Chapter 50: Sister Grows Suspicious
The older cousins just smiled and said nothing.
They had their unspoken understanding. It was only right to treat honored guests to good food and drink, and if the guest was going to lose some money at the table, well, that was fair game too. The two weren’t mutually exclusive. Especially when the guest came from the capital—people from the capital were known to be wealthy. Though Ge Tao and Zhou Ye didn’t quite understand the situation, if Xu Huazhang was really a newbie, then he’d be easy to “bully.” Everyone felt they’d win a good amount sitting at the same table as him.
Mu Lantu inwardly shed a sympathetic tear for her cousins. Even if Xu Huazhang was a beginner, he wasn’t someone who could be easily taken advantage of.
There were plenty of teahouses in the county. He Cuifang had connections and had booked one in advance. The others were gradually settled in as well. For those not playing mahjong, they could stay at the hotel to watch TV, visit Mu Hongtu’s house, or drive to the nearby mountains or river. Since most were local, they were already familiar with Anfeng County.
Finally, He Cuifang brought Xu Huazhang and the others to Xiao Li Teahouse.
Xu Huazhang sat at a table with Mu Qingjiang (the eldest male cousin), Luo Wangjun (his sister’s husband), and Yang Chenglong (a cousin from his eldest aunt’s side).
Ge Tao and Zhan Peng were paired with Mu Qinghe (another male cousin) and Ma Chenggong (a cousin from his second aunt’s side). Zhou Ye had drunk too much and was resting in the car.
Another cousin, He Huijun (from their uncle’s side), was placed at a different table with other guests.
Mu Lantu sat next to Xu Huazhang, explaining the rules of mahjong to him, covering both minor and major wins in detail.
Everyone else, eager to win Xu Huazhang’s money, also joked around and tried to distract him.
He Cuifang hadn’t left yet and stepped in to protect him.
“Enough fooling around! Let Lantu explain properly. If he doesn’t even know the rules, even if you win, it doesn’t show any real skill, does it?”
The cousins all chuckled.
Xu Huazhang smugly shot a glance at Mu Lantu, as if saying: See? Even your future mother-in-law’s siding with me now.
Mu Lantu smacked his thigh and quickly finished the explanation.
“All done. You can start now.”
“Lantu, I don’t have any cash.” Xu Huazhang said, watching the shuffling of tiles with curiosity.
Just as Mu Qingjiang was about to suggest scanning a QR code to exchange for chips, Mu Lantu opened her crossbody bag and put 800 yuan in the drawer in front of Xu Huazhang. She then asked Ge Tao and Zhan Peng:
“Brother Tao, Brother Zhan, do you have any cash?”
“A little,” Zhan Peng replied confidently. “Not much, but enough to play.”
The three at the table jeered.
“Big talk!”
Zhan Peng grinned, “Gentlemen, don’t say I didn’t warn you—I’m not bad at this.” Zhan Peng loved playing mahjong, regardless of stakes. As Xu Huazhang’s driver, opportunities like this were rare, so he was thrilled and eager to show his skills.
Mu Lantu still gave both him and Ge Tao 500 yuan each in cash.
Since everyone’s gambling money was under 1,000 yuan, it counted as “mahjong for entertainment.” Just a way to pass the time.
After watching two rounds, He Cuifang left for a bit and later returned with drinks, fruit, and sunflower seeds.
Xu Huazhang found it difficult to both play mahjong and snack on seeds at the same time.
Mu Lantu sliced up some fruit, stuck toothpicks in them, and placed two plates on each table.
“Dinner’s at 5:30. Kids, keep an eye on the time.”
He Cuifang had more food to deliver to the other guests and left after dropping the reminder.
Xu Huazhang’s eyes gleamed. Dinner at 5:30 meant…
Mu Lantu noticed that from the time they sat down until 4 PM, Xu Huazhang kept losing—either discarding the winning tile or someone else drew it. But from 4 to 5:20 PM, he started winning consistently, and often with big hands like “pure suit,” “all pungs,” “small three dragons,” “big three dragons”…
Mu Qingjiang, Luo Wangjun, and Yang Chenglong assumed he had finally learned the game and gone from beginner to expert. Only Mu Lantu knew that Xu Huazhang had been toying with them—losing on purpose at first, then intentionally winning later.
There was no doubt now: Xu Huazhang could count tiles.
Feeling her gaze, Xu Huazhang curled his lips into a sly smile.
Mu Lantu gently kicked his leg under the table. So smug.
By the time they left for dinner, Xu Huazhang had won over 400 yuan, all from Mu Qingjiang, Luo Wangjun, and Yang Chenglong.
Roughly, each lost about 100+ yuan to him.
Zhan Peng won about 70, Ge Tao lost 30.
No one took the wins or losses too seriously.
On the way back to the hotel, they passed a barbecue stand. Xu Huazhang treated everyone to grilled squid.
Mu Lantu looked at the skewer in his hand and thought of a quote: To shake your hand, I shook everyone else’s first.
Half-joking, Mu Qingjiang said, “Boss Xu, you won so much from us this afternoon, and one squid skewer is all we get? Shall we go another round tonight?”
Xu Huazhang politely declined. “Let’s not. Staying up late is bad for the body. But if you’re all free tomorrow, please allow me to treat you to lunch in Qingning—at the Seafood Feast.”
Seafood Feast!
Qingning’s most expensive restaurant. Everyone had heard of it but never been. The cousins and in-laws were thrilled to accept the invitation—it felt like a real status boost.
Xu Huazhang didn’t just invite these cousins—he extended the invitation to the entire younger generation from both Mu Zhenguo and He Cuifang’s sides. Only the two elders themselves were invited among the older generation.
To have more fun, everyone with kids planned to leave the children behind.
Since everyone else wasn’t bringing kids, Mu Hongtu and Yang Xiurong also sent their two to their grandmother’s house.
Though originally only lunch was planned, Xu Huazhang insisted everyone stay at the hotel’s entertainment area all afternoon, then treated them to dinner as well before letting them leave.
Out of curiosity, Mu Zhenzhen discreetly asked a hotel staff member and learned the two meals together had cost over 80,000 yuan.
Back home, she mentioned it to her husband.
“80,000 yuan?” Luo Wangjun gasped. “Good lord! I don’t even make that much in a whole year driving taxis here! But then again, not surprising. Didn’t you see what car that friend of our little brother drove? I looked it up online—it’s custom-made, costs over 20 million!”
Mu Zhenzhen didn’t say anything, just looked annoyed.
She ran a clothing shop in town with mediocre business. In recent years, self-media had become popular, and since she looked good and had a nice figure, she’d also tried getting into it. But seeing so many things online, she couldn’t help but feel that her brother and that handsome man didn’t have an ordinary relationship. Especially since their outfits yesterday and today looked like couple’s clothing—even their hats matched exactly.
But could she say that out loud? She didn’t dare ask Mu Lantu either. She could only keep telling herself she was overthinking it.
That night, Mu Zhenzhen couldn’t sleep well. She tossed and turned and finally got some rest past 9 a.m., missing her shop opening.
Meanwhile, Mu Lantu, her father Mu Zhenguo, and He Cuifang were at a breakfast shop.
After two days together, the older couple had become more comfortable chatting with Xu Huazhang, Ge Tao, and Zhou Ye.
Xu Huazhang shared bits about himself throughout the conversation. The more they heard, the more admiration filled Mu Zhenguo and He Cuifang’s eyes.
After breakfast, Mu Zhenguo said to Mu Lantu, “Take good care of your friends and have fun,” and got ready to leave for the shop with He Cuifang.
“Dad, Mom, wait. I still have something to tell you.”
“What is it?”
His expression didn’t seem to suggest bad news, so Mu Zhenguo replied casually, pulling out a cigarette—then remembered that neither Xu Huazhang nor his son smoked, so he put it back, but still handed one each to Ge Tao and Zhou Ye.
Xu Huazhang said, “Lantu, talk to Uncle and Aunt. We’ll go for a walk.”
Mu Lantu stopped him. “Sit down, it’s hot outside.”
Mu Zhenguo added, “Yes, we’re all family here.”
Mu Lantu said, “Dad, Mom, I’ve decided to settle in the capital. Why don’t you come live with me? I’ll buy you a house over there.”
His directness shocked his parents at first. Then joy crept in, leaving them speechless.
“Buy… a house in the capital? Houses there are so expensive! Can you afford that?”
Despite recent price drops nationwide, housing in the capital was still sky-high—ordinary folks couldn’t afford it.
Mu Lantu replied, “If I’m bringing it up, that means I can afford it. So? Would you move with me? You’d be city people—everyone would envy you. When your sisters have time, they could visit you in the capital too. And you know how people can rent homes in Dream Home now? I rented one too. If you don’t want to live in the capital, you can live there. It’s like space tourism—trendy stuff!”
“No.” Mu Zhenguo refused instantly. “We were born and raised in Anfeng. We’ve lived here most of our lives. It sounds nice, sure, but we wouldn’t be used to anything over there. Besides, your older brother is the firstborn. Traditionally, your mother and I are supposed to live with him.”
He Cuifang asked, “Son, people really live on Dream Home? Is it fun up there?”
Mu Zhenguo widened his eyes. Seriously? We’re talking about something important, and you’re sidetracked again!
Xu Huazhang, Ge Tao, and Zhou Ye were getting ready to leave when He Cuifang stopped them.
“Sit, sit—it’s fine. Son, go on. I won’t interrupt again.”
“Mom, if you’re curious, why not just come to the capital when you’re free? I’ll take you both up there for a few days.” Mu Lantu replied before turning back to Mu Zhenguo. “Dad, all that ‘tradition’ stuff is outdated. This is a new era. No need to be bound by old rules.”
But Mu Zhenguo still shook his head.
“Nope. We’re not going.”
On big decisions, He Cuifang usually followed his lead. “I don’t want to move to the capital either. We can’t even speak Mandarin properly. People would laugh at us.”
Mu Lantu respected their wishes. “In that case, I’ll buy you a house here in Anfeng—and two cars too.”
“What?!” He Cuifang jumped up, nearly falling over.
Mu Zhenguo’s hands trembled. He hadn’t misheard—his son was going to buy them a house! His biggest dream was to buy homes for both sons and see them settled. He never dared dream that he and his wife would one day own a place themselves.
