Card Room

1 - Card World

His youngest cousin Xiao Xinyue was 18 years old and would face the university entrance examination next semester. The moment Xiao Lou asked this, the elders started discussing what courses would be good for a future job. Xiao Xinyue actively joined the discussion and no one mentioned Xiao Lou's marriage, causing Xiao Lou to feel slightly relieved.

The New Year's dinner finished and the elder started to play mahjong. Xiao Lou took his cousins to the next room to play.

Xiao Xinyue took out a brand new deck of cards. "The three of us will play Fight the Landlord (card game). How about the losers drink?"

His younger male cousin Xiao Wei rolled up his sleeves and looked eager to try. "Come, I am the best at Fight the Landlord!"

Xiao Lou wasn't interested in playing cards but every Spring Festival, the elders would always play mahjong. It was too boring for two people to play cards so he had to accompany them as an elder brother.

Fight the Landlord was one of the most common ways to play cards. The rules were very simple. The 'landlord' could add a few hands to enhance combat power while the other two 'peasants' needed to unite. The two sides were divided into two camps and whoever lost their cards first won.

Xiao Lou's first hand was very good and he directly got a king bomb. (TL: In the game, the two jokers are the highest rank. A king bomb is having two jokers).

Seeing the king bomb in his hand, he didn't hesitate to say, "Calling me Landlord."

Xiao Xinyue and Xiao Wei had to join forces to beat him.

The result was that in this game, Xiao Lou's cards were too good. In addition to the big straight of 9, 10, J, Q and K, he had several pairs, four bombs (four cards of the same rank), and a pair of king bombs. He simply didn't give the opponents a way to live.

The younger brother and sister looked at him with a sullen expression as he finished playing all the cards in one breath.

Xiao Lou smiled. "I won, you drink Coke."

Xiao Xinyue and Xiao Wei had to drink Coke with a bitter expression.

Next, regardless of whether Xiao Xinyue was the landlord or Xiao Wei in the village, every time they would be beaten by their big brother. Xiao Lou's cards tonight were so good that people couldn't evaluate it. Several times, he touched a king bomb and the brother and sister almost vomited as they drank.

The trio played until midnight.

The deafening sound of fireworks came from outside and the brother and sister excitedly ran to the yard to set off fireworks. Xiao Lou had just put on a coat and went outside when his mobile phone lit up and a message appeared on the screen. "Happy New Year."

Sender: Yu Hanjiang.

Seeing this familiar snowy avatar, Xiao Lou's lips slightly curved and he quickly replied, "You too. Happy New Year."

Yu Hanjiang asked, "When are you going back to school?"

Xiao Lou replied, "I'll be back on the seventh day after New Year's Day."

Yu Hanjiang: "Thank you very much for your help last time. Once you come back, I'll invite you to dinner."

Xiao Lou: "Captain Yu is too polite. I'll contact you when I'm back."

There was the sound of 'bangs' from outside the window. A variety of colourful fireworks blossomed, the night sky becoming as bright as the day.

Xiao Lou stood in front of the window and stared at the conversation records in his phone. He couldn't help recall the first time he saw Yu Hanjiang.