The narrator tells us that he knew this day was coming, but he didn't think it would be him or his wife. He says that he doesn't gamble, and that he'll make his wife rich. He also says that zhiyuan is lucky today, because he's going to make her rich too. The narrator says that if he had more money, he would win all of this money back, and then he'd be able to give his wife a raise too. He tells us about how his boss even praised him today for his hard work, and he says that his boss will give him a raise if he keeps working hard. He adds that all of his wages have been gone for three months, and now he can play another round of the lottery. He wants to lend his wife some money so that she can pay back what she owes him, and says that the next time he plays the lottery, he will definitely win more money. The loanee tells the narrator that he wants the two of them to live a "good life," and the narrator begs him to stop bothering him. He's living in a "quicksand" with no way of escape. He asks the loanee to shoot him if he tries to escape. The audience needs to "act like one"