AWB Chapter 40 Playing Cards
Chapter 40 Playing Cards
Preparation? What should be prepared? Food, drinks, and toys?
Having no experience hosting children for many years, I was completely clueless. The only thing I could remember was relatives bringing their kids to visit during the Lunar New Year. My parents would prepare melon seeds, peanuts, and candy, and I would play games with them, only to be utterly defeated by a group of elementary school students, making me question my existence.
I can't just turn myself into a cell phone for Young Master Ji to play with, can I?!
Lin Ziping carefully recalled what he and his friends would do during holidays when they didn't have cell phones.
During winter vacation, we would go up the mountain to collect dried pine cones for firewood, pick camellias and forsythia, and search the mountains for hazelnut-like nuts. We would thread small sticks through them, twist them, and spin them, competing to see whose nut spun the longest and best. During the Lunar New Year, we would carry a bag full of firecrackers and set them off together. The happiest time was summer vacation. Although the school repeatedly forbade swimming in the river, the joy of catching fish and picking mushrooms in the mountains was hard to resist. Mischievous friends would even steal melons from the melon fields and have an impromptu picnic. Although we were often chased around by the melon farmers, we usually didn't get caught, as they were all uncles and elders from the same village, and sometimes even our own children.
Should we take Ji Xun up the mountain?
Given the Lantern Festival situation and his unfamiliarity with the surroundings, Lin Ziping rejected the idea of going out due to the high risk involved.
Suddenly, a brilliant idea struck me: let's teach Ji Xun to play poker! It's suitable for all ages, has varied rules, and high participation rates—truly a great thing for home, travel, entertainment, and entertaining guests!
Butler Tao is extremely efficient. In the afternoon, Lin Ziping said he wanted some stiffer paper, and before it got dark, he had Zhu Zi deliver it to him.
Lin Ziping began cutting, drawing, and making the fabric, working on it until the moon was high in the sky and the night was getting dark.
I can't draw the portraits on J, Q, and K, and I don't know how to handle the Jokers either. Oh well, I'll just sketch a few lines and make sure I can tell them apart myself. The main point is to be casual.
Finally, he managed to make a few decks. Lin Ziping separated and stacked them up, but they were too ugly to look at. The difference between professionally made cards and his own random doodles was really too great. He regretted that he had two-yuan decks of cards in the supermarket, but he did not cherish them, did not buy them, and did not examine each card one by one.
The next day, the weather began to clear up. Granny Liao led Zhu Zi and Xiao Ya to tidy up the courtyard, put away the bamboo chairs and tables under the locust tree, set up a few tables, put tablecloths on them, and Granny Liao casually placed a few peach blossoms on the tables. The ordinary little courtyard was given a bit more color and became more lively.
Lin Ziping arranged the melon seeds and pastries prepared in the kitchen, thinking that if he added potato chips, fruit, and cake, it would have the feel of a tea party.
After noon, Fang Zhili, He Jinbao, Zhang Mo, Zhao Xiancheng and others came with Ji Xun. The group first went to the front yard to meet Lin Zhong as usual.
Lin Zhong greeted the family and friends of the group with a kind smile, inquired about their studies and lives, expressed his honor and welcome to their arrival, and finally arranged for Lin Ziping to take good care of them.
Lin Ziping gave a professional smile, placed one hand on his lower abdomen, and slightly raised the other hand with four fingers together and thumb tucked into the palm. He stood in a T-stance, like a competent guide: "Please move to my courtyard. This way, please."
The group walked in the direction Lin Ziping pointed out.
As he approached Lin Ziping's courtyard, he quickly took a few steps forward and opened the door.
"Lin Ziping, your courtyard is so shabby, it doesn't even have a name." He Jinbao said with a hint of sarcasm when he saw that there wasn't even a plaque above the gate.
Yes, Lin Ziping thought of the Fangfei Courtyard and Furong Pavilion in the TV series. He should name his courtyard, but that would be something to do after he saw off the group of young masters.
Lin Ziping smiled and said, "Young Master Jinbao is right. We've arrived at the courtyard, please come in."
He Jinbao felt like he had punched cotton, and his expression was a little displeased. Ji Xun glanced at him, and He Jinbao's expression returned to normal.
Fang Zhili followed Lin Ziping into the courtyard: "Young Master Ziping, this locust tree in your courtyard is growing exceptionally well."
Ever since he dreamed that his parents buried his clothes under the tree in the yard, he had a feeling that the tree in the yard was somewhat related to the dream. Lin Ziping began to pay special attention to the locust tree in the yard. He even found some lime to coat the trunk to prevent insects from getting in. Now, under his careful care, the tree has sprouted new leaves with the arrival of spring and is full of vitality.
Lin Ziping raised his head with a hint of pride: "Everyone, come in quickly."
The children were all from well-off families. After eating two pieces of the prepared snacks, they lost interest. Seeing this, Lin Ziping took out his homemade playing cards. Sure enough, none of them had ever seen playing cards before, and they immediately became interested.
"Lin Ziping, what is this?" Zhao Xiancheng asked first, acting as everyone's mouthpiece.
"This is poker... playing cards," Lin Ziping explained, while also describing how he played "Fighting Train" when he was a child.
Seeing the still confused looks on their faces, Lin Ziping pulled Zhang Mo, who was closest to him, and started a live demonstration.
"That's how it works. If this card has the same number as the previous card, all the cards between this card and the newly played card belong to the player who played the card."
Lin Ziping demonstrated twice, then handed the cards to Fang Zhili to signal him to continue.
Fang Zhili, who usually wears a smile, was a little at a loss at this moment. Fortunately, he was smart and got into the game after a couple of rounds.
The others watched with great interest, and Lin Ziping secretly breathed a sigh of relief. They were indeed just children, and this simplest method was more suitable for them.
Ji Xun leaned closer to Lin Ziping and said, "You made this yourself, didn't you?"
Lin Ziping looked at Ji Xun with some surprise.
"The handwriting on it is the same as yours." Ji Xun seemed to notice Lin Ziping's surprise and said, "Are there any other ways to play? Can't we just watch from the sidelines instead of the two of them playing?"
He Jinbao and Zhao Xiancheng were playing, while Fang Zhili and Zhang Mo watched excitedly from the side. Upon hearing Ji Xun's words, they all turned their attention to Lin Ziping.
It seems that this kind of playing card didn't exist in this era. In the following time, Lin Ziping taught the others how to play "Dou Dizhu", "Dou Niu", and "Zha Jin Hua".
With playing cards to pass the time, it was lunchtime before they knew it. After having lunch at the Lin residence, they took a walk around the courtyard to digest their food.
"Lin Ziping, there are other ways to play this, right?" Fang Zhili said with a smile, putting his arm around Lin Ziping's shoulder.
Lin Ziping was not used to this closeness, so he took a step back without saying a word.
"Ah Mo, your family owns a casino. What do you think of this deck of cards today?" Fang Zhili asked Zhang Mo when Lin Ziping remained silent.
"Zhang Mo's family also has a casino?" Lin Ziping clicked his tongue inwardly, completely surprised.
“I think it’s very good that you know proper etiquette,” He Jinbao answered quickly.
"Yes, I think it's great too." Ji Xun nodded with a smile.
Lin Ziping was completely baffled by what these people were talking about, and he was filled with doubt.
"What are you talking about?" Zhao Xiancheng asked, completely bewildered.
Ji Xun chuckled and said, "Lin Ziping, Zhao Xiancheng, do you two want to join us?"
Seeing that the two still hadn't reacted, Fang Zhili said, "Ah Xun, let's talk to them in detail in a couple of days. Jinbao, Ah Mo, what do you think?"
He Jinbao looked a little awkward, but after glancing at Ji Xun and Fang Zhili, he said, "I'll listen to you."
"I, Amo, will follow the lead of Young Master Zhili." Zhang Mo bowed respectfully.
Fang Zhili patted Lin Ziping on the shoulder: "Ziping, we'll be going now. We'll talk to you in detail at the academy in a couple of days."
Ji Xun also said, "Xiancheng has also come to our college and will be with us from now on. We'll say goodbye for now."
Seeing that the group was acting mysteriously and unwilling to say more, they didn't ask any further questions. After saying goodbye, they left Lin Zhong's courtyard.