PDLP Chapter 8 Daiyu Plays Mahjong
Chapter 8 Daiyu Plays Mahjong
When Hua Hengyue woke up, she saw Luo Zhuang looking at her. Behind Luo Zhuang stood three middle-aged women: one short and plump, one tall and thin, and one of medium height and weight.
Three middle-aged women were also looking at her, and like Luo Zhuang, they were all smiling at her.
"You're awake! Get up and let's play mahjong together."
Luo Zhuang spoke, but she couldn't understand some of what he said.
What is mahjong?
Hua Hengyue was completely bewildered and was pulled to sit down at the mahjong table without even realizing it.
Luo Zhuang then went to the lobby and brought out a stool, sitting behind Hua Hengyue.
She had never seen a mahjong table before. Seeing that the table was flat and smooth, with a transparent, flat cover in the middle covering two dice, she didn't understand what it was for.
As soon as the short, plump woman pressed the button on the side of the transparent cover, the two dice inside immediately started spinning.
Next, the tall, thin middle-aged woman pressed her buttons. After she finished, another middle-aged woman pressed hers. After that, Luo Zhuang said to Hua Hengyue, "It's your turn."
Hua Hengyue was completely confused and didn't understand what was going on, but she still obediently pressed the button.
"Gurgle—"
The dice inside spun for a while, then stopped, revealing a six and a five.
"Little girl, you're in charge."
The short, plump woman said something, and then started drawing cards.
Hua Hengyue still had a bewildered look on her face as four cards, eight cards, and twelve cards were placed on the table in front of her.
She didn't know what she was doing, but she subconsciously imitated the others, turning the cards face down and arranging them in a row.
Luo Zhuang explained to Hua Hengyue from behind, "The aunties are playing mahjong and they're short one player. They'll be here in a bit, so they're asking us to make up the numbers."
I need to watch the shop, and I'll have to leave if customers come. So I told the aunties that it's your turn to work.
Don't worry, I've already talked to your auntie. Winning or losing doesn't affect you. Just follow along and learn slowly.
The older women were incredibly fast; they had already set up the signs.
Hua Hengyue hurriedly arranged the mahjong tiles in front of her, then turned back somewhat uncertainly and asked, "Can...I do this?"
Luo Zhuang said, "Don't worry, it's just to make up the numbers. The aunties aren't expecting you to be a great player."
You need to break free from books; just talking won't be effective. I'm just giving you something to do.
The short, plump woman looked at Hua Hengyue with a smile and said, "Don't worry, little sister, mahjong isn't hard. You'll get the hang of it as you play. Zhuang boy, keep an eye on things for me, don't just talk. Play your cards."
Luo Zhuang then helped Hua Hengyue draw an East Wind card and said, "East Wind." He also introduced her to Hua Hengyue, "This is Aunt Wang, she lives next door. The wontons you ate this morning were made by Aunt Wang."
This auntie's surname is also Wang; there are quite a few people with the surname Wang in our village. Just call her Second Auntie.
"You can call the last one 'Third Aunt' if you like."
Hua Hengyue quickly greeted them, calling them "Big Aunt," "Second Aunt," and "Third Aunt."
The three aunties nodded and smiled at Hua Hengyue, then casually picked up a card and slammed it down.
"East Wind".
"East."
"North Wind".
After one round, three Dongfeng cards were used up.
While playing cards, Aunt Wang asked, "How old is the girl? What's her name?"
Hua Hengyue said, "I am Hua Hengyue, and I am fourteen years old this year. I have not yet reached the age of marriage." The three middle-aged women were stunned.
But soon, Aunt Wang realized what she meant and said, "What a joke! Young people these days love to play this game! The young lady is beautifully dressed and speaks well too! Really good! Really good!"
"Oh……"
The other two middle-aged women looked as if they had just realized something.
"Play your card."
Aunt Wang urged him on.
Luo Zhuang let Hua Hengyue draw a card, then took a North Wind card from Hua Hengyue's hand and discarded it, nodding repeatedly and saying, "Yes, yes, yes, that's the Four of a Kind!"
Aunt Wang leaned forward slightly and asked Hua Hengyue, "Little sister, are you really fourteen?"
Hua Hengyue replied respectfully, "I would not dare to deceive you, Auntie. I am indeed fourteen years old."
Aunt Wang glanced at Luo Zhuang almost imperceptibly, then asked, "Young lady, what are you doing here?"
Before Hua Hengyue could answer, she was stopped by the other two women.
Why are you asking so many questions?
"Play a card! Play a one of bamboo!"
"..."
Luo Zhuang: "..."
Well, without a doubt, I've been wronged...
Luo Zhuang could see it clearly: the look Wang Da Niang had given him just now was the look of wanting to find a stun gun to stab him.
When Hua Hengyue said she was fourteen, Aunt Wang felt like she needed an electric shock.
The other two aunties from the same village probably felt the same way, but fortunately they still cared about the reputation of the village and didn't want to make things awkward, so they stopped Aunt Wang.
Luo Zhuang offered no explanation. He understood perfectly well what it meant to be unable to clear his name even if he jumped into the Yellow River; any explanation he offered now would only make these three mahjong ladies think he was trying to cover up the truth.
So whatever, let them think what they want. Anyway, at most they'll just complain to their parents, and I'll think of some words and have Hua Hengyue explain it to them.
The mahjong table then became strange. The three aunties became ruthless mahjong machines, while Hua Hengyue drew her own tiles in confusion and watched Luo Zhuang play.
Then, one "Hu" and another "Pong" occurred. She watched in bewilderment as the cards in front of her were pushed into the round hole that rose up on the table, making a clattering sound, before being drawn and stacked again.
The eerie silence made her extremely uncomfortable, yet she couldn't just leave the table; she felt utterly restless.
She tried to focus on the mahjong game and play along with the rhythm of the three aunties, thinking that this way her attention might not be drawn to the strange atmosphere.
She tried to concentrate for a while, but she still didn't learn it. Instead, she became flustered and watched helplessly as one card fell and another was discarded. The cards in front of her came and went, and then she pushed them over.
Hua Hengyue was finally freed from her predicament when another auntie came to the courtyard, and gave up her seat to that auntie.
Luo Zhuang also took the opportunity to leave, leaving the courtyard with Hua Hengyue and returning to the main hall.
After entering the main hall, Hua Hengyue asked, "Immortal Master, this humble woman really doesn't know how to play mahjong."
If this is how you pass the time, I'd be happy to read "Dream of the Red Chamber" again. Could you please not make me play mahjong anymore?
Luo Zhuang sighed, "I was being inconsiderate. You should go back to reading. But don't bother with that copy of 'Dream of the Red Chamber,' I'll find you another one."
But when he looked around the bookshelf, he found that most of the books on the wall were modern literature, which Hua Hengyue probably wouldn't be able to understand.
The only books that are easier for Hua Hengyue to understand are the other three of the Four Great Classical Novels.
"Journey to the West, Water Margin, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which one would you choose?"
Luozhuang Road.
Then, whether by coincidence or not, Hua Hengyue pulled out the book "Water Margin," randomly flipped to a page, and froze.
"The Flower Monk uprooted a willow tree, and the Leopard Head mistakenly entered the White Tiger Hall..."
Hua Hengyue murmured the chapter title of the page she was turning to.
"You really know how to flip through books..."
Luo Zhuang sighed.
Hua Hengyue smiled, but her smile was forced as she looked at the three words "Flower Monk" on the book.
"Go back to your room. I'll call you when it's time for dinner."
Luo Zhuang sent Hua Hengyue back to her room upstairs and was about to go to the courtyard when he suddenly heard a notification sound from the front desk computer: "You have a new order, please check."