Chapter 650: The Jar

“Oh…?” Earth Monkey’s eyes noticeably flickered when he heard the words “Dragon Boat Festival.”

His gaze carried a hint of disdain, mixed with a trace of amusement.

“I don’t understand what you mean… Did you draw the ‘Dragon Boat Festival’?”

Qi Xia didn’t respond, merely fixing him with a cold stare.

“I advise you not to play tricks,” Qi Xia said. “I don’t believe some cards appear this frequently.”

“You’re really wronging me here…” Earth Monkey put on an aggrieved expression. “This time, you were the ones who shuffled the deck, and you were the ones who dealt the cards. How could I possibly cheat?”

“Hmph.” Qi Xia snorted coldly before flipping his own cards over. “In any case, you’re not being honest. I fold.”

Hearing Qi Xia say “I fold,” Earth Monkey visibly perked up. “That’s your own decision.”

Qi Xia remained silent, his face betraying only impatience. Earth Monkey couldn’t read his thoughts.

“Ha.” Earth Monkey chuckled before scanning the others at the table. “Ladies and gentlemen, no one else wants to raise? In that case, I’ll—”

“Uncle, I raise.” Zheng Yingxiong looked up and declared.

Those five words nearly choked Earth Monkey.

“You… you raise?” he asked, bewildered.

This child, who looked no older than seven or eight, had already stunned everyone by betting “a secret that must be answered truthfully” earlier. Now, with Earth Monkey’s own hand so strong, the boy was choosing to raise—did he have some new scheme in mind?

“Yes, Uncle. This time, I choose to raise,” Zheng Yingxiong repeated. “I think my cards are very strong.”

Qi Xia’s eyes widened instantly. “What did you just say…?”

Earth Monkey ignored Qi Xia, instead addressing Zheng Yingxiong. “Fine… Let’s see what new idea you’ve come up with this time. Is it another ‘secret,’ a ‘story,’ or perhaps your own ‘experience’?”

“None of those. This time, I’m betting four ‘Dao,'” Zheng Yingxiong answered without hesitation.

The moment those words landed, the room fell deathly silent.

Not only Earth Monkey, but even Xiao Cheng and Tian Tian, as well as Qiao Jiajin and Chen Junnan—who had been picking their ears and noses—froze in shock.

“You’re betting four ‘Dao’…?” Earth Monkey finally broke the silence, his voice laced with disbelief.

“That’s right, Uncle,” Zheng Yingxiong nodded.

Earth Monkey pursed his lips, his murky eyes narrowing as he scrutinized the boy. Though he harbored some wariness toward the child, he didn’t believe the boy possessed such formidable nerves.

So what was the meaning behind this four-‘Dao’ raise…?

“No!” Qi Xia snapped sharply. “I forbid it. This bet is void.”

“What?” Earth Monkey turned to face Qi Xia. “You’re saying ‘void’?”

“Correct,” Qi Xia affirmed. “He’s just an eight-year-old child. His words are just childish babble—no need to take them seriously. Just reveal the cards.”

“No!” Zheng Yingxiong stood up, staring earnestly at Qi Xia. “I’m not joking! I really want to raise!”

“I said no means no!” Qi Xia frowned, shooting Zheng Yingxiong a pointed look. “Don’t drag everyone down at a critical moment. Besides, you don’t even have that many ‘Dao.’ Sit down!”

“You can lend them to me!” Zheng Yingxiong insisted. “Brother Commoner, trust me. I’m a ‘hero’—I’ll definitely lead everyone to victory!”

“Can you stop with this ridiculous ‘hero game’ already? This gamble is tied to all our lives. Who’s going to indulge your nonsense here?”

Qi Xia’s frown deepened, his mood clearly foul.

No one had expected Qi Xia and Zheng Yingxiong—seated farthest apart—to end up arguing across four people. Unease settled over the group.

“Hey, Lao Qi…” Chen Junnan was the first to speak up. “Don’t lose your temper… You know the kid always talks like this, but he’s actually pretty sharp.”

“Yeah, yeah!” Qiao Jiajin quickly chimed in to mediate. “Cheater, calm down first and hear the kid out.”

Xiao Cheng and Tian Tian also nodded in agreement. “Right, let’s hear what Zheng Yingxiong has to say before—”

“Everyone,” Earth Monkey cut in, interrupting the conversation. “Aren’t you all forgetting something?”

Qi Xia turned his head away irritably, as if already anticipating Earth Monkey’s words.

Earth Monkey swept his gaze across the group. “Whether or not that child raises isn’t up to him, is it? Who here makes the rules in this casino?”

“Fat Monkey, don’t push it!” Qiao Jiajin retorted. “You’re a grown man who knows the rules inside out, gambling against an eight-year-old kid who’s staking his life on this game. Can’t you let him think carefully before deciding?”

“Unfortunately,” Earth Monkey smiled, “I’ve said it before—we treat everyone equally here, young or old. I only see them as ‘customers’ or ‘opponents.’ No special treatment. If he says he’s raising, then he’s raising.”

Qi Xia exhaled sharply. “Fine, Earth Monkey. Lower it to two. Let’s compromise.”

“No. Four,” Earth Monkey said. “If the child can’t produce four, I’ll count him as completely out right now, and all his chips on the table will be mine.”

Qi Xia frowned, his eyes darting slightly as if deep in thought.

“You do realize, don’t you, that as long as one of your six wins against me, all six of you win? But if one drops out now, what will you do?” Earth Monkey’s expression grew increasingly disdainful, unsettling everyone.

After nearly ten seconds of silence, Qi Xia finally said, “Whatever. Do as you please.”

He tossed the four ‘Dao’ he’d won in the previous round onto the table with clear disdain, then spread his hands and covered his forehead.

The others, unable to match such a high stake, could only fold their cards one by one, withdrawing from the round.

When it was Earth Monkey’s turn, he placed four ‘Dao’ on the table. Now, the surface was densely covered with chips.

This round of “Lunar Phases” had only reached its second turn, yet the stakes had already escalated to seven ‘Dao’ per person. Stranger still, Earth Monkey—the casino owner—had raised the bet to such heights against an eight-year-old child.

“Don’t think this is unfair,” Earth Monkey said. “Kid, when you grow up, you’ll learn that people must take responsibility for their words. No one in this world will coddle you.”

With that, he flipped his card over—”Grain in Ear.”

“My hand is a ‘straight’ plus a ‘pair,'” Earth Monkey sneered. “Exactly how do you plan to beat that?”

Zheng Yingxiong’s expression remained blank as he reached out and turned over his hidden card.

“Dragon Boat Festival.”

Now, his hand consisted of “Winter Solstice,” “Dragon Boat Festival,” and the community card “Start of Summer.”

“Uncle… do you think I’ve won?”