“Oh…?” When Earth-Monkey heard the two words “Dragon Boat Festival,” his eyes clearly changed.

That look contained some contempt, mixed with a trace of delight.

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

Qi Xia didn’t answer, only kept looking at him with cold eyes.

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

“You’re really wronging me…” Earth-Monkey showed an aggrieved expression. “This time, you all were the ones who shuffled the cards, and you were the ones who dealt them. How could I play tricks?”

“Heh.” Qi Xia snorted coldly, then flipped over his cards. “In any case, you’re not being honest. I fold.”

Hearing Qi Xia say “I fold,” Earth-Monkey was clearly interested: “You’re the one choosing not to follow.”

Qi Xia didn’t speak, only showed an impatient expression. Earth-Monkey couldn’t tell what he was thinking.

“Ha.” Earth-Monkey laughed, then looked around at everyone at the table. “Everyone, no one wants to raise anymore? Then I’m going to—”

“Uncle, I ‘raise.'” Zheng Yinxiong raised his head and said.

These five words nearly made Earth-Monkey choke.

“You, you’re raising?” Earth-Monkey asked somewhat doubtfully.

This child who looked only seven or eight years old had already shocked him by betting “one secret that must be answered and cannot be lied about” earlier. Now, when his own hand was so strong, the child chose to raise—could he have some new idea?

“Yes, Uncle, this time I choose to raise.” Zheng Yinxiong repeated. “I think the cards I got are very powerful.”

Earth-Monkey didn’t pay attention to Qi Xia, but instead said to Zheng Yinxiong: “Good… I want to see what new idea you have this time. Is it a ‘secret,’ a ‘story,’ or your own ‘experience’?”

“None of those. This time I’m betting four ‘Dao’ chips.” Zheng Yinxiong answered without hesitation.

As his words landed, the venue welcomed a deathly silence.

Not only Earth-Monkey, but even Xiao Cheng and Tiantian nearby, as well as Qiao Jiajin and Chen Junnan who were picking their ears and noses in their seats, were also stunned.

“You’re betting four ‘Dao’…?” Earth-Monkey finally broke the silence, asking incredulously.

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

Earth-Monkey pressed his lips together, squinting his cloudy eyes as he continuously scrutinized Zheng Yinxiong. Although he was somewhat wary of this child, he didn’t believe the boy had such strong psychological fortitude.

So what was this raise of four “Dao” chips really about…

“Not allowed!” Qi Xia shouted in a deep voice. “I don’t permit it. This ‘bet’ is void.”

“What?” Earth-Monkey turned his face to look at Qi Xia. “You say it’s ‘void’?”

“That’s right.” Qi Xia nodded. “He’s only an eight-year-old child. What he says is just childish talk, no need to take it seriously. Just reveal your cards directly.”

“No!” Zheng Yinxiong stood up and looked at Qi Xia with a serious expression. “I’m not talking nonsense. I really want to ‘raise’!”

“I said not allowed means not allowed!” Qi Xia frowned and gave Zheng Yinxiong a meaningful look. “Don’t drag everyone down at a critical moment. Besides, you don’t have that many ‘Dao’ chips. Sit down!”

“You lend them to me!” Zheng Yinxiong said. “Brother Civilian, don’t worry. I’m a ‘hero,’ and I’ll definitely lead everyone to victory!”

“Can you stop playing that ridiculous ‘hero game’? This gambling game is linked to each of our lives. Who’s going to let you fool around here?”

Qi Xia kept frowning, looking to be in a bad mood.

No one expected that Qi Xia and Zheng Yinxiong, who were separated the farthest, would start arguing across four people. Everyone’s expressions became somewhat uneasy.

“Old Qi…” Chen Junnan was the first to speak. “Don’t get angry… You know that kid has always talked like that, but he’s still quite clever.”

“Right, right, right!” Qiao Jiajin also hurried to mediate. “Liar, calm down first and listen to what the kid has to say.”

At this time, Xiao Cheng and Tiantian also hurriedly nodded in agreement: “That’s right, listen to what Zheng Yinxiong is thinking first, then you two can—”

“Everyone.” Earth-Monkey spoke up to interrupt everyone’s conversation. “Aren’t you all mistaken about something?”

Qi Xia turned his head to the side with a displeased expression, as if he already knew what Earth-Monkey was going to say.

Earth-Monkey scanned everyone: “Whether that child is ‘raising’ or not isn’t up to him to decide, is it? Who exactly is the one who sets the rules in this gambling den?”

“Fat monkey, don’t go too far!” Qiao Jiajin said. “You’re a middle-aged man who knows the rules well, gambling against an eight-year-old child. He’s staking his life on this gambling game—can’t he be allowed to choose carefully?”

“Very regrettable.” Earth-Monkey smiled. “I said we operate here with ‘no deception of young or old.’ Whoever comes is the same. I only treat them as ‘customers’ or ‘opponents,’ never treating them differently. If he said he wants to raise, then he’s raising.”

After hearing this, Qi Xia exhaled and said: “How about this, Earth-Monkey, reduce it to two chips. We’ll each take a step back.”

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

After hearing this, Qi Xia frowned, his eyes moving slightly, as if pondering something.

“You also know that as long as one of your six people beats me, all six count as winning. But now if you remove one person, what will you do?” Earth-Monkey’s expression became increasingly contemptuous, making everyone feel uncomfortable.

Qi Xia lowered his head and thought for about ten seconds before saying: “Whatever, suit yourself.”

He very unceremoniously tossed out the four “Dao” chips he had won in the previous round, scattering them on the table surface, then spread both hands and covered his forehead.

None of the remaining people could afford such large stakes, so they could only turn over their cards in this round one after another, announcing their withdrawal.

When it was Earth-Monkey’s turn, he placed four “Dao” chips on the table. Now the table surface was densely packed full of “Dao” chips.

This “Shuowang Yue” game had only reached the second round, yet the stakes between both sides had already risen to seven “Dao” chips per person. What was even more bizarre was that Earth-Monkey, as the gambling den owner, had actually raised the stakes to such a high level with an eight-year-old child.

“Don’t think it’s unfair.” Earth-Monkey said. “Kid, when you grow up you’ll know that people must be responsible for what they say. No one in this world will indulge you.”

After speaking, he flipped over his cards—”Mangzhong” (Grain in Ear).

“My hand is a ‘straight’ plus ‘one pair.'” Earth-Monkey sneered. “What kind of hand are you planning to use to beat me?”

After hearing this, Zheng Yinxiong showed no expression and reached out to flip over his “hole card.”

“Duanwu” (Dragon Boat Festival).

At this moment, Zheng Yinxiong’s hand was “Dongzhi” (Winter Solstice), “Duanwu,” plus the community card “Lixia.”

“Uncle… look, did I win?”