Red Bean Lives in the Republic of China - Chapter 8.1

Chapter 8.1

Wang Peter asked a waiter to bring over a huge gilt tray, put two bridge cards in it, carried the tray himself, walked to Yu Hongdou without any haste, and said with a Western-style salute, “I haven’t asked the name of this lady.”

 Yu Hongdou smiled and said, “My name is Yu Hongdou, and I’m a student at St. John’s University.” 

 As she got closer, she sensed the alcohol smell coming from Wang Peter. But she couldn’t tell what type of alcohol it was because she was not familiar with Western alcohol.

 “Ah, St.John. Isn’t your school motto “Light and True”? Wang Peter pondered for a few seconds before asking.

 Yu Hongdou raised the corner of her mouth slightly and replied, “Yes, it is our school motto.” 

 Wang Peter: “I don’t take the liberty to say that this school motto of your school is also my lifelong pursuit, ‘Light and Truth”—it sounds so tempting.” Although he said it in a humorous and casual tone, he changed his previous drunkenness and expression to a serious one. “Okay, Ms. Yu, are you ready? I’m going to start dealing the cards.”

 Yu Hongdou straightened her back and nodded excitedly.

Receiving the signal from Pere Wang, the waiter beside him started the timer, and then Peter Wang fanned out the cards on the plate, put the first card between his fingers, and asked Yu Hongdou to look at it.

 Before Yu  Hongdou looked at it properly, Peter Wang put the card on the plate and quickly took the next one.

The order of the bridge cards on the plate had been disrupted in advance; whether the points are big or small, whether the suit is spades or hearts, there is no rule at all.

 Wang Peter was afraid that others would help Yu Hongdou, so he didn’t let other guests be closer to them. 

 Seeing Wang Peter flipping cards so fast, it was not easy to see the cards clearly, and it was even more difficult to write down the order and suit. So Yu Hongdou felt her forehead slowly covered with sweat.

 Wang Peter obviously often played this game and quickly turned over dozens of cards one by one within the specified time. When the last card was thrown back onto the tray, he smiled and said, “Ms. Yu, it’s your turn.”

 Yu Hongdou calmed herself because she was so anxious that she began sweating heavily. She closed her eyes, but the card’s face was still clearly in her thoughts since she knew that this moment would pass quickly and she wanted to seize it. Then she started to say, “5 of hearts, Q of diamonds…”

 She said one, and the waiter turned over one under Wang Peter’s guidance.

 Wang Peter’s expression was very relaxed because he was sure Yu Hongdou would not be able to win. Anyone who was familiar with this game knew that ‘the further you go, the more chaotic you get.’

 He then started to chat with a student of Zhendan. They did talk in a loud voice, and Wang Peter deliberately wanted to disturb Yu Hongdou.

However, when Yu Hongdou Crispy’s voice suddenly raised a bit and the speed of her speech became faster and faster, she talked without stopping. Wang Peter stopped talking and looked at Yu Hongdou with interest.

When there were only the last five cards left, he slowly put the wine glass back on the tray and looked at He Yunqin.

 He Yunqin lit a cigarette and put it in his mouth; the look on his face remained unchanged.

 Countless people had their focus on the last five cards, and this Yu Hongdou was probably no exception. She took a deep breath and said without any hesitation, “J of diamonds, um, 4 of clubs, K of spades, no, it is 8 of spades.”

 The guests stopped talking, and the tension in the hall became strong. They all started the two remaining cards.

 Yu Hongdou tilted her head and thought for a while, then said slowly, “Well, plum blossom ACE.”

 Wang Peter reminded her, “Ms. Yu, you only have the last ten seconds left.” 　　 　　

 A bead of sweat slipped quietly on Hongdou’s temple beads.

 Because the last card happened to coincide with her birthday, she was lucky enough to remember the number, but she couldn’t remember whether the suit was hearts or diamonds. If she said something wrong, the previous efforts would be in vain. 

 After playing the game to this extent, she was unwilling to give up. After thinking hard for a while, she still couldn’t remember. She raised her hand and patted her forehead. 

 Wang Peter started the countdown: “5, 4, 3, 2…”

 Yu Hongdou bit her lip. She was born with an adventurous spirit in her bones, and since her memory was unreliable, she might as well take a gamble. She thought about her brother’s decision to change jobs and Ms. Chen Baidie, who had disappeared.

 She smiled quietly, and before the last second, she blurted out, “Nine of Hearts!” ‘Ms. Chen Baidie, whether I can find you depends entirely on your luck.’

 Before the waiter turned over the cards, Wang Peter’s expression changed slightly.

 He Zhuyun felt the tense atmosphere in the silent hall and looked back at the second brother. At some point, the smoke in the second brother’s mouth accumulated a long piece of soot, and he had forgotten to dust it off.

 The waiter turned over the card, and it really was the 9 of Hearts.

 There was an uproar in the hall.

End of chapter 8.1

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