Xu Mingyue chimed in, "Siyue, I'll already be at Wenjin Academy then, so I might not be able to make it back. Si Ru will have to join in the fun for your capping ceremony. Don't worry, I'll make sure your congratulatory gift is well prepared." Feng Jinyao smiled somewhat stiffly. Her capping ceremony in her previous life had not left her with good memories.
At that time, the Feng family had been severely targeted, resulting in several deaths. Her own marriage was also imminent. The capping ceremony was rushed and simple, and before she could even process it, she was forced to grow up.
In this life, she had reversed her family's fate. Although they were currently facing difficulties, at least everyone was alive and the family was still harmonious and happy.
"Alas, there are too many family matters right now. Let's talk about the capping ceremony later."
Seeing that she wasn't in the mood to respond, the two guessed it might be related to Uncle Feng's injury and didn't press the matter further.
Four men and three women, they walked and browsed, and by the time they arrived at Dongli Xuan, everything was ready.
The brazier had already warmed the room, and hot tea and pastries were prepared. Most wonderfully, a table was placed in the hall, and the items on it caught the eye of Su Cheng, the "prodigal son."
"You're quite something, kid. So this Jade Bone Tablet was hidden here by you?"
The Jade Bone Tablet was a type of hand-held game used by the nobles of Da Jin for leisure. It could be played by two or more people. There were seven of them here now. Excluding Yin Canwen, who had no experience with the Jade Bone Tablet, most of the others knew how to play to some extent, though their skill levels varied.
Su Cheng and Feng Er were clearly skilled players, and Xu Mingyue and Bai Si Ru were no less capable. Feng Jinyao was not interested in it, and Xiao Muqian had only encountered it as a child, so he didn't remember the rules well.
Rubbing their hands together, they approached the table. Su Cheng was happier than everyone present and began to speak loudly, "How should we play? This game needs stakes, otherwise, it won't be as enjoyable."
Feng Er punched him, looking like he knew Su Cheng's mischievous intentions. "Don't worry, you've always coveted the Peerless Sword in my room, haven't you? If you win today, I'll give it to you."
Su Cheng curled his lips, "Tch, I thought you meant Chasing Cloud."
"Dream on. Even if I gave you my Thousand Mile Steed, you wouldn't be able to ride it. Chasing Cloud only recognizes me. If you got on, it would surely buck you off!" The two of them would bicker endlessly whenever they were together, which provided much amusement to the others.
"Alright, Brother Su is straightforward. Then I'll..." Bai Si Ru hadn't brought much with her when she went out, so she took a hairpin from her head as a stake. "Let's use this."
Su Cheng made a tutting sound. "Sister Bai, aren't you making things difficult? It's your personal item. Even if I win, I wouldn't dare to take it. Otherwise, before I even get home, Mu Qian would probably have thrown me into the river."
Bai Si Ru shot him a glare. "Brother Su, your courage is as small as a chicken's. You can take this and sell it for money. It's worth at least three hundred taels. You truly don't know its value."
"Three hundred taels?!" Su Cheng came from a military family, and his mother disliked such jewelry, so he was not familiar with market prices.
When he heard three hundred taels, his eyes lit up. "Sister Bai is indeed generous. Alright! When I sell this hairpin, the money will be sent to Shanxing Hall. There are many lonely elders and orphaned children there. This money will be enough for them to live comfortably for a good while."
He didn't intend to keep the money for himself; he was indeed an upright gentleman.
It was no wonder Feng Er had been friends with him for so many years. Bai Si Ru smiled, "Brother Su, we haven't even started playing yet, and you're already boasting like this?"
"Hahahaha, Sister Bai, you're too naive. Ask your cousin. The way I play cards is simply brilliant. Forget you, even if all of you played together, you might not be able to win."
His tone was quite arrogant, but he did have the capital to be so. However, using "brilliant" to describe his card skills was something everyone present had never heard before. Thus, he earned the title "Su Miaobi" (Su the Brilliant Pen) without question.
Xu Mingyue offered a set of military strategy books, a treasured collection from her family, as a stake. Su Cheng wagered his newly acquired Glazed Moonlight Cup. Xiao Muqian, who hadn't even joined the game, was pressed to add stakes, offering a jar of the rare Li Hun Wine, which made Su Cheng immediately call for the game to begin!
The group livelily started their card game.
Feng Er and Bai Si Ru sat opposite each other, and Xu Mingyue and Su Cheng sat opposite each other. The four of them occupied their respective positions. The two people opposite were both teammates and opponents. Xiao Muqian was a substitute, while Feng Jinyao and Yin Canwen watched from the sidelines, enjoying the spectacle.
Su Cheng, who appeared rough and careless in daily life, was actually more calculating and skilled at the card table than anyone else. In a flash, Bai Si Ru was eliminated under the "scheming" of Su Cheng and Xu Mingyue. He chuckled, "Sister Bai, on behalf of the people in Shanxing Hall, I thank you in advance."
People say that when drinking water, one should not forget the source. He was clearly benefiting and acting innocent. Bai Si Ru sighed, lamenting her inferior skills and said to Xiao Muqian beside her, "You play, I don't believe it."
Forced onto the table by his fiancée, Xiao Muqian could only rely on his childhood memories and the brief impressions he had just gained, and played a series of seemingly random moves.
Unexpectedly, it was indeed a case of "random punches killing a master." Xu Mingyue made a careless move and was completely wiped out.
Shaking his head in disbelief, he could only wait for the next round.
At the card table, Su Cheng was fighting two opponents alone. On one side was the newcomer, Xiao Muqian, who attacked relentlessly without regard for consequences. On the other was Feng Er, who was familiar with his playing style and set various traps. Yet, Su Cheng remained composed and cheerful. If it weren't for the veins throbbing on his temples, everyone present might have been fooled by his demeanor.
After the time it took for an incense stick to burn, Su Cheng still won.
He was beaming with joy, holding the golden ingots he had won in the bowl beside him.
Bai Si Ru gritted her teeth. "Hey, I don't believe it. My cards were taught by my aunt. How could I lose so much to you? Let's play again!"
Like an addicted gambler, she was determined to win back what she had lost. Su Cheng loved opponents like her, who were overly eager but lacked skill. He felt he had to teach her a lesson.
Thus, round after round continued. Bai Si Ru lost, her bowl becoming empty. However, the golden ingots in the bowl of Xiao Muqian, who occasionally played as a substitute, steadily increased.
In the end, Bai Si Ru was almost dazed by Su Cheng. All the golden ingots in her bowl had gone to Su Cheng's side, piled up into a small mountain. Bai Si Ru's small face puffed up in anger.
Xiao Muqian found her increasingly amusing. He poured all the golden ingots from his bowl into hers and said dotingly, "Use mine."
Bai Si Ru was amused by his overwhelming generosity. This man... was indeed not bad.
"Alright, alright, you two, a couple, oh no, a betrothed couple, please be mindful of the occasion. There are so many of us here, right?"