Chapter 650: The Urn

"Oh...?" Di Hou heard the two words "Duanwu" and his expression changed noticeably.

That look in his eyes carried a hint of contempt, mixed with a touch of delight.

"I don't understand what you mean... Have you drawn 'Duanwu'?" he asked.

Qi Xia didn't respond; he just kept staring at him coldly.

"I advise you not to try any tricks," Qi Xia said. "I don't believe some cards show up this frequently."

"You're really wronging me..." Di Hou put on an aggrieved expression. "You all shuffled the cards, and you all dealt them. How could I pull any tricks?"

"Hmph." Qi Xia snorted coldly, then flipped over his own cards. "Anyway, you're not being honest, so I'm folding."

Hearing Qi Xia say "I'm folding," Di Hou perked up with interest: "So, you're the one choosing not to follow."

Qi Xia said nothing, just showing an impatient look, and Di Hou couldn't tell what he was thinking.

"Ha." Di Hou chuckled, then glanced around at everyone at the table. "Gentlemen, no one wants to raise the stakes? Then I'll just..."

"Uncle, I'll raise," Zheng Yingxiong said, looking up.

Those five words nearly made Di Hou choke.

"You... you're raising?" Di Hou asked, a bit puzzled.

This kid, who looked only seven or eight years old, had already shocked him by betting "a secret that must be answered truthfully" earlier. And now, with Di Hou's hand being so strong, choosing to raise—did he have some new idea?

"Yes, Uncle, I'm choosing to raise this time," Zheng Yingxiong repeated. "I think the cards I have are really powerful."

Qi Xia, standing nearby, widened his eyes in an instant: "What did you say...?"

Di Hou ignored Qi Xia and instead said to Zheng Yingxiong, "Well... I'd like to see what new idea you have this time. Is it 'secrets,' 'stories,' or your own 'experiences'?"

"None of those. This time, I'm betting four 'Dao'," Zheng Yingxiong replied without hesitation.

As soon as the words were out, a dead silence fell over the room.

Not just Di Hou, but Xiao Cheng and Tiantian on the side, as well as Qiao Jijin and Chen Junan, who were picking their ears and noses at their seats, all froze for a moment.

"You're betting four 'Dao'...?" Di Hou finally broke the silence, asking in disbelief.

"That's right, Uncle," Zheng Yingxiong nodded.

Di Hou pursed his lips, narrowing his murky eyes as he scrutinized Zheng Yingxiong. He was a bit wary of this child, but he didn't think the kid had such strong nerves.

So, what was behind this raise of four 'Dao'...?

"No!" Qi Xia said sternly. "I won't allow it. This bet is void."

"What?" Di Hou turned to look at Qi Xia. "You say it's void?"

"That's right," Qi Xia nodded. "He's just an eight-year-old child. What he says is just childish talk; there's no need to take it seriously. Just go ahead and show your cards."

"No!" Zheng Yingxiong stood up, looking at Qi Xia seriously. "I'm not making things up. I really want to raise!"

"I said no means no!" Qi Xia frowned and gave Zheng Yingxiong a stern look. "Don't hold everyone back at a critical moment, and besides, you don't even have that many 'Dao.' Sit down!"

"You can lend them to me!" Zheng Yingxiong said. "Don't worry, Big Brother Pingmin, I'm a 'hero,' and I'll lead everyone to victory for sure!"

"Can you stop playing that ridiculous 'hero game'? This gamble is tied to all our lives—who's going to let you mess around here?"

Qi Xia kept frowning, looking thoroughly annoyed.

No one expected Qi Xia and Zheng Yingxiong, seated farthest apart with four people between them, to start arguing like this. Everyone's faces showed unease.

"Old Qi..." Chen Junan was the first to speak up. "Don't get so worked up... You know that kid always talks like that, but he's actually pretty smart."

"Yeah, yeah!" Qiao Jijin quickly chimed in to mediate. "De Ren Zi, calm down first and hear what the child has to say."

At that moment, Xiao Cheng and Tiantian hurriedly nodded in agreement: "That's right, let's hear what Zheng Yingxiong has in mind, and then you can..."

"Everyone." Di Hou interrupted their conversation. "Are you all forgetting something?"

Qi Xia turned his head away with a displeased expression, as if he already knew what Di Hou was going to say.

Di Hou scanned the group: "Whether that child is raising or not isn't up to him, is it? Who exactly sets the rules in this casino?"

"Fei Ma Mao, don't push it too far!" Qiao Jijin said. "You're an adult who knows the rules, gambling against an eight-year-old kid who's risking his life in this game. Can't you let him think it over carefully?"

"I'm afraid not." Di Hou smiled. "As I said, we don't discriminate here—'no exceptions for children or elders.' I treat everyone as 'customers' or 'opponents.' If he said he's raising, then he is."

Qi Xia sighed after hearing this and said, "Fine, Di Hou, let's compromise—reduce it to two 'Dao,' and we'll each back down a bit."

"No, it'll be four." Di Hou replied. "If this child can't come up with four 'Dao,' I'll count him out completely, and all his chips on the table will be mine."

Qi Xia frowned and pondered for about ten seconds before saying, "Whatever, do as you like."

He unceremoniously threw out the four 'Dao' he had won from the previous round onto the table, then clasped his hands together and covered his forehead.

No one else could match such a high stake, so they all folded their cards one by one in this round.

When it was Di Hou's turn, he placed his four 'Dao' on the table. Now, the table was covered with 'Dao.'

This game of "Shuo Wang Yue" was only in its second round, and the stakes had already risen to seven 'Dao' per person. Strangely enough, as the casino boss, Di Hou was going head-to-head with an eight-year-old child, pushing the bets this high.

"Don't think it's unfair," Di Hou said. "Kid, when you grow up, you'll understand that people have to be responsible for their words. No one in this world will indulge you."

With that, he flipped over his cards: "Mangzhong."

"My hand is a 'straight' plus a 'pair'," Di Hou said with a cold laugh. "What do you plan to beat that with?"

Zheng Yingxiong showed no emotion as he reached out and turned over his hidden card: "Duanwu."

At that moment, Zheng Yingxiong's hand was "Dongzhi," "Duanwu," plus the community card "Lixia."

"Uncle... do I win?" he asked.

(Dear brothers and family, tomorrow night—November 4th—the physical book will officially go on pre-sale. I'll start a live stream on my Douyin account around 6:30 PM to chat with everyone, and sales will begin promptly at 7:00 PM. The price is approximately 30 yuan, though I'm not sure about other discounts. The first 10 seconds after 7:00 PM will offer specially signed copies, and the first five minutes will offer personally signed copies, with no limits on quantity. There will also be giveaways during the stream. If you're interested, please come support. It might go late, but I'll still update as usual tomorrow without taking a day off. To those who don't buy the physical book, thank you all for your support—I appreciate you.)