55 Wang Xiaoqiang said, "I hear you Japanese like to play mahjong, so now we'll continue with your Japanese rules..."
"Good," Axi smiled smugly, unexpectedly, the opponent had chosen their Japanese method of play. What an ignorant fool. Aren't you just looking for a dead end!
After the two sides agreed on the rules of the game, the notary explained the betting regulations. It turned out that this way of playing mahjong was very simple. There were thirty-six mahjong tiles on the table, all being Wan (characters) tiles, each person would draw fourteen tiles that could form a winning hand, and whoever's tiles added up to the highest number of Wan would be the winner.
Once the notary finished explaining, Axi's lips curved into an undetected smile, and he said to Wang Xiaoqiang, "Mr. Wang, since you say you have a lot of money, let's make it a big bet, shall we..."
"Sure! You name it," Wang Xiaoqiang replied with a relaxed and casual smile, and he had this intention as well. Seeing Wang Xiaoqiang agree, Axi immediately revealed a triumphant smile, "How about a bet of 30 million."
Upon this, Miyazaki Yuki, who was sitting aside, couldn't help but look serious.
"Can do," Wang Xiaoqiang readily responded. He had over 40 million in chips, which was completely enough for a round. Next, the croupier shuffled the deck.
The sweet-looking croupier stretched out a pair of slender and white hands, first turning over the face-down mahjong tiles one by one for both parties to see, then flipped them face down again, and began to shuffle the tiles, with her hands moving from slow to fast...
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At this moment, Wang Xiaoqiang and Axi's gazes were both firmly fixed on the tiles beneath those slender hands, eyes moving agilely.
Just now, as the croupier turned the tiles face-up, they had both committed to memory the tiles with high Wan values, relying on their memory, and now, they were trying to spot the high-scoring tiles among the constantly shuffling deck with their eyesights.
This was a test of visual acuity.
The croupier's shuffling motion was very fast, but not unreasonably so, allowing both gamblers to clearly remember the locations of the high-value tiles.
After the croupier finished shuffling, the notary issued an order: "Begin!"
Axi and Wang Xiaoqiang didn't immediately make a move, their eyes locked across the table. Three seconds later, almost simultaneously, they reached for the sticks lying in front of them on the table and extended them rapidly towards the shuffled mahjong tiles in the middle of the gambling table, or more precisely, towards the high-value Wan tiles.
A scramble ensued, and both sides pulled quite a few mahjong tiles back to themselves.
In the second round of scrambling, their gazes almost simultaneously rested on a 9 Wan tile. Clearly, this was a tile that both of them had noticed before. Now, in the middle of the table, the remaining tiles were those from 1 Wan to 3 Wan; if either of them could grab the 9 Wan tile, their chances of winning would be greatly increased.
Almost simultaneously, both their sticks extended towards the 9 Wan tile.
This man named Hongkou Chuanxi from Japan had a hand speed of 76 and his gambling rank was 123 in the world. Wang Xiaoqiang, while not ranked, had a hand speed that was far superior, and so, despite moving at the same time, Wang Xiaoqiang's stick arrived first, managing to flick up the 9 Wan tile, and Axi's stick followed right after, blocking Wang Xiaoqiang's and dueling above the tile like in a sword fight, before both sticks once again reached for the tile, with Wang Xiaoqiang's stick getting there first, flicking the 9 Wan tile upwards.
At that moment, the gaze of several people on the scene followed the tile, reflecting the glistening tile in everyone's pupils, falling after running out of momentum.
Like a meteor plummeting to earth.
Wang Xiaoqiang's gaze sharpened and, before the tile could fall, he reached out swiftly to catch the tile securely in mid-air.
This unexpected twist tested both eyesight and hand speed, and Wang Xiaoqiang, who was strong in both aspects, naturally managed to snatch the high-value tile.
However, his display of skill left the entire room in awe. Even though no one voiced their thoughts at that moment, everyone's gaze converged on Wang Xiaoqiang, their faces mirrored shock and admiration, as if to say:
This unassuming guy really has got some moves!
In Axi's stupefied gaze, Wang Xiaoqiang smiled proudly, adding the 9 Wan tile he had snatched to his own tiles, not one less. Exactly fourteen sets.
While Axi, dejectedly picked another random tile from the middle of the table to complete his hand.
Both parties arranged the tiles they had snatched in a row.
Even though Wang Xiaoqiang had grabbed the high-value tile, it didn't necessarily mean he would win; the outcome of the game would only be revealed after the players flipped their tiles.
Axi, also known as Hongkou Chuanxi, his face showing a mix of shame and anger, was the first to reveal his fourteen tiles.
790,000.
Axi's fourteen cards added up to a total of 790,000.
Everyone let out a sigh of amazement because that number was quite high, giving him a great chance of winning. Now, it was Wang Xiaoqiang's turn to reveal his cards.
With a slight smile, Wang Xiaoqiang flipped over his own cards.
Aside from Wang Xiaoqiang, everyone's gaze fell on his cards.
800,000.
Wang Xiaoqiang's fourteen cards, when added together, came to exactly 800,000.
The atmosphere at the scene momentarily stalled.
The notary announced, "Hongkou Chuanxi, 790,000. Mr. Wang, 800,000. Mr. Wang wins."
At that moment, the contempt and disdain on Axi's face completely dissipated, replaced by humiliation and defeat as he pushed the 20 million in chips to the center of the table.
"Thank you, I'm truly sorry," said Wang Xiaoqiang as he reached out to rake in the 20 million in chips towards himself, his eyes lifted with a provocative tone, he said, "Let's continue."
Axi's face clouded with uncertainty. Today, he had accompanied Miyazaki Yuki here, ostensibly to gamble but in reality to act as her interpreter. It was just that, when he heard Wang Xiaoqiang suggest playing a game of competitive mahjong, he foolishly thought that under Japanese gambling rules, this man from China was undoubtedly doomed, hence he raised the stakes. Now full of regret, considering that Jindoli's mainstay and the gambler known as Fu Miaoshou had both lost to this opponent, how could he stand a chance?
In that moment, Miyazaki Yuki's gaze sharpened, she suddenly stood up, looked at Wang Xiaoqiang, and spoke fluently in Japanese to Axi.
Seeing Miyazaki Yuki ready to enter the fray, Axi immediately said to Wang Xiaoqiang, "Mr. Wang, Miyazaki Yuki will play a couple of rounds with you."
He then swiftly got up to let her sit.
Miyazaki Yuki sat down opposite at the gambling table, her deportment impeccable. Clad in a kimono, her hair elaborately swept up, she resembled an ancient lady with an ornamental hairpin elegantly placed in her jet-black hair. As she approached, she had deliberately applied heavy makeup, with luscious red lips bright as flame. She had a cold expression, and under her blue eyeshadow, her icy eyes were fixed on Wang Xiaoqiang across the table.
"Miss Miyazaki Yuki, how would you like to play?" Wang Xiaoqiang slowly asked.
Miyazaki Yuki spoke a few words in Japanese to Axi. Axi promptly translated for Wang Xiaoqiang:
"We just played mahjong according to the rules of the Nation of Japan, and for fairness, we'll now play a game more authentic to Chinese people... throwing dice. Comparing points. Whoever has the lower points wins... Mr. Wang, do you have any objections?"
Throwing dice and comparing points was also a game that tested one's hand speed. Wang Xiaoqiang, upon hearing this, secretly rejoiced, the corners of his mouth curling into a smile. Damn it, not only is my hand speed unmatched, but my strength will also definitely not lose to this young lady. Thus, he casually challenged Miyazaki Yuki with a lift of his eyebrow, "Miss Miyazaki Yuki, as I said before, you can choose any game you like. However, the stakes have to change..."
Upon hearing this, Miyazaki Yuki's expression briefly faltered.
Axi had already inquired on her behalf, "By change, what exactly do you want to play, Mr. Wang?"
Pushing his chips forward as well, Wang Xiaoqiang said, "I have nearly 70 million in chips here. If I lose, they are all yours... including my life!"
Upon hearing this, everyone present drew in a sharp breath. It wasn't unheard of to stake one's life, but once the bet was placed, it had to be honored. In other words, if this young man lost tonight, he would have to forfeit his life right there.
Miyazaki Yuki let out a cold laugh.
Axi immediately asked, "What if it's a tie?"
"If it's a tie, then you win!"
Axi asked, "And if you win?"
Wang Xiaoqiang replied, "If I win, then Miss Miyazaki Yuki's life will be mine. But I've always been one to cherish and pity the fairer sex. I won't take her life; at most, I'll just sleep with her for one night. Ha ha..."(To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes, monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)
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