Yang Ge sat down at the inn's entrance, drinking tea and chatting with Li Qing.
Before long, Zhao Miao came trudging over, utterly dejected, with sweat beading on her forehead...
"Hahaha..."
Yang Ge doubled over with laughter. "That's what you get for showing off! Learned your lesson this time, haven't you?"
Zhao Miao wiped away her sweat and glanced apprehensively at the three men, who were likewise doubled over with laughter. "They're so, so good! Whatever tile I want, they know..."
"Hahaha..."
Still laughing, Yang Ge flipped the three men the middle finger. "Every bit of joy and frustration shows on your face when you play mahjong. It'd be a miracle if they couldn't tell."
Zhao Miao slapped her thigh in frustration and declared angrily, "Starting today, I'm quitting mahjong!"
The moment she finished speaking, the front hall erupted in laughter.
Zhao Miao glared at them a few times, but in the end, she joined in with a silly "Hehehe."
Yang Ge turned the bench sideways and pulled her down beside him. "Are you going home for New Year this year?"
Zhao Miao glanced at him, looking hesitant.
Yang Ge smiled. "If you want to go, go. You've been away for almost a year now. Your mother must miss you."
Zhao Miao thought it over, then shook her head. "Forget it. I won't go back yet. I can pick a day after New Year to go keep her company. It'll be the same."
Yang Ge was about to persuade her again when Li Qing suddenly stood up and walked away, saying speechlessly, "Carrying on your romance right in front of a monk. You two really are something!"
Yang Ge: "Hahaha..."
Zhao Miao: "Honk, honk, honk..."
Once Li Qing had left, Yang Ge continued, "You should still go. Who doesn't go