Continuation 161: Three Against One

(Rereading Continuation 60, "Bai Hui's Mother," will enhance your experience of this chapter.)

The three-player game finally had its fourth. To veteran mahjong players—meaning people who had played mahjong for years, not longtime fans of Ma Youyou—it felt like leading an army into battle with troops, horses, and provisions all in place, waiting only for them to wave a hand and charge valiantly into all directions.

"Auntie, let's switch seats." Zhong Qing went to take a sip of water. When she came back and saw everyone seated, she asked to trade places with Bai Hui's mother.

Bai Hui's mother was seated below Bai Shengtian and immediately voiced her displeasure. "What, are you afraid your uncle will go easy on me?"

She had only kicked Bai Shengtian five times tonight. He had understood what she meant just once, and she still hadn't won that hand, which left her rather annoyed.

"Uncle's not that good at mahjong. Even if you ask him to go easy on you, he won't understand what tiles you need. You should sit above him and go easy on him instead." Smiling sweetly, Zhong Qing walked over, sat down directly, and squeezed Bai Hui's mother out of her seat.

Bai Hui's mother had no intention of going easy on Bai Shengtian. She just wanted to win herself; it wasn't as though they were teaming up to make money. Switching seats was fine.

"Qingqing, don't look down on people just because you won a thousand-odd yuan earlier and got all cocky. I don't get going until the second half," Bai Shengtian said.

"You?" Bai Hui's mother snorted. Playing cards with him always drove her mad. He had absolutely no sense of what was going on.

"Cousin, why did you switch seats?" Bai Hui moved a chair beside Liu Chang'an,