popular activities for Hong Kong locals—essentially a form of gambling that many Hong Kong residents adore.

Horse race betting is Hong Kong's only legal form of gambling, and it's also the largest in scale, far-reaching in influence, and the most widespread. It has become an indispensable part of daily life for Hong Kong residents.

Every race day, wealthy tycoons, government officials, white-collar workers, grassroots citizens, and even travelers from far and wide flock to the racetrack—not only to soak in the intense atmosphere but also to try their luck.

In essence, horse betting is no different from the lottery in the Inland—they are both forms of gambling, differing only in their presentation.

Of course, compared to the meager lottery prizes, the payout rates for horse racing are relatively decent. A classic "80/20 Rule" aptly applies to horse racing.

The victors always account for just 20% of the participants, while the remaining 80% gain nothing despite investing everything.

The lottery operates similarly, or perhaps even worse—rigged results are practically an open secret.

Hong Kongers love horse betting—this is an irrefutable truth. It's said that one in three Hong Kong residents is a racing fan, tallying up to at least two million racing fans across Hong Kong. This overwhelmingly demonstrates how much locals cherish and enjoy this activity.

It was Qin Fang's first trip to Hong Kong. Previously, he had only seen horse racing in movies and on TV. This was his first time experiencing it in person.

Naturally, any tourist visiting Hong Kong can easily participate in horse betting; the procedures aren't overly complicated, allowing everyone to enjoy the experience freely.

There was even a case of a visitor who casually placed a bet, merely wanting to experience the racetrack atmosphere without expecting to win anything. The next day, while preparing to leave Hong Kong, they discovered they had hit the jackpot—winning tens of millions!

Of course, this was just a rare occurrence, one of the lucky 20%.

However, such stories have become widely discussed anecdotes among tourists. Thus, many visitors to Hong Kong who have the time and opportunity try their hand at betting.

"It's race day today, so horseback riding is out of the question... How about we place a few bets? Wins go to you, losses to me..."

Qin Fang initially thought the trip to the racetrack was for horseback riding. When he realized it coincided with race day, he understood that there would be competitions throughout the day, and the racetrack would be packed with racegoers, making riding impossible.

"Fine, let's have a few rounds... but we'll bet separately!"

Since horseback riding was off the table, horse betting sounded just as interesting.

However, Qin Fang felt a little frustrated. He had expected to easily locate Tu San, which would help him figure out what Han Long wanted him to accomplish here.

But if horse betting was the activity, trying to find Tu San among tens of thousands of spectators at the racetrack was clearly impossible... His plan was effectively scrapped.

As for Qu Yuancheng's suggestion, Qin Fang naturally didn't agree. His net worth might not rival the massive Qu Family's, but he wasn't lacking money.

Given that he didn't feel particularly close to the Qu Family people, he saw no reason to let Qu Yuancheng cover his costs. He was clear about maintaining such boundaries.

Qu Yuancheng didn't mind and refrained from saying more. He simply continued driving toward the racetrack.

They were headed to the Happy Valley Racecourse. Aside from this, Hong Kong also boasts the Sha Tin Racecourse. These are the two "Holy Lands" for racing fans in Hong Kong, where all races are held.

Because it was race day, the atmosphere at the racetrack was extraordinarily lively. Although the main races weren't scheduled until the afternoon, many fans arrived early to observe the proceedings.

On the track, each horse set to race would come out for a bit of training. The riders would familiarize themselves with the temperaments and habits of their respective horses to ensure peak performance during the competitions.

The rider's skill is a crucial factor. A skillful rider can bring out 200% of a horse's potential, while an unskilled rider might only harness 30-40%... The outcome gap resulting from this difference speaks for itself.

While the racing horses are all of high pedigree, the condition of the horses is paramount. Only in their best form can they deliver top-notch performance.

If a horse is clearly unwell, no matter how skilled the rider is, there's no chance of clinching first place.

This explains why so many fans arrive early to watch with such keen interest.

Although Qin Fang and his group arrived fairly early, upon glancing around, he was surprised to see that hundreds of people had beaten them to it.

On the field, some riders were already walking their horses, acclimating them to the environment instead of jumping straight into riding. It seemed like warming the horses up to the grounds was part of the routine.

After a while, some riders mounted their horses, beginning a slow trot around the track. Though they didn't pick up speed, the athletic elegance of the horses in motion was still striking.

"Interested in horseback riding?"

Noticing Qin Fang's apparent intrigue, Qu Yuancheng casually inquired.

"A bit," Qin Fang answered honestly, nodding.

Claiming disinterest would've been a lie—horseback riding is a classic pursuit that many men enjoy and aspire to try.

From a young age, boys often play imaginary games of riding horses and waging wars, even if they've never seen a real horse, let alone ridden one.

Qin Fang was no exception...

Despite his current considerable wealth, which allowed him access to nearly anything, horseback riding had somehow escaped his experiences.

Granted, some of the things he had played with, others—even the wealthiest—couldn't dream of experiencing in their lifetimes. For example... riding a dragon!

Qin Fang had tried his hand as a dragon knight—a once-in-a-lifetime, globally unique feat. Apart from him, no one else had ever achieved it.

Granted, it had only happened once, and the Little Dragon hadn't made another appearance since...

"So... want to give it a try?"

Seeing Qin Fang's genuine interest, Qu Yuancheng's eyes flickered with excitement, and he asked with a grin.

"Huh? Is that allowed?"

Qin Fang was puzzled and asked curiously.

The horses on the track were all contenders in the races. Other than their assigned riders and a few specialized staff, everyone else was strictly prohibited from approaching them to ensure fairness in the competition.

Compared to the lottery's rigged outcomes, the fairness of horse betting was relatively high...

"You'll find out once we get there..."

Qu Yuancheng simply smiled mysteriously without elaborating and immediately led Qin Fang down to the stables.

However, instead of heading toward the race horses acclimating to the track, he made his way to a rear section of the racetrack...

"Actually, among the Top Ten Wealthy Families of Hong Kong, quite a few individuals are passionate about horse betting. Some even purchase exceptional purebred horses to rear and train themselves. Our family's Fourth Brother happens to enjoy this hobby. He owns a horse stabled here, occasionally entering it into races, though it's mostly boarded here,"

Noticing Qin Fang's curiosity, Qu Yuancheng briefly explained.

Not all wealthy individuals are the same—there are varying levels of affluence, and the scale of their hobbies reflects their tier.

For instance, when domestic tycoons focused on luxury cars, overseas moguls had already moved on to private planes and yachts...

By the time domestic magnates turned to private planes, their overseas counterparts grew bored of them—some even tiring of yachts—and ventured into space exploration...

Of course, this might be a slight exaggeration.

But one undeniable truth remains—overseas elites often operate on a scale far beyond that of local upstarts.

Take the Qu Family, for instance—though they are merely a century-old powerhouse, their pursuits notably outshine those of domestic tycoons.

Luxury cars hold little allure for them. Even limited editions fail to catch their eye.

Fourth Brother, namely Qu Zhenyu's second son, Qu Yuanrui, who is only four or five years older than Qin Fang, has a fascination with horse betting and training. He spent tens of millions acquiring several purebred Arabian horses.

One of these horses happens to be stabled here at Happy Valley Racecourse, conveniently at their disposal now...(To be continued. If you like this work, visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for it with recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)

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